An ancient draconic lich, the dragon Durnehviir has been trapped in the Soul Cairn for eternity by the trickery of the Ideal Masters. Tasked to guard the Vampire Valerica Volkihar in exchange for necromantic powers, Durnehviir agreed, without having been told of his charge's immortality. He has rotted away, what was once a glorious purple-black menace of Tamriel is now a rotted, decaying relic, forgotten by time.

The Soul Cairn is one of many possible afterlives for the denizens of Nirn. Black rock and gray sand coat the landscape, while the grey sky is tinged with purple mist and regularly split by lightning.

Mausoleums of the same black stone litter the plains, three spires floating in the sky form a triangle, and at the center of this sits a large Boneyard, surrounded by a magical barrier that prevents entrance or exit.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the dragon can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:

• Bonemen, Wrathmen and Mistmen can be summoned to fight for the lich. An assortment of 5 are summoned, determined by rolling 5d6. 1/2=Mistmen, 3/4=Boneman, 5/6=Wrathman
• Frost coats the arena, all within 100-feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or have all speed halved, and be unable to use reactions or make opportunity attacks.

Regional Effects

The Soul Cairn is the realm of the Ideal Masters, and contains all manner of Undead and Trapped Souls.

• Three spires floating in the skies form a triangle around the central Boneyard, pillars of purple fire shooting from them. Upon these spires rest the Keepers, they must be defeated for the barrier to the Boneyard to fall.
• Four lightning rods can be found, beneath each of the spires and one atop the Reaper's lair. Activating these rods summons a group of guardians, once defeated the Rod will allow the enchantment of one weapon.
• At the end of a barrier wall rests the Reaper's Lair.