Descent into Avernus

60

GROUP 3: DEVILISH BRIGANDS

A spioed devil leads three human brigands (use the

bandit captain stat block to represent them) on a ram-

page. The brigands were drive n mad by the journey

to Avernus, and have now pledged themselves to their

spined devil master. Their madness causes them to

bellow and gibber as they move through the cathedral.

The spined devil roars at the m as it uses its telepa-

thy to order them to foc us. This lack of caution and

discipline makes ambushing or sneaking up on the

group easy, granting advantage on Dexterity (Stealth)

checks to do so.

GROUP 4: HELLISH HUNT ERS

A merregon (see page 2 38 for its stat block) ove rsees a

mangy pair of hell hounds. The devil uses the hounds to

sniff out survivors who might be hiding.

HIGH HALL CATHEDRAL

Three levels make up the High Hall cathedral: the cathe-

dral level (areas Hl through H6), the choir level (areas

H7 through H9), and the catacombs level (areas HlO

through H17). These locations are keyed to map 2.2

(page 61), map 2.3 (page 62 ), a nd map 2.4 (page

63), respectively.

HIC H HALL CATHEDRAL FEATURES

Unless otherwise noted, the High Hall cathedral has the

following recurring features.

Art. Once decorated with beautiful paintings, statues,

and other works that depicted the strength and valor of

Elturel's people, the cathedral was magically transformed

when Elturel was pulled into Avernus. Now its artwork is a

testament to the devils' superiority and strength, showing

scenes of mortals succumbing to temptation, dying at

the hands of fiends, and suffering eternal torture. When

viewed, t hose images shift and swirl unsettlingly. A detect

magic spell reveals that the frescoes, mosaics, paintings,

and tapestries of the cathedral radiate auras of illusion

magic. These effects end if Elturel is freed from the chains

of Avernus.

Dimensions. Each of the three levels of the cathedral

is set 20 feet higher than t he one below it. Rooms in the

cathedral are 15 feet high, and have 8-foot-high doorways

connecting them.

Doors. The doors of the cathedral are made of iron. Each

door is a Large object with AC 19 , 27 hit points, and immu-

nity to poison and psychic damage. If a door in the cathe-

dral is locked, it can be unlocked with a successful DC 17

Dexterity check with thieves' tools, or forced open with a

successful DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check.

Jllumination. Areas within the cathedral are brightly lit by

continual flame spells cast on wall sconces.

Walls. Climbing the outside walls of the cathedral with-

out e quipment requires a successful DC 15 Strength (Ath-

letics) check.

Windows. Most of the cathedral's windows were shat-

tered during the descent into Avernus, but the windows

are covered by defensive shutters that are latched from

within and swing outward on iron hinges. A successful

DC 17 Strength (Athletics) check or DC 15 Dexterity check

with thieves' tools opens a shutter from the outside. Each

sh utter is a Large object with AC 19, 2 7 hit points, and im-

munity to poiso n and psychic damage.

CHAPTER 2 I ELTUREL HAS FALLEN

Most of these descriptions highlight what the areas

contain if a devil attack has not ta ke n place there. Based

on the encounters provided in the "Cathed ra l Assault"

section above, you can adjust the text to describe what

is happening in an area and what it looks like during or

afte r a devil attack.

Hl. HALL OF HEROE S

Read the following as the characte rs enter this area:

At the top of the stairs leading up to the cathedral, an

archway opens into a long hall containing eight columns.

Some of the columns have been carved to represent

Torm, but the infernal magic of Avernus has warped the

others to represent likenesses of a winged female devil

wielding a luminous sword.

The devil represented in the magically altered columns

is Zariel.

T he woode n doors leading into the grand foyer have

been broke n ope n by the invading devils (s ee "Cathe-

dral Assault.'' page 59) and remain ajar. Four guards

lie dead in the doorways, eviscerated by one of those

devil-led groups.

H2. GRAND FOYER

The foye r holds two circ ular sta irwells. eac h leading

up to area H7 on the choir l evel. Decora ted pillars here

depict symbols and sce nes representative of Torm. Cur-

tains, some of the m shredded by weapons and claws,

separate this area from the heart of t he cathedral.

H3. CENTRALALTAR

Read the following as the characte rs ente r this area:

An altar rests on a raised dais in this broad hall. Made

of beautifully polished teakwood, it takes the shape of a

gauntleted hand clenched into a fist. A large l ever stands

next to the alta r, suggesting that it has some sort of me-

chanical function.

The lever can be pulled to open the hand, so that of-

ferings to Torm or bodies undergoing rituals can be

placed upon it.

Activating the Altar. Eve n with all tha t has happened

in the city, this altar re mains consecrated to Torm. A

creature that touches the alta r a nd s ucceeds on a DC

15 Charisma (Religion) c heck rega ins all its hit points.

This check can be attempted only once for any creature.

Though the powe r of the alta r works for any creature, it

is specifically attuned to those dedicated to Torm. Cler-

ics a nd paladins of Torm have advantage on the check.

Secre t Door. Any character who searches the altar

while the hand is ope ned and succeeds on a DC 15 Wis-

dom (P e rception) c heck detects a large secret panel in

the palm of the hand. The panel opens easily, revealing

a concealed staircase descending into the central por-

tion of the catacombs level, just west of area HlS.