HE CHARACTERS SHOULD BE 11 TH LEVEL BYthe time they discover the location of the
Sword of Zariel. The weapon awaits them
in a cathedral formed out of positive energy.
Avernus abhors the structure and has sur-
rounded it in a bloody scab, earning it the
name the Bleeding Citadel. This scab has
also engulfed a demon named Crokek'toeck
that was sent by the demon lord Yeenoghu to
devour the blade. The holy power of the citadel resists
the scab's attempts to fully engulf it a nd make it one
with Avernus, leaving the top of the citadel visible. The
characters get directions to this location from Bel or
Olanthius in chapter 3.
Yeenoghu's demons carve tunnels through the scab
as they search for a way to free Crokek'toeck and break
into the Bleeding Citadel, which is otherwise impenetra-
ble. A nalfeshnee named Trantolox oversees this force.
APPROACHING THE CITADEL
As the characters approach the Bleeding Citadel, read
or paraphrase the following boxed text to the players:
A great, disgusting scab the size of a large hill rises up
from a stinking swamp of blood. The domed top of an
alabaster temple pokes through the scab. Many black
iron chains of Avernus converge on the building, attach-
ing within the grotesque mound.CHAPTER 4 I SWORD OF ZARI ELThe exposed portions of the Bleeding Citadel are im-
penetrable and indestructible. If Lulu is with the char-
acters. s he shares her fear that the scab will eventually
cover t he entire structure, whereupon the citadel will
be absorbed into the Nine Hells and the Sword ofZarie/
lost forever. She also tells the characters that the only
entra nce to the citadel i s cove red by the lower portion
of t he scab.
Yeenoghu's demons have dug tunnels and chambers
throughout the scab. Unless otherwise noted, Yeeno-
ghu's forces attack characters they notice and fight until
destroyed.
THE SCAB
The scab is 300 feet high. The lower 100 feet of the scab
is hard as rock. and each 5-foot cube of hard scab has
AC 17, 18 hit points, and immunity to poison and psy-
chic damage. The upper 200 feet is newer, softer growth
covered in weeping wounds. This part of the scab has
a spongy consistency and is much easier to destroy.
A 5-foot cube of soft scab has AC 9, 10 hit points, and
immunity to psychic damage. Damage to the soft scab
causes reeking blood to flow from the wound.
ENTERING THE SCAB