evil, we stand united. Only the pure of heart can part
these holy gates."
A detect magic spell reveals an aura of abjuration
magic around the double door, which can be opened
only by a creature of good alignment while Lulu is
within 60 feet of the door. Lulu herself can open the
doors, if need be. If Lulu is alive but not present when
the characters try to enter the citadel, the doors remain
locked. The characters receive a telepathic message
from an unfamiliar female voice, saying, "Bring Lulu
here, and I'll let you inside." Only when the characters
return with Lulu can the doors be opened. If Lulu died
earlier in the adventure, she's waiting for them inside
the citadel, just beyond the doors.
When the doors open, a bright white light pours out,
filling area S14. Any fiend or undead that enters or
starts its turn in the light must succeed on a DC 22 Con-
stitution saving throw, taking 44 (8d10) radiant damage
on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful
one. Fiends and undead can't pass through the doorway
of the citadel even while the doors are open.
Character A dvancem ent. Allow players to advance
their characters from 11th to 12th level before they enter
the Bleeding Citadel.
ENTERING THE CITADEL
The characters should be 12th level by the time they
enter the Bleeding Citadel. The citadel has one purpose:
to keep the Sword of Zariel out of evil hands.
Read or paraphrase the following boxed text to the
players when the characters enter the Bleeding Citadel:A bright white light burns away the blood and grit stain-
ing your clothes. Restorative energy brings life to numb
muscles as the glow softens to reveal the interior of a
sun-kissed cathedral. How light passes through the scab
and into the stained glass windows is a mystery only
magic can answer.
Pillars line a path from the door to a raised dais carved
with Celestial runes. Embedded in a stone atop the dais
is a glowing longsword.If Lulu died earlier in the adventure, add the following:
I
Fluttering just inside the doorway is a golden hollyphant I
that greets you with a pleasing trumpet sound.Lulu has all her hit points if she's restored to life by thecitadel's magic. However, she has no memories between
the time the characters last saw her and now.
The holy power of the citadel restores the characters,
and they gain the benefits of a long rest. If a creature
gained a flaw from a blood pool or similar effect, the
flaw is removed. Casting detect magic in the Bleeding
Citadel reveals that the whole structure radiates auras
of abjuration and evocation magic.
The interior of the citadel is one large alabaster cham-ber brightly lit by magically created sunlight shining
through windows. The sword atop the dais is the Sword
CHAPTER 4 I SWORD OF ZARIEL
139