CHAPTER 5 ESCAPE FROM AVERNUS

WHO SHOULD RULE AVERNUS?

ZARIEL'S REDEMPTION
ZARIEL’S SPARK
Το τελευταίο από τα τέσσερα memory dives έρχεται τη στιγμή που η Αρχιδούκισσα του Αβέρνους αγγίζει το ξίφος της
Ζαριέλ.

Here’s how that plays out:

Η Αρχιδούκισσα και οι παιχτες παρασύρονται σε μια κατάδυση μνήμης .

Τα γεγονότα του Zariel’s Fall (δείτε παραπάνω) παίζονται για άλλη μια φορά.
Αλλά αυτή τη φορά, η «Zariel» του παρελθόντος έχει την εμφάνιση της Αρχιδούκισσας του Avernus. Ζει τη δική
της ανάμνηση για αυτό που συνέβη.
Οι παιχτες είναι επίσης παρόντες στη σκηνή (αν και μόνο η Zariel μπορεί να τους δει ή να τους ακούσει).

Το κλειδί εδώ είναι ότι η σπίθα μέσα στο Σπαθί δίνει στην Zariel την ευκαιρία να ξαναζήσει αυτή τη κομβική στιγμή
και (το πιο σημαντικό!) να κάνει μια διαφορετική επιλογή όταν φτάσει η απόλυτη στιγμή. Εάν η Zariel απορρίψει την
προσφορά του Asmodeus, αυτό προφανώς δεν αλλάζει στην πραγματικότητα το παρελθόν. Αυτή είναι μια κατάδυση
μνήμης, όχι ταξίδι στο χρόνο. Αλλά είναι η ευκαιρία της για λύτρωση: Το όραμα τελειώνει, οι παιχτες επιστρέφουν
στον πραγματικό κόσμο για να ανακαλύψουν ότι δεν έχει περάσει χρόνος, αλλά η διαβολική μορφή της Zariel λιώνει
καθώς επιστρέφει στην αγγελική της μορφή (βλ.Descent Into Avernus, σελ. 148 ).

INFLUENCING ZARIEL: Οι παιχτες μπορούν να προσπαθήσουν να επηρεάσουν την επιλογή της Zariel. Θα
μπορούσαν να αντικρούσουν τα επιχειρήματα του Asmodeus, να υπενθυμίσουν στη Zariel γεγονότα από το παρελθόν
της ή ίσως ακόμη και να κάνουν μια συναισθηματική έκκληση (η οποία θα μπορούσε να είναι ιδιαίτερα
αποτελεσματική προερχόμενη από τη Lulu).

Επιλύστε αυτό ως special group check, ζητώντας skill ή ability checks DC 15. Δώστε τους πλεονέκτημα σε αυτόν τον
έλεγχο εάν επικαλεστούν κάτι που έχουν μάθει για το παρελθόν της Zariel. Εάν τουλάχιστον το ήμισυ της ομάδας κάνει
έναν επιτυχημένο έλεγχο (ακόμα και αν δεν κάνουν όλοι μια επιταγή), τότε τα καταφέρνουν: η Zariel κάνει μια
διαφορετική επιλογή και εξαργυρώνεται.

Σε περίπτωση αποτυχίας, εξακολουθούν να παρέχουν advantage στην Zariel για το Wisdom save (δείτε παρακάτω).

BEARING SILENT WITNESS: Εάν οι παιχτες δεν επέμβουν ή αποτύχουν στον ομαδικό έλεγχο, τότε η Zariel ριχνει
DC 22 Wisdom. Σε μια επιτυχία, κάνει μια διαφορετική επιλογή και λυτρώνεται. Σε μια αποτυχία, απορρίπτει τη
λύτρωση και καταστρέφει το Σπαθί (μαζί με τη σπίθα της καλοσύνης μέσα του)

ZARIEL'S WRATH

BAPHOMET, KOSTCHTCHIE, OR YEENOGHU

BEL
GARGAUTH
TIAMAT

SERVING ZARIEL
SOULS ARE FORFEIT
ZARIELS SWORD IS DESTROYED
LULU FALLS

RULING AVERNUS

WILL ELTUREL BE SAVED?

BREAKING THE CHAINS

IRE OF TIAMAT
JAWS OF CROKEK'TOECK

BREAKING THE CONTRACT

THE FATE OF TRAVIUS KREEG

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

RELINQUISHING THE SWORD

MAKING A DEAL WITH ZARIEL

To DESTROY A DEMON LORD
SHIELD OF THE HIDDEN LORD

DEALING WITH THE COMPANION

UNLOCKING THE COMPANION
SHATTERING THE COMPANION
THE PLANETAR'S POWER

ENDGAME IN ELTUREL
EVENT 1: RIVER' S EDGE

EVENT 2: FIELD OF FLAMES

EVENT 3: SHOWDOWN WITH ZARIEL

ELTUREL’S RETURN
Into this turmoil, Elturel returns.

But, of course, this is not Elturel as it was. At best, its population has been decimated, its political leadership has been
wiped out, and its military strength is depleted. So it’s not going to magically wave a wand and return everything to the
status quo.

The effect it will have is going to depend a lot on what the balance of power is in the city upon its return, and that will
probably have a lot to do with the choices the PCs have made and what they’ve managed to accomplish. Broadly
speaking, though, it seems likely that the city will be:

Controlled by Ravengard’s Peacekeepers.

Controlled by High Rider Ikaia.
Controlled by both of them, either in an agreed alliance or a de facto division (e.g., Ravengard is currently in
control of the west half of the city and Ikaia is in control of the east).
Controlled by the PCs.

The PCs, of course, will chart their own course. We’ll look at the other two in more detail below.

The other thing to consider are the lingering hostiles in the city. They might include:

Ikaia and/or his sons and daughters, if they ended up on the losing end of the stick but weren’t completely wiped
out.
Demon raiders, who could have easily been carried to the Material Plane along with the rest of the city.
Zarielite cultists, who will undoubtedly start trying to make alliances and seek aid from other Zarielites still active in
the region.
Hell Knights, some of whom could make a propaganda play of, “I was transformed by my travails in Hell, but I
remain the most legitimate authority of Elturgard’s government and I hereby declare myself High Observer.”

Alternatively, don’t be afraid to declare any/all of these lingering problems completely solved by Elturel’s return: the
demons and/or hell knights return to their respective planes, Ikaia and his offspring burn up in the sun or retreat back
into the depths below the city, the cultists all go scurrying away to other cities in the region, etc. It’s okay to open up
some space for the stuff in the next phase of the campaign, turning the focus away from the city and towards the whole
region.

THE POLITICS OF IKAIA

If Ikaia has somehow managed to gain control of Elturel, he’ll likely recognize that his position is extremely tenuous
and will seek to consolidate what he has rather than trying to reassert Elturel’s regional claims.
Given Ikaia’s history, his rhetorical and diplomatic sales pitch will probably be something along the lines of, “I was
wrongfully deposed by someone who literally sold the entire city to Hell. All I seek is to return Elturel to its rightful
place, with its rightful ruler.” (Some may recall that Elturel’s imperial ambitions were alive and well during Ikaia’s
reign, but that’s water under the bridge, right?)

Ikaia’s realpolitik is likely to be hunkering down, repairing Elturel’s defenses as quickly as possible, and hoping to
weather out the current chaos while still being in control of the city. His best bet will probably be to play Scornubel and
Berdusk and Soubar off each other to make that happen, a strategy the Zarielite cabal will be perfectly happy with
because it will allow the Elturian Wars to continue unabated.

Is Ikaia pure evil with a gilded smile, completely reformed and earnest, or somewhere in between? That’s up to you.

THE POLITICS OF RAVENGARD

Before we can look at Ravengard’s position in Elturgard, we first have to consider the politics in Baldur’s Gate. The
circumstances during Act I of the campaign are detailed in Part 3:

The position of Grand Duke is open.

At least two of the four ducal seats are open, and probably a third after Duke Portyr’s assassination.
The position of Marshal of the Flaming Fists is up for grabs.

In the time the PCs have been gone, it seems likely that at least some of this political turmoil will have resolved. And
the most interesting thing that should be resolved is the selection of a new Grand Duke on the assumption that
Ravengard is dead, because then when Ravengard comes back alive it instantly creates all kinds of juicy drama.

Who should be Grand Duke?

Well, the most effective answer is probably one of the Portyrs, because the PCs already have a relationship with them. If
Duke Portyr survived, then I’d suggest that he becomes Grand Duke and arranges for Liara Portyr to become Marshal
of the Flaming Fists, solidifying the family’s control of the city.

If Duke Portyr was assassinated, have Liara ascend to his position and claim the title of Grand Duke, as well. I’d
recommend that she hasn’t been able to duplicate Ravengard’s trick of also becoming Marshal, but it’s possible she’s
been able to keep the position open for the moment so that she can continue wielding significant influence on the
Flaming Fists in the interim.

In either case, I’d leave at least one of the ducal seats still open, which will leave some hefty political stakes on the table
to spur intrigue. (And maybe one of the PCs will end up in it.)

The point of all this is that Ravengard’s return is going to be contested. He will, of course, expect to resume his
positions of Grand Duke and Marshal. But if one or both of those are no longer available, expect pushback from the
new office holders.

How this plays out will depend on a lot of factors, not least the PCs. Some things to consider:

A political compromise might be negotiated. (For example, Liara resigns as Marshal so Ravengard can resume that
role, but she gets the open ducal seat, so there are now two Portyr dukes.)
Or things might rapidly decay into blood in the streets, as the loyalties of the Flaming Fist (and the PCs?) split and
Baldur’s Gate falls into civil war.
What role does the large population of Elturian refugees play in these political maneuverings? How do the
politicians vie for their loyalty? What do the Elturians want?
Does the political system in Baldur’s Gate survive this chaos? Having three of the four ducal seats open
simultaneously, for example, is unprecedented. Does someone seize that opportunity to consolidate power and
become a tyrant? Alternatively, do the compromises resulting from Ravengard’s return result in a fifth ducal seat
being created?

Meanwhile, if Ravengard has emerged from Hell as the top dog in Elturel, he’ll try to hold onto that dominion as well.

This might hinder him in the politics of Baldur’s Gate (“don’t be ridiculous; you can’t have the High Observer of
Elturel serving as the Grand Duke of Baldur’s Gate”), but it could also give an immense power base of reputation and
manpower to re-coalesce his power in Baldur’s Gate. (This can be literally in the form of soldiers, but also propaganda
stuff like appealing to the Elturian refugees as the “savior of their city.”)
Whether Ravengard holds onto Baldur’s Gate or Elturel or both, he’s going to pursue imperial designs in the ruins of
Elturgard. With the PCs’ help, he might even succeed. Outcomes might include:

A new Chionthar Empire that brings peace and prosperity to the region.
A strong alliance between Baldur’s Gate and Elturel, while the rest of Elturgard nevertheless fractures back into
separate city-states.
Ravengard fails utterly, succeeding only in deepening the animosity between Baldur’s Gate and Elturel.

However it plays out, Ravengard will almost certainly contribute to the ongoing chaos of the Elturian Wars.

WHITHER ZARIEL?

One thing we haven’t touched on yet is what happens with Zariel.

There are a couple obvious scenarios: If the PCs kill her (presumably with help), she’s dead. If they negotiated with her
to break the pact (or found a different solution that left her alive and unredeemed), then she still rules in Hell.

Of course, the most likely outcome is probably that the PCs help to redeem Zariel.

Homework: Descent Into Avernus almost certainly results in the power structures of Avernus being
disrupted just as much as those of Elturgard. If Zariel is no longer Archduchess, who rises to take her
place? What effect does that have on the Blood War? And even if Zariel is still in charge, it’s likely that
other major players have been significantly affected by whatever deal the PCs made.

If the PCs have made allies in Hell and put schemes into motion, it’s possible they’ll want to return and continue
pursuing their goals (or just to check in with their friends). Consider having the upheaval of power in Hell echo the
upheaval occurring in the remnants of Elturgard. On Earth as it is in Hell, so to speak.

With Zariel redeemed, she likely returns with the PCs and Elturel to the Material Plane. There are a few ways this can
then play out.

First, you can bring her story to a close. Assuming the players have invested in her story, frame a final scene with her
before she departs for Mount Celestia in a beam of holy light. It worked. The PCs have helped to restore something
beautiful to the multiverse and saved the soul of an angel.

Alternatively, maybe Zariel chooses to stay involved in the region. For example, she might try to reach out to the
Zarielite cultists and convince them to join her and walk the path of redemption. The result might be a Second Zarielite
Crusade (hopefully with more reasonable goals and/or happier outcomes).

Or maybe Zariel, even redeemed as she is, remains grandiose and a little self-important. “Elturel is mine!” she says.
“And I will make right what I have wronged!” She’s likely to be opposed by Ravengard or Ikaia or both. Will the PCs
help her? Oppose her? Either way, she will make her presence felt during the Elturian Wars.

And one final question: Whatever happens with Zariel… does Lulu go with her?

Or does she choose to remain with her new friends?

Either way, there are likely to be tears.

THE END…
…HAS YET TO BE WRITTEN.

Endgame C5

Controlling Kostchtchie
If the characters use Kostchtchie's phylactery to take control of the demon lord, he can be
compelled to break the chains that bind Elturel, or to destroy the Companion that floats above
the city. Without his hammer, Matalotok , the process of destroying one of the chains takes
Kostchtchie 10 rounds, or 1 minute, to complete (if he has Matalotok , it only takes 5 rounds, or
30 seconds). During this time, an army of devils will attempt to subdue him once again and
seize the phylactery so that Zariel can destroy the demon lord forever.
Making a Deal with Kostchtchie
If the characters destroy Kostchtchie's phylactery and make him mortal once again, or
convince the demon lord that they will do so after he completes a task for them, Kostchtchie
may agree to help the party break the chains that bind Elturel or to destroy the Companion if
he believes that it will help bring him the glorious death that he has sought after for so long. If
Zariel learns that Kostchtchie is now vulnerable and able to be killed on Avernus (or is deceived
into believing this to be true), she will meet the demon lord in combat herself, rather than
refusing to engage him as described in chapter 5 of Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus . Once battle
has been joined, Kostchtchie will focus on trying to retrieve his hammer, Matalotok , and may
completely neglect to carry out his end of any bargain in order to battle a worthy opponent
instead, but only if he has already been made mortal again. Such is the risk of dealing with a
completely selfish creature.
Delivering the Phylactery to Zariel
If the characters agree to deliver Kostchtchie's phylactery to Zariel as part of a deal made with
her in order to save Elutrel, the archdevil will agree to do so, but only if the party aids her in
destroying the demon lord once and for all first. Once Kostchtchie has been slain, she will
uphold her end of the bargain. If the characters only agree to hand over the phylactery, Zariel
refuses to both free Elturel and return the city to the Material Plane, promising only one or the
other in exchange for the artifact alone.

Slaying Kostchtchie for Zariel

If the characters destroy Kostchtchie's phylactery and make him mortal once again, and Zariel
learns of this fact (or is deceived into believing this to be true), she could send them to destroy
Kostchtchie as part of a deal made with her in order to save Elturel, instead of targeting
another demon lord, such as Baphomet or Yeenoghu. Delivering Kostchtchie's severed head to
her is enough to prove to Zariel the characters' success.

Making a Deal with Baba Yaga or the Witch-Queen

If the characters ask Baba Yaga or the Witch-Queen to break the chains that bind Elturel or to
destroy the Companion, both witches are powerful enough to do so using their respective
magics, but will only agree to such a deal if offered a powerful gift in return (for example, the
Witch-Queen would gladly accept Kostchtchie's phylactery, the Shield of the Hidden Lord , or the
Sword of Zariel ). Baba Yaga will command her Dancing Hut to break the chains one at a time,
while she herself takes to the air in a giant, flying mortar, flailing the pestle around like an
oar and weaving magic as she zooms around the Companion. The Witch-Queen will arrive and
either use her potent magical abilities against each chain and the Companion, or could even
use the truename of a demon lord present near Elturel (Baphomet or Yeenoghu) to force the
powerful fiend to aid her in carrying out the task, if she deems such a thing necessary.