Chains of Asmodeus

Objective Locations

River Styx Encounters in the Nine Hells

Ride of the Demon Lord

The camp on the plateau is the war compound of the demon lord Baphomet (see Monsters of the Multiverse). He has penetrated deeply into the Nine Hells and intends to throw his host of demons at one of the devils' great flying strongholds to slaughter as many of his enemies as possible. The demons know they will die in the attack, but since they're not native to the Nine Hells it is of no consequence. Their bodies will simply reform in the Abyss. The devils that they kill will die forever.

The demon that lands on Koh Tam's ship is a nalfeshnee in command of the demon host's barges. It demands that the characters accompany it to speak with its lord, Baphomet, who is currently within the camp on the plateau. If the characters refuse, the demon attacks and the nalfeshnee is assisted by three fly-like chasmes. If these demons are defeated, the characters can bypass the interdiction and proceed down the River Styx, skipping the remainder of this encounter.

On the other hand, if the characters agree to meet Baphomet, they're escorted to shore and from there, brought into the camp. Baphomet has also recruited several mortals to his cause. The humans will likely end up as lemures when killed, so their participation is particularly unfathomable. Before meeting the demon lord, the characters may speak with some of the humans in the camp:

• A pair of warriors have come to the Nine Hells on a mission like that of the characters. They're monks from the far-off land of Shou Lung and the souls of their mother and father were taken by Asmodeus.
• A half-dozen soldiers calling themselves Knights of Solamnia have come from a world called Krynn. They call Tiamat by a different name—Takhisis. They're just trying to survive and have joined Baphomet because he is an enemy of Tiamat.
• Three Red Wizards from the land of Thay. They tried to summon and control Baphomet and failed. Now they must help in his war against the devils of the Nine Hells.

Once inside the compound the characters are brought to see Baphomet who resides within the huge devil-skin tent, the inner supports of which appear to be the bones of a mighty beast.

Unless the characters are openly hostile, Baphomet, and the two goristro with him, won't attack. His enemies are the devils of the Nine Hells, not the characters. He would rather share his plan. He tells the characters that it is time to throw down the chains of oppression that law and civilization bring. He wants them to help him destroy one of the flying citadels that archdevils often use to fly above the hellscape of their home. Baphomet offhandedly explains that if the characters turn down his offer, they'll join the meat that waits to be consumed after victory is achieved and points to the prisoners in the bone cage. But he insists it is their choice.

Baphomet desires to draw the citadel to this location whereupon he plans to trigger an overly complicated assault, the details of which the characters don't need to know. He simply needs them to locate the nearest citadel and attract its attention, so it diverts towards the camp. As a reward, Baphomet offers a chest full of 5,000 gp once the characters return with a citadel on its way. If the characters negotiate for the human prisoners' freedom, Baphomet agrees to free all of them, though withdraws the offer of the chest. To win both the prisoners' freedom and the gold the characters must succeed on a DC 19 Charisma (Persuasion) check.

Baphomet points across the land, away from the River Styx, and suggests they begin their search in that direction. At this point the characters are free to leave, easily able to double around and return to Koh Tam's barge and certain escape, though that would leave the captive humans at the mercy of the demons. If they've any interest in saving those unfortunates, the characters need to locate the citadel for Baphomet.

[image: Baphomet stares down an infernal citadel.]

Shadow of a Tyrant

[image: A tyrant shadow takes on the form of a giant spider.]

This region of the Nine Hells is infested with ayperobos (see appendix B). These tiny devils swarm about by the thousands, disguising themselves within the swarms of black flies. They've even burrowed into the flesh of several of the rothé (see the accompanying stat block) and now control these beasts like puppets. The devious devils have scattered the armor, weapons, and treasure of previous victims near the entrance of one of the caves. This way, it can easily be seen from boats passing by. However, it isn't the ayperobos that poses the greatest danger here.

The first clue to the dangers of this area are the freshly stripped corpses of several rothé, recently eaten by the ayperobos. All that remains of these rothé are their intact skeletons, flecked with blood and flesh. A successful DC 15 Wisdom (Survival) check reveals that these corpses are recent and that whatever killed them stripped all of the meat from their bones in a matter of moments.

The ayperobos wait until their prey has come ashore before attacking—unless it looks like a passing ship doesn't intend to stop. They will then descend upon their victims en masse. A swarm of them will push against the mast, sails and even hull of the Styx barge to drive it against the shore. A successful DC 15 Strength check is required by the navigator to keep a boat on course. The ayperobos aren't interested in eating the flesh of their victims; instead, they serve a greater threat. A tyrant shadow (see appendix B) lives within the caves that dot the shore and the ayperobos lure in hapless mortals and devils to be consumed by it. If any of the ayperobos swarms take control of a creature, they force it to enter the nearest cave mouth.

The tyrant shadow is a thing of concentrated hatred, fear, and loathing. It has taken the appearance of a giant spider made from writhing shadows. As soon as it has an opportunity it snatches a single victim and drags him or her deep into its cave system. From there the tyrant shadow takes its time to devour its prey, hoping that the screams attract a rescue attempt.

This particular tyrant shadow was manifested by the archdevil known as Zagum of the Triad. Treasure. Among the scattered belongings are some valuables. Select three uncommon magic items from the Dungeon Master's Guide.

Horsemen of the Apocalypse

These are the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, fallen rulers who climbed the ranks of the Nine Hells and now serve as harbingers of the end times. While they await their chance to unleash destruction upon their former worlds, they spend their time bickering among themselves, each vying for dominance over the others. Each rider is astride a formidable steed.

The horsemen won't immediately attack but instead try to engage the characters in their endless bickering, each trying to prove their own superiority over the others. Like it or not, they'll force the characters to choose which of their philosophies is best. Whoever they choose is overjoyed and leaves the fate of the characters in the hands of his or her companions. The remaining three horsemen unleash their full fury, using all their powers and abilities to destroy the characters.

[image: The four horsemen ride across the Nine Hells.]

Gatekeeper's Quiz

A powerful amnizu (see Monsters of the Multiverse), named Minos, controls this section of the River Styx. He is in command of a Styx dragon (see appendix B) that he uses to stop ships passing through. Minos considers himself an arbiter and judge of the Nine Hells. He enjoys judging the souls of the damned. Though boats frequently pass him by, they're rarely crewed with mortals, and thus his interest is piqued. Minos' other talent is with riddles, something he loves to practice with devils and mortals alike.

Minos rises from the Styx once the ship has been brought to a stop by his Styx dragon. He asks for the names of the crew members. If any on board shares their name, Minos acts as if he has heard the name before and plays upon the pride of the individual. He tries to convince one of the characters to play a game of riddles with him. If they refuse, then he explains that their ship is in the grip of his Styx dragon and that he will only allow them passage if they play his game.

The game consists of three rounds. In each round, Minos will pose a riddle and then the character must pose a riddle. Feel free to replace the three riddles below with different ones of your choosing. The players can either come up with a riddle on their own (which you try to answer) or they can succeed on a DC 16 Intelligence check to craft a riddle Minos can't solve. The characters are victorious if Minos can't answer one of their riddles or if they're able to answer all three of the riddles posed by Minos.

• I create nothing from everything. I provide passage where there is none. I travel the layers peddling my wares, but no payment is required. What am I?
• • Answer:. River Styx
• I am something of ultimate value, yet weightless. I am a ledger of deeds, yet nothing is written. I can visit other planes, yet the corporeal remains. What am I?
• • Answer:. Soul
• In consuming everything, it gives life. Its remains bring about rebirth. To embrace it is to die, yet it readily travels with almost any group. What is it?
• • Answer:. Fire
• Every creature follows their own version, whether written or thought. Without it, there would be no Blood War. Its interpretation and presence has driven conflict since the beginning of time. What is it?
• • Answer:. Law
• I'm never far from my sibling, fire, Find comfort in me, liars, For when I make something unfound, Use touch, taste, smell, or sound.
• • Answer:. Darkness
• To have me is to have everything, To be as powerful as a king, Yet, my endless pursuit brings only emptiness, Having everything brings joy less and less.
• • Answer:. Wealth

Winning the game of riddles results in Minos allowing the characters to choose one infernal magic item from his stash at the bottom of the Styx. He has the following items: Bracers of Asmodeus, Canian Fork, Demonbone Polearm, Infernal Amulet, Infernal Plate Armor, Stygian Spear, and the Sword of Retribution (these are described in appendix D).

Losing the game of riddles results in Minos demanding 5 Soul Coins to continue down the river. Refusal results in Minos and the Styx dragon attacking. If Minos is attacked or if the game of riddles is refused, then the amnizu and his pet Styx dragon will attack together.

Camp of Hedonism

[image: In the Nine Hells, everything comes at a cost... Especially pleasure.]

This camp is the home of Gulgara, a powerful corruption devil (see appendix B) known as a sire of corruption, and her many minions. Gulgara created the camp decades ago as a trap for the unwary and a place to hone her powers of corruption. Recently a large group of adventurers were searching for the souls of their loved ones when they came under attack by numerous devils. The adventurers could not believe their luck when they saw what appeared to be an abandoned infernal fort. They took refuge within, not realizing it was the corruption devil's powers that had drawn them there in the first place.

The adventurers (four mages, three knights, two druids, two spies, and a priest) are oblivious to the many torments they've suffered. A dozen succubi, in the guise of friendly elves, work in the camp, enacting Gulgara's various torments.

Characters approaching the gates to the camp are welcomed by a pair of succubi, claiming to be adventurers. They invite the characters to partake in the festivities within the camp. They open the gates to reveal the grounds of the fort, which are occupied by numerous adventurers. There are also two large tents in the distance.

A succubus points out the activities that the characters might want to participate in:

• A half dozen adventurers are greedily eating from a vast table filled with delicacies from across the multiverse.
• A pair of knights are sitting on cushioned seats in front of vast mirrors as their armor is shined by imps. There are several empty seats, and more imps waiting to work.
• A priest and a couple of spies are engaged in a rowdy game of dice.

Each tent is guarded by a pair of succubi that have taken the appearance of human knights and pretend to be adventurers. They allow entry only to those obviously under the influence of Gulgara's decadent corruption ability. If the characters attempt to force their way into a tent, all the camp's occupants attack the characters.

In the first tent, a mage is being tortured by a trio of affliction devils (see appendix B). The devils attack characters not under the influence of the decadent corruption ability. The other tent is where Gulgara can be found. She attacks characters not under the influence of the decadent corruption ability but emerges from the tent only if a fight breaks out between the characters and her servants.

The entire camp is under the influence of Gulgara's decadent corruption ability. The adventurers can be saved but each requires their decadent corruption be removed, as described in the sidebar. If a devil or succubus sees that an adventurer has been saved in this way, or any adventurer attempts to leave the camp, the remainder of the camp goes hostile. Adventurers that have been saved fight to assist the characters and, if they survive, continue to travel the Nine Hells with the characters.

[image: The Nine Hells corrupt even those with good intentions.]

Aid from Below

This ragtag group of twelve centaurs are dedicated to a good, but misguided, cause. After some discussion, the characters will learn that these centaurs are attempting to alleviate the suffering of some of the souls in the Nine Hells. In particular, they help individuals they deem non-deserving of their suffering. These larvae (see the Dungeon Master's Guide for this stat block), lemures and nupperibos are in bone caged carts that some of the centaur band are yoked to. They willingly entered the Nine Hells decades ago at the behest of their chieftain. They originally numbered in the hundreds but have been reduced to just a dozen.

What they don't realize is that their quest is a trick. Their chieftain signed away their souls so that he could be granted great power. He convinced his greatest warriors that they needed to enter the Nine Hells and save the innocent souls that had been unfairly consigned to suffer there. He told them how to recognize such souls, but these were just lies. The signs he told them to look for include:

• Joyful facial expressions
• Issuing curses against the gods

If the characters are able to ascertain that the centaur's quest is a lie (through magic spells such as Divination or Contact Other Plane), then they can try to convince the band of their findings. This requires a successful DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion) check.

If the characters are successful at convincing the centaurs of the fact that their quest is a lie, one of the nupperibos begins to giggle, then laugh, then cackle uncontrollably. After his death, the chieftain was consigned to the Nine Hells, as a nupperibo. The centaurs stumbled upon him a few years ago, without even realizing his identity, and he has been with them ever since.

Bowl of Suffering

[image: Larvae try to escape the Bowl of Suffering.]

There are six pain devils and two maelephant nomads (for both, see appendix B) around the bowl. Only someone standing at the edge of the bowl can see that it is filled with larvae (see the Dungeon Master's Guide for this stat block), lemures, nupperibos (see Monsters of the Multiverse), and a few dretches captured during the Blood War. These dretches have honed their telepathy so that they can communicate in any language. The pain devils push down any of the pitiful creatures that manage to climb up the sides of the bowl.

The maelephants attack anyone who tries to interfere with the pain devils.

The dretches use their telepathy to make promises to any mortal they see, but all their promises are lies. One dretch claims to be an angelic creature trapped under the other infernal creatures. Another dretch claims that there is a suit of magic plate armor at the bottom. Anyone crawling into the bowl is swarmed by the piteous creatures and must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. They take 21 (6d6) slashing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Magic within the bowl is corrupted so that any spell cast within it fails and triggers a wild magic surge. Determine the surge's effect by rolling on the sorcerer's Wild Magic Surge table in the Player's Handbook.

Forest of Pain

[image: Hellcats prowl the forest.]

This forest is the home of one of Hell's larger herds of oneirovores (see appendix B). These creatures, also known as dream eaters, are grazing on the branches of the trees. When they break off a branch it bleeds a luminescent sap that the oneirovores eagerly lap up. This sap is made up of the dreams of mortals.

Attacking the herd can quickly turn into a disaster. If any of the oneirovores is hurt, 2d4 hellcats (see appendix B) immediately spring to their defense. An oneirovore that is injured cries mournfully and releases its stored phantasmagoria. Nearby oneirovores also release their phantasmagoria. Things quickly get worse when the herd's shepherd arrives. In 1d4 rounds a pack of a dozen hell hounds will burst on to the scene. A round later the shepherd, a war devil (see appendix B), arrives.

If the guardians of the flock are dealt with, then it isn't too difficult to coax some of the oneirovores on to a boat. A successful DC 15 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check convinces an oneirovore to follow along. However, it is very dangerous for anyone to rest while so close to a dream eater. Someone who finishes a long rest within 10 feet of an oneirovore must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. The DC increases by 5 for each oneirovore beyond the first. A failed save results in disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws. Only a Wish spell can remove this effect.

Canyons of Greed

[image: Nothing is left of the prospectors, except their greed.]

Four maelephant nomads (see appendix B) stand at the top of the canyon and push boulders toward any ship passing by. These boulders glisten with embedded gold nuggets and when they smash into their target or hit the side of the canyon they break apart, scattering 2d12 gold nuggets along the riverbank. Each throws three boulders (Ranged Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target. Hit: 28 (4d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage) before retiring out of sight. A spell such as Gust of Wind pushes a ship out of range immediately.

Nearly a dozen prospectors emerge from caves in the sides of the canyon and huts built along the shore. They scramble to collect the gold nuggets, often wading into the river to pick up nuggets that land in the shallows. The memories of these prospectors have long ago been eroded. Now all they care about is finding gold nuggets in the river and hiding whatever they find in the small lair they've built for themselves. Each gold nugget is worth 100 gp, but the prospectors react violently to anyone who tries to take their gold. The prospectors have silently agreed to not touch the treasure hoard of another. Anyone doing so earns the wrath of all the prospectors. A variety of prospectors live here:

• 3 fire giants
• 1 dwarf gladiator
• 1 orc veteran
• 1 elf assassin
• 1 young red dragon
• 2 fomorians

Each prospector has 1d100 gold nuggets in their lair.

Ruin and Amusement

[image: Baalzebul's amusement park isn't for the faint of heart.]

The River Styx flows into a stone canal that has been built through the heart of one of Hell's many abandoned cities. The city is long dead, except for an amusement park at the city center.

This amusement park is another one of Baalzebul's bizarre creations and is one of the few places in the Nine Hells where the non-infernal outnumber devils. Travelers from across the planes travel down the Styx to experience the famed rides.

At the main entry, a succubus and an incubus hand out entrance tickets for 10 gp each. However, anyone sneaking in without paying doesn't need to fear reprisal. Once inside, visitors are free to try out any of the fun rides. Once they've tried out one or two, they are approached by a succubus or incubus who tries to persuade them to try out one of the devilish rides.

Angelic Villa

A small group of angels live in a once beautiful palace, overgrown with the filth of the Nine Hells. Flies and wasps surround the palace, and worms writhe in the mud around it. These angels were companions of Triel, the fallen angel that became the archdevil Baalzebul. They aren't evil, but they're no longer good either. They haven't committed to either the hierarchy of the Nine Hells or returned to their original home in the Seven Heavens. Their moral relativity has made them into sad figures with no purpose or hope.

The angel Samael flies above the Styx and attempts to contact any good characters it notices below. The angel uses telepathy to provide directions to a nearby palace where characters may rest and recover.

When the characters enter the palace, they find angels within. There are several devas led by a planetar named Uriel. These angels have lived together in this region of the Nine Hells for millennia. There were once dozens of them, but over time their number has been reduced as some have died in battle, others have fallen to complete corruption, and a few have redeemed themselves and returned to the Seven Heavens. Those that remain are:

• Uriel. He was a patron of the arts.
• Arariel. He controlled the waters of the earth.
• Chamuel. They represented serenity and devotion.
• Gadreel. He was known as the watcher.
• Muriel. She was a patron of travelers.
• Phanuel. She offered hope and repentance.
• Samael. He fetched the souls of the dead.

Uriel wants the characters to join them for dinner. He wishes to hear tales of the characters' exploits. In return, he allows the characters to partake from his wine cellar, one of the most comprehensive in the multiverse.

If the characters turn him down, he is disappointed, but lets them know that they can return at any time to take him up on his offer. Any act of aggression by the characters results in the angels attacking with a level of coordination that befits a group that has been together for millennia.

[image: Uriel holds court over fallen angels.]

The dinner is fraught with potential danger. During each of the three courses, an angel asks a challenging question which requires a successful ability check to answer. Failing a check results in that angel challenging that character to a duel. If the character refuses the duel, then Uriel expels the character from the estate. If the character undertakes the duel and the angel reduces the character to 0 hit points, the angel chooses to incapacitate the character instead of landing a killing blow. If the character doesn't do the same if they win, then Uriel expels all of the characters from the estate.

In the first course, Chamuel selects the character with the highest Charisma score and questions their serenity or devotion. The character must succeed on a DC 16 Charisma (Persuasion) check to avoid the duel. In the second course, Samael demands that the frailest character (the one with the lowest Constitution score) justifies how they've survived so far. The character must succeed on a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check, made with disadvantage if the character is injured. In the final course, Phanuel, who has become exhausted from sustaining all her companions, now asks a character to step forward to convince her that hope still remains for these abandoned angels of the Nine Hells. That character must succeed on a DC 18 Charisma (Persuasion) check.

If the characters are not expelled, when they prepare to leave, Uriel allows each into his wine cellar. Some bottles of wine have magical properties that might be useful on their journeys. Each character can make an Intelligence (Investigation) check to select a good vintage. Any result above 15 allows them to roll once on the Magical Wines table. Above 20 and they roll twice, allowing them to select which of the two bottles they prefer to take.

A Paladin in Hell

If Koh Tam is in command of the characters' ship, then he steers it to the riverbank and demands that the characters help the warrior. The warrior is a paladin serving Kelemvor named Sir Calenhad Strongheart (lawful neutral death knight that is a Humanoid and doesn't have the Marshal Undead trait or Hellfire Orb action).

Calenhad battles against a dozen bearded devils, a pair of horned devils and nine bone devils. These creatures are led by a powerful greater tyrant shadow (see appendix B). This tyrant shadow was spawned from the archdevil Abigor millennia ago.

Calenhad has been tasked by the archdevil Abigor with killing the tyrant shadow, for the creature has been subtly undermining his machinations. Abigor convinced the paladin that the tyrant shadow was responsible for the death of his family and their souls will be consigned to the Nine Hells unless he kills the creature (all lies). To help Calenhad in his quest, Abigor granted him Infernal Plate Armor and a Sword of Retribution (see appendix D for details about both items.) These items have been slowly twisting the paladin.

Koh Tam asks the characters to subdue the paladin so he can remove the cursed items and heal him of infernal corruption. If they succeed in this, Calenhad stays below decks slowly recovering. If you want, he may come to the rescue of the characters at a key moment in the story.

Corruption

The temptations have real effect on the game, by modifying the amount of corruption for each character. The more corrupt a character, the more likely it is that they succumb to Asmodeus's manipulations. Keep track of the individual characters corruption scores on the "Corruption Tracker" found in appendix E. All characters start with a Corruption of 0, but are modified by the following:

• Evil characters start with 1 corruption point.
• Characters searching for their own damned soul gain an additional corruption point.
• If the party aligns with the Deathstalker patron, each character gains an additional corruption point.

When a character gives in to one of the temptations an additional 2 corruption points are awarded to them. At the final stage of the adventure, you can tally the scores for each character. Use the Corruption Score table found in appendix E to see if a character has been ensnared by Asmodeus.

[image: The bodies of titans and giants are preserved by the ice of Cania.]

Types of Player Goals

Any temptation must fit the goals of a player as it relates to their character. All temptations are grouped into one of the following categories:

• Power. These temptations provide magic items, spells, special abilities, and minions.
• Knowledge. Discovering the location of fabled sites, the secrets of creation, the weakness of enemies, and the true thoughts of others are possible with these temptations.
• Privation. Temptations of this kind involve relieving privation by means of restoring hit points, lost abilities, and providing protection from death.
• Roleplaying. These temptations help achieve character-specific but non-power-related goals—the death of enemies, the benefit of friends, family, community or dependents in need, the altering of a political status quo, the location of some lost icon of cultural or family significance. Titles and status. These rely on the character's backstory having appropriate material, and the player being sufficiently invested in it.

The Temptations

Throughout the story Asmodeus tries to tempt the characters. Each is optional, so feel free to skip a temptation, especially if another one has recently been triggered, or move them to another part of the Nine Hells. However, make sure that each character is tempted at least a few times throughout the adventure.

The benefits and drawbacks of temptations are described in detail on the following pages. Most of these temptations have been placed in specific locations within the various layers of the Nine Hells and the details of discovering them are explained in an appropriate sidebar in that layer. Not all the temptations have been directly placed, however. In some locations a prompt appears to select one from the Random Temptations table instead. When this occurs, roll on the table, or select the temptation most appropriately tantalizing to one of the characters.

Anger

Anger is forged in the fires of the Nine Hells.

Betrayal

You can only understand good and evil if you have betrayed the former for the latter.

[image: Levistus]

Deceit

Deceit allows those with less power and excellence to pretend otherwise.

[image: Baalzebul and Mammon]

Greed

Greed makes you free, and accountable to no one.

Harm

What further harm could I possibly bring to the wretchedness of mortals.

[image: Mephistopheles and Fierna]

Jealousy

The lord of these Nine Hells, who was the pinnacle of good, brought low by jealousy.

Murder

Behold Dis, where murder is always for sale.

[image: Belial and Dispater]

Oppression

The most beautiful music is the silence of the good over the suffering of the oppressed.

[image: Glasya and Asmodeus]

Pride

You mortals should take pride in how you can make a Hell out of any Heaven.

Telepathic Spells

The archdevils of the Nine Hells rule their realms with an iron fist. The devils that make up their ranks are heavily monitored and strictly controlled. All communication received in or sent from the Nine Hells can therefore be overheard. If they want to, the archdevils can eavesdrop on communication spells such as Message and Sending. Even when magic items (like Sending Stones or a Helm of Telepathy) are used to communicate, the archdevils can listen in.

In the Nine Hells, it is safe to assume that someone is always listening. This has left the occupants of the Nine Hells in a constant state of paranoia. Anyone who tries to communicate telepathically here, has the unnerving feeling of an infernal presence listening in. There is only one exception: Rings of Mind Shielding. Even in the Nine Hells, these rings shield telepathic communications from being overheard. These items are therefore highly sought after by those denizens of the Nine Hells who wish to keep their thoughts private from their lords.

Teleportation Spells

Many teleportation spells have altered effects when cast in the Nine Hells, including spells cast from magic items or artifacts, and class abilities that duplicate the effects of spells.

Devilish Distances

The Nine Hells is in constant flux, with the landscape warping to the whims of the devils, and at times, the Nine Hells itself. The distance between locations—and the time required to travel—is up to the DM. A trek towards an infernal tower might take only two hours, but the return journey could last weeks. And locations that the characters were certain were in a particular location one day may relocate themselves to another area of the Nine Hells on their next visit.

Using an Infernal Map

As the characters explore the Nine Hells, Koh Tam sometimes provides an infernal map when they enter one of the adventure regions. Whenever a character attempts to travel to a location marked on one of these maps, they must match what they see with what is drawn on the map. To do this, they must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom (Survival) check. If they're being helped by a native of the region, then they make this check with advantage.

Success means that they arrive at the location they're traveling to. However, depending on the adventure, they may still encounter something unexpected along the way.

Failure means they become lost. They wander for hours to the point of exhaustion. Unless they make camp for a short or long rest, each character gains a level of exhaustion. Failure might have additional effects depending on the adventure.

The River Styx

In the mortal world, springs bring water to the surface, trickling lines of liquid coming together, forming streams of ever-increasing size until they feed into great rivers. The River Styx is different, like the Ouroboros, it feeds in on itself. Smaller branches circle around, and, on an adjacent layer of the Nine Hells, feed back into the river. This is of great use to ferry pilots who are familiar with the river as they can use its branches as shortcuts to the upper layers of the Nine Hells and the important locations that can be found there.

The waters of the River Styx aren't just dangerous to navigate. Unless immune to the river's effects, a creature that drinks from the Styx or enters the river is targeted by a Feeblemind spell (save DC 20). A creature must repeat the saving throw whenever it starts its turn in the river, until it fails the save. A feebleminded creature can drink from the Styx and swim in its waters without suffering any additional deleterious effects.

If a creature fails its saving throw and remains under the spell's effect for 30 consecutive days, the effect becomes permanent (no save) and the creature loses all its memories, becoming a near-mindless shell of its former self. At that point, nothing short of a Wish spell or divine intervention can undo the effect.

Water taken from the River Styx loses its potency after 24 hours, becoming a harmless, foul-tasting liquid. However, arcanaloths, night hags, and other fell creatures might know rituals that can prolong the water's potency.