Davil explains that the entrance through the main doors is heavily guarded, but his scouts have located an alternative route. He gives them a map of the sewer system below the Dock Ward. “Follow the map. Once you get to Fishgut Court, find the sewer grate marked with a small scratching of a ten pointed star. Descend there, then make your way to the club’s underground entrance. After that, all you…

Make a Deal with the Lower Planes Your pact draws on the Lower Planes, the realms of perdition. You might forge a bargain with a demon lord such as Demogorgon or Orcus; an archdevil such as Asmodeus; or a pit fiend, balor, yugoloth, or night hag that is especially mighty. That patron’s aims are evil—the corruption or destruction of all things, ultimately including you—and your path is defined by…

Bargain with Whimsical Fey Your pact draws on the power of the Feywild. When you choose this subclass, you might make a deal with an archfey, such as the Prince of Frost; the Queen of Air and Darkness, ruler of the Gloaming Court; Titania of the Summer Court; or an ancient hag. Or you might call on a spectrum of Fey, weaving a web of favors and debts. Whoever they are, your patron is often…

In nearly all cases, the power that is proposing a Dark Bargain is uninterested in negotiating the duration or eventual cost of this gift. However, there may be extenuating circumstances. There could be roleplaying scenarios or simply the current events in the adventure’s narrative that could cause the power to briefly—briefly!—consider negotiating. The GM has the final say on whether a given…

The members of a wizards’ circle don’t always agree, and they keep secrets from each other. An individual in the circle might meet with only one or two characters at a time, in secret. In addition, the circle as a whole has an official spokesperson who communicates with the characters and gives them tasks. Roll on or choose from the Wizards’ Circle Contact table to determine who manages the…

The Defias Brotherhood has spread its tendrils through the heart of the Alliance. Its brigands bleed the villages of Goldshire, Lakeshire, Darkshire, and beyond and funnel the money to contractors working on the Juggernaut. Roll on or choose from the Deadmines Adventure Hooks table to determine how the characters learn of this conspiracy.

Dreaming Dark Infiltrators are spies sent to gather intelligence. They plant psychic seeds in their minds of their foes that enhance the infiltrators’ combat prowess against those enemies.

Medium or Small Humanoid, Lawful Evil AC 15 Initiative +3 (13) HP 104 (16d8 + 32) Speed 30 ft.

Amahlia d’Lyrandar, the staid matriarch of a powerful family, has used divination magic to learn that one of her three close personal advisors is to betray her during a masquerade gala held aboard her house’s majestic airship. She has asked that investigators be brought in to uncover the traitor, and the adventuring party is hired by House Lyrandar for the job. The reward: 200 GP each.

The Yawning Portal, located on Rainrun Street at the southern edge of the Castle Ward, is perhaps the most famous tavern in all the Sword Coast. (For more information on this location, see Tales from the Yawning Portal.) Keeping It Spontaneous The party succeeded in their previous mission for Davil. Before they proceed, have them collectively tell the story of what happened. As the characters…

It’s easy to spot the fishmonger Yesk amongst those on the docks as they are already haggling with the fishers who are unloading their catch. The party can wait for Yesk to finish their dealings with the fishers or interrupt, potentially posing as rival fishmongers. If the characters try to intimidate or attack Yesk, they call for their security agent with a loud whistle, and a Spy who has been…

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Anyone can be seduced into the service of the Dreaming Dark, and a normal person possessed by a quori (see the quori stat blocks in Eberron: Rising from the Last War) uses their normal stat block. The two agents presented here are Inspired agents of the Dark who wield terrifying psionic power. Dreaming Dark Infiltrator. Dreaming Dark infiltrators are spies sent to gather intelligence. They…

Darkon is altered by Azalin’s presence, creating the following effects: Closing the Borders. While in his domain, Azalin can close or open the borders to Darkon at will. While the borders are closed, undead terrors fill the Mists surrounding Darkon. Whenever a creature enters the Mists, one Hostile Zombie Clot (see chapter 5) appears in a random unoccupied space within 30 feet of that creature.…

Read or paraphrase the following speech from Thrul when the characters are ready to receive their second mission: “Operatives, you’ve taken three of the Hydra’s pawns off the board. Your next target is bigger. “The Hydra’s intel courier in Eltabbar, the Messenger, owns the Two Plateaus Shipping Company. The Messenger receives reports from the Hydra’s spies at his company’s headquarters and…

Become One with a Cosmic Being Your patron is a cosmic parasite, draining the vitality of entire peoples and worlds. Upon forging a pact with such a patron, you become host to one of its nascent offspring. As you grow in power, the boundary between your identity and the parasitic larva within blurs. Level 3: Spell Siphon Your patron has taught you to siphon magic from your enemies and make it…

The Plea. Chase requests the party’s assistance, as the Guild has called on Caset to do something that would jeopardize the future the siblings have worked so hard for, and ignoring the indenture would place a target on both siblings. We Are Family. Chase considers characters bearing the We Are Family mark of prestige from Castle Greyhawk part of their patchwork family and will remind them of…

If the characters haven’t remained discreet about their intent to confront Szass Tam, rumors have begun to swirl around the city. If the characters have remained discreet, skip this encounter. (See “Importance of Secrecy” in chapter 2 for more about emphasizing discretion and guile.) As the characters head to the Two Plateaus Shipping Company, a gang of Szass Tam’s operatives accosts them. Use…

† See the appendix.

Medium or Small Humanoid, Lawful Evil AC 19 Initiative +4 (14) HP 180 (24d8 + 72) Speed 30 ft.

Read or paraphrase the following when a character enters the kitchen. If they ended Chapter 2 already in the kitchen, use the following boxed text to shape what happens next: In the back of the kitchen, you see an unconscious JT on the floor next to the mop closet, bleeding out. An injured Lefty stands over him, one hand holding a bloody wound in her side while the other manipulates a series of…

Each Dark Bargain is unique, and a character can enter into a given bargain only once. A character could be bound to multiple Dark Bargains at one time, but each one only once.

During the Hour of Ascension, Castle Avernus—Azalin’s seat of rule and magical laboratory—erupted in a magical conflagration. Now, Castle Avernus stands frozen in time at the instant of its destruction, blasted to magically floating chunks of rubble. Its towers pitch wildly and crumble to pieces amid arcane flames, yet they don’t fall. Although time has halted in the ruins, Azalin’s servants who…