Descent into Avernus

examines the surrounding wall and succeeds on a DC

lS Wisdom (Perception) check.

These rooms are magically shielded against undead

creatures, such that undead can't enter either room or

even perceive its presence. Each ritual room appears to

contain nothing more than ankle-deep mist. However,

any character who explores a ritual room disturbs the

mist enough to see features hidden underneath it:

As you disturb the ankle-deep mist, it parts to reveal a

ritual circle daubed in blood on the floor. Hundreds of

slivers of parchment are arranged within it, each tiny

st rip bearing a name written neatly in blood.

The papers name every warrior interned in this place.

Any character who has seen the steles in area CS can,

with a successful DC 14 Intelligence (Arcana) check,

discern the papers' purpose: they bind the warriors'

souls to the steles and compel them to serve Zariel in

undeath· by the terms of their original oath to her. By

destroying the papers, the characters deactivate the

memorial steles and can release the knights' souls from

ser vitude (see area CS for details).

C7. 0LANTHIU$'$ RETREAT

This room is hidden behind a secret door. Characters

with passive Wisdom (Perception) scores of 15 or higher

spot the secret door once they get within 5 feet of it.

Otherwise, it can be found by a character who examines

the surrounding wall and succeeds on a DC 15 Wisdom

(Perception) check. If the characters open the secret

door, read the following boxed text to the players:

[

A stack of eight leather-bound journals rests atop a large [

writing table in this cramped chamber.

The journals belong to Olanthius the death knight

and are written in Common. Characters who spend a

short rest poring over the journals learn the following

information:

• Olanthius never recovered from Zariel's capitulation
  to Asmodeus and subsequent transformation into a

devil. He blames himself for not seeing warning signs

of Zariel's fall from grace early on-her single-minded

determination to slay demons at all costs.

• Olanthius took his life rather than face damnation, but

he was transformed into an undead monster by Zariel

to serve her forevermore.

• Olanthius describes Haruman, his one-time comrade

in arms, as a heartless man bereft of compassion-

now a devil bent on punishing anyone who stands in

Zariel's way.

• Olanthius mourns the deaths of his fallen warriors

and feels powerless to help them.

• Olanthius speaks well of General Yael, whom he

clearly respects and secretly adores. In one journal,

Olanthius hints that he knows where Yael hid the

Sword of Zariel but fails to note the location.

0LANTHIUS RETURNS

If the characters desecrate any of the tombs or disturb

the journals in area C7, Olanthius th_e death knight

returns to the crypt on a chariot pulled by two gorgons.

Olanthius is bound to protect the crypt and can be sum-

moned from anywhere in Avernus to fulfill his duties. He

descends below ground to hunt down intruders and in-

terrogate them, leaving the gorgons and chariot outside.

As Olanthius moves through the catacombs, he com-

pels any ghosts he encounters to fight at his side. Any

ghosts that the characters summoned from the urns

in the funerary chambers (area C2) transform into

specters under Olanthius's command and join him

on his hunt.

Olanthius is an extraordinarily powerful foe for 9th-

level characters. Fortunately, the characters can avoid

combat with the death knight once they realize he's will-

ing to help them.

DEVELOPMENT

Characters who parley with Olanthius can gain a valu-

able ally in the fight against Zariel. To stand any chance

of swaying the death knight to their cause, the char-

acters must have read his journals and learned of his

hatred for Zariel. Otherwise, he tries to annihilate them

for their impudence.

Olanthius is willing to reveal the Bleeding Citadel's

location only if the characters create a diversion to dis-

tract Zariel. The characters must seek out the demon

lord Kostchtchie, who is imprisoned in Avernus and

whose hammer Zariel stole. If freed, the demon lord is

sure to want its weapon back, which should create the

diversion that Olanthius needs.

The Arches of Ulloch can transport the characters to

Kostchtchie's Maw, where the demon lord is being held,

provided the characters have a clear destination in mind

as they pass through the arches. Olanthius provides

directions to the Arches ofUlloch and can point to that

location, as well as the location of Kostchtchie's Maw, on

the characters' map.

Once Kostchtchie is released, the characters can

report back to Olanthius at the Crypt of the Hellriders,

whereupon he reveals the Bleeding Citadel's location.

ARCHES OF ULLOCH

ONLY FOOLS STEP THROUGH ULLOCH"S GATES. THEY

lead to nowhere a wise person wants to go.

-The Cartographer

When the characters arrive at this location, read or

paraphrase the following boxed text to the players:

Two ornate, black arches dominate the scorched land-

scape for miles, each one rising two hundred feet into

the stiflingly hot air. Every inch of stonework is engraved

with images of devils waging war against demons.

CHAPTER 3 I AVERNUS

103