A Fifth Edition compatible

adventure that takes four

10th-level PCs to 13th level.
 part one 

T o Smite a Fiend is a tradi-

tional adventuring module in

the most historical sense, using the

Fifth Edition rules to evoke the clas-

sic style of RPG modules and boxed

sets from long ago!

These quests begin and end in the same re-

gion as To Slay a Dragon and To Stake a Vampire,
continuing the story of Holdenshire. After a
reign of terror that’s become known as the
Dark Winter, it seems as though the realm
has earned a bit of calm as spring ushers in a
pleasant summer.
The peoples of Hengistbury and Thornbury
have returned to their usually (mostly) friend-
ly selves, and the inflation from the hoard
of gold returned from the lair of the dragon writing Mike Myler
Cirothe has stabilized. This peace will soon be color art Claudio Pozas
shattered, however, as a local dabbler in the Alexandre Xavier
arcane takes his studies too far, undertaking maps Sean Macdonald
rituals that will endanger not just Holdenshire developer Russ Morrissey
and its people, but potentially the entire world! layout Eric Life-Putnam

EN World EN5ider
Introduction
While EN Publishing is known for producing
complex, advanced adventure paths for the ex-
perienced GM (like the Zeitgeist: The Gears of
Revolution and War of the Burning Sky ad-
venture paths*), this module is far more direct. To
Smite a Fiend is an old school, traditional, and nos-
talgic foray with simple plots, succinct creature
statistics that don’t overwhelm the game, and a
straightforward dungeon crawl amidst a sandbox
realm with demons, devils, and angels bearing
down upon mortal doings that will determine the
fate of events far beyond Holdenshire. All told this
classic adventure takes a group from 10th through
12th level.
adventure
timeline
1. The PCs arrive in Holdenshire and have a
little while to be introduced to the people of
Hengistbury and Thornbury, overhearing
rumors about strange happenings across
the region. After exploring a few leads that
alert the adventurers to a genuine danger in
the realm, the source of these troubles—the
errant and reclusive wizard Kalle Sirkesalo—
fails at his planar experiments most
spectacularly, retreating into his magically
protected tower as fiends run amok!
2. A group of celestials known as the Angelic
Fane send the emissary Araqiel to seek
out the party. The doings of the wizard are
causing major disruptions in the war between
Heaven and Hell, and the seraph beseeches
the party to act on behalf of the celestials to
stop him while they hold back their abyssal
and infernal foes. Several fiendish forces
roam across Holdenshire and with every one
the PCs defeat, the Angelic Fane promises to
empower them with celestial powers to help
them in this crucial quest.
3. With the blessings of the Angelic Fane the
party are able to force their way past the
wards protecting Kalle Sirkesalo’s tower.
Inside they have to contend with legions of
celestial soldiers, powerful magic traps, and
even fiends bound to the wizard. At its apex
they’ll find the mage himself though defeating
him (and the forces he is linked to) will be
more difficult a matter than a few deft sword
strikes and potent spells.
character
advancement
While GMs are welcome to track experience
points and reward levels based on the encounters
adventurers have throughout this adventure, it’s
recommended that groups embrace milestone re-
wards instead. When the PCs complete Act 1 they
reach 11th level, at the end of Act 2 they become
12th level, and after Act 3 is over and the adventure
is complete the party should all be 13th level.
  * If you’re interested in learning more about the full adventure paths
published by EN Publishing, browse to wotbsadventurepath.com
and zeitgeistadventurepath.com—these full adventure paths are
designed for experienced GMs!

Open Game Content | The game rule information in this article is designated Open Game Content. All other
EN material in this article, including maps and illustrations (including illustrations in the public domain), in- and out-of-

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To Smite a Fiend, Part One  |  EN World EN5ider

Act Structure
As a sandbox adventure there’s a variety of ways To
Smite A Fiend can play out. GMs are encouraged to
let the PCs find their own way to the plots through-
out Holdenshire, using rumors in the tavern to
lead them to creatures and NPCs of consequence.
act 1:
foreshadowing
fiends
Everyone is eager for their calm and idyllic lives to
continue after the disruptions of the Dark Winter,
making many of the people in Hengistbury and
Thornbury reluctant to see any looming threats,
evil influence, or unexplainable circumstances.
I: Witnesses of Evil
Not everyone in the realm is willing to stick their
heads in the sand. When his servant Hunchbacked
Roland and Freya Aeval return with the forbid-
den reagents, Kalle Sirkesalo starts dabbling in
diabolism. For the most part his failed attempts
only present a brief danger to the townsfolk—his
summoned fiends are only able to maintain their
connection to the Material Plane for a short time
and although they strike terror, no one is slain by
the conjured creatures. Their trails lead back to
Murray’s Folly where the wizard’s underling has
been seen from time to time, and the party might
also hear of the planar phenomena from Aus or
John-Francis Rainweaver, but by the time they re-
alize the mage is responsible it’s too late.
II: Sirkesalo’s Mistake
A devil summoning finally goes awry and Kalle
Sirkesalo unleashes a horned devil upon Holden-
shire, one whose time on the Material Plane is
limited by nothing. The adventurers discover the
fiend as Lady Sybill Pemberton is slain by the crea-
ture, her soul utterly destroyed! Meanwhile the
wizard Kalle Sirkesalo retreats to his tower and
incredibly potent wards go up around it—nothing
EN World EN5ider |  To Smite a Fiend, Part One
can get inside without its master allowing entry—at
which point Hunchbacked Roland and Freya Aeval
rush to the PCs to tell them about the summoning
rituals being used to bind fiends and celestials.
Before the next sunset the party are visited by a
seraph on behalf of the Angelic Fane, promising
them that for their help the celestials will bestow
upon each a potent blessing to help beat back the
fiendish powers encroaching on Holdenshire. The
adventurers also discover that time is of the es-
sence, learning from Karatilana “Tila” Torin that
two thieving boys (John Tulworth and Kit Bartle-
by) were casing the mage’s keep before the wards
were activated and now the two are nowhere to be
found, likely hiding from whatever planar forces
await within.
act 2: celestial
blessings
The party must defeat a set of great evils so the
Angelic Fane can take and transform each broken
entity’s powers into blessings that will ultimately
allow them to break through the wards protecting
the wizard’s tower and bring an end to the malevo-
lence throughout Holdenshire.
Broken Chains
When wards go up around Kalle Sirkesalo’s tower a
planar rift opens within Murray’s Folly, a bridge to
an infernal realm ruled over by an agonized kyton.
Cursed chains reach out from within to corrupt
lands far from the anomaly, and to bring an end
to the suffering caused by them the PCs need to
either bring peace to the fiend or slay it.
Cult of Zustramet
People are disappearing, kidnapped by infernal
dwarves revived beneath the quarry and used as
blood sacrifices to appease the demon Zustramet.
As more abductions occur it becomes clear that
the trails of the kidnappers lead back to the mines,
and down a new passage the PCs find a ruinous
kingdom radiating evil into the rocks all around
it—as well as infernal dwarves hellbent on making
the adventurers their newest sacrifices.
Resist Temptation
A quartet of incubi and succubi (whatever the PCs
will be attracted to) are desperate to get inside the
tower and will be able to bypass the wards with the
willingly given soul of a powerful mortal. These
fiends appear as normal travelers, attempting to
isolate and seduce each of the adventurers (only
acting in concert when one of them has been re-
vealed and tricking the party will be too difficult).
Tomb of Water and Ice
Juide “Black-Hand” Averauh has been picking
meat off the half-eaten carcasses left by these
predators for almost a year now, unaware that the
greater predator he’s been benefiting from is not
entirely of this world—and that it’s not alone. Two
fiendish remorhaz lurk beneath the waters and the
dirt around Ayle’s Falls and Ayle’s Loch, taking a
forgotten tomb behind the waterfall as their lair.
act 3: trapped
tower
With the help of the Angelic Fane’s blessings the
adventurers can force their way into the warded
wizard’s tower of Kalle Sirkesalo, and once there
contend with several levels of traps and conjured
creatures dedicated to stopping their ascent.
1st Floor: Hall of Heaven’s Army
First the PCs face an army of regenerating spirits—
celestials bound to the wizard’s will—that become
more powerful each time they are destroyed until
finally transforming into massive soldiers protect-
ing the way forward.
2nd Floor: Hall of the Spiritual Circle
Trials of the heart and will await the adventurers
here, and though they may choose to skip the or-
deal those who suffer through it gain a potent sight
that will serve them well in the levels above.
To Smite a Fiend, Part One  |  EN World EN5ider
3rd Floor: Hall of Holy Flames
Divine fires roil across this chamber without
rhyme or reason, and hidden amongst them are
powerful celestial defenders unwilling to let the
adventurers pass: devas able to see through the
holy flames.
4th Floor: Hall of Light
The most powerful of the fiends summoned by the
wizard waits here amongst a labyrinth of solidi-
fied divine light, and to reach the floor above the
party must slay the marilith Kizgorath as it weaves
between the passages slowing their progress.
5th Floor: Wizard’s Sanctum
Finally the PCs can confront the doomed mage
behind all the fiendish chaos, but there is no
peaceful end to his endeavors: Kalle Sirkesalo is
certain that only he can bring an end to the dan-
gers he’s brought to this realm. Shortly after being
defeated however, the true force behind the ma-
levolence is revealed and the adventurers face the
most dangerous fiend they’ve encountered yet, a
creature that will bring Hell to Holdenshire if it is
not stopped.
holdenshire
county
The realm of Holdenshire’s idyllic woodlands and
fields is ruled over by Lady Pemberton—recent
events have seen her husband transformed into an
undead slain in the scourge against a primordial
evil that gripped these lands not long ago. While
those dark times are behind these simple and fair
folk the perils that endanger their homes are not
yet ended, and if no heroes rise up to defeat the
fiendish powers soon to be unleashed then this
place of peace and prosperity will finally fall.
After the harrowing tyranny paid upon Hold-
enshire by a red dragon the Pembertons hired
adventurers to destroy its lair in Skull Mountain
far to the east, and with its fall great wealth spread
among the common people throughout the re-
gion—as did the shadow of the primordial vampire
Nemirtvi, unleashed from captivity in the foray
against Cirothe. Hidden in ruins and dungeons Persons of Note
across the county were tombs of long-dead heroes Aus
•
devoted to the destruction of undead, leaving be- John-Francis Rainweaver
•
hind powerful relics defended by traps set by their Juide “Black-Hand” Averauh
•
descendants. With these in hand a band of adven- Karatilana “Tila” Torin
•
turers (ideally in both cases these groups are the John Tulworth
•
PCS) delved beneath Brockendale Castle and into Kit Bartleby
•
the abattoir of the ancient evil, slaying him and Kalle Sirkesalo
•
finally bringing an end to his malevolence. Hunchbacked Roland
•
With the thawing of winter’s snows came the Freya Aeval
•
return of normalcy in Holdenshire’s economy, the Lady Sybill Pemberton
•
remains of the vast amounts of coin taken back
from Cirothe’s lair now tucked away in hidden Table: Bleeding Heart Tavern Food Menu
places by the common people for the next time Item Price
something terrible occurs in their homeland— Braised river bass 4 cp
events that come with the heat of the summer. The Seared sahuagin cuts 8 cp
reclusive wizard Kalle Sirkesalo has been holed Strung rabbit on a stick 1 sp
up in his tower south of Hengistbury for many Twitching lizard stew 3 sp
months now, hard at work in preparation for his Savory boar tart 8 sp
greatest arcane feat yet: the binding of a fiend. De- Poached hawk 1 gp
spite all his preparations, the mage’s rituals bring Saucy fungus and warthog pie 3 gp
doom, woe, and death to the realm and if allowed Chef’s choice (changes daily) 5 gp
to reach their fruition will literally bring Hell to
Holdenshire. Rorus Klain, and Three-Fingered Jake—are still
meeting here frequently, recounting tales of the
hengistbury exploits by heroes that have saved the settlement.
locations The cold shadowy bar this had become is no more
There are a host of locations throughout Hengist- and it is once again a pleasant, warm place to rest
bury that play a part in the previous modules or and drink the night away.
this adventure; these are some of the most impor-
tant locales in To Smite A Fiend. Brand Torek’s Cabin
The local sheriff Brand Torek still uses his home
The Bleeding Heart Tavern as his office but has taken a more relaxed approach
The social hub of Hengistbury is a respectable to his job since the end of the undead scourge,
business happily staffed by villagers in a rotat- confident that Holdenshire won’t be made to suf-
ing schedule that cycles weekly (meaning that fer again so soon. He still does regular patrols but
everyone has worked at the bar on one night spends more time here than he does traversing
or another). Meredith Jones has kept the place the region, helping further his daughter Ariadne’s
together through the unrest and foul tempers education and leaving Jayel and Yara Bloodclaw to
spread in the shadow of the primordial vampire, keep a closer eye on things.
and both her pleasant demeanor and reasonable
prices have returned (see Table: Bleeding Heart Samuel & Son’s Trading Company
Tavern Food menu, on this page, and Table: Bleed- With the return of normalcy this go-between for
ing Heart Tavern Drink Meno, on the next page). the towns and the world at large has further ce-
The tavern’s most loyal patrons—Stefan the Baker, mented itself in Holdenshire. Now that everyone

EN World EN5ider |  To Smite a Fiend, Part One

Table: Bleeding Heart Tavern Drink Menu
Drink Price Description
Black Rock Lager 3 cp turquoise, sticky, smells like sewage
Lonely Dragon Beer 1 sp ivory, opaque, smells like stale bacon
Dwarven Slateshield Stout 3 gp white, opaque, smells like acrid smoke
Elven Ininyë Wine 5 sp crimson, cloudy, smells like rotting pears
Yellow Dog Cider 8 sp charcoal, fizzing, smells like sweat
Lazy Prior Grog 1 gp orange, bubbly, smells like sour wine
Bachelor’s Snake Grog 3 gp ivory, fizzing, smells like scorched spices
Honest John Cognac 5 gp turquoise, translucent, smells like sulfur

has finished spending excessively the demand
and supply of goods has tempered, and the head
office’s liaison Willem Von Nederveen has used to
make the business a reliable asset for his far-off
investors.
The Temple
The simple wooden house of worship in Hen-
gistbury has seen a resurgence in attendance
following the terrors wrought by Nemirtvi months
ago as people seek solace in faith. The stout oak
walls and roof, harvested from the Queenswood,
are festooned with carvings of wild animals on
the hunt that mark it as a place devoted to the gods
of farming and hunting. Lady Sybill Pemberton
always attends daily services alongside her assis-
tants Prirkka and Ariel.
Goods & Services
There are more shops and stalls of trade in Hen-
gistbury than what’s listed below and GMs are
encouraged to include whatever else seems appro-
priate for the adventure.
The Bakery is the business of Steffen the Baker
and one of Hengistbury’s most resilient institu-
tions. The quality of his product suffered a bit over
the winter just like his mood, but with the end of
the ancient evil’s influence his top notch loaves re-
turned. Steffen’s generally friendly disposition has
returned as well, and he’s taken to giving out any
extra after it’s gone stale and before it gets too hard
or moldy.
Clothbinder’s Cheese Shop made it through
the harrowing winter with a hefty profit for such
a troubling time, and just like the weather Tem-
rus Clothbinder’s heart has warmed. He keeps the
shop open from noon to dusk, and when he’s not
there he even leaves a few things out with a small
tin to collect coins he trusts his loyal customers to
pay. Some have claimed that these left out cheeses
have an untoward scent
With the rush of orders from the dark times of
last winter now past, Rorus Klain has happily re-
turned a more leisurely pace to his work at The
Forge. He’s not stopped being gruff of course, but
after a few drinks are in him he engages with the
revelry around him at the Bleeding Heart Tavern
and sometimes even cracks a joke or two. Those
who talk with him long enough hear his worries
about the fires in his workshop getting hotter than
usual despite no changes whatsoever in his rou-
tine or materials.
Although there’s not much demand for it now,
Krebs Apothecary has an abundance of holy water
all marked with a 33% discount. Heinrich Krebs is
all too happy for the peace returned to Holdenshire
and has recovered from the economic plight of the
recent inflation though not without cost—there are
some people that have grown suspicious of him,
half-fooled by the false tinctures he callously sold
trying to make ends meet through the winter.
Penner’s Pig Farm hasn’t been repurposed since
its owner’s unfortunate demise (and subsequent
resurrection as vampire spawn). At some point
someone let all his hogs loose, and only Lucy—a
brown and pink sow with a deformed lip—has re-
mained, sometimes wandering into Hengistbury
looking for scraps.

To Smite a Fiend, Part One  |  EN World EN5ider

 The morose and beardless dwarf Stedd Grim-
wald’s potion shop has changed with the times,
offering up more miraculous elixirs at lower pric-
es than only half a year ago. Anyone that buys him
a few rounds at the Bleeding Heart Tavern can
win him over and get him to reveal why: he senses
great magics are afoot in Holdenshire and hopes
that the promise of cheap potions will bring more
adventurers to the town.
t hor nb ury
l ocation s
The alchemist of Thornbury (Emery Shier) has
moved his work out of his kitchen and into a small
shed adjourning his home—and the fresh air is
doing him good, lifting his spirits and inspiring
him to try new things. Most of the day he’s hard at
work trying to make innovative concoctions in an
effort to keep up with Stedd Grimwald in the next
town over, but so far he’s only succeeded in mak-
ing more flavorful and satisfying potions, and he
is overly eager to get whatever edge might elevate
his craft above the competition.
With the discovery of Nemirtvi’s lair beneath
his feet, the local scribe Tillian Bricklebottom has
dived into research and documentation, chroni-
cling both the recent and long past heroism of
Holdenshire’s saviors. Between forays under
Brockendale Castle and to the tombs of the Or-
der of Light, he can be found in his Ink and Quill
shop attending to royal missives on behalf of Lady
Pemberton. Although he has been having dis-
turbing dreams, Tillian is extremely wary of foul
influence during these delves and chalks that up
to shot nerves; he’s certain that the darkness of the
primordial vampire’s influence has been entirely
purged.
Thornbury’s tavern and inn, Denhew’s Pub ’n’
Grub, has been a hive of activity every night this
summer. Horatio Denhew is incredibly pleased
about the upturn in business, using the high de-
mand to train his new apprentice: a confident,
cheerful, and persistent performer and cook
named Ermengarde Clayhanger. Despite her size
and youth the halfling is more than up to the
EN World EN5ider |  To Smite a Fiend, Part One
Grimwald’s Potions
The dwarven potionmaker Stedd Grimwald has
drawn many an adventurer to Hengistbury in search
of cheap concoctions. His potions are available to the
adventurers at half price, unless you as GM decide
otherwise.
Fizzy Lifter
Potion, common
This glass bottle contains a brown bubbly liquid
and bears a winking wizard on the label. When you
are unconscious and made to sniff this powerful con-
coction, make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On
a failure, you immediately wake up.
Alternatively, when you consume this potion you
are targeted by the levitate spell (save DC 14) but are
also bloated, taking a −2 penalty to Constitution sav-
ing throws for the duration.
Skull Liqueur
Potion, uncommon
This crystal phial appears empty unless it is agi-
tated, which reveals that it is filled to the brim with
a clear liqueur. Close examination reveals bubbles
within the liquid that seem to be shaped like tiny
skulls. Pouring the phial’s contents into the mouth of
a dead creature animates it as if it were the target of a
speak with dead spell.
Snapping Pebbles
Potion, common
When you consume one of these bright turquoise
pebbles, you can use a bonus action to throw your
voice to any point you can see within 60 feet, and your
voice emanates directly from that point until the start
of your next turn. This effect lasts for 1 hour.
Alternatively, you can consume all 12 snapping
pebbles to cast thunderwave as a 2nd-level spell
(dealing 2d8 thunder damage; save DC 14). You are
made an additional target of the spell when casting
it in this way.
task, and word of how good the new cuisines she’s
brought with her have spread across Holdenshire
and a bit beyond.
 The friendship between Donald Morrison and
Rorus (his counterpart in Hengistbury) has re-
covered from the tension wrought by their fierce
competition last winter, and now the fires in Mor-
rison’s Forge are burning every day as he prepares
smaller pieces to be incorporated into his com-
panion’s pieces. Donald enjoys the artistry in his
supportive role and is getting better with every
intricate crossguard or necklace inlay he creates.
He’s noticed however that Rorus has been asking
for more durability lately, and that several of his
greatest and most artistic creations have been
ruined by fires that were much hotter than they
should’ve been subjected to.
Thornbury Bakery’s reputation suffered as
news of ground corpse meal in the bread spread
across Holdenshire, but Reg Bakerman threw him-
self back into his work, and after a rough spring
people have finally started coming back to his
shop. Reg has stopped drinking in the day, but he
still ties one on every night in the tavern, drinking
until close and preparing his doughs while inebri-
ated so they can rise as he sleeps it off.
To Smite a Fiend, Part One  |  EN World EN5ider
The Veterinary Clinic run by Albert Wright is
abandoned half the time as its proprietor goes
about observing the peculiarities of nature in
Ayle’s Loch and Ayle’s Falls to the southeast. His
studies have convinced him that something unnat-
ural is in the water and that there’s a new predator
in that area, but utterly stumped as to what it could
be—he’s got a bad feeling about it that he just can’t
shake.
the people of
holdenshire
This part of the adventure is for keeping tabs on
the extensive cast of both Hengistbury and Thorn-
bury—as a “sandbox” style setting, we’ve included
a bevy of plot hooks and suggestions. Not all of
these NPCs are critical to the plot, but should be
used to truly bring the potentially doomed lands
of Holdenshire to life.
Both the Rosewynds and the Fierendzi trading
caravans moved on with the coming of spring, one
heading northeast, the other southeast. The gi-
ant Ugg chose to go with the former, and after the
horrors of the winter Nazid Adashim (the owner
of Spice of Life) has temporarily closed his shop to
travel with the latter so that he might reinvigorate
his supplies. With their help he’s hidden away most
of his stock somewhere in the Weirwood—bury-
ing a small fortune of preservatives in the dirt for
safekeeping. Also absent is Tamas Agrens, a sage
that was forced into accepting an infernal deal in
the Dark Winter and transformed into a specter
that has since been destroyed.
Albert Wright
The local veterinarian is the
twelfth of thirteen children that
grew up near the hills around
Brockendale Castle and has an
insatiable desire to take care of
exotic creatures. Albert’s clinic
is just southeast of Thornbury
though as of late he’s taken to
spending a lot of time studying
animals in the wilderness be-
tween the Fogmoor and Queenswood, gradually
circling around Ayle’s Loch and Ayle’s Falls as he
tries to pinpoint a new predator roaming the area.
Ariadne
Brand Torek’s niece led a very pleas-
ant life until a while ago—kobolds
kidnapped her and she was held cap-
tive for months, to be sacrificed to the
dragon Cirothe. Adventurers rescued
her from Skullmouth Mountain
and since then she’s grown from
a child into a woman. The atten-
tions of Gord Mortimer aren’t
beneath her notice and through the
dangerous times of winter he proved
his valor so she’s returned his affections in full.
Her uncle Brand has become less protective than
he was months ago, and whenever they aren’t at
work on some task she can be found frollicking in
the fields or forests with Gord.
EN World EN5ider |  To Smite a Fiend, Part One
Ariel
Midwife, herb supplier, and
subordinate of Lady Sybill,
the past year has not been easy
for Ariel. A mage of some talent,
her efforts to protect the com-
munity throughout the harsh winter
have made her much less caring and
kind than she once was, and more in-
dependent too—she used to be always
found alongside her fellow clergy, Prikka Strong-
fist, but now they only dine together a few times a
week in between religious services. Her tongue is
razor sharp and she’s getting a reputation for be-
ing a merciless taskmaster, though really she only
wants what is best for Holdenshire.
Aus
The rumormongering of en-
ergized young Aus has finally
caught up with him and most
people in Hengistbury con-
sider him an annoyance at
best or a troublemaker at
worst. This is particularly
bad timing because much to
his horror, the boy witnessed
one of Kalle Sirkesalo’s infernal rituals and is
convinced the wizard poses a grave threat to Hold-
enshire—or so he says.
Brand Torek
A tall fellow square of jaw and stout of
arm, Brand Torek’s pleasant and po-
lite demeanor has returned with
the thawing of winter. Retired
from adventuring himself,
after the end of Nemirtvi’s
foul influence he’s got a
good feeling about Hold-
enshire’s future, taking a
decidedly optimistic bent
and strongly approving of the growing romance
between his daughter Ariadne and the lad Gord
Mortimer.
Donald Morrison
A giant of a man, Donald is al-
ways found wearing a kilt and
normally hard at work in
his forge in Thornbury.
Though their working re-
lationship was strained in
the primordial vampire’s
shadow, now that things
have returned to nor-
mal he and Rorus Klain
from Hengistbury have reforged their friendship
and returned to specialized tasks (Donald focus-
ing more on artistry than basic production). It’s
not perfect however, and recently he’s gotten a bit
miffed about the heat from Rorus’ forges melting
away much of his best work.
Emery Shier
The skills of Thornbury’s
alchemist are gradually im-
proving as he tries to make
higher quality concoctions
able to properly compete
against the breakneck prices
his competition in Hengist-
bury is charging, but he knows
he’s losing. After the struggle throughout winter to
keep his business going, Emery is prepared to do
practically anything to get the upper hand against
Stedd Grimwold whether that’s subterfuge, unusu-
al reagents, or something else.
Ermengarde Clayhanger
Horatio Denhew’s search for a regular performer
ended when he found this spirited halfling—a
woman handy with a lute and deft at cookery. Er-
mengarde grew up far to the east in Redcliff and
trained in the bardic college there but always
dreamed of opening her own tavern, so when the
opportunity to do so dropped in her lap she didn’t
hesitate. Most days she’s late to bed after closing up
the Pub ’n’ Grub and then early to rise so she can
sneak into the Thornbury Bakery to fix the drunk-
en errors made by its well-meaning proprietor.
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Freya Aeval
Freya Aeval is a tiny, adorable pixie girl with long
braided red hair, blue eyes, and pink and black
butterfly-like wings. She spends much of her time
in the vicinity of the Bleeding Heart Tavern, and
she can be a source of information about the Weir-
wood. She and Hunchbacked Roland have been an
item for nearly a year now, though his master Kalle
Sirkesalo has been keeping him too busy lately for
the two to spend much quality time together.
Gavin Morrigan
A dark haired man going gray at
the temples, Gavin is known for a
surprising determination, dedicat-
ed to his writing. Despite his
near-constant scholarly pur-
suits in the Bleeding Heart
Tavern, he is a fine physi-
cal specimen. Gavin
hasn’t revealed to anyone what exactly he’s
writing, but there’s clearly something (or more ac-
curately, someone) keeping him in Hengistbury.
Heinrich Krebs
The owner of Krebs Apothecary in
Hengistbury, Heinrich is better
at talking about being an apoth-
ecary than he is at actually being
one—and after his behavior in
the Dark Winter people are
getting wise to his tricks. He
knows he’s not in everyone’s
good graces, and has gone
out of his way to be as gen-
erous as possible with the stockpile of holy water
he’s gathered. No matter the events of the day he is
outgoing, overly friendly, and as polite as possible
in his bid to win back peoples’ good favor.
Hunchbacked Roland
Despite not being named Roland or having a
hunchback, this servant of the wizard Kalle Sirke-
salo hasn’t been able to shirk the rude nickname
saddled onto him by the other children in his youth.
He is deeply in love with the pixie Freya Aeval and
will stop at nothing to protect her, and though he
has reservations about the research undertaken by
his master he’s more fearful of retribution against
her than he is the potential consequences of the
mage’s plans.
Horatio Denhew
Since Ermengarde’s arrival
profits at the Pub ’n’ Grub
have been high and this
tavern owner is enjoy-
ing the nightly revelry
in his establishment
in Thornbury, gradu-
ally placing more and more work on his new
apprentice’s shoulders. His travels during the win-
ter and spring have resulted in quite a few tales
he’s all too happy to recount, though most of the
townsfolk are fairly certain that the heroics he at-
tributes to himself are at least mildly exaggerated.
Jahmus “Jayel” Laekin
The retired scout Jahmus Laekin
has become a tracker of fugi-
tives for Brand. While generally
peaceful, “Jayel” has little remorse
for enacting vengeance on mali-
cious folk (the ones he finds
to be that sort, anyway). His
compulsions for violence are
normally tempered by the Sheriff, and when the
two of them aren’t on dangerous patrols Laekin
has taken to ranging across the Queenswood and
Weirwood in search of any latent threats left be-
hind by Nemirtvi’s evil influence.
John-Francis Rainweaver
Once a court scholar in
Northminster, John-Francis
was dismissed after a catas-
trophe involving the young
prince there. Since then Rain-
weaver has become a woodsman
in Holdenshire collecting wood,
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meat, and skins for the two villages. Lately he’s
been experiencing dreams that are becoming
more and more frequent, imploring him to seek
out a strange phenomenon outside of Murray’s
Folly—a task that promises John-Francis the re-
demption he so craves.
John Tulworth
Known to the other kids as “the
toad,” John is a disreputable thief
that’s fallen under the influence
of a local fence, Kitster “Kit” Bailey.
The duo have gone up and down the
Samuel & Sons warehouse and
are moving on to other plac-
es to rob. The dealer of stolen
goods has been furious over their lack of success in
finding a certain trinket—one that John may know
the location of. Perhaps the influence of Kit has
steered the young Tulworth down the wrong path
and he’s truly a good son of Holdenshire; his dis-
tant demeanor implies he’s gotten in over his head
somehow (of that there’s no doubt) but whether it’s
guilt or something more he won’t say.
Juide “Black-Hand” Averauh
Rarely seen in the towns them-
selves, Juide is the woodsman
most credited with keeping the
villages of Holdenshire’s stock
of meat well-supplied. It’s as-
sumed that he mostly hunts game
in the Queenswood though the
truth is far darker than that (a se-
cret he keeps to himself). Although
not seen much during the winter Juide’s become
a common sight in the settlements again, and has
even lowered the prices he charges for his meat—
although none of it lasts long and he insists it be
cooked and consumed the same day it is sold. Al-
bert Wright is certain now that he’s seen the ranger
near Ayle’s Loch several times since winter began,
though what the hunter was up to he’s unsure.
Kalle Sirkesalo and are about to stumble into true danger—the
About 5 miles downstream from likes of which neither might survive.
Hengistbury sits the isolated wiz-
ard tower of Kalle Sirkesalo. He is Logan Brokenbarrel
extremely aloof and normally This dwarf hides his old army
only has contact with the regimental tattoos—Logan
people of Holdenshire by won’t discuss the dark
proxy, through his assistant past connected to them,
Hunchbacked Roland (who perhaps even taking
is neither hunchbacked or named Roland). The dangerous actions to si-
mage’s servant and his paramour (the pixie Freya lence anyone that finds
Aeval) were away most of the winter collecting ex- out what they’re actually about. Some of the stone
otic components, and since their return the pair from the quarry has been strangely colored or pat-
haven’t had much if any time to themselves as the terned, difficult to work with if the builder Robert
wizard undertakes plans he’s spent years prepar- Macbain is to be believed, and he’s keen to learn
ing for. what may be wrong with his worksite and spook-
ing the miners. He suspects that Stedd Grimwold’s
Karatilana “Tila” Torin sorcerous origins might have something to do with
A “rogue economist” who it, but he doesn’t want to offend his fellow dwarf
believes deeply in the redis- and wants to avoid making any accusations.
tribution of wealth (often
personally handling the mat- Lord and Lady Pemberton
ter herself), “Tila” isn’t a favorite The good Lord Pemberton
among the villagers of Hengistbury and Lady Sybill Pemberton
or Thornbury. She escaped from Brand have benevolently governed
Torek’s jail before the autumn festival and over the county of Hold-
may still be found in Holdenshire, pleased enshire for some
that the inflation caused by the gold returned time, collecting, en-
from Cirothe’s lair has ended. Since then she’s acting laws, and
turned her attention to discovering who’s been generally keeping
doing robberies throughout the settlements, keep- things running, as well
ing a watchful eye on John Tulworth and Kitster as overseeing the Bleed-
Bartleby. ing Heart Tavern and organizing the
annual harvest festival—all told, they are quite be-
Kitster “Kit” Bartleby loved by the populace. Or rather, they were quite
A charismatic criminal, Kitster beloved; Lord Pemberton is no longer among the
“Kit” Bartleby was the original living or the undead, slain by adventurers after
source of troubles with Samuel contracting vampirism. Lady Sybill Pemberton
& Sons (convincing John Tulworth was devastated by his treacherous demise and
to steal items from the company). has fallen back onto her faith, spending much of
Dealing in illicit goods is his purvey her time in the temple and trusting her adjutants
but the thefts of months ago didn’t (Ariel and Prirkka) to make up for the slack left by
attract the item the fence desired. He and John Tul- her late husband’s absence.
worth are still going about their nefarious doings

To Smite a Fiend, Part One  |  EN World EN5ider

Mallory Jackdaw
During the harvest festival
young Mallory turned 8 years of
age and since then he’s taken to
parting his brown hair. The
events of last winter put
a chill on his exuberance
however, and he is careful
of falsehoods—more likely
he’s telling on the misdeeds of
others, seeking approval after the berating he re-
ceived for spreading rumors that disparaged the
last heroes to save Holdenshire.
Meredith Jones
The only permanent employee of
the Bleeding Heart Tavern, Mer-
edith became very bitter with
everyone’s sudden reluctance to
pick up shifts throughout the
winter and angrily raised pric-
es. Her mood (and the menu)
have improved throughout the
spring though and she’s back to
her usual merry self, frequently flashing charmed
looks at Gavin Morrigan as he tends to his writings.
Mortimer Brothers.
The local “thieves’
guild” consists of
three young or-
phans: Gord, Beej,
and Poke. These
mischievous children
delight in partaking in
adventure of all kinds and
typically bite off more
than they can chew, though this past year they’ve
learned the dangers that can come from their
reckless behavior and are starting to get wise. The
oldest of them, Gord, is coming of age and keen
on Ariadne—and she has come to appreciate those
affections, spending a great deal of time with him
enjoying the favorable summer weather.
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Mylani Azalathellon
The local self-appointed courtmaster,
this teenager half-elf carries two small
books with her at all times: one to re-
cord transgressions of the law, and a
book of common laws in Holdenshire.
For a while she worked in Tillian
Bricklebottom’s Ink and Quill shop,
but with Lord Pemberton gone she’s
truly embraced her role as a master
of the law, traveling about the realm looking for
violations and taking notes on practices that might
benefit from some legal regulation.
Prirkka Strongfist
Holdenshire’s second midwife, Prirk-
ka Strongfist is an older half-orc
woman showing the graying hairs
of her 50 years of age. Were that
not enough to make her appear-
ance unsettling, one of her eyes
is green and the other is brown
(and she is allergic to cats). Mis-
trust of the half-orc waned during the
autumn festival but resurged when she became
the heavier-handed proxy of Lady Sybill while
Lord Pemberton battled his illness, and since then
ill-feelings about her have cooled to varied mea-
sures of respect. Prirkka is usually found working
at some task, sometimes sharing a meal with her
friend Ariel when the opportunity arises, and oth-
erwise frequently visiting the temple alongside
the noble she so dutifully serves.
Reg Bakerson
The baker of Thornbury is a friend-
ly fellow with a penchant for saying
awkward things seemingly always
at the worst possible moment.
That reputation suffered a bit
in the treachery of the Dark
Winter when he was driven
to drink in excess, his claims of a haunting ghost
ignored by most until it was revealed that a ser-
vant of the vampires was poisoning his bread with
corpse meal. Since then he has worked hard to win
back his good reputation, staying off the booze un-
til the evening hours when he heads down to the
Pub ’n’ Grub for some relaxation.
Robert Macbain
Rough hands and stout mus-
cles mark Robert Macbain as
a true laborer, traits honed by
reworking stone drawn out of
the quarry. A fair bit of the
wealth enjoyed throughout
Holdenshire went to him in con-
tracts to fortify foundations, build additions, and
even construct a few new homes and he’s been
hard at work—and at this point certain that the
building materials coming out of the quarry are
not quite right. The builder has been late to work
habitually and the few folks that pry rather than
complain learn that Robert’s been having horrible
nightmares every night, depriving him of sleep,
and although no one else can smell it he swears
that there’s a curious odor coming off the blocks
turned over to him by Logan Brokenbarrel.
Rorus Klain
A large man in his early 40s, the
smith of Hengistbury is a very surly
and busy man. Still filling in
back orders from the heyday
of the payout from Cirothe’s
lair but with far fewer com-
plaints from overly eager
customers, Rorus is begrudgingly happier and
can be found working the forge from early in
the morning (before sunrise) until an hour be-
fore the sun sets. Then he heads to the Bleeding
Heart Tavern (often avoiding the angry demands
of his wife Yulana, the one person in Hengistbury
that the smith fears) where he’s a nightly regular.
After reforging his friendship with Donald Mor-
rison he’s increased production by relying on the
Thornbury smith to do more intricate pieces to be
incorporated into his reliable base work, but since
summer rolled in after enough drinking he’s taken
To Smite a Fiend, Part One  |  EN World EN5ider
to complaining that his forge fires burn too hot
and he can’t understand why.
Stedd Grimwold
A dwarven sorcerer of some
renown, Stedd discovered his
powers in a traumatic acci-
dent that claimed the lives
of many of his fellow min-
ers. He learned to master
the magic imbued into him years ago but hasn’t
grown his hair back or gotten over accidentally
killing his family members. The dwarf is in denial
about the source of the powers bestowed on him
beneath the quarry—magic he is certain has fiend-
ish roots—and after the Dark Winter he’s redoubled
his efforts to draw adventurers to Holdenshire so
that they might protect it, worried of what will
come if others learn the truth behind his sorcery
or if anything similar occurs in the mines again.
Stefan Oakfell
An older ranger, Stefan Okfell
mostly keeps to the Queenswood
and only sometimes travels into
the two towns for supplies. His
demeanor is cold and longing,
speaking of a traumatic past
that haunts him to this day.
Oakfell’s not sociable but with
the right approach may be willing to share what
he knows of any strange goings on in Holdenshire
(in particular there’s something wrong with the
balance of prey animals in Ayle’s Falls and Ayle’s
Loch).
Steffen the Baker
The town baker of Hengistbury
is a plump fellow with a beard
as large as his hair is gray. With
a greater mastery of his craft
than Reg Bakerman over in
Thornbury, there’s a consis-
tent line of people ready to
collect his warm confections
each morning. All of Holdenshire’s recent trou-
bles have convinced him that his town needs some
more generosity, and as a natural giver he’s be-
come even more generous than usual in the warm
summer months.
Temrus Clothbinder
Temrus made a fine bit of coin both
during the harvest festival and
throughout the Dark Winter,
and he’s become downright
cheery as of late. The cheese-
maker is positively thrilled
with how much everyone
likes his creations and keeps putting them out after
hours even though he knows some folks are taking
some without leaving any coin. There are rumors
he’s made a few bad batches but anyone who asks
him about it gets an angry earful as he rapidly gets
infuriated at the merest insinuation that he might
be producing inferior cheese.
Three-Fingered Jake
The wandering minstrel Three-
Fingered Jake is the local bard of
Holdenshire, traveling freely about
the region and enjoying a mea-
sure of hospitality from both
towns—usually. His place in
the trading of rumors dur-
ing the Dark Winter ruined
his reputation with many
people, and with Ermengarde Clayhanger offering
stiff competition he’s been wondering if it might
be time to take to the road once more. Jake hasn’t
gone yet though, trusting in a deep-rooted feeling
that there’s another great tale to be taken away
from Holdenshire and eager to be
there to see it in person.
Tillian Bricklebottom
This halfling wears sev-
eral different hats for
all of Holdenshire—cou-
rier, scribe, stationery
EN World EN5ider |  To Smite a Fiend, Part One
salesman, translator, wine merchant, writer—and
Tillian’s list of tasks increases daily. Normally he
can be found in his Ink and Quill shop in Thorn-
bury, but lately he’s taken to chronicling and
researching everything he can dig up regarding
the Order of Light, Nemirtvi, and the realm’s an-
cient past. Obviously he’s an inquisitive sort, but
he’s also quite cautious and very wary of run-
ning afoul of any lingering corruption (so the bad
dreams he’s been having lately must be from the
subject of his documentation and nothing more).
Willem Von Nederveen
The Samuel & Sons trading com-
pany in Northminster employs this
business-like traveling merchant
and although things looked bad in
the winter he’s turned every-
thing around. His operation
is like a well-oiled machine at
this point, and unless something
terribly untoward occurs he’s likely to set
down roots in Holdenshire so he’s keen to catch
the eye of a proper suitor.
Yara Bloodclaw
At a glance it isn’t obvious that this tall,
tattooed woman is nearing middle age.
She’s made her way in Holdenshire for
the better half of a decade, tending to
bees for the two towns. During the
winter she used her considerable
martial talents to help out Brand
Torek and carried messages for
Tillian Bricklebottom, but now
that the dangers in the realm
have passed she’s eager to find
new challenges. Yara’s penchant
not to drink leaves her as the most reli-
able figure of authority in Hengistbury late in the
night, but in the day she’s often on patrol enthusi-
astically looking for trouble (always with her two
warhammers at her side).
rumors in the
tavern
1. The vampires left a curse in Hengistbury
in the forges of Rorus Klain and that’s why
they’re burning with an unholy heat.
2. Hunchbacked Roland and Freya Aeval are
said to be on holiday but gossips claim that
Kalle Sirkesalo sent them afar to retrieve
reagents illegal in Holdenshire—and the
solitary wizard’s ultimate purpose for such
components remains unclear.
3. Lady Sybill is in the temple all the time but
it’s not because she’s devout, it’s because her
faith was broken when Lord Pemberton was
revealed to be a vampire.
4. It might just be cloudy weather but some
people think that the nights are darker even
when the moon is out (probably nothing more
than superstition and shot nerves from the
Dark Winter).
5. Around sunrise on some mornings there’s
a strange odor hanging on the wind near
Murray’s Folly. It’s never quite the same twice.
6. The unnaturally dangerous feral boars that
ravaged the countryside during the Dark
Winter have been spotted again.
7. Bats in the Queenswood and Weirwood have
been doing strange things like stealing items
and disappearing.
8. This summer the wolves are positively
massive and they show now fear of flames
whatsoever!
9. In the soft light of the moon up there among
the clouds there have been shapes that cast
faint shadows like massive birds, though
surely it’s just a trick of the eye.
10. A ghostly horse has been spotted galloping
through the Queenswood and Weirwood
trailing spiritual flames said to be fueled by
those killed by the vampires.
To Smite a Fiend, Part One  |  EN World EN5ider
Getting
Started
The earlier sections of this book have filled out
the cast and locales for this infernal journey into
the unassuming summer season—now let’s get
the PCs onto the stage! Preferably the adventurers
have completed To Stake A Vampire (after playing
through To Slay A Dragon) and are enjoying their
status as practically legendary heroes, but they
may find their way into Holdenshire through a va-
riety of different means. If the party insists that
they don’t want to be the saviors of the town, then
Hengistbury and Thornbury are the best loca-
tions to take a respite amidst an intense summer
heatwave, or Lady Sybill Pemberton requests their
presence to make certain Nemirtvi’s influence has
been fully purged.
Really it’s best to leave it in their hands but
once the matter is settled, read or paraphrase the
following:
The sun is shining and zephyrs roll across the idyllic
green fields of Holdenshire. A soft clanking of hammer
on metal emanates from the village on the road ahead
and the winds carry the scent of baked goods, savory
meals, and cooking fires. The nearer you get the more
you can hear of the townsfolk greeting one another and
going about their daily tasks, and when they’re in sight
you see jaunty steps and smiling faces eager to greet you.
Give the adventurers a chance to see the towns
in action with visits to the taverns and shops over
the course of a few days, revealing a couple of the
pervading rumors each night to get their hackles
up. Once the party are comfortable or have chosen
something to pursue, move on to the quests in Act
1: Foreshadowing Fiends. After the party reaches
11th level or the GM feels the time is right, Kalle
Sirkesalo’s failed attempt to summon a horned
devil sets into motion the events of Act 2: Celestial
Blessings. e