Descent into Avernus

party can wrest Avernus from Asmodeus's control, this

ultimately serves to unite the remaining archdevils,

aligning them toward the common goal of reclaiming

Avernus-which works to Asmodeus's advantage.

WILL ELTUREL B E SAVED?

Unless the characters intervene, Elturel is inevitably

dragged into the River Styx. The memories of its inhab-

itants will be wiped clean, and their souls wiU be made

into devils-fodder for the front lines of the Blood War.

The characters have several ways to save the city at

its most desperate hour (see "Endgame in Elturel," page

154). To save Elturel without redeeming Zariel, the

chains binding the city to the infernal iron posts sinking

into Avernus must be severed, and the city must be re-

turned to the Material Plane.

FORCINC THE BLADE OF A VERNUS

At some point after the destruction of the Sword of Zariel,

Zariel gives her servants (including the characters if they

have taken on that role) the task of forging a new blade for

her. This endeavor comes with the following objectives:

• If Bel is still in Zariel's service, she calls on him to forge
  the blade. Otherwise, her servants must scour the cos·
  mos for a worthy weaponsmith, such as an efreeti from
  the City of Brass on the Elemental Plane of Fire.


• Zariel needs at least ten pounds of metal or material to
  make the blade of the sword. Adamantine would do, or a
  talon from Tiamat.


• To grant the blade its power, the freshly forged weapon
  must be quenched in the blood of a celestial, a demon
  lord, and an archdevil. Zariel can supply her own blood,
  but her servants must collect the other two sacrifices.

Zariel names this new artifact the Blade of Avernus. This

longsword is an artifact that requires attunement, and

which has the following properties.

Magic Weapon. The Blade of Avernus is a magic weapon

that functions as a vorpal sword.

Random Properties. The sword has the following ran-

domly determined properties, as described in chapter 7 of

the Dungeon Mast.er's Guide:

2 minor beneficial properties

• 1 major beneficial property


• 1 major detrimental property, which is suppressed while
  t he sword is attuned to an archdevil
  Ruler of Avernus. As an action, you can point this sword
  at one devil you can see within 60 feet of you. That devil
  must succeed on a DC 22 Charisma saving throw or be
  charmed by you for 1 hour. While charmed in this way, the
  devil follows your orders to the best of its ability. If you
  command the devil to do something it perceives as sui-
  cidal, the effect ends and you can no longer use this power
  of the sword against that devil.
  Infernal Recall. As an action, you can use the sword

to cast word of recall. Creatures transported by this spell

appear in an unoccupied space within 30 feet of the cur·

rent ruler of Avernus, or a sanctuary you designate if you

rule Avernus.

Destroying the Sword. The sword can be destroyed by

casting it into the River Styx or melting it down in the forge

that created it.

CHAPTER 5 I ESCAPE FROM Av.£.RNUS

BREAKING T H E C HAINS

Eight chains of infernal iron anchor Elturel to its bind-

ing posts, and each of those chains must be broken to

free the city. If all the chains are broken, Elturel remains

floating above Avernus and is no longer drawn toward

the River Styx. However, the characters must still find a

way to return the city to the Material Plane.

Each chain link is 30 feet long and 20 feet wide, and

is formed of a welded loop of infernal iron that is 5 feet

thick. A chain link is a Huge object with AC 19, 250 hit

points, a damage threshold of 30, and immunity to poi-

son and psychic damage. See chapter 2 for information

on moving along the chains and climbing the infernal

iron posts they connect to.

IRE OF TlAMAT

Tiamat's divine power is mighty enough to break the

chains that bind Elturel. Arkhan the Cruel is willing to

commune with his goddess to this end, but only if the

characters offer him a suitably potent gift. In an inscru-

table twist, Tiamat decides to aid the characters, and

tells Arkhan as such. Read or paraphrase the following:

A shroud of confusion passes over Arkhan's face, dissolv-

ing his bravado. He mutters to Tiamat under his breath,

"Is that wise, my queen?" Then his eyes darken as his

body hangs limp like a puppet cut from its strings. After

a moment, Arkhan stands up straight, his eyes glowing

with prismatic light. A hungry smile crosses his face, and

five voices echo from his mouth, each resonating with

the ire of an imprisoned goddess.

"I will aid you," Tiamat growls. "If your power is

enough to threaten Zariel's ambitions, then I have noth·

ing to fear. I can destroy the chains binding Elturel, but

you must be present to bear witness to my majesty. Now

go. I will know when you are there."

When the characters next set foot in Elturel, Tiamat

(see the accompanying stat block) bursts forth from her

distant lair and blazes like a meteor across the sky of

Avernus. Appearing above the city, she swoops down

and focuses her breath weapons on one chain at a time,

dealing 67 acid damage, 88 lightning damage, 72 cold

damage, and 91 fire damage-more than enough to

destroy the chain's links. Once all eight chains are de-

stroyed, Tiamat roars in triumph and departs.

jAWS OF CROKEK'TOECK

If the demon Crokek'toeck is freed from the scab encas-

ing the Bleeding Citadel, it begins wandering Avernus

and devouring all in its path. Though the demon con-

sumes indiscriminately, it hungers most for divine

blood. As such, the essence of a good-aligned god, the

blood of a good celestial, or even the blood of a good pal-

adin draws Crokek'toeck's attention from miles away. If

the adventurers slather a chain link in blood from such

a source, Crokek'toeck picks up the delicious scent and

gallops across Avernus toward it.