They left in the dark of night and returned at dawn, confused and disoriented. What gives?
Concerned City-folk
Background Lore
Countless paladins and clerics dedicate their lives to fighting demons and their influence on gullible minds. It is an uphill battle that often seems lost. Demons come from a faraway hellish realm. Their magical powers allow them to wreak havoc in the Material Plane from afar. However, in some cases, a demon makes a physical journey to the world of men. Mortals are unequipped to utterly destroy such a being so they bind it and imprison its soul. Bound demons are kept in safe places where clerical orders can keep track of them. Alas, mortals let their guards down after generations. The new guardians ignore the real dangers of the past and negligently fail in their duty. Bound demons slowly gain more strength.
A Corrosive Abomination
A valiant paladin named Barriste Alleri fought and defeated a dangerous demon six centuries ago in a small city that would one day become the region’s capital. The demon was an abhorrent, slimy beast of acid and tattered fur. Those who fought it knew it was a matter of time until it would reform once again. Two daring clerics attempted the impossible and sacrificed their lives to bind the defeated demon in its liquid form for eternity.
The otherworldly entity was then placed in a deep dungeon under the city in a small network of pools and canals. The clerical order thought it was best this way, as trying to change its physical form might cause the demon to reform again. The place was sealed and guarded for hundreds of years until future generations forgot how terrible the acidic demon was. After so much time, the corrosive demon regained consciousness and enough power to infiltrate the minds of hapless individuals in the sprawling metropolis above its liquid prison.
The Secret Cabal
Weak-minded individuals have been strangely possessed by the acidic demon. At night they gather at the prison in the depths to chant and praise the foreign entity. During the day, they return home and don’t remember their night forays. Once they reach a level of complete fervor, they jump into the acid and feed their life-force to the acidic demon. So far, five people have jumped into the ponds. Their disappearances haven’t gone unnoticed.
Adventure Hook
The city’s authorities are under pressure to investigate the recent disappearances near the merchant district. Five people have gone missing this month. All of them are members of opulent merchant families. All of them admittedly simple-minded folks, according to their kin. The constabulary offers a reward of 1,500 gp for investigating the situation and solving the problem.
Features of the Dungeon
The following features correspond to the acidic demon’s place of imprisonment; areas 1 through 9.
Light. The dungeon features some sconces with continual flame spells on them. If removed, the magic fades.
Passageways. A curious character finds secret doors and passages in the dungeon (DC 16 Investigation).
Doors. Some doors are locked (see icon) and must be bypassed by a locksmith (DC 16 Thieves’ Tools).
Acid. A creature that falls into the acid takes 6d6 acid damage per turn submerged. And 3d6 damage after it climbs out of the acid. A creature that dies this way is absorbed by the acidic demon. Their soul is irretrievable.
1. Sewers’ Access
Asking around the merchant district reveals that the missing people all went meandering at night three times a week but they’re not the only ones. At least other twelve people leave their homes at night and return the next morning. The characters can stake out the merchant district and follow the possessed individuals into the sewers and to the entrance in area 1. If stopped, they are unresponsive and unable to explain their actions. The magical door in area 1 features an arcane lock spell that opens with the command word ‘exultatis’. The townsfolk say the word out loud when they arrive at the landing.
2. Traps for Fools
The clerical order placed deadly traps in this chamber to deter would-be tomb-robbers. The acidic demon’s magic allows the possessed people to walk on the acid unharmed. They hug the walls to avoid triggering the crossbows and dart traps. Creatures that step on the square after the first acid canal trigger the traps. Everyone in the room takes 4d6 piercing damage from darts and crossbow bolts (DC 17 Dexterity / half). In addition, there is a 1-in-6 chance that any target falls unconscious from the poison in the darts. An unconscious individual may fall into the acid and spell a grim fate for such an explorer.
3. The Paladin’s Tomb
Barriste Alleri was buried here along with the two clerics who sacrificed their lives to imprison the demon. They were supposed to guard the dungeon for eternity but the demon’s first action after regaining consciousness was to corrupt their spirits and destroy their minds. The paladin (wight) and the clerics (specters) rise from their resting places and attack any trespassers not possessed by the demon. Destroying them allows Barriste a moment of lucidity where he pleads the characters to stop the demon or else it shall soon free itself and unleash its power on the metropolis above. He blesses one blade or hammer making it a +2 magical weapon for 24 hours.
4. Midway Streams
This intermediate area connects areas 2, 5, and 7 through the acid canals. Those possessed by the demon walk on the acid and move to area 7 through here. The characters must find a way to climb through the passages or avoid touching the corrosive substance.
Treasure. The chest by the northeast alcove contains 270 gp, 670 sp, and two potions of resistance (acid).
5. Guardians from the Past
Two looming, greatsword-holding, knight statues flank an intricate soapstone fountain that fills a circular pond with the corrosive, green substance.
The clerical order that built this place left safeguards and protections to stop intruders. The demon’s followers avoid this chamber because of this. When the characters arrive at this chamber, the two knight statues (gargoyles) bow and ready for battle. Six shadows emerge from the wall plinths to steal the intruders’ strength.
These are all mindless automata that cannot be reasoned with. They fight until slain but do not pursue.
6. The Clerical Library
The desks, chests, bookcases, and documents in this chamber appear to be impervious to the passage of time. A layer of thick dust covers everything.
A detect magic spell reveals an abjuration aura on the walls of this room. This magic protects the room’s inanimate contents from the passage of time. The characters can spend 1 hour perusing the library to learn the history of Barriste Alleri, the clerical order, and the acidic demon they managed to contain in the dungeon.
A cleric can learn the ritual that reinforces the magical barrier that binds the demon to the dungeon.
7. Dissolved in Acid
Ten mindless city-folk chant around the acid pond. One bellows fervently and jumps into the corrosive solvent. He vanishes in a matter of seconds.
The innocent man’s sacrifice empowers the demon enough to make a quasi-physical manifestation to stop the characters’ advance. A black pudding with maxed-out hit points emerges from the pond and attacks the characters. The nine possessed people (commoners) draw daggers and fight back as well. During the fight, any of the commoners can jump into the acid, Their sacrifice heals the black pudding 3d6 hit points. The door to area 9 is wide open; the commoners have tried to free the demon using the controls unsuccessfully.
Defeating the ooze frees any surviving people from the demon’s grasp. They are confused and exhausted.
8. Secret Vault
The secret passage behind a fake bookcase filled with replicas and empty books leads to a secret vault.
Treasure. The chests contain 1,200 gp, 3,670 sp, a potion of heroism, a mithral chain shirt, and a +1 dagger.
9. Flux Controls
Two metal levers and a revolving valve control a mechanism that reverses the flow of the acid in the canals and pools. This must be done before attempting the ritual described in area 6 as it leaves the demon vulnerable to magic for 1 hour. Operating this device before the battle in area 7 gives the characters advantage on all attacks.
Development
The characters reach the end of this adventure and face the consequences of their deeds.
Defeating the black pudding in area 7 doesn’t harm or hinder the acidic demon, it only stalls it. Unless the ritual in area 6 is performed, the demon shall continue its corruption of weak-minded individuals to gain power. A cleric can spend a level 3 slot and three hours of deep prayer and meditation to perform the binding ritual. After this is done, the demon is dormant once again. There is no way to know how long this effect will last. Tracking down the clerics that built the dungeon yields more information.
Back in town, the constabulary is happy to hear that the problem is solved. The characters are invited to a public funeral for all those who lost their lives. The demon’s goals live unconsciously in the mind of a formerly possessed person. Soon, the acidic demon will return for revenge. But that is an adventure for another day…
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