Descent into Avernus

(Nancy Kaufman) #1
of demon or demonic aUy. A good explanation- that
Ravengard is actually a great demon hunter, that he

has trapped a demon the characters plan to kill, and


so forth-alongside a successful DC 15 Charisma (De-


ception or Persuasion) check prompts Gideon to let


them pass.

ESCAPING THE SIEGE


When the characters arrive back at the High Hall ca-
thedral with Grand Duke Ravengard in tow, they can


consult with Pherria to find a way to remove the Helm


of Tor m's Sight without killing Ravengard. Doing so


involves a ritual that the characters can help carry out.


If the ritual is successful, the stunned condition ends on


Ravengard, and he recalls the visions he experienced


that hint at how to return Elturel to Faerun. These vi-


sions trigger some of Lulu's memories. She sees a path


forward, but it involves the characters leaving the city to


brave the terrible landscape of Avernus.
Characters wishing to leave Elturel must find a way to
avoid the River Styx and the host of devils and demons

waging war below the city. Only then can the characters


make their way to the outpost known as Fort Knuckle-


bone, where the next leg of their adventure starts (as


described in chapter 3).


RETURN TO THE CATHEDRAL


The characters can make their way back to the relative


safety of the cathedral in the High Hall. If they helped
defeat the devils that attempted to take the cathedral
earlier, the trip should be uneventful. Alternatively,


to keep the tension high, you can roll for random en-


counters in the western portion of the city (see "More


Encounters in Elturel," page 54). An encounter or


two while the characters protect Duke Ravengard could
make for memorable play.


RITUAL OF RETURNING


Upon returning to the High Hall cathedral with Ulder


Ravengard, the characters are greeted by PherriaJynks


and the druid Seltern Obranch, who rush to aid them


in getting the grand duke to a safe resting place. If the
characters faiJed to save the people in the cathedral,


they must find a safe place to rest or forge ahead with-


out assistance. They can search the rest of the city for


secure locations, or look for other survivors who might


have skills or information that can assist them. Lulu
might also regain memories that grant her insight into
where to go next.
If the characters failed to ascertain the story behind


Ravengard's stunned state, Pherria can assist them in


putting things together. Working with the acolyte, the


characters (especially those who have proficiency in Ar-


cana and Religion) determine how to move forward. The


demonic essence intertwined with Torm's presence by


way of the helm can be cast out with the proper ritual.


RITUAL PREPARATIONS


Pherria outlines what's needed for the ritual:


• The altar of Torm in area H6 must be cleansed and


the ritual performed before it. The altar of Torm can


be restored as described in area H6 (see page 61).


Pherria suggests that the characters splash the altar


with holy water taken from the font in area H16.


• A creature standing within 5 feet of the restored altar


must recite a special prayer to Torm. Only this prayer

can break evil's hold on Grand Duke Ulder Raven-


gard's mind.
A powerful symbol of courage and self-sacrifice is

needed to empower the ritual. Pherria suggests the


greatsword of the Unknown Hero in area HIS. (The


characters can use a different object that symbolizes


courage and self-sacrifice, at your discretion.)

PERFORMING THE PRAYER

Pherria warns the characters that she has never at-


tempted this particular ritual before, and that they


should be ready to step in and help her-or to fight off
any evil forces that might try to disrupt the process.

The ritual prayer takes 30 seconds to recite. Pher-


ria knows the prayer by heart, but another creature


can invoke a suitable prayer with a successful DC


10 Intelligence (Religion) check. While the prayer is


being spoken, one character must spend the next 5


rounds gently resting the sword of the Unknown Hero

on the Helm of Torm's Sight. While the prayer is being


spoken, the one holding the sword must succeed on a


DC 11 Constitution saving throw at the end of each of

their turns or take 10 (3d6) force damage.


Immediately after the character holding the sword
makes their first saving throw, the potent magic of the
ritual attracts demonic spirits loyal to Baphomet, which

emerge from the helm as two will-o'-wisps that attempt


to disrupt the ritual by attacking the individuals reciting
the prayer and holding the sword.

When the character holding the sword makes the last


saving throw, the ritual is complete. The will-o'-wisps


are banished, and Ravengard comes to his senses.


HELM O F T ORM'S SIGHT
You can simplify the encounter with Ulder Ravengard by
allowing the characters to remove the Helm ofTorm's
Sight from his head, whereupon Ravengard quickly regains
his senses. At that point, he can tell them about his vi·
sions, which provide the information they need and trigger
Lulu's memories. He then lets them plot a path forward in
their quest to save Elturel.
Alternatively, Ravengard can fall unconscious when the
helm is removed, even as the character who removes it
feels an almost overwhelming urge to don it. A charac·
ter who dons the helm feels at peace and sees visions
of troops in gleaming armor marching across a grassy
plain with military precision. In the next breath, the
character sees massive groups of disfigured monsters
loping across a blighted landscape, tearing at screaming
enemies. The character wearing the helm can't remove it
until they receive a bless spell from a worshiper ofTorm.
(Pherria fits this description.) In the meantime, as the
adventuring party travels back to the cathedral with the
still-unconscious Ravengard, the character wearing the
helm experiences the same visions that Ravengard was
having, as described in "The Path Forward" (page 72).
Ravengard then awakens after l hour, no worse for wear.

CHAPTER 2 I £LTUR£L HAS FALLEN
71
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