Shothragot

"The Ender, the Elder Elemental Eye, the Dark God, the Patient One, He Who Waits, the Anathema, the Father of Elder Evils, the Author of Wickedness, He of Eternal Darkness, the Eater of Worlds, the Despised, the Undoer — these are but a few of the many names for our glorious master. One thousand years, the Dark God has waited, lurking beyond the bounds of reality, contained in a vault constructed by jealous hands, his rightful throne held by usurpers. In these last centuries, our efforts have found destruction, decay, and loss, as these lesser powers have sought to confuse us, mislead us, and turn us against one another, for you see, Tharizdun's release spells their end. They fear him. Yes, mighty Boccob, Heironeous, even that sad crone Beory all quail before his imminent arrival. The time is at hand, the end has come, and it is our sacred duty to usher in the last age of our world and bring the constructs of the false gods to rightful ruin. Only then will we understand the perfect nature of all that is possible with the Eternal Darkness."

Shothragot is an avatar of Tharizdun, the Chained God. While it is only an extension of the Dark God's will, Shothragot is a powerful elder evil even on its own. On its own, Shothragot's awakening endangers all mortal life on a given world. But this pales in comparison to the true threat: the release of its master Tharizdun, who seeks to bring about the end of the universe, and has the means to achieve it.

Shothragot in the Campaign

Introducing Shothragot to your campaign signals a looming and devastating event that could have sweeping repercussions and may very well alter the fundamental nature of your campaign setting. Shothragot, as presented here, is close to unlocking the prison, having absorbed nearly all of the Gems of Tharizdun.

Shothragot in Eberron

Tharizdun is a powerful daelkyr warlord, a being so profoundly evil and so immense in terms of magical power, he is very nearly a god. Despised by his fellow Daelkyr, they sealed him away in a vast prison within the Realm of Madness and set countless traps, guards, and vicious wards to ensure he never broke loose. Unfortunately, Tharizdun's minions, of which there are many beneath Eberron, seek to release their dark lord and busily create a weapon that will not only breach the Gatekeeper wards that keep them underground but also bridge the gulf between planes and release their dreadful master. This weapon is Shothragot.

Shothragot in Faerûn

Instead of being an avatar of Tharizdun, Shothragot is the creation of Ghaunadaur, an entity spawned to shatter the worshipers of all other gods and enable the Elder Eye to become master of all things. Shothragot is the principal instrument in his plans and the elder evil slaughters the worshipers of other gods to weaken them. Once the gods are brought low, Ghaunadaur plans to move against them, stealing their power for himself until he can challenge the architect of the universe — Ao himself.

Alternatively, perhaps Shothragot fled from Greyhawk to the Forgotten Realms via planar travel, only to be imprisoned in Undermountain by Halaster Blackcloak. Despite the Mad Mage's power, Shothragot cannot be held back forever, and soon Tharizdun will have his chance to destroy Faerûn alongside the rest of the multiverse.

Variant Usage

As Shothragot is but an avatar of Tharizdun himself, you can use this chapter to represent the release of Tharizdun through other means, even if Shothragot is not involved.

As Tharizdun is the face behind the Elder Elemental Eye, you can use Shothragot alongside the Princes of the Apocalypse adventure for 5e. You can connect the various Cults of Elemental Evil to Shothragot and Tharizdun more directly; for example, you can have the elemental apocalypse sought out by each cult be achieved through Shothragot's awakening. At minimum, it may be useful to reference this module so that you can use the various cults and temples of Elemental Evil throughout the campaign (as discussed in the timeline above).

As Shothragot and Tharizdun threaten the multiverse itself, they present the same threat to campaigns that take place wildspace or the planes. In a Spelljammer campaign, perhaps Shothragot's size can be scaled upwards, such that its release is enough to shatter an entire planet into pieces. In a planar campaign, perhaps the party must journey to the Elemental Planes and even the Abyss itself in order to root out Tharizdun's various cults.

Beyond that, consider the following additions and changes:

• Shothragot's sign of apocalypse is the Seal of Binding because the Seal of Binding is what prevents Tharizdun from escaping in the first place. That said, you are free to change it to the Blood Moon sign, which can be associated with the madness and aggressive behavior that Tharizdun seeks to inspire in others.
• As discussed in the Demonomicon from 4th edition, Tharizdun is said to have created the Abyss using the Shard of Evil given to him by the Obyriths. While most demons aren't tanar'ri and thus aren't associated with Tharizdun in any way, this connection gives you the opportunity to have some of Tharizdun's agents be demons or demon cultists.
• Evil and good gods alike seek to prevent the release of Tharizdun from his prison. Thus, clerics of all faiths may be given commands from their deities to snuff out the forces of Tharizdun, making them likely allies of the party. That said, feel free to use the conflict between good and evil, and between law and chaos, as a point of religious contention during your campaign.

Description

This section gives descriptions and statistics for the essence of Shothragot, black cysts, Giorge Forsworn and his companion Mask, and the corrupted archmage Jallarzi Sallavarian.

Essence of Shothragot

Gargantuan aberration (titan), chaotic evil

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• Armor Class 22 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 444 (24d20 + 192)
• Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
30 (+10)	14 (+2)	27 (+8)	20 (+5)	24 (+7)	26 (+8)

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• Saving Throws Con +16, Int +13, Wis +15, Cha +16
• Skills Arcana +13, Insight +15, Intimidation +16, Perception +15
• Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning
• Damage Immunities acid, poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Condition Immunities charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, petrified, poisoned, unconscious
• Senses truesight 120 ft., blindsight 500 ft., passive Perception 25
• Languages understands all languages but can't speak, telepathy 1,000 ft.
• Challenge 28 (120,000 XP)

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Anathematic Secrecy. The essence can't be targeted by any divination magic or perceived through magical scrying sensors.

Aura of Mind Erosion. Any hostile creature that starts its turn within 60 feet of the essence must make a DC 24 Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, a creature suffers disadvantage on all Wisdom and Charisma saving throws until the start of the essence's next turn.

Freedom of Movement. The essence ignores difficult terrain, and magical effects can't reduce its speed or cause it to be restrained. It can spend 5 feet of movement to escape from nonmagical restraints or being grappled.

Innate Spellcasting. The essence's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 24). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components:

At will: detect magic, dispel evil and good, stinking cloud
3/day each: blight, cloudkill, dispel magic
2/day each: contagion, fire storm, reverse gravity
1/day each: divine word, earthquake, feeblemind

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the essence fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Resistance. The essence has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Magic Weapons. The essence's weapon attacks are magical.

Unyielding Essence. The essence is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form, as well as those that would read its thoughts, determine if it is lying, or magically influence its thoughts or behavior.

Actions

Multiattack. The essence makes three attacks: two with its tentacles and one with its bite. It then uses Corporeal Instability.

Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 28 (4d8 + 10) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 20). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the target takes 10 (3d6) necrotic damage at the start of each of its turns.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 36 (4d10 + 14) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage (essence's choice).

Corporeal Instability. The essence targets one creature it can see within 60 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 24 Constitution saving throw or take 22 (4d6 + 8) necrotic damage and become corrupted for 1 minute.
A corrupted creature's flesh constantly melts, flows, writhes, and boils. The creature has disadvantage on attack rolls, its speed is reduced by half, and whenever it takes damage, its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The creature dies if its hit point maximum is reduced to 0.
The corrupted creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Discord and Woe (2/Day). One creature within 100 miles of the essence that the essence is aware of must make a DC 24 Wisdom saving throw. A creature automatically succeeds if it is immune to being charmed. On a failed save, the target must target its allies with attacks and other damaging effects for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the essence's Discord and Woe for the next 24 hours.

Legendary Actions

The essence can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The essence regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Elemental Burst. The essence targets itself or one creature that is currently grappled by it, corrupted by it, affected by its Discord and Woe, or affected by one of its ongoing spells. Elemental energy bursts out from the target, dealing acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage (essence's choice) to those caught in the blast. Each creature in a 10-foot-radius sphere centered on the target must make a DC 24 Constitution saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) of the chosen type on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The essence is immune to this damage.
• Fling. One Large or smaller object held or creature grappled by the essence is thrown up to 60 feet in a random direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes a solid surface, the target takes 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage for every 10 feet it was thrown. If the target is thrown at another creature, that creature must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take the same damage and be knocked prone.
• Cast a Spell (Costs 2 Actions). The essence casts an innate spell.

Black Cyst

"A great black ball of impenetrable darkness hangs in the air. From the blackness spills a knot of writhing tentacles."

A black cyst is a monstrous creation of Tharizdun, an idiotic servant that exists only to spread the ill-will of the Dark God and destroy all living things.

Society

Black cysts are the nightmares of Tharizdun given form, and, as such, they are capricious beings, capable of unprovoked and appalling acts of violence. They seem to delight in spreading suffering and insanity wherever they go, and some even torment other creatures that bend their knee to the Dark God. Their dim intellect prevents them from forming any sort of lasting community, and their lack of need for sustenance gives them little impetus to set aside their wanton wickedness to work together overlong. This said, black cysts are famous for combining their efforts against greater enemies. It's unlikely they do so out of their own tactical sense. Likely, it is because of some missive from their master.

Alignment: As creatures of Tharizdun's creation, black cysts are always chaotic evil. They recognize no pacts, no alliances, and are as quick to destroy their allies, as they are their enemies.

Black Cysts in Eberron

Black cysts are semi-intelligent formations that cling like cancerous tumors on the edges of Xoriat. From time to time, a few become dislodged during the plane's normal passage only to find themselves caught between realities. Black cysts search for a way to bind themselves to a new reality and so watch for any planar anomalies such as those created by gate spells, and then they slip through to the surprise of the caster.

Black Cysts in Faerûn

Black cysts came to Faerûn with the shades. Native to the Shadowfell, these creatures of incomprehensible wickedness and depthless evil seek only to spread madness and despair, to reduce all living things to decay, and slowly pull the Material Plane into the Shadowfell. Luckily, the shades brought few of these abominations with them and those that have slipped from their control have been destroyed by doughty heroes, but rumors persist of more and more of these hateful creatures appearing in places beyond Anauroch.

Giorge Forsworn

Formerly a bold adventurer and member of the Green Horn Adventuring Troupe, Giorge Forsworn fell from grace and is now a corrupted and insane villain, bent on spreading death and destruction in the blasphemous name of his despicable master. Forged anew by the filthy touch of the elder evil named Shothragot, violent images contaminate his mind and drive him to commit unspeakable acts of grisly murder. A disturbing villain, he prowls the lands in search of those he deems as marked for death and puts them to the sword.

Mask

Medium fey, chaotic evil

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• Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 120 (16d8 + 48)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	19 (+4)	16 (+3)	16 (+3)	17 (+3)	20 (+5)

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• Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +7, Cha +9
• Skills Deception +9, Nature +7, Perception +7, Persuasion +9, Stealth +8
• Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 17
• Languages Common, Deep Speech, Druidic, Primordial, Sylvan
• Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)

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Hide in the Shadows. While in dim light or darkness, Mask has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide.

Innate Spellcasting. Mask's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: detect magic, find familiar, invisibility (self only), spare the dying
3/day each: cure wounds, entangle, lesser restoration, suggestion
2/day each: blight, cloudkill, locate creature, protection from energy
1/day each: greater restoration, pass without trace, scrying

Inquisition Defier. Mask is immune to effects that allows other creatures to read her thoughts, determine whether she is lying, or know her alignment. Additionally, Mask can't be targeted by any divination magic or perceived through magical scrying sensors.

Magic Resistance. Mask has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Nimble Escape. Mask can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of her turns.

Actions

Multiattack. Mask makes two claw attacks. She can then use Twisting Words, or Stunning Glance if it is available.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.

Twisting Words. Mask targets one creature she can see within 60 feet of her. If the target can hear and understand her, it must succeed on a DC 17 Charisma saving throw or become charmed for 1 minute. The charmed target can repeat the saving throw if Mask deals any damage to it. A creature that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to Mask's Twisting Words for 24 hours.
If the target is already charmed by Mask, Mask can force it to make another DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, Mask can decide where it moves on its next turn.

Stunning Glance (Recharge 5–6). Mask targets one creature she can see within 30 feet of her. If the target can see Mask, it must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be stunned until the end of its next turn.

Mask

"She is my rock, my foundation, and I cling to her as I travel the bleak roads of my destiny." — Giorge Forsworn

Mask is a corrupted alseid nymph, a fey warped by the filthy embrace of Shothragot and sent to Giorge Forsworn to guide him along his bloody path. She aids Giorge by locating his victims, but more importantly, she goads him to more and more acts of appalling violence. Her intoxicating manipulations poison his mind and threaten to kill the last vestiges of his humanity.

Jallarzi Sallavarian

Medium aberration, chaotic evil

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• Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 130 (20d8 + 40)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	15 (+2)	14 (+2)	22 (+6)	16 (+3)	18 (+4)

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• Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +11, Wis +8, Cha +9
• Skills Arcana +16, History +16, Intimidation +9, Investigation +11, Religion +11
• Damage Resistances damage from spells; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Damage Immunities cold, psychic
• Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
• Languages Celestial, Common, Deep Speech, Primordial, Undercommon, telepathy 120 ft.
• Challenge 15 (13,000 XP)

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Commander of Evil. Jallarzi can utter a special command or warning whenever a nonhostile creature that she can see within 30 feet of her makes an attack roll or a saving throw (no reaction required). The creature can add a d4 to its roll provided it can hear and understand Jallarzi. This trait doesn't function while Jallarzi is incapacitated.

Dark Knowledge. After Jallarzi makes an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, but before the outcome is determined, an additional d20 can be rolled. Jallarzi chooses which of the d20s rolled is used to determine the outcome. When she does so, she takes 12 (5d4) necrotic damage, which can't be reduced or prevented in any way.

Magic Resistance. Jallarzi has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Out-of-Phase Movement. Jallarzi can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. Each creature she moves through takes 5 (1d10) psychic damage; no creature can take this damage more than once per turn. Jallarzi takes 5 (1d10) force damage if she ends her turn inside an object.

Spellcasting. Jallarzi is an 18th-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 19, +11 to hit with spell attacks). She can cast darkness, fear, and misty step at will and has the following spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): eldritch blast, light, mage hand, prestidigitation, shocking grasp
1st level (4 slots): armor of Agathys, detect magic, inflict wounds, magic missile
2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts, invisibility, mirror image
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, enemies abound, lightning bolt
4th level (3 slots): banishment, fire shield, wall of fire
5th level (3 slots): cone of cold, scrying, telekinesis
6th level (1 slot): disintegrate, globe of invulnerability
7th level (1 slot): delayed blast fireball, divine word
8th level (1 slot): earthquake, feeblemind
9th level (1 slot): power word kill

Actions

Multiattack. Jallarzi makes two comet staff attacks.

Comet Staff. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 18 (4d8) psychic damage, or 10 (1d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 18 (4d8) psychic damage if used with two hands, and the target must succeed on a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or be incapacitated until the end of its next turn.

Reactions

Bend Space. When Jallarzi would be hit by an attack, she teleports, exchanging positions with another star spawn she can see within 60 feet of her. The other star spawn is hit by the attack instead.

Blessing of Tharizdun. When Jallarzi takes damage, she can force each hostile creature within 10 feet of her to make a DC 19 Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes half the damage Jallarzi took as psychic damage.

Description

The transformation left Mask's physical form largely intact, but destroyed her soul. She possesses a sleek, athletic body, and black hair tumbles down from her head. Beneath a theatric mask, one can see brilliant blue eyes that flash with incredible power. A long, black cloak hangs from her shoulders, providing some covering for her otherwise unarmored body. The only unsettling thing about her physical form is that she has bundles of animated twigs, twisting and clawing, where her hands ought to be. Although monstrous in appearance, these claws retain the flexibility and use of normal hands.

Jallarzi Sallavarian

Jallarzi was an archmage and a member of the Circle of the Eight. She set off to the Forgotten City to uncover more about the Seal of Binding and and its possible connection to Tharizdun, but she has been gone for a concerning amount of time, and all attempts to magically contact her have failed.

In the Forgotten City, Jallarzi discovered a supposedly inactive temple dedicated to Tharizdun. It was there that Jallarzi uncovered a magical ritual that draws upon the power of the Dark God to enhance a user's arcane magic. Perhaps Jallarzi was tempted by the allure of this amazing power, or maybe she was arrogant enough to believe she could wield this power without being corrupted by the Dark God. Maybe her mind was weakened by the unholy power radiating throughout the temple. In any case, Jallarzi performed this foul ritual, transforming herself into a star spawn seer and a servant of Tharizdun.

The Essence of Evil

"...And in the last days, the sleep of a thousand years shall end when the herald appears, blotting out the sun in all its awesome glory. Its shuddering bulk shall sound the trumpets of destiny, those clarion calls to bring forth He Who Waits, the Dark God, the Wrongly Held. The 333 jewels that contain the dread master shall shatter, and the world shall tremble, wailing and clawing, begging their petty gods for escape from the wondrous return of the Unraveler, whose appearance shall set to right all wrongs, restore all balance, and reduce the abomination of creation to its primal, primitive state. Rejoice, for the end is at hand..."

"The Essence of Evil" is a Dungeons & Dragons adventure designed for four to six 20th-level characters. "The Essence of Evil" is designed to be the conclusion of a long campaign—a capstone to an excellent series of adventures. The plot is broadly sketched to allow Dungeon Masters to link it to nearly any campaign in any campaign setting. Alternatively, this adventure can make for a brutal stand-alone scenario, allowing players and DMs a deadly scenario to explore high-level games.

What the Party Knows

As an elder evil, Shothragot's appearance in the world triggers the appearance of a sign of the apocalypse, a potent sigil that warns mortals of the impending doom. In the case of this abomination, the sign is of divine origin, a seal to contain the wickedness of this appalling entity and prevent its reunion with Tharizdun.

Undoubtedly, the player characters as wellas countless others, have felt the sign intensify, catching sight of its manifestation, first in subtle ways, but growing more powerful as Shothragot grows in power. The Herald's particular sign manifests as the Seal of Binding, a strange glyph that spreads across the heavens to interfere with conjuration magic. For details on the sign's full effects, see page 2 of this document. At the start of The Essence of Evil, Shothragot's sign is at Overwhelming strength. If you intend to run this adventure as the conclusion of your campaign, consider revealing the sign earlier to signal the approaching doom.

Since noticing something is wrong is unavoidable, the player characters should have plenty of opportunity to research the sign's implications and associations and perhaps learn something more of Tharizdun in the process. Regardless of the party's preparations, the full weight of the threat reveals itself when Shothragot tears free from the Crater Ridge Mines and drifts into the sky toward the glyph burning in the heavens. Whatever the thing is, it aims to reach the fiery sign, and who can say what will happen when it reaches it?

What the Party Doesn't Know

Bloated on the Gems of Tharizdun, the elder evil is ready to make its journey. However, it is contained by the fiery glyph in the heavens. As long as it remains, it cannot leave the Material Plane. Thus, the elder evil commands its servant Lareth the Beautiful to destroy the Gems it has swallowed, but the cleric is reluctant for it knows guardians protect the stones and he fears he lacks the power to destroy them. Thus the elder evil hovers until its servant finds the courage to do as he is bid.

Another complication is that as the elder evil grew, it attracted the noisome attention of all manner of fiends. Demons, elementals, and corrupted abominations have burrowed into its form, some to worship it, others to accompany it as it makes its passage into the Ethereal Plane. If the elder evil cares, it shows no sign and seems content to let the parasites exist for now.

Adventure Hooks

The party can become involved in this adventure in a number of ways.

Sudden Appearance. The elder evil tears free from the earth in an enormous explosion that causes earthquakes and tidalwaves, and that also vomits up plumes of dust and debris into the atmosphere. Following the event, the elder evil appears in the sky, slowing climbing toward the fiery glyph that now spreads across the heavens as if it were some incredible world-spanning eldritch shield. As a result of the heavenly phenomena, magic is damaged, spells fail, and other, subtler effects take hold, plunging the world into turmoil. It falls to the party to fight this potent menace and put to right the world by eliminating it.

Impending Doom. Forages, prophets and mystics have foretold a coming calamity—warned all who would listen that the end was nigh. No one believed them until the skies ignited with flames and magic unraveled. As the sign intensified, the earth swelled and gradually there emerged a massive ball of darkness. The various churches and temples declared war on the thing, knowing the end of all things was at hand. The characters, along with others, are recruited to fight this menace. Tragically, all attempts to defeat the monstrosity have failed, leaving it to one final band of heroes to set things aright.

Planar Catastrophe. Shothragot emerges from the land on an alternate Material Plane only to be cast out by powerful magic, shunted into the Shadowfell. Drifting through the endless darkness and leaving a swathe of destruction in its wake, it finally emerges into the party's Material Plane. When it does, it tears a hole in reality, bringing with it a tide of horror. Legions of twisted shadow creatures spread like black ink across the land. While the people rally to fight back the hordes, the elder evil rages in the heavens sowing destruction wherever it goes. It's believed that if someone can destroy the abomination, the fiery glyph will vanish and allow the gods to lend their aid to fighting the shadowy hordes.

Setting-Specific Information

Although the elder evil described in this adventure has overt connections to Tharizdun, a major and enduring threat in the Greyhawk campaign setting, you can easily adapt this scenario for use with a variety of other game settings.

Birthright

The Cold Rider awakens Shothragot in the hopes of using it to restore its former power and might, to regain the mantle of Azrai, the dark god. The elder evil drifts into the heavens to pierce the Evanescence and merge the Material Plane with the Shadow World, while the Cold Rider provokes its bestial servants to wage war across the lands in preparation for the dreadful event that could plunge this war-torn world into ruin.

Exandria

Created by power of the Divine Gate, the Seal of Binding is used to prevent Shothragot from reuniting with Tharizdun. Seeking to free its master, Shothragot will attempt to shatter all six of the divine shackles that chain Tharizdun down at the bottom of the Abyss, allowing the Chained Oblivion to destroy the Divine Gate and to bring about the Epoch of Ends.

Spiral of the Dark God

Drifting in the heavens is a great ball of roiling darkness, an uncertain orb that shudders and writhes, belching forth its corruption to wash over the land. Horrid creatures fly about the mass, shrieking and gibbering in celebration of the Herald's passage. As it ascends, ever so slowly, the light of the fiery glyph shines in the heavens, intricately carved as if by the hands of the gods themselves.

4. Pool of Molten Ice

This room houses a trio of the Dark God's servants. Charged with guarding the digested Gems of Tharizdun, these guardians attack anyone they deem to be an intruder.

As part of the safeguards that protect the gemstones, a prismatic wall trap stretches across the entrance of the room. This trap is created by a special form of the glyph of warding spell cast at 9th level. When the Pool of Molten Ice encounter is triggered and initiative is rolled (see below), the glyph releases a modified prismatic wall spell. This wall lasts until destroyed (rather than 10 minutes), and does not allow any creatures to pass through it harmlessly. Both spells have a spell save DC of 20.

Once the characters enter the chamber, read:

8. Corridor of Sighs

Numerous orifices whisper in the dark of this corridor, imparting fell secrets on those who traverse its length. When the characters enter this corridor, read:

15. Flesh Chamber

This disturbing chamber makes manifest the true nature of this dungeon.

When the characters enter this chamber, read:

The Obex

Any living creature that looks upon the Obex—the strange altar—must make a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is stunned for 1 minute or until it is pulled out of the room. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a successful save, the effect ends on the creature. On a failed save, the creature takes 55 (10d10) psychic damage. If this damage reduces a target to 0 hit points, its soul is wrenched from its body and absorbed by the Obex, where it is utterly destroyed. A creature slain in this way can't be revived by any means short of a wish spell.

If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the effects of the Obex for the next 24 hours.

The Obex has an AC of 10 and 300 hit points, is vulnerable to radiant damage, and is immune to necrotic, poison, and psychic damage. A black cyst emerges from the when the Obex is reduced to 200 hit points, and again at 100 hit points. If the alter is destroyed, the darkness and the chilling effect in the temple end, and the essence of Shothragot permanently suffers disadvantage on all attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws.

20. Templars of Tharizdun

As the elder evil pulled itself free from the earth, those surviving cultists clambered inside to accompany the abomination on its journey. The fate these servants found was death, violent and painful, at the hands of a dread demon. The only survivors of this original band were Lareth the Beautiful and his companions. While powerful in their own right, they are terrified by the forces at work inside the elder evil and rightly believe that if they venture far from their quarters they might be added to the ranks of the dead.

Since entering the temple, visions of the Gems of Tharizdun have plagued Lareth, along with a powerful compulsion to destroy them. He's tried to convince his allies to assist him, but neither one seems willing to risk his life on such a venture.

Although disappointed at the treatment they have received in the service of the Dark God, they are not so naïve to think they have any chance at redemption. Consequently, when confronted with a party of adventurers, each templar is prepared to fight to the death.

When the characters enter the room, they trigger the combat encounter.

Combat Encounter: Templars of Tharizdun (Encounter 12).

Taking Prisoners: Captured templars are wholly uncooperative and prove to be difficult prisonersat best. Of the three, only Lareth knows how to get through the portal without destroying the Gems, though he's loathe to reveal this since he knows Tharizdun will punish him. If the party members intimidates the other two, they admit they believe the Gems might be the key to reaching the essence.

21. The Essence of Shothragot

The Essence of Shothragot is the mind and soul of the elder evil and serves as the focus of all its malevolence. If destroyed, the elder evil's body collapses in on itself, imploding and leaving nothing behind. The only way to stop this abomination and thwart its plans is to destroy the essence and thus spare countless Material Planes the destruction Tharizdun promises.

The only way to reach the Essence is through the Puce Portal (area 6), which activates only if the elder evil's sign is diminished or if the party finds the torch of revealing. Once the party fulfills these requirements, they are free to enter the portal.

When the party enters the portal, they trigger the combat encounter.

Combat Encounter: The Essence of Shothragot (Encounter 13).

Concluding the Adventure

The ideal outcome for this adventure is for the characters to navigate the perils of the elder evil's body, find a way through the portal, venture to the essence, and defeat it. With its destruction, the elder evil dies and decays rapidly, depositing the player characters several hundred feet over the surface of their world or stranding them in the Ethereal Plane. At your option, the party might appear before the elder evil's prison plane and be the first mortals to look upon the awful demesne of Tharizdun, a sanity-blasting experience to be sure.

Failure does not necessarily indicate the end of all things as the release of Tharizdun seems to suggest. If the party used the torch of revealing, but still failed to defeat the elder evil, Lareth, if he still lives, eventually destroys the Gems of Tharizdun, enabling the elder evil to escape the Material Plane and embark on its final journey. Faced with such a dreadful end, the gods themselves attend to the abomination. Unfortunately, the elder evil's maddening powers drives them insane, causing them to fight one another, which could have incredible repercussions in your campaign.

Whether or not Shothragot reaches its master is ultimately left to you, but such an event could reshape your world and prepare the way for something entirely new. Whatever you decide, the emergence and destruction of Shothragot is a signature event that can have sweeping change on your setting, making a fight with this monster a thrilling conclusion for your campaign.

Encounter 1: Suppurating Valves

This encounter pits the party against two creatures of evil elemental air that seek to stop them from entering the elder evil's body.

Setup

Two cyclonic ravagers (C), unwholesome thralls from the Elemental Plane of Air, guard the entrances to the elder evil. They attack any creature that comes within 50 feet of a valve.

There are three locations keyed to this encounter. If a fight breaks out at one, the others do not come to help.

When the characters come within 50 feet of an entrance, read:

The light breeze disperses much of the awful stench but suddenly whips up into a screaming gale. To either side, you see two large funnel clouds form and spin toward you.

Tactics

Both cyclonic ravagers use their Buffeting Winds to disperse the intruders, sending some against the outer walls of the elder evil, others into acidic waterfalls, and move lightly armored spellcasters to well within the ravager's reach. Characters on the decks of vehicles, flying carpets, and similar conveyances that fail their Strength saves may fall off to plummet to the ground. Thereafter, the cyclonic ravagers use their regular attacks to harass the intruders - one chooses to enter melee range, while the other sits back and attacks from range.

Features of the Area

Acidic Waterfall

Spilling forth from the valve is a torrent of thin acid. Any creature that enters a space containing acid, including those beneath the waterfall, must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 17 (5d6) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Contracting Entrance

Once every 1d4 rounds, the valve seals shut at initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties). Any creature standing on the edge of the entrance must succeed on a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw or take 35 (10d6) bludgeoning damage as the walls close. Those who succeed on the save may place themselves beyond the walls or inside the complex. A closed valve reopens after 1d4 rounds.

Elemental Bursts

The elder evil's epidermis is an unholy fusion of all four elements—air, earth, fire, and water, and periodically, the instability of its form unleashes a burst of elemental energy. Any creature within 20 feet of the elder evil's exterior has a 10% chance of being exposed to such a burst. If so, the target must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) acid, bludgeoning, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage (DM's choice) plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Epidermis

The elder evil's outer walls writhe with profane energies. Any living creature that touches the elder evil's outer walls must succeed on a DC 20 Constitution saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion.

---

Cyclonic Ravager

Large elemental, neutral evil

---

• Armor Class 15
• Hit Points 102 (12d10 + 36)
• Speed 0 ft., fly 90 ft. (hover)

---

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	20 (+5)	16 (+3)	12 (+1)	12 (+1)	16 (+3)

---

• Saving Throws Con +7, Cha +7
• Damage Resistances lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Damage Immunities poison
• Condition Immunities exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, unconscious
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
• Languages Auran, Common
• Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)

---

Air Form. The ravager can enter a hostile creature's space and stop there. It can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.

Buffeting Winds. The ravager constantly emits an aura of winds out to a range of 30 feet. Small or smaller flying creatures or objects can't pass through the aura. Arrows, bolts, and other ordinary projectiles that pass through the aura are deflected away and automatically miss. (Boulders hurled by giants or siege engines, and similar projectiles, are unaffected.) Creatures in gaseous form can't pass through it.
In addition, at the end of each of the ravager's turns, each creature in the aura that isn't immune to being grappled must make a DC 17 Strength saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. On a failed save, the creature is knocked prone, and if the creature is Large or smaller, the ravager can move it up to 30 feet in any direction.

Smite of Seven Winds. When the ravager hits with an attack, it can choose to push the target up to 10 feet away from the ravager in a straight line. This distance increases to 20 feet on a critical hit.

Actions

Multiattack. The ravager makes three attacks. It can also use Storm Surge if it is available.

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage.

Air Blast. Ranged Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, range 90 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage.

Storm Surge (Recharge 5–6). Until the start of its turn, the radius of the ravager's Buffeting Winds increases to 60 feet, and its damage increases to 36 (8d8) bludgeoning damage.

Encounter 2: Cyst of Madness

This encounter has the party face the abandoned servants of Obox-ob.

Setup

Have the players place their miniatures at the bottom of the map in the entrance. Once they are positioned, place the draudnus (S) where indicated on the map. When the party enters the room, read:

A number of three-legged creatures rise from the floor of this irregularly-shaped chamber, fixing their multitudinous eyes upon you.

Tactics

The demons herd the characters to spaces containing acid and use flesh hook attacks to pin them in place. The demons prioritize their attacks against lightly armored characters and then fall back to lure warriors deeper into the room.

Developments

The molydeus in area 5 automatically hears a pitched battle in this location. Starting on the second round, it moves 60 feet each round, joining the combat 3 rounds into the combat. It hates the draudnus as much as it hates the party and attacks the closest creature each round. See Encounter 5 for tactics.

Features of the Area

Acid Pools

These acid pools are 1 foot deep and count as difficult terrain. When a creature moves into the acid's space for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there, it takes 3 (1d6) acid damage. Somehow adding an equal amount of water dilutes the acid so that it deals no damage.

Lighting

Illumination from the acid pools fills this chamber in dim light.

Rubble

A space containing rubble counts as difficult terrain.

---

Draudnu

Medium fiend (demon), chaotic evil

---

• Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 142 (15d8 + 75)
• Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

---

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	22 (+6)	20 (+5)	13 (+1)	16 (+3)	20 (+5)

---

• Saving Throws Int +5, Wis +7, Cha +9
• Skills Athletics +7, Perception +7
• Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning, psychic
• Damage Immunities acid, poison
• Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned, prone
• Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 17
• Languages Abyssal, Common, telepathy 120 ft.
• Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)

---

Aggressive. As a bonus action, the draudnu can move up to its speed toward a hostile creature that it can see.

Corrosive Skin. A creature that touches the draudnu or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 4 (1d8) acid damage.

Freedom of Movement. The draudnu ignores difficult terrain, and magical effects can't reduce its speed or cause it to be restrained. It can spend 5 feet of movement to escape from nonmagical restraints or being grappled.

Magic Resistance. The draudnu has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Overwhelming Madness. When a creature that isn't an obyrith starts its turn within 30 feet of one or more draudnus, it must make a DC 16 Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 10 (3d6) psychic damage and must subtract a d4 from each of its attack rolls and saving throws until the start of its next turn. This die increases to a d6 if there are three or four draudnus, and to a d8 if there are five or more.

Standing Leap. The draudnu's long jump is up to 20 feet and its high jump is up to 10 feet, with or without a running start.

Actions

Multiattack. The draudnu makes three melee attacks or two ranged attacks.

Flesh Hook. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, the draudnu can detach the hook and force the target to make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the target is skewered by the flesh hook, and the draudnu regrows a new hook immediately. While skewered, a creature's speed is reduced by 10 feet, plus 5 feet for every additional flesh hook that is skewering it.
When the draudnu detaches its flesh hook, it can attempt to fasten the target to a surface such as a floor or wall within 5 feet of the target. When this happens, the target is also restrained to the surface by the flesh hook on a failed save.
A creature within 5 feet of the flesh hook can use its action to make a DC 15 Strength check. On a success, the skewered target takes 6 (1d12) piercing damage, and the flesh hook is removed.

Acid Spray. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 30 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (6d4 + 6) acid damage.

Encounter 3: Pool of Molten Ice

This encounter has the party fight the evil elementals that guard the Gems of Tharizdun.

Setup

Guarding this chamber is a waterveiled assassin (EdE 21) and two inferno tyrants. The creatures detest the other and they frequently trade insults in Common. However, sounds of combat from an adjacent room cause them to be silent. Place the inferno tyrants (H) on the map where indicated. Wait to place the waterveiled assassin (W) on the map until its turn or until a character has line of sight to its position and is able to locate it despite its attempt to hide. If any character touches the water or lands on the island, or if the party trigger the prismatic wall trap, read:

The balls of fire unfold into vague humanoid shapes, flaring brightly above the waters and emanating waves of heat from their forms.

When the waterveiled assassin reveals itself or is spotted, read:

Surging from the foul water is a great tidal wave and in its midst, a grotesque face forms and looses a dreadful howl.

Tactics

Both inferno tyrants position themselves to be as far away from the party as possible. They then let loose their Fire Blasts against the party. Should any of the characters close on the elementals, neither hesitates to use their Flame Wave ability.

Meanwhile, the waterveiled assassin stays underwater but moves to shore's edge to threaten opportunity attacks against enemies that attempt to move past it. It could try to get a Sneak Attack off on an unsuspecting enemy, or it could wait for the perfect moment to line up its Water Jet action and to hit many enemies with it at once. Should any enemy enter the water or engage the waterveiled assassin in melee, the assassin moves to engulf the hapless victim with its Whelm action.

If the characters negate the prismatic wall trap, the inferno tyrants pursue the characters. The waterveiled assassin stays behind.

Developments

If the characters have yet to deal with the Molydeus in area 5, it moves to investigate the sounds of combat, arriving in 2 rounds. The demon is as likely to attack the party as it is the elementals, so it trains its attacks on the closest foe each round.

Features of the Area

Island

The island rising from the center of the pool is difficult terrain.

Treasure

Behind the island and under the water is a bag of holding. Finding the bag requires a DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check. If located, opening it reveals 1,000 gp, a holy symbol of Ioun, and a 5th level spell scroll (DMG 204) with the flame strike cleric spell, which could potentially be used to destroy all 333 gems of Tharizdun at once. The elder evil swallowed the bag along with a recovered gem of Tharizdun months ago.

Water

The water in this room is 60-feet deep and is stagnant. Efforts to destroy or remove the water work for 1 round before more fluid seeps from the walls to restore it to its proper depth.

Conclusion

Embedded all over the island are the 333 Gems of Tharizdun. Prying a gem free from the rock requires a successful DC 20 Strength check. For every 111 gemstones destroyed, the essence of Shothragot loses one of its Legendary Resistances. In addition, destroying all the gems reduces the Seal of Binding's intensity by one step.

Inferno Tyrant

Large elemental, neutral evil

---

• Armor Class 13
• Hit Points 102 (12d10 + 36)
• Speed 50 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)

---

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	17 (+3)	16 (+3)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	20 (+5)

---

• Saving Throws Int +6, Wis +7
• Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Damage Immunities fire, poison
• Condition Immunities exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, unconscious
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
• Languages Common, Ignan
• Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)

---

Combustion. When the tyrant causes a creature or flammable object to ignite, the target takes 10 (3d6) fire damage at the start of each of its turns until someone takes an action to douse the fire.

Fire Aura. At the start of each of the tyrant's turns, each creature within 5 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) fire damage, and flammable objects in the aura that aren't being worn or carried ignite. A creature that touches the tyrant or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) fire damage.

Fire Form. The tyrant can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. In addition, the tyrant can enter a hostile creature's space and stop there. The first time it enters a creature's space on a turn, that creature takes 10 (3d6) fire damage and ignites.

Illumination. The tyrant sheds bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light in an additional 30 feet.

Water Susceptibility. For every 5 feet the tyrant moves in water, or for every gallon of water splashed on it, it takes 1 cold damage.

Actions

Multiattack. The tyrant makes three attacks.

Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (3d6 + 5) fire damage. On a critical hit, a creature also suffers one level of exhaustion, unless it has resistance or immunity to fire damage. Any levels of exhaustion caused by this effect go away after 1 minute.

Fire Blast. Ranged Spell Attack: +9 to hit, range 90 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) fire damage. If the target is a creature or a flammable object, it ignites.

Flame Wave (Recharge 5–6). The tyrant generates a wave of flame that rolls out from its body. Each creature within 30 feet of the tyrant must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw, taking 35 (10d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Encounter 4: Carnage

This encounter has the party face off against a molydeus that serves the will of Orcus.

Setup

The molydeus (MTF 134) occupies a spot indicated on the map (M) if the party come from the bottom. Otherwise, it starts on the opposite side if they come from the top. When the molydeus is spotted, read:

Charging toward you, barking a challenge from both its vicious wolf head and its spitting serpent head, is a massive fiend drenched in blood. It grips a terrifying battleaxe stained black with gore and flings droplets of blood into the air as the horror whips the blade about.

Tactics

Knowing that it can't use its teleport spell until the Seal of Binding has diminished, the molydeus relies on a straightforward approach, letting loose its Multiattack on the closest creature it can. After the rest of its enemies have shown what they are capable of, the molydeus uses its Move legendary action to charge the biggest threat with impunity. It casts lightning bolt only if it can hit a clear majority of the enemies in the room.

Features of the Area

Bloody Bodies

Spaces containing these bloody bodies are difficult terrain.

Encounter 5: Puce Portal

This encounter has the party face a varakhut, an inevitable construct and enemy of Shothragot.

Setup

Place the varakhut (V) where indicated on the map. Have the players put their miniatures near the entrance of the map unless they first parlayed with the inevitable, in which case they may place their miniatures wherever they wish in the room. When the varakhut attacks, read:

The fiery red eye flares with outrage as it intones dread words of grave magical power.

Tactics

On its first turn in combat, the varakhut casts chain lightning in order to wipe out any cohorts, followers, and animal companions. The following round, it activates its Antimagic Cone and aims it at any spellcasters it has identified. It then dances around the battlefield, using its Antimagic Cone to disable spellcasters while still leaving a few targets open to attack with its spells and other abilities.

Note that the varakhut will attempt to conserve some of its spells for use against the elder evil. Unless it is significantly threatened, it will hold off on using force cage and will save at least one use of both disintegrate and hold monster.

The varakhut, being a defender of the gods, has little interest in destroying divine servants, even ones it suspects of being in cahoots with the elder evil. Rather than attacking these creatures, the varakhut uses dominate monster to force them to fight at its side and aid it in its quest to destroy the elder evil and its minions.

Befriending the Inevitable

Even after combat begins, the party may persuade the inevitable of their intentions. As an action, a character may attempt to make a Charisma (Persuasion) check with the goal of calming the varakhut. The check is made with advantage if a character shows themselves to be divine servants of some sort. The number of checks required to achieve diplomacy as well as the DC of each check is up to you, but you may use 16 as the default or starting DC.

If the party successfully improves relations with the inevitable, it breaks off the attack and returns to its pounding. It takes additional convincing for the inevitable to believe that the party is not a threat, at which time it will release or end any hostile spells it cast during combat.

Features of the Area

Portal

While the elder evil's sign is at overwhelming strength, the portal does not function. Only when the light of a torch of revealing shines upon its surface can the party make the journey to area 22. Otherwise, the party must destroy the Gems of Tharizdun in area 4.

---

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Varakhut

Large construct (inevitable), lawful neutral

---

• Armor Class 20 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 225 (18d10 + 126)
• Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)

---

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	19 (+4)	24 (+7)	18 (+4)	22 (+6)	20 (+5)

---

• Saving Throws Int +10, Wis +12, Cha +11
• Skills Arcana +16, Insight +12, Perception +18, Religion +10
• Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren't adamantine
• Damage Immunities necrotic, poison, radiant
• Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, unconscious
• Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 28
• Languages all
• Challenge 19 (22,000 XP)

---

Antimagic Cone. The varakhut's head emits an area of antimagic, as in the antimagic field spell, in a 60-foot cone. At the start of each of its turns, the varakhut decides which way the cone faces and whether the cone is active.

Immutable Form. The varakhut is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.

Innate Spellcasting. The varakhut's innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 20, +12 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: chain lightning, dispel magic, locate creature
3/day each: counterspell, dimension door, disintegrate
2/day each: divine word, geas, hold monster
1/day each: dominate monster, forcecage, plane shift

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the varakhut fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Resistance. The varakhut has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack. The varakhut makes two attacks.

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 25 force damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 20 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Force Blast. Ranged Spell Attack: +12 to hit, range 90 ft., one target. Hit: 20 force damage, and the target is pushed up to 5 feet away from the varakhut if it is Large or smaller.

Legendary Actions

The varakhut can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The varakhut regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Move. The varakhut flies up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Attack. The varakhut makes one attack.
• Dispelling Blast (Costs 2 Actions). The varakhut makes a Force Blast attack. On a hit, the target's concentration is also broken, and any spell of 6th level or lower on the target ends.
• Force Beam (Costs 2 Actions). The varakhut unleashes a magical beam of force in a line that is 5 feet wide and 100 feet long. Each creature in the area must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw, taking 25 force damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Encounter 6: The Dark God's Prison

This encounter pits the party against the wardens of the Dark God's Prison.

Setup

The scions of madness (M) are positioned where shown on the map. Smoke and fire conceals them, so wait to place them until the party spots them. Have the players place their miniatures anywhere at the bottom of the map, but not on the paths or in the burning cinders. When a character enters a space adjacent to the effigy (E), read:

Hanging from the ceiling on a thick iron chain is a cage holding a smoking prisoner, its face blackened by the flames. Its mouth stretches wide, frozen in a perpetual scream. Bits of cloth, still aflame, cover the remains of the wretched inhabitant. Suddenly, a cloud of fire leaks out of the corpse's mouth and eyes, soon followed by the reduction of its entire body to ash. What remains is some sort of transparent humanoid shape cloaked in fire.

When a character first comes within 30 feet of a scion of madness, read:

Striding forth from the smoke and fire is a 10-foot-tall brute hunched over and wearing a purple cloak. Under its cloak, you catch glimpses of a deformed face and hands, suggesting that this creature has humanoid origins. The creature mutters a prayer under its breath and steps forward, ready to slay the intruders that stand before it.

Tactics

When a scion of madness first perceives a foe, it spends its turn casting circle of power, unless it can perceive another scion concentrating on the same spell. It then leaps forward, looking to catch as many enemies as it can with its destructive wave. The scions will communicate with each other in Deep Speech, ideally having two scions fighting in melee range while the third casts spells from a distance. If desperate, a scion will cast fear, hoping that the spell will buy it some time to retreat.

The effigy slips loose from its cage whenever a character comes within 10 feet of it. Whenever it can, the effigy uses Infuse to attempt to possess the nearest enemy. While waiting for the ability to recharge, the effigy attacks using its Life Drain. Once it has successfully possessed a character, or if it is reduced to half of its hit points or fewer, the effigy uses Fiery Death to take out as many characters as it can. The effigy does not care for the scions of madness, but will make an effort to avoid harming them.

Developments

By default, the caged cultists in this room are either dead or entirely insane and cannot provide any useful information to the party. However, if this adventure is the conclusion to a full campaign, you may wish to place some familiar faces in this prison for the party to encounter. The best candidates are important cultists that the players have defeated in the past, yet were left alive or otherwise were able to avoid an untimely death. However, you may also place allied NPCs in this prison, assuming that these NPCs were valuable to Shothragot and thus were not immediately killed.

Features of the Area

Smoke

This room is filled with smoke, lightly obscuring everything in the area. On its turn, a creature can choose to hold its breath until the start of its next turn. If it doesn't hold its breath, or if the target is forced to breath at some point afterwards, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the start of its next turn. A creature can only be forced to make this save once per round. The scions of madness are accustomed to the poor air and are immune to its effects.

Flaming Cinders

A creature takes 14 (4d6) fire damage whenever it moves into a space containing flaming cinders for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there.

Fire Jet

When a creature steps into one of these four spaces (marked with a flame symbol on the map), the jet is triggered. Each creature within 10 feet of the jet's horizontal position must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 (8d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Cages

These cages hang 10 feet above the floor. Opening one requires thieves' tools and a successful DC 15 Dexterity check to unlock it, or a successful DC 18 Strength check to force it open.

Offering

A belt of storm giant strength (DMG 155) lies on a rocky outcropping toward the back of the room (marked O on the map). Once owned by a mighty champion of Kord, the belt was left here to melt to slag after their brutal murder.

Scion of Madness

Large aberration, chaotic evil

---

• Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 149 (13d12 + 65)
• Speed 40 ft.

---

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	12 (+1)	20 (+5)	12 (+1)	20 (+5)	13 (+1)

---

• Saving Throws Con +9, Wis +9, Cha +5
• Skills Athletics +9, Perception +9
• Damage Resistances psychic
• Senses truesight 60 ft., passive Perception 19
• Languages Common, Deep Speech
• Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)

---

Dark Devotion. The scion has advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.

Innate Spellcasting. The scion's innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: bane, contact other plane, fear
3/day each: contagion, destructive wave, mass healing word
1/day each: circle of power, divine word, finger of death

Third Eye. The scion can see through solid objects to a range of 30 feet; when it does so, it perceives objects as ghostly, transparent images.

Actions

Maddening Grasp. Melee Spell Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 27 (4d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 19) if it is Large or smaller. Until this grapple ends, the target must make a DC 17 Intelligence saving throw at the start of each of its turns. On a failed save, the target takes 27 (6d8) psychic damage and is driven insane until the end of the scion's next turn. While insane, the target is incapacitated, can't understand what other creatures say, can't read, and speaks only in gibberish.

Effigy

Medium undead, chaotic evil

---

• Armor Class 15
• Hit Points 170 (20d8 + 80)
• Speed 0 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)

---

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
6 (-2)	20 (+5)	18 (+4)	16 (+3)	18 (+4)	20 (+5)

---

• Saving Throws Con +10, Cha +11
• Damage Resistances acid, lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Damage Immunities fire, necrotic, poison
• Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
• Languages the languages it knew in life
• Challenge 17 (18,000 XP)

---

Cold Susceptibility. If the effigy takes cold damage, it has disadvantage on ability checks and saving throws until the end of its next turn.

Fire Form. A creature that tries to touch the effigy or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 14 (4d6) fire damage.

Illumination. The effigy sheds bright light in a 15-foot radius and dim light for an additional 15 feet.

Incorporeal Movement. The effigy can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

Actions

Multiattack. The effigy makes two melee attacks.

Life Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 27 (4d10 + 5) necrotic damage plus 14 (4d6) fire damage. The target must succeed on a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.

Fiery Death (Recharge 6). Each creature in a 30-foot-radius sphere centered on the effigy must make a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw, taking 35 (10d6) fire damage plus 35 (10d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Infuse (Recharge 6). One humanoid that the effigy can see within 5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 19 Charisma saving throw or be possessed by the effigy; the effigy then disappears, and the target is incapacitated and loses control of its body. The effigy now controls the body but doesn't deprive the target of awareness. The effigy can't be targeted by any attack, spell, or other effect, except ones that turn undead, and it retains its Cold Susceptibility, Fire Form, Illumination, alignment, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, and immunity to being charmed and frightened. It otherwise uses the possessed target's statistics, but doesn't gain access to the target's knowledge, class features, or proficiencies.
The possessed target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns. It takes 14 (4d6) fire damage and suffers one level of exhaustion on a failed save, and the possession ends on a successful one. The possession also ends if the body drops to 0 hit points, the effigy ends it as a bonus action, or the effigy is turned or forced out by an effect like the dispel evil and good spell. When the possession ends, the effigy reappears in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the body. The target is immune to this effigy's Infuse ability for 24 hours after succeeding on the saving throw or after the possession ends.

Encounter 7: Fetid Cluster

This encounter pits the party against a cluster of beholders and their hive mother.

Setup

Place the hive mother (H) where indicated on the map. Choose two of the beholder pits to hold the other beholders (MM 28), but wait to place them until their turn. Have the players place their miniatures near the lip of the portal when the encounter begins.

If the hive mother hears the sounds of climbing characters, conversation, or any other noises, she readies an action to use her Eye Rays, with all three rays targeted at the first intruder she sees.

When the first character reaches the edge of the portal, read:

Hovering in the air is a spheroid creature bristling with eye-stalks and razor-sharp plates of chitin and bone. Orange corruption oozes from numerous rents and fissures in its hide. Burst blisters weep an equally noxious substance and its many rheumy eyes glare in outrage. Its broad mouth spreads in a frown causing a fresh torrent of slime to spill onto the floor. Numerous pits pierce the floor. Statues of robed men and women stand scattered throughout the chamber, all carved in terrified positions.

The beholders that hide in the pits reveal themselves on their turns, rising just far enough for their eyestalks to crest the lips of the pits. Whenever a beholder emerges from the pit, read:

A forest of dripping eyestalks climbs up from the darkened pit to look around.

Tactics

Having been prepared to use their eye rays, the hive mother and her lesser kin, which are permanently charmed by the hive mother, deactivate their Antimagic Cones. The hive mother fires her eye rays at as many intruders as she can, and the two beholders follow up with their own eye rays directed at any enemy that fails their saving throw against one.

Once the hive mother is reduced to half of her hit points or fewer, she uses Protect Mother on a charmed intruder, or on one of her lesser kin if necessary. She then orders these minions to use their Antimagic Cones to disable any enemy spellcasters, while still allowing the hive mother to use her eye rays if possible. If she can't get her eye rays off, she enters melee range and uses her bite on the safest target possible. The beholders fight to the death and may pursue the party if they flee this chamber.

Features of the Area

Foul Ice

Spaces containing this brown ice act as Slippery Ice (DMG 110).

Beholder Pits

The beholders carved out 10-foot wide pits that are 70 feet dip in which to hide from the hive mother's wrath. A beholder that partly emerges gains three-quarters cover and may use its eyestalks but not its central eye.

Statues

The characters aren't the first ones to attack the beholders. Shattered fragments of creatures petrified by the beholders' Petrification Rays can be found scattered across the floor. Among those that are intact enough to be saved are an insane mage (MM 347) that escaped from The Dark God's Prison (see area 9), a stoic knight (MM 347) in service of a good-aligned deity, and an oblivious druid (MM 346) that isn't quite sure how they got there.

Hive Mother

Huge aberration, lawful evil

---

• Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 230 (20d12 + 100)
• Speed 0 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)

---

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	14 (+2)	20 (+5)	20 (+5)	18 (+4)	21 (+5)

---

• Saving Throws Int +10, Wis +9, Cha +10
• Skills Perception +14
• Condition Immunities prone
• Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 24
• Languages Common, Deep Speech, Undercommon
• Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)

---

All-Around Vision. The hive mother can't be surprised, and attack rolls against it can't benefit from advantage. This trait doesn't function while the hive mother is incapacitated.

Antimagic Cone. The hive mother's central eye creates an area of antimagic, as in the antimagic field spell, in a 300-foot cone. At the start of each of its turns, the hive mother decides which way the cone faces and whether the cone is active. The area works against the hive mother's own eye rays.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (4d8 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be swallowed by the hive mother. A swallowed creature is blinded and restrained, it has total cover against attacks and other effects outside the hive mother, and it takes 35 (10d6) acid damage at the start of each of the hive mother's turns.
If the hive mother takes 30 damage or more on a single turn from a creature inside it, the hive mother must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures, which fall prone in a space within 10 feet of the hive mother. If the hive mother dies, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained by it and can escape from the corpse by using 20 feet of movement, exiting prone.

Dominate Beholder. The hive mother targets one beholder or beholderkin it can see within 60 feet of it. The target must make a DC 18 Charisma saving throw. On a successful save, the target is immune to this feature for 1 hour. On a failed save, the target is charmed by the hive mother for 1 hour. While charmed in this way, the target must follow the hive mother's orders to the best of its abiilty. This effect ends if the hive mother or its companions deal damage to the target.
If the hive mother loses control of a dominated beholder, the hive mother immediately senses the loss of control, and knows the position and distance to the beholder at the time control was lost.

Eye Rays. The hive mother shoots three of the following magical eye rays at random (reroll duplicates), choosing one to three targets it can see within 120 feet of it:
1. Charm Ray. The targeted creature must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by the hive mother for 1 hour, or until the hive mother harms the creature.
2. Paralyzing Ray. The targeted creature must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

3. Fear Ray. The targeted creature must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
4. Slowing Ray. The targeted creature must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the target's speed is halved for 1 minute. In addition, the creature can't take reactions, and it can take either an action or a bonus action on its turn, not both. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
5. Enervation Ray. The targeted creature must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw, taking 45 (10d8) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
6. Telekinetic Ray. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or the hive mother moves it up to 30 feet in any direction. It is restrained by the ray's telekinetic grip until the start of the hive mother's next turn or until the hive mother is incapacitated.
If the target is an object weighing 900 pounds or less that isn't being worn or carried, it is moved up to 30 feet in any direction. The hive mother can also exert fine control on objects with this ray, such as manipulating a simple tool or opening a door or a container.
7. Sleep Ray. The targeted creature must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or fall asleep and remain unconscious for 1 minute. The target awakens if it takes damage or another creature takes an action to wake it. This ray has no effect on constructs and undead.
8. Petrification Ray. The targeted creature must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature begins to turn to stone and is restrained. It must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn. On a success, the effect ends. On a failure, the creature is petrified until freed by the greater restoration spell or other magic.
9. Disintegration Ray. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 54 (12d8) force damage. If this damage reduces the creature to 0 hit points, its body becomes a pile of fine gray dust.
If the target is a Large or smaller nonmagical object or creation of magical force, it is disintegrated without a saving throw. If the target is a Huge or larger object or creation of magical force, this ray disintegrates a 10-foot cube of it.
10. Death Ray. The targeted creature must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 66 (12d10) necrotic damage. The target dies if the ray reduces it to 0 hit points.

Legendary Actions

The hive mother can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The hive mother regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Move. The hive mother flies up to its speed.
• Eye Ray. The hive mother uses one random eye ray.
• Command Beholder. The hive mother targets one allied beholder or beholderkin within 60 feet of it. The target can use its reaction to use one random eye ray; when it does so, it can make two rolls and select either result.
• Protect Mother (Costs 2 Actions). The hive mother targets one creature within 60 feet of it that is charmed by the hive mother. Until the end of the hive mother's next turn, the target has disadvantage on all saving throws, and the hive mother has advantage on all saving throws.

Encounter 8: Chamber of Delights

This encounter has the party fight an advanced deathshrieker named Agony.

Setup

Allow the characters to place their miniatures at the end of the corridor on the opposite side of the door. Agony is currently standing motionless near the wall and only reacts when it sees when someone or something step within 30 feet of it. When the characters enter this room, read:

You are met with the sight of an eery fog that clouds your vision, reducing visibility to about 30 feet.

Once the characters get within 30 feet of the altar, read:

As you move deeper into the room, you see that the floor is covered by a carpet stained with blood and human remains. At the center of the carpet sits an unholy altar, composed of the same flesh and bones that litters the carpet.

Once Agony enters view of the characters, read:

Soon after taking in this grisly scene, you spy a shape drifting through the fog, a wispy being consisting of a skull perched atop a fluttering knot of ethereal robes. It howls with rage and horror, drifting toward you, eyes blazing with hatred.

Tactics

Agony moves along the walls of the room, taking advantage of its Incorporeal Movement to remain more than 30 feet from the players at any given time. It starts combat using its Scream of the Dying ability, and only makes touch attacks if the target is at 1 hit point or is otherwise an easy target to pick off. Knowing that this room doesn't leave enough room for Steal Voice to work well, Agony uses its Terrifying Glare each round, and fights until slain.

Features of the Area

Altar

The fleshy altar causes the area filled by the carpet to be desecrated. Agony has advantage on all saving throws while it is in the area. A detect evil and good spell cast within range reveals its presence.

Fog of Misery

The entire room is filled with a magical fog that doesn't affect undead. See Agony's regional effects for more information.

---

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Agony

Medium undead, chaotic evil

---

• Armor Class 17
• Hit Points 170 (20d8 + 80)
• Speed 0 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)

---

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
6 (-2)	24 (+7)	19 (+4)	16 (+3)	18 (+4)	22 (+6)

---

• Saving Throws Int +9, Wis +10, Cha +12
• Skills Deception +12, Intimidation +12, Perception +10
• Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
• Condition Immunities all
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 20
• Languages all
• Challenge 17 (18,000 XP)

---

Aversion to Silence. Agony cannot willingly enter an area of magical silence, and takes 16 (3d10) psychic damage if it starts its turn in one.

Death Rattle. When Agony is reduced to 0 hit points, any non-undead creature within 120 feet of it that can hear its scream must succeed on a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion.

Despair. At the start of each of Agony's turns, each non-undead creature within 120 feet of it that can see or hear it must make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 14 (4d6) psychic damage and is incapacitated and can't move until the start of Agony's next turn. On a successful save, a creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. A creature is immune to this effect if it is immune to being frightened.

Incorporeal Movement. Agony can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Agony fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Share Agony. If Agony takes psychic damage, each non-undead creature within 120 feet of Agony that can hear it takes the same amount of damage. In addition, Agony's thoughts and location can't be discerned by magic.

Actions

Multiattack. Agony makes two touch attacks.

Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 25 (4d8 + 7) necrotic damage plus 7 (2d6) psychic damage, and the target has disadvantage on all saving throws until the end of Agony's next turn.

Scream of the Dying (Recharge 6). Agony emits a terrible scream. Each non-undead creatures within 60 feet of it that can hear it must make a DC 19 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, a creature drops to 1 hit point. On a successful save, a creature takes 28 (8d6) psychic damage; this damage cannot reduce a creature below 1 hit point.

Legendary Actions

Agony can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Agony regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Roam. Agony moves up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Steal Voice. Agony magically steals the voice of one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. Until the end of Agony's next turn, the target can no longer speak, and Agony can unerringly speak in its voice instead.
• Terrifying Glare (Costs 2 Actions). Agony targets one creature it can see within 120 feet of it. If the target can see Agony, the target must succeed on a DC 19 Charisma saving throw or be magically frightened until the end of Agony's next turn. The frightened target is paralyzed.

Regional Effects

The region around Agony is filled with a magical fog of misery centered on its space. The radius of this region is 1 mile while Agony is outdoors, but is reduced to 60 feet while indoors. Undead are unaffected by the fog.

The entire area is lightly obscured, and anything more than 30 feet away from a creature within the area is heavily obscured. In addition, sound constantly echoes throughout the fog, making it impossible to discern the location of a creature within it by sound alone.

Encounter 9: Demonic Sentinel

This encounter has the party face off against a klurichir, one of the most fearsome types of tanar'ri in the Abyss.

Setup

The klurichir (K) is positioned at any of the three starting positions indicated on the map. Unless the characters have some ability to perceive invisible creatures, don't place the demon on the map. Have the players position themselves in the bottom left corner. When this is done, read:

Four alcoves grant access to a larger chamber beyond. A few depressions in the floor hold some foul fluid that bubbles and burps as you watch. In the far corner, blood and gore paint the walls.

If any of the characters can perceive invisible creatures, or if the klurichir's greater invisibility spell ends or wasn't cast, read:

A demonic figure stands some 30-feet tall and possesses a powerful and muscular body. Massive crimson wings flare out from its back while four powerful arms twitch and claw at the air. Its head is monstrous and snarling, while a second mouth flanked by grotesque pincers snaps out from its prodigious gut.

Tactics

Before combat begins, the demon has most likely cast greater invisibility on itself. The demon is eager to engage the party in melee, but is clever enough to soften them up first. So, the demon casts fireball once the party is close and has bunched up, and spends the next two rounds flying around and casting fireball or launching Spine attacks at them. If its invisibility breaks, the klurichir follows up by casting its modified incendiary cloud spell and entering melee range.

Once the klurichir has grappled a victim with its Pincers, it keeps focusing its attacks on its grappled victim until the character escapes or is killed. Once it is reduced to half of its hit points or fewer, the klurichir unleashes its various other spells in order to deter the characters and to regain the upper hand in battle.

Characters that approach within 30 feet of the demon must save against its Fear Aura. If any characters flee, the klurichir follows, chasing the character or characters so it can butcher them while they scream. The demon does not let the party escape easily. It chases them if they try to flee—even out of the elder evil itself, such is its hunger for fresh meat.

Features of the Area

Glyphs of Warding

Each entrance to this room is protected by a glyph of warding with the explosive runes option (spell save DC 15). Created by the klurichir using four spell scrolls, a glyph triggers whenever a creature that isn't the klurichir moves within 5 feet of it. When triggered, each creature in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on the glyph must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (5d8) fire damage on a failed saving throw, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Pockmarks

The floor is dimpled with foul pockmarks that contain the elder evil's ichors. Any creature that enters a space containing the fluid must make a DC 24 Constitution saving throw, taking 22 (4d6 + 8) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Blood and Gore

The far corner of this room witnessed the death of another adventuring party who came to destroy the elder evil. The demon captured and slowly tore them to pieces here, tossing their equipment on top of the torn flesh and splattered organs. The items not destroyed by the klurichir are made up of the following list:

• Five potions of flying (DMG 187)
• Two potions of invisibility (DMG 188)
• One ring of mind shielding (DMG 191), which contains the soul of one of the slain adventurers

Klurichir

Huge fiend (demon), chaotic evil

---

• Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 294 (19d12 + 171)
• Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft.

---

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
30 (+10)	22 (+6)	28 (+9)	21 (+5)	24 (+7)	26 (+8)

---

• Saving Throws Str +17, Con +16, Wis +14, Cha +15
• Skills Intimidation +15, Perception +21
• Damage Resistances cold, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Damage Immunities fire, poison
• Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, poisoned, stunned
• Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 31
• Languages Abyssal, Common, telepathy 120 ft.
• Challenge 24 (62,000 XP)

---

Aura of Slaughter. Unless the klurichir is incapacitated, each ally within 120 feet of it can't be charmed or frightened and has advantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

Fear Aura. Any creature hostile to the klurichir that starts its turn within 30 feet of the klurichir must make a DC 23 Wisdom saving throw, unless the klurichir is incapacitated. On a failed save, the creature is frightened until the start of its next turn. If a creature's saving throw is successful, the creature is immune to the klurichir's Fear Aura for the next 24 hours.

Innate Spellcasting. The klurichir's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 23). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: blight, detect magic, fireball, telekinesis
3/day each: bestow curse (5th level), darkness, symbol
2/day each: counterspell, eyebite, greater invisibility
1/day each: incendiary cloud (necrotic damage), power word kill

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the klurichir fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Resistance. The klurichir has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Magic Weapons. The klurichir's weapon attacks are magical.

Actions

Multiattack. The klurichir makes three attacks: two with its battleaxe and one with its pincers.

Battleaxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 23 (3d8 + 10) slashing damage. This attack scores a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20. On a critical hit, the klurichir rolls damage dice three times, instead of twice.

Pincers. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 26 (3d10 + 10) piercing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 20). Until this grapple ends, the creature is restrained, and the klurichir can't use its pincers against another target.
If the target has at least one head and the klurichir rolled a 20 on the attack roll, the target is decapitated and dies if it can't survive without that head. A target is immune to this effect if it takes none of the damage, has legendary actions, or is Huge or larger. Such a creature takes an extra 6d8 slashing damage from the hit.

Spines. Ranged Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, range 90 ft., one or two targets. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 24 Constitution saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Legendary Actions

The klurichir can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The klurichir regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Move. The klurichir moves up to its speed.
• Rend. The klurichir rips the flesh of one creature it is grappling with its pincers. The target takes 36 (4d12 + 10) piercing damage, and it can't regain hit points until the end of the klurichir's next turn.
• Blasphemous Utterance (Costs 2 Actions). The klurichir chooses one hostile spell or effect that is currently affecting it. It then targets one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must make a DC 23 Charisma saving throw against this magic. On a failed save, the effect ends on the klurichir and is transferred to the target for the remainder of its duration. If the effect is a spell that requires concentration to maintain, the klurichir must concentrate on it, instead of the original caster.
• Cast a Spell (Costs 2 Actions). The klurichir casts a spell with a casting time of 1 action.

Encounter 10: Keepers of the Eye

This encounter has the party face two deathdrinker demons that serve the will of Tharizdun.

Setup

Place the deathdrinker demons where indicated on the tactical map. The players may place their miniatures anywhere within the first three squares of the right side of the map. Once the players have placed, read:

Glistening pools of bright green fluid illuminate this chamber and reveal two 30-foot-tall, red-skinned guards dressed in sinister breastplates and wielding massive longswords. Branching out from either side of their heads are broken and splintered antlers. Carved into their foreheads between their white eyes are symbols reminiscent of inverted black pyramids.

Tactics

While one deathdrinker charges the party from the front, the other uses its Teleport action to position itself behind the party, hopefully within range of its backline members. They then wail on the party with their longswords, hoping to reduce one of them to 0 hit points and to activate their Deathdrink abilities. The deathdrinkers are inherently selfish and do not work together.

Developments

Sounds of combat from this room may alert nearby creatures. Have the templars of Tharizdun in area 21 make Wisdom (Perception) checks each round the combat continues against a DC of 15 or higher. Similarly, Obox-ob (in area 18) is also entitled to his own Wisdom (Perception) checks. If either Obox-ob or the templars hear the combat, they do not join the fight, but make preparations as noted in their respective entries (if any).

Features of the Area

Acid Pools

These acid pools are each as deep as they are wide and count as difficult terrain. When a creature moves into the acid's space for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there, it takes 14 (4d6) acid damage and must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the end of its next turn.

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Deathdrinker

Huge fiend (demon), chaotic evil

---

• Armor Class 16 (breastplate)
• Hit Points 253 (22d10 + 132)
• Speed 40 ft.

---

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
24 (+7)	12 (+1)	22 (+6)	10 (+0)	11 (+0)	14 (+2)

---

• Saving Throws Str +12, Con +11, Wis +5, Cha +7
• Skills Intimidation +7, Perception +5
• Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
• Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
• Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 15
• Languages Abyssal, Common
• Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)

---

Aura of Unlife. The deathdrinker emits an aura out to a radius of 10 feet. Any non-undead creature in the aura that isn't a deathdrinker can't regain hit points and has disadvantage on death saving throws.
At the start of each of the deathdrinker's turns, each non-undead creature in the aura takes 9 (2d8) necrotic damage. Undead in the aura regain the same amount of hit points instead.

Deadly Critical. The deathdrinker scores a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. On a critical hit, the deathdrinker rolls the damage dice three times, instead of twice, and each ally of the target that can see the deathdrinker must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of the deathdrinker until the end of the deathdrinker's next turn.

Deathdrink. When a creature within 30 feet of the deathdrinker is reduced to 0 hit points, the deathdrinker regains 16 hit points, and it gains advantage on all attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws until the end of its next turn.

Magic Resistance. The deathdrinker has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Slaughter (1/Turn). If the deathdrinker makes a weapon attack with advantage on the attack roll and hits a creature with it, the target takes an additional 7 (2d8) necrotic damage. If the target is frightened or incapacitated, the attack also becomes a critical hit.

Unholy Weapons. The deathdrinker's weapon attacks are magical. When the deathdrinker hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 4d8 necrotic damage (included in the attack).

Actions

Multiattack. The deathdrinker makes two weapon attacks.

Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (3d8 + 7) slashing damage, or 23 (3d10 + 7) slashing damage if used with two hands, plus 18 (4d8) necrotic damage.

Teleport. The deathdrinker magically teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 120 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.

Reactions

Parry. The deathdrinker adds 5 to its AC against one melee attack that would hit it. To do so, the deathdrinker must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.

Encounter 11: The Emissary

This encounter has the party face off against Obox-ob, the demon prince of vermin and pests.

Setup

Place Obox-ob (O) where indicated on the tactical map. The players may place their miniatures anywhere near the entrance. When the characters see Obox-ob, read:

A nightmare of spider limbs fused into the form of a vile demon surges outof the darkness, cackling aloud and in your minds to create an unbearable chorus of madness. The form defies description and threatens to blast your sanity away, leaving you a shuddering, gibbering shell.

Tactics

Once committed to combat, Obox-ob does not grant quarter. He lurches into the frey, seeking to affect as many enemies with his Drone feature as possible. He trains his attacks on any creature that tries to get past him or to engage him directly, using telekinesis to toss back ambitious characters, such as those that know about the important items present in the room, back toward the entrance.

If he is reduced to half of his hit points or fewer, or if the characters get their hands on one of the items, Obox-ob uses his Giant Vermin ability to summon two giant scorpions (MM 327), directing them to grapple this enemy and to prevent them from escaping. He then becomes less stingy with his spells, unleashing cloudkill or insect plague on as many enemies as he can.

If at any point in the fight a creature wakes up from being unconscious due to his Drone feature, Obox-ob lurches forward and uses Implant Chaos on them. If Implant Chaos is unavailable, he instead casts contagion on the target.

Note that Obox-ob does not have access to his lair actions or regional effects during this encounter. They are printed here anyway for the sake of completeness, and to fill in some space that would otherwise be left empty.

If you want to see the original source of this Obox-ob stat block, check out my Abyssal Horrors document.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Obox-ob can take a lair action to cause one of the following effects; he can't use the same effect two rounds in a row:

• Obox-ob targets himself or a creature he can see within the lair and magically makes its body do something unnatural, such as vomit blood, twist its head all the way around, or cause a quadruped to move as a biped. Any creature that sees this behavior must succeed on a DC 23 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of Obox-ob until initiative count 20 of the next round.
• One repulsive and contaminated feature of the lair releases toxic gas, the decayed remains of a slain creature, a colony of insects, or some other carrier of disease. Each creature within 10 feet of this filth must make a DC 23 Constitution saving throw against disease. On a failed save, the target can't regain hit points until initiative count 20 of the next round.

Regional Effects

The region containing Obox-ob's lair is warped by his magic, creating one or more of the following effects:

• The area within 6 miles of the lair becomes overpopulated with giant versions of scorpions, centipedes, and other vermin.
• Any creature that sleeps within 6 miles of the lair must make a DC 23 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature suffers terrible nightmares and gains no benefit from its rest.

If Obox-ob dies, these effects fade over the course of 1d10 days.

Obox-ob

Huge fiend (demon), chaotic evil

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• Armor Class 20 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 378 (28d12 + 196)
• Speed 50 ft., climb 50 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
27 (+8)	14 (+2)	25 (+7)	19 (+4)	17 (+3)	24 (+7)

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• Saving Throws Dex +10, Con +15, Wis +11
• Skills History +12, Insight +11, Perception +11
• Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, lightning, psychic
• Damage Immunities poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
• Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 21
• Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
• Challenge 26 (90,000 XP)

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Drone. Obox-ob produces a horrid droning sound to which demons are immune. Any other creature that starts its turn with in 30 feet of Obox-ob must succeed on a DC 23 Constitution saving throw or fall unconscious for 10 minutes. A creature that can't hear the drone automatically succeeds on the save. The effect on the creature ends if it takes damage or if another creature takes an action to splash it with holy water.
If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, it is immune to the drone for the next 24 hours.

Innate Spellcasting. Obox-ob's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 23, +15 to hit with spell attacks). He can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: contagion, detect magic, telekinesis
2/day each: cloudkill, harm, insect plague
1/day each: animal shapes (insects only), astral projection

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Obox-ob fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Resistance. Obox-ob has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Magic Weapons. Obox-ob's weapon attacks are magical.

Spider Climb. Obox-ob can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Actions

Multiattack. Obox-ob makes four attacks: three with his stingers and one with his tongue. He can use Implant Chaos instead of his tongue.

Stinger. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d10 + 8) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Tongue. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d10 + 8) slashing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 23 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of Obox-ob until the end of the demon lord's next turn.

Implant Chaos (Recharge 5–6). Obox-ob uses his tongue to touch one creature within 15 feet of him that isn't a demon. The target must succeed on a DC 23 Charisma saving throw or have its soul implanted with raw stuff of chaos for 1 minute.
When this effect occurs, the target is poisoned, which causes it to also suffer one level of exhaustion. While poisoned in this way, the target must repeat the saving throw at the start of each of its turns as the chaos transforms both its body and soul. Three successful saves against the poison end it, and ending the poison removes any levels of exhaustion caused by it. Each failed save causes the target to suffer another level of exhaustion.
If the target is dies while implanted with chaos, the chaos completely consumes its body, leaving its equipment behind. If the creature is resurrected by a spell, the caster must succeed on a DC 23 Intelligence (Arcana) check. On a failed save, when the target is resurrected, this effect begins to affect the target once again.

Legendary Actions

Obox-ob can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Obox-ob regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

• Lurch. Obox-ob moves up to his speed.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) piercing damage.
• Cast a Spell (Costs 2 Actions). Obox-ob casts an innate spell.
• Giant Vermin (Costs 2 Actions). Obox-ob magically summons twenty giant centipedes, ten giant wasps, or two giant scorpions. The vermin burst out from Obox-ob's body and land in an unoccupied space within 15 feet of the demon lord. The vermin are considered demons rather than beasts, obey Obox-ob's verbal commands, and act on their own initiative count.

Encounter 12: Templars of Tharizdun

This encounter has the party fight the last surviving cultists of Tharizdun.

Setup

Lareth the Beautiful (L), an infamous cleric of the Dark God who has escaped death on numerous occasions, positioned his personal guard—the deathdrinkers—at area 17 to dissuade intruders from venturing close to the last cultists' redoubt. If Lareth or his cronies—Azugel (A) and Vadaeth Bloodseeker (V)—hear the sounds of battle with the demons or Obox-ob (see Encounter 11), they make preparations before combat: Lareth casts shield of faith, and Vadaeth casts staggering smite. Vadaeth then withdraws into his chambers and emerges only if he hears fighting here.

The placement of the figures assumes the inhabitants are aware of the party. If not, place Azugel and Lareth both in the side rooms. When the party enters this room, read:

Beyond the door, a vast sea of green slime bubbles before you. On either side, you see a few flickering torches, each giving off a pale blue flame. Iron walls set in the strange substance of the walls give the chamber the appearance of having rooms.

Charging you is a frothing half-orc wielding a greatsword. At the opposite side of the room, you see a tall blonde man with purple robes. One side of his face is extraordinarily attractive, while the other is a gruesome mass of scars.

Behind the man, you see a massive altar. On it rests an inverted two-step pyramid.

When Vadaeth emerges, read:

A hulking humanoid, larger than a man but smaller than an ogre, lumbers forward. Encased in enameled black full plate and armed with an impossibly large greataxe, he howls "Tharizdun!" as he charges forward.

Tactics

None of the templars works especially well with the others and each fight independently, looking to kill as many characters as possible while preserving their own skins. Of the three, Azugel is the most straightforward. On the first round, he charges the closest character, using his Intimidating Presence against them before hacking them into pieces.

Lareth runs through his direct damage spells first, freely catching Azugel in the area. If faced with powerful spells that bring him close to death, he will cast antimagic field and run directly into melee, hoping that Azugel and Vadaeth's brute strength will be enough to overpower the party.

If he hasn't already casted staggering smite, Vadaeth casts during the first round. He then rushes out of his chambers and into the frey, saving his spell slots for staggering smite and wrathful smite. He prefers to avoid attacking the same enemy as Azugel. If he is targeted by damaging spells, he will save his reaction for hellish rebuke, allowing him to punish the spellcaster for their insolence.

Features of the Area

Light

Positioned around the perimeter of this chamber are magical torches that shed bright light in a 20-foot radius and dim light an additional 40 feet.

Virulent Green Slime

The center of this chamber is filled with a pool of nasty green slime. This Green Slime is described on page 105 of the Dungeon Master's Guide.

Azugel

Medium humanoid (half-orc), chaotic evil

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• Armor Class 18 (Unarmored Defense)
• Hit Points 253 (22d8 + 154)
• Speed 40 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
24 (+7)	13 (+1)	24 (+7)	8 (-1)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)

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• Saving Throws Str +12, Con +12
• Skills Athletics +12, Intimidation +7, Perception +6
• Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
• Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
• Languages Common, Orc
• Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)

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Brute. A melee weapon deals two extra dice of its damage when Azugel hits with it (included in the attack).

Brutish Durability. Whenever Azugel makes a saving throw, he can roll 1d6 and add the die to his saving throw total.

Deadly Critical. Azugel scores a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 and rolls the damage dice three times, instead of twice.

Reckless. At the start of its turn, Azugel can gain advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls he makes during that turn, but attack rolls against him have advantage until the start of his next turn.

Relentless Rage. If damage reduces Azugel to 0 hit points, he can make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage from a critical hit. On a success, Azugel drops to 1 hit point instead.

Unarmored Defense. While Azugel is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, his AC includes its Constitution modifier.

Unbreakable (3/Day). If Azugel is incapacitated at the start of his turn, the effect causing this condition immediately ends on him.

Actions

Multiattack. Azugel uses his Intimidating Presence, if it is available. He then makes three weapon attacks.

Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (4d6 + 7) slashing damage.

Intimidating Presence (Recharge 4–6). Azugel targets one enemy he can see within 30 feet of him. If the target can see and hear him, it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of Azugel until the end of Azugel's next turn. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the target also experiences a random form of short-term madness for the same duration, determined by rolling on the Short-Term Madness table in chapter 8 of the Dungeon Master's Guide.

Reactions

Unbridled Fury. In response to being hit by a melee attack, Azugel can make one melee weapon attack with advantage against the attacker.

Legendary Actions

Azugel can take 1 legendary action, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Azugel regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

• Savage. Azugel makes one weapon attack against each creature within 5 feet of him.
• Shake it Off. One spell or effect of Azugel's choice immediately ends on himself.

Lareth the Beautiful

Medium humanoid (human), chaotic evil

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• Armor Class 20 (plate, shield)
• Hit Points 150 (20d8 + 60)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	11 (+0)	20 (+5)	16 (+3)

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• Saving Throws Wis +11, Cha +9
• Skills Arcana +6, Deception +9, Intimidation +15, Religion +6
• Condition Immunities frightened
• Senses passive Perception 15
• Languages Abyssal, Common
• Challenge 17 (18,000 XP)

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Commander of Evil. Lareth can utter a special command or warning whenever a nonhostile creature that he can see within 30 feet of him makes an attack roll or a saving throw (no reaction required). The creature can add a d4 to its roll provided it can hear and understand Lareth. This trait doesn't function while Lareth is incapacitated.

Disgusting Visage. Creatures that can see Lareth have disadvantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Hand of Devastation. Whenever Lareth rolls damage for a spell, he can reroll the spell's damage dice and use either total.

Spellcasting. Lareth is a 20th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 19). Lareth has the following cleric spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): light, resistance, sacred flame, spare the dying, thaumaturgy
1st level (4 slots): detect evil and good, inflict wounds, shield of faith, wrathful smite
2nd level (3 slots): blindness/deafness, invisibility, lesser restoration
3rd level (3 slots): fireball, lightning bolt, spirit guardians
4th level (3 slots): guardian of faith, ice storm, staggering smite
5th level (3 slots): cloudkill, destructive wave
6th level (2 slots): blade barrier, harm
7th level (2 slots): divine word, fire storm
8th level (1 slot): antimagic field
9th level (1 slot): power word kill

Actions

Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) damage plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage.

Reactions

Blessing of Tharizdun. When Lareth takes damage, he can use his reaction to force each hostile creature within 10 feet of him to make a DC 19 Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes half the damage Lareth took as psychic damage.

Unholy Protection. Lareth halves the damage that he takes from an attack, spell, or other effect.

Legendary Actions

Lareth can take 1 legendary action, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Lareth regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

• Cast a Spell. Lareth casts a non-damaging spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or lower.
• Terrifying Glare. Lareth targets one creature he can see within 30 feet of him. If the target can see Lareth, it must succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or be magically frightened until the end of Lareth's next turn. The frightened target is paralyzed.

Vadaeth Bloodseeker

Medium humanoid (goliath), chaotic evil

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• Armor Class 18 (plate)
• Hit Points 190 (20d8 + 100)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	12 (+1)	20 (+5)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	20 (+5)

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• Saving Throws Str +10, Dex +6, Con +10, Int +6, Wis +7, Cha +10
• Skills Athletics +10, Insight +7, Investigation +6, Religion +6
• Condition Immunities frightened
• Senses passive Perception 12
• Languages Abyssal, Common, Giant, Terran
• Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)

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Aura of Slaughter. Unless Vadaeth is incapacitated, each ally within 30 feet of him can't be charmed or frightened and has advantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

Dark Blessing. Vadaeth adds his Charisma modifier to his saving throws and to the damage he deals with melee weapon attacks (accounted for in his statistics).

Powerful Blows. When Vadaeth hits a Medium or smaller creature or object with a melee weapon attack, the target must make a DC 18 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the target is pushed up to 5 feet away from Vadaeth and is knocked prone.

Shroud of Evil. Vadaeth is immune to any spell or effect that would read his thoughts, determine if he is lying, or magically influence his thoughts or behavior, unless the spell or effect comes from Tharizdun.

Spellcasting. Vadaeth is a 20th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 18). Vadaeth has the following spells prepared:

1st level (4 slots): bane, command, hellish rebuke, wrathful smite
2nd level (3 slots): darkness, enlarge/reduce, shatter
3rd level (3 slots): bestow curse, dispel magic, fear
4th level (3 slots): blight, phantasmal killer, staggering smite
5th level (2 slots): destructive wave, dispel evil and good

Unholy Vigor. As a bonus action, Vadaeth can gain 15 temporary hit points.

Actions

Multiattack. Vadaeth makes two weapon attacks.

Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (1d12 + 10) slashing damage plus 9 (2d8) necrotic damage.

Reactions

Stone's Endurance. Vadaeth halves the damage that he takes from an attack that hits him. Vadaeth must be able to see the attacker.

Unyielding. When Vadaeth is subjected to an effect that would move him, knock him prone, or both, he can use his reaction to be neither moved nor knocked prone.

Legendary Actions

Vadaeth can take 1 legendary action, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Vadaeth regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

• Crush. Vadaeth initiates a grapple contest with one prone humanoid within his reach. On a success, the target takes 14 (4d6) bludgeoning damage as Vadaeth uses his foot to crush the target's chest. While Vadaeth keeps his foot on the target, the target is grappled and restrained, and it is suffocating. The target can uses its action to repeat the contest, freeing itself on a success. Vadaeth doesn't need a free hand to initiate this grapple, but he can only grapple one creature at a time with this ability.
• Vile Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: The target suffers disadvantage on all saving throws until the end of Vadaeth's next turn.

Encounter 13: Essence of Shothragot

This encounter is the final fight against the Essence of Shothragot.

Setup

The player characters appear on the ledge surrounding the essence's pit. The players may place their miniatures anywhere inside the dotted red box. Place the blackstone gigants where indicated and the essence of Shothragot (page 4) at the bottom of the pit. Neither the constructs nor the elder evil anticipate the party's arrival, so the characters automatically gain surprise. When the characters appear, read:

You find yourself in a massive chamber with smooth black stone walls and floor. The ceiling stretches nearly 100 feet overhead. Hovering in each corner of the room are four 66-foot-tall black statues of horrible demons, fusions of snakes and beautiful women. Each wears a necklace of petrified human heads whose faces are contorted as if wailing. The statues, as one, turn their stony heads to face you, faces twisting with anger.

Tactics

After the initial surprise, the blackstone gigants sweep in to grab as many of the characters as they can and to drop them into the pit, causing them to fall 60 feet and to land on the essence's body.

The gigants concentrate their attacks against the more melee inclined members of the party, leaving the spellcasters and ranged characters to contend with the elder evil. Ideally, they plan to petrify these melee characters and to pit them against the rest of the party using Animate Statue.

The essence ascends from the pit on the second round and stops about 10 feet over the top of it. It starts off by using Discord and Woe against a spellcaster in the party, following up with its various offensive spells and melee attacks. Once it is reduced to half of its hit points or fewer, the essence begins using spells like earthquake more freely, even if doing so would harm the gigants. If a party member manages to deal significant harm to the essence in melee, it uses its Fling ability to splatter it against the wall or against the bottom of the pit.

The Varakhut

If the varakhut in area 6 is also present, it will focus its ire on the blackstone gigants. The varakhut does so because it believes the party has a better chance of beating it, and also because it wouldn't be fun for your players if it stole their spotlight against the final boss. That said, the varakhut may be willing to cooperate with any plans the party might have if it believes they are well thought out and have a decent chance of success. Know that the varakhut will make every effort to ensure the elder evil is defeated, even if this means it will not survive this battle.

As the gigants' petrification abilities are magical and thus can be countered by the varakhut's Antimagic Cone, and because the varakhut is immune to being petrified, the varakhut is a natural counter to the gigants. The varakhut draws fire from at least two of the gigants, aiming its Antimagic Cone up at their heads to avoid interfering with the party's fight against the essence. If any of the other gigants are giving the party a hard time, the varakhut might unleash its Force Blast against them when possible.

Conclusion

Once the party destroys the essence of Shothragot, the surviving blackstone gigants wail in horror as they crumble to dust. Rents appear in the walls tearing through the elder evil's body and giving the party an avenue of escape. If the characters don't move quickly, the walls contract, shrinking by 1 foot every round until the elder evil implodes. Any creatures inside are utterly destroyed.

Features of the Area

Pit

The pit is 60 feet deep. Characters falling in the pit take 21 (6d6) bludgeoning damage.

Cracked Floor

Squares containing cracks and fissures count as difficult terrain.

Blackstone Gigant

Gargantuan construct, unaligned

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• Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 231 (14d20 + 84)
• Speed 40 ft., fly 20 ft. (hover)

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
25 (+7)	9 (-1)	22 (+6)	10 (+0)	11 (+0)	12 (+1)

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• Damage Immunities poison, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren't adamantine
• Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
• Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
• Languages the languages of its creator
• Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)

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Immutable Form. The gigant is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.

Magic Resistance. The gigant has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Magic Weapons. The gigant's weapon attacks are magical.

Trampling Charge. If the gigant moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a slam attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 19 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the gigant can make one slam attack against it as a bonus action.

Actions

Multiattack. The gigant makes three slam attacks, each of which it can replace with one use of Petrifying Grasp, or with Animate Statue if it is available.

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (3d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage.

Petrifying Grasp. The gigant attempts to grapple one creature within 5 feet of it. The gigant has eight arms, each of which can grapple one target. On a success, the gigant can attempt to magically petrify the grappled target.
Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and it must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. If it successfully saves against this effect three times, it is immune to it for the next 24 hours. If it fails its saves three times, it is turned to stone and is petrified until the creature is freed by the greater restoration spell or other magic. The successes and failures don't need to be consecutive; keep track of both until the target collects three of a kind, or until the grapple ends.

Animate Statue (Recharge 6). The gigant touches one petrified creature within 5 feet of it and magically animates its body. This effect lasts for 1 minute, until the gigant or the target dies, or until the target is no longer petrified.
While its body is animated, it uses the statistics of a stone cursed (MTF 240). It also gains 50 temporary hit points and an additional +4 bonus to its attack and damage rolls. The animated body defends the gigant to the best of its ability.