Out of the Abyss

*Out of the Abyss* is the first campaign in the Rage of Demons adventure saga.

The archmage of Menzoberranzan, Gromph Baenre, ushered in an invasion of abyssal lords in a failed attempt to summon and bind his spider-goddess, Lolth. Now the demon lords rampage throughout the Underdark and must be stopped at all costs!

To this end, a group of unlikely adventuring companions who found themselves imprisoned together in the drow outpost of Velkynvelve needed to band together to overcome overwhelming odds. After journeying about the Underdark, learning of the demonic incursion, and seeking allies to thwart such a dire threat, the adventures have made a pact with King Bruenor Battlehammer of Gauntlgrym to take the battle to the demon lords themselves.

The adventurers bravely delved back into the depths of the Underdark with their Expeditionary Force behind them, to find a way of defeating the demon lords. At the eldritch library of Gravenhollow, they encountered a strange and unlikely ally in Vizeran DeVir, an ancient drow archmage who claims to know a means of ending the rage of demons.

The Expeditionary Force braved the dangers of the Underdark to seek out the reagents needed for DeVir's *dark heart* talisman. After returning from Menzoberranzan with Gromph Baenre's grimoire and an overdue vengeance against House Mizzrym, the heroes have little to do but wait until Vizeran completes the *dark heart*. Only the final confrontation remains. Will the adventurers emerge triumphant against the demon lords and end the rage of demons?

## **Adventure Overview**

*Main Article - Rage of Demons Adventure Overview.*

## **Current Companions**

The following characters are currently accompanying the heroes on their incursion to Menzoberranzan:

* Jorlan Duskryn, a rogue drow elite warrior who has betrayed his people to aid the Expeditionary Force on behalf of the Council of Spiders.
* Grin Ousstyl, apprentice and servant to Vizeran DeVir

The following characters await the heroes at Neverlight Grove in preparations for the final battle:

* Puffantarax, **red dragon wyrmling**

In addition to personal companions, the majority of the adventurers' allies comprise the Underdark Expeditionary Force (detailed below).

## **Expeditionary Force**

The characters have been enlisted by King Bruenor Battlehammer of Gauntlgrym to take an Expeditionary Force into the Underdark comprising members of the five major Factions as well as other allies the adventurers may encounter along the way. Currently, the bulk of the Expeditionary Force waits at Neverlight Grove in preparations for the final confrontation.

For more information and a complete roster, please refer to the **Underdark Expeditionary Force**.

## **Current Quests**

### **Out of the Abyss - Heart of Darkness**

The drow archmage, Vizeran DeVir, requires reagents for a ritual he claims will help to banish the demon lords back to the Abyss. You have gathered all DeVir has requested, including the grimoire of the drow archmage Gromph Baenre, after journeying throughout the Underdark and infiltrating the city of Menzoberranzan, and await at the Tower of Vengeance while he crafts the *dark heart* talisman. The process of creating the *dark heart* *talisman* will take ten days.

### **Out of the Abyss - Rage of Demons**

The final confrontation is upon you. The five factions await at Neverlight Grove for you to arrive with the *dark heart talisman*. Once preparations are complete and Vizeran begins the *dark heart* ritual from his sanctum at Araj, the *faerzress* will surge and begin to pull the demon lords from wherever they may be in the Underdark to the ritual site at Neverlight Grove.

Enraged, the demon lords will act on centuries of animosity and rush to destroy each other. You are to help the forces of the five factions fend off hordes of lesser demons while the demon lords battle. When the great clash is over, you must confront the victor in its weakened state and put an end to the rage of demons.

### **Queen of the Demonweb Pits - The City of Sails**

The Spider Mage has decreed that the Demon Queen of Spiders must finally be made to pay for the subjugation she has inflicted upon the drow. The Council of Spiders, naturally, has a course of action in mind. Both Matron Baenre and the Spider Mage have requested that you make your way north, to Luskan, the City of Sails, when you have successfully sent the demon lords back to the Abyss. If necessary, Bregan D'aerthe can arrange passage. Once in Luskan, wait to be contacted by Kharza-kzad, he will set you on your next course.

## **Former Companions**

### **Alive and Well (Relatively)**

* Fargas Rumblefoot, sought the aid of Lord Neverember, Lord Protector of his home of Neverwinter.
* Shuushar the Awakened, escorted home to Sloobludop.
* Hemeth Thuldark, escorted home to Gracklstugh.
* Rumpadump, escorted home to Neverlight Grove, fled with Sovereign Basidia to Araumycos.
* Stool, escorted home to Neverlight Grove, fled with Sovereign Basidia to Araumycos.
* Hanne Hallen, a young drow found lost in the Wormwrithings and returned to her mother, Zhora.
* 38 of 763, a malfunctioning **quadrone** that the beholder, Karazikar, kept as a prisoner and returned to Mechanus when the Maze Engine completed its alignment.

### **Deceased**

* Buppido, believed himself to be the living incarnation of the derro god, Diinkarazan, and attempted to sacrifice the adventurers in the Whorlstone Tunnels below Gracklstugh as part of his divine plan.
* Sarith Kzekarit, infected by the spores of the demon lord, Zuggtmoy, which eventually blew his mind when the adventurers explored the fungal tower of Yggmorgus in Neverlight Grove. Literally.
* Topsy & Turvy, young deep gnomes of the Goldwhisker Clan who perished along the course of the journey. Turvy was fed to Ilvara Mizzrym's giant spiders at Velkynvelve, and Topsy was later slain with a lightning bolt cast by the green hag, Nanny Plunk. Topsy's remains were given to Chipgrin Goldwhisker, patriarch of the Goldwhisker Clan, her closest kin.
* Ront, dragged away from camp and slain by Buppido in his sleep. The adventurers are still in possession of Ront's battleaxe.

## **Campaign Characters**

* Archpriest Plooploopeen, the archpriest of Sloobludop who works tirelessly along with Shuushar the Awakened to rebuild his fallen city while the shadow of the Demogorgon lurks.
* Deepking Horgar Steelshadow V
* Errde Blackskull, captain of the Stone Guard of Gracklstugh. The adventurers helped her to root out corruption stemming from the derro Council of Savants and aid her city's fight against the demon lords.
* Ilvara Mizzrym, a drow priestess of Lolth and the commander of the outpost Velkynvelve, where the adventurers began their journey imprisoned. She and her minions pursued the adventurers throughout the Underdark in an attempt to reclaim her prisoners. She eventually perished along with her consort, Shoor Vandree, and her opportunistic apprentice, Asha Vandree, just outside of Blingdenstone.
* Shoor Vandree, Ilvara's lover and chief lieutenant. He held a particular ire for Mauser Crystalfist, whom he dubbed "shit gnome." He stood by her side at Velkynvelve and died by her side near Blingdenstone. During the battle at the Maze Engine, Shoor was resurrected by one of the device's reality bending malfunctions and fled to Menzoberranzan.
* Jorlan Duskryn, a drow elite warrior who betrayed his people to help the adventurers and then later joined their Expeditionary Force. He speaks little and owes his allegiance to a clandestine organization known as the Council of Spiders.
* The Society of Brilliance, a group of enlightened souls that have learned to put aside their instinctual differences in order to seek knowledge to better understand the nature of the Underdark.
* Sovereign Basidia, leader of a friendly circle of myconids threatened by the nuptial celebrations of Zuggtmoy, Demon Queen of Fungus.
* Stonespeaker Hgraam, the venerable spiritual leader of the stone giants at Cairngorm Cavern in Gracklstugh. He gifted the adventurers with a special crystal for aiding his people.
* Themberchaud, the Wyrmsmith of Gracklstugh. He is an arrogant and corpulent red dragon who aided the adventurers in exchange for their help in exposing treachery within the ranks of his keepers.
* Chipgrin Goldwhisker, patron of the Goldwhisker Clan of **wererats** dwelling in Blingdenstone.
* Vizeran DeVir, a vengeful drow archmage with far-reaching plans. He has tasked the adventurers with the gathering of rare and powerful reagents needed to complete a ritual that will banish the demon lords back to the Abyss.