Inferno Virgilio S Untold Tales (ENG)

5E
Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Virgilio’s Untold Tales is the Guide’s manual for Inferno, using the fifth
edition of the world’s most popular tabletop role-playing game and
inspired by the imagery and setting created by Dante Alighieri for the
Divine Comedy.
This volume should only be read and consulted by the player intending
to join the game as the Guide, facilitator, Game Master, and narrator
of Inferno. To play the game, you will also need the player’s manual,
Dante’s Guide to Hell, which can be read freely by all players.

Inferno is an Acheron Games role-playing game.
Samuel Marolla Daniela Giubellini

Project Management Cover and Main Artist
Masa Daniela Giubellini, Vincenzo Pratticò, Gustave Dorè

Editor-in-chief Art
Two Little Mice Fabio Porfidia

Quickstart Design and Development Maps, Art and Sheet
Mauro Longo, Two Little Mice and Thomas Mazzantini Epic Party Games
Text Ruleset Development
Dante Alighieri and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Antonio D’Achille,Matteo Ceresa and Carolina Fiandri
Additional Lyrics Graphics and Layout
Andrea Macchi and Massimiliano Castellani (Epic Party Games) Marco Bertini
Ruleset First Draft Ruleset Final version
John Marron Alex Valente and Fiorenzo Delle Rupi

English Editing English translators
Simone Borri, Sebastiano De Angelis, Filippo Fusi Federico “il PalaDaino” Coi, Nick “Taco” Crudo, Enrico
and Marco Bertini “E4R” Fortunato Codno and the entire crew of Venti di Ruolo
Proofreading Playtest, Text and Ruleset Review
Giulio Grassia, Roberto Gaslini, Abel Martin Bettucchi “Aberion”, Mauro Bernardi, Alessandro “Mespes”, Bicio, Daniele Caracchi -“Rev-
el Tales”, Deborah “Lilith” Carta, Don DM, Mattia Frioli, Alberto Galbiati -“Revel Tales”, Alberto “Zen” Marucci, Alessandro Maurri,
Roberto Parodi “donRoby”, Sabino “RekXus” Pellecchia, Lorenzo “Maedemius” Procida, Daniele Solfrini di “Revel Tales”, Luca Tosi
Playtest and other contributions
Inferno is entirely based on Dante Alighieri’s work, written in Italy in the 1300s, and contains a variety of ethical and cultural notions which belong
to that specific context. The view of the world, of reality, and of religion contained within these manuals does not represent that of the authors nor
is it the aim of this publication, but rather a precise study and presentation of the fictional elements of the Commedia.
Before playing the game, it is crucial for all players to read through the materials for Inferno, and for them to understand that sins, vices, virtues,
and other similar game elements are entirely relative, fictionalized concepts, and that they are valid only for the purposes of the game. If there are
elements of any religious, ethical, moral, or social beliefs contained within that are uncomfortable or disturbing to any of the players, I explicitly
recommend leaving them blurred or veiled, or removing them entirely from gaming sessions. If the players believe it necessary, said elements can
also be a source of discussion for an introductory session, during which suitable guidelines and safety tools can also be established.
.

Contents
Preface3
Leading the Journey Through Hell 4
Indifferent Angels, Malebranche, and Noble

Spirits6
Playing New Archetypes 8
Indifferent Angel 15
Malebranche23
Noble Spirit 31
Leading the Travelers through Hell 40

The Other Journey 42
Bonds, Sin, Redemption 50
Infernal Chronicles 54
The Secret of the Guide 60
The Way is Long, and Difficult the Road 66

Canto I – In a Forest Dark 70
Canto II – Through the Air Without a Star 79
Canto III – Across the Dusky Wave of Acheronte 89
Canto IV – Among the Noble Spirits 94
Canto V – The Flame of the Noble Spirits 101
Canto VI – Against He Who Horribly Snarls 107
Canto VII – Into a Place Mute of All Light 115
Canto VIII – Of New Torments and New Tormented 124
Canto IX – The Queen of Everlasting Lamentation 133
Towards the Ninth Circle! 153
Canto X – The Emperor of the Dolorous Kingdom 160
Infernal Artifacts 168
Evils of Hell 182

Devils of Hell and Other Denizens of the Dolorous Kingdom 185
W
elcome, Guide!
What you are now reading is the Inferno compendium made explicitly for your use and perusal.
This volume includes the introductory adventure for Inferno, the bestiary of the creatures and mon-
sters that can be found in Hell, the artifacts that the Lost Ones can come across during their Journey, and all
of the additional material unlocked during the game’s incredible crowdfunding campaign, which ran during
Spring 2021. In order to make the text more readable, this unlocked bonus content (e.g. notes and descrip-
tions for the Infernal Keepers, the new types of playable Traveler archetypes, additional adventures, and new
Infernal Artifacts) has been included organically in their relevant chapters, rather than in their own appendix
or separate chapters.

3
Preface
What Would Dante Have Done With
No Virgilio?
Throughout the entirety of the Divina Commedia’s Virgilio is sent to help Dante by the “three women”
Inferno, Virgilio is Dante’s companion, his guide, his who wish to protect him and favor him from Heaven,
mentor, and his beacon in the continuous exchanges and it is in the name of this favor that he accompa-
and explanations which take place during the Jour- nies the Lost One on his path to redemption – not
ney to Cocytus. without meeting his own obstacles and adventures.
Virgil comes looking for lost Dante in the Dark For- This time, you are the Guide to the Lost Ones. You,
est, to rescue him from danger and lead him on his reading this manual, are tasked with leading the
otherworldly Journey, along that path which will Travelers on their Journey, showing them the Circles
unravel among the Antinferno and the Nine Circles and their secrets, explaining what the Lost Ones will
which follow. And then farther, towards the stars encounter, warning them about the dangers and
and the other pole of the world, and up the moun- showing them the way. Thus let us move on, so that
tain of Purgatory. they may follow.
Buon Maestro to Dante himself, exalted mind

and famous scholar who served as inspira-
tion, ideal Noble Spirit along-
side the other excellent poets
they meet in the Castle of
Limbo, Virgilio represents
how reason becomes
the guide to a soul
that has strayed from
the straightforward way
towards a divine vision; he
also incarnates the pro-
phetic spirit, magic, poetry as
a way of knowing reality. In the eyes
of Dante and his peers, after all, Vir-
gilio is, not only an artist, but also mage,
prophet and seer, all elements which the Flo-
rentine poet will in turn incarnate for his successors.
I nfernal Annotations
In this manual and in Dante’s Guide to Hell,
Hell, you will find several annotations such as this
one, which serve as further exploration for certain themes and concepts presented in the game..

4
Leading the Journey The Role of the Guide

Through Hell T aking on the role of the Guide in Inferno
means taking on a different role from all
the other players at the table. Your task is to
And when to gazing farther I betook me, be in constant dialog with all the other people
people I saw on a great river’s bank; taking part in the gaming session, point them
whence said I: “Master, now vouchsafe to me, in the right direction, answer their questions,
explain what it is that the character see, hear,
that I may know who these are, and what law and feel during their Journey in the Blind World,
makes them appear so ready to pass over, resolve their choices, and narrate the results of
as I discern athwart the dusky light.” their actions.
You will also be present in the game itself, as a
And he to me: “These things shall all be known figure representing that which Virgilio was for
to thee, as soon as we our footsteps stay Dante: a guiding spirit who knows far more than
upon the dismal shore of Acheron.” the Lost Ones, shows them the way, and pro-
vides explanations for what is happening.
Dante Alighieri You are, effectively, the person guiding the
Inferno, Canto III, 70-78 group of people seated at the table, but also the
character guiding the Band through Hell.
The Guide of the Game

A s the Inferno Guide at the table, your task
is to portray all the characters whom the
Travelers meet during their Journey, to describe
the threats and perils which the Travelers might
encounter, play the role of their Familiar Spirits,
the damned, and even the devils who inhabit the
Nine Circles – talking, crying, roaring with their
voices, channeling the hostile nature of Hell and
its different regions. You will have to resolve dis-
putes and doubts using the rules or your per-
sonal judgment, to decide when and why a dice
roll is needed, and what happens after a positive
or a negative result.
You are also tasked with keeping and eliciting,
above all others, the spirit of Inferno: this is

not just another infernal setting for an RPG,
but rather a special journey and a tribute to the
works that inspired it, filled with unique details,
narrative elements, and moods.
The Guide in the Game

Y ou also play the Guide in the game itself,
taking on the role of a key character in the
story that is being told during the sessions. You
are a noble spirit who has chosen to help the
Lost Ones who appeared in the Dark Forest; you
meet them at the threshold of the Eternal Gate,
and lead them toward Limbo, your abode in
the underworld. You will then continue to lead
them, in principle at least, through the various
Circles all the way to Lucifero, and through the
characters’ redemption.
You are the one with the power to explain to the
Lost Ones what is happening, you show them
the way thanks to the Divine Flame you carry,
pointing out perils, Familiar Spirits and oppor-
tunities during their Journey; you will try to al-
low them to press onward without losing their
Hope – at least not before they reach the lowest
point in Hell.
A warning, however: you are also the keeper of
a secret, one which you have no intention of
revealing to the Band – your true identity, the
real reason why you chose to help them on their
Journey, what truly spurred your decision.
This secret is an integral part of the adventure,
and is explained in more detail in chapter 2.

Chapter I
Indifferent Angels,
Malebranche, and Noble Spirits

8
Playing New Archetypes

Thus I beheld assemble the fair school
of that lord of the song pre-eminent,
M agic and Material Components
Any material component for a spell
without a cost or whose cost is less than 500
who o’er the others like an eagle soars. gp is not required and can be ignored when
casting spells.
When they together had discoursed somewhat, If a spell requires a material component with
they turned to me with signs of salutation, a cost of 500 gp or higher, the Guide, accord-
and on beholding this, my Master smiled; ing to the gaming experience they wish to
offer to their players, can choose to replace
and more of honor still, much more, they did me, them with one of the following methods:
in that they made me one of their own band; ◊ The
◊ The spellcaster gains one exhaustion level.
so that the sixth was I, ‘mid so much wit. ◊ The
◊ The spellcaster loses a number of hit points
equal to five time the spell’s level.
Dante Alighieri
Inferno, Canto IV, 94-102
T
he new Archetypes featured in this book In terms of game mechanics, as already detailed
are available to any player who would with the Lost Ones archetypes, here is what the
like to play a very different character choice of one of these new Archetypes implies:
from the Lost One Variants featured in Dante’s
Guide to Hell. These Archetypes can enter play Equipment. Whatever their semblance might
at 1st level, if the Traveler appears in the Dark be, a Lost One does not have starting equip-
Forest, or at any subsequent level if they join ment. Their player can freely choose their look,
a party of Lost Ones who have already begun their outfit, and their physical traits, but none
their journey, in one of the circles beyond the of these have any influence over mechanics.
Eternal Gate. In this case, in order to ensure a
good balance, we suggest you create a character Infernal Emblems. Every type of Traveler in
of the same level as the other Travelers they are Inferno features three Infernal Emblems con-
joining. nected to their Archetype. An Emblem can be an
actual magic item the Traveler is proficient with,
These new Inferno Archetypes are a mix of dif- or a unique ability.
ferent races and classes and they cannot be Some infernal emblems grant their users the
combined with other character Archetypes, rac- ability to cast a spell. In this case, the spell is cast
es, classes, or subclasses. at the lowest spell and spellcasting level possi-
ble, it does not consume any spell slot from the
caster, and it does not require any component.
The spell uses its usual casting time, range, and
duration, and if it requires concentration, the
emblem’s user needs to concentrate.
An Infernal Emblem cannot be put aside: It is
an integral part of a character’s semblance. To
destroy or to abandon them amounts to hurting
or mutilating themselves. The semblance will
Chapter I – Indifferent Angels, Malebranche, and Noble Spirits

9
P rovidence and Free Will

The Indifferent Angels and those who turned against the Lord have already had the opportunity
to exert their own free will and they have made an irreversible mistake that sentenced them to be
bound to the Gloomy Kingdom forever. They no longer have the opportunity to alter their fate, which
is sealed for the rest of eternity.
They share that fate with those who died without being baptized, far from the Lord’s grace, although
they are allowed to stay at the Castle of the Noble Spirits, in the presence of the Divine Flame.
Still, even eternity must end, and a new judgment day, the final one, will come at the End of Days, when
the world will end and even Hell and Purgatory will fade into nothing. After that, all the unworthy or
those who have not been forgiven by the infinite benevolence of the Lord, will be utterly destroyed.
When an Indifferent Angel, a Malebranche, or a Noble Spirit gains their first Glimpse of Hope, they
realize they still have a chance at redemption, the hardest path: to help the Lost Ones in their Journey
or, in their absence, to face a harrowing journey to Lucifero himself, to face him and finally deny him,
a gesture that may grant them a final opportunity at redemption that will come to pass at the End of
Days.
When that happens, these characters regain their free will along with their Glimpse of Hope, along
with a Spark of Hope that will last as long as they can keep it alive, just like the Lost Ones do.
Just as the Lost Ones are burdened with additional afflictions when they are in the Circle, Bolgia, Zone,
or Round where Minosse will dispatch them after their death, Indifferent Angels, Malebranche, and
noble spirits are subjected to further inconveniences as well when they are in the proper places of their
Infernal punishment:
◊ They
◊ They have disadvantage on ability checks, saving throws, and attack rolls;
◊ Their
◊ Their costs in Hope Points to Embrace the Sin (or the points spent for any other reason) are doubled;
◊ Infernal
◊ Infernal keepers, guardian devils, and other monsters in that place focus their attention on them,
and even environmental hazards seem to unleash their fury on them in preference to the other Trav-
elers.
On the other hand, if a Traveler manages to overcome the challenges of their place of punishment and
get through to the other side, they attain the next level, gain Divine Inspiration, and regain 1 Glimpse
of Hope. This also happens to Indifferent Angels, Malebranche, and noble spirits who enter their place
of punishment for the first time and then are able to leave it.
The places of punishment associated with these types of characters are:
◊ Indifferent
◊ Indifferent Angel: Antinferno
◊ Malebranche:
◊ Malebranche: Fifth Bolgia of the Eighth Circle
◊ Noble
◊ Noble Spirit: First Circle
turn itself to ash, to reappear fully formed and These Emblems increase in power and corrup-
complete after a few seconds. Still, a Lost One tion along with their characters, according to
can carry an emblem on their person, or drop the following progression:
it to the ground next to them to better use their
hands or provide a spell’s somatic component. 5 th level. One of the three emblems becomes
Tormented.

10
9 th level. A second emblem becomes Tormented, Divine Flame
then a Tormented emblem becomes Burned. In their new status of Hope bearers, indifferent
13 th level. A third emblem becomes Tormented, angels, noble spirits, and even malebranche are
then a Tormented emblem becomes Burned, bound to the same Divine Flame of the Lost Ones,
then a Burned emblem becomes Damned. and to the Guide.
17 th level. A Tormented emblem becomes Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. When an indifferent
Burned, then one of the two Burned emblems angel, a malebranche, or a noble spirit fails the
becomes Damned. third saving throw against death or is destroyed
in any other way, their body and emblems turn
When an emblem gains a level, e. g. advancing into ashes in an instant, and they lose 1 Spark of
from Tormented to Burned, it gains one or more Hope. If a Traveler still has Hope, they reappear
additional properties. after 1d4 rounds with a new semblance on the
Any choice made about an emblem’s progression very spot they were destroyed (and not next to a
is made by the player controlling the character. Divine Flame, as Lost Ones do); in addition, they
gain the benefits of a long rest, and this effect
Multiclass. When a character gains a new level, closes all wounds, neutralizes any poison, cures
they cannot choose a different class from that of all diseases, and lifts any curses affecting the
their Archetype. Traveler when it was destroyed. If a Traveler does
not have any Hope left, they revert to their orig-
inal and eternal condition of Despondent male-
Hope Points
branche, indifferent angel, or noble spirit and
take a new shape in their place of punishment,
oblivious to what happened and devoid of Hope.
Embrace the Sin. Indifferent angels, malebranche,
W hen indifferent angels, malebranche, and

noble spirits become player characters or
Travelers, they gain their own Hope score, the
and noble spirits gain some features from their
Archetype that they can use to obtain temporary
effects. When a Traveler uses one of these abili-
same longing for redemption and vindication ties, they lose Hope as required by the description
that spurs the Lost Ones. of that ability.
As they acquire their Hope in Hell, after centu-

ries or endless ages spent in despair, their star-
ting Hope Points are very limited. Still, they can
regain them as easily as the Lost Ones, they can
gain them from anyone willing to share Hope
with them, and their costs can partially be redu-
ced by Divine Inspiration and by Despair saving
throws (see below).
When an indifferent angel, a malebranche, or
a noble spirit begins their journey, they have 6
Hope Points + 1 x level. These points are vital to
journeying through the Infernal rounds: They
are the only beacon that can lead them away
from perdition.

11
Divine Inspiration. Indifferent angels, male- virtues. They have a starting Alignment they use
branche, and noble spirits can gain Divine Inspi- as a moral beacon and a Hope of redemption
ration as usual, and they can spend it to reduce much like the Lost Ones. The Guide can decide to
their loss of Hope. When a Traveler is about to grant Divine Inspiration to one of these charac-
lose 1 Spark of Hope and spends Divine Inspira- ters, if the player is roleplaying them convincing-
tion in this way, they gain the desired effect with- ly and in accordance with their unearthly back-
out losing Hope. ground. The Guide will tell the Travelers how they
Despair. If a Traveler loses all their Hope Points, can earn Divine Inspiration during the game. A
they risk fading away: They will be lost forever to Traveler either has Divine Inspiration or not: They
sin and will become damned. When a Traveler cannot accrue more “divine inspirations” to use
loses their last Hope Point, they must immedi- them later in the game.
ately make a special saving throw called a Despair Using Divine Inspiration. If a character has Divine
saving throw, to determine whether their essence Inspiration, they can spend it when they make an
can still hang on. Unlike other saving throws, attack roll, a saving throw, or an ability check. In
this one is not based on any ability score and a addition, if a character has Divine Inspiration,
Traveler cannot make it more than 3 times during they can reward another player for good role-
their entire Journey. The player rolls 1d20. If the playing, a clever idea, or just for doing something
result is equal or higher than half their character exciting during the game. When another Travel-
level (rounded down), the save is successful and er contributes to the Journey in an interesting or
the Traveler regains 1 Spark of Hope. If the save funny way, the character with Divine Inspiration
is failed, the character finally gives in to Despair can give it up and assign it to the other character.
and can no longer be played. Finally, a character with Divine Inspiration can
Give Hope. A Traveler can give their Hope to an- spend it each time they lose Hope.
other Traveler or other willing characters met in
Hell. As an action, a Traveler can spend 1 Spark
or 1 Glimpse of Hope to give an amount of Hope
Points equal to half their roll, rounded up.
Gain Divine Inspiration. Indifferent angels, male-
branche, and noble spirits do not have vices and

12
Other Traits in Indifferent

Angels, Malebranche, and Noble
U sing Indifferent Angels, Mal-
ebranche, and Noble Spirits in
Other Settings
Spirits
Much like the Lost Ones, these player arche-
types are explicitly designed to be used in the
afterlife conceived by Dante and their traits,
Sex, Gender, Origins, and Physical Features. especially the Hope mechanics, would make
Indifferent angels and malebranche did not little sense outside the Inferno context.
have an original sex and gender, nor did they
have an earthly semblance, but in Hell they tend
to appear to the Lost Ones with vaguely male or
female traits, as they see fit. They also choose
their physical features, although they are never
fully defined. Noble spirits usually appear with
the features they are best known for in the world,
even if they do not like those features, or those
features do no match those they had in life.
Alignment. Although a Lost Ones’ alignment

is not particularly relevant in Hell, these new
character archetypes have an explicitly marked
moral connotation. The very essence of a mal-
ebranche is chaotic evil, indifferent angels are
always true neutral, and the noble spirits are
good. A Lost One’s sins, vices, and virtues have
no counterparts in the spiritual condition of
such archetypes.

15
Indifferent Angel
Commingled are they with that caitiff choir
of Angels, who have not rebellious been,
nor faithful were to God, but were for self.
The heavens expelled them, not to be less fair;

nor them the nethermore abyss receives,
for glory none the damned would have from them.
Dante Alighieri
Inferno, Canto III, 37-42
W
hen the First Betrayal tore the sky
asunder, a host of angels stood in the
middle. They swore allegiance neither
to the Lord, nor to the Foe: They stepped aside
and did not declare for anyone. Yet, their inac-
tion condemned them nonetheless, and divine
justice sentenced them to Antinferno, along
with the souls of those mortals.
The angels of the Indifferent Choice are bound Days, if you do not earn redemption somehow,
to the land between the Eternal Gate and the maybe following the Lost Ones on their path, or
shores of Acheronte until the End of Days. They making the Journey to Lucifero yourself.
will spend eternity here, surrounded by spine-
less, apathic spirits, tormented by swarms of Fear Antinferno, as it will be the hardest test you
foul insects, not actually in Hell, and yet not ac- will have to face, when you get there!
tually out of it, reviled by the angels of Heaven
and the devils of the Nine Circles alike.
This is your sentence, this is your fate. Your

wings are now still, your face is forever veiled,
and your unredeemable lack of courage looms
over you like a dark and sinister shadow, an
omen of what awaits you even after the End of

16
Roleplaying an Indifferent Angel Traits of the Indifferent Angels

◊ Type of Creature. The indifferent angel can
A s soon as they acquire the first Spark of
Hope, an indifferent angel becomes a full-
fledged character: They can gain levels and in
be considered a fiend to the purpose of the
book.
terms of mechanics they represent a new Arche- ◊ Ability Score Increase. Indifferent angels
type of Traveler, which is added to the existing can have diversified strength, stamina, wit,
Lost Ones Archetypes. and other specific faculties, although their
semblances remain very similar. Your Cha-
The indifferent angel as player character does risma score increases by 2, and 2 other abil-
not belong to any race, class, or subclass: they ity scores of your choice increase by 1.
exclusively follow the progression of their Arche- ◊ Indifferent Angels Names. In Hell, the
type, from Level 1 to Level 20. indifferent angels’ names are drawn from
hebraic and christian lore, with reference
Semblance
to gnostic and essene mysticism. Aladiah,
Dinah, Hahaiah, Hakamiah, Hariel, Haziel,
Hesediel, Iezalel, Lauviah, Mehahel, Reuel,
T he angels of the Indifferent Choir, those who

did not side either with the Lord nor against
him, are bound with the other indifferent souls
◊
Sachiel, Yeratiel, Yophiel.
Age. An indifferent angel has no age, but
they usually look like a grown human.
in Antinferno and have lost most of their origi- ◊ Alignment. True to their nature, all indif-
nal celestial grace, although they did not devel- ferent angels are true neutral.
op diabolical traits. ◊ Size. Although they are abstract and im-
Their remarkable height, from seven to ten feet, material beings, and they tend to tower
makes them stand out among the host of the in- over the mere damned, when they join oth-
different, and the golden bracers they wear on er Travelers, their semblance is that of a
their wrists glitter in the shadows. They can no Medium creature.
longer fly, as their wings are burdened with rings ◊ Infernal Endurance. As an indifferent an-
and chains, but many of them maintain a proud gel, you have grown accustomed to the end-
countenance even among mud and flies. Their less moral and material torment of Antin-
faces are obscured by hoods, veils, and masks, ferno and to the lack of Hope. When you do
as their beauty must not be a source of relief not wear any armor, your AC is equal to 14 +
for the damned. The noble aura that surrounds your Charisma modifier.
them remains strong enough to take the breath ◊ Unearthly Resistance. You gain resistance
away from anyone around them. to poison damage, necrotic damage, and
radiant damage.
◊ Infernal Vision. Your unearthly heritage
allows you to see normally in dim light and
in darkness, both magical and mundane,
up to 60 feet.
◊ Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

17
◊ Languages. You can understand Celestial ◊ Nature of the Indifferent Angels. An in-
and Infernal, but you cannot speak or write different angel doesn’t require air, food,
them. Still, you can speak and understand or drink. In addition, an indifferent angel
the Primeval Language, spoken before the doesn’t require sleep. It can finish a long
Tower of Babel was built, and still spoken in rest if it spends that time in an inactive,
the afterlife realms. motionless state. In this state, it remains
conscious.
Indifferent Angel
Proficiency Indifference
Level Features
Bonus Dice
1st
+2 Indifference Dice, Indifferent Angel Emblems 4
2nd +2 Ability Score Improvement, Fighting Style 4
3 rd
+2 Powers of Acheronte 4
4 th
+2 Ability Score Improvement 4
5 th
+3 Extra Attack 5
6th +3 Bane of Acheronte, Improved Powers of Acheronte 5
7 th
+3 Accustomed to Pain 5
8 th
9 th
+4 Ataraxia 6
10th +4 Aura of Acheronte, Improved Powers of Acheronte 6
11 th
+4 Resistance to Torment 7
12 th
13 th
+5 Healing Indifference 7
Improved Aura of Acheronte, Improved Powers of
14th +5 8
Acheronte
15th +5 Utter Impassivity 8
16th +5 Ability Score Improvement 8
17 th
+6 - 9
18 th
+6 - 9
19th +6 Ability Score Improvement 10
20th +6 Apotheosis of Acheronte 10

Indifferent Angel Features Fighting Style
Style
As an indifferent angel, you gain the following Since the dawn of time, you have learned to
features. avoid or passively endure any type of verbal,
physical, and spiritual conflict, developing a
Hit Points number of purely defensive fighting techniques
Hit Dice: 1d10 per indifferent angel level and maneuvers. Starting at 2nd level, you adopt
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution a particular style of fighting as your specialty,
modifier choosing one of the following options.
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (6) + your
Constitution modifier per indifferent angel Defense
level after 1st You gain a +1 bonus to AC.
Proficiences Endurance
Tools: None When a creature you can see attacks a target
Saving Throws: Constitution, Charisma different than you and that target is within 5
Skills: Deception and Religion, plus two cho- feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose
sen from Stealth, Insight, Performance, and disadvantage on that creature’s attack roll.
Perception
Powers of Acheronte
Acheronte
Indifference Dice
Dice Starting at 3rd level, the Powers of Acheronte
Starting at 1st level, you gain 4 indifference dice, grant you a limited ability to use magic.
which are d8, and you gain more of them at You can cast bane and darkness
darkness,, at their lowest
subsequent levels, as detailed in the “Indiffer- level, without spending material components.
ent Angel” table. When you use an indifference You can cast each of them once. When you do
die, you spend it. You regain all spent indiffer- so, you can’t do so again until you finish a long
ence dice when you finish a long rest. rest, but you can use an action and spend a
When you take any type of damage, you can number of Indifference Dice equal to the spell’s
use your reaction and spend one Indifference level to cast it again. If a spell requires a saving
Die to reduce the damage you take by the num- throw, its DC is equal to 8 + your proficiency bo-
ber you rolled with your Indifference Die. nus + your Charisma modifier.
At 6th level, you can also cast in this way the dis-
Ability Score Improvement

Improvement
pel magic and fear spells, at their lowest level,
without spending material components.
At 10th level, you can also cast in this way the
When you reach 2nd level, and again at 4th, 8th, confusion and insect plague spells, at their
12th, 14th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase lowest level, without spending material com-
one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can ponents.
increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. At 14th level, you can also cast in this way the
As normal, you can’t increase an ability score eyebite and finger of death spells, at their lowest
above 20 using this feature. level, without spending material components.

Extra Attack Aura of Acheronte
Acheronte
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, in- Starting at 10th level, you can create an aura of
stead of once, whenever you take the Attack ac- indifference and annoyance in a 30-foot radius
tion on your turn. around you. Any enemy creature in that area has
its speed halved.
Bane of Acheronte
Acheronte
Starting at 6th level, you grow more indifferent
Resistance to Torment
Torment
to what happens around you, making your reac- At 11th level, you gain advantage on your saving
tions even more unfathomable and unpredict- throws against spells and other magical effects.
able. When an enemy creature makes a saving
Healing Indifference
Indifference
throw against one of your spells, you can use
your reaction to spend an Indifference Die and
subtract from that saving throw the number you
rolled on your Indifference Die. Starting at 13th level, you can rejuvenate your
semblance by appealing to your merciless inure-
Accustomed to Pain
Pain
ment to pain and decay. With an action, you can
spend one or more Indifference Dice to heal your
wounds. You can spend a maximum number of
At 7th level, you regain all your spent Indifference Indifference Dice equal to your proficiency bonus.
Dice when you finish a short or long rest. You roll the dice you spend, add the results, and
regain a number of Hit Points equal to the total.
Ataraxia
Ataraxia
Starting at 9th level, when you make a saving
Improved Aura of Acheronte
Acheronte
throw, you can choose to spend one Indifference Starting at 14th level, with an action, you can wid-
Die to roll it and add the result to your saving en the aura of restlessness and dullness around
throw. You can wait until after you roll the d20 you. Any enemy creature affected by your Aura of
before deciding to use the Indifference Die, but Acheronte that can see or hear you must make a
you must decide before the Guide says whether Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bo-
the roll succeeds or fails. nus + your Charisma modifier). On a failed save,
the creature is charmed for 1 minute, or until it
takes any damage.
As long as the creature is charmed, its speed
drops to 0.

Utter Impassivity
Impassivity ◊ Any time you cast a spell with a casting
time of 1 action, you can change that cast-
ing time into 1 bonus action.
At 15th level, you spiritual and physical detach- Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again
ment grows beyond their previous limits. Your until you finish a long rest.
ability scores now have a maximum of 24.
Embracing Your Sin
Apotheosis of Acheronte
Acheronte
On your turn, you can spend 2 Hope Points to
regain all your spent Indifference Dice.
At 20th level, you are ready to push the limits

of your rank and rise to a higher level. Using
an action, you gain the following benefits for 1
minute:
◊ At the start of every turn of yours, if you do
not have any Indifference Dice, you regain
one Indifference Die.

Indifferent Angel Emblems
Emblems
◊ Tormented. You gain advantage on all your
Constitution saving throws.
◊ Burned. You can use an action to cast the in-
At 1st level, you gain the following Infernal Em- sect plague spell (save DC 16). Once you use
blems: this feature, you can’t use it again until you
finish a short or long rest.
◊ Damned. The insects around you make you
Veil of Indifference more difficult to hit. Thus, any time a crea-
Your face is always veiled as a symbol of your ture makes an attack roll against you, it must
indifference and lack of expression. None knows roll 1d4 and subtract the result from its at-
what your true face looks like behind the veil. It tack roll. If you take any damage, this effect is
shields you from the gaze of others, but it also suppressed until the start of your next turn,
has a distracting effect on you. as the insects rush to your wounds instead of
You have disadvantage on initiative rolls and buzzing around you.
to any action you make during the first turn of
any combat. Shield of Indifference
One-Sided Attack. As your enemies cannot read You can use an action to summon a weapon and/
your gaze and discern your intentions, once per or a shield in your empty hands. You can choose
turn you can deal 4 extra psychic damage to a their shape every time you summon them. The
creature you hit with an attack, if at least one of weapon you summon is considered magical to
your allies has hit that creature with an attack overcome damage resistances and immunities
since your last turn. to nonmagical damage, and the shield is consid-
ered magical as well (+1). The weapon and the
◊ Tormented. Your One-Sided Attack dam- shield turn into ashes as soon as you drop them,
age increases to 8.
if you summon a new weapon or shield, if you
◊ Burned. Your One-Sided Attack damage in-
dismiss them (no action required), or if you die.
creases to 12.
◊ Damned. Your One-Sided Attack damage ◊ Tormented. The magical bonus of your
increases to 16. Shield of Indifference increases to +2.
◊ Burned. The magical bonus of your Shield
of Indifference increases to +3. The bonus to
Haunting Insects
the attack and damage rolls made with your
You can use an action to call a cloud of in-
weapon increases to +1.
sect-like infernal beings that torture your body,
and force them to attack your foes. The insects ◊ Damned. The bonus to the attack and dam-
age rolls made with your weapon increases to
answer your call and appear within 20 feet of
+2. When you obtain a 20 on the attack roll
you. The summoned insects disappear after 1
with your weapon, the target takes 8 extra
hour, or when they drop to 0 hit points. Once
psychic damage and you regain 8 hit points.
you use this feature, you can’t use it again until
you finish a long rest.
You summon a swarm of wasps. The summoned
creatures are friendly to you and your compan-
ions and obey any verbal commands you issue
to them (no action required).

23
Malebranche
And I beheld behind us a black devil.
Running along upon the crag, approach.
Ah, how ferocious was he in his aspect!

And how he seemed to me in action ruthless,
with open wings and light upon his feet!
His shoulders, which sharp-pointed were and high,

a sinner did encumber with both haunches,
and he held clutched the sinews of the feet.
Dante Alighieri
Inferno, Canto XXI, 29-36
W
hen Lucifero turned into Satan and fell
to Earth, he brought with him a host of
minor angels. These angels were cor-
rupted by their sin and the Evil One’s influence,
turned into devils, and overran Hell, tasked with
tormenting the damned. The malebranche are
the most common guardian devils of the Blind From then on, it can follow its desires and make
World, and are particularly present in the Male- its own decisions, it can make ethical and mor-
bolge of the Eighth Circle. al choices, and it can even use Hope and Divine
They are eternal beings, both prisoners and cap- Inspiration, taking its first steps on the path to
tors in Hell at the same time. redemption.
Malebranche, tempestarii, guardian devils, and Fear the Fifth Bolgia of the Eighth Circle as it will
other low-ranking fallen angels are not gifted be the hardest test you will have to face, when
with actual free will, nor can they gain levels: you get there!
They are frozen in their eternal version of them-
selves that the Lost Ones can meet in the Nine
Circles (see chapter 5 – Evils of Hell, below). Still,
when one of them happens to somehow regain
1 Glimpse of Hope, it is momentarily freed from
its eternal and cyclical fate and can become a
Traveler on its own account.

24
Roleplaying a Malebranche Malebranche Traits

◊ Type of Creature. A malebranche is a fiend.
Hope, a malebranche becomes a full-
fledged character: They can gain levels and in
◊ Ability Score Increase. Malebranche can
have varying degrees of intelligence, skill,
terms of mechanics they represent a new Arche- wit, and other specific traits, although their
type of Traveler, which is added to the existing semblances are always very similar, and well
Lost Ones Archetypes. suited to Hell. Your Constitution score in-
creases by 2 and two other ability scores of
The malebranche as player character does not your choice increase by 1.
belong to any race, class, or subclass: they exclu- ◊ Malebranche Names. Dante himself pro-
sively follow the progression of their Archetype, vided us with the names of the malebranche
from Level 1 to Level 20. he dealt with. After losing their original
names, they are now known by folkloristic
Semblance
nicknames inspired by the sinister and in-
fernal appearance. Alichino, Barbariccia,
Cagnazzo, Calcabrina, Ciriatto, Draghig-
T he fallen angels who followed Lucifero have

lost all their magnificence and beauty when
nazzo, Farfarello, Graffiacane, Libicocco,
Malacoda, Rubicante, Scarmiglione.
they were cast down from Heaven. In Hell, they ◊ Age. A malebranche is an ageless creature,
gained a horrible, symbolic semblance based on but they almost always appear as an adult
their nature and hierarchy, on the form of their being.
sin, and on the task they have in the Gloomy ◊ Alignment. As their nature mandates, all
Kingdom. The wide range of devils and demons devils in Hell are evil; more specifically, the
a Traveler can meet on their path is the most ob- malebranche haunting the Eighth Circle are
vious evidence of this diversity. almost always chaotic evil.
Malebranche, both in the Eighth Circle and else- ◊ Size. Although a malebranche is an ab-
where, usually act as the menial laborers of Hell: stract, immaterial being, their semblance in
They are low-ranking devils whose powers are the game is that of a Medium creature.
limited. They look like humanoid beings, whose ◊ Infernal Scars. A malebranche has grown
bodies appear black and dull at a distance, but accustomed to the savage Infernal environ-
are revealed to be translucent when exposed to ment and even to the scourge of their fear-
the Divine Flame, which also reveals their gold- some masters. When you do not wear any
en skeleton. Curved horns protrude from their armor, your AC is equal to 14 + your Consti-
heads and they have bat-like wings on their tution modifier.
back that allow them to fly for short distances. ◊ Unearthly Resistance. You gain resistance
to poison damage, necrotic damage, and
fire damage.
◊ Incomplete Redemption. Although a male-
branche has gained some Hope Points, their

25
bodily and spiritual nature is still hostile to Lost Ones, you can speak and understand
the bright power of the Lord. You are vul- the Primeval Language, spoken before the
nerable to radiant damage. Tower of Babel was built, and still spoken in
◊ Infernal Sight. Your unearthly heritage al- the afterlife realms.
lows you to see normally in dim light and in ◊ Nature of the Malebranche. A male-
darkness, both magical and mundane, in a branche doesn’t require air, food, or drink.
radius of 60 feet. In addition, an malebranche doesn’t require
◊ Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. sleep. It can finish a long rest if it spends
◊ Languages. You know the Infernal language that time in an inactive, motionless state.
of your lords and of the Court of Dite. Still, In this state, it remains conscious.
to communicate with the damned and the
Malebranche
Proficiency Damnation
Level Features
Bonus Dice
1st +2 Damnation Dice, Malebranche Emblems 4
2nd +2 Ability Score Improvement, Fighting Style 4
3 rd
+2 Assault of Malebolge 4
4 th
5 th
+3 Extra Attack 5
6th +3 Savagery of Malebolge 5
7th
+3 Infernal Might 5
8 th
9 th
+4 Diabolical Assault 6
10th +4 Aura of Malebolge 6
11 th
+4 Infernal Resistance 7
12 th
13 th
+5 Diabolical Healing 7
14th +5 Improved Aura of Malebolge 8
15 th
+5 Pride of Malebolge 8
16 th
17 th
+6 - 9
18th +6 - 9
19 th
20 th
+6 Apotheosis of Malebolge 10

Malebranche Features
As normal, you can’t increase an ability score
above 20 using this feature.
As a malebranche, you gain the following

features.
Fighting Style
Style
Since the dawn of time, you have grown accus-
Hit Points tomed to tormenting and harassing the damned
Hit Dice: 1d10 per malebranche level of the Eighth Circle, developing an endless array
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution of combat techniques and maneuvers. Starting
modifier at 2nd level, you adopt a particular style of fight-
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (6) + your ing as your specialty, choosing one of the fol-
Constitution modifier per malebranche level lowing options.
after 1st
Great Weapon Fighting
Proficiencies When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an
Tools: None attack you make with a melee weapon that
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Wisdom you are wielding with two hands, you can re-
Skills: Intimidation and Religion, plus choose roll the die and must use the new roll, even if
two from Athletics, Deception, Perception, and the new roll is a 1 or a 2. The weapon must have
Survival the two-handed or versatile property for you to
gain this benefit.
Damnation Dice
Dice Two-weapon Fighting
When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you
Starting at 1st level, you gain 4 Damnation Dice, can add your ability modifier to the damage of
which are d8, and you gain more of them at the second attack.
subsequent levels, as detailed in the Damnation
Dice column of the “Malebranche” table. When Dueling
you use a Damnation Die, you spend it. You re- When you are wielding a melee weapon in one
gain all spent Damnation Dice when you finish hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bo-
a long rest. nus to damage rolls with that weapon.
When you hit a creature with a weapon attack,
you can spend one Damnation Die to deal extra Archery
necrotic damage to the target, dealing 1d8 ex- You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make
tra damage per spent die. with ranged weapons.

Improvement Assault of Malebolge
Malebolge
When you reach 2nd level, and again at 4th, 8th, Starting at 3rd level, when you drop a creature
12th, 14th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase to 0 hit points with a weapon attack on your
one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can turn, you can use a bonus action to move up
increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. to half your speed and make a weapon attack.

Extra Attack Infernal Resistance
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, in- At 11th level, you gain advantage to all saving
stead of once, whenever you take the Attack ac- throws against spells and other magical effects.
tion on your turn.
Diabolical Healing
Healing
Savagery of Malebolge Starting at 13th level, you can rejuvenate your
Starting at 6 level, any time you hit a creature
th
semblance by appealing to the dark forces
with a weapon, that creature takes 1d8 extra that permeate Hell. With an action, you can
necrotic damage. In addition, if you spend a spend one or more damnation dice to heal your
Damnation Die to deal extra necrotic damage, wounds. You can spend a maximum number
you add this damage to the extra damage of of Damnation Dice equal to your proficiency
your Damnation Dice as well. bonus. You roll the dice you spend, add the re-
sults, and regain a number of hit points equal
Infernal Might
Might
to the total.
At 7th level, you regain all your spent damnation

dice when you finish a short or long rest.
Pride of Malebolge
Malebolge
At 15th level, you are on the verge of entering a
Diabolical Assault
higher Infernal rank. Your ability scores now
have a maximum of 24.
Apotheosis of Malebolge
Malebolge
Starting at 9th level, when you make an attack
roll, you can choose to spend one Damnation
Die to roll it and add the result to the attack
roll. You can wait until after you roll the d20 be- At 20th level, you are ready to push the limits
fore deciding to use the Damnation Die, but you of your rank and rise to a higher level. Using
must decide before the Guide says whether the an action, you gain the following benefits for 1
roll succeeds or fails. minute:
◊ At the start of every turn of yours, if you do
Aura of Malebolge
Malebolge
not have any Damnation Dice, you regain
one Damnation Die.
◊ When you make an Attack action on your
Starting at 10th level, you cast an infernal aura turn, you can make an additional attack as
in a 10-foot radius around you. Any time an en- part of that action.
emy creature starts its turn in this area, it takes Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again
1d6 necrotic damage. until you finish a long rest.
At 14th level, the radius of this aura increases to
20 feet. Embracing Your Sin
On your turn, you can spend 2 Hope Points to
regain all your spent Damnation Dice.

Malebranche Emblems ashes as soon as you drop them, if you summon
new weapons, if you dismiss them (no action
required), or if you die.
At 1st level, you gain the following Infernal
Emblems: ◊ Tormented. You gain a +1 bonus to at-
tack and damage rolls you make with your
Weapons of Damnation.
Golden Skeleton
The very essence of a malebranche is permeat- ◊ Burned. The bonus to attack and damage
rolls made with your Weapons of Damna-
ed with pride, arrogance, aloofness, and van-
tion increases to +2. When you obtain a
ity: the sins that pushed them to turn against
20 on an attack roll with your Weapons of
the Lord and made them what they are now.
Damnation, the target takes 8 extra necrotic
This original sin is branded in their very bones,
damage and you regain 8 hit points.
which have turned into gold and are now thick-
er and heavier, drawn to the center of the Earth ◊ Damned. The bonus to attack and dam-
age rolls made with your Weapons of Dam-
and Lucifero, and preventing them from soar-
nation increases to +3. When you obtain a
ing back into the sky where they once dwelt.
20 on an attack roll with your Weapons of
You gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing,
Damnation, the extra necrotic damage the
and slashing from nonmagical attacks.
target takes, and the hit points you regain
◊ Tormented. You gain a +1 bonus to saving increase to 15.
throws.
◊ Burned. Your saving throw bonus increas-
Wings of Sin
es to +2. In addition, you gain resistance to
You have two hideous bat-like wings, the last
one of the following types of damage: acid,
vestigial remains of the beautiful celestial
cold, lightning, or thunder.
wings you used to have. These wings can sus-
◊ Damned. If you fail a saving throw, you can
tain you even in the empty atmosphere of Hell.
use your reaction to turn your failed save
You can use your action to unleash your inner in-
into a successful one. Once you use this fea-
fernal energy and actually use your wings to fly.
ture, you can’t use it again until you finish
For 1 minute, you gain a flying speed of 30 feet.
a short or long rest.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again
until you finish a short or long rest.
Weapons of Damnation
You can rely on an endless array of tools of ◊ Tormented. Your flying speed increases to
40 feet.
death, pain, violence, and torment, anything
that Hell has to offer to its own keepers. The ◊ Burned. Your flying speed increases to 50
feet.
choice is yours alone.
You can use an action to summon two weapons ◊ Damned. Your flying speed increases to 60
into your empty hands. You can choose their feet. In addition, you do not provoke an at-
shape every time you summon them. The weap- tack of opportunity when you fly out of an
ons you summon are considered magical to enemy’s reach.
overcome damage resistances and immunities
to nonmagical damage. The weapons turn into

31
Noble Spirit
Of great authority in their countenance;
they spake but seldom, and with gentle voices.
Thus we withdrew ourselves upon one side

into an opening luminous and lofty,
so that they all of them were visible.
There opposite, upon the green enamel,

were pointed out to me the mighty spirits,
whom to have seen I feel myself exalted.
Dante Alighieri
T
hese virtuous and flawless souls were
celebrated in the world of the living for
their grandeur, yet they never received
the sacraments of the Lord and could not be
saved. Noble spirits are an elite circle of cho-
sen ones, standing out from the other souls
of Limbo. Their thoughts were inspired, their
deeds paved the way for the righteous doctrine Finally, the noble spirits are sustained by a stal-
that would come, and their teachings inspired wart Hope for the future and the End of Days:
men and women of the following generations. As already happened once, when the Lord came
For this reason, although dwelling in Hell, their down to Hell to save the spirits of the proph-
souls enjoy several unique privileges that no ets and the wise men of the Old Testament, the
others in the Blind World can vaunt. noble spirits hope that one day, when the final
judgment has come to pass, they will finally be
First, these souls are not in pain and are not accepted into the highest heavens and forgiven
haunted by any grief. They spend eternity away by His endless goodness.
from the rest of the common spirits of Limbo,
in an eternal symposium of wise men, philoso- This awareness, this unshakable hope, sustains
phers, poets, and warlords. them even through the millennia they must
spend in Hell.
In addition, they enjoy the greatest gift one can
hope for in Hell: the Fire of the Divine Flame, Fear the First Circle, as it will be the hardest test
which turns their Castle into a safe haven, re- you will have to face, when you get there!
sembling a thin and faded shadow of Heaven.
No devil, monster, or infernal keeper can bypass
its walls. The Castle is shielded by its light and
its warm embrace, a unique and coveted place.

32
Roleplaying a Noble Spirit ◊ Noble Spirit Names. The noble spirits

dwelling in the Castle of Limbo have illus-

Hope, a noble spirit becomes a full-fledged
character: They can gain levels and in terms
trious names and are renowned personali-
ties of the ancient world. Dante himself met
philosophers, warlords, and poets such as
of mechanics they represent a new Archetype Aristotele, Camilla, Giulio Cesare and his
of Traveler, which is added to the existing Lost daughter Giulia, Cicerone, Enea, Elettra,
Ones Archetypes. Ettore, Omero, Orazio, Orfeo, Ovidio, Soc-
A noble spirit as player character does not be- rate, Platone, Tolomeo, Virgilio, queen Pen-
long to any race, class, or subclass: they exclu- tesilea, and even “heathen” nobles such as
sively follow the progression of their Archetype, Avicenna, Averroè, and Saladin. Any savant,
from Level 1 to Level 20. prince, or loremaster of the past who is
known for their virtues can be an interest-
Semblance
ing noble spirit to roleplay.
◊ Age. A noble spirit may appear at the age
they had in life, usually around the time
N oble spirits appear as they are remembered

and celebrated in the world of the living,
even centuries after their death. Many statues,
of their death. Some rare spirits, thanks to
their moral stature and the wisdom that
made them “noble”, can appear with the
paintings, and other effigies pay homage to semblance of a child, or a young man or
them, usually following precise canons that do woman.
not always match the memories of their real fac- ◊ Alignment. In life, a noble spirit did not
es, that may be gone forever. Even in Hell, they display any sin or vice serious enough to
appear as men and women made of marble, sentence them to the lower circles of Hell.
looking like an effigy, a statue, or a fresco. Thus, their alignment is always good.
Thus, their emblems are also a consequence of ◊ Size. A noble spirit maintains the semblance
this tradition: laurel crowns, ritual weapons, ca- they had in life. You are a Medium creature.
ducei, and lyres have been part of their attire for ◊ Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
so long, that their semblances now must neces- ◊ Languages. You can speak, read and write
sarily include them. any language you knew in life. In addition,
in the afterlife realms, all speak and under-
Noble Spirit Traits

stand the Primeval Language, spoken be-
fore the Tower of Babel was built, and they
use that language without realizing it.
◊ Nature of the Noble Spirits. A noble spirit
◊ Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score doesn’t require air, food, or drink. In addi-
increases by 2 and two other ability scores tion, a noble spirit doesn’t require sleep. It
of your choice increase by 1. can finish a long rest if it spends that time
in an inactive, motionless state. In this
state, it remains conscious.

33
Noble Spirit Spell Slots per Spell Level
Proficiency
Level Features Round 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Bonus
Authority of the Castle, Infernal Lore,
1st +2 0-1 - - - - -
Noble Spirit Emblems
2nd +2 Spellcasting, Declaration of Courage 0-1 2 - - - -
Greater Discernment, Improved
3rd +2 2-3 3 - - - -
Infernal Lore
4th +2 Ability Score Improvement 2-3 3 - - - -
5 th
+3 Hellish Experience, Touch of the Aoidos 2-3 4 2 - - -
Secrets of the Mages, Improved
6th +3 4-5 4 2 - - -
Infernal Lore
Infernal Bestiary, Improved Declaration
7th +3 4-5 4 3 - - -
of Courage
8th +3 Ability Score Improvement 4-5 4 3 - - -
9 th
+4 Improved Infernal Lore 6-7 4 3 2 - -
10 th
+4 Improved Touch of the Aoidos 6-7 4 3 2 - -
11th +4 Fearless 6-7 4 3 3 - -
Ability Score Improvement, Improved
12th +4 8-9 4 3 3 - -
Infernal Lore
13th +5 Discipline 4 3 3 1 -
14th +5 Improved Secret of the Magesi 4 3 3 1 -
15 th
+5 Improved Touch of the Aoidos 4 3 3 2 -
16 th
+5 Ability Score Improvement 4 3 3 2 -
17th +6 - 4 3 3 3 1
18th +6 Divine Truce 4 3 3 3 1
19 th
+6 Ability Score Improvement 4 3 3 3 2
20 th
+6 Ultimate Guidance 4 3 3 3 2

Noble Spirit Features
After you travel for at least one trait of path in
an Infernal region you know, you gain the fol-
lowing benefits:
As a noble spirit, you gain the following features. ◊ Difficult terrain does not hinder your
Band’s Journey.
Hit Points ◊ Your Band cannot get lost, unless by divine
Hit Dice: 1d8 per noble spirit level intervention.
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution ◊ You and your Band have advantage on sav-
modifier ing throws to resist the environmental haz-
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (5) + your Con- ards you meet in the rounds of Hell.
stitution modifier per noble spirit level after You gain further lore about new infernal region
the 1st at subsequent levels, as detailed in the “Infer-
nal Lore” table.
Proficiencies
Tools: Lyre Infernal Lore
Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
Skills: Four of your choice Level Infernal Lore
Authority of the Castle

Dark Forest, Antinferno, and First
1st Circle
3rd Second and Third Circle
6th Fourth and Fifth Circle

noble spirits have been dwelling in Hell for cen-
9th Sixth and Seventh Circle
turies, they know many of its secrets, have seen
12 th Eighth and Ninth Circle
many Lost Ones come and go, remember much
of their past life, and hear much news from the
Spellcasting
Spellcasting
world of the living. They are accustomed to the
afterlife in Limbo, and their lack of torment
makes them fine Guides , councilors, and aides
to the Lost Ones. When you reach 2nd level, you learn to discern
Starting at 1st level, any time you make a Wis- and reshape the patterns of Hell, attuning
dom or Charisma check to interact with the them to your will through music and poetry.
forces of Hell, your proficiency bonus is doubled A noble spirit’s magic flows from the knowledge
if you use a skill you are proficient with. they learned in life and the endless time they
spend in Limbo.
Infernal Lore Preparing and Casting Spells

The “Noble Spirit” table shows how many spell
At 1 level, you gain detailed knowledge about
st
slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and
the Dark Forest, Antinferno, and Limbo re- higher. To cast one of these noble spirit spells,
gions. When you make an Intelligence or Wis- you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or
dom check concerning an Infernal region you higher. You regain all expended spell slots when
know, your proficiency bonus is doubled if you you finish a long rest.
are using a skill you are proficient with. You prepare the list of noble spirit spells that
are available for you to cast, choosing from the

noble spirit spell list. When you do so, choose a ◊ 3 rd
Level: clairvoyance, counterspell, dispel
number of noble spirit spells equal to your Wis- magic, mass healing word, protection from en-
dom modifier + your noble spirit level, rounded ergy, remove curse.
down (minimum of one spell). The spells must
be of a level for which you have spell slots. ◊ 4 th
Level: divination, death ward, freedom of
You can change your list of prepared spells when movement, locate creature, arcane eye, private
you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of sanctum.
noble spirit spells requires time spent in prayer
and meditation: at least 1 minute per spell level ◊ 5 th
Level: commune with nature, dispel evil and
for each spell on your list. good, legend lore, mass cure wounds, scrying,
telepathic bond.
bond.
Spellcasting Ability
Declaration of Courage
Courage
Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your no-
ble spirit spells, since your magic draws upon
your will and countenance. You use your Wis-
dom whenever a spell refers to your spellcast- Starting at 2nd level, you can spend one minute
ing ability. In addition, you use your Wisdom to perform a speech that will strengthen the
modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a resolve of any Traveler who hears you. When
noble spirit spell you cast and when making an you do so, choose up to six friendly creatures
attack roll with one. (which can include yourself) within 30 feet of
you who can see or hear you and who can un-
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + derstand you. Each creature gains temporary
your Wisdom modifier hit points equal to your level + your Wisdom
modifier. While a creature has these temporary
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus hit points, it has advantage on saving throws
+ your Wisdom modifier against being frightened.
You can use this feature a number of times
Spellcasting Focus equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain any
You can use your lyre as a spellcasting focus for expended uses when you finish a long rest.
your noble spirit spells.
Greater Discernment
Noble Spirit Spells When you reach 3rd level, choose two skills from:
Arcana, Intimidation, Performance, Nature,
◊ 1 st
Level: bless, cure wounds, detect evil and Persuasion, Religion, and History. You gain pro-
good, detect magic, faerie fire, guiding bolt, ficiency with those skills and your proficiency
hunter’s mark identify, protection from evil and bonus is doubled for any ability check you make
good, sanctuary.
sanctuary. that uses either of the chosen proficiencies.
In addition, when you make an Intelligence
◊ 2 nd
Level: augury, detect thoughts, enhance check, you can add +10 to your check result.
ability, locate object, pass without trace, see in-
visibile, spiritual weapon, warding bond.
bond.

Improvement Infernal Bestiary
Bestiary
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, Starting at 7 th level, if you spend at least 3 rounds
16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability observing or interacting with another creature
score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two outside combat, you can learn certain informa-
ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you tion about its capabilities compared to your own.
can’t increase an ability score above 20 using The Guide tells you two of the following charac-
this feature. teristics of your choice:
Hellish Experience
◊ Current hit points
◊ Armor Class
◊ Vulnerabilities, damage resistances, and
At 5 th level, you expand your knowledge of Hell. damage immunities
Any time you make a Wisdom (Insight) or a Wis-
Improved Declaration of Courage

Courage
dom (Perception) check, you can treat a d20 roll
of 9 or lower as a 10.
Touch of the Aoidos

Aoidos
Starting at 7th level, when you use your Declara-
tion of Courage feature, you can spend one spell
slot and choose a number of creatures equal to
Starting at 5 th level, you can use your action to the level of your used spell slot among those who
touch a creature and end one condition afflict- gained temporary hit points from the Declara-
ing it. The condition can be blinded, deafened, tion of Courage feature.
poisoned, or frightened. You can use this fea- Choose one of the following types of damage:
ture a number of times equal to your proficiency acid, cold, lightning, fire, necrotic, radiant, or
bonus. You regain any expended uses when you thunder. As long as you have these temporary hit
finish a long rest. points, you gain resistance to your chosen type
of damage.
Secret of the Mages

At 6th level, you learn two spells of your choice
Improved Touch of the Aoidos
from the spell tables of the Lost Ones and add Starting at 10th level, you can use your Touch
them to your noble spirit spell list. A spell you of the Aoidos feature to remove one level of ex-
choose must be of a level you can cast, as shown haustion from the target or to end a condition
on the “Noble Spirit” table. The chosen spells afflicting it. The condition can be paralyzed or
count as noble spirit spells for you. petrified.
You learn two additional spells from the Lost Starting at 15th level, you can use your Touch of
Ones spell lists at 14 th level. the Aoidos feature to end a spell on yourself or on
one willing creature.

Fearless Ultimate Guidance
Guidance
At 11th level, you become immune to the condition At 20th level, you gain a full mastery of the Infer-
of frightened. nal regions which you can cross without having
to face their most recurrent hazards. You and the
Discipline
Discipline
members of your Band traveling with you are im-
mune to the effects environmental hazards in the
Infernal regions.
Starting at 13 th level, your abilities and knowl-
edge grow to the point you can find a solution to Embracing Your Sin
any unexpected environmental hazard. You gain When you cast a spell (using a slot of level 1 or
proficiency with all saving throws. higher), you can spend 2 Hope Points to cast it
without spending a spell slot.
Divine Truce
Truce
Starting at 18th level, you can intone a sacred ode
to infuse new energies in your allies. You can use
an action to choose up to six friendly creatures
(which can include yourself) within 30 feet of you
who can see or hear you and who can understand
you. Each creature is incapacitated until the end
of its next turn, then it gains the benefits of a
short rest. Once you use this feature, you can’t
use it again until you finish a long rest.

Noble Spirit Emblems
Emblems
At 1st level, you gain the following Infernal ◊ Tormented. Your Stone Effigy grants you
Emblems: AC 15.
◊ Burned. Spells and other magical effects can
Golden Skeleton neither reduce your speed nor cause you to
Although you are not burdened with any dead- be paralyzed or restrained.
ly sin, your lack of baptism and of the other ◊ Damned. Your Stone Effigy grants you AC
sacraments leaves you exposed to the original 16. In addition, all critical hits you take turn
sins and keeps you away from the Lord’s saving into normal hits.
grace. This earthly burden manifests in your
semblance as a golden skeleton that can some- Ancient Relics
times be seen under their translucent stone Just as your semblance recalls the statues of
effigy. It is lighter and less ponderous than the ancient times and your skeleton is golden, you
malebranche’s but it prevents them from rising can display the weapons and the tools you deem
to Heaven anyway. most fitting to your authority.
You gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, You can use an action to summon up to two
and slashing from nonmagical attacks. weapons, one weapon and a shield, or one
weapon and a lyre in your empty hands. You
◊ Tormented. You gain a +1 bonus to saving can choose their shape every time you summon
throws. them. The relics you summon are considered
◊ Burned. Your saving throw bonus increas- magical to overcome damage resistances and
es to +2. In addition, you gain resistance to immunities to nonmagical damage. The relics
one of the following types of damage: acid, turn into ashes as soon as you drop them, if you
cold, fire, lightning, necrotic, radiant, or summon new weapons, if you dismiss them (no
thunder. action required), or if you die.
◊ Damned. If you fail a saving throw, you can
use your reaction to turn your failed save ◊ Tormented. You gain a +1 bonus to attack
into a successful one. Once you use this fea- and damage rolls you make with your An-
ture, you can’t use it again until you finish cient Relics.
a short or long rest. ◊ Burned. The bonus to attack and damage
rolls made with your Ancient Relics increas-
Stone Effigy es to +2. In addition, when you hit a creature
A noble spirit appears to the Lost Ones and with one of your relics, you do not provoke
the other damned as stone or marble statues attacks of opportunity from that creature
depicting their likenesses, as a symbol of their for the rest of your turn.
moral stature and the authority that whole ◊ Damned. The bonus to attack and damage
generations of men and women have granted rolls made with your Ancient Relics increases
them. to +3. In addition, when you are about to be
Your effigy acts as a suit of magic armor that hit by a melee attack, you can use your reac-
grants you AC 14. You add your Dexterity modi- tion to gain a bonus to your AC equal to your
fier, up to a maximum of +2, to determine your proficiency bonus against that attack. You
Armor Class. can use this feature a number of times equal
to your proficiency bonus. You regain any
expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Chapter II
Leading the Travelers

through Hell

The Other Journey
Therefore I think and judge it for thy best
thou follow me, and I will be thy guide,
and lead thee hence through the eternal place,
Where thou shalt hear the desperate lamentations,

shalt see the ancient spirits disconsolate,
who cry out each one for the second death.
Dante Alighieri
Inferno, Canto I, 112-117

44
I
n Dante’s Guide to Hell I have already told your strength. When you are ready to continue
you about your main duties, both inside on your Journey, your long rest is done.
and outside Hell. It is now time to clarify
Petrified, Frozen, and Finger of

the final details, before setting out on your long,
long walk along the evil, strange, different path
Death in Hell
that awaits you.
Time and Space in Hell S ome spells and game effects, such as Medu-
sa’s petrifying gaze and spells like cone of
T ime and space have no meaning in Hell. It

can easily take three days or three years to
finish your Journey, three hours or three millen-
cold or finger of death, can cause specific effects
to a Damned or to the Traveler’s semblanc-
es. Hell, however, hath no mercy: no matter if
nia. You will only notice the difference once you simply petrified, frozen solid, or felled in one
make it out, back to the material world. strike, the semblance or the Damned is con-
How many miles does Limbo cover? How many sidered destroyed and the character reforms
days to descend down the Pit all the way to according to the regular rules, leaving behind
Stige? How many hours to circle Dite once? How a physical simulacrum which cannot be re-
long is Gerione? vived, reanimated, or regenerated in any way.
Do not concern yourself with these questions.
Leading Indifferent Angels,

Take your heartbeat as a measure of an instant,
a handful of beats for a turn or round of game-
Malebranche, and Noble Spirits

play, and sixty to calculate an approximate
minute.
Through the Dark Forest

That is, if your semblance even has a beating
heart…
Rest in Hell I f players choose to start playing the campai-

gn by using a different Archetype than that
of the Lost One – choosing for example an in-
Y ou can, if you so choose, break up your Jour-

ney through Hell into different legs: each leg
different angel, a malebranche, or a noble spirit
– you must, first of all, consider that these crea-
is the distance you’ll cover, the time you’ll take, tures should not have access to the Dark Forest,
between one short rest and the next. Of course, as it is located beyond the Eternal Gate even
a short rest is the respite you take before and though it is, technically, an integral part of Hell.
after each leg of your Journey. A short rest, ef- As Guide, however, you have the opportunity
fectively, lasts from when you start resting until to find a compromise that suits your player’s
you decide to get back to your Journey. So far, so choices.
clear, right? A noble spirit, for example, might need to head
As for long rests… these are also up to you: there to the Dark Forest at their own risk, but free
is no such thing really, in Hell, as no one sleeps from any divine impediment that would pre-
nor is there any need to. Just settle down some- vent them from wandering across the thresh-
where sheltered from the rain of fire or the hur- old. This was the case for Virgilio, and this is
ricane, and rest as long as you need to recover also the case for you, as you get ready to greet
Chapter II – Leading the Travelers through Hell

45
From here, however, there are no more excep-
F lying in Hell
Devils, Furies, and Erinyes fly back and
forth across Hell. Travelers do not. Even
tions.
The only way, for anyone, to leave Hell is the one
which leads to Lucifero at the other end of the
if they grow scorched wings or gain won- Gloomy Kingdom. Arm yourselves with Hope
drous arcane means, there is no advantage and be ready to venture from the Dark Forest
to flying across the empty skies of Hell for into the dark heart of the world.
any playable character.
Lower Circles, Higher Levels

Travelers moving among the rocks, the
deserts, forests, and canyons, usual-
ly surrounded by large droves of faceless
damned souls, do not raise any suspicion.
Taking flight in the empty atmosphere of
the Gloomy Kingdom would immediately
A s the Travelers proceed through the dif-
ferent areas and dark regions of the Blind
World, they develop and become stronger, wiser,
draw the attention of the fierce devils and and more aware: they effectively level up.
other monsters of that ilk, ready to also The Journey through Hell is designed for Lost
take to the skies to intercept. Ones to meet in the Dark Forest at 1 st level, to
The steps of Minosse’s amphitheater, the then gain more levels as they continue along the
towers along the Fourth Circle’s ledge, the Journey and especially as they leave behind Cir-
Walls of Dite, and the terraces around the cles and their Keepers.
Bolgias of the Eighth Circle are the most There is more information on this progress in
obvious examples of lookout points for Chapter 3, where the Cantos are described in de-
such an eventuality – as rare as the latter tail, but the major level milestones of the cam-
might be. paign are as follows:
If Travelers abuse their ability to fly while
in Hell, devils and demons will be swift in ◊ Making it through the Dark Forest (Canto I),
their response… Antinferno (Canto II), and Limbo (Canto III
and IV), all the way to the Castle of the No-
the Lost Ones in the First Canto. The solution, ble Spirits each confer one level.
then, is easy: some other spirit accompanied ◊ Forging the Torch of the Divine Flame (Can-
you from the Castle, and now finds themselves to V), defeating Minosse (Canto VI), helping
in the same location. the Lovers in the Hurricane (Canto VII), and
Indifferent angels and malebranche, however, facing Cerbero (Canto VIII) each confer one
are a different matter; unlike noble spirits, they level.
are constrained by the divine will that punished ◊ Making it through the Fourth and Fifth Cir-
them for rebelling against the Lord, or for not cle and entering the city of Dite confers one
choosing His side (or choosing the one against level overall.
Him). The presence within them of the Hope of ◊ Leaving Dite, making it past the Minotaur,
the Height, however, is reason enough to justify and officially entering Lower Hell confers
an exception from the Prime Love. These Arche- one level overall.
types may not leave the Dark Forest, but – just ◊ Facing a character’s predetermined loca-
as with the noble spirits filled with Hope – they tion, depending on their Sin, confers that
are able to bypass the Eternal Gate through ways specific character one level.
only known to a chosen few, and appear within ◊ Completing a character’s Infernal Chron-
the starting location. icle after interacting with 3-5 Familiar

46
Spirits, and having learned something re- of the torch (see Canto I) or move from the
lated to the character’s Sin, confers that Acheronte shore to the heart of the Antinfer-
specific Lost One a single level. no (see Canto II), they must each make a DC
◊ Completing the Eighth Circle and entering 12 Constitution saving throw with disadvan-
the Well of Giants (beginning of Canto X) tage. If they attempt to climb from the Fourth
confers one more level, preparing charac- to the Third Circle, bringing the Lantern with
ters for the final encounter with Lucifero. them, they must each make a DC 16 (12 +4
from being in the Fourth Circle) Constitution
Any additional levels can be granted, at the saving throw, with no disadvantage.
Guide’s discretion, in cases where the Band faces
off against any of the other possible quests and While the rule always applies, what follows are
adventures offered by the Nine Circles of Hell. a series of guidelines and suggestions on how to
determine travel within Hell:
As a rule of thumb, the recommendation is that
characters be at least of 4 th – 5 th level as they ◊ The Rule of Constant Decline aside, charac-
encounter Minosse, at least 7 th – 8 th level as they ters can move within the same Circle with
enter Dite, and at least 12 th level as they enter no limitations of direction and no negative
the Well of Giants heading towards Cocito. consequences. For example, Travelers can
wander across all the Malebolge, or Rounds,
A Constant Decline
or Arcs of Dite without any significant dif-
ficulty, other than the applicable Constitu-
tion saving throw for each leg of the journey.
◊
H ell is not made to go back, but rather always
– and only – forwards, its decline both a fe-
ature of the terrain and the effect on one’s soul:
The Eternal Gate that separates the Dark
Forest from the Antinferno is placed ex-
plicitly as a hard threshold, and cannot be
the chasm which plunges deeper and deeper crossed in the opposite direction by the Lost
into the heart of the world is a continuous de- Ones. Once in the Antinferno, the Lost Ones
scent into space, time, sin, and corruption, and cannot move back to the Dark Forest.
it is not allowed to attempt the Journey in the ◊ The Nine Keepers of Hell are there to pre-
opposite direction. Especially not for Lost Ones vent Travelers from accessing the next Cir-
and damned souls. cle, but even more so to prevent anyone
The Rule of Constant Decline applies to all ar- from moving back. It is possible to beat
eas of Hell, including the Antinferno and the Caronte, the Minotaur, Gerione, and the
Dark Forest, and is as follows: Giants with diplomacy and quick wits on
Each character who attempts to climb up the the way down, but it is impossible to do so
Circles of Hell or who moves in the opposite di- if attempting to climb upward: the Keep-
rection to that of the Journey must make a DC 12 ers, who are now aware of the nature and
Constitution saving throw, increasing by +1 for intentions of the characters, will oppose
each Circle they find themselves in, or suffer one the ascent with all their might, and will
level of exhaustion. If the character is not close summon endless demonic legions to aid
to the Divine Flame, they have disadvantage on them in this task.
the saving throw. ◊ Some areas of Higher Hell are connected and
lack any specific Keeper, meaning it is pos-
For example, if the Lost Ones are wandering sible to move between them multiple times
aimlessly in the Dark Forest, without the light (note: the Rule of Constant Decline still

applies). Specifically, these are: the Hurri-
cane, the Pit, the Chasm, and the Stige. Fle-
gias and Pluto do not care too much about
who might be coming or going in these ar-
eas, and Cerbero will attack whoever moves
across the Third Circle, in any direction. For
this reason, Travelers have slightly more
freedom of movement in the areas between
Minosse and the Walls of Dite.
◊ The Walls of Dite themselves, however, act
as a double barrier. No one who crosses
the outer walls can move back towards the
Stige, and no one who has crossed the in-
ner wall can head back to the Sixth Circle.
Unless someone happens to have special
dispensations, of course…

Beyond the Campaign
past this point is the only way out of Hell and
back to the material world. After beholding the
stars together, one last time, the Lost Ones will
T he Cantos detailed in the next chapter

will provide all the information needed to
guide the Band through the first Circles of Hell.
rouse from this mystical dream, from this unre-
al Journey beyond the world, and will return to
their bodies, their will, and their everyday lives.
At a certain point, however, these guidelines Changed, hopefully for the better.
will come to an end, and you will have more Divine laws do not, however, allow noble spirits,
freedom to conduct the game, shaping the rest indifferent angels, or malebranche to leave Hell.
of the adventure based on the Band’s prefer- In theory, they can decry their refusal of Lucif-
ences, on the individual paths of redemption, ero and of sin, only to then remain within his
and on their Infernal Chronicles. realm forevermore.
In between are a couple of scenarios, specifical- At this point, though, they will be “free” and
ly Cantos VIII and IX which, unlike the others, filled with Hope. After bidding farewell to their
are designed in such a way as to be adapted Lost One companions – who are not subjected
and to show how to adapt Inferno to the needs to the same limitations – they can find a nook
and choices of the players and their characters. of peace and tranquility, relatively speaking,
They also include suggestions on how to do so and wait for the End of Times in Hell, trusting
specifically for those Cantos. in divine forgiveness. The Castle of the Noble
The aim of this manual, after all, is to ensure a Spirits is the ideal location to await the final
unique and unrepeatable descent through Hell judgment.
for each group of players.
A lternate Endings
The S tory Ends
W hat is, then, the end of the story, the con-
clusion to the characters’ Journey?
T hese are not, of course, the only possible
outcomes. Maybe the Lost Ones, after such
a long Journey alongside such bizarre compan-
The worst case for the latter is easy enough to ions, are not willing to leave them behind, and
define: the Travelers will lose the last Spark of choose instead to remain in Lucifero’s realm,
Hope and will be lost to Hell forever, joining the stoking the fires of rebellion, sharing Hope
wailing masses of the damned; the Lost Ones with the damned, and subverting divine laws
will slowly reach their allocated punishment, themselves.
while noble spirits, indifferent angels, and Or maybe the Lost Ones will offer protection
malebranche will forget that they ever had any and support to the other Travelers, leading
Hope at all, and will return none the wiser to them to the material world in an “escape from
the Circles and eternal duties from which they Hell” scenario.
had departed. In both of these cases, the characters are going
Should the Band, instead, be able to reach Lu- against the laws of the Lord, not just infernal
cifero after each of its members has passed perils, and their behavior may very well bring
the first stage in their redemption, they will be about the apocalypse, speeding up the End of
faced with their final challenge. Times.
Defeating Lucifero, refusing him, or distracting What may happen if that were to pass, well…
him long enough to be able to sneak into the We will find out next session, won’t we?
Burella is the best outcome for the Lost Ones: Maybe the Journey has only just begun!

Bonds, Sin, Redemption
The while below there fixedly I gazed,
my Leader, crying out: “Beware, beware!”
Drew me unto himself from where I stood.
Then I turned round, as one who is impatient

to see what it behooves him to escape,
and whom a sudden terror doth unman.
Who, while he looks, delays not his departure;
Dante Alighieri
INFERNO, CANTO XXI, 22-28

52
S
omething that the Lost Ones may not the Journey, between the Antinferno and
immediately understand is that the en- Cocito, and they are left to the discretion of
tire Journey through Hell is one of re- the Guide and the player, with one proviso:
demption. The Hope they should hold dear and they must be significant interactions for the
conserve, the perils of passing through their characters. Once the Lost One has unlocked
allocated place of damnation, even the con- a significant number of Infernal Chroni-
frontation with Lucifero are all milestones along cles and has therefore explored their own
the same road: the road to saving their soul and sin, they will gain all the rewards of having
making it out of Hell intact! passed the second step towards redemp-
The same is true of the encounters with their tion, they will level up and even recover 1
Familiar Spirits and the Infernal Chronicles they Glimpse of Hope (see page 54).
must unlock (see later for more), in order to re- ◊ The third milestone is the same for all char-
flect upon their vices and virtues: they are all acters, and involves the encounter with
part of the same endeavor. Lucifero: they must fight him with their
There are three fundamental milestones in their weapons, their skills, all their might and
Journey, two in the case of indifferent angels, resources, or deny him forevermore, along
malebranche, and noble spirits. with the sin he embodies.
◊ One is specific to each Traveler, and involves In all of these scenarios, the Band is granted
passing through their allocated place of per- one crucial advantage, which Hell would never
dition. As their Guide, you must know that expect: the characters are part of a group and
these cannot be rushed: the Traveler whose can act as a group. The strength found in unity
punishment will lead them to this place will and mutual support will allow the Travelers to
have to spend some time here, exploring find the determination and courage to take on
and seeing with their own eyes the torment such a horrific path and reach the lowest point
which awaits them, facing its perils, speak- of Hell.
ing with at least one Noble Spirit, and fac-
Devils and Damned

ing off against the monsters or devils who
torture those trapped there. Only after this
Filled with Hope

lengthy exploration of the consequences of
their sin will the Traveler be able to leave the
Circle, Round, or Bolgia and continue on the
Journey. Only then will the Traveler gain all
the rewards of having passed the first step
towards redemption: they will level up and
D uring their Journey through the Infer-
nal Circles, the Travelers may come across
damned souls and even devils who seem to hold
even recover 1 Glimpse of Hope (see page 9). a Spark of Hope. This can happen either due to a
◊ The second milestone, reserved for Lost spontaneous recovery of the Hope of the Height,
Ones only, is that of their Infernal Chron- usually thanks to Divine Providence, or because
icles. In order to reflect upon their sin and the Travelers intentionally attempt to share
learn how to refute it, each Lost One must some of their Hope with one or more of them.
meet Familiar Spirits tied to the same vic- The case of Ipazia in Canto II, an indifferent
es, virtues, and sins, in order to unlock the spirit with 1 Glimpse of Hope, has been included
corresponding Infernal Chronicles. These in the game as a clear example of this possibility.
encounters can take place at any point of

53
Replacing Despondent Characters or

No matter the way in which a damned or a dev-
il has received Hope, they are no longer tied to
Adding more Travelers

their Circle, and can once again act of their own
free will to cross its borders, just like a Lost One.
Additionally, their conscience slowly returns
and develops self-awareness, making them re-
alize their condition and its inevitability (a
damned sentenced to a Circle by Minosse or a
W hat if new players want to join an ongo-
ing Journey, or if the original Band mem-
bers fall into final Desperation and end up lost
fallen angel can never leave Hell) but also the in- to Hell?
credibly remote possibility of redemption once It may be strange and incredibly rare to meet
the Kingdom Comes. other Lost Ones in Hell, but it is not impossible.
A damned or any other creature who possesses Other sinners, other Bands may very well have
Hope can Lend Hope just as a Lost One can, and taken on the same Journey, before or after your
they can spend or gain Hope just like any Trav- group, and time in Hell is incredibly fluid: even if
eler; should they lose all of it at once, they will it were to take place centuries before or after the
lose all interest in whatever they were doing and one of your current Band, the two groups – or
let themselves subsume back into Hell. their survivors – can easily meet in the indeter-
minate timescape of Hell; they would only end
up back in their respective time after defeating
Lucifero.
In Limbo and all the way until the Third Keeper,
for example, it is possible to meet noble spirits
filled with Hope, just as there may be indiffer-
ent angels in the Antinferno ready to start their
Journey toward redemption. Additionally, the
temporary defeat of Minosse in Canto VI could
easily aid these other characters to enter High-
er Hell, along with an entire legion of damned
souls still awaiting judgment, effectively flood-
ing into the First Circle.
And lest we forget, Hell is filled with devils who
constantly fly back and forth, tasked with spe-
cial duties by their infernal lords: one might
easily encounter a malebranche at any point be-
tween the First and Ninth Circle.

Infernal Chronicles
They all were lying prone upon the earth,
excepting one, who sat upright as soon
as he beheld us passing on before him.
“O thou that art conducted through this Hell,”

he said to me, “recall me, if thou canst;
thyself wast made before I was unmade.”
And I to him: “The anguish which thou hast

perhaps doth draw thee out of my remembrance,
so that it seems not I have ever seen thee.
But tell me who thou art, that in so doleful

a place art put, and in such punishment,
if some are greater, none is so displeasing.”
Dante Alighieri
Inferno, Canto VI, 37-48

56
The Lost Ones and Their Bonds

And you, as their Guide, will have to learn to
facilitate these encounters, offer them to your
companions, let the spirits and the Lost Ones
D uring their Journey through the Blind

World, the Travelers under your guidance
will have several opportunities to meet an un-
talk. Many clues and useful pieces of informa-
tion may come out of these conversations, both
for the Journey and for the individual paths to
countable number of tormented shades and redemption of the Lost Ones.
damned of all kinds. The Dolorous People you
Familiar Spirits
will meet will be, on the whole, openly hostile,
mocking and despondent, or at best indifferent
towards you. They envy your Hope – yes, even
yours – in their tormented existence devoid of it
forevermore, and yearn for your ability to move
freely between Circles and Bolgias, being perma-
T he souls who respond to the passing of the
Lost Ones are commonly known as Famil-
iar Spirits, and include not only their loved ones
nently chained to a single location. in the material world, but also acquaintances,
Truth be told, some of these encounters may friends, rivals, and any and all of those whom
in fact be friendly, they will want to converse, the Lost Ones might have heard of and from
answer questions, or ask the Travelers for brief whom they might learn some useful lesson.
favors or requests, as only those free to move be- Each time that a Lost One meets one of these
tween Circles can perform such tasks. In almost Spirits, unless otherwise noted, they have the
every case, these souls will be revealed to be con- opportunity to make them a part of their Infer-
nected to the Lost Ones: part of their past, peo- nal Chronicle. By doing so they unlock and add
ple they have met or they might have heard of a bond with the Spirit in question, and note it
while alive, important historical figures whose down in one of the free spaces found on the In-
deeds and names are known to the Travelers. fernal Chronicles section of the character sheet.
This effect is one of the greatest mysteries of the More than one Lost One can unlock their Infer-
Journey in the kingdoms beyond, but you must nal Chronicle with the same Familiar Spirit, and
not be surprised. Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven more than one Familiar Spirit can be included in
are not physical places but rather conditions, a the same Chronicle.
state of reality, a version of it. Each time that one or more Lost Ones unlock an
The billions of souls sentenced to the Blind World Infernal Chronicle, it is up to them to narrate
coexist and infinitely overlap, devoid of features the bond that links them to the soul in question.
or recognizable faces, as shadows behind the This bond can be of any kind (see the example
Lost Ones as they look and pass. Only the latter below), as long as it is coherent with the vices,
are tangible beings down here, and the Journey virtues, and sins of their Lost One, and with the
is entirely within their soul, within their dreams. situation and condition in which the character
For this reason, only known figures will appear appears in the game.
and approach the Band, as moths to the light of A player may have a very clear idea of the na-
their existence, so much more physical than any ture of the bond between their Lost One and the
other around them. Spirit, or they may have a vague sense. In this
Distant memories, relatives, acquaintances, ties latter case, it is up to you and the other Trav-
from the living world: these are the souls who elers to help them remember, with suggestions
will approach the Lost Ones throughout their and prompts, while still keeping in mind that
Journey. the character needs to play a part in the path to
redemption of the Lost One in question.

57
As a general rule, unlocked Infernal Chron- tion, or of the result of the task), then they gain
icles are linked to a task or quest on behalf of a new trait (see Vices and Virtues in Inferno –
the Spirit, no matter the complexity, which the Dante’s Guide to Hell, page 18) linked to this
Travelers are asked to undertake. bond through their actions.
An additional trait will allow the Lost Ones to
Infernal Chronicles
move closer to remembering details about their
material life, rediscovering specific memories,
and Redemption
learning something more about themselves,
and thus increasing their chances to gain Divine
Inspiration.
I nfernal Chronicles and interacting with Fa-

miliar Spirits should be treated as one of the
fundamental steps on the way to redemption for
At your discretion, you may also assign addi-
tional Hope Points or Divine Inspiration to a
Lost One who acts coherently during an Infernal
the Lost Ones. Chronicle which involves them.
First of all, if a Lost One actively intervenes Finally, but most importantly, it is necessary
in the consequences of an unlocked Infernal for each Lost One to unlock their own Infernal
Chronicle, interpreting the bond with enough Chronicles for their path to redemption, facing
weight and coherence (regardless of whether the themes and Familiar Spirits most connected
that means in favor or against the soul in ques- to their sin. The amount, detail, and relevance
I ncluding Bonds in the Journey

Some Bonds and Familiar Spirits who might interact with the Lost Ones are provided, sug-
gested, and described in the Journey detailed in this volume; others can be summoned and
described directly by you depending on the needs of the game, your imagination, and the back-
ground of each player character or even the players themselves during the game.
Some of the Cantos that make up the campaign already include the names or hints to a past
history of characters with whom the Travelers may unlock an Infernal Chronicle. The intention
is to aid the players during the first interactions of this kind, providing some additional details
to help shape the damned soul in question and offer some prompts to the players attending
the session. The Guide, of course, can avoid using those names entirely and allow instead full
narrative control by the players – or even provide their own characters, giving them names and
backstories to contextualize their presence.
One way in which the mechanic can be enriched is by describing the souls met during the Jour-
ney as hard to pin down visually: the damned always appear to the Travelers with faded features,
opaque, not entirely on this plane of existence, their voice shimmering and therefore harder to
fully focus on.
At the moment in which a Lost One recognizes a Familiar Spirit, the latter becomes more tangible,
assuming a more defined shape, form, and physicality, finally revealing features much more sim-
ilar to those they might have had while alive, when first the character and the Traveler had met.
Below is a brief example of one way to unlock a character’s Infernal Chronicle and correspond-
ing trait. To best understand it, we recommend reading through Canto VI – Against he who
horribly snarls.
snarls.

58
Playthrough Example
In the campaign’s Canto VI, the Travelers might find themselves involved in the story of two
damned souls awaiting Minosse’s judgment, two brothers named Ricciardino and Uccione de’
Pazzi. The characters are tasked with finding Ricciardino in order to bring him back to the line
of souls; Ricciardino, however, refuses to return unless he can speak to his brother, whom he
betrayed while both were still alive, and whose forgiveness he seeks. The brother is also in line,
but much too far ahead for Ricciardino to catch up to before the guardian devils show him back
to his spot. The players can choose to solve the issue without engaging with the two Spirits, and
therefore activating the Infernal Chronicle mechanics or vice versa, decide that these Spirits are
indeed Familiar to them, and therefore unlocking bonds with one or both of the brothers.
Example:
Samuel (Guide):
(Guide): “After crying out the reason for having left the line, even if confused and not
entirely clear, you see Ricciardino collapse onto a rock in despair.”
Pamela (Cesare Neri):
Neri): “Cesare will observe Ricciardino for a few moments. It’s not the sem-
blance that draws his attention, there is nothing in his appearance that calls to him. But the
voice… the tyrant realizes that he would recognize that voice among a hundred others. And that
name… Ricciardino is a childhood friend of Cesare’s, long lost after their paths diverged for po-
litical reasons.”
Samuel (Guide):
(Guide): “As you are lost in these thoughts, remembering both who Ricciardino was
when he was alive but also, and most importantly, who you might have been before becoming
Lost, the appearance of the damned soul before you seems to solidify, taking on a more tangible
shape and form. Pamela, I assume you want to unlock a Bond with this damned soul, correct?”
Pamela (Cesare Neri):
Neri): “Yes! I would like to remember a past bond between Cesare and Ricciar-
dino!”
Samuel (Guide):
(Guide): “Very well, note down his name in the Infernal Chronicles section of your
sheet, we’ll fill it in more detail later, depending on how you act in what happens next…”
During this Canto, then, each player can choose to unlock a Bond for their character with the
spirits of Ricciardino and Uccione. If the Lost One actively intervenes in the de’ Pazzi brothers’
story, interpreting the unlocked Bond in favor of either, or trying to reconcile the two, they can
gain a new trait – to be noted in the character sheet – linked to this Bond, and coherent with the
actions they take in the events.
Unlockable trait examples:

Faith (Ricciardino).
(Ricciardino). The Lord’s mercy is infinite and Ricciardino, just as the Lost One, is still in
time to redeem himself.
Prudence (Ricciardino and Uccione).
Uccione). There are many and different reasons for men to act as
they do, and helping the two brothers to reach common ground is the best solution.
Resentment (Uccione).
(Uccione). Betraying an ideal is unacceptable, no matter the reason for it, and
Uccione’s resentment is justified.
In all of these cases, Cesare Neri learns something new about sin and redemption, taking a small
step towards his own salvation.

59
of these encounters are at the Guide’s discretion The Guide, then, who welcomes them is also
and must be catered to each Lost One – as a rule subjected to the same logic: they must be a Fa-
of thumb, however, the suggestion is to have miliar Spirit to each of them, or they would be
three to five unlocked Infernal Chronicles per unable to assume a shape, features, or physical
character, before they can consider this mile- manifestation, nor would they be able to guide
stone on the path to redemption completed. them on their Journey.
Their new awareness also translates mechani- These revelations do not have to be shared with
cally into that character gaining a level (see also the Lost Ones from the very beginning, but a
page 54). time will come when a full explanation will be
required.
Bonds for Other Travelers

The recommendation is to do so once the Lost
Ones reach the Castle of the Noble Spirits, as the
most important elements of the Journey will be
N ot everyone is entitled to bonds or a person-

al Infernal Chronicle. Those who have died
already, such as noble spirits, cannot unlock
clearer to them.
Additionally, the Castle is where you will be able
to finally reveal your name and semblance, per-
these traits. Similarly for indifferent angels and haps even form a Bond with each of them, un-
malebranche: they have never lived a material locking their Infernal Chronicles.
life, and do not develop any bond with damned
souls.
The Guide as a Familiar Spirit

T he Guide who appears to the Lost Ones in
the Dark Forest, the character that you will
play in the game, is to all intents and purposes
a Familiar Spirit to those very same Lost Ones,
exactly as Virgilio was a Familiar Spirit to Dante.
This connection is an obvious one: if the Guide
were not a Familiar Spirit, the Lost Ones would
not be able to recognize them, could not speak
with them and would have nothing to talk about
with them, nor could the spirit fully appear be-
fore the Lost Ones and become their Guide.
As already mentioned, the only real existence
in Hell is the sinful semblance of the Lost Ones.
Everything else is a form of astral projection of
their minds, their sins, and their imaginations.
Nothing is truly tangible in Hell, not even time,
space, and matter, except for the intellect and
conscience of the Lost Ones.

The Secret of the Guide
There I beheld both Socrates and Plato,
who nearer him before the others stand;
Democritus, who puts the world on chance,

Diogenes, Anaxagoras, and Thales,
Zeno, Empedocles, and Heraclitus;
Of qualities I saw the good collector,

hight Dioscorides; and Orpheus saw I,
Tully and Livy, and moral Seneca,
Euclid, geometrician, and Ptolemy,

Galen, Hippocrates, and Avicenna,
Averroes, who the great Comment made.
Dante Alighieri
INFERNO, CANTO IV, 134-144

62
I The Paradox of Lost One

have told you many things about Hell
and the Lost Ones, about their traits and
and Guide
their abilities, about the Divine Flame of
faith which gives them strength, and the Hope
which pushes them forward. There is still some-
thing, however, which I have not yet revealed,
something crucial.
The reason for them to be here in the first place.
A t any moment, in the timeless eternity of the
Dark Forest, billions of lost souls, tormented
spirits, poor sinners, and children of this world,
The pure and simple reason why they alone, victims and abusers of sinners like them, are all
among billions of living beings, have been al- gathered and trapped between the waking and
lowed upon a path of redemption for their sins, sleeping worlds, in an abstract condition super-
even if it takes place in Hell itself – just like Dante. imposed over their material lives.
That reason is you. Your torch, the Torch of the Divine Flame, will
force them to manifest: you will lead them to
The Real and the Unreal

you, you will make their semblance tangible, you
will render them physical and concrete, amid the
myriad shadows who wander through the savage,
W hen I spoke of Infernal Chronicles, I told

you that the only concrete beings in Hell
are the Lost Ones, and they are the reason for
bitter, stern forest that is life itself, never aware
of their dreamlike, transient condition.
It is you. Everything starts with you.
tangible features given to the damned they en- Moved by the desire to escape eternal damna-
counter, if these are Familiar Spirits. tion, you have taken a fragment of the Divine
Hell, indeed, is relative. The Lost Ones travel Flame, a torch, and have secretly made your way
through it, and along their way they encounter to the Dark Forest, seeking out Lost Ones to join,
ties and people they met during their life, or at knowing full well that without them, you would
least known to them, conferring them a partial never be able to complete your Journey.
reality through their own existence. And the very moment when you reach that loca-
You know very well that Virgilio was sent to find tion, among the drove of souls eternally lost in
Dante by the Three Ladies in high Heaven, and their personal spiritual forests, some of them will
his presence allowed him to manifest in the Dark recognize you as a Familiar Spirit. This will allow
Forest, making the poet into a Lost One ready you to become manifest, and in turn, you will
for his Journey of redemption. This time, how- also allow them to become tangible thanks to the
ever, things are very different… torch you carry.
You are no Virgilio, and they are not Dante. A mortal wanders in sin unawares.
There is no supernatural decree protecting you. A spirit leaves Hell and goes toward them.
No one has sent you, and no one truly cares for The moment when the two meet, the mortal
the Lost Ones you will meet. manifests their semblance in the Dark Forest,
This time, you are the cause of everything. Do and the spirit, familiar to the mortal, becomes
not reveal this. Hide it from them, or they will their Guide.
hate you. They will leave you at the first possible The Lost Ones will confer you your shape, face,
opportunity, attack you and pull you apart. and name. You will lure them and make them real
in the Dark Forest.
You are the cause of their Journey, they are the
origin of your existence.

63
Together, in the paradox of this double, mutual horribly destroyed, only for him to form again in
creation, you will undertake the path to salva- the Noble Castle.
tion which will lead to Lucifero himself! He learned from his mistakes, learned to use the
And your goal is to save yourself. Sure, the Jour- torch, to follow secret paths and strategies, to
ney may also allow the Lost Ones to purify them- bind infernal artifacts to him. And still, every
selves, but you are still the prime cause of it all. attempt would result in failure.
Now that you know, tighten your hold on the After several defeats, and after losing Euridice
torch and lead those mortal sinners down once again, he decided to find a group of travel-
through the Dolorous Kingdom. You will guide ing companions and form a Band.
them to horrifying suffering, horrors and And so he learned of the secret path used by Vir-
massacres. gilio to bypass the Eternal Gate and reach the
But maybe, just maybe, you will succeed – and it Dark Forest, to manifest Lost Ones useful to his
will all have been worth it. goal, allowing him to reveal himself to them.
His plan worked. The Lost Ones have appeared.
Orfeo. Euridice.
The Journey can begin.
Yes, you are Orfeo. This is the secret identity of
your Noble Spirit, the Guide whose role you will
D o you require a name? Do you really want to

know who you are?
Are you familiar with the story of Orfeo, the
inhabit. Or, if you prefer, you are Euridice: there
is no difference either way.
As noble spirit and Guide, with male or female
epic poet who was also able, once, to descend semblance – as you prefer – you will lead the
through Hell millennia ago, in order to rescue Band all the way to Lucifero, to save the soul of
his beloved? your beloved from the Second Circle (see Canto
Mage, chosen one, noble spirit, even Dante VII), recover your lyre in the Third Circle (see Can-
mentioned him in his writing. He and Virgilio to VIII), and leave Hell once and for all, together.
walked past him during their own Journey, when How your story continues from here is up to you!
they reached the Noble Castle.
That was when Orfeo awoke, and gained a
Glimpse of Hope.
A mage and a poet, a seer and a prophet, a mu-
sician and a sage, who already knew in life the
secrets of worlds beyond the world, who had al-
ready explored the underworld, recovered from
his tenuous and distracted wait for the End of
Times. Seeing what was possible with Virgilio
and Dante, realized he could save himself and
undertake the same Journey as them.
The realization awoke him, gave him Hope, and
a plan started to form.
He would finally save his beloved Euridice, give
her a Spark of Hope, and they would leave Hell,
together.
His initial attempts were less than success-
ful. Minosse, Cerbero, Flegias did not let him
through, and each time his semblance would be

The Fate of O rfeo and Euridice
T he Secret of the Lyre
There is another part of Orfeo’s plan,
which he will not reveal – at least, not until R eading through these notes and the dif-
ferent locations of the Journey through
it is already underway! the Blind World, you will soon discover that the
Orfeo’s Lyre,
Lyre, which has become a powerful character you will play is destined to stay be-
Infernal Artifact, is held within Cerbero’s hind, their road opposed by Minosse and forced
den, where the foul beast ripped it off him to remain in the First Circle.
and flung it aside the last time the poet After losing their Guide, the rest of the Band
tried moving past the Keeper. will have to uncover the details of this fantas-
The Lyre has special powers that anyone tical and terrifying world on their own, and Or-
can understand and use (see page 177), but feo and Euridice will never meet – at least, not
only Orfeo and Euridice can fully unlock in this particular tale…
its power or reveal its potential to other There are, however, three possible exceptions to
Travelers. this narrative. It is up to you whether you apply
This special power is in addition to those de- any one of them, and which one if so::
scribed on page 177, and only if the character
attuned to the Lyre knows of its secret. ◊ After crossing the First Circle, the Band can
When the character attuned to Orfeo’s meet an experienced Lost One, one who
Lyre decides to activate its Final Secret, the has been wandering through Hell for a long
instrument unleashes a divine, ineffable time, and decide to follow them. You will
harmony, similar to the music of the ce- now be playing as that character. If until
lestial spheres, which confers 1 Glimpse of now you were playing Orfeo, this could eas-
Hope and Divine Inspiration to any cha- ily be Euridice, trapped at the heart of the
racter, including Lost Ones, Travelers who Hurricane (see page 122).
have become Despondent, common dam- ◊ After the encounter with Minosse, as the
ned, devils, Angels of the Worthless Choir, situation develops or as you decide to, your
and even Infernal Keepers. noble spirit is able to move past the Third
Orfeo’s plan is to use this power to confer Keeper and keep leading the Band. In this
Hope to Lucifero himself, in order to di- scenario, you might also decide that your
stract and confound him long enough to beloved Euridice is trapped in the Hurri-
escape through his legs. The effect, howe- cane, and that you will find her, give her
ver, can be used on any Infernal Keeper Hope and continue the Journey with her
long enough to move past them, even by and the rest of the Band.
walking over them, or to save from De- ◊ Right after the encounter with Minosse, the
speration a Traveler who has lost all Hope Band meets a new character – an indiffer-
Points. In this latter case, the character re- ent angel, a malebranche, or a noble spir-
appears close to whoever used the Lyre, no it, already wandering across Higher Hell or
matter their previous location. who just recently made it past Minosse –
Once this power is used, Orfeo’s Lyre breaks who will become their new Guide. The new
and is no longer usable. character may or may not know the secret
of Orfeo, Euridice, and the Lyre.

Make use of any of these hooks relating to Or- If you, instead, believe this secondary plot to be
feo, Euridice, and the Lyre only if you think they too heavy or complex, feel free to leave it aside
will add an extra layer and edge to the Journey as soon as you want to, and focus the Journey
of the Lost Ones, providing some additional plot on its core theme: the path to redemption of the
twists and usefulness to the story you will be Lost Ones!
telling as a group.

Chapter III
The Way is Long, and

Difficult the Road

68
T he way is long and difficult the road is

the name of the campaign for Inferno
– Virgilio’s Untold Tales, designed both
as an introduction and way to give a structure
After Minosse’s Canto VI, the chapter provides
details and guidelines on how to set up encoun-
ters, exploration of the various Circles, facing
off against monsters and perils all the way to
to the Journey that the Lost Ones and the other Cocito, where the final confrontation with Lucif-
Travelers are about to undertake, with you as ero takes place. For these sections of the Jour-
their Guide. ney, the prepared material becomes more gen-
As you will have probably gathered by now, your eral and you will have the opportunity to run
task is to guide the other players through the the game according to your preferences, those
game, during sessions, but also to portray in of the players and their characters, and combin-
the game the character of the Guide to the Lost ing the material provided in the two manuals.
Ones, at least for part of their travels.
The Journey’s major milestones are as follows:
Below is a general summary and overview of the
campaign included in these pages, including the ◊ Canto I – In a Forest Dark. The Lost Ones
additional Cantos unlocked during the Inferno find themselves in the Dark Forest, face the
crowdfunding campaign. Three Beasts, and realize they are trapped
in a sinister location beyond the material
Midway upon the journey of their life, the Lost world; that is when the Guide appears be-
Ones find themselves in a Dark Forest and meet fore them, who will explain the inevitable
their Guide, who tells them what happened. If Journey through Hell that awaits them.
there are other kinds of Travelers, they will ac- ◊ Canto II – Through the Air Without a
company the Guide to meet the Lost Ones, and Star. The Travelers cross the Antinferno
join the group at the same time. and obtain passage from Caronte across the
Acheronte, in exchange for a task suited to
During the initial phases of their itinerary, the their abilities.
Travelers will face the perils of the Dark Forest, ◊ Canto III – Across the Dusky Wave of
of the Antinferno, and of Limbo. They will step Acheronte. The Travelers cross the Ache-
through the Eternal Gate and cross the Acheron-
te, and reach the Castle of the Noble Spirits.
Here they will receive answers to many of their

questions, and the meaning for their Journey
T he Darkness of the Blind World
Along with the Rule of Constant De-
cline (see page 46), there is one other en-
will be clearer to all. They will then head toward vironmental effect that always applies in
the Third Keeper, Minosse, to continue on their any part of Hell: the Darkness of the Blind
quest; the Keeper, however, will attempt to stop World.
them from moving onward, mocking the Guide Hell is a dark place, filled with supernatu-
and removing the latter from the group. ral shadows. Anyone who moves through it
without a source of Divine Flame, such as
The Travelers will be able to eventually move past the Lantern of the Divine Flame or Torch of
the terrifying infernal judge, but are now with- the Divine Flame,
Flame, has disadvantage on all
out a Guide, and with no guarantee of success. ability checks and saving throws related to
From this moment onward, their descent to- finding their way and facing the environ-
ward Dite and Lower Hell is entirely in their own mental hazards of the various Circles.
hands.
Chapter III - The Way is Long, and Difficult the Road

69
ronte on Caronte’s ferry and reach Limbo, ◊ Canto VII – Into a Place Mute of All Light
not without a few setbacks. (optional). After defeating Minosse, the
◊ Canto IV – Among the Noble Spirits (op- Travelers find themselves in the Hurricane,
tional). The Travelers step into Limbo and the Second Circle. Here they can meet Famil-
must traverse a dark and ashen valley, in or- iar Spirits, companions, or find Infernal Arti-
der to reach the Noble Castle. facts before continuing.
◊ Canto V – The Flame of the Noble Spirits. ◊ Canto VIII – Of New Torments and New
After they reach the Castle of the Noble Spir- Tormented (optional). The Travelers make
its, the Travelers discover their Guide’s true their way through the Third Circle and face
identity, and forge an artifact which will pro- its Keeper and perils.
tect them in their travels; they then head to- ◊ Canto IX – The Queen of Everlasting Lam-
ward the Second Circle. entation (optional). The Travelers reach
◊ Canto VI – Against He Who Horribly Snarls. the Stige and find a way to cross the Fourth,
While still in the First Circle, the Band must Fifth, and Sixth Circles.
find a way to present their case to Minosse. ◊ Canto X – The Emperor of the Dolorous
But once they reach the Third Keeper, some- Kingdom (optional). The Travelers reach the
thing unexpected happens: the Guide is cast end of their Journey, at the end of the world
aside and Minosse denies them passage. The and before Lucifero himself. Everyone plays
only way to move past him is to defeat him in out the ending to their stories, for better or
combat! The events cause a flood of damned worse.
souls to enter Higher Hell, the loss of the
Guide, and the beginning of unrest across
the entire Blind World.
M onsters and Naming

When a creature’s name appears in
(creature),
bold (creature ), its stat block can be found in
Chapter 5 – The Evils of Hell. When a crea-
ture’s name appears in bold with an asterisk
(creature*
creature*),
), its stat block can be found in the
SRD – OGL.
N arrative Annotation
Text that appears in a box like this is
meant to be read aloud or paraphrased for
the players.

Canto I – In a Forest
Dark
F
irst Canto, in which we offer a preface to
the work, and we show women and men
and people lost in a place beyond the world,
amid horrid beasts, a fearsome forest, and the lost
Hope of the Height.
Treatise for the Guide

T his Canto marks the beginning of the ad-
venture and Journey of the Lost Ones,
who have reached the Dark Forest from the
material world, be it by mistake or curse, bad
luck or inclination, fate or divine punish-
ment – but most of all because of the secret
you hold within you (see chapter 2 for more).
The first few Stanzas of the Canto will provide an
opportunity for the Lost Ones to meet one an-
other and start guessing what is happening to
them. You will help them narrate their actions
within the gloomy forest, making sure they face
off against the Three Beasts – the first manifes-
tation of the Infernal Keepers – and experience
first-hand the unending cycle of death and re-
generation which takes place in Hell.
You will then introduce your character, the no-
ble spirit who will be their Guide, and any other
Traveler who might have accompanied you. Here
you will explain what is happening, and the en-
tire Band will move toward the Eternal Gate in
the light of your torch.

71
Preface for the Lost Ones T he First Canto

This Canto is the first episode in the
Lost Ones’ Journey through Hell, and tells
M idway upon the journey of your life, you

have found yourselves within a Forest Dark,
for the straightforward pathway has been lost.
how they end up in the Dark Forest, and
how they encounter the Three Beasts and
the Guide.
You are confused, disoriented, not entirely sure Players discover here for the first time the
as to why you have arrived in this place, nor who new semblance taken on by their charac-
these unsettling figures all around you might be. ters, and start coming to terms with the
In all truth, looking at your clothing and the vis- fact that they are suddenly no longer part
ible parts of your limbs, you are unable to recog- of the real world, with no memory of their
nize what you are wearing or what you look like. past life, in a tortuous and gloomy for-
All around you is a wild forest, bitter and terri- est, surrounded by strangers, threats, and
fying, fearful to the eye and filled with shadows, monsters.
whispers, and shivering branches. The First Stanza of this Canto is set up spe-
You have no idea how you entered, you barely cifically for the characters to come to real-
remember feeling a little weak as you were walk- ize what has happened and what they have
ing, and stumbling away from the right path. become; later ones, instead, help them re-
This is how your Journey begins. alize how to move as a group, what fate has
befallen them, and how to act to face it. If
Stanza I – Midway Upon the

the players are unfamiliar with the game’s
rules, this a good moment for the Guide to
Journey of Your Life

explain them, starting from ability checks,
attack rolls, and saving throws. They will
also learn to use Hope, Divine Inspiration,
Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say and Infernal Emblems, as the group sets
what was this forest savage, rough, and stern, out upon their Journey together.
which in the very thought renews the fear.
More specifically, each Lost One is wandering on
So bitter is it, death is little more; their own around the Forest, in a state of stupor,
but of the good to treat, which there I found, until they all meet on the shore of a shady pool
speak will I of the other things I saw there. at the heart of a clearing.
The forest rises black and twisted all around
I cannot well repeat how there I entered, them, and chilling shrieks come from every di-
so full was I of slumber at the moment rection, echoing through the jagged branches
in which I had abandoned the true way. and trunks; a weak light glows at the bottom of
the pool, as if some mysterious flame were burn-
Dante Alighieri ing beneath the surface.
Inferno, Canto I, 4-12 In this sudden light, each character becomes
aware of their wandering in this gloomy location
I t is night, and all the Lost Ones find them-

selves in the Dark Forest. No one really re-
members how they made it here, and even the
and of the other figures around them, everyone
having just reached this quiet and abandoned
shore. Only now are the Lost Ones able to look
memory of the past few days and years are each other in the face, look upon their reflec-
confused and obfuscated. tion, study their own features and those of the

72
others, although with no sense of recognition. an allegorical form of the sin which brought
Each character displays the semblance of their them here. Trying to do so will cause pain
corresponding Archetype, each carries their to the characters, so much so that they will
Infernal Emblems, the nature and function of lose all Hope of the Height and move them
which are still unknown. closer to the final surrender and acceptance
This is the right moment to exchange first im- of their eternal punishment.
pressions, attempt to introduce each other, dis- ◊ Everyone is alive; they are not dead, nor are
cuss what led them to this place, mention their they some form of astral projection. Their
vices and virtues. None can be sure to have met physical presence is tangible: if wounded,
the others before losing their way, or what their they bleed and hurt; if severely wounded,
life might have been before now. A significant they would perish.
effort might bring back to mind shreds of their ◊ Everyone remembers fragments of their
past lives, maybe their name, or their occupa- previous lives and of their shared history.
tion, fragments of a life forgotten. Everything The name Jerusalem is not unknown and
else is covered by a veil, a drowsiness of oblivion. they know the city should not be far from
Each of them remembers that they had been here, they were just headed toward it, or
traveling, assailed by moral doubts and di- perhaps leaving it. In their memories, Jeru-
lemmas, fleeing from implacable enemies, or salem is at the center of the world. If they
rushing toward a coveted destination, an un- think about it, they also remember the ex-
certain fate. Each of them remembers getting istence of characters such as Dante and Vir-
lost, walking as if in a torpor, ending up in that gilio, or other such historical figures. They
Dark Forest, along narrow pathways and sur- know that Dante is a florentine poet, that
rounded by sharp bushes, or down trails made he wrote the Commedia, and that he sup-
by savage beasts. posedly descended through Hell. They know
And all those mysterious paths and trails have he had a Guide, Virgilio, an ancient roman
led to this clearing, where lies a glimpse of the poet. They remember school lessons about
star which leads others right by every road. No the contents of the Commedia. However, the
one can grasp the glimmer at the bottom of the more they try making sense of it, or making
pool and its nature is still a mystery (but see connections, the stronger their sense of loss
Stanza V). and disorientation grows.
This first Stanza should be used for the players Once the Lost Ones are ready to begin, asking
to test out their characters and for the Guide to each other how to proceed, it is time to move to
explain a few features of their new condition: the next Stanza.
◊ Everyone is currently in an unreal place,

beyond the material world, and no one re-
members how they arrived here, nor can
anyone currently escape it.
◊ Everyone’s appearance is allegorical and
mysterious, alluding to the vices and sins
from their life. Even their clothing and
equipment seem to be part of this new sem-
blance – they are unable to remove their
new attire or Infernal Emblems, as they are

73
Stanza II – The Valley Which had with Stanza III – Savage and Rough and
Consternation Pierced My Heart Stern
Then was the fear a little quieted After my weary body I had rested,
that in my heart’s lake had endured throughout the way resumed I on the desert slope,
the night, which I had passed so piteously. so that the firm foot ever was the lower.
And even as he, who, with distressful breath, And lo! almost where the ascent began,
forth issued from the sea upon the shore, a panther light and swift exceedingly,
turns to the water perilous and gazes; which with a spotted skin was covered o’er!
So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward, And never moved she from before my face,
turn itself back to re-behold the pass nay, rather did impede so much my way,
which never yet a living person left. that many times I to return had turned.
Dante Alighieri Dante Alighieri

Inferno, Canto I, 22-27 Inferno, Canto I, 28-36
T he Dark Forest allows no one to find the

straightforward way. The first of its perils
is the constant loss of direction and feeling of
O nce the characters unite and start moving
together, the sun seems to rise and the effect
imposing disadvantage suddenly ends for every-
oppression that it causes. one. The Lost Ones will soon arrive at a hill, as
If the Lost Ones each decide to move forward the first rays of the daily star fall upon it.
by themselves, they will always lose the way and
end up together, after several twists and turns, Prowling through the thicket of contorted
on the pool’s shore. This effect is a first emana- plants and branches bearing sharp thorns is a
tion of the rule of Constant Decline, explained shadow, taking form in the dusky light of the
on page 46. In this particular case, a character woods. Red eyes appear in the black folds of
must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving the trees, feral movements suddenly noticed
throw (with disadvantage, as they are nowhere by the Lost Ones.
close to the Divine Flame), or suffer one level
of exhaustion. A character who drinks from the A character who succeeds on a DC 10 Wisdom
pool will recover one level of exhaustion. (Perception) check will notice that farther
Only by proceeding as a group will the charac- ahead, along the path stretching in front of the
ters find the right path and avoid this effect. group, is an umbral and feral presence, appear-
ing fearsome from the thicker underbrush.
If the Lost Ones take the path directly in front
of them, leading straight to the hill, they will
soon be attacked by the panther of the dark
forest, slinking out of the forest as a murderous
shadow.

74
If they, instead, choose to bypass the threat, they
can try making their way through the thorny
underbrush. In this case, each Lost One must
T hings do not, alas, go as hoped. As soon as
the Lost Ones reach the top of the hill, a
powerful lion (lion of the dark forest) appears
succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom (Survival) check to before them, and moves forward, head high and
avoid hurting themselves on the unfortunate with terrible roars, shaking the very air around it.
thorns. On a failure, a Lost One takes 2 (1d4) At the same time, behind the Lost Ones, a she-
piercing damage and 2 (1d4) slashing damage, wolf (she-wolf of the dark forest) emerges from
and they must make a DC 10 Constitution saving the trees, terrifying and emaciated, seemingly
throw or gain one level of exhaustion. charged with all the yearning in the world, de-
In either case, the Lost Ones will soon reach the spite her physical appearance.
foot of the sun-bathed hill. Caught between such formidable foes, an es-
cape seemingly impossible, the Lost Ones can-
Stanza IV – Beasts Withouten

not avoid combat, which will have lethal results
for the entire group.
Peace Once they have been rendered to pieces by the

beasts of the Dark Forest, the Lost Ones die in
but not so much, that did not give me fear spasms of agonizing pain, powerless before the
a lion’s aspect which appeared to me. ferocity of the evil beasts – though they lose
none of their Hope Points.
He seemed as if against me he were coming
with head uplifted, and with ravenous hunger,
Stanza V – Back to Such

so that it seemed the air was afraid of him;
Annoyance
and a she-wolf, that with all hungerings
seemed to be laden in her meagreness,
and many folk has caused to live forlorn!
While I was rushing downward to the lowland,
She brought upon me so much heaviness, before mine eyes did one present himself,
with the affright that from her aspect came, who seemed from long-continued silence hoarse.
that I the hope relinquished of the height.
When I beheld him in the desert vast,
Dante Alighieri “Have pity on me,” unto him I cried,
Inferno, Canto I, 44-54 “Whiche’er thou art, or shade or real man!”
He answered me: “Not man; man once I was

In the midst of the dark and savage sea of the
endless forest, the shining hill appears almost Dante Alighieri
as an island which offers hope to the ship- Inferno, Canto I, 61-67
wrecked sailors, lost among the black tides of
a hostile sea.
Maybe the hilltop holds a vantage point to
find an exit, or view over Jerusalem, or at
O nce all have perished, something inexplica-
ble happens: the Lost Ones reform out of the
dark air and find themselves once again at the
least out of the forest, toward safety... heart of the Dark Forest, on the shore of the pool

75

76
where they first met. The shift between being are the first Keepers of Hell, and they will not al-
under the fangs and claws of the Three Beasts low anyone to reach the Luminous Hill. The only
to this regeneration is swift and painful, mys- way to leave the Forest is to cross the Gloomy
terious and seemingly with no real explanation. Kingdom and exit from the other side.
Each character regains all of their hit points and If the group does not proceed this way, they will
with all the benefits of a long rest, as if they had never leave the Forest, an integral part of Hell
just been created. in the shape of its unnatural emanation outside
Everyone’s mind struggles to recall what just
transpired, and the Lost One’s memories are
about to fully dissipate again when their eyes
suddenly meet a light, slowly moving closer.
P reface for the Guide and Other
Travelers
This Canto is the first episode of the Jour-
In the new glow, a figure appears on the shore, ney for every player, including any possible
hieratic and ethereal, whose calm suggests an- indifferent angels, malebranche, or noble
cient wisdom and authority. The figure is al- spirits who might be setting out on their
most akin to a marble statue, still and formal, own path to redemption.
and grasps in one hand a burning, intriguing If these archetypes are already present in
torch. This the Guide, a noble spirit who reveals the game at this point, then it is time to in-
to have come to save the Lost Ones from their troduce these characters and the one played
current predicament. The Guide seems to know by the Guide.
each and every character personally, but does The latter is a noble spirit, who has their
not reveal the reason behind it quite yet: every- own reasons to undertake this quest – that
thing will become clearer later (see Canto V). is, to take a fragment of Divine Flame, cross
The true identity of the Guide, their motives, the Eternal Gate from a secret side passage,
and how they incarnate the game master in the retrace Virgilio’s steps, reach the Lost Ones
game itself, are crucial, as explained on page 62. at the heart of the Dark Forest, and guide
At this moment in time, however, they just have them back through Hell, all the way to Lu-
to introduce themselves to the Lost Ones, ex- cifero and the Burella, the only true way out
plain that they are there to show them the only from the Blind World.
way out of the Forest, reveal the power of the Shortly before crossing the Eternal Gate, the
Torch of the Divine Flame they carry, and answer Guide may have met other possible Trav-
their questions. elers, fueled by the same yearning for re-
demption, and has joined them.
As initial explanations and introductions are Each indifferent angel, malebranche, or no-
over, the Guide can show the characters how ble spirit present in the game is spurred by
to recognize some of the souls they will meet a similar core goal: after having received a
in Hell, souls just as lost as them, who will seek fragment of Hope – maybe from a Lost One,
them out as someone whom they know or knew, though who knows – the anguish and de-
whom they heard spoken of while alive; there is sire to rejoin the Divine Flame have become
no written rule, no certainty, but it is probable their prime and foremost need. The arriv-
that these encounters are dictated by divine al of these new Lost Ones and the Guide’s
will, and they should therefore pay attention quest are the ideal opportunity for all of
(see Infernal Chronicles, page 54). them to dare to venture upon this Journey.
After the Guide has shown the Lost Ones how And so here they are, together, in the Dark
Hope works, and the nature of the torch they Forest.
carry, they will also reveal that the Three Beasts

77
of the Eternal Gate. In fact, they have been here Justice incited my sublime Creator;
for more time than they realize, endless cycles Created me divine Omnipotence,
of being forced back to the same location due The highest Wisdom and the primal Love.
to the flame burning at the bottom of the pool
– the meager consolation that a Spark of Hope Before me there were no created things,
can also be found in this terrible place. Only eterne, and I eternal last.
All hope abandon, ye who enter in!
The time has come, however, to break the cycle
of deaths and rebirths and head for the Eternal
Conclusion
Gate.
Stanza VI – To Take F ollowing the mysterious Guide, the group of
Another Road
Travelers crosses the Eternal Gate and steps
into the infernal lands. Once the massive portal
closes behind them, there is no way of stepping
“Thee it behooves to take another road,” back, and they will have to proceed toward the
responded he, when he beheld me weeping, heart of the otherworldly abyss.
“If from this savage place thou wouldst escape; Their infernal tragedy has only just begun!
Because this beast, at which thou criest out, Travelers reach the 2nd level at the end of this
suffers not any one to pass her way, Canto.
but so doth harass him, that she destroys him;
and has a nature so malign and ruthless,

that never doth she glut her greedy will,
and after food is hungrier than before.
Dante Alighieri
Inferno, Canto I, 91-99
T he Guide leads the Lost Ones through the

Dark Forest, in the opposite direction from
the Luminous Hill, towards a vile, black cliff that
seems to jut out of the ground as a decaying
tooth in rotting gums.
Climbing down a twisted and dark path, to-
ward the foot of the cliff, they find themselves
before the Eternal Gate, an inevitable and
inviolable artifact which bears the following
ominous words:
Through me the way is to the city dolent;

Through me the way is to eternal dole;
Through me the way among the people lost.

78
F rom This Point Forward, the

Game Gets Tough
The tiny flame of Hope which has sustained
the infinite cycle of death and rebirth of
the Lost Ones, and which has ensured that
they always return to the pool’s shore, is
no longer able to extend its power through
the Eternal Gate. The Guide can explain, if
needed, that whereas in the Dark Forest the
Travelers’ initial Hope Points are not affect-
ed, once they step into Hell proper, the di-
vine grace that allowed it no longer applies.
The Lost Ones will constantly relive their
death and their sin, and the veil of oblivion
will not fall to blunt those terrible memo-
ries. This means that Hope will constantly
be drained, siphoned away by the evils of
the Blind World, replaced by a slithering
and irrevocable despair. This is the mean-
ing of the last verse carved upon the Gate;
opportunities to recover Hope, though they
do exist, will become more and more rare.
The Guide should take advantage of this
moment, rather than one closer to Hope
being used up, to explain what will hap-
pen once the last Glimpse of Hope is ex-
tinguished: the Lost Ones will suddenly
lose all the strength which sustains them
and allows them the possibility to suc-
ceed in their Journey, for that is the se-
cret goal of Hell – to remove all Hope of
the Height from those who enter. The Lost
Ones, then, will have to conserve as much
Hope as possible, as it is their most valu-
able possession in the lairs they will have
to explore. Fortunately, though, Divine In-
spiration can come to their aid, and they
should not hesitate to make use of this
“gift from Heaven” should they receive it.

79
Canto II – Through the

damned souls in the ruins of a temple, prevent-
ing them from reaching the circle to which they
Air Without a Star

have been destined. The Lost Ones have been
tasked with solving the issue, and setting things
back on track.
S B
econd Canto, in which we narrate of how efore We Leave
the Lost Ones reach the Acheronte’s shores, In this Canto, the Guide explains the
of those who lived with no deed of worth, general layout of Hell to the Lost Ones,
and of the ruin of false and lying gods. and can finally reveal its map. This is also
a good opportunity to explain the nature

of the damned, of the indifferent angels,
of the punishment and persecution which
the souls are subjected to in each circle.
A s told in the previous Canto, midway upon

the journey of their life, the Lost Ones
found themselves within a forest dark, for the
The Guide also explains, if they have not
done so already, the differences between
the Lost Ones, corporeal beings filled with
straightforward pathway had been lost. Hope, and the Dolorous People, dead
They remember very little of their past and of and incorporeal souls, though they ap-
how they have arrived in these gloomy and dan- pear to have a form and weight as long as
gerous woods, but they now know they must un- they find themselves in the otherworld.
dertake a Journey taking place in the most hor- Additionally, the Guide should clarify that
rifying and terrible of otherworldly realms: Hell, the Lost One’s semblances are determined
of which the Dark Forest is but an unexplainable by their sin, and point out the Arche-
extension. type, vices and virtues of each character.
If your character has brought along companions If there are indifferent angels or slave Ar-
to greet the Lost Ones, be they indifferent an- chetypes among the group, this is a good
gels, malebranche, or other noble spirits, they moment to illustrate the maluses and disad-
are now also ready to undertake the same Jour- vantages they are subjected to as they move
ney toward Lucifero himself. across their allocated place of punishment
Once they have crossed the Eternal Gate – the (see also Sin and Predestination in Inferno
titanic portal which seals the realm of eternal – Dante’s Guide to Hell)
Hell) along with the relief
dole – the immense clamor and terror of Hell they will feel once that place is behind them.
reveals itself to the Band, who must cross the When the characters meet Ipazia, the Guide
Vestibule of Hell toward the Acheronte’s shore. must ensure that the characters understand
When they reach the dark waters, they will real- their Infernal Chronicles and how to use them,
ize that the only way to cross is upon Caronte’s Finally, this should also be the moment to
ferry – and he will refuse to let them on board. clarify the use of Infernal Emblems in combat,
After a brief negotiation – which you can let the and the importance of the Torch of the Divine
players lead, or choose to facilitate yourself – Flame as a point of eternal return after death.
the infernal ferryman will make a request of the
Travelers, after which he will allow these living
creatures to cross on his boat: one of the Angels
of the Worthless Choir is gathering crowds of

80
Preface for the Travelers

sinking remains and ruins which recall those of
ancient civilizations. The Indifferent are under
constant attack by swarms of gadflies and hor-
T he Lost Ones have found their Guide (and

their bizarre companions, if applicable),
shined an admittedly dim light upon their con-
nets, and their feet move across a worm, cater-
pillar, and centipede-infested soil, swirling and
twisting as they bite and sting anything that
dition, wandered around the Dark Forest, and passes by.
have finally crossed the Eternal Gate, witnessing Due to the incredibly oppressive atmosphere of
in shock the immense clamor and horror of Hell, Hell which weighs upon whomever carries the
revealing itself in full before their eyes. Hope of the Height past the Eternal Gate, the
Your minds and thoughts are still a little mud- Lost Ones are overwhelmed by the darkest of
dled by the loss which had taken over you as you thoughts, and their legs feel about to collapse
awoke in the Dark Forest, and the colossal por- with every step. Each Lost One must succeed on
tal to Hell closes behind you with thunderous a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or be afflicted by
inevitability. long-term madness. They suffer an effect from
the “Long-term Madness” table until the next
Stanza I – Among the People

short or long rest.
Dolorous
As the Lost Ones cross this deep, dark place, the
Guide will explain any detail of the Journey and
Hell which they may still not be entirely clear on:
There sighs, complaints, and ululations loud
resounded through the air without a star, ◊ The origin and nature of the Dolorous King-
whence I, at the beginning, wept thereat. dom.
◊ How precious the Hope of the Height is. The
Languages diverse, horrible dialects, Eternal Gate had the following words carved
accents of anger, words of agony, above it: ‘All hope abandon, ye who enter in’.
and voices high and hoarse, with sound of hands, Unlike in the Dark Forest, all Hope which is
lost, spent, or donated while in Hell is gone
made up a tumult that goes whirling on forever, and consuming it in its entirety will
forever in that air forever black, spell the inevitable end of the Journey, De-
even as the sand doth, when the whirlwind breathes. spair and final loss – eternal damnation.
◊ The souls which reside within are damned
Dante Alighieri by divine will, and only divine will can save
Inferno, Canto III, 22-30 them. The Lost Ones themselves can risk
befalling such a fate if they do not atone
T he Guide leaves the Eternal Gate behind

them and steps forward, torch in hand, into
a barren and dark landscape. The Lost Ones are
during their Journey. Their current appear-
ance – or semblance – reflects the punish-
ment they must face to determine whether
welcomed by a cacophony of despairing wails they will emerge saved or damned.
and moans, and they can only keep up with
the Guide’s weightless steps upon that swamp- Horror finally takes over when they reach the
like land with some effort. Droves of Indifferent shore of a seemingly endless river, where an in-
wander around them in a slow procession which finite line of damned souls is waiting to board
follows gray banners, devoid of symbols, among the boat of Caronte, the ferryman of souls.

81
A giant wave washes over the damned, sweep- boat, or keeping them away from the Travelers:
ing them away from the dismal shore where the souls of the damned, just like the souls of
they awaited with the impatience of the the Indifferent wailing upon the foaming shore,
miserable. Caronte is gargantuan, his fer- can feel with greedy hunger and curiosity the
ry colossal, nothing like this has been seen newcomers’ tangible Hope.
before. And yet the vessel does not seem big Initially, it will seem impossible to convince
enough to contain all those expectant dead. Caronte, but after some time – or if the char-
The demon’s eyes burn like embers, as pyres acters offer to do so in some similar manner –
blazing upon the inextinguishable darkness the titan will mention a favor he could use some
of the air without a star. His voice is thun- help with, in exchange for which he would con-
der, and it shakes the shadow and waters sider ferrying them across the Acheronte. If they
alike. His enormous oar, crimson with blood listen, Caronte will explain that an indifferent
and fire, spears the souls to move them upon angel is causing discord in the Antinferno.
the deck, while others, by the dozens, crawl
upon the hull and jutting niches which have
now appeared. Gray droves of Indifferent also
attempt the approach, some even try leaping
upon the vessel, but all of them are met with
pain, despair, and death, under the blows of
the demon helmsmen and Caronte himself,
C aron Dimonio
If a character somehow incurs Caronte’s
wrath (at the Guide’s discretion), the demon
who merciless but fair, throw them back to will destroy them with a single blow of his oar.
their sentence in the Antinferno. Caronte’s Oar. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to
hit, reach 20 ft, one target. Hit: 26 (4d8 + 8)
As they lay their eyes upon that gargantuan be- bludgeoning damage. In addition, the tar-
ing, each Lost One must succeed on a DC 15 Wis- get must also succeed on a DC 23 Dexterity
dom saving throw, or be frightened by Caronte. saving throw, or be pushed 60 ft away, into
If a Lost One succeeds or spends 1 Hope Point, the Acheronte waters. Any creature that
allowing terror to coil closely around their soul, starts its turn in the waves of the Acheron-
they become immune to Caronte’s Fearsome te suffers 2 levels of exhaustion. Spending 1
Semblance. Hope Point negates this effect.
The Guide reminds the Travelers that the only
way to reach Limbo is to convince Caronte to The Angel has taken over a ruined temple and
grant them passage. The ferryman with ember is gathering a personal army of the damned,
eyes, however, refuses, as the Travelers do not stealing a large number of poor souls from their
belong to the Circles beyond the Acheronte: they fate. Should the Lost Ones find the angel and
are still alive and possess physical bodies (as for stop him, they may be able to earn safe passage
any possible indifferent angel who has joined toward the hostile shore they wish to reach.
them, that is another matter entirely). Any re- The Guide has no intention of crossing the pu-
quest or attempt to intervene from the Guide trid-smelling mud of the Antinferno, and will
yields a similar result, leading the Guide to fall not accompany the Lost Ones in this endeav-
silent and pensive, considering their options. or. They will, however, place their torch by the
The Lost Ones may attempt to convince the fer- Acheronte shore, so that the Lost Ones may re-
ryman to carry them across, but Caronte is regain their form by such Divine Flame, should
luctant to even engage in conversation, busy in they be felled in their mission.
his task of arranging the Dolorous People on his

82
Stanza II – Behind an Infamous and

Useless Banner
T orch of the Divine Flame
The Torch of the Divine Flame is an In-
fernal Artifact, described in more detail on
And I, who looked again, beheld a banner,
which, whirling round, ran on so rapidly,
page 180, as is its “improved” version, the that of all pause it seemed to me indignant;
Lantern of the Divine Flame. Infernal Arti-
facts are an element of the game described And after it there came so long a train
in Chapter 4 – Infernal Artifacts; for now, of people, that I ne’er would have believed
all that you need to know is the following: that ever Death so many had undone.
◊ The Torch of the Divine Flame is
(for now at least) attuned to the Dante Alighieri
Guide, who cannot nor do they Inferno, Canto III, 52-57
want to separate themselves from it.
◊ The Torch of the Divine Flame provides
the Band with a source of clear light and
a beacon to follow, and confers true sight
T ravelers set off to search for the Ruin and
must once again cross the Vestibule of Hell,
alone and lacking the Guide to refresh their
to the Guide within the range of its light. spirits.
◊ The Torch of the Divine Flame is con- The march in search of the indifferent angel is
nected, throughout the entire path be- toilsome, and every step plunges into the mud
tween the pool in the Dark Forest and crawling with worms and insects of all kinds.
the Bonfire of the noble spirits, to the Each Lost One must succeed on a DC 12 Consti-
cycle of destruction and regeneration tution saving throw or gain 1 level of exhaustion
of the Travelers’ semblances: each time (see also the Rule of Constant Decline, page 46).
one of the latter dies while still in pos- In addition, to find their way around this gray,
session of some Hope, they reform af- featureless plain, travelers must succeed on a DC
ter 1d4 rounds in the light of the Torch. 13 Wisdom (Perception) check. All rolls are made
◊ Each Traveler moving through the Dark with disadvantage, as the Band is not currently
Forest, the Antinferno, or the Nine Cir- carrying the Torch of the Divine Flame. On each
cles without a source of Divine Flame is failure, make a roll on the “Events and Encoun-
subjected to the Darkness of the Blind ters of the Antinferno” table.
World (see page 68), meaning they have
disadvantage on all ability checks and If they are able to find the right way in the bar-
saving throws related to finding their ren, muddy plain, the Travelers spot a drove of
way and facing environmental hazards. Indifferent moving toward them, also following
a banner – except this banner is painted in blood
and bears an emblem and a name: “Sariel”.

83
Events and Encounters of the Antinferno
d10 Encounters
1-4 Swarm of gadflies. (swarm of wasps*)
Flash of vermilion light. Red lightning falls upon the Lost Ones: each character must
5 make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw; any creature who fails the saving throw takes 1d10
lightning damage, or half as much damage on a successful one
6-8 Swarms of gadflies. 2 swarms of insects (swarms of wasps*)
Earthquake. The ground beneath the feet of the Lost Ones is shaken by a terrible tremor:
each character must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, or suffer 2d6 bludgeon-
9 ing damage, become prone and buried under the rubble. To free themselves, a character
must make a DC 12 Strength (Athletics) check. The damage is halved on a successful
saving throw, and the character is not prone or buried.
10 Host of indifferent. 1 host of the indifferent damned
If the characters decide to remain hidden be-

Stanza III – The Ruin of the False
and Lying Gods
hind some broken rock or column and watch the
events unfold, they have to succeed on a DC 10
Dexterity (Stealth) check. On a failure, the Lost
Ones are spotted, and a host of the indiffer-
ent damned attacks them on sight, fighting to Forthwith I comprehended, and was certain,
their own destruction. After their semblances that this the sect was of the caitiff wretches
have recovered from the damage, the Indifferent hateful to God and to his enemies.
revert, moaning, to the Ruin from whence they
came. In case of success, the Lost Ones can fol- These miscreants, who never were alive,
low them unseen to the Ruin itself. were naked, and were stung exceedingly
by gadflies and by hornets that were there.
These did their faces irrigate with blood.

which, with their tears commingled, at their feet
by the disgusting worms was gathered up.
Dante Alighieri
Inferno, Canto III, 61-69
T he ground upon which the Lost Ones are

moving is considered difficult terrain due to
the mud, blood, tears, excrement, insects, and
who knows what else crawling all over.

84
If a character succeeds on a DC 10 Intelligence The damned and the Indifferent around the col-
(Investigation) or Wisdom (Survival) check, they umns do not seem to be reacting to their pres-
discover that it is impossible to find Indifferent ence. If the characters want to get close to or
tracks in this area, as probably anywhere else, take a look around the Ruin to explore or enter
as the souls of the Damned do not seem to have it, they can try to do so unnoticed with a suc-
a physical body to cast a shadow or leave foot- cessful DC 10 Dexterity (Stealth) check. If the
prints. Lost Ones attempt to reach the main entrance
without precautions, they reveal themselves, or
Ruin Environments
they are detected, three indifferent damned
approach them aggressively. The Lost Ones can
try to get them to calm down with a successful
T he area surrounding the Ruin and its interi-

or are keyed to the map.
DC 14 Charisma (Deception), Charisma (Intimi-
dation), or Charisma (Persuasion) check, other-
wise they will have to fight them.
I . E xter io r
The Ruin has a main entrance, lacking a door,
When the Lost Ones finally sight the Ruin, read over which hangs a soiled curtain of faded crim-
the following: son. All around this area is a buzzing cloud of
hornets and gadflies, audible from several feet
At the center of a depression are the remains away. With a successful DC 13 Intelligence (In-
of what appears to be an ancient temple, vestigation) or Wisdom (Perception) check, a
erected for pagan gods. Despite its state of second entrance on the north side of the tem-
disrepair, much as everything else in this ple can be detected, partially hidden by a col-
area, its structure is still mostly standing, lapsed section of wall. By removing some debris,
and its walls and columns rise from the mud- a medium-sized creature can easily sneak into
dy ground, offering an anchor and relief for the temple’s Hidden Cell on all fours. With a
the Lost Ones, perhaps for the first time since successful DC 12 Wisdom (Perception) check, a
setting eyes upon the first emanations of this character may notice that there seems to be a
dark realm. Hovering behind the first row of soul inside, sobbing.
columns is a veil of darkness and decay, and
a crimson curtain, soiled and tattered, cov-
II. Entr ance
ers its entrance. A few hunched and moaning
individuals roam around it, grazing the col- The Indifferent Gate is guarded by a cloud of
umns in hope of relieving the gadfly bites and insects of all kinds and shapes which bite and
removing the worms. sting all those who attempt to pass through in
order to reach the red curtain. In front of the
All along the columns are several despairing, tattered curtain there are is one swarms of
wailing souls (indifferent damned), drawn to wasps* that attack any creature that enters its
this place by the ‘gray oriflame’ which hangs space, but do not leave its position. If it is de-
from the Ruin, bearing the name of Sariel. These stroyed, it reforms after 2d4 rounds.
banners, though vile and meaningless, have be-
come an attraction for the damned souls who
wander the Antinferno, and are therefore dis-
tracted from reaching the Acheronte’s shores.

85

86
I I I . Vestib ule and chaos, slowly moving toward the Acheronte.
The souls of the damned can cross the cracked The ruined temple will take more damage and
and precarious floor of this room with no con- sink further into the mud broiling with insects,
sequence, but the Lost Ones’ weight may cause as Ipazia is finally able to free herself from the
it to collapse. Hidden Cell.
Each Lost One crossing this section of the floor
has a 50 percent chance of triggering a collapse, As the Lost Ones leave the Ruin, they will notice
dropping them into a 10-foot-deep pit and cov- Sariel reforming at the feet of the columns. The
ering them with debris, dealing 1d6 bludgeon- vile and infamous being will despair, falling to
ing damage from the fall. Characters can detect the ground as if having abandoned all desires
a safe path with a successful DC 13 Intelligence and whims.
(Investigation) check.
V. Hid d en Cell
I V. Sanc tuary
The cell at the back of the temple is almost emp-
The roof in this area has fallen in, and now opens ty, holding only a single damned soul, alone and
upon an air without a star, and several damned in tears. This is one of the Indifferent, except for
surround a tall and dark figure, which looms the fact that its features are more defined and
over them all: Sariel. The damned are drawn to visible than any of the other damned encoun-
the angel’s natural charm, although he cannot, tered so far. In fact, she appears to be a woman,
however, help them in the way he has promised, and claims her name to be Ipazia, though she
given that he does not possess any intent, pow- remembers little or nothing of her past life. She
er, or knowledge to do so. The delusion takes the finds herself there because Sariel had developed
form of empty rituals, half pagan, half sacred, a certain interest in her, calling her ‘intriguing’.
pointless ornaments, and endless mass prayers For reasons unknown to her, Ipazia has also de-
in nonsense languages. veloped the Hope of the Height, and Sariel is
If Sariel notices the presence of the Lost Ones, trying to pry it away from her – in fact, it is their
he will quiet his followers, and a heavy silence meeting that led to him gathering souls in the
will fall over the congregation. Black wings will Ruin.
spread from his back, although unable to fly, The large door that leads to the heart of the
as the statuesque angel slowly descends from sanctuary is made of solid gold, and it is sealed;
the golden pedestal and places himself before it depicts in fine detail a duel between an angel
the characters. His voice sounds both sinis- loyal to the Lord and a rebel angel from Lucife-
ter and reassuring. He senses the Lost Ones’ ro’s ranks. There is no other way to open it other
hope, and will try convincing them to join than attacking one of the two angels, therefore
him and his cause: preventing the Damned allegorically choosing a side. If a character at-
from reaching Caronte until the ferryman tacks the depiction of the rebel angel, until the
surrenders, allowing Sariel to cross the river. end of the next long rest, each time they make
a damage roll, they had 1d8 radiant damage,
If the characters refuse or try convincing Sariel while if they attack the depiction of the angel of
to abandon his plans, he will direct his follow- the celestial forces, until the end of the next long
ers (two indifferent damned) against the Lost rest, each time they make a damage roll, they
Ones and will soon join the fight himself. Once add 1d8 necrotic damage.
Sariel is finally defeated, all the damned and in- If the Lost Ones solve the door puzzle, it will si-
different who are still intact will scatter in panic lently open directly behind Sariel’s back.

87
S ouls in the Sanctuary

Hell is a place where physical concepts such as space and time make little sense. Al-
though Sariel has gathered thousands of souls, they coexist within the sanctuary and do
not fill it, but seem to remain permanently in the background. Only those who decide to in-
teract with the Lost Ones, attacking them, manifest in a solid form and occupy space.
Ipazia
Ipazia is still an indifferent, and seems to hold a Spark of Divine Hope within her, despite
her inability to access it or even be aware of it. This is enough, however, for her to be cu-
rious about who the Lost Ones are and what they are doing here, to reveal to them her sto-
ry and what little she remembers of her life, and to ask the Travelers to let her join their
journey. In some way, this bizarre soul also seems familiar or connected to some of the Lost
Ones, as if some of them had met her in their previous life, or at least have known of her.
Who Ipazia really is can only be revealed if one or any of the Lost Ones unlocks a bond in their
Infernal Chronicles and makes her a Familiar Spirit.
As this is the first character with whom this new Inferno mechanic can be unlocked, the Guide
should play this character in a way that arouses compassion and empathy from the Travelers,
trying to get them decide to help her or at least find out more about her. In either case, the Guide
should make sure to introduce the players, if they have not done so already, to the rules about
Infernal Chronicles and their importance (see page 54).
Additionally, the Guide can choose to not use the suggested name of Ipazia, changing it to
any name that best suits the campaign, or let the players choose a name for the Familiar
Spirit they encounter.
In case the Lost Ones choose not to unlock Infernal Chronicles for Ipazia, or that the Infernal
Chronicles in this case do not reveal the reason for Ipazia’s condition, we suggest that the Guide
can portray the character as an Indifferent who, through some special event, is regaining her
Hope of the Height – moving away from the sin that sentences her to eternal indifference.
One final suggestion is to make Ipazia into a player character. This should not in theory be pos-
sible, as Ipazia is meant to be an indifferent, but should the Guide choose to do so, they could
reveal that she is in fact a noble spirit headed for the Castle in Limbo. Sariel captured her before
she could reach it, holding her captive for time immemorial. If this is the version that the Guide
chooses to follow, Ipazia can be played as a noble spirit. In fact, even Sariel could join the group
as a playable indifferent angel once he reforms and regains the characteristics of this Archetype.

88
Conclusion
B ack on the Acheronte’s shore, with or with-
out Ipazia, the Lost Ones will be reunited
with their Guide and the souls waiting to cross
the river. The Guide explains that the angel they
have defeated will remain forevermore in Hell,
or until divine will decrees otherwise. However,
thanks to their intervention, it will take time be-
fore Sariel can act again toward freeing himself
of his condition. All that is left now is to head
for Caronte’s ferry, and demand their side of the
deal: the right to cross the river.
The Travelers reach their next level at the end of

this Canto.

89
Canto III – Across T his short Canto will highlight certain

crucial elements of the Journey: first
the Dusky Wave of

of all, the difference between the Travelers,
who have a physicality and a ‘weight’, and
the damned, who are intangible, with no
Acheronte
dimension nor weight (see also the note on
page 87). Also important to understand is
the role of the Torch and the Divine Flame.
It is finally time to meet Hell’s enforcers,
the devils, who act as guardians, tortur-
T
hird Canto, in which we narrate the cross- ers or assistants to the Keepers, and one
ing of the dusky waves of the Acheron- of the Keepers fully invested in his duties:
te river, of the pain of those left to wait Caronte.
ashore, and of how Caron Dimonio rejects them
from his vessel; of how, despite his efforts, the in- you suspiciously due to your nature and the
different attempt to reach the shore beyond. Hope you carry with you, which burns like a
beacon in the dark to them.

The same glares, aimed at both you and the
damned alongside you, from the indifferent on
the shore to whom the ferry and the crossing of
I n the previous Canto, the Lost Ones took on

a task on Caronte’s behalf, and have prob-
the river are forbidden.
Stanza I – It is so Willed There

ably encountered Ipazia – an Indifferent who
seems to harbor some Hope, who might be a Fa-
Where is Power to Do
miliar Spirit to some, and who is probably still
among them.
As soon as the Travelers return to the Acheron-
te’s shores, you will let them know how Caronte Charon the demon, with the eyes of glede,
will let them board his colossal ferry. The ves- Beckoning to them, collects them all together,
sel, however, is made of the same ephemeral Beats with his oar whoever lags behind.
matter as Hell, and will sink significantly due to
the weight of so many living beings. Droves of As in the autumn-time the leaves fall off,
Indifferent will take the opportunity to charge First one and then another, till the branch
the Travelers and try climbing on board, forcing Unto the earth surrenders all its spoils;
the characters to fight to avoid falling into the
lethal, black waters of Acheronte. In similar wise the evil seed of Adam
Throw themselves from that margin one by one,

At signals, as a bird unto its lure.
So they depart across the dusky wave,
A fter having completed Caronte’s task, you

gain access to the ferry of souls, a titanic
ark which carries dozens of thousands of dead
And ere upon the other side they land,
Again on this side a new troop assembles.
with each trip. The Dolorous People are piled Dante Alighieri
into every corner of the gloomy wood, eyeing Inferno, Canto III, 109-120

90
I Stanza II – The Weight of Hope

f the Lost Ones have met Ipazia at the Ruin
of False and Lying Gods, the spirit could now
be trying to join the group in order to board
Caronte’s ark. The heavens expelled them, not to be less fair;
In that case, unless Ipazia is one of the player nor them the nethermore abyss receives,
characters, the Guide will be reluctant to ac- for glory none the damned would have from them.”
cept the Indifferent into the group of Travelers.
Caronte’s demon helmsmen are also unwilling And I: “O Master, what so grievous is
to let aboard any indifferent angels or Indiffer- to these, that maketh them lament so sore?”
ent souls: their place is with the other unworthy He answered: “I will tell thee very briefly.
souls, on the outer shore of Acheronte.
These have no longer any hope of death;
If the Lost Ones want to insist and go against and this blind life of theirs is so debased,
these refusals, they must find a way to convince they envious are of every other fate.
or deceive Caronte and his helmsmen.
To do so, they must succeed on a DC 18 Charis- Dante Alighieri
ma (Persuasion) or Charisma (Deception) check. Inferno, Canto III, 40-48
If the Travelers mention that Ipazia has helped
them in defeating the Angel of the Worthless
Choir in the Ruin of the previous Canto, or use D uring the entire time that the Lost Ones
have spent discussing or fighting on the
another similarly convincing argument, they river’s shore, the indifferent souls around them
can make the check with advantage. have been staring them down, studying them
with envy and yearning for their mortality and
◊ In case of success, Caronte speaks his sen- Hope.
tence: if the Divine Will has lit a Glimpse Caronte, however, keeps them at bay with both
of Hope within a damned soul, then he his bellows and his massive oar.
will not stand in their way as they cross When the Lost Ones board the ark they imme-
the Acheronte. With a warning bellow, diately notice that, unlike the damned which
Caronte informs the demons hovering Caronte piles upon by the thousands, their liv-
over the deck to not interfere with the ing and corporeal nature holds actual weight. At
Travelers about to board, whom he has first, this causes the ark to rock, then the hull
just decided to ferry to the other shore. will start to sink into the dark, foamy waters.
◊ In case of failure, Caronte reminds the The rocking caused by the partial sinking of the
Lost Ones of his will and loses interest in ferry can cause the Lost Ones to fall.
all of them, returning to his task of shov- Each Traveler must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity
eling souls onto the ark. The Lost Ones can saving throw or fall prone.
bid farewell to Ipazia or try sneaking her Seeing an opportunity, a horde of indifferent
on board, and in this latter case, a devil souls throws itself into the Acheronte waters and
helmsman (guardian devil) will face them onto the ferry, as this may be their only chance
and try preventing them from doing so. If to cross the river on the demonic vessel. Even the
the devil is tricked, bypassed, or defeated, worst of Hell’s punishments is better than their
or if the Lost Ones choose to leave Ipazia current fate.
behind after all, the journey can resume.

91

92
After four rounds, no matter how the situation
The creaking of the ark’s wooden planks rises develops, the barrage ends.
above the wailing and crying of the damned. Caronte finally breaks the oncoming flood with
The waves rear up as the terrible ferry plunges his gargantuan oar and raises once and for all
lower, and they explode in a crash of thunder. the boat out of the waters and pushes it off from
Dark water and thick foam wash over Lost the shore. The entire ferry shakes enough to test
Ones and depraved souls alike, flooding the everyone’s balance once more, including the in-
deck with the fury a river descending from different who made it on board.
the mountains. Damned destined to each Cir- A good portion of the depraved souls are made
cle fall, slide, roll into the dark waters, which to plunge back into the Acheronte, and each
vomits back out a seemingly endless horde Lost One must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity sav-
of indifferent, for once in their life actually ing throw, or fall prone on the deck.
yearning for something. This horde of indif- If a character fails by 5 or more, they are flung
ferent souls is now intent on stepping onto off the ferry and into the Acheronte with the
the only means for them to move beyond the other damned.
Antinferno, ending their suffering: never with The shaking also causes the Guide to lose their
the Lord, never with His enemies. Anywhere balance, but most importantly, their torch,
the Lost Ones look, exhausted indifferent which starts rolling across the deck and head for
emerge from the water, attempting to reach the water below. The Guide is in shock – without
the ferry. that fragment of Divine Flame, everyone is lost!
Caronte’s eyes burn ablaze, as embers light- Unless one or more Travelers have already fallen
ing up the dim light of the infernal shores, his into the Acheronte, someone will have to scram-
furious roar shakes the air, and the gargan- ble across the deck and even into the water to
tuan oar fends the bodies of the indifferent, recover the torch, as it floats above the waves.
slaughtering and burning them to ash. There Each creature that starts its turn in the Ache-
are too many, however, for the ferryman and ronte suffers 2 levels of exhaustion or can spend
his devils to prevent the assault. For each doz- 1 Hope Point to negate the effect.
en indifferent plunged back into the Acheron- To climb back onto the ferry, a creature must
te, another mob makes it to the ferry’s stern. succeed on a DC 13 Strength (Athletics) or Dex-
Unluckily for the Lost Ones, they also seem terity (Acrobatics) check.
to have identified, and pretty swiftly too, the Any creature that spends too much time in the
inviting source of Hope that the group rep- dark hellish waters will undoubtedly perish, but
resents. by throwing the torch back onto the deck, they
can reform in its light.
When the ferry is far from the indifferent-in-
For the entire duration of this scene, Caronte fested shore, the devil helmsmen can return to
is busy taking care of the vast majority of the their tasks of clearing the deck of any remaining
horde trying to climb aboard his ark and raise indifferent.
its stern again, so as to move away from the
shore that the indifferent are flooding from.
An entire mob of vile souls (host of the indiffer-
ent damned) climbs onto Caronte’s ferry every
round, and proceeds to attack the characters
(and Ipazia, if she is with the group).

93
Conclusion I pazia and the Lost Ones

If the Lost Ones’ actions are enough to
O nce this initial situation is resolved, the

crossing continues without a hitch or any
notable event, though it is impossible to say how
grant Ipazia safe passage, the spirit will be in-
credibly grateful, and once on the other shore
will offer to accompany them on their Journey.
long it actually takes. She will show them how to find the way out
As they reach the other shore, the Lost Ones are of that place of everlasting dole, and hope-
faced with a barren and ashen landscape, cov- fully find her own personal redemption by
ered by a thick and dark fog. doing so – and finally choose someone’s side.
This is Limbo, the First Circle of Hell, and the
next step in their Journey.

94
Canto IV – Among the T his canto, an optional one compared
Noble Spirits
to the rest of the campaign, might
raise some questions from the players
which will only find an answer in the next.
In particular, any of the following: who
is their Guide? Why did they come greet
F
ourth Canto, in which we illustrate the First them and accompany them? Why have
Circle of Hell, also called Limbo, and the they been “chosen” among all the sinners
Castle of the Noble Spirits found within. in the world for an otherworldly Journey of
redemption? Do they also have patrons in

Heaven looking after them, as Dante did?
Judging from the other noble spirits’ reac-
tions, something seems off...
Y ou have led the Travelers to the First Cir-

cle, Limbo – the strip of flat land which
surrounds the parabolic chasm of Hell. This a
If there is a noble spirit or a pagan among
the Travelers, this is also the right moment
to introduce the maluses and disadvan-
place of relative peace within the Gloomy King- tages they will encounter as they travel
dom of Lucifero, despite the unsettling perils through their place of eternal punishment
lurking in the fog. (see Sin and Predestination in Inferno –
After leading the Band through the wailing of Dante’s Guide to Hell),
Hell), along with the relief
the suspended souls and the evanescent twists they will experience once it is behind them.
and turns which surround the Castle, you will
precede them into the latter, in order to show
them the Bonfire and finally explain to the Lost

Ones the reason for their presence in this place.
This Canto was unlocked during the Inferno

crowdfunding campaign as an optional addi-
tion to the introductory campaign. Should the
Guide or the players decide to skip it, the events
Y ou have just stepped off Caronte’s ferry
and find yourselves on the other side of the
Acheronte, in the First Circle of Hell. A distant
contained can easily be summarized and para- rumbling of thunder welcomes you to this place,
phrased before moving to the next Canto. which some also call Limbo.
In either case, this Canto describes events and A thick bank of fog prevents you from seeing
encounters from the First Circle, the Labyrinth anything other than your Guide’s light, and the
of Fog, and other perils that will also be useful air around you trembles with the sighing and
during Canto V. crying of endless tormented souls, their wailing
not dissimilar from those of newborn babies…

95
Stanza I – Upon the Verge of the The foaming whirlpools of the Acheronte are
Valley Dolorous
but a distant memory; on this side of the riv-
er, the barely audible wailing of newborns is
the only sound accompanying the Travelers,
True is it, that upon the verge I found me alongside muffled sighs. Spectral and im-
of the abysmal valley dolorous, palpable figures surround the Lost Ones in
that gathers thunder of infinite ululations. every direction, uncountable but in a some-
what state of peace, almost uncaring of their
Obscure, profound it was, and nebulous, passage. The Guide reassures them that their
so that by fixing on its depths my sight destination, the Castle, is not far, though the
nothing whatever I discerned therein. walls are impossible to spot. Anywhere they
look, the outlines and features of the First
“Let us descend now into the blind world,” Circle are invisible due to the fog, which seems
began the Poet, pallid utterly; to thicken and darken with each step. Cold
“I will be first, and thou shalt second be.” currents start brushing against the Lost Ones’
limbs, but the fog does not dissipate. Soon
Dante Alighieri enough, the peaceful souls all around them
Inferno, Canto IV, 7-15 will disappear. Barely visible through the fog
– and only thanks to the dim light cast by the
T he Band proceeds behind the Guide and

their torch, moving through an unsettling
fog bank, which rises and slithers from the
Divine Flame – are broken monoliths, ruined
obelisks, carved stones bearing heroes, false
gods, monsters from myriad civilizations. The
Acheronte, drawn to the incessant current of the cries of newborns become clearer and louder
Hurricane ahead – though the latter is barely with each step, and with each eerie gust from
felt at this distance. The Guide explains that this the Acheronte, dark shapeless shadows float
is Limbo, the First Circle, to which are destined ever closer just beyond the leaden curtain...
those who died without being baptized, but de-
void of any major sin.
The Lost Ones move through the thick air which

threatens to envelop the light of the torch: there
is not much left of the infernal wood with which
it is made, and the light will soon be gone.

96
The path to the Castle of the Noble Spirits seems (Survival) group check for each section of time it
harder than expected. Shadowy lost souls of the takes to move through the area. On a failure, the
First Circle, unusually unsettled, dull the senses characters lose their Guide and are at the mercy
of the Lost Ones with their wailing. They become of the creatures lurking in the fog (additional-
a distraction, intangibly grasping their clothing. ly, they now suffer the effects of the Darkness
A perilous distraction, as the Torch of the Divine of the Blind World). The Guide rolls 1d10 on the
Flame is slowly dying, the entire group of Trav- ‘Events and Encounters of the First Circle (Lim-
elers risks losing their way and their Guide as a bo)’ table to determine the encounter. As soon
result. as the Travelers pass the group check, they find
To find their bearings in the seemingly mutable the Guide waiting for them by some stone steps.
and foggy landscape, the Travelers must suc- Otherwise, they reach the same steps after a to-
ceed on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) or Wisdom tal of four failed checks.
Events and Encounters of the First Circle (Limbo)

The fog surrounding the walls of the Noble Castle is partly made up of endless intangible souls, as
numerous as the number of unbaptized dead, since the dawn of humanity. Some of them – yearning
to leave this place just like the Biblical patriarchs who were granted the Lord’s amnesty centuries prior
– attempt to touch the Lost Ones in order to steal a fragment of their Hope. Along the way, Travelers
might also encounter a number of other creatures, as suggested in the following table.
d10 Events
Lamentation of the broken. Cries, newborn wailing and despairing sighs increase around
1-2 the Lost Ones, becoming oppressive and unbearable in a vortex of desire and disappoint-
ment (for effects, see Lamentation of the Broken)
3-4 Unbaptized souls. 1d4 souls of Limbo (indifferent damned)
5 Unbaptized souls. 2d4 souls of Limbo (indifferent damned)
Fog devil. 1 minor devil lost in the fog, or in search of a soul to torture, who attacks the
6-7
characters on sight
Icaro (special). This encounter can only take place inside the Labyrinth of Fog (see Can-
8-9 to V – Stanza I). Otherwise, the Lost Ones encounter 1d4 souls of Limbo (indifferent
damned).
Familiar Spirit. A soul of Limbo wanders through the fog of the First Circle, aimlessly
10 seeking the Castle. One or more characters might recognize them as a Familiar Spirit and
choose to unlock an Infernal Chronicle.

97
Stanza II – The Anguish

Lamentation of the Broken. The lamentation
of the broken is a formless mass of wailing souls,
of the People
which can be seen as wall 60 feet long, 20 feet
tall, and 1 foot wide, or as a circular wall 20 feet
in diameter, 20 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Each
There, in so far as I had power to hear, creature that enters the lamentation of the bro-
were lamentations none, but only sighs, ken’s area and each creature that ends its turn
that tremulous made the everlasting air. within 5 feet of it takes 9 (2d8) necrotic dam-
age and must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution
And this arose from sorrow without torment, saving throw or its maximum hit points is re-
which the crowds had, that many were and great, duced by the damage taken and loses 1 Hope
of infants and of women and of men. Point. This effect lasts until the next long rest.
If the effect causes the creature’s maximum hit
Dante Alighieri points to reach 0, the creature is destroyed. The
Inferno, Canto IV, 25-30 only way to escape the hungry corrupted souls,
unfortunately, is to literally walk through them
A s they move forward, the Travelers will have

a bizarre encounter: a lost child who found
shelter in the ruins of a gigantic marble pedes-
and hope for the best.
Stanza III – The Noble Spirits’

tal, next to which lies a broken statue of a half
man, half fish creature. If the characters have
Judgment
met their Guide again, the child claims he has
gotten lost in the fog, and asks the characters
for their help to reach the Castle of the Noble
Spirits. Alternatively, if they have yet to rejoin
the Guide, the child offers his help to reach the Not very far as yet our way had gone
Castle, as he knows the way. On a successful DC this side the summit, when I saw a fire
15 Wisdom (Insight) check, a character will no- that overcame a hemisphere of darkness.
tice something strange in the young soul’s be-
havior, who might not truly want to reach the We were a little distant from it still,
Castle after all. If the characters realize this and but not so far that I in part discerned not
press the spirit for more information, the child that honorable people held that place.
will swiftly vanish into the fog with a sigh.
The child’s true goal is to lure the Band into a Dante Alighieri
clearing far from the Castle and allow its kin, Inferno, Canto IV, 67-72
other unbaptized souls, to feed off the Travelers’
Hope. The souls have been corrupted by infernal
disappointment, yearning and envy toward the
biblical patriarchs, as they alone were allowed to
A fter a possible encounter with the hungry,
wailing corrupted souls, the Lost Ones no-
tice a sphere of light piercing through the dark-
leave this place: the characters find themselves ness and the fog. This is a group of noble spirits
surrounded by a vortex of wailing fog, and suf- similar to the Guide, each holding a torch, who
fer the effects of the Lamentation of the Broken moved out of the Castle to come meet with the
each round. Travelers and welcome back the spirit leading
them, whose torch has definitely died out by this
point.

98
However, unlike what happened with Dante, the On a failure, the noble spirits fall quiet and turn
noble spirits are not inclined to admit the Lost around, showing their back to the Travelers and
Ones to the Castle. This may be due to a num- disappearing through the spires of fog, and the
ber of different reasons: the presence of Ipazia, Guide with them. The Travelers must now face
malebranche, or indifferent angels, who have no the Labyrinth of Fog with no blessing and no
right to enter; but also, the very nature and sin torch.
of the Travelers. They are not noble spirits, after
all, nor sages or poets such as Dante, but cor- In either case, the characters must make their
poreal, maybe baptized, still alive, charged with way through the Limbo Labyrinth of Fog (see
different sins, and unlikely supported by Provi- labyrinth map). If the Band have to face the Lab-
dence. In fact, none of them really know the true yrinth with no torch, any Traveler who perishes
scope of their Journey or their Guide’s motives: will reform at the entrance to the Noble Castle.
why has the latter led them to the Castle from
the Dark Forest? Who sent the Guide? What
right do they have to take on such a Journey?
The Guide knows, at this point, that they can-

not speak on behalf of the group. In fact, if they
spoke now before the poets, sages, heroes, and
L imbo’s Labyrinth of Fog
Limbo’s Labyrinth of Fog is divided
into three concentric sections, connected
philosophers of the past, all their secrets would between them by different entry and exit
be revealed too early. The Guide will stall for points; these change their position and
time instead, and promises more details “before interaction based on the movement of the
the Divine Flame”, when everyone will be gath- three circles, as described below.
ered around the sacred fire which burns at the External Circle. The external circle rotates
heart of the Noble Castle. clockwise 90° every time the Lost Ones exit
The Lost Ones will have to convince the group of it towards one of the inner circles.
sages of the purity of their intentions, and ask Inner Circle. The inner circle rotates clock-
for access to their haven. wise 45° every time the Lost Ones exit it to-
To convince the noble spirits to let them contin- wards the external circle or the center.
ue their Journey, the characters must obtain a Center. The center of the labyrinth does not
success in a DC 16 Charisma (Persuasion) check. move.
Each indifferent angel and malebranche makes Encounters. Each time the Band moves out
the roll with disadvantage, while any noble spir- of one of the sections in the Labyrinth of
it can make the roll with advantage. Fog, the Guide rolls on the ‘Events and En-
On a success, the panel of noble spirits will grant counters of the First Circle (Limbo)’ table to
the Travelers one of their torches (requires at- determine the encounter.
tunement, see page 170) and allow them an at-
tempt to reach the walls of the Castle through
the Labyrinth of Fog. They do warn them that
“the labyrinth is alive and likes to change, but its
movements do not lead to perdition but rather the
straightforward way”, as they grant their ancient
blessings. Each character who receives the no-
ble spirits’ blessing gains resistance to necrotic
damage until the next long rest.

100
Conclusion
W ith or without the Guide accompanying
them, the Lost Ones are finally able to
escape the fog’s shadowy embrace. They find
torches, the Travelers walk upon the water, pass
through the gates, and reach the upper section
of the Castle, their feet brushing over fresh,
themselves on the shore of a crystal-clear body green grass. If there had been any discordance
of water, around which the air is a little clearer. with the noble spirits, these are now behind
On the other shore are the seven tall circles of them, and the Guide is finally ready to explain
the concentric walls around the hill upon which the nature of the Bonfire and all the torches
blazes the Bonfire that pierces the darkness. The they have encountered so far – and the reason
noble spirits are gathered to wait at the entrance behind the Lost Ones’ presence on this incred-
to this Castle, even if the Travelers have made ible Journey.
their way through the Labyrinth of Fog alone. The Travelers reach their next level at the end of
Thanks to the Divine Flame of the gathered this Canto.

101
Canto V – The Flame of

the Noble Spirits
T his Canto should see the last of the
major explanations and tutorials for
the campaign. The players will learn the
last details concerning the powers of the
Divine Flame and Infernal Artifacts.
F
ifth Canto, in which the Lost Ones find Even the Guide’s secret is revealed – there
themselves at the heart of the Castle of the is no other way, as you are before the
Noble Spirits and herein are revealed the flame of divine truth – and the Travelers
secrets of their Guide, and forged is the lantern are made aware of everything that awaits
which will henceforth light their way. them during their Journey.
You may spend as much time as you want

in the Noble Castle. Additionally, players
can find out all the information they want
concerning the next eight Circles – all of
R egardless of how the Travelers face and

engaged with what happened in Canto IV,
they now find themselves at the heart of the
which can be found in Inferno – Dante’s
Guide to Hell.
Hell.
First Circle, safely inside the Castle of the Noble

Spirits. The thick fog and wailing souls of Lim-
bo are behind them, and the Lost Ones are at
the center of a citadel made of seven concentric
walls – specifically, in a court dressed as a gar-
den, with verdant green grass and a giant Bon-
fire at its center. This unending and everlasting
A fter leaving the Acheronte behind you, you
have waded through the thick and oppres-
sive fog of the First Circle, pierced by unset-
pyre is a gift from Heaven, granted by the Lord tling lamentations, shadowy figures, and mind
to these worthy spirits, and which provides shel- wracking pain. Before becoming lost in the heart
ter from the darkness and the mists, despite still of Limbo, a group of noble spirits found you,
being within Hell. each carrying a torch much like the one belong-
All the noble spirits throw their torches of the ing to your Guide. Breaking through the dis-
Divine Flame into the Bonfire, and finally turn trust and judgment of this panel of sages, you
to face you and the Travelers, looking for an ex- cross the dark fog of Limbo and enter the Noble
planation. Castle. You make it all the way to the top of the
citadel, upon which burns the Bonfire of the Di-
The time has come for you to reveal everything! vine Flame. You are surrounded by a symposium
of noble spirits, featuring poets, philosophers,
leaders, who seem to be expecting what is to
come.
A beat, then your Guide steps forward, and
starts to speak.

102
Stanza I – No Falsehood May the

cifero, definitely rejecting him, is a possible path
to future redemption, so the game is worth the
Verity Defraud
gamble for everyone present: after all, what oth-
er choice do they have?
Stanza II – The Art of Dedalus

Thus we went on as far as to the light,
things saying ‘t is becoming to keep silent,
be Shown
as was the saying of them where I was.
We came unto a noble castle’s foot,

seven times encompassed with lofty walls, A greater fear I do not think there was
defended round by a fair rivulet; what time abandoned Phaeton the reins,
whereby the heavens, as still appears, were scorched;
This we passed over even as firm ground;
through portals seven I entered with these Sages; Nor when the wretched Icarus his flanks
we came into a meadow of fresh verdure. felt stripped of feathers by the melting wax,
his father crying, “An ill way thou takest!”
Dante Alighieri
Inferno, Canto IV, 103-111 Than was my own, when I perceived myself
on all sides in the air, and saw extinguished
T he Guide finally faces the Lost Ones and

introduces themselves. Silence is no longer
an option, not before the Divine Flame, and
the sight of everything but of the monster.
Dante Alighieri
their secret must out – it is too late, after all, Inferno, Canto XVII, 106-114
to change or stop what has been set in motion.
The Guide reveals their secret to the noble spir-
its and the Travelers and shows their real identi-
ty, and true intentions (see page 63).
O ne issue remains, however: the Lost Ones re-
quire the Divine Flame to descend through
Hell, but the torch will never burn long enough
nor will it survive the Hurricane of the Second
After the explanation is over, the Lost Ones Circle, even less so the icy cold of Cocito. This is
might be angry, disappointed, even wish vio- not a limitation of its divine nature, but rather
lence upon the Guide, but there is nothing much the wood which it burns, whose existence is as
to do and wrath – even in Hell – is still a serious transient as all else on Earth and in Hell.
sin. The only solution the Guide has been able to
Having gotten this far inside Hell, there is no come up with is to place the Divine Flame di-
other way out than to follow the path and in- rectly into a lantern, a closed and sealed arti-
structions laid out by the Guide, who offers once fact, which would allow it to be easily handled
more to become guarantor and escort to all throughout the entire Journey.
Travelers to the Cocito, where Lucifero and the There is but one noble spirit among all those
only way out lie. here capable of such work: the great artisan
It is practically impossible for indifferent angels, Dedalo – who, however, has not constructed
malebranche, and noble spirits, anyone who has anything since time immemorial.
not been explicitly allowed by the Lord, to leave The first thing to do, then, is to convince Dedalo
Hell, not even through the Burella. However, to craft such a marvel, building a suitable forge
reaching the lowest part of Hell and facing Lu- with him and gathering all the required wood

103
Stanza III – The Three Ribs

from the trees decorating the Castle, which also
fuel the Bonfire and are used for the torches.
Dedalo can be swayed with a promise to care
for the soul of his son Icaro, trapped within the I saw Electra with companions many,
spires of the Labyrinth of Fog here in Limbo. To ‘mongst whom I knew both Hector and Æneas,
fulfill this first task, the Travelers must retrace Cæsar in armor with gerfalcon eyes;
their steps, beyond the river which surrounds
the Castle and back into the fog toward the I saw Camilla and Penthesilea
Labyrinth. If they have yet to experience any of on the other side, and saw the King Latinus,
them, the Guide can roll for encounters on the who with Lavinia his daughter sat;
“Events and Encounters of the First Circle (Lim-
bo)” on page 96. I saw that Brutus who drove Tarquin forth,
The Guide will not be accompanying them, but Lucretia, Julia, Marcia, and Cornelia,
one of the Travelers can attune to a torch (see and saw alone, apart, the Saladin.
page 170), carrying it with them as a special
concession from the noble spirits. Once inside Dante Alighieri
the Labyrinth, the encounter with Icaro can take Inferno, Canto IV, 121-129
place at a time and place most suitable to the
story, such as the center of the Labyrinth itself.
As Ipazia before him, Icaro is scared, seemingly

O nce Dedalo has been convinced to craft it,
each member of the Band must contribute
to the creation of the artifact.
lost, and in despair. He calls to his father Dedalo Dedalo explains that the lantern requires a type
regularly, and tries to flee from the Travelers if of metal different from the ephemeral, material
they move closer. A successful DC 15 Charisma one which gives the Castle its form.
(Persuasion) check will calm him down enough Should the Band not think of a solution, the
to listen to the characters. Gifting 1 Spark of Guide has an idea – one that is part of the long-
Hope or casting calm emotions also has the same term plan they have been devising. Asking the
effect, and the Travelers can finally comfort him noble spirits of the Castle for their gold would
as promised to his father. If desired, Lost Ones provide enough for the artifact. The crowns they
can also create a bond with Icaro and include all wear, though, are part of their essence and
him in their Infernal Chronicles. cannot be given away, even if so desired.
If he successfully calms down and allows the However, referring to the divine creation of Eve,
characters to lead him out of the Labyrinth, Ic- mother of humanity, the final golden rib of each
aro will thank them by weeping and falling to noble spirit can be removed without destroying
his knees before them. His tears, however, are the spirit itself. All that is needed for the lantern
strange, they appear to be made of… wax. The is a total of three ribs. Of course, such a gift – as
boy will gather them in his hands and shape painful as it is personal – will require something
them into a small pair of wings, an artifact for equally precious in return.
the Travelers to keep and use (Tears of Wax, see
page 180)! The Guide explains that they cannot be one of
When they return to the Castle, the Travelers the donors, even if they wanted: if they were to
will be able to report to Dedalo on the success of perish during the Journey, the lantern would
their task. The spirit will accept even the Band’s crumble to ashes. The golden ribs must come
failure, as long as an attempt was made and no from noble spirits who will never leave the walls
trickery took place, and Icaro escaped them. of their Castle.

104
In fact, Dedalo could be one of the donors: if the soon be ready, and Dedalo himself will place a
Band were able to bring back Icaro, he will hap- fragment of Divine Flame inside it, which starts
pily gift them his own as additional reward for burning despite the lantern being sealed on all
their success (he will not, however, allow Icaro sides.
to do the same). In that divine light, the vile and earthen metal
Travelers gushing into flattering, heart-in-hand of the noble spirits’ bones sublimates and be-
requests, with a successful DC 14 Charisma (Per- comes a metal much purer and celestial, similar
suasion) or DC 18 Charisma (Deception) check to platinum or silver to the sight.
for each “volunteer”, will find suitable and avail- This vision itself is another sign of Hope: even
able noble spirits. The latter might request a the Dolorous People, if they are admitted before
task to be carried out or promises to be kept, or the Lord, will be absolved of their sins and will
the Travelers can spend 1 Spark of Hope to repay sublimate into sanctified souls.
each donor. All Travelers present for this scene gain 1 Glimpse
Once they have gathered the gold and convinced of Hope, as a sign of divine blessing upon the
Dedalo to craft the lantern, the time it actually proper start to their Journey.
takes to make it is negligible. The artifact will
T he Favor of the Spirits

In order to donate their golden rib, each noble spirit confers a task – always the same one
– upon the Travelers: find their kin somewhere in Hell and bring them a greeting or a comforting
message – that one day, at the End of Days, the receiving soul can still be saved, just as once the
Lord came to this abyss and saved many who were not worthy.
The manner and nature of the favor is at the Guide’s discretion. Some suggestions are offered
below:
Gaio Giulio Cesare. The famous Roman emperor might ask the Travelers to check upon his sons,
Bruto and Cassio, who betrayed him in life and are now in the Ninth Circle; they should know
that he has forgiven them, or that he still has not, or that he has forgiven one but not the other.
In this case, the Guide can choose what Cesare’s stance toward the two souls might be, whom the
Travelers will only meet much later in Cocito, and the promise Cesare asks of the Band.
Quinto Orazio Flacco. The Latin poet wonders how it is possible that Mecenate, the friend next
to whom he was buried, is not in Limbo. He might ask the characters to see whether Mecenate is
anywhere in Hell, and if so, bring him a message of greetings and comfort from his friend Ora-
zio. The Guide can ensure that Mecenate has been wandering the Labyrinth of Fog for centuries,
rather than being among the masses of souls in Limbo, part of a spectral whirlwind, or captive
to this or that other devil, rather than being punished in one of the Circles, and so on.
Omero. The legendary Greek author will tell the characters how saddened he was to learn that
Ulisse, the hero whose actions he told of, is burning in the Eighth Circle. Omero might ask the
characters to reach Laerte’s son in the Malebolge to bring him comforting words from he who
narrated his deeds, thus making him immortal.
Infernal Chronicle. There might be a noble spirit within the Castle who is particularly familiar
to one of the Lost Ones and who could – once recognized – offer their rib in exchange for a favor.

105
Stanza IV – The Champion of the O nce Dedalo has given the Guide the Lantern
of the Divine Flame, the Band can resume
False Gods
their Journey once more.
Leaving the quiet, bright peace of the Noble Cas-
tle is not easy, and once they pass its seventh
I cannot all of them portray in full, gate and cross the river surrounding the hill, the
because so drives me onward the long theme, fog and sighs return to envelop the Travelers.
that many times the word comes short of fact. This time, however, the light of the Lantern is
much stronger than that of the Torch, and the
The sixfold company in two divides; fog does not seem to be strong enough to coil
another way my sapient Guide conducts me around it with the same thickness it showed the
forth from the quiet to the air that trembles; first time through.
A few minutes in, however, something happens.
and to a place I come where nothing shines. A successful DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check
will allow the characters to notice a large hu-
Dante Alighieri manoid creature approaching them from behind.

106
The pursuer is the noble spirit Ettore (champi-
on of the false gods): over 10 feet tall, a large Conclusion
body seemingly carved out of marble; he carries
a broad shield in his left hand and a long spear
in his right, both golden and as magnificent as
the helm he wears.
O nce defeated, Ettore crumbles into white
ash. His final act sentenced him to damna-
tion, and he will now reform with the semblance
Yes, noble spirits are indeed still allowed re- of a common damned soul, among the violent
demption at the End of Times – alas, they are of the Fifth Circle. His choices made him lose his
also prone to error and despair. condition as a Noble Spirit.
Ettore seeks nothing other than the Lantern, in
order to march through Hell, and to exact re- He will leave behind the large golden helm he
venge upon the Lord, who relegated him here wore, an Infernal Emblem which no longer be-
despite his valorous and epic deeds. As soon as longs to him and which can become an Infernal
he is in range of the Lost Ones, the champion Artifact for the Travelers (Ettore’s Helm, see page
of the false gods furiously attacks, with all the 173). A character can choose to add this to their
power and accuracy he demonstrated in life; he inventory and attune to it.
has no intention of sharing the Journey with the
Lost Ones and would rather just eliminate them The Band then continues into the Second Circle.
all in one fell swoop. The Travelers reach their next level at the end of
this Canto.

107
Canto VI – Against He
with his brother, who is also in line somewhere
in this place. However the players want to pro-
Who Horribly Snarls

ceed, if the Band completes the tasks, Calcag-
naccio keeps his word and swiftly leads you to
the Second Circle.
This is just the beginning of your troubles: Mi-
nosse will refuse you entry, and will exact his
S
ixth Canto, in which we narrate of the hor- terrible judgment upon you all.
rible Minosse, who girds with his tail and
judges all the Dolorous People, and of the
tragic fate awaiting the Lost Ones.
T his Canto was originally the last one
planned for the Inferno adventure,

and players will learn their final lesson,
which they will need to treasure for the rest
of their Journey. Dante’s journey was his,
T he Castle of the Noble Spirits is already far

behind and the Journey continues toward
the all-devouring abyss. The darkness of Hell –
this one is their own: the poet was guided
by Divine Providence, his path to redemp-
tion willed by the Three Women of Heaven,
which had been kept at bay for a little while by his Guide had an untouchable divine man-
the Bonfire – is once more all around you, sur- date, and angels and earthquakes were al-
rounding you like a thick cape of night. Fortu- ways at the ready in case of emergencies.
nately, you now carry the Lantern of the Divine Your Journey is a clandestine one, sought
Flame, which sheds light upon your way and out by the Guide for their own goals, and
upon this dead landscape. lacking any divine authorization. From
this point onward, anything can happen…
When you reach the area which precedes the If it was not made clear in the previous
door to the Second Circle and Minosse’s seat, the Cantos, now is the ideal time to explain the
judge Keeper who sentences what punishment Infernal Chronicles and how to use them,
each damned will receive for all eternity, you and how to gain and attune to Infernal Ar-
will realize that the number of souls awaiting tifacts.
to cross the archway and confess their sins to be
judged and sentenced is truly infinite.
In order to bypass such immeasurable delay, the

only option for the Travelers is to bribe a guard-
Preface for the Lost Ones
ian devil named Calcagnaccio, who offers them
a vile task in order to be escorted directly before
Minosse.
Y ou have left the Castle of Limbo behind,
along with the noble spirits, and you re-
sume your hard Journey through infernal lands,
towards the ledge of the First Circle and the pas-
Travelers who accept the request will have to sage leading to the next. You are soon met with a
find Ricciardino de’ Pazzi, a damned soul who flood of damned souls, gathering in a long wail-
keeps moving away from the line and from eter- ing line of desperation with no end.
nal judgment. Once they have found him, he will
also have a request for them, in order to allevi-
ate some of the sentence awaiting him: a deal

108
Stanza I – Toward the in waiting, or take but a single step for every
Second Circle
hundred heartbeats of the Lost Ones, the only
measure of time in this place.
To make things worse is the presence of a le-
I say, that when the spirit evil-born gion of devils armed with weapons and bad
cometh before him, wholly it confesses; intentions, prodding and poking the Dolor-
and this discriminator of transgressions ous People, keeping them in line like lambs to
the slaughter, preventing the Lost Ones from
Seeth what place in Hell is meet for it; moving away or ahead.
girds himself with his tail as many times
as grades he wishes it should be thrust down. It is immediately clear to the Travelers that they
will have to wait here for hours unending and
Always before him many of them stand; it is unlikely that they will be able to cut in line
they go by turns each one unto the judgment; without drawing the attention of one of the dev-
they speak, and hear, and then are downward hurled. ils overseeing the archway.
Free will, however, does allow them to move in
Dante Alighieri one of many ways, if they are not keen on wait-
Inferno, Canto V, 7-15 ing for an eternity – or at least try to do so. The
Guide might suggest they ask the guardian dev-
A s the Noble Castle becomes a distant mem-

ory in the Travelers’ tired minds, the shape
of Hell changes several times around them, ob-
ils to cut ahead, reminding the Travelers that
the devils are still malicious beings, hostile to
anything and anyone making requests, so an
scured by the black veil of that starless sky which exchange might be required.
has hounded them like nightly breath, ever since There are also timeless ruins and rocky forma-
they left the verdant oasis of the noble spirits. tions scattered through this part of the First
The Guide, now carrying the Lantern, invites the Circle which might allow a stealthy approach
Travelers to pick up their pace, to not let that towards the passage. The characters must suc-
wailing and crying scare them, even as they ceed on a DC 20 Dexterity (Stealth) check. On a
grow louder beyond the black horizon, for all success, the group makes it far enough to finally
that means is that their destination is close. The see the enormous gateway. Uccione de’ Pazzi is
archway leading to the Second Circle of Hell is also slowly proceeding this way (see Stanza III).
not far now.
At the end of the enormous crowd of tor-
If the souls waiting upon the Acheronte shore mented souls is an archway carved into the
seemed like an uncountable legion, the lim- ground, akin to a mine shaft or tunnel access
ited minds of the Lost Ones must now go point, large enough to allow the passage of
through the effort of expanding even further Hannibal, Xerxes, or Alexander the Great’s
their notion of infinity. Because here, waiting armies, elephants and all. This is the only way
to cross from the First to the Second Circle, is a to access the Second Circle from the First, and
river of damned souls so vast that no soaring the damned are in no rush to step through,
hawk would be able to determine its size or knowing full well what will happen on the
destination. other side. Only the lashing and prodding of
The amount of souls waiting to cross is so the devils keep them in an ordered line and
large that this immense crowd seems frozen pushes them forward, however slowly.

109
Unfortunately, from this point onward the land- he makes to walk away, then turns around again
scape lacks any possible hiding place, and if to face them. There is another way, now that
they want to continue, the Lost Ones must do so he thinks about it: he is in need of a favor, in
in plain sight of the winged devils. exchange for which he will personally accompa-
ny the characters through the tunnel, no more
Alternatively, the Travelers can force their way to waiting with the damned, no reactions from the
the gate, fighting against the guardian devils other devils.
that block their way and push them back in line. There is a soul, the sinful soul of one Ricciardino
The fight will draw more and more devils, until de’ Pazzi, who keeps avoiding the line and keeps
the Lost Ones perish or desist, and the devils will a distance, hiding in the ruins between the No-
then return to their duties. ble Castle and the flood of souls headed for Mi-
nosse. Calcagnaccio had initially chosen to ig-
Another seeming alternative might be to avoid nore him, as all souls eventually line up, due to
the archway altogether, and climb down the the urge to receive Minosse’s judgment – as the
edge of Limbo, not far from the gate itself and Travelers are free to move across these spaces,
devoid of any damned. This is a terrible idea. who better than them to go fetch him and bring
Climbing down the miles-long ravine is an im- him back to the devil?
possible task, and falling or jumping off it will
lead any character to inevitable death. It might
even damage the Lantern of the Divine Flame,
causing the flame within it to dissipate. The
P laying a Devil
The devils of Hell are not metaphysi-
cal, shadowy entities, nor are they abstract
Guide will not endorse or follow any character incarnations of evil or theological notions,
who chooses this path. but rather pretty physical and ruthless
torturers – not too dissimilar from guards
If the Travelers wait in line, are spotted, draw the and executioners from towns and munic-
attention of a devil or successfully make it to the ipalities back on Earth – but also akin to
area after which they can no longer stealthily masks of rural and urban folklore and the
proceed, a guardian devil by the name of Cal- Commedia dell’Arte. Dante depicts them
cagnaccio will notice them, and will move closer, as grotesque characters, caricatures of
curious about how different they appear from all fastidious bureaucrats, or smug bullies,
the other damned. cruel idiots, pretentious jailers. The Guide
Calcagnaccio appears as frail and bony, though should make sure to play these characters
his figure and empty devilish sockets still in- in a way that accentuates their excesses
still fear in most creatures who encounter him. and theatrics, as masked wildmen during
Calcagnaccio asks the Travelers to explain what a local celebration, or farmers dressed up
they are, the reason for their presence at the as horned goats and nature spirits during
passage to the Second Circle, accompanied by a a festival. Pulling faces, rude sounds,
noble spirit of Limbo, and any other such ques- cackles and smirks are all perfect tools to
tions about their nature. Once he understands play these creatures, eventually shifting to
the nature of their Journey, the devil makes a growls and cries during combat, satisfied
show of looking thoughtful, only to then tell the hand-wringing during negotiations, and
Band that the only way to reach Minosse in one loud wailing and bleating should they be
piece is to wait for their turn, just as everyone tricked and mocked by the characters.
else who lands in Hell must do. Calcagnaccio sa-
vors the dismay or frustration of the Travelers as

110
Stanza II – Evil Born Souls R icciardino and Uccione de’ Pazzi

Ricciardino de’ Pazzi, tall, slim, his
True is it, that upon the verge I found me gaze elusive even in death, in life was a sly
of the abysmal valley dolorous, fox, a fraudster, a scammer, and a thief,
that gathers thunder of infinite ululations. claiming to be able to trick the devil him-
self. This was proven a lie after his death,
Obscure, profound it was, and nebulous, and he now finds himself in Hell, destined
so that by fixing on its depths my sight for the Malebolge among the Fraudulent.
nothing whatever I discerned therein. Despite it all, his innate slyness has made
him try to avoid his sentence for as long
Dante Alighieri as possible, wasting as much time as he
Inferno, Canto IV, 7-12 can between the First and Second Circle.
His desire to save himself is also linked to
I f the characters accept Calcagnaccio’s of-

fer, they can start heading toward the for-
mations looking for the soul of Ricciardino de’
his brother’s fate, from whom he seeks for-
giveness for the tricks he played while they
were both alive.
Pazzi, known as the Infamous. Uccione de’ Pazzi appears in death as a
A character who makes a successful DC 10 In- young, large man with a thick bushy beard.
telligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Survival) His merchant-like appearance and behav-
check, will discover or confirm once again that ior jars with his otherwise vacant gaze,
it is impossible to find tracks of the damned in part of what has caused him to be the tar-
Hell, as the dolorous people do not have a phys- get of so many of his brother’s frauds.
ical body which allows them to cast a shadow or Uccione, who died five years after his
leave traces of any kind. brother, is now waiting in line to see Mi-
The only way to find the fugitive spirit is by tri- nosse, does not care to hear anything re-
al and error, exploring the ruins and crevasses lated to Ricciardino, and cannot wait to
dotted throughout the area between the Castle land among the Gluttonous, where he is
of the Noble Spirits and the ledge of the First sure to be sentenced. Both brothers are
Circle. perfect examples to suggest to the char-
A character who makes a successful DC 11 Wis- acters to establish a bond and unlock an
dom (Perception) check will spot a figure hiding Infernal Chronicle (see Infernal Chronicles
among the ruins of an abandoned mausoleum. on page 54). As with Ipazia previously, the
Knowing he is being pursued by devils, Ricciar- Guide is free to modify in part or entirely
dino the Infamous has specifically chosen to the two potential Familiar Spirits.
hide where he can push and cause the fall of the
entire front part of the mausoleum, squashing exit strategies, as he asks the Travelers who they
whatever comes close. The characters must suc- are and what they might want from him.
ceed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take
2d6 bludgeoning damage. In any case, Ricciardino will eventually blurt out
that he needs to rejoin his brother Uccione, as
The fugitive damned soul is cautious but not he wants to appear before Minosse by his side.
afraid. Despite the terrifying situation, Ricciar- His goal is to gain his brother’s forgiveness, so
dino seems to be in full control of himself; as he as to see his own sentence reduced even by just a
sees the strange Band approach, he assesses his couple of Bolgias.

111
Calcagnaccio found out, and prevents him from out his betrayal and trickery and several frauds
doing so every time he seems to succeed, chas- at his expense.
ing him back down the line to increase his suf- Only the Lost Ones can try, at this point, to
fering. convince Uccione to forgive his brother, even if
posthumously, by succeeding on a DC 15 Charis-
Stanza III – Into the Blind World

ma (Persuasion) check. The Guide can allow a
character to roll with advantage if the argument
is particularly apt, or if one of the two souls is a
“Let us descend now into the blind world,” Familiar Spirit to someone in the Band (see In-
Began the Poet, pallid utterly; fernal Chronicles, page 54).
“I will be first, and thou shalt second be.” If the mediation attempt is successful, one way
or the other, Uccione will forgive his treacherous
And I, who of his color was aware, brother, while the latter states he is ready to tell
said: “How shall I come, if thou art afraid, Minosse that Uccione had only indulged in glut-
who’rt wont to be a comfort to my fears?” tony due to the lack of brotherly love. He does
not deserve the Glutton’s punishment, but rath-
And he to me: “The anguish of the people er the Circle of the Prodigal – the most sought
who are below here in my face depicts after, as far as anything below the Second Cir-
that pity which for terror thou hast taken. cle is concerned – sparing him from the fangs of
Cerbero devouring him forevermore.
Dante Alighieri Calcagnaccio will greet the returning Band with
Inferno, Canto IV, 13-21 disgust as they reappear at the entrance to the
Second Circle, and pushes them all forward, to-
I f the Travelers tell Ricciardino the real rea-

son for finding him – bringing him back to
ward the front of the line.
Stanza IV – King’s Judgment

Calcagnaccio – he will try to convince them in
any way possible not to follow through, and to
instead tell the devil they could not find him, or
to help him find Uccione and beg for forgiveness, Thus I descended out of the first circle
after which he will willingly submit to his captor. down to the second, that less space begirds,
The Travelers can see through their task and and so much greater dole, that goads to wailing.
force Ricciardino to follow them. If successful,
they bring Ricciardino back to Calcagnaccio, There standeth Minos horribly, and snarls;
who pierces him on sight and flings him back to examines the transgressions at the entrance;
his place in line. judges, and sends according as he girds him.
Alternatively, they can help Ricciardino and try
finding Uccione, who is located in the area that Dante Alighieri
characters can stealth their way to (see Stanza I Inferno, Canto V, 1-6
above).
On seeing his brother, Ricciardino will fall at Uc-
cione’s feet, sobbing and begging for his forgive-
ness. A few beats go by as the large merchant
T he passage between the First and Second
Circle is a seemingly endless tunnel, which
even the reluctant help of guardian devils does
does not seem to understand what is happen- not prevent from lasting forever. After an in-
ing, but as soon as he recognizes his brother, finite descent, the Band (with or without Ucci-
Uccione throws himself at him in anger, calling one and Ricciardino) will resurface in an open

112
space, placed before a vertiginous rocky ledge, the Lord’s will, and the Hope of the Height
its peak invisible to the mortal eye. they all carry in their hearts.
The area is covered by bottomless canyons and “Why criest thou? Do not impede his journey
ravines, and stone walkways all leading to the fate-ordained; it is so willed there where is
same spot: an ancient amphitheater, carved power to do that which is willed; and farther
into the ground. The screeching of souls is deaf- question not.”
ening, but the horrifying noise is drowned out The doleful notes finally strike: the air around
by the roaring of an incessant storm, which oc- the Travelers seems to freeze for a moment,
cupies the entirety of the chasm beyond. Infinite the judge’s stone eyes rest upon the noble spir-
smaller tornadoes and storms twist and spin it carrying the Lantern. Minosse’s tail rises in
around each other in the sky, forming a single, all its length, the scales reflecting the light of
enormous hurricane. the braziers around the steps of the theater
Even this unbearable roar is overwhelmed by the in ruins. The crack with which the monster’s
thunderous bellows of the monster at the cen- serpentine limb coils around the Guide breaks
ter of the giant theater steps: an ancient giant, the silence. The cloud of dust that follows
crowned and monstrous, with a long scaly tail makes it hard to breathe and the only thing
ending in a lash, rises on the stage, grabbing the visible is the light of the Lantern, rolling away
damned one by one. in the distance. Then the tail coils back down
“Here is your reward!” cackles Calcagnaccio. next to the immense body of the Third Keeper,
“Were you expecting something else?” and the dust settles on the parched ground –
He then leaves, after one final kick at Uccione there is no sign of the Guide: they were flung
for good measure, ensuring his terrible fate. back to the Castle by the unappealable judg-
ment of Minosse.
The imposing, monstrous infernal judge’s

breath reaches the Lost Ones as warm as fetid Even though Minosse can smell the reek of sin
vapor emitted from a pile of rotting corpses. in each of their pathetic souls, there is no trick,
If the group has reached this point with Ucci- reasoning, or deal which can convince it to let
one, the monster will grab him without leav- the Travelers pass: as far as it is concerned, they
ing him time to speak, coiling its tail three can go back from whence they came, seek refuge
times around his body and thundering the in Limbo, or drown in the Acheronte.
word “Gluttonous!” and throwing him into the There is only one way to move past the Third
storm beyond. Keeper of Hell: defeat it in combat!
Realizing what is about to happen, Ricciar-
dino steps back, gesturing to the Travelers to If Minosse is defeated, it disintegrates and be-
go ahead, and disappears into the silent, mo- comes ash, except for its stone eyes, which fall
tionless crowd of the waiting damned. at the characters’ feet. Each Eye of Minosse (see
Whatever the case may be, after flinging away Infernal Artifacts on page 174) vibrates with en-
the damned soul in front of them, the massive ergy, and a character can make a DC 17 Intelli-
titan turns its stony gaze upon the Band and gence (Arcana) check to understand their magi-
roars a question at them: what are living be- cal nature and how to put them to use.
ings and a noble spirit doing down here? After the fall of the High Judge of Hell, it does
The Guide steps in, as they had done with not take long for the damned souls waiting on
Caronte, to explain the reasons behind their the steps behind the characters to realize the in-
Journey, appealing to Divine Providence, credible opportunity presenting itself.

113

114
Egged on by none other than Ricciardino de’ ly upon their shoulders – the path however, still
Pazzi, the souls of the dead attempt to break leads to Lucifero.
the line, some to hide in the crevasses, some to How could it be otherwise?
run into the Hurricane hoping to hide in a Cir-
cle with less of a punishment than the one they The Travelers reach their next level at the end of
would otherwise be sentenced to. this Canto.
The Lost Ones must also seize this opportuni-
ty, and swiftly, to avoid being trampled by the
damned or attacked by the legions of guardian
devils swooping down upon the fleeing souls,
weapons flailing indiscriminately.
They cannot move backward – the devils keep
coming in waves, vomited out by the air with-
out a star upon the fleeing damned – but do
have time to pick up the Eye of Minosse and the
Lantern and run, before the Judge reforms in its
seat.
Conclusion
T here is no end to the punishment of the
Dolorous People, there is no end to the ex-
istence of those who fall down into the Blind
World, beneath the air without a star. Each
damned soul which lies in Hell can be destroyed,
but only temporarily, coming back into existence
soon after. Minosse too will return to its seat in
the Second Circle, but until that moment many,
many damned will swarm past without receiv-
ing their sentence, free to head wherever they
choose, and hide to avoid or lighten the punish-
ment which they deserve. The infernal balance is
shaken and the Travelers are obviously at fault
– will this bear repercussions for them, or even
for Hell itself?
Lacking their Guide, left to their own devices,
with no way back and an endless path in front of
them, as thousands of souls carelessly disperse
across Higher Hell, the Travelers now find them-
selves having passed Minosse and needing to
start everything from scratch again. There are
no certainties going forward, nor is there any-
one to lead them or show them the way: the im-
mense weight of their own redemption is entire-

115
Canto VII – Into a Place

As this Canto opens, the Travelers have moved
past Minosse’s remains and are fully in the Sec-
Mute of All Light

ond Circle, which features an endless and devas-
tating, all-encompassing storm. They will have
to find their way through said storm and even
help some of the anguished souls relegated to
this corner of the Blind World.
S
eventh Canto, in which we narrate of the
Second Circle of Hell, and of the journey
through the Great Hurricane and the meet-
ing with the Lovers, whose lost souls find peace in
T his Canto was unlocked during the
Inferno crowdfunding campaign as
an optional addition to the introductory
painful but comforting embrace. campaign. It can present a good oppor-
tunity to give a conclusion or a direct fol-

low-up to the events of Minosse’s defeat,
and a starting point for the second part of
the Lost One’s Journey, less regulated and
F rom this moment onward, if events have

taken place as outlined in the previous Can-
to, the Band’s Guide is lost, and the Travelers are
lacking an actual Guide in the game.
The tools it offers are required to proceed
with the campaign and learn to facilitate
alone with no one left to lead them through the and set up the game as the characters
rest of their Journey. They do still have the Lan- move through the Circles.
tern crafted in the Castle of the Noble Spirits, If a character has been lost to Desperation,
along with every artifact or companion gained this is also a good point to meet new com-
so far. panions (such as malebranche), who could
become new Travelers or step in as new
Guide for the Band.
The Canto also offers a peculiar type of
devil, in order to show how such a charac-
ter might experience the rediscovery of the
Hope of the Height, and perhaps join the
Lost Ones.
Alternatively, it can be used to develop
game sessions based on the characters’ In-
fernal Chronicles and the environmental
perils of each Circle, as the Travelers de-
scend toward Cocito.
Whatever the case, one of the most insi-
dious obstacles in all of Hell must be over-
come: the Hurricane, both a place of capti-
vity and punishment for the Wanton.

116
If the Orfeo and Euridice plot is something that The infernal hurricane that never rests
caught your interest, you may decide that the hurtles the spirits onward in its rapine;
Guide is safe in Limbo, and here the players will whirling them round, and smiting, it molests them.
find the couple’s other member; alternatively,
the latter lover could try bringing back the char- When they arrive before the precipice,
acter they just lost by using the Lyre. The char- there are the shrieks, the plaints, and the laments,
acter who played the role of the Guide was con- there they blaspheme the puissance divine.
sidered a Noble Spirit, but their lover’s passion
was too much in the eyes of the Lord and they Dante Alighieri
are now here, in the Hurricane. The two lovers Inferno, Canto V, 28-36
will be able to reunite, if you so choose, or the
newly encountered character may take the place
of the Guide. T he reckless flight of the waiting souls, no
longer waiting to be judged by Minosse
now that the Lost Ones have defeated it, drags

the Travelers away from the ledge of the Second
Circle all the way to the point where the Hur-
ricane’s winds begin. Behind the Travelers are
T he Guide is lost, flung back by Minosse’s

fury, and a multitude of vile souls have es-
caped their destiny and are now fleeing through
waves of souls in revolt, and more and more
devils arrive to put a stop to the escape toward
the lower Circles.
the Circles of Higher Hell, between Acheronte These damned souls, lacking any judgment or
and Stige. All those Dolorous People, in the wake sentence, have realized they are free to scatter
of your shocking deeds, broke ranks and surged and hide wherever they are able to, and might be
forwards, some hiding in the crevasses along headed for the Fourth Circle specifically, whose
the cliff above the Circle, some trying to return punishments are not too severe for the likes of
to Limbo, some following you and your Lantern them. Their cries join the devils’ angry calls in a
after stepping through the warm ashes of the disheartening chorus, slowly fading as the Lost
Third Keeper. Ones push forward, step by step.
You have made it through and are intent on
continuing your Journey, but you no longer have
your Guide. You find yourselves alone and shiv- The darkness you are about to face, barely lit
ering before the eternal Hurricane of the Second by the Lantern you carry, soon resounds only
Circle, its howling so loud it drowns out every with the howling of the wind blowing from
other sound. every direction. You find yourselves before a
wall of storm clouds, blown aside by a wind so
Stanza I – And Now Begin

strong even rocks and detritus are caught up
in the gusts, as they roll and crash at your feet.
the Dolesome Notes

The storm rises from the declining ground up
into the darkness of the air without a star, and
to either side of you, well beyond the sphere
I came into a place mute of all light, of your mortal senses; distant flashes light up
which bellows as the sea does in a tempest, what seem to be titanic and primordial winged
if by opposing winds ‘t is combated. creatures, as their metal wings create wind,
lightning, and thunder…

117
forms a lid to the infernal crater below. If the
As you are taken by the sight, you notice some Lost Ones try edging along the storm’s perime-
of the more brave – or perhaps more desper- ter, they will spend much time just moving, nev-
ate – fleeing souls leap into the storm. They are er really making significant progress. The only
immediately flung and dragged away by the way to cross this Circle is through the Hurricane.
winds as if they were nothing but dead leaves, If the characters attempt to step into the twist-
in a litany of swearing and blasphemy. The ing gusts, as they saw the damned do, they will
more cautious and cowardly try to keep to the realize that their physicality makes them heavy
outer limits of the storm itself, hoping to even- enough to not be swept away by the powerful
tually find safe passage through it, toward the winds. Every time, however, that a Traveler finds
Lower Circles. themselves in the Hurricane’s area of effect,
they suffer the effects described in the Environ-
mental Perils of the Second Circle.
In fact, the Second Circle’s Hurricane is almost a
mile wide, a layer in the shape of a disk, which
E nvironmental Perils of the Second Circle

Any creature in the Second Circle has disadvantage on all attack rolls with a ranged weapon,
and on all Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing. The Hurricane also extinguishes
open flames, dissipates mists and fog, and makes flying incredibly difficult, even through arcane
means. A flying creature inside the Hurricane must land by the end of its turn or fall.
Additionally, the Guide can add any of the following effects at their discretion.
Dust Vortex. On the ground and in some suspended locations, the Hurricane can create dust
vortexes. A character making a Wisdom (Perception) check that relies on sight in proximity of
these vortexes has disadvantage on the roll. These areas are also considered difficult terrain, due
to the incredibly strong winds flailing any corporeal being trying to move through them.
Rock Whirlwind. The wind of the Second Circle often and very suddenly generates whirlwinds
of rocks, stones, and smaller debris, with the effect of creating even more pain for the Wanton
who are trapped within the Hurricane. The area (30 ft radius) within a rock whirlwind is heavily
obscured, and a character who starts its turn inside this area takes 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage.
A rock whirlwind can move 20 ft per round, and disappears after 1d4 rounds.
Rain of Debris. The infernal storm is so powerful that it can shift boulders and shatter cliffs as
it crashes against them, smashing them and scattering them aside like rain.
At the start of its turn, a creature in the area of the rain of debris must make a DC 20 Dexterity
saving throw; on a failed save, it takes 18 (4d8) bludgeoning damage, or half as much damage
of a successful one. On a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check, a creature can spot the
approach of the rain of debris; if so, it has advantage of the saving throw. Elements of the land-
scape that provide full cover can protect a character from the rain of debris.

118
Stanza II – The People Whom the

them for help: she claims to be tied to the oth-
er soul by the feeling that bound them in life,
Black Air so Castigates

and cannot believe she has found them again
in the afterlife and its everlasting storm… truly
a miracle!
I understood that unto such a torment Unfortunately, when the shelter is inevitably
The carnal malefactors were condemned, blown away by same winds that created it, it will
Who reason subjugate to appetite. collapse on itself and the currents will grab both
of them again, dragging them away and negat-
And as the wings of starlings bear them on ing the fortuitous reunion. The lost soul will ask
In the cold season in large band and full, the Travelers to help her become “like them…
So doth that blast the spirits maledict; like the two… those who are never separated,
despite the storm…”
It hither, thither, downward, upward, drives them; The soul is referring to the Lovers, two figures
No hope doth comfort them forevermore, whose names she ignores but are easy to iden-
Not of repose, but even of lesser pain. tify as they seem to never be separated by the
Hurricane. She might have seen them with her
Dante Alighieri own eyes, or heard of them from other damned,
Inferno, Canto V, 37-45 but whatever the case, she begs the Band to find
out how the Lovers are able to maintain their
A s the Travelers proceed through the Hur-

ricane and down toward the Circle below,
they notice – among the debris, wind, rend-
connection, and help her to do the same with
her own earthly love, for whom she betrayed her
matrimony, sinning against the Lord and de-
ing wails, flashes of blood, and dust – that a cency, which sentenced her to this horrific place.
rocky formation has grown into a sort of bar-
Stanza III – No Hope Doth Comfort

rier against the furious wind, against which are
thrown a number of tormented souls, wounded
Them Forevermore
and despairing.
This natural shelter will not last long, as the
debris can be removed at any time by a sudden
gust, but it does allow the Travelers to find some Love, that on gentle heart doth swiftly seize,
respite from the devastating effects of the Hur- Seized this man for the person beautiful
ricane, and the same is true for the tortured That was ta’en from me, and still the mode offends me.
souls slammed against it. In this temporary
shelter from the storm, the Lost Ones can start Love, that exempts no one beloved from loving,
a conversation with any of the damned present Seized me with pleasure of this man so strongly,
in this location, some of whom could unlock an That, as thou seest, it doth not yet desert me;
Infernal Chronicle for one or more characters.
Specifically, one of these souls, whose limbs Love has conducted us unto one death;
are jutting out at odd angles due to the Hur- Caïna waiteth him who quenched our life!”
ricane’s force, is whining and moaning as an- These words were borne along from them to us.
other – also wounded, but still able to stand
– gently caresses it. Dante Alighieri
The latter immediately looks at the Travelers Inferno, Canto V, 100-108
and the Lantern as they approach, and begs

119
W hatever the Travelers choose to do and

whatever the nature of their interaction
with the two despairing souls, just beyond the
Receiving Hope was a traumatic experience,
to say the least: its sight had clouded, the
rocky shelter looms an unsettling shadow: long roar of the storm had become unbearable,
horns, wide wingspan, skeletal body… a devil! and a wave of heat had taken over it, one that
At the sight of this terrifying shape, all the all of Hell and its tongues of fire could never
damned souls in this shelter except the two who give it. It tried to dissimulate this reaction,
asked the Travelers for help will flee, preferring tried not to think too much about it. Using
the painful winds to the torture a cruel fallen its Tormentor and more Hope from the Lost
angel is capable of inflicting upon them. One, it completed the ritual: the devil pierced
The devil makes its appearance, stepping out the hearts of the two souls, somehow binding
of the gusting spires into the shelter. It seems them forever.
smaller than the majority of devils seen so far The Lost One clothed in red had been satis-
by the Band, but its wings are large and strong. fied, and set back on his Journey. Sferzavento
It directs its gaze directly at the Travelers, but had laughed maniacally for the folly of such
even more so at the Lantern. It claims to be un- a deed, and had immediately launched itself
armed and mean no harm, in fact, it claims it after the two Lovers, to reclaim its sword, un-
could be an ally, someone they could use in a caring of the bargain – only to discover that
place such as this one – all it asks for in return is the blade was forevermore bound to the souls,
some warmth, maybe their Lantern could help. and not even their destruction could free it.
The devil states its name to be Sferzavento (mi- They would simply return to their sentence,
nor devil) and that it has seen many a lost soul united in the hope of that merciful act. The
before now. As it does, something like hatred horror.
runs over its features, briefly showing a glimpse Sferzavento had soon lost everything: its
of a perfect golden mask that recalls what it powers, its place in the infernal hierarchy, its
used to look like, once long ago. control over the Hurricane. Since then, eter-
If the characters choose to investigate Sferza- nity has been long and boring for the devil,
vento’s disgusted reaction, and succeed on a DC the Hope it now held fueling questions and
12 Charisma (Persuasion) or a DC 16 Charisma doubts. Finally, after so long, it spotted a
(Intimidation) check, they can learn more de- light in the dark, a glow as warm as life: the
tails about its story, at the Guide’s discretion. Lost Ones’ Lantern.
If the characters want to help the two souls and

Sferzavento inform Sferzavento of the situation, the devil
Sferzavento was once one of the Tempesta- will give them the information required to find
rii of the Second Circle, powerful, cruel, and another Tormentor with which to complete the
feared. One day, it met a Lost One clothed in ritual it once performed on the two Lovers.
red, accompanied by an ancient noble spirit If the characters have no interest in helping the
as its Guide. The Lost One had been so moved Wanton, Sferzavento still offers its help to reach
by the tale of two twinned damned souls that the Third Circle in one piece, claiming to know the
he had offered the devil a deal. Sferzavento nooks and crannies of this place like its pockets.
had thus accepted some of the Hope that the In exchange, Sferzavento will ask for a little
Lost One carried, in exchange for a ritual that more Hope and maybe to join the Band: it could,
would bind the two spirits for eternity. in fact, become their new Guide, another Travel-
er, or simply a supporting character.

120
Whatever the case, Sferzavento demands at The same encounter can take place even if the
least 1 Glimpse of Hope and tells them that characters are following Sferzavento to the Third
they will need to use more for the bonding rit- Circle. Alternatively, the Band can be allowed to
ual, along with the Tormentor. A character who leave the Second Circle with few obstacles, but
makes a successful DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) the characters will not gain a level at the end of
or DC 19 Charisma (Intimidation) check can ob- this Canto.
tain a “better price” from Sferzavento, who will
be satisfied with 1 Spark of Hope instead. If the Band chooses to head for the Spur, they
The magic sword of another Tempestarii is re- will find it is not too far from the location where
quired to bind the two souls, and Sferzavento they last left the two souls, but it is incredibly
just happens to know where to find one. The tall and looks incredibly precarious in the whirl-
devil in question is called Calcabrina, and it ing gusts of the storm.
commands the Hurricanes terrible winds from a There is a path coiling around this titanic rocky
rocky peak known as the Spur. pillar, which seems to lead to its top. The path,
Note: Sferzavento will want to gather as many however, becomes narrower and narrower as it
Hope Points as possible and will offer the Trav- ascends through stronger and stronger winds;
elers its help on many occasions (protect them characters will have to walk in single file to make
from the Hurricane, reach the top of the Spur, it up the barely 5ft wide path. To avoid falling
save a character from a horrible fall, fight over from the gusts, each character must suc-
against Calcabrina, etc.) – but only in exchange ceed on a DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) saving
for more Hope. throw, or fall off the path as a dead body falls,
taking regular fall damage depending on the
Stanza IV – Through the

height the character had reached.
Once at the top, 100 ft from the ground, the Lost
Purple Air
Ones will find themselves on a flat area which
seems to have been sliced off clean, right in the
eye of the Hurricane. What they do not find,
And all the while one spirit uttered this, however, is the tempestarii devil.
the other one did weep so, that, for pity, The characters will see all around them, whirling
I swooned away as if I had been dying, around the peak, vaguely circular and flat rocks
(5ft radius), held mid-air by the wind.
and fell, even as a dead body falls.
In order to reach Calcabrina, the characters can
Dante Alighieri make use of the floating rocks, leaping from
Inferno, Canto V, 139-142 one to the next with a successful DC 12 Strength
(Athletics) check, all the way to the storm dev-
I f the Travelers seek a way out of the Sec-

ond Circle by their own means, and without
fighting the Tempestarii first, the Guide may
il’s den: a flat rock, 30 ft in diameter, lashed
by winds and devoid of anything other than a
roughly carved throne from which the tempe-
choose to have them face Calcabrina (perhaps starii devil observes the characters with anger
as Sferzavento warned the other devil, out of and curiosity.
spite). Calcabrina (tempestarii) is cruel and de- Regardless of whether the characters reveal their
voured by the sin that made it pick up its weap- intentions, and attempt to strike a deal (such
ons against the Lord, and cannot stand souls as exchanging some of their Hope for the Tor-
wandering in its Circle. It will attack on sight. mentor, or even directly for the ritual that Sfer-

121

122
zavento conducted upon the Lovers), Calcabri-
na is reluctant to agree to anything and cares
very little for Hope; this is a good spot, and the
devil finally has a chance to let some steam off
by massacring new and curious victims, in the
E uridice
If the characters and the Guide have
been following the plot related to Orfeo
most violent and unnecessary way. and his wish to leave Hell (see page 63),
Euridice (or Orfeo, depending on your ini-
The Guide can choose to play Calcabrina differ- tial choice) can be found in this location.
ently from how the character is presented here, The lover of the Band’s (former?) Guide is
and make this encounter one of roleplay and di- in chains beside Calcabrina’s throne, per-
plomacy rather than combat. sonally tortured by the devil and by the
void left by their missing lover.
If the characters manage to obtain Calcabri- Freeing Euridice from her torment and re-
na’s Tormentor, either defeating the devil or by covering the Lyre from Cerbero’s lair are
striking a deal, they can hand it over to Sfer- both part of Orfeo’s plan to leave Hell, the
zavento in order to pierce the hearts of the two latest in a long string of attempts that the
souls they met, uniting them forevermore in the two souls have enacted before losing, ev-
Hurricane. As previously stated, Sferzavento will ery time, ending up separated once more,
remind the Lost Ones that they must sacrifice 1 killed, reformed, down to this particular
more Glimpse of Hope for the ritual, as it starts Journey.
chanting the ritual’s words and curses. The Trav- Euridice can become a Familiar Spirit for
elers can once again bargain with Sferzavento as any Lost One in the Band, the Travelers’
explained earlier. new Guide, a new regular player character,
Just as the two damned souls seem to begin to or a supporting character.
fuse around the Tormentor blade, the makeshift If only one of the two lovers is currently
rocky shelter starts to cave in and is blown away. present with the Band, and the other is
Was this all Sferzavento’s plan to steal a little back in the Castle in Limbo where the char-
more Hope? acters can no longer reach them, Euridice
will lead the Band toward Cerbero’s lair
If the Travelers choose, instead, to complete the (see next Canto) to recover Orfeo’s Lyre and
ritual by their own means, or simply choose to bring her lover back to her, uncaring for
keep the blade for themselves, the two souls will the Lyre’s powers during a confrontation
perish or be immediately and suddenly dragged with Lucifero.
apart by the storm’s force, fated to never meet
again, and enter that cycle of death and re- Finally, if everything happens as hoped by the
newal forever within the Hurricane, without two souls, and the ritual is successful, they will
ever meeting again. This decision will cause the thank the Travelers, especially any who have cre-
loss of 1 Spark of Hope from every member of ated a Bond with them. As they disappear on the
the Band, who can still keep the Tormentor for winds, their tears are carried back to the faces
themselves (see page 181). of the Travelers, streaming out of eyes no longer
filled with fear.

Conclusion
I n one way or another, after making their way
several miles through the Second Circle and
its Hurricane, the Band will leave the lashing
winds behind and above, and reach the Third
Circle.
If the Travelers have helped the damned in the

Second Circle, or have faced perils and encoun-
ters during this Canto, they gain a level.

124
Canto VIII – Of New

Torments and New T his Canto was unlocked during the In-
ferno crowdfunding campaign as an op-
Tormented
tional addition to the introductory campaign.
It can be used as a direct continuation of the
events that took place subsequent to the de-
feat of Minosse and after crossing the Second
E
ighth Canto, in which we narrate of the Circle.
Third Circle of Hell, wherein Gluttony is Specifically, it can be used as a template to
punished, and of the demon Cerbero. create, as the Travelers keep descending to-
wards Dite and Lower Hell, open gaming ses-
sions for each circle, as the latter are no longer

described in detail from this point forward.
Each circle does still have its own Keeper with
their own lairs, dedicated encounter and
A s the Canto begins, the Travelers are study-

ing the sharp and crumbling side of the
chasm down which they must climb, and are
event tables, environmental perils, and suffi-
cient descriptions to create an entire adven-
ture.
faced with the ferocity of the Keeper of the Pit, As for previous Cantos, these parts of the
the Third Circle – the enormous three-headed Journey should be used alongside the de-
beast called Cerbero. There is very little to do in scriptions found in Inferno – Dante’s Guide to
this circle other than swiftly move through it, Hell.. For this Canto specifically, see The Pit,
Hell
and that is no easy task. on page 128.
The Pit extends for miles and miles, and sever- By reading the descriptions of the characters’
al herds of the damned roam through it, along location in advance, the Guide can make use
with its diabolical torturers and the equally of the more interesting details or insert an
fierce and tireless Keeper. encounter where it fits best from a narrative
Before they can look upon the Fourth Circle, perspective.
the Travelers must experience some encounters, The Guide should make use of these elements
some more lethal than others, explore nooks to provide the characters with threats (such as
and discover useful shortcuts, all while resisting Cerbero in this Canto) but also hooks which
the perils and threats of this place of damna- might translate into opportunities for the
tion. characters (e.g. the devils heading toward the
Breweries, or the presence of souls who es-

caped judgment) and help them understand
their location, what perils they might face,
and what might be useful in traversing the
A s you made it out of the lower rim of the

Hurricane that lashes and forms the Second
Circle, you find yourselves sliding down a muddy
circle.
and slippery decline, upon which rain, hail, and

snow falls from the storm above.

125
If eternal torment in the previous Circle was the
cutting blade of the wind, of the debris it car- but they no longer dent armor or rend cloaks,
ried, and the lightning strikes of the tempestarii the red lightning created by the wings of the
devils, here it now becomes the incessant pre- Ziz cannot extend their deathly fingers upon
cipitation, making your descent particularly the Travelers.
difficult. After all, another torment has begun: the
When it looks like nothing else could possibly go terrifying slope crumbles down into a basin
wrong, that is when you hear the triple howl of of mire, filled with snow and debris, vomit
Cerbero in the distance. and blood. Finding a way less dangerous, less
slippery, to reach the valley is an incredibly
difficult task, especially as rain and hail falls
Stanza I – A Rain Eternal, Cold and

upon them. From this ledge, the view upon
what is happening below is clear: dragging
Maledict and Heavy

movements in the mud, guttural cries and ag-
onizing screams. Someone gifted with a very
fervid imagination might even describe it as
New torments I behold, and new tormented “herding”.
Around me, whichsoever way I move,
And whichsoever way I turn, and gaze.
In the third circle am I of the rain

Eternal, maledict, and cold, and heavy;
I f the encounter with Minosse ended
as planned, and a flood of souls es-
caped judgment and entered Higher Hell
Its law and quality are never new. after the defeat of the Third Keeper, this is
where the Guide might place some of those
Huge hail, and water sombre-hued, and snow, souls. Some of them might have been able
Athwart the tenebrous air pour down amain; to miraculously find a way through the pre-
Noisome the earth is, that receiveth this. vious Circle or slyly followed the Travelers
and their Lantern all along. Whatever way
Dante Alighieri they have made it to this point, the sight
Inferno, Canto VI, 4-12 of the putrid, hammering Hurricane, of
the devils and the horrifying three-head-
T he final stretch of the slope leading from

under the Hurricane to the Pit features less
of an incline, and the Travelers are able to grab
ed beast, or even just the unstable ground,
prone to slide and crumble, which provides
the only way down, could be enough to re-
onto a rock jutting out of the mud and debris. veal themselves to the Band. For example,
The wind rages above the enormous infernal Pit if Ricciardino the Infamous is still safe by
and against the gaping drop which still awaits the end of Canto VI, he could reappear
the Band. now and try once again to latch onto the
Travelers, maybe accompanied by several
The Lantern jolts as a flash of lightning, wor- other souls who all fled together.
thy of the father of the old ancient pagan
gods, illuminates the muddy ravine down
which the Travelers are climbing. It seems
the Hurricane is finally behind the Band:
its nefarious winds scream and howl above,

126
Two herds of tormented souls are barely able The Brewer devils find their ingredients among
to drag themselves along under the amused the fluids of the drunkards themselves, and add
and evil prodding and mocking of diabolical a fair amount of their own, constantly spitting
torturers. The herding devils (guardian dev- into the mixtures, then taking them through the
ils), armed with pointed pitchforks, spear the processes of putrefatio and calcinatio. When
emaciated skin of the damned, splitting them their work is done, they force the damned to
into two clearly separate groups, and scream- drink, and drink, and drink, stuffing rags and
ing insults and mockery at them as they do so. funnels down their throats if needed.
The first group is made up of a large number of
clumsy, heavy souls, deformed by obesity and Characters who are able to stomach these
plunging into the mire with each step. The infer- scenes and avoid the Brewer devils will also dis-
nal herders seem to push them through the acid cover that a Brewery includes many potentially
storm, toward the center of the Pit; the second useful items.
herd is made up of much smaller souls, but still Some of the substances created are not imme-
unable to move forward, teetering and dazed. diately administered to the damned, but kept
The herders push them elsewhere, swiftly, along in skins and prepared to be sent to Dite, for the
the outer border of the circle, atop of which are amusement of the devils in the City of Fire and
the Lost Ones. at court (see also page 144 and Inferno – Dan-
A character who succeeds on a DC 18 Wisdom te’s Guide to Hell, page 140).
(Perception) check can see that the region this
second group is being led to features streams of Each skin is fire branded with the symbols of the
thick smoke, of a reddish color, rising through various city Arcs, and each represents a different
the rain. kind of substance.
Despite everything in the Pit being mud, snow, The black liquor in the skins branded with the
and hail, there are also hidden areas, burrowed Torch is also a powerful combustible: it can fuel
in the ground and held up by structures of bones the infernal red fires of furnaces and torches for
and dried guts, in which one might find dry days, even under the strongest wind and rain.
shelter. The white aquavit in the skins branded with the
The entrances to these areas are similar to caves Key is highly corrosive acid which burns through
and mine shafts, and soon enough the ground fiends and metal alike, but has no effect on
within becomes more compact. At the very end of wood or living beings.
each tunnel are infernal glows of reddish color, The clear potion in the skins branded with the
and vapors and gurgling sounds travel back up. Centauress is icy cold to the touch and contains
These are the Breweries, caverns which burrow the power of Cocito, whose ice is one of its secret
into the clotted mire, featuring valves where ingredients.
devils blend liquors and tar-like substances with Finally, the Salamander-branded skins hold a
burners, boilers, furnaces, and glass containers blood red liquid, which has two different effects:
of all kinds. it is poison to a fiend, but a Lost One who drinks
A jumble of damned lies all around them, in of it receives resistance to heat and fire for a
the hallways and bends of these caverns, bare- short time.
ly holding themselves upright on benches and
stools. These are the drunkards, those who in
life could not stop themselves from indulging in
substances which did not fill bellies, but rather
emptied minds, disagreeable even to Cerbero.

127
D iabolical Brews
Some devils in the Third Circle distill magical potions which are stored in special skins.
The Breweries can contain any of the following diabolical potions:
Centauress Skin
Potion, uncommon
A character who drinks this potion gains resistance to cold damage and the effects of the spell
expeditious retreat for 1 minute.
Key Skin
Potion, uncommon
A character can spend an action to spray the contents of this skin on a creature within 5 ft, or
throw it up to 20ft (the skin bursts as a result). In either case, the character makes a ranged at-
tack against a target creature or object, and considers the acid as an improvised weapon. If the
target is undead or a metallic object, it takes 4d6 acid damage.
Salamander Skin
Potion, uncommon
A character who drinks this potion gains resistance to fire damage and regains 10 hit points at
the starts of their turn (as long as they have at least 1 hit point) for 1 minute. If a fiend drinks
this potion, it must make DC 17 Constitution saving throw; on a failed save, it takes 2d6 poison
damage and is poisoned for 1 minute.
Torch Skin
Potion, uncommon
A creature who drinks this potion must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw; on a failed save,
it takes 4d6 fire damage, on a successful one, it can choose to redirect the damage by breathing
fire upon a target creature within 30ft. The target creature must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving
throw; on a failed save, it takes 4d6 fire damage, or half as much damage on a successful one.
The effect of the potion ends after a number of breaths equal to the character’s Constitution
modifier, or after 1 minute.
The Skins are special Infernal Artifacts, with the following properties:
◊ Skins do not require attunement.
◊ In order to carry a skin, it must be attached to an Infernal Emblem which is not attuned to
another Infernal Artifact, including the skin; this means that a character can carry a total
of 3 skins. The Skins are added to the Traveler’s semblance without any disadvantages, en-
cumbrance, or increase to their weight.
◊ Carrying a skin does not force a character to lose any Hope Points; the skin is destroyed
when a Traveler dies, and it does not reform.
◊ Skins are consumed in the same way as potions.
You must also note that the theft of these skins will not go unnoticed. Ecate has spies every-
where, and some of them might be slithering beneath the Band’s feet even as we speak.

128
The other souls, headed into the storm of filth, constantly prowls, taking long strides through
suddenly meet a terrifying, growling shadow the reeking mire, yearning for the quartering
looming over them, as it pounces onto the herd and slashing of the damned. Its blazing eyes
with feral agility. The devils leap aside just in constantly scour every direction, its nostrils
time, some flying, some rolling, in a chorus of flaring and vibrating wherever the stench of the
metallic cackling as the gluttonous herd is ren- Pit joins the succulent smell of the souls floun-
dered apart by the claws and fangs of a gigantic, dering in the mud.
growling, hungry, three-headed dog: Cerbero. Cerbero is a powerful and formidable predator,
but its threat resides not only in the three sets
The mire of mud and black blood soon becomes of slimy fangs, the strength of its body, or the
red with remains and drool dripping from the dozens of sharp claws.
monster’s jowls. All of this takes place before the Cerbero also has three special characteristics
characters’ eyes, and when Cerbero moves away, which make it unique among the Infernal Keep-
disappearing back into the rain, the devils are ers, as shown in the following table.
long gone, having reached the other group.
Fearless. Unlike other infernal creatures, Cer-
Stanza II – Cerbero, Monster Cruel

bero can reform from its ashes incredibly quick-
ly, and does not seem to lose its blood lust to-
and Uncouth
ward the prey which have bested it. In fact, the
determination to find them again and mete out
punishment increases exponentially each time.
Red eyes he has, and unctuous beard and black, If the Travelers have already defeated Cerbero,
and belly large, and armed with claws his hands; they can still meet the Keeper as the next ran-
he rends the spirits, flays, and quarters them. dom encounter, ready for a fight.
Tracker. Each time that rolling on the table does
Howl the rain maketh them like unto dogs; not result in an encounter with Cerbero, the next
one side they make a shelter for the other; roll gains a +1. Example: if the Travelers have had
oft turn themselves the wretched reprobates. three encounters, but none of them were Cerbe-
ro, the next 1d10 rolled on the encounter table
When Cerberus perceived us, the great worm! will yield the result of 1d10+3.
His mouths he opened, and displayed his tusks; Relentless. Each time the Lost Ones meet Cer-
not a limb had he that was motionless. bero as they move across the Third Circle, the
modifier explained above (see Tracker) resets.
Dante Alighieri Additionally, after the first encounter with the
Inferno, Canto VI, 16-24 Travelers, Cerbero has advantage on its initia-
tive roll for every encounter.
A s the characters find themselves in the

Circle of the Gluttonous, aside from the
Breweries and Brewer devils, the Lost Ones risk
All these aspects are revealed in more detail in
the section: Crossing the Third Circle.
a number of unfortunate encounters, sum-
marized in the “Events and Encounters of the
Third Circle” table.
The Keeper of the Circle in which the Gluttonous
are punished is untiring, fierce, and as greedy
as the damned it is called on to punish. Cerbero

129
Events and Encounters of the Third Circle
d10 Events
1 (or less) Hungry. 1d4 gluttonous damned and 1 host of the gluttonous damned
2 Herd. 2d4 gluttonous damned and 1 minor devil
3 Gargoyles and behemoths. 1d4 gargoyles (gargoyles*)
4 Herding devils. 1d4 minor devils
5 Gargoyles and behemoths. 2d4 gargoyles (gargoyles*) or 1 giant behemoth (otyugh*)
Useful encounter. The Lost Ones come across an encounter described in the section
6-8
Useful Encounters of the Third Circle
9 Famine keeper. 1 guardian devil armed with the Behemoth’s Club
10 + Cerbero. The Lost Ones are spotted by Cerbero, who attacks them on sight
C rossing the Third Circle

To move past the Pit, patrolled by the fourth Keeper of Hell, and filled with perils and horrible creatures
behind every pile of filthy mud, the Travelers need to have at least 8 random encounters, which the Guide can
generate with the “Events and Encounters of the Third Circle”:
Perils of the Third Circle
Every area of the Pit is considered difficult terrain due to the mud, ice, snow, carcasses, and sludge which
cover the filthy ground, clinging to each and every corporeal creature who moves through it. Additionally,
for each random encounter, the Guide must roll a d6 on the following table to determine the nature of the
environmental perils present in the area at the time of the encounter.

d6 Perils

The Mire. As with every other location in the Circle, the area is considered difficult terrain, but
1 -2
there are no additional threats

Downpour. Everything in an area under a downpour is slightly obscured and creatures in the area
have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight. The rain and snow immedi-
3
ately snuff out open flames and creatures in the area have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on hearing
Rotting Bog. A creature who enters the area for the first time or starts its turn in the area must
make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, it falls prone to the ground. A creature attempt-
4
ing to use concentration while in the bog area must make a successful DC 15 Constitution saving
throw or lose concentration


130

5 Hailstorm. Every creature starting its turn in the hailstorm area takes 1d4 bludgeoning damage

Snow Blizzard. A creature in the area of the snow blizzard must make a DC 10 Constitution saving
6 throw, or gain a level of exhaustion. Creatures who have resistance or immunity to cold damage
automatically succeed on the saving throw

Useful Encounters of the Third Circle
As the Travelers wander through the reeking mire of the Pit, they might come across a number of bad en-
counters and be forced to fight dangerous creatures, but can also experience encounters which might reveal
important information on how to leave the Circle faster or more easily. These encounters may even reveal tips
on how to defend themselves from the Infernal Keeper who has been tracking them since they set foot in its
kingdom of mire and bones.
Each Useful Encounter in the table and described below can be used at the Guide’s discretion, at any moment
(or when it best fits with the actions of a character): using this kind of encounter should not be limited to roll-
ing on the table, but rather – given their multifaceted usefulness – used at least once on the Travelers’ path.
More generally, and as already stated elsewhere, encounters with the damned and various devils do not have
to be linked to a combat scenario and a violent resolution; they can also be conducted in such a way that leads
to a “shortcut” (see below).
The Guide can create as many kinds of Useful Encounter as they wish, for example by including Familiar Spirits
which will unlock Infernal Chronicles. That said, provided below are suggestions for how to use the information
and description of the Third Circle present in Inferno – Dante’s Guide to Hell.
Hell. There is no set limit to the num-
ber of Useful Encounters that the characters can meet during this Canto.
Brewer Devils. As suggested at the start of the Canto, the characters can make their way to one of the tar-filled
caves which the Circle’s devils call “Breweries”. The Lost Ones might choose to face off against the devils (e.g.
1d4 minor devils and 1 guardian devil)
devil) guarding the entrance, in order to get their hands on the portentous
potions (see Diabolical Brews in Stanza III) or to free the souls they torture and lash to extract their alcoholic
juices.
Alternatively, the Travelers might attempt to sneak into the Breweries, succeeding on a DC 15 Dexterity (Stealth)
check, to better study the devils’ actions and maybe steal a few skins from their stock; in this case, the area
of the Breweries might have a few gargolle (e.g. 2 gargoyles*
gargoyles*)) lying in wait, or a couple of rudimentary traps.
Such a scenario, however, might also encourage the players to interact in some other way with the devils, may-
be by exchanging information or skins for favors or tasks: a malebranche, for example, might offer a few po-
tions and a shortcut toward the Fourth Circle (see Shortcuts, Stanza III) as long as they escort it to Dite, where
it must deliver a load of brews to Minister Berith at the Heretics Library (see page 145).
Or, more simply, by studying the devils and eavesdropping on their conversations, or thanks to a tip from a
talkative devil, they might discover that if Cerbero gobbles up more than half a dozen drunken souls, it be-
comes too drowsy to fight, and must go rest in its lair (see Shortcuts, Stanza III).

131
Tantalo. The despairing cries of a damned soul echo from not too far away, seemingly coming from a circular
formation of rocks, bones, and mud. Inside this rotten fence, the characters will find a small pool of stagnant
water, surrounded by weeds and pale, wilted spikes. At the center of the pool is a damned soul, and above their
head are withered branches holding blackened, dried up fruits which ooze amber juices – juice which never
falls, not even in the gusts of wind escaping the Hurricane above. This is Tantalo, a king out of Greek mythol-
ogy, whose sin was not only to have stolen ambrosia from the gods, but also to have served them his own son
Pelope as a meal during a banquet in their honor. Now he is sentenced to an eternity of hunger and thirst he
cannot satisfy. He does not seem to be able to drink from the pool he finds himself in – and which, to him,
appears as a clear, crystal body of fresh water – nor to eat of the fruits which dangle above him, moved away
by the wind whenever he seems to graze past those rotten fruits – which he sees as plump and ripe.
If the characters offer Tantalo any kind of comfort, even just talking to him or moving the plant closer, pluck-
ing a fruit for him, or helping him drink, he might choose to reveal some useful information. You see, Tantalo
witnessed a neutralized Cerbero once, at the passage of some lost soul through the Circle.
First of all, Tantalo might remember the recent presence of Orfeo and Euridice, looking for a way out of Hell
(see also page 64). Orfeo attempted to use his lyre against the beast, in the same way he had done millennia
prior as a Lost One. This time, however, the Keeper of the Third Circle snapped his hands off and destroyed
both souls, flinging them who knows where and taking the Lyre for itself.
Before then, between the first and second appearance of Orfeo, a glorious young man called Enea, who had
also entered Hell as a Lost One, had faced off against the beast. Long before the hunt could even start, how-
ever, the Sybil who acted as his Guide had thrown honey bread filled with soporific herbs to the Keeper. What
Tantalo remembers most vividly is Cerbero collapsing into the mire in an unnatural sleep, and Enea continuing
on his Journey. Tantalo could end his story by telling the Travelers that the pale spikes growing around the
pool are asphodels, plants with a mystical soporific power, and that the juice oozing from the fruits above is
thick enough to knead into a bread such as the one that the Sybil gave Cerbero. Characters can make a sopo-
rific bread for the infernal mutt with a successful DC 12 Intelligence (Nature) or Wisdom (Medicine) check (see
Shortcuts in Stanza III).
Cerbero’s Lair. An enormous dark and dank cave, upon the horizon, barely visible through the storm. Outside
it are dozens and dozens of chewed and spat out carcasses, slowly sinking in the mud. If the characters step
into the cave, they will find very little other than the long black hairs of the beast’s coat, covered in blood and
sludge. A character, however, may realize that they can cover their own scent with them with a successful DC 13
Wisdom (Survival) or Intelligence (Nature) check. It would make it much more difficult for the Keeper to sniff
them out (see Shortcuts, Stanza III).
Additionally, the characters can rummage through the lair of the three-headed demon, and with a successful
DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) or DC 17 Wisdom (Perception) check, or if they are accompanied by Orfeo
and/or Euridice, they can find the Infernal Artifact Orfeo’s Lyre.
Lyre.

132
Stanza III – Of Shadows and of

of the Third Circle section – must provide the
Lost Ones with means to speed up or ease their
Rain with Footsteps Slow

travels through the Pit. Each Useful Encounter,
then, must directly or indirectly provide a way of
reducing the number of necessary encounters to
And my Conductor, with his spans extended, reach the Fourth Circle, as a “shortcut”.
took of the earth, and with his fists well filled,
Conclusion
he threw it into those rapacious gullets.
Such as that dog is, who by barking craves,

and quiet grows soon as his food he gnaws,
for to devour it he but thinks and struggles, T he Band moves past Cerbero and the dia-
bolical Pit which it guards, and reaches a
muddy ledge, where the putrid snow ceases to
The like became those muzzles filth-begrimed fall. Before the eyes of the Travelers is a flooded
of Cerberus the demon, who so thunders valley, water flowing into marshland: the Fourth
over the souls that they would fain be deaf. Circle.
Players cannot make it past the Pit without fac-
Dante Alighieri ing its Keeper and perils.
Inferno, Canto VI, 25-33
The first time the Travelers cross the Circle from
A s previously stated, in order to leave the

Third Circles and continue the Journey into
the next, the characters must have 8 random
side to side, they reach their next level.
encounters from those listed in the previous

Stanza.
Some of these, the Useful Encounters – regard-
less of whether the Guide creates some specif-
ically for the player characters or chooses to
use the ones offered in the Useful Encounters
S hortcuts
Keeping in mind all suggestions provided so far, below are some examples of shortcuts which
the Travelers might make use of:
◊ The Band chooses to escort the Brewer devil to Dite; the Guide can remove 2 encounters, as the
devil knows a faster way out of the Circle.
◊ The Travelers make Tantalo’s honey and asphodel bread, and are able to feed it to Cerbero; the
Guide can ignore all the “Cerbero” results, which still count for the total encounters required to
leave the Circle. The effects tied to Cerbero’s abilities no longer apply. Cerbero wakes up if it takes
any damage.
◊ The Travelers cover themselves with Cerbero’s scent in its Lair; the Guide applies a -1 modifier to
any result on the table. Cerbero’s Tracker ability still applies.
◊ The Travelers feed Cerbero at least six drunken souls, which they can find at the Breweries; for the
duration of that encounter and the next on the table, Cerbero is poisoned.
◊ The Travelers have acquired some Salamander Skins at the Breweries, and they feed Cerbero one
or more; for the duration of the current encounter and the next, Cerbero is poisoned.

133
Canto IX – The Queen of

Everlasting Lamentation
N
inth Canto, in which we narrate of the last
regions of Higher Hell – that is, the Fourth
Circle, refuge of the never judged fleeing
spirits – of the marsh of Stige, and the walls of
Dite, the City of Iron.

A s the Canto begins, the Travelers have just
made it through the Third Circle and find
themselves in the stretch separating Cerbero’s
muddy slopes and the not too far off Stige, the
Fifth Circle.
This narrow stretch, relatively calm compared

to the devastation elsewhere in the Blind World,
currently hosts all the fleeing souls that flooded
Hell after Minosse’s defeat. Also, the Fourth Cir-
cle is ruled – if ruling it can be called – by a gang
of greedy and renegade devils, ready to strike
any deal with those souls out of personal inter-
est and to betray each other at the drop of a hat.

A fter moving past the Keeper of the Third
Circle and the unsettling bank of teeth and
bone that holds back the Pit’s landslides, you
find yourselves on a stretch of land with a slight
decline.
At the bottom of the decline are the fetid marsh-
es of the Stige, and beyond that the outer pe-
rimeter of the city of Dite, whose vertiginously
tall iron walls stop the dark waters. This area is

134
Stanza I – Papë Satàn, Papë Satàn,

known as the Chasm, a valley which slowly de-
scends toward the marshland beneath it.
Aleppë!
In the distance, beyond the black waters, the
Band can see bastions lit up by red and corus-
cating flashes.
This is Dite, the infernal city, ruled by Ecate, Thus we descended into the fourth chasm,
the Queen of Everlasting Lamentation. Its walls gaining still farther on the dolesome shore
form the divide between Higher Hell and the which all the woe of the universe insacks.
lower regions of the Blind World, sharper and
more terrible still. Justice of God, ah! who heaps up so many
One of the most terrible destinations of this new toils and sufferings as I beheld?
Journey awaits. and why doth our transgression waste us so?
As doth the billow there upon Charybdis,

an optional addition to the introductory
that breaks itself on that which it encounters,
so here the folk must dance their roundelay.
campaign. It can be used as direct contin- Dante Alighieri

uation of the events that took place with Inferno, Canto VII, 16-24
the defeat of Minosse and after crossing
the Second and Third Circle, during the
less structured sections of the Journey.
It can be used in combination with the pre-
T he only sound which can be heard across
the entirety of the Chasm, other than the
gurgling streams of water and sludge pouring
vious Canto to create templates for, as the from the Circle above, is the rough rolling of
Travelers keep descending towards Cocito, heavy boulders, at times crashing into each oth-
open gaming sessions for each circle, as er. The sound echoes rhythmically and contin-
the latter are no longer described in detail uously in the dark surroundings; each collision
from this point forward. is followed by vibrations that cause the air to
Each circle does still have its own Keeper tremble, making it heavy and oppressive, as if
with their own lairs, dedicated encounter it could fall upon the characters at any moment.
and event tables, environmental perils, Regardless of whether the Guide has already
and sufficient descriptions to create an done so, this is the perfect moment to explain
entire adventure. how many of the souls who fled from Minosse’s
As for previous Cantos, these parts of judgment are gathered here. The Fourth Circle is
the Journey should be used alongside the almost an oasis, after the sequence of lightning,
descriptions found in Inferno – Dante’s wind, mud, and snow storms, and the howling
Guide to Hell.
Hell. keepers so far – dark and gloomy, to be sure,
but “calmer” and easier to hide in for all eter-
nity. The one who was once its Guardian, Pluto,
has long fallen, his name stricken from the ros-
ter of Hell, and so he cares very little about what
happens in his former domain. The old pagan
demon might even be described by the Guide as
being wounded and humiliated by Ecate, and
therefore willing to exchange favors and trea-

135
sure with the newcomers, promising them a to then lead them to the Watchtowers dotted
“safe” refuge, uncaring of infernal laws. around the Stigian marsh. In order to continue
Pluto’s minions, in this case, could also be prof- their Journey, the Band must first of all find a
iteering devils or malebranche, curious at the way of reaching the Stige, cross it, and finally
sudden arrival of many souls; they might be enter Dite.
gathering them in hidden areas of the Chasm,
A s suggested in the previous Canto, the Guide can plan and prepare the upcoming areas by reading through
the descriptions of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Circles found in Inferno – Dante’s Guide to Hell and the
“Events and Encounters of the Fourth Circle” table. The Travelers are free to move around these spaces, and the
Guide can provide more details and clues as they do so.
For example: the Fourth Circle does not have an appointed Infernal Keeper, and the Guide might point this
out explicitly. There is no Caronte, Minosse, or Cerbero ready to prevent them from pressing onward, and even
Pluto is more concerned with his own interests and profit than the damned or with capturing the souls who
avoided judgment.
Events and Encounters of the Fourth Circle

Circle
d10 Events

The Weight of sin. An intangible yet very present force grows heavier and heavier upon the shoul-

1 -2 ders of the Lost Ones. Each creature which starts its turn in the area must make a DC 14 Strength

saving throw, or suffer one level of exhaustion

3-6 Malebranche. 2d4 minor devils

Infernal chronicle. One of the souls toiling to move its boulder, or one wandering very lost in the

6 mists of this circle is looking for the Noble Castle. One or more characters can choose to unlock an

Infernal Chronicle

Fleeing souls. One or more souls (damned) who escaped Minosse’s judgment approach the char-
7-9 acters. They might ask for their help, offer aid, or even try stealing some of their Hope or the Lan-
tern directly

Pluto. Pluto is a major devil who craves artifacts, occult secrets, intriguing favors, and precious
10
belongings above all else


136
Crossing the Fourth Circle can present multiple where a minister or prince of devils, or Medusa
opportunities for roleplay, combat, and – as al- or even Ecate herself could be interested in ac-
ways – character development through their en- quiring souls to torture at their leisure. Each of
counters with their various Infernal Chronicles. these goals could provide the required elements
What follows are some examples and sugges- for adventure hooks and roleplaying scenes for
tions to present to the characters, which the this Canto.
Guide is free to use as described or to adapt
into something different and more suited to the Brewer Devils. If the Travelers have reached this
Band’s needs and choices. point in the company of the Brewer devil who
asked back in the Third Circle to be escorted to
Pluto. Pluto was once “the Arch Enemy”, lord Dite, they might now have a significant advan-
of Hell and spouse of Ecate, a king among dev- tage in their interactions with this Circle’s devils
ils beyond the walls of Dite. The Chasm Demon and Pluto himself – or they might find they have
(major devil) can be interpreted as freely as de- to fight tooth and nail to defend the cargo of Di-
sired, even more so than the Keepers seen so far. abolical Brews from the other greedy devils.
He could be entirely uninterested in the Band, or
curious but not hostile. Alternatively, he could Souls Who Escaped Judgment. This is the best
be very interested in the Infernal Artifacts they Circle to provide shelter to those thousands of
carry, rather than their Hope, and call to them. souls who avoided Minosse’s judgment. Each of
Another suggestion is that, for the right reward, them could be an adventure hook by itself (as
or because he thinks he can use the Travelers as shown in previous Cantos) and can also provide
pawns in his game against the Queen of Ever- the opportunity to unlock an Infernal Chronicle.
lasting Lamentation, he might reveal how to en-
ter the City of Iron (see Angelic Rod below) or the Avaricious and Prodigal. The same opportuni-
tunnels beneath the Palace (see Hidden Passage ties, of course, can also come from the regular
and Erinyes , Stanza III). damned found in the Chasm. The illuminatus,
for example, might recognize ancient masters of
Watchers of the Fifth Circle. Much like Pluto, magicks and occult wisdom, as greedy as they
even the Watchers who keep lookout over the are for forbidden knowledge and power, and
Stige and look after its watchtowers (guardian might ask these mages of the past for sugges-
devils) can offer a number of scenarios. The tions, advice, and tips on how to proceed. But
Watchers might still be loyal to Ecate and their why would they help? What is offered them in
duties, or they might side with rebellious Plu- exchange? And how much will such a deal cost?
to. There might even be some major devils who
do not appreciate Pluto’s lack of interest in his Angelic Rod. On the outer shore of the Stige can
duties, and wish to dethrone him or betray him be found the Angelic Rod (see Infernal Artifacts
by reporting directly to Ecate. They might also on page 171). The staff is a magical artifact im-
not care about the Travelers, preferring to focus bued with great power, left behind by the an-
on capturing the souls who escaped judgment, gel who descended all the way to Dite in order
for their own goals: pure curiosity, figuring out to chase out the devils and Furies who opposed
how souls might have reached this point with- Dante’s travels centuries prior. The item can be
out a sentence, or simply the enjoyment they found in a number of different locations, at the
get out their reaction to Flegias, the Irascible in Guide’s discretion and based on the Travelers’
the marshes or even a Leviathan. Some of these actions.
souls might even be worth something in Dite,

137
It, for example, might be in Pluto’s possession, Irascible. These damned souls gasp for air far-
who is willing to offer it to the Band in exchange ther down, where the black pool reaches hip
for a favor against Ecate, or for one of their own height, and they growl and yell, caught in a
Artifacts. Or maybe the original owner of the furious struggle with no end. Alternatively, the
item, the angel from Heaven, has somehow be- Guide can immediately use an encounter with
come an indifferent angel and now wanders and 2d6 irascible damned, in order to introduce
hides in the Fourth Circle, as demons cannot ap- the characters quite suddenly to the furious en-
proach it. One of the watchers might know of its vironment of the Stige.
location and sell the information to the Travel- The entire marsh, vast in all directions, infinite
ers, asking for their help in return for any of the and dense, is studded with huddles of bodies, na-
goals above. ked, bruised, and bloodied (irascible damned)
Alternatively, the staff could be located at the which risk running over the slower Lost Ones;
top of one of the watchtowers on the Stige’s alongside these clusters are the foaming whirl-
shore, hiding among the ruins or looked after pools of the Furenti (see Whirlpool in the “Events
by greedy devils. and Encounters of the Fifth Circle (Stige)” table
Stanza II – In a Dark Marsh Which

on page 140), which form suddenly and lethally,
intent on dragging down the succulent Travelers
Has the Name of Stige

and their Hope. Any damned soul can turn out
to be linked to one or more characters’ Infernal
Chronicle, of course – however, given the nature
We crossed the circle to the other bank, of their angry, furious sin, this time it might be
near to a fount that boils, and pours itself more of a hurdle…
along a gully that runs out of it. The outer part of the Stige is dotted more or
less regularly by roughly built stone towers,
The water was more somber far than perse; upon which grows sickly and twisted vegetation.
and we, in company with the dusky waves, Some of them are empty, even just temporarily,
made entrance downward by a path uncouth. others house diabolical legions (minor devils,
guardian devils) who are particularly fierce
A marsh it makes, which has the name of Styx, with whomever flies across the skies of Higher
this tristful brooklet, when it has descended Hell without being a direct emissary of the Lords
down to the foot of the malign gray shores. of Dite: a warning to all those who want to at-
tempt flying between the Third and Sixth Circle,
Dante Alighieri as their movements will be immediately spotted,
Inferno, Canto VII, 100-108 and they will be chased and punished.
Atop most of the Watchtowers are large, closed
O nce they have made their way through the

valley of mire where the Avaricious and
Prodigal are punished, the Travelers reach the
flowers, which constantly pulsate like black
hearts. When a creature touches one of these
strange infernal flowers, they bloom and emit a
point where the putrid dark streams from the sudden, tall wisp of flame. As soon as the flame
Third Circle fall into the Fifth, the Stige. The rises, will-o-the-wisps and watchers might be
Guide can describe the first part of this lugu- drawn to it, and become a problem for the char-
brious tar-colored marsh as calm, allowing the acters. The blaze soon dies out, however, and
characters to get used to the environment and another responds to its call in the distance: the
see or hear, on a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Per- Keeper of the Fifth Circle is making his way to-
ception) check, the angry, bitter fights of the ward those who summoned him.

138
Unlike Caronte, Flegias almost never takes
damned souls onto his ferry, as they are usually Circle, where the mire is deeper. If a Furente
flung directly into Dite or Lower Hell by Minosse. grabs hold of a Traveler, it is not over. Their
His duty is to ferry grounded devils, infernal jaws are powerful and their fangs have a good
centaurs, and other flightless creatures across grip, but they are still diaphanous souls. A
the Stige. Flegias’ loyalties lie solely with the good push toward the surface is enough to
Queen of Everlasting Lamentation, though he avoid being devoured alive. The main issue is
might also strike a deal with Pluto; therefore, he the viscosity of the black marsh, and the fact
has no reason to ferry the Lost Ones across the that once a Furente gets a taste of its prey, it
marsh unless one of the two powers has ordered is unlikely it will give up. They must attempt
him to do so. to swim away, hold onto one of the bloated
plants whose tendrils spread across the sur-
face, and prepare for the Furente’s attack.
Compared to other damned, whose torment Once destroyed, head back to Flegias – he will
forces them into the inability to harm anyone not have gone far, as these fights are enter-
else, the Irascible are much less restrained. A taining to him.
determined Irascible can leap out of the pits The other threat found in the Stige are the
and drag one of Travelers down to slash them larger will-o-the-wisps, which start appear-
to pieces. There may also be a reason: the tor- ing around two-thirds of the way on Flegias’
mented souls the Band will meet in Hell, af- ferry. They often leave the place where they
ter all, the ones that approach and recognize originate, drawn to the Hope of the living,
the Travelers may very well harbor vengeance trying to reach any who might still hold some.
against the Lost Ones from when they were The final leg of the trip is relatively safer, and
alive. the tower which houses Flegias can be spot-
Another threat comes from the so called ted. It rises from a rocky formation, almost as
Furenti: Irascible deep down in the pits of a lighthouse swarmed by vegetation. The de-
the marsh, who spin the mire into lethal mon, however, never stops by his home when
whirlpools out of blood lust. Their bodies are he is ferrying. There are domes to be seen be-
splayed, their limbs flattened, their mouths yond the tower, the color of blazing red met-
unnaturally wide, their eyes now whitish slits. al. This is the first glimpse at Dite, the city of
Their already broken mind is almost nonexis- devils.
tent here, with only a spark of awareness kept
alive by Divine Providence, so that they may
feel their punishment. Constantly furious,
constantly drowning, deformed into non-hu-
man shapes. Their fate might move anyone to
tears, if the monstrosity of their sin were not
so incredibly worse than their punishment.
Flegias tries to steer away from them, but if
the boat is rocked (as might happen, for ex-
ample, during a fight with an Irascible), it is
possible to fall into the Stige and be dragged
away by its currents. The Furenti increase the
closer the ferry moves to the center of the

139

140
The marsh becomes deeper as the characters
cross it toward the Profound Moats, the incred- Halfway across the Stige, the waters become
ibly deep water wells which stand between the darker still, their color by now that of deep ink.
marsh itself and the shore upon which Dite’s They are also, however, less thick and no more
black walls are built. It is possible for the Lost bubbling damned souls appear on the surface.
Ones to wade slowly through the first part of Imposing iron walls, scalding and black, loom
the marsh, but the Stige soon becomes too deep over the water and here are now the Profound
for them to do so in safety, and Flegias, Keeper Moats, the labyrinth of iron and water that
of the Fifth Circle, becomes the only hope they surrounds the city of Dite. The water here is
have of crossing to the other side. unnaturally deep, as if a well opened up be-
Flegias, however, does not appear until the neath the ferry. The rusty walls of canals and
characters light up one the Watchtowers on ei- locks span in every direction, held by chains
ther shore of the Stige. and locks, linked by ganglion and mechanisms,
Below are some examples and suggestions of activated by levers and pulleys, in a labyrinth
encounters to present to the Travelers as they seemingly impossible to navigate.
make their way across the Fifth Circle (and pos-
sibly, while on Flegias’ ferry).
T he Stige shore is considered difficult terrain. A dozen steps in, the marsh becomes a brackish pool, the
only possible ways to cross it being swimming or calling for Flegias. The waters of the Fifth Circle are
impossible to see through, deep, and unusually thick and corrosive. A creature who wants to swim through
them must succeed on a DC 13 Strength (Athletics) check. On a failure, the creature is restrained and takes 1d6
necrotic damage due to the fluid’s noxious nature before they can attempt the check again. It should not be
possible to actually cross the marsh by swimming, or at least it should require at least 6 consecutive successful
checks, each of which is paired with a roll on the “Events and Encounters of the Fifth Circle (Stige)” table: 2
for the initial part (roll 1d4 on the table), 2 for the central area (roll 2d4 on the table), and 2 at the Profound
Moats (roll 3d4 on the table). Crossing the marsh on Flegias’ ferry removes the swimming checks but not the
encounter table roll.
Events and Encounters of the Fifth Circle (Stige)
Events

Irascible. 2d6 irascible damned and 1 host of the irascible damned attack the Travelers and try
1 -2
dragging them into the black, lethal waters
Watcher. 1 guardian devil arrives to confront the Travelers, asking them how they are and why they
3-4
are crossing the Stige

Whirlpool. A whirlpool forms beneath the Stige’s surface, with deformed human limbs, slimy claws,
and toothy, jagged maws rising from it. To avoid falling into the water, any creature on the boat
5-6 must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw. Each Traveler who starts their turn in the whirlpool
must make a DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check to climb back onto the boat or swim away, or take 1d6
piercing damage and 1d6 necrotic damage and are still threatened by the whirlpool

7-9 Will-o-the-wisps. 1d4 will-o-the-wisps*, curious and hostile

Leviathan. One of the leviathans (kraken*
(kraken*)) emerges from the water and attacks the Travelers for
10-12
one round; it then retreats to the depths of the Stige


141
Even Flegias is wary of this place, as the depths

house things which terrify devils themselves.
Ancient beings, prisoners and guardians
A final note regarding the souls who
avoided judgment, noble spirits, and
indifferent angels: though it is possible up
alike of the Profound Moats. They have many to the Stige’s shore to encounter souls who
names, though the one that some Lost Ones escaped Minosse, wandering noble spirits
and the Guide might find more familiar is “le- with some Hope still, Lost Ones of times
viathans”. The first of their kind was already gone, and indifferent angels far away from
alive at the time of the original sin, and its kin Antinferno, all of this is not true within
was plunged into Hell during the Flood. the walls of Dite.
No one has ever seen the entirety of a levia- From the Sixth Circle onward, the only
than, and the Travelers are no different. At characters who can join the Band are mal-
best they will be forced to fend off a tentacle ebranche who have escape the Bolgias, or
encrusted with barnacles, or a serrated pin- special prisoners who had been held cap-
cer. The most unlucky might also come across tive in Ecate’s Prisons for so many centu-
a “sea serpent” with no eyes, which is actually ries they no longer have any sense of time,
the monster’s digestive tract. their Hope dwindling.
Flegias knows his task well and is unlikely to
awaken one of these water horrors, but no one
truly knows what might happen when the sur-
face of the Stige is stirred by a boat heavy with
the weight of the Lost Ones, or haphazard at-
tempt to swim across it.
It is impossible to kill a leviathan, the only way
to escape it is to wound it and take advantage
of its distraction. Beyond the Moats are the
gates of Dite, also wrought in iron and over-
seen by thousands of curious devils.
Pay no heed to the mockery and cries of de-
mons, as courage is needed for what lies
ahead: behind those gates is Dite, the city of
perdition.

142
Stanza III – Through More Secret prior, the accursed wolf has been sentenced
and Unfastened Gate

to the Pit, and Ecate rules unopposed on her
throne of bone, iron, flame, and pain.
There is another monstrosity hiding within
Then we arrived within the moats profound, these walls, too, a mythological being who can
that circumvallate that disconsolate city; kill even a Lost One with a single gaze: Medusa
the walls appeared to me to be of iron. the Gorgon. She never appears in public if not
by request of the Furies or Ecate, but when she
Not without making first a circuit wide, does, the only option is to flee.
we came unto a place where loud the pilot The Guide must ensure the Band closes their
cried out to us, “Debark, here is the entrance.” eyes and do not look back – should they find
themselves in a dead end with Medusa in pur-
More than a thousand at the gates I saw suit, may Hope guide their hand, as very few
out of the Heavens rained down, who angrily have faced the Gorgon and survived.
were saying, “Who is this that without death
goes through the kingdom of the people dead?” T he Lost Ones can access Dite in a variety
of ways, as described in Inferno – Dante’s
Guide to Hell, and it is possible for them to make
Dante Alighieri their way through the Dolent City with arms and
Inferno, Canto VIII, 76-85 Hope, or with cunning, subterfuge, or even the
complicity of infernal creatures.
Dite is the Capital of the Gloomy Kingdom, the Dite must be considered a fully working city,
City of Fire, the coruscating center of power of the only real city in all of Hell, and it is filled
Hell. with locations, diabolical beings, and charac-
Compared to the guardian devils of Higher Hell, ters who can offer a variety of adventure hooks,
and the monsters and malebranche of the Low- all catered to the group of Travelers who make
er Circles, the devils of Dite see themselves as an it through. A Band of Lost Ones being led by a
aristocracy, princes and sires, true lords of Hell, noble spirit Guide might try bypassing the City
if not by actual power, at least by heritage and of Iron through its underground tunnels, taking
lineage. Here are found all the demons of the old care of monsters and traps as they push for-
world, all the false gods and infernal creatures of ward to the Seventh Circle. A Band whose Guide
millennia past, all the fallen angels of the higher is a malebranche on the other hand, might
spheres, the monsters and portents who were not choose to walk in the light of the inextinguish-
relegated to a specific Circle or Round. And here able flames which cast their light on the cita-
they reside until their rulers send them on a mis- del’s sarcophagi and palaces, paying their way
sion to another location. through with favors and promises to Infernal
The entire pseudo-monarchy of Hell, its min- Ministers and Vassals.
isters, courts, princes, and vassals, all reside in Whatever the case, the Guide must proceed with
Dite, in towers, palaces, minarets of fire and iron. caution, offering gaming scenarios both suited
All of these buildings sprawl from the High Tower, to and enjoyable by the entire group of players.
which rises above the abyss itself; their ruler is In addition to the description found in Inferno
Ecate, the Queen of Everlasting Lamentation. – Dante’s Guide to Hell, the pages that follow
Pluto was once by her side, but due to dynas- provide new elements to and secrets about Dite,
tic events and internal disputes from millennia which only the Guide is privy to.

143

144
Torch Arc and the Forges Key Arc and

O n the other side of the Higher Gate to the
City of Fire is the Torch Arc, whose banner
the Apocalypse Well
is an emaciated mastiff, its ears and tail docked
and a flaming torch in its mouth, on a yellow
background.
M oving clockwise along the walls, the next
section is the Key Arc, whose banner is an
angry, fierce stoat on a blue background, with
The Torch is the Arc which houses the most blaz- a white key on its head. The roads narrow here
ing sepulchers, inside which Heresiarchs and and wind beneath archways, up steep staircases,
Schismatics of Abrahamic religions are punished and among rusted and broken buildings, their
and tortured, along with their followers. Each appearance exotic, ancient, and abandoned.
tomb contains the founder of a specific mono- This place houses many ancient sanctuaries and
theistic heresy and all the ones who followed temples of a hundred kinds of appearance, as
them, a crowd with no end of souls, crammed many as there are false religions, invented by
into a tight space. The damned are burned by people and written down in books. A circular
the fire, more or less depending on the severity building stands out from the rest, with a colos-
of their sin and the wrongfulness of the doctrine sal key on its roof and an entire congregation
they pursued. of celebrating devils. This is where the urns and
A few heretics are able, with great effort, to sarcophagi of gnostic heretics are held, as they
lift themselves from the sepulcher, for a few burn at the bottom of a well whose fires are so
moments at least, in order to speak with any hot the flames burn white. Behind the apse is a
Familiar, but the flames soon drag them back glass mosaic of corneas, a giant eye with tears
down again. of blood, while smaller mosaics of fingernails
The lids are forevermore open, and will be closed around the well depict the Apocalypse.
only after Judgment Day. The Officiant and Copyist devils of the Library
The Torch Arc also houses the infernal forges of the Salamander Arc, in line and their eyes
and furnaces. Artificer devils and blacksmiths shut as in in deep prayer, approach the well and
constantly hammer among the flames, fumes, throw inside book after iron book, containing
and iron anvils to create more sepulchers, iron hermetic texts, which burn and melt to the bot-
books, nails, and torture instruments, along tom, fueling the flames. It is said that when the
with pitchforks, chains, and weapons for the gnostic flame reaches the key, that will be the
devils, all infused with black fire. time for the Apocalypse.
Taking the spiral staircase inside the Well leads
to an enormous catacomb, which houses Neo
Platonists, Zoroastrians, Hermetists, and Hex-
ians. There is also an occult iron gate, rarely
guarded, which allows secret passage to the Sev-
enth Circle, without having to pass through the
Blind Prisons or the Lower Gate.
Ecate and her Vassals have no power over it, but
the Band must answer riddles and enigmas of
the doctrine for the occultists in the catacomb
before they are allowed through.

145
Centauress Arc and Salamander Arc and

the Lower Gate the Heretics Library
O pposite to the Key Arc is the Centauress Arc,
whose banner is a demonic horse-woman on
a red background.
T he Arc opposite to the city gates is the
Salamander Arc. Its banner is three knot-
ted red reptiles, on a black background. There
Here is a garden of metal refuse and leftovers, are multiple monumental access points to as
fused and bloomed together in spirals, stems, many crypts among the palaces and minarets
and caulicoles, forever covered in a carpet of of Ecate’s vassals, each of which is dedicated to
ash. The heat of the Palace of Underground Fire a primitive, prehistoric cult, forgotten by time:
does not reach this location, and sepulchers can flamen, priests of the spirits, shamans, worship-
be found among the iron roses, as they burn ers of blood and stone, and a hundred other fol-
with clear fire. These diaphanous flames pro- lies created my human minds.
duce icy cold and gnashing of teeth: this is the Each crypt burrows into the ground for some
punishment of demon worshipers, followers of time, the tombs carved into the rock, and the
fire and of the devil, and all those who turned heat and blaze of the other boiling sepulchers is
their faith to the Adversary, choosing Lucifero partly tempered here: the Heresiarchs contained
over the Lord. They are placed headfirst, as a here lived in primordial and barbaric times, and
paradoxical fire consumes them, draining their they cannot be too blamed for following beliefs
heat instead of spreading it. kindred to their savage dispositions.
To make the punishment worse, revenge dictates Their lighter punishment, however, is an offense
that the rock in which they are placed is also to the devils of Dite, and Ecate has ordered ad-
clear as crystal, allowing them to see the reason ditional torment.
and source of their heresy, down in Cocito. They A vast library rises at the center of the Arc, con-
were not allowed to be close to the object of their taining uncountable copies of blasphemous
veneration, not even after death, and the Lord texts, heretical tomes, and magical volumes, all
of Hell remains uncaring for these fools in their made of iron, etched line by line, iron page by
pain and torment. iron page. The shelves reach the ceiling in every
The Centauress Arc holds the only official access room, and there are dozens per wall, so tightly
to Lower Hell, a cold iron curtain within a tri- packed that it is hard to move among them.
umphal archway carved with multiple scenes of Hundreds of copyist devils oversee the Library as
sinful revelry. follows: they choose texts at random and bring
Just as with the Higher Gate on the shore of the them to the Heresiarchs in the Salamander Arc,
Stige, this gate is also guarded by the Armorers in their tombs, asking them to copy them out
of the City of Fire. Their leader is the Lord of into newly forged metal books; the Dolorous
the Lower Gate, Prince Vassago, third power in People of that Arc have never known writing, so
Dite. Convincing or bribing Vassago to open the they etch with tooth and nails forever, sense-
gate for the Lost Ones is not an easy task, even lessly and pointlessly. When the book is done,
though he is a spirit of knowledge, always keen they Copyist devils bring it back to the Library
to learn new secrets and mysteries. The only and discard another equally at random, burn-
other way through is to defeat the Armorers and ing it in the Key Arc, in the fire of the gnostic
Vassago, or obtain a Pass from the Palace. crypt; after that, they head back to the Library,
Good luck. choose another random text, and bring that one

146
to the damned soul, starting all over again. will become more and more succulent with time.
It is not entirely pointless, however, to search Creatures affected by the poison can end the ef-
through the Library. If the characters are able to fect only through death or by the will of Ecate,
make their way in and convince the Copyists and who created it in the first place.
the Librarian, Minister Berith, able to climb the The Palace is built on multiple levels, plus an
shelves and stacks with their bare hands, select- underground one, which communicates directly
ing the most remote and most secreted tomes, through iron bridges, to the Blind Prisons be-
able to tell apart the bad copies from the illeg- neath Dite.
ible ones and the incomprehensible doctrines, The first floor features a vast entrance hall lit
they might find useful information pertaining by smoking torches and infested by hundreds
to their Journey. of snakes, slithering over and between human
Some have been successful in the past in obtain- statues with terrified features. The statues are
ing a map from Minister Berith; a detailed map actually the petrified victims of Medusa. If Ecate
of the Malebolge and a treatise on the anato- has yet to set her loose upon the Travelers, the
my of devils, penned by Ecate herself. The key Band may find her here or in the underground
is to take advantage of the Librarian’s hunger tunnels, her lair and kingdom.
for knowledge and appear to be interested from The other presence which haunts the Palace at
a purely academic perspective: Berith may lead any given moment is the First Chamberlain of
a legion of copyists and researchers, but he still Ecate, Minister Astarte, who leads twelve legions
has to learn how not to fall for Travelers’ ruses. of devils. The latter and their commander ignore
any Traveler and courtier as long as they do not
The Palace of Underground Fire

attempt to enter areas other than the hall, the
corridor, and the Throne Room.
T Throne Room
he fire which fuels all the flames in Dite,
and the one which scalds its walls, and four
bridges and buildings in the four arcs, origi-
nates in Ecate’s Palace. A balcony right beneath
the dome of the central minaret, the High Tow-
er, allows Ecate and her servants, the Furies, to
A long corridor lined with a ruby red carpet
leads from the entrance hall to the Throne
Room, usually empty. Ecate spends most of her
oversee and watch over the entire city. time in her tower and only rarely appears before
The entrance is decorated with three snakes eat- her court.
ing each other’s tails, and the two doorknobs are The carpet glistens, as it is made of actual ruby:
in the shape of a wretched dog and a nightmare. myriad fragments of jagged rubies, so sharp
There is powerful poison inside the teeth of each even the devils cut themselves as they walk. This
mouth, which affects not the flesh but the soul. is the price for anyone seeking an audience with
It seeps through every clothing, armor, and In- the Queen of Dite.
fernal Emblem, burrowing for the heart. The
poison has a long-term effect, and those who The Throne Room’s ceiling is as tall as that of
encounter it feel only a momentary sense of loss. a cathedral, and skull-lanterns hang from it on
A green vapor will then start rising from the black iron chains. A scalding metal pillar rises
infected, about half an hour after coming into from the center of the room, emitting thin coils
contact with the poison, slowly increasing in in- of smoke: a chimney, of sorts, which exhales the
tensity. Devils and other infernal monsters are vapors accumulated in the blazing underground
attracted by such vapors, and the poisoned flesh tunnels.

148
Travelers who move closer to the throne encoun- ranging from dark brown to deep red. A bizarre
ter larger and more aggressive snakes, taken space awaits above, similar to a vast torture
from the Seventh Bolgia, some of which look like chamber. Sharp iron cages everywhere, stocks,
vipers, though the size is that of a grown person. racks, and pillars with chains attached to them.
A staircase to the left of the throne leads to the There are more statues here, placed against the
High Tower, with other rooms and nooks open- walls and holding hooks, saws, whips, and flails
ing all around. If Ecate is not here, it is always in their raised arms. The iron pillar which rises
possible to speak to Duke Valefor, First Usurper through the Throne Room provides light, and
of Dite, and personal attendant to the Queen. opens up at the top of the tower.
Travelers can request the Lower Gate Pass from Several branding irons are arranged around it,
Valefor, though he will ask them to provide a heating up in the scorching fumes. The floor is
long list of documents, attempting to trap the sticky, covered by a layer of coagulated blood.
characters in an endless bureaucratic process, No victims are to be found, however, as it is the
bouncing between all the Ministers and Presi- Erinyes themselves who torture each other with
dents of Hell, which will only lead to despair. these instruments. Maybe to mete out punish-
Travelers may also, however, ask to speak di- ment for sins only they know of, or maybe be-
rectly to Ecate. If they do so three times in a cause it is pleasurable in some way. There are
low, authoritative voice, cutting through the rumors that pain is the source of their power
mockery and threats of all those present, by and that is makes them stronger. All these may
law they must be allowed to meet with her. The be true, or none of them – the most important
queen may not leave her tower for the Band, part is that the Band should not be distracted by
though, and it is more likely that the charac- this grotesque location, and be prepared should
ters will be sent to the High Tower. This choice they make it all the way up here: the three sisters
should only be made if the characters are sure will soon be making their appearance.
of what they are doing, and ready for whatever If the Travelers have made it to the High Tow-
might await them. er and if they have been able to defeat or move
There is another secret to this room: there are past the Erinyes , the final floor is now available
three locks behind the throne, each correspond- to them: the Queen’s Chambers.
ing to a key around the neck of the Erinyes . If
The Eternal Furnace

the Travelers are able to acquire all three, they
can unlock the mechanism which will lead them
to the underground tunnels and the Eternal
Furnae.
T he tunnels beneath the Palace, Medu-
sa’s real lair, is a snake infested labyrinth
High Tower
– these creatures share the Gorgon’s same gift
though through their venom rather than their
gaze, and they attack only if provoked. Not even
T he High Tower at the center of the Palace

houses the personal quarters of the Queen
of Everlasting Lamentation. Its peak is the high-
the devils are brave enough to venture down
here, and the galleries are inhabited by Medu-
sa alone, along with the snakes, sludge, and the
est point in all of Dite, and it rises as a clawed remains of her meals.
finger towards the Hurricane, several miles Medusa is both a special envoy of Ecate and was
above. granted this lair in order to act as keeper of the
The internal staircases are made of shining white Eternal Furnace, the heart of Dite.
marble soiled with blood, streaks and stains

149
The iron pillar around which the Palace is built ture below the city: among them secretly reach-
burrows down under ground, into a colossal ing the Eternal Furnace and the Palace of Un-
forge of sidereal steel, treated with who knows derground Fire, or maybe accessing the Seventh
what arcane magicks to make it resistant to Circle without the Lower Gate Pass.
the fire it contains – the Underground Fire, a The Prisons are “blind” in that they are an in-
matrix of molten lava so hot it looks white, con- tricate maze of dead ends, false trails, and hall-
stantly gurgling and moved in a circular direc- ways ending against walled off doors and actual
tion by the mechanisms beneath the black pew- walls, but also because they are steeped in pitch
ter cauldron. Small valves all over release steam black darkness. The Divine Flame will light the
at regular intervals. characters’ way without any issue, but there will
The forge is the heart itself of the platform upon be no torches or braziers or furnaces anywhere
which the Palace is built, and is connected to – the Lantern will be shining bait, visible from
every building above. Sabotaging this diabolical miles away to any monster hiding down here.
artifact could cause the fall of the entire Pal- The Prisons are also immense, titanic in propor-
ace, and the extinction of every fire in Dite, also tions, built with enormous stones and arches,
causing the platform to fall directly upon Cocito steps, bridges, and beams made for giants, not
below, swiftly and still scalding hot. humans. Devils rarely venture down here, leav-
Triggering such an event should be impossible ing the space instead to primordial and forgot-
for the Band, though it would be of undoubtedly ten monsters, such as the leviathans of the Pro-
apocalyptic proportions. found Moats, the behemoths of the Third Circle,
or the Ziz of the Hurricane; cyclops, gegenees,
The Blind Prisons

hecatoncheires, and ancient titans, but also Ari-
maspi, and all types of inhuman peoples created
in error at the dawn of time, and since becom-
T he tunnels of the Palace of the Under-

ground Fire and the buried depths of the
four Arcs of Dite are connected by incandescent
ing extinct. These endless tunnels, this colossal
dark full of dens and vestibules, are effectively
the waste system of creation and of Hell, where-
passages carved inside the bridges. These hall- in are hidden nameless creatures which even the
ways are used by the Gorgon to leave her lair and Lord relegated into oblivion.
reach the streets of Dite, in order to carry out
the deathly tasks asked of her by the Queen of Below are examples and suggestions of various
Everlasting Lamentation. encounters and events that the Travelers might
Medusa has created, in each of these passages, a come across as they travel through Dite.
walkway of petrified organic matter, once limbs
and flesh belonging to the damned. The white Flocks of Devils. The walls of Dite are crowded
heat of the iron walls is enough to harm even with an uncountable number of minor devils. It
her. is unlikely they will let Travelers, or any creatures
Travelers are also able to move across these who are not destined inside the walls of the City
bridges, but they must still somehow resist the of Iron, through the gates. The walls, however,
scorching heat and avoid stepping off the walk- are tall enough that a Band of agile and obser-
way. vant Travelers might be able to explore the out-
Beneath the four Arcs of Dite are the Blind Pris- er area without too much interference. Flocks
ons, connected to the streets of the City of Fire of bloodthirsty devils take flight every now and
through endless staircases, crypts, catacombs, then to descend upon the marsh, and add more
and tunnels. There are very few reasons to ven- pain and despair to the damned within, or upon

150
the opposite shore, among the scorching streets Medusa. The powerful gorgon (Infernal Me-
of the City of Iron, stoking the flames of the sep- dusa) does not usually appear on the surface,
ulchers and committing who knows what oth- preferring the underground tunnels of the Pal-
er cruel acts. Much like any other Circle, some ace of Underground Fire. It is however possible
devils are less inclined to face the Band head on, to encounter her if the Lost Ones make their
and would rather prefer to investigate them, of- way into Dite’s tunnels – be it through a pas-
fer them exchanges, intrigues, and conspiracies, sage opened with the Angelic Rod (see Stanza I)
or even challenges and risky wagers, which can or entering through the hidden side passage in
lead to interesting and useful developments and the walls (see below). The only way to encoun-
hooks. ter Medusa outside of her lair is if the Erinyes or
Ecate herself call upon her. Her lair also hides an
Furies. The dark sky lit by the reddish flames of Infernal Artifact among the venomous snakes,
the Sixth Circle is populated by devils and de- Perseo’s Shield. This artifact is also part of Or-
mons of all kinds, but the furies also find their feo and Euridice’s plan to leave Hell. If either of
place here. Just like the malebranche, some of them are still with the Band, they might suggest
these creatures might find the Travelers inter- recovering the shield. In addition to the prop-
esting or curious, and might reveal the existence erties described on page 177, Perseo’s Shield also
of the three Erinyes keys (see below) in exchange has a special function as described at the end of
for favors, Hope, artifacts, mercy in combat, Canto X.
and more.
Erinyes. Among the Furies are three sisters who

stand out for their power and cruelty, the Er-
inyes: Megera, Aletto and Tisifone. If the Trav-
elers are spotted by the guardian devils from the
city walls, if they defeat demons and furies as
they make their way into Dite or to avoid
their interference, any of these crea-
tures might call upon the Erinyes’ for
help. They are cruel and swift, and
any negotiation will be brief and
unsuccessful. The Guide can,
however, include the presence
of the three keys in their pos-
session, allowing the three
sisters to access Ecate’s Pal-
ace and the Eternal Fur-
nace, where the characters
can find Perseo’s Shield (see
Medusa, below), or complete
tasks they have taken on pre-
viously.

151
Hidden Passage. A narrow and well-hidden Beyond the opening is a narrow tunnel which
opening can be found in the walls, directly op- leads beneath the Salamander Arc. A character
posite the Higher Gate, and allows one to enter who makes a successful DC 18 Intelligence (In-
Dite without being noticed. Finding it requires vestigation) or DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) can
knowing it exists, either by asking Pluto, Flegias, find a second secret door behind a half-ruined
or another devil or demon, or after carefully ex- blasphemous statue, leading to the city’s Blind
ploring the entire perimeter, on foot and in se- Prisons.
cret, which takes an eternity. Once the right spot
has been found, a character can see the opening
with a successful DC 13 Intelligence (Investiga-
tion) or DC 16 Wisdom (Perception) check.
Events and Encounters of the Sixth Circle (Dite)

The entire area within the iron walls of Dite, just as that directly outside, on the shores of the Stige, is
submerged in vapors and boiling exhalations. The ground is scalding, the air is scorching like the base
of a pyre, and the city itself is unbearably hot for any Lost One.
Every creature exposed to the infernal heat of the Sixth Circle must succeed on a Constitution saving
throw at the end of each leg, or suffer one level of exhaustion. The DC is 10 outside of the walls; the DC
is 13 inside the walls. Creatures with resistance or immunity to fire damage automatically succeed on
the saving throw.
d10 Incontri
1 Heretics. 2d6 heretics damned, or 1d4 host of the heretics damned
Infernal Burst. An infernal burst can wash over the Lost Ones at any moment. Each crea-
2-3 ture within a 30-foot cone from the burst must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw; on a
failure, it takes 26 (4d12) fire damage, or half as much damage on a successful save
4-6 Devils of Dite. 2d4 minor devils, or 1d4 guardian devils
7 Living magma. 2d6 magma mephits* and 1 fire elemental*
8-9 Furies. 1d4 furies
10 Fire devils. 1 major devil and 1d4 minor devils

152
Conclusion
T here is no escape from the Circle this time
for the Travelers: there are no stretches
of quiet between Dite and the Seventh Circle,
The recommendation is to let the characters
level up at least on two occasions: once after
crossing the external walls of Dite, effectively
and there is no freedom from the wailing and stepping into the Sixth Circle, and once after
lamentation, the scorching heat of the flames, reaching the Seventh Circle and defeating the
the caustic cries of demons, the fumes, or the Minotaur (see below).
ashen air.
The walls and inner fencing of the ring that If the Travelers, however, spend a lot of time
forms the infernal metropolis look out upon a between the Fourth and Sixth Circle, face sev-
barren, sheer slope, whose end cannot be seen. eral threats and reach a confrontation with the
However, there is a horrifying bellowing which Pseudomonarchy of Demons and Ecate’s Court,
echoes from the abyss. the Guide is free to grant a few extra levels.
It might take several sessions and multiple en-
counters to make it through the Fourth, Fifth,
and Sixth Circles, taking into account the Infer-
nal Keepers, monsters and perils of all kinds,
archdevils in need of pleasing, marshes to ferry
over, watchers to avoid, walls and gates to cross,
and all will only become more dangerous as the
group proceeds on their Journey.

153
Towards the Ninth Circle!

There are no Cantos and prepared scenarios in
this manual, as the Guide must make use of the
descriptions present in Inferno – Dante’s Guide
to Hell and all the information received so far to
T
here are still Rounds and Malebolge to go help the Band continue their Journey.
between the walls of Dite and the Ninth However, what follows are tools and additional
Circle, and these two Circles are, respec- information that might be useful in such a task.
tively, subdivided into three and ten sub-sec-
tions each.
T he Keeper of the Seventh Circle

As soon as the Travelers step outside the internal walls of Dite, whatever their direction, they will find
(Infernal Minotaur).
themselves facing the Sixth Keeper, the Minotaur (Infernal Minotaur).
This maddened and deformed beast of colossal size starts charging from the First Round and can be seen and
heard 3 combat rounds before it is in range of the Band. At that point, it will be 120 ft from the group and ev-
eryone must roll initiative, as this particular opponent will almost exclusively attack any intruder trespassing
into its Circle.

Events and Encounters of the Seventh Circle
The Seventh Circle is a scorching land, lashed by rains of flame and crossed by a river of boiling blood, which
scalds the damned within it. Each creature moving across the Circle must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving
throw at the end of each leg, or suffer one level of exhaustion.
d10 Events

1 Black she-mastiffs. 2d6 hellhounds*

2 Harpies. 2d4 infernal harpies

3 Centaurs. 1d6 infernal centaurs

Nesso (infernal centaur). This centaur wears a robe which he claims is causing him discomfort. A
character who wants to help him remove it, maybe in exchange for an escort or a ride beyond the
4-5
river, immediately loses 1 Hope Point and finds themselves attuned to Nesso’s Robe (see page 176).
The centaur will swiftly leave, laughing maniacally, and the Infernal Artifact cannot be returned

6 Guardian devils. 1 guardian devil and 2d4 minor devils

7 Minotaurs. 2d6 minotaurs*

8 Sand Waste Devils. 1 major devil and 1d4 minor devils

Ettore. If the Travelers have defeated the champion of false gods in the First Circle, they will find
him again here, in one of the three Rounds, glaring at them with hatred. Ettore is but a damned
9-10 soul now, though he will cry for the centaurs or devils of the Seventh Circle as soon as he spots the
Band. The only way to silence him is to hand over Ettore’s Helm, which must be given directly by the
character carrying it, losing the attunement


154
Perils of the Seventh Circle

Alongside the infernal creatures that inhabit the Rounds, there are also environmental perils which make tra-
versing these lands even more dangerous.
Flegetonte. A creature who starts its turn in the Flegetonte waters takes 11 (2d10) fire damage at the start of
each round. To swim across the Flegetonte, a creature must succeed on three DC 18 Strength (Athletics) checks;
on each failed check, the creature takes 16 (3d10) fire damage and has disadvantage on the next Strength (Ath-
letics) check.
Rain of Fire. The rain of fire in the Third Round falls for 1d6 rounds in an area with a 60 ft radius. Each crea-
ture starting its turn within the area of the rain must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw; on a failed save,
it takes 17 (5d6) fire damage, or half as much damage on a successful save. A creature surprised by the fire in
this area, or one who intentionally explores them during the precipitation, can find at their center an Jar of
Infernal Sand (see page 175).
Sand Waste. The steep plain of the Third Round is so scalding that the ground is considered difficult terrain.
Some areas are so hot that a creature who touches them must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, or
take 5 (1d10) fire damage.
The Flegetonte Moat Tyrants are immersed to above their eyes,

dragged down by the weight of their mortal sin,
T he Rounds are three immense spiral bends,

carved into the ravine of Lower Hell, around
the turns of the Flegetonte.
and forced in places to claw at the riverbed to
avoid being pulled away entirely.
There may be more hiding even deeper, but they
Coming from Dite, the First Round appears al- are not visible from the surface, and no one can
most entirely covered by the Flegetonte. Its say for sure.
broiling blood waters are not the only threat: Assassins, on the other hand, scream in pain
whatever lies on its shores and inside the blood and anger as blood reaches their throats, and
itself can be much worse. they blaspheme against the Lord. Thieves and
The worst of them all are masses of translu- bandits are immersed only from the waist down,
cent organs, dragging themselves painfully and can often be found fighting each other, at-
along the ground, leaving a trail of gold slime tempting to escape the thick waters. If any of
behind. Some cruelly call them the Pitted. The them succeeds, however, bone tipped arrows
Band should steer clear of them: they once were riddle and pierce their bodies, and they are
guardian devils, tempestarii, or malebranche, plunged back into the boiling blood. The cen-
or similar creatures, now punished for their er- taur archers responsible run along either shore,
rors or insubordination, or simply out of spite, ceaselessly, the muffled sound of their hooves a
by being boiled in the Flegetonte and having dull echo across the entire Round.
their skeleton removed.
The Sagittarii
These horrid beings still have full use of their
minds, and can use their slimy guts as lashes to
attack anyone who approaches.
Farther down, among the scalding rapids, the
souls of the Violent against others struggle, roll
and drown, plunged into the depths of the river
T hese are the Centaurs, beings known for
their endless fury and violence. Among
them is Nesso (infernal centaur), the most in-
according to the gravity of their sin. sidious and malicious of them all: his deals are

155
never favorable, unless anyone wishes for three trees of slimy flesh and bark. These woods are
times the peril he has spared them from. thick enough that it is hard to move through the
Not all Centaurs are unreasonable or fraudu- trees, and the only sound coming from within
lent, however. If the Travelers make themselves is a muffled beating of wings and soft weeping.
known to their leader, Chirone, they might be The Band must push through and make it to the
able to have a more intellectual encounter. Chi- edge of the abyss, and soon will find themselves
rone is a philosopher, astrologer, artist, and in the larger woods below.
doctor, as well as mentor to many famous he- If the Travelers were not able to gain the Cen-
roes currently inhabiting the Castle in Limbo. taurs’ favor, they will have to follow the blood-
The Band, and the Guide, might find a powerful ied moat for thousands of miles, until they have
ally in him, as long as they are able to keep up made a full circle around the Infernal chasm,
with his mind and recognize him as a Familiar as the river plunges into the Wood of Suicides.
Spirit. His wise soul is entwined with his bes- They can also attempt to find the Ford by their
tial nature, and his temperament is volatile at own means, and cross it by keeping at bay both
best. Successfully currying his favor or satisfy- the Violent damned below, and the Sagittarii
ing his requests could warrant an escort to the arrows above – no easy task.
Centaurs’ base camp. Here, skin tents held up Whatever the case may be, what awaits after
by living bones rise from the damp ground, and the Flegetonte is something else entirely: gloomy
tables are growths similar to molars. There are branches and wailing in darkness.
no seats, of course: Centaurs always stand, even
The Wood of Suicides

while sleeping. This village-organism also hous-
es female Centaurs and a few foals, and their
existence is removed – for a moment at least –
from the endless task of punishing the damned.
N o matter what direction the Travelers have
come to these woods, there will be no path.
The Vermilion Ford

The recommendation is to follow along the
Flegetonte, or head once again toward the cen-
ter, farther below, toward the abyss. And leave
A fter gaining Chirone’s hospitality, the Band

might be able to also gain an escort toward
the Vermilion Ford, the point in which the Flege-
this place as swiftly as possible, without ever
looking back.
The wall of gnarled and blackened trees sports
tonte is less deep and can be crossed to reach the dark green leaves and branches as knotted as
Second Round. Rocks akin to ankle bones and thorns, and equally as venomous. As the Travel-
knee caps emerge from the river, which can be ers move through it, the vegetation undergoes a
used to leap across to the other shore. The Trav- horrifying transformation: human faces writh-
elers must follow the Centaur leading them, as ing in agony appear in the bark. Looking at the
not all rocks are stable and some might capsize trees and brush again reveals that they are more
under their weight. The Band should also be on similar to stretched, wooden, humanoid figures,
the lookout for the damned beneath the red wa- arms as branches and feet for roots.
ters, as they will take the crossing as an oppor- These are those who were Violent against them-
tunity to attack – though the help of the archer selves. Minosse flings their soul down here and a
Centaurs should be enough to safely reach the new seed is planted as they hit the ground. Just
other shore. as they were unable to move beyond their own
The inner shore of the Flegetonte hosts an- pain in life, denying an existence to themselves,
other living obstacle, this time made of naked here they are now, immobile and at the mercy

of their surroundings. Their wooden mouths
do not allow them to speak, but should anyone
snap a twig, both blood and insults will flow.
The wails you hear in the woods have the same
source, as there are, up there in the trees, crea-
tures who feast on the leaves and break their
branches: the Harpies. Half-women, half-birds,
these monsters are always hungry by their very
nature, and they leap from tree to tree, causing
enormous pain to the damned souls.
What moves them is hatred, pure loathing to-
ward all living, growing things, and Travelers
must be cautious around them. Harpies will at-
tempt to blind and bite their victims, but their
worst weapon by far are their acid sprays, strong
enough to melt flesh.
Dark Honey and

Cursed She-mastiffs
T he tree tops are not the only place the Band
should be watching for threats. There are
threats lurking between the dolorous trunks too,
and the Harpies are not the only creatures tor-
menting souls and Lost Ones. The underbrush
will eventually rustle, and huddles of Dolorous
People covered in scratches will run through –
what is chasing them is a threat to the Lost Ones
too, and they would be wise to swiftly hide.
The black she-mastiffs of the woods, progeny of
Cerbero, are ruthless torturers. Their muscles
ripple beneath their short fur, and their sharp
muzzles ooze with drool as they run. They
were made to chase and lacerate their prey,
the squanderers, but they will not turn away
from the taste of Lost One or Noble Spirit. The
Squanderers are punished for having dilapi-
dated their wealth, and so they are treated by
the she-mastiffs as they catch up. As the hunt
ends, the dogs return from whence they came,
bearing those aching members. Unwisely fol-
lowing them will lead to a path festooned with
cocoons the size of newborns hanging from the

157
branches, whose presence is enough to unset- speaks in riddles and enigmas, asking impossi-
tle, as whatever is inside them clearly feeds on ble questions of whomever talks to him.
blood. The farther away from the Flegetonte, To head out of the Wood, the Band can follow
the more cocoons appear, until the Band will Sansone’s advice, or keep moving downward
reach a clearing – the heart of the Woods, from toward the abyss, or turn back and follow the
which rises a single imposing tree with a hol- Flegetonte for another endless circle. Whatev-
low trunk. Its appearance is that of a weeping er the means, they will finally reach the start of
willow, its long leaves similar to hair, and its a scorching desert, as a rain of fire slowly falls
wooden features regal and fierce, with two slits from the gloomy sky.
continuously crying blood where eyes should
The Infernal Sand Waste

be. In life, this was Sansone the Judge, who
became famous due to his incredible strength,
and was tricked by Dalila of the Philistines. He
ended his own life when he brought down the
house he had been chained to during a cele-
bration, killing more than three thousand Phi-
F ar above, immeasurable miles above this
desert, is Dite’s Palace of Underground Fire,
and embers and fuming vapors trickle and per-
listines. This is considered supreme violence, colate down from it, turning into falling snow-
both suicide and murder – and the reason for fire, incandescent flakes burning up on the sands
his presence here. below and marking the border with the Wood.
The she-mastiffs place their fleshy trophies in On the Sand Waste itself are – lying, sitting, and
a pool of nectar inside the hollow trunk, and wandering throughout – the Violent against the
when the fetid honey is ripe, large maggots Lord. Depending on the specifics of their sin,
emerge. These milky larvae, in time, will spin the some of them are prone on the ground, bray-
cocoons from which Harpies are born. ing blasphemously to the heavens, unable to
On the opposite side of the tree, someone has roll on their back; others sit with their knees to
placed a copper faucet, through which any- their chest, in tears; others must keep walking
one can extract the horrid honey. The faucet is forevermore beneath the rain of fire, their feet
shaped like an open-mawed lion, with a small scorched by the sand and their faces burnt to a
symbol of a snake etched on its forehead – per- crisp by the flames falling from Dite.
haps a sign of Ecate’s doing. The damned pose no real threat in this place.
Drinking of Sansone’s black honey, should any The Travelers should still be wary of the falling
character be brave enough, can increase their embers and the scalding sand, as their effects
strength but debilitate their health. A Travel- are enough to wipe them out.
er who consumes the honey will increase their
The Salt of Sodoma

Strength score by 4, including their maximum
ability score, and their maximum hit point score
is reduced by 2 per level. These effects last until
the next long rest.
It is dangerous to be around Sansone too long:
the she-mastiffs are here often enough, and the
O ne solution to avoid the rain of fire and the
heat of the ground is to find shelter along
the shores of the Flegetonte, whose banks are
Harpies are aggressive and many in number. lined with low rocky barriers in this Round. The
Talking to the Judge, however, might yield useful warm current caused by the boiling blood redi-
results: he may be blind, but he can feel every- rects the falling embers, and the ground is al-
thing taking place around any infernal plant, no most tolerable, allowing for safer passage.
matter what Circle. The only downside is that he The Band can observe the damned from this

158
rocky shore, even allowing for the Lost Ones to They can, however, move very suddenly, emit-
meet one of their Familiar Spirits, though the ting clouds of bitter and blinding salt. What
bank is not entirely safe – for here are also the was at first a lump of rock now reveals stumps of
Canuti, the forgotten dwellers of Sodoma and arms and fingers trying to grab at the Travelers,
Gomorra, whose sins included all three that the like a statue emerging from its marble block.
other Violent in this Round are punished for. The Canuti should not be underestimated: it is
Their bodies are fused with the rocks, making it easy enough to step over one thinking it a rock,
harder to spot them. Divine wrath turned them only to end up captive to their limbs – their
to salt statues, and they maintain this appear- grasp is ironclad despite their unfortunate ex-
ance in Hell. Their features are almost entirely istence. The Salt of Sodoma punishes them with
gone, with only a hole for a mouth and two dim- unquenchable thirst, spurring them to bite the
ples for eyes, and none of them can be Familiar Lost Ones in order to drink of their blood.
Spirits to the Lost Ones.
Into the Malebolge

T he Band will travel down a steep abyss,
holding tight onto the scales of Gerione,
the Seventh Infernal Keeper, and the only way to
move through this stretch. Beneath them is the
area of the Malebolge, the penultimate Circle
before Cocito, though the shadowy abyss they
travel through now is filled with fear and danger.
Several malicious and inhuman entities lurk
here, fragments of inessence.
They have no real form, nor do they make any
sound, though they are legion – maybe millions,
maybe not even a finite number. Most of these
creatures are in a deep slumber, and should not
pose a threat to the Travelers.
The farther Gerione travels, the more awake
they will be. They will not fight the Travelers or
the Guide, however. They do not wish to hurt or
eat, they simply want to continue to exist. That
is why they have hidden down here, where the
dark womb in which they were born still persists
and the divine light is but a distant memory.
All it takes though, is for one of them to graze
one of the Travelers, out of curiosity, for the Lost
Ones or the light of Hope, and reality itself will
be upended. Many a Lost One before this Band
have lived entire lives imprisoned in their minds
by a perfect world in which every wish was ca-
tered to and granted.

159
A false Heaven in Hell, dozens of years gone in
a heartbeat. Everyone who has traveled togeth-
er with the Lost One touched by one of these
beings will share the same dream, in which ev-
eryone has the life they desired. Those unlucky
P erils of the Eighth Circle
(Malebolge)
The perils of the Malebolge are multiple
enough to be touched by a Genie might even and fearsome. In addition to the descrip-
spend several lifetimes before realizing they tions of the Bolgias found in Inferno –
have been spending their days caught up in a lie. Dante’s Guide to Hell,
Hell, the Guide can also
A Lost One who tries to free themselves from the use any of the perils provided below.
illusion will experience perhaps the most pain-
ful feeling found throughout all of Hell, and Stretch of Excrement. Any creature who
this task can only be achieved through incred- starts its turn in an area occupied by ex-
ible willpower and the sacrifice of everything crement must make a DC 13 Constitution
they wish for the most. Only by rejecting all of saving throw, or be poisoned until the end
the Genie’s gift can anyone be truly free. As soon of a long rest.
as every Traveler has freed themselves from the Infernal Bursts. An infernal burst can
wishful illusion, the Genies will retreat and leave wash over the Lost Ones at any moment.
something behind: a fragment of the dream Each creature within a 30-foot cone from
echoes in the real world, generated by the chaos the burst must make a DC 13 Dexterity sav-
before time itself. ing throw; on a failure, it takes 26 (4d12)
fire damage, or half as much damage on a
After this encounter, the Lost Ones can choose successful save.
to unlock an Infernal Chronicle without having Lake of Boiling Tar. A creature who enters
met a Familiar Spirit. the area for the first time or starts its turn
in the area must make a DC 15 Dexterity
saving throw. On a failed save, the crea-
ture is restrained and takes 16 (3d10) fire
damage. A creature using concentration
in the area of the lake of boiling tar must
make a successful DC 15 Constitution sav-
ing throw, or lose concentration.
Snakes. 2d6+2 giant poisonous snakes*
and 1 guardian devil
Keepers of the Malebolge. 1 major dev-
il (armed with the Brutal Cleaver)
Cleaver) and 1d6
minor devils.
Pestilence. Each creature who starts its
turn in the area affected by pestilence must
make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, or
be infected by the sight rot disease
Caco. This fierce and brutal monster is an
infernal centaur equipped with the Bow of
the Asp.

160
Canto X – The Emperor

of the Dolorous Kingdom
keeps Cocito frozen – and the freeing of a horde
of traitors who might try escaping Hell itself.

T
enth Canto, in which we narrate of the
Fallen Archangel, the Morning Star, he
who is sentenced to rule over all of Hell
from his throne of ice. Frozen lake Cocito, the
Ninth circle, is his abode, the prison of all traitors,
A fter overcoming centaurs, minotaurs, har-
pies, demons, and malebranche, you find
yourselves on the ledge of a well over ten miles
and the only way out of Hell. in diameter – the empty pillar at the center of
the heart of the world, and set at its very bottom
is Lucifero himself.
Treatise for the Guide Everything you have faced so far, every danger,
every threat or lethal peril, is nothing compared
T his brief conclusive Canto has been de-

signed to offer prompts and suggestions
for the Guide to facilitate the final scenes of the
to what awaits…
campaign and the end of the Band’s Journey.

It is possible to include Infernal Chronicles in
the Ninth Circle as in any other so far, though
an optional addition to the introducto-
the main characters of this final chapter are ry campaign. It can be used as a general
undoubtedly the freezing cold and the prince of indication of how the campaign might
demons, Lucifero. A battle with Lucifero is inev- conclude as the Travelers reach the end of
itable, and it is not certain that the characters their Journey.
will survive a tragic ending in the final act. If the As with the previous Cantos, these parts of
Lost Ones are able to defeat him, the Guide must the Journey should be used alongside the
keep in mind that the fall of the first among the descriptions found in Inferno – Dante’s
rebel angels also means the interruption, even Guide to Hell,
Hell, chapter 3.
just momentarily, of the beating of wings which

161
Stanza I – These are Not Towers, The Keepers of the Ninth Circle (Giants of
but Giants
Cocito) are so ancient and devoid of their
own will that they do not oppose the Travel-
ers’ wish to descend towards the Ninth Circle:
As, when the fog is vanishing away, after all, who would choose to go there?
little by little doth the sight refigure Old Nembrot is directly above the entrance,
whate’er the mist that crowds the air conceals, placed here to announce the arrival of any
intruder. His fierce face is covered by a thick
so, piercing through the dense and darksome air, beard, braided in the ways of Babylonian
more and more near approaching tow’rd the verge, kings. A strip of leather holds his horn around
my error fled, and fear came over me; his neck, hanging over his muscular chest.
Continuing to the left is Fialte, whose icy
because as on its circular parapets chains hold his left arm in front and right arm
Montereggione crowns itself with towers, behind his torso. His features are those of a
e’en thus the margin which surrounds the well brute with no brains, eyes blacker than sin.
With his brothers, he waged a war, against the
with one half of their bodies turreted heavens, believing themselves to be stronger
the horrible giants, whom Jove menaces than the Lord. Now he is here, roaring power-
e’en now from out the heavens when he thunders. lessly against his fate and nothing much can
be gathered from a conversation with him,
Dante Alighieri other than curses and threats.
Inferno, Canto XXXI, 34-45 Farther ahead is Anteo, whose arms are free.
His appearance is much more noble, with long
T he well of giants howls just below the Trav-

elers.
Perhaps for the first time since their Journey be-
straw-colored hair and a Roman general’s
aquiline nose. His skin seems made of mar-
ble and is creased with cracks, while his eyes
gan, the Lost Ones are able to feel the imped- are deep blue pools. Anteo, despite his pun-
ing end to their path through these infamous ishment, or maybe because of it, has a kinder
lands, the closing in of the sought after desti- disposition than his kin. He can talk, and if
nation. Those who have made it so far and still flattered enough, will help you down the Well.
hold some Hope, are now facing the last leg of He angers quickly, however, so choose your
the Journey, the last effort. The Infernal estuary, words carefully.
the final Circle. Moving in a clockwise manner you will reach
the nape of Nembrot, and a few beats later
However, rather than being encouraging, the you will catch sight of a being completely dif-
cold atmosphere rising from Cocito causes shiv- ferent from the first three giants: Tizio is as
ers and their blood to freeze. The air becomes black as coal, fractures all along his body,
colder than ever, as cold as death. It crawls into through which bolts of lightning are visible.
the flesh and mind of the Travelers, through Five arrows, whose shafts are as large as
their own breathing, their own whispers. Lucif- a ship’s mast, are lodged in his liver. White
ero’s voice travels upon the cold wind, lashed by smoke curls out of his mouth, nose, and
his multiple wings, as the shapes of giants rise empty eye sockets. His chains are around his
over the ledge of that final chasm. neck and force him back against the wall,

162
but his arms are free and he can speak, in spite of his terrible punishment. Tizio is less agreeable
than Anteo, but a conversation can still be had, and a compromise can be reached in order to descend
farther.
Moving around the Well will lead you to the most imposing of all the Giants, whose belly is fixed with-
in the base of this chasm and whose head appears above the ledge. Ice chains hold his arms crossed
over his chest, but this does not make him any less dangerous. This is Tifone, once the most powerful
being among all those who came before the gods. His face is that of an old man, unkempt beard and
eyes blazing with fire. His human semblance is but a mask. Just like Gerione, he can change shape
at will: sprouting wings, additional heads and arms, tentacles akin to snakes, fire-breathing maws.
The final giant is to the right of the point you started, the same distance you moved towards Fialte.
This is Briareo, one of the hecatoncheires demons. Instead of a single head, he has a cluster of fifty,
each the size of an average human head. They speak in unison, united by a single mind, though some
at times bite one another, or close their eyes as if to sleep. Each elbow splits into fifty slender fore-
arms, each ending in a clawed hand.
Briareo is terrifying to look at, and yet the hecatoncheires is less dangerous than Tifone. Perhaps that
is why his chains are longer around the neck and arms, allowing for wider range of movement. I would
not ask Briareo to lead you below, however: his mind is peculiar and can easily shift from tranquil
conversation to bursts of murderous folly.
Events and Encounters in the Ninth Circle (Cocito)

All areas of Cocito are swept by the icy winds of Lucifero’s ever-beating wings, almost like a windmill, and are
considered difficult terrain due to the ice all over the ground. Every time a Traveler takes a short or long rest in
Cocito, they must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw, or lose 1 Hope Point.

d10 Events
1 Traitors. 2d6 traitor damned and 1d6 host of the traitor damned

Glacial gusts. Lucifero can hit the Lost Ones with a glacial gust no matter what area of Cocito they

find themselves in. Each creature within 40 ft of the origin point of the glacial gust must make a
2-3
DC 13 Dexterity saving throw; on a failure, it takes 27 (5d10) cold damage, or half as much damage

on a successful one

4-6 Ice devils. 1d4 guardian devils and 1d6 minor devils

7 Living ice. 2d6 ice mephits* and 1d4 water elementals*

8-9 Giants. 1d4 ice giants*

10 Keepers of Cocito. 1 major devil (armed with the Shard of Cocito) and 1d4 guardian devils


163
P erils and Events of the Ninth Circle

The surreal and relative distances in Hell become much more defined in the Ninth Circle.
Each Round of Cocito (Caina, Antenora, Tolomea, and Giudecca) can be crossed in three “legs”.

Caina
The first of the four concentric Zone into which Cocito is divided. The ice does not cover the
ground entirely, here at the farthest point from Lucifero, it is more similar to vast white atolls
emerging from the rigid waters.
Smooth Slabs. Some of the slabs of ice of Caina, which characters are forced to use to cross the
area, are incredibly unstable and slippery. A creature who moves onto a slab for the first time
during their turn must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check, or fall prone. If the sav-
ing throw fails by 5 or more, the creature falls into the Gelid Waters of Caina (see below). This
effect can only happen once per leg of travel.
Gelid Waters of Caina. A creature can remain in the waters of Caina for a number of rounds
equals to its Constitution modifier (minimum 1) before suffering any side effects. For each ad-
ditional round spent in the waters of Caina, the creature must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution
saving throw, or suffer one level of exhaustion. Creatures with resistance or immunity to cold
damage automatically succeed on the saving throw.
Antenora
When the wind and the cold are strong enough to freeze the last drop of Caina’s waters, that is
where Antenora begins. A forest of ice tongues, sharp and jagged, stretches before the Travelers.
The Lost Ones’ footwear creaks with every step on the glacier, and clear, sharp claws seem to
reach from every crack to slash their flesh.
Ice Thorns. Some areas of the ice forest are made of stalagmites so thick and jagged that they
form actual ice thorns, making the passage even more dangerous. A creature who moves close to
an ice thorn directly for the first time during its turn must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving
throw, or take 11 (2d10) slashing damage. This effect can only happen once per leg of travel.
Wind and Hail. The strong gusts of wind give disadvantage to Wisdom (Perception) checks that
rely on hearing. They can also create an ice storm which gives disadvantage to Wisdom (Percep-
tion) checks that rely on sight. When an ice storm forms in Antenora, each creature that starts
its turn in the area of effect must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw; on a failed save, it takes
9 (2d8) bludgeoning damage, or half as much damage on a successful one.
For each leg, there is a one in four chance (1 on 1d4) of an ice storm.
Tolomea
As they leave the icy forest of Antenora, the Lost Ones enter an area of open air. A vast glacier,
polished by the winds of Lucifero’s wings, stands between the Travelers and the final destination
of their Journey. At the end of this wind-ridden expanse is Giudecca, and with it Lucifero
Lucifero.. There
seem to be no predators nor perils in this area of Cocito, but reaching the demon prince is still
no easy task.
Dolorous Ice. Each creature exposed to the dolorous ice of Tolomea must succeed on a DC 13
Constitution saving throw at the end of every leg, or suffer one level of exhaustion. Creatures
with resistance or immunity to cold damage automatically succeed on the saving throw.

164
Tolomea Plain. If the previous area and its forest was able to trap some of the glacial, violent
winds, there is no shelter in Tolomea. The air which swiftly blows out of the labyrinth that sur-
rounds Lucifero crashes against the glacier with exorbitant fury, scattering debris and ice shards
in every direction. These, however, are not the only perils of the Tolomea plain, as the traitor
damned buried feet first in the ice will attempt to bite the Lost Ones, if they get the chance.
The strong gusts of wind give disadvantage to Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing.
Additionally, each creature moving across Tolomea must succeed on a DC 13 Strength (Athletics)
check at the end of each leg, or suffer one level of exhaustion.
Giudecca
A labyrinth of frost and ice slabs, polished and filed smooth by the wind, surrounds the area in
which the lord of Hell is trapped. The hallways of the unsettling yet spectacular natural formation
are filled with howling winds, so loud as to stun the characters, and it becomes hard to not only
hear and see, but also to think clearly.
Dolorous Ice. Each creature exposed to the dolorous ice of Giudecca must succeed on a DC 14
Constitution saving throw at the end of every leg, or suffer one level of exhaustion. Creatures with
resistance to cold damage have advantage of the saving throw. Creatures with immunity to cold
damage automatically succeed on the saving throw.
Wind of Giudecca. The gusts of wind here are stronger than ever. The roar of Lucifero’s ever-beating
wings is akin to the cracking of a thousand sails in a storm – and yet, all this chaos is not enough to
cover the diabolical murmuring of the first fallen angel, as they echo off the labyrinth’s walls. The
wind of Giudecca gives disadvantage to Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight and on hear-
ing. Additionally, every time that a Traveler completes a short or long rest while in Giudecca, it must
succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw, or lose 1 Spark of Hope instead of 1 Hope Point.
Giudecca’s Labyrinth. It is no easy task to find one’s way in the labyrinth. To make it out of the
frozen labyrinth and reach Lucifero’s lair, the Travelers need to make a group DC 14 Wisdom (Sur-
vival) check. On a failed check, the Travelers are lost in the labyrinth for a leg.
The Devil’s Lair. Lucifero’s lair represents the farther point from Divine Grace, the most despica-
ble, the most sinful. A strange energy permeates the entirety of Giudecca, weighing the air down
and filling with the ancient evil power of the first rebel angel. Any undead and fiend, including
Lucifero, have advantage on all saving throws while within the Devil’s Lair.
In whichever way the Band makes it down the When the Travelers reach the end of the Well of
last hundred feet of the Well, be it with the aid of Giants, they reach their next level for the last
a giant or by their own means, Lucifero’s words time (except for the Exiled, who find their future
carried on the wind of his wings will wash over place of damnation in the Second Round of the
the Lost Ones as they step onto the frozen carpet Ninth Circle).
which covers the entirety of Cocito. All certain-
ty about an exit even existing, never mind its Additionally, though the Keepers of the Well
supposed proximity, are swept away, along with of Giants are not an obstacle to the Travelers,
their willpower. and in fact may even help them, they will attack
immediately should the characters attempt to
Leaving the Malebolge behind and heading into climb their way back up. There is no return from
the Ninth Circle is the final seal to the Traveler’s Cocito.
deeds, before facing Lucifero himself.

165
Stanza II – Vexilla Regis Prodeunt

ber, through – but the chosen ones will have to
eliminate their companions in order to gain the
Inferni
way out of Hell, effectively betraying them. The
ideal test would be for the Lost Ones to have to
choose whether to fight or leave behind any mal-
How frozen I became and powerless then, ebranche, indifferent angels, or other compan-
ask it not, Reader, for I write it not, ions from the Band.
because all language would be insufficient. Lucifero may even keep his word, if that were
to happen: after all, such a development would
I did not die, and I alive remained not; both confirm the renewed imprisonment of the
think for thyself now, hast thou aught of wit, Travelers who joined the Band, and void the
what I became, being of both deprived. path of redemption of the Lost Ones. Sure, let
them return to their lives: the Ninth Circle, the
The Emperor of the kingdom dolorous Circle of Traitors, awaits them after death.
from his mid-breast forth issued from the ice;
Defeating the Devil

and better with a giant I compare
Than do the giants with those arms of his;

consider now how great must be that whole,
which unto such a part conforms itself. I f all Travelers agree upon attacking the
devil and then manage to defeat him, it
will be possible to move beneath him before he
Dante Alighieri reforms and strikes again, reaching the Burel-
Inferno Canto XXXIV, 22-33 la and leaving Hell behind forever. The fight,
however, will be horrific!
Lucifero If the Band has it, Orfeo’s Lyre might come in
I t does not matter if the Travelers have gained

enough power to face Lucifero; there is no
way back, and he is what stands between them
useful in a surprising manner: if any character
in the Band can make use of its Final Secret (see
page 64), they can enact a miracle and donate 1
and the only way out of Hell. To his eyes, the Glimpse of Hope to Lucifero himself. What the
Travelers – and everything they have probably devil might do with it, or what effect the Divine
caused to happen during their Journey, all the Flame might have within him is for the Guide to
chaos, confusion, Hope let loose in the Blind decide. The crucial point is that Lucifero will be
World, along with the souls scattered through- so distracted by this turn of events that he will
out Higher Hell who never received their judg- no longer pay attention to the Travelers, allow-
ment, facing and defeating the Infernal Keep- ing the latter to make their way through.
ers, breaking the rules of his kingdom, and so on Another way to move past Lucifero without
– despite all of this, they remain but pale, insig- fighting him is for each and every character to
nificant lost souls whose destiny is of no impor- refute him and refute their own sin, seeing their
tance to him. They are also, however, a threat to path finally through to its worthy conclusion.
his authority, and that of all the Keepers. This option is only available to those Travelers
It is unlikely that Lucifero will let the Lost Ones who have completed the preceding steps in their
go without at least first having some fun with redemption: facing and moving past their al-
them. The Emperor of the Dolorous Kingdom located punishment circle, and, in the case of
might make the Travelers an indecent offer: the Lost Ones, having completed their Infernal
he will only let some of them, a limited num- Chronicles (see page 54).

166

167
Conclusion
Lucifero will attack the Band in anger, trying
to provoke them into striking him and tricking
them into sin once more. If no one reacts and
keeps refuting their sin, Lucifero will grab them
all and devour them in his three maws, causing
them to be destroyed once more. However, the
D ivided or all together, finally redeemed or
still encumbered by sin, if the Lost Ones
have survived the incessant loss of Hope and the
Lantern of the Divine Flame, swallowed along thousand perils of Hell, they have reached the
with the semblance who carried it, will burn him end of their path.
from within. He will spit it out in dreadful pain, If everything went according to plan, the
and be stunned for some time. grand finale that awaits the players is de-
If – and only if – the Travelers are able to survive scribed in Inferno – Dante’s Guide to Hell
this final regeneration without losing all Hope, on page 180. Take as much time as you need,
they will reform by the Lantern and will find Guide, to bring the game back to the suitable
themselves already on the way to the Burella, tragic, epic, and lyrical tone that an ending
beneath the legs of the ancient monster. such as this adventure demands. The number
of people who made it through Hell and sur-
Another Infernal Artifact that might be useful vived can be counted on one hand.
against Lucifero, if modified and used in com-
bination with the Lantern, is Perseo’s Shield. The If, instead, things have gone differently than
Shield can be made into a burning lens which expected, if the Travelers are still damned, lost,
projects a beacon of divine light, capable of Lost Ones… well, there is still the mountain of
blinding the emperor of Hell himself, at least Purgatory to climb.
for a few seconds. The only issue with this effect
is that the two artifacts must be attuned to the And if, by chance, your Journey has subverted
character carrying either of them to work, which too many of Hell’s rules and you have caused its
means that the two characters bearing shield destruction, well… the world might be on the
and lantern will not be able to escape from Hell verge of the Apocalypse and the End of Times.
if they are tasked with distracting Lucifero.
After all, is it not also part of the Lord’s ineffable
In all of these cases, be it through redemption plan?
and regeneration, or having defeated the devil
himself, the Lost Ones can finally leave Hell!

Chapter IV
Infernal Artifacts

170
Infernal Artifacts
tifact again to the same Emblem, to another of
their Emblems, or pass it on to another Traveler.
A Traveler cannot carry an unbound artifact:
A
Brigade’s Journey through the Nine Cir- when they meet an artifact, they can only either
cles is fraught with tumultuous revela- bind it (one per character), or leave it where they
tions, unexpected events that enrich the found it.
Infernal Chronicles of the Lost Ones, challeng-
Which Emblem to Bind?

ing and exciting encounters and situations, lost
and gained Hope.
Although there are no riches, treasures, gold
pieces, or mundane equipment to collect, know
that this journey will allow you to collect many
extraordinary relics or special heirlooms of pow-
I nfernal Artifacts and Infernal Emblems can
be combined in many different ways, and the
choice is left to the players’ imagination. As a
er, collectively known as Infernal Artifacts. Trav- rule of thumb, each Artifact can be bound to
elers can make good use of them, provided they any one Emblem, except weapons. The player
follow the rules proclaimed by the Highest Hope. will have to describe how the two symbolic items
merge, what new appearance they take from
Binding an Infernal Artifact

now on, and until when they will remain bound.
The weirdest or apparently contradictory combi-
nations, such as an Angelic Rod associated to a
W ith an action, a Traveler can bind an In-

fernal Artifact to one of their Infernal Em-
blems, permanently spending 1 Hope Point.
serpent’s hypnotic gaze, will have to be justified
by the player with a convincing idea.
Binding a Weapon
From that moment on, the benefits granted by
the Infernal Artifact add to those of the Infernal
Emblem.
The artifact is added to the Traveler’s semblance
without imposing any particular disadvantage,
not burdening or encumbering them in any way.
I f the Infernal Artifact is also a weapon, in
order to use its effects, a Traveler must bind
it to an Emblem which functions as a weapon
Both the Infernal Artifact and the Infernal Em- for the character, such as a tyrant’s Burden or
blem will change their appearance, sometimes an illuminatus’ Clenched Fist . A bound artifact
in a blatant or extreme way, to mark that the grants the described advantages and effects
two symbols and items have now been merged. to the emblem the Traveler uses as a weapon.
A Traveler can only be bound to one artifact at For instance, if Vieri binds the Shard of Cocito
a time, and any attempt to bind themselves to to his Burden, he will be able to deal 2d6 extra
a second artifact is destined to fail. The binding cold damage with every attack he makes with
between a Traveler and an artifact ends if the his Burden, and he will gain resistance to cold
Traveler is destroyed, at which point the artifact damage, according to the Infernal Artifact’s de-
drops to the ground in the place where the Trav- scription.
eler perished, and it will not take a new shape
along with their semblance.
With an action, a Traveler can willingly end their
binding, rescinding the artefact from their em-
blem, but they will not regain the Hope Point
they spent. The Traveler may then bind the ar-
Chapter IV – Infernal Artifacts

171
Angelic Rod – Fourth Circle
Wondrous item, Infernal Artifact
This small rod was brought by an angel in Dante’s days. The divine messen-
ger opened the Gates of Dite before the poet and his Guide. It still lies in
High Hell, and can be found and used by other Travelers.
The Angelic Rod grants two benefits while you are bound to it:
◊ When you hit with an attack or a spell that deals a type of damage, you
can change the type of damage you deal to radiant damage.
◊ Doors Wide Open. When you strike any portcullis, gate, door, shutter
or any other similar barrier in Hell, either magical or mundane, with
the Angelic Rod, that barrier opens as if it was pushed by a sudden rush
of wind, with great clamor. If you touch a wall or another surface with-
out openings thinner than 30 feet with the Angelic Rod, that surface
breaks away loudly, revealing a passage that allows you to reach the
other side. You can’t use this property of the Angelic Rod again until
you finish a long rest.

172
Behemoth’s Club – Third Circle
Infernal Weapon (club), Infernal Artifact
Like many other weapons in this list, this club is wielded by certain special
foes and it is bound to those foes. It can be collected from their remains only
after its last owner has been defeated.
When you hit with an attack you make with the Emblem bound to this weap-
on, the target takes 2d6 extra acid damage.
Bow of the Asp – Eighth Circle, Seventh Bolgia
Infernal Weapon (longbow), Infernal Artifact
Like many other weapons in this list, this bow is wielded by certain special
on, the target takes 2d6 extra poison damage.
While you are bound to the bow, you can use an action to summon a swarm
of poisonous snakes. The swarm if friendly to you and your companions and
it acts on your turn. You can use a bonus action to decide the swarm’s move-
ment and actions in the next turn, or to give it generic commands such as
‘attack my enemies’. The swarm disappears after 1 hour.
You can’t use this property again until you finish a long rest.

173
Brutal Cleaver – Eighth Circle, Ninth Bolgia
Infernal Weapon (glaive), Infernal Artifact
Like many other weapons in this list, this cleaver is wielded by certain special
on, the target takes 2d6 extra necrotic damage.
Ettore’s Helm – First Circle
This helm was blessed by the spirits of the sky and of the
storm that cherished the Trojan warrior. While you are bound
to this helm, you gain immunity to lightning and thunder
damage, and you can use its Lightning Storm property.
Lightning Storm. As an action, you can magically create

three lightning bolts, each of which can hit a target that you
can see within 120 feet of you. A target must make a DC 15
Dexterity saving throw, taking 16 (3d10) lightning damage
on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
You can’t use this property again until you finish a short or
long rest.

174
Eye of Minosse – Second Circle
The eyes on Minosse’s face are not two simple sensorial organs: They are spe-
cial diabolical relics he received from Pluto some millennia ago, when the
judge of ancient Creta was asked to become the Third Keeper of Hell and
decree a sentence for every damned according to their sins and vices.
Each one of the two Eyes of Minosse grants two benefits while you are bound
to one of them:
◊ You gain truesight in a 120-feet radius.

◊ Gaze of Judgment. You choose one creature you can see within 120 feet
of you, and that is aware of you. The target creature must succeed on
a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. An
affected creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its
turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw
is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the Gaze
of Judgment for the next 24 hours. You cannot use this property of the
Eye of Minosse again until you finish a long rest.
Gerione’s Scale – Eight Circle
The scales of the mighty Gerione, Seventh Keeper of Hell, can grant a great
power. Finding one will not be easy, though…
To gain one of these scales, you must climb on Gerione’s back and use one of
your Infernal Emblems or Infernal Artifacts than can logically be used
as a weapon of some type (such as the Horn of the Minotaur, the
Scourge of Dite, or a false prophet’s Obsidian Weapon). If you use
an Infernal Artifact to this purpose, that Artifact is destroyed in
the attempt and you perish instantly, unless you spend 1 Hope
Point to avoid this effect.
While you are bound to a scale, you gain immunity do fire

damage and your maximum hit points increase by 10.

175
Horn of the Minotaur – Seventh Circle
Infernal Weapon (club), Infernal Artifact
The mighty Infernal Minotaur’s horns hide an ancient and powerful sor-
cery, and are cursed with an Infernal hex. If a horn is severed in battle, that
horn is not destroyed along with the Minotaur’s semblance: It remains on
the ground and no longer shares its owner’s fate. A Traveler can then collect
it and bind it to one of their Infernal Emblems.
When you hit with an attack made with the bound emblem, that attack
deals 1d10 extra bludgeoning damage and deals double damage to ob-
jects and structures.
Jar of Infernal Sand – Seventh Circle, Third Round
The fiery rain falling on the Sand Waste has been collected inside these jars.
None knows where they come from, nor who made them, but they spring
from the sands scoured by the fiery rain, and they seem to draw their pow-
er from that rain.
The jar has 30 charges. While you are bound to it, you can
use an action and spend 4 or more charges to cast one of
the following spells through it (save DC 17): scorching
ray (4 charges), fireball (6 charges), fire storm (10
charges). The jar regains 1 charge per hour it re-
mains open and exposed to the rain of the Seventh
Circle. If the jar is bound to an emblem, it does not
regain any charges.

176
Lantern of the Divine Flame – First Circle
This lantern, made by Dedalo with a few golden ribs of the noble spirits and the Divine
Flame of the Bonfire of the High Castle in Limbo, cannot be extinguished or destroyed
by any force in Hell.
The lantern emits bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light 30 feet beyond that.
All creatures in that radius are not subjected to the Darkness of the Blind World (see
page 68).
When you bind the Lantern to one of your Emblems, you need not spend a Hope Point to
do it.
In addition, while you are bound to this lantern, you gain truesight in a 60-foot radius and advantage
on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight. You also know the sacred flame cantrip, if you did
not already know it.
In addition, while you are bound to the lantern, you can use an action to cast the circle of power spell,
considering as “magical effects” any environmental effect or hazard in Hell. You can’t use this ability
again until you finish a long rest.
Finally, this Lantern works as a regeneration beacon for the Travelers who perish in its whereabouts,
unless there is a closer source of Divine Flame. If a Traveler’s semblance is destroyed, but they still have
Hope, they reappear within the radius of its bright light.
Nesso’s Robe – Seventh Circle
This garment, worn by the eponymous centaur, looks like an ancient

tunic, and apparently, its property of fire resistance can be easily
demonstrated.
While you are bound to this robe, you gain immunity to fire damage.
Curse. This robe is cursed, a fact that is revealed only when an identify
spell is cast on the robe or you bind yourself to it. Binding yourself to
the robe curses you until you are targeted by the remove curse spell or
simi-lar magic; alternatively, if you die, the binding is broken and the
curse is removed, but you cannot break the binding willingly.
While you are cursed, whenever you take piercing or slashing damage,
you take 2d6 extra poison damage.

177
Orfeo’s Lyre – Third Circle
This could be the treasure that Orfeo (or maybe Euridice) is looking for, a vi-
tal piece of his plan to escape from Hell (also see page 64). If the noble spirit
is no longer with the Brigade when the Lyre is found, another Traveler can
bind to themselves to honor their lost comrade. Otherwise, if someone else is
playing that character, they are bound to the Lyre without having to spend a
Hope Point. In addition, the bound character regains 1 Glimpse of Hope and
gains Divine Inspiration, in addition to any other effect.
This magical instrument is particularly effective when you need to soothe

a restless soul with its mesmerizing melodies. The lyre has 5 charges. When
you play it or you are bound to it, you can use an action and spend 1 or more
charges to cast one of the following spells through it (save DC 15): sleep (1
charge), calm emotions (1 charge), sleep (6th level version, 3 charges).
The Orfeo’s Lyre regains 1d4 + 1 charges when you finish a long rest.
Perseo’s Shield – Sixth Circle
Infernal Armor (shield), Infernal Artifact
This beautiful shield of ancient make has been celebrated in many myths
and legends.
While you are bound to this shield, you gain blindsight in a 30-foot radius.
In addition, the shield or the emblem it is bound with, work as a reflecting
surface.

178
Scourge of Dite – Sixth Circle
Infernal Weapon (Greatsword), Infernal Artifact
Like many other weapons in this list, this greatsword is wielded by certain
special foes and it is bound to those foes. It can be collected from their re-
mains only after its last owner has been defeated.
on, the target takes 2d6 extra fire damage.
The greatsword has 5 charges. While you are bound to it, you can use an ac-
tion and spend 1 or more charges to cast one of the following spells through
it (save DC 15): burning hands (1 charge), scorching ray (2 charges), fireball (3
charges), fire shield (warm shield, 5 charges).
The greatsword regains 1d4 + 1 charges when you finish a long rest.

179
Shard of Cocito – Ninth Circle
Infernal Weapon (spear), Infernal Artifact
Like many other weapons in this list, this spear is wielded by certain special
on, the target takes 2d6 extra cold damage.
In addition, while you are bound to the shard, you gain resistance to cold
damage.
Staff of the Cross – Eighth Circle, Third Bolgia
Infernal Weapon (quarterstaff), Infernal Artifact
This pole is topped with a scorching cross and it is used by the malebranche
of the Third Bolgia to torture the Simoniacs sentenced to endure that eternal
torment. The Travelers can use it as a very effective weapon, as the symbol of
the cross is very difficult to find in Hell and it maintains some very effective
properties against the devils of the Dolorous Kingdom.
When you hit with an attack made with the Emblem bound to this weapon,
the target takes 1d6 extra radiant damage.
This weapon has 5 charges. While you are bound to it, you can use an action
and spend 1 or more charges to cast one of the following spells through it
(save DC 15): guiding bolt (1 charge), mass healing word (3 charges), protection
from evil and good (1 charge) greater restoration (5 charges).
The staff regains 1d4 + 1 charges when you finish a long rest.

180
Tears of Wax – First Circle
Dedalo’s tears of geas and relief are a chaste and blessed gift, one of the few
tokens of a pure heart you can find in Hell.
While you are bound to Icarus’ Tears of Wax, you can

use an action to grow a pair of feathered wings on
your back. The wings remain for 10 minutes, or until
you dismiss them. If you take fire damage or you are
exposed to high temperatures, the wings crumble
and disappear after 1d4 rounds. The wings grant you
a flying speed of 60 feet.
You can’t use this property of the Tears of Wax again

until you finish a long rest.
Torch of the Divine Flame – First Circle
This blessed torch, born by the Guide, is granted to the noble spirits who leave the
Castle of Limbo. although nothing in Hell can counter its flame, the wood it uses to
burn is actual wood from Hell, and it can therefore be destroyed or consumed.
The torch emits bright light in a 15-foot radius and dim light 15 feet beyond that.
All creatures in that radius are not subjected to the Darkness of the Blind World
(see page 68).
When you bind the Torch to one of your Emblems, you need not spend a Hope Point
to do it.
In addition, while you are bound to this torch, you gain truesight in a 30-foot radius
and advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Finally, this Torch works as a regeneration beacon for the Travelers who perish in its
whereabouts, unless there is a closer source of Divine Flame. If a Traveler’s semblance is destroyed, but
they still have Hope, they reappear within the radius of its bright light.

181
Tormentor – Second Circle
Infernal Weapon (longsword), Infernal Artifact
This tool of death and torture can invoke and cast lightning, whirlpools,
and storms. It looks like a heavy longsword made of gold iron, whose blade
shines with reddish reflections.
When you hit with an attack you make with the Emblem bound to this
weapon, the target takes 2d6 extra lightning damage.
The sword has 5 charges. While you are bound to it, you can use an action
and spend 1 or more charges to cast one of the following spells through it
(save DC 15): gust of wind (1 charge), call lightning (2 charges), wind wall (2
charges), thunderwave (1 charge).
The sword regains 1d4 + 1 charges when you finish a long rest.
Unlike other Infernal Artifacts, Tormentor remains bound to its wielder even
when they perish and respawn. If you want to remove the binding to Tor-
mentor, you must spend 1 Hope Point.

Chapter V
Evils of Hell

184
Outwitting the Evils of Hell

N
atural hazards aside (and even those
hazards are often provoked by the mon-
sters and the devils that haunt Hell), the
Dolorous Kingdom crawls with cursed beings,
fallen angels turned into torturers, foul bea-
sts drawn out of the heathen abyss or from the
A ll devils, monsters, and Keepers of Hell are
captors and prisoners at the same time in
the Blind World. After all, the Eternal Gate is al-
ages before history, servants of False and Lying ways closed for them, too.
Deities, and any kind of foul prodigy. This means that not only their eternal task of
The following section feature a hideous se- relentless torture makes them savage and cruel,
lection of these creatures, along with the Nine but they are just as bitter and despondent as the
Keeper of Hell, the Three Beasts watching the damned, darkened by the torture they have to
Dark Forest, and the Dark Lord himself. endure as well.
The most common monsters are listed in the On the other hand, this can be an important ad-
first part of the chapter, with a few exceptions: vantage for the Brigade, as this weird condition
Sariel appears after the indifferent angels, as he may induce certain hideous torturers to ignore
is part of their choir, and the Host of the Dam- their task and to let the Travelers pass, if their
ned follows the description of the Damned. explicit intervention is not required by the or-
The Nine Keepers, on the other hand, are listed ders they were given. For instance, a guardian
in order of appearance, from the First to the keeper watching over the towers of the Fourth
Ninth Circle, in the second part of the chapter. Circle to prevent the damned from fleeing the
Stige may never have been ordered to stop an in-
different angel or a Lost One headed to Dite. The
Defeating the Evils of Hell

Giants of the Pit are not supposed to stop those
who want to climb down to Cocito: After all, who
would ever want to do such a thing?
A s previously mentioned, the characters

can be brought back to life through Hope
and the Divine Flame. In Hell, nothing can be
Your duties as Guide include pointing out or
suggesting .
The Primeval Language

destroyed: Even its denizens or its prisoners,
from the mere damned to the noble spirits,
from the malebranche to the Infernal keep-
ers, can be brought back even after they have
turned to ashes.
Still, unlike the Travelers and any other being
I n the otherworldly realms, everybody speaks
and understands the Primeval Language,
that was spoken before the construction of the
with Hope, Infernal creatures require more time Tower of Babel. All their denizens speak that
before they can once again prowl the lands of language, without realizing it.
Lucifero’s kingdom. You can freely determine
this time according to your storytelling needs,
or consider 6d4 rounds.
Once they have returned, though, devils, mon-
sters, and damned usually lose interest in fight-
ing and in those who have destroyed them:
They step aside and let the Travelers pass. Only
Infernal Keepers remain focused on those who
attacked them (and usually plot their revenge).
Chapter V - Evils of Hell

Devils of Hell and Other Denizens
of the Dolorous Kingdom

Champion of the False Gods
T
here are noble spirits who choose the path
to redemption and await the End of Days in
peace and devotion, hoping to be finally al-
lowed to ascend to Heaven and take their place at
the Lord’s side, and there are those who join the Lost
Ones from time to time and act as their companions
or guides to lead them in their otherworldly journey,
but there are also some who turn their back on their
last chance and let themselves be seduced by anger,
frustration, and revenge.
The champion standing before the Lost Ones is the
infernal semblance of Ettore, the ancient heathen
hero. He looks like a tall, stiff, and hardy marble
statue, an unnatural and symbolic exaltation of the
features he sported in life, according to legends.

187
Champion of the False Gods Lightning Storm (Recharges after a Short or Long
Large humanoid, neutral rest). While it wears the Ettore’s Helm, as an action,
the champion of false gods can magically create three
Armor Class 17 (natural armor) lightning bolts, each of which can hit a target that it
Hit Points 133 (14d10 + 56) can see within 120 feet. A target must make a DC 15
Speed 30 ft. Dexterity saving throw, taking 16 (3d10) lightning dam-
age on a failed save, or half as much damage on a suc-
cessful one.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
19 (+4) 18 (+4) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 17 (+3)
Reactions
Saving Throws Dex +8, Wis +7, Cha +7 Parry. The champion of false gods adds 2 to its AC
Skills Athletics +8, Perception +7 against one melee attack that would hit it. To do so,
Damage Immunities lightning, thunder the champion must see the attacker and be wielding
a melee weapon.
Senses passive Perception 17, darkvision 120 ft.
Languages Infernal, Primeval Language
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP) Legendar y Actions
The champion of false gods can take 2 legendary ac-
Special Equipment. The champion of false gods wears tions, choosing from the options below. Only one leg-
the Ettore’s Helm. end-ary action option can be used at a time and only
at the end of another creature’s turn. The champion
Legendary Resistance (1/Day). If the champion fails a
regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Movement. The champion of false gods moves up to
Damned. The champion of false gods also counts as
its speed without provoking attacks of opportunity.
undead to determine if it is affected by magic and oth-
er effects affecting undead creatures. Longspear. The champion of false gods makes a long-
spear attack.
Fearless. The champion of false gods had advantage
on saving throws against being frightened. Swipe (Costs 2 Actions). The champion of false gods
makes a swipe with its longspear. Each creature
within 10 feet of the champion must succeed on a
Actions DC 16 Dexterity saving throw, or be knocked prone.
Multiattack. The champion of false gods makes three
longspear attacks.
Longspear. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10

ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage.

188
Damned
perform physical tasks as part of their punishment.
Finally, even a weak and solitary damned may deal
serious damage using the peculiarities of the place
T
he ethereal hosts amassing in the darkness: they haunt, or drawing the attention of an Infernal
Theirs are the wails and the gnashing teeth, monster.
theirs is the pain that saturates the abyss. Although the damned are immortal, their willpower
There is no place in Hell that is not crawling with has been broken by torture. Some damned run away
damned. The chasm of Lucifero is a prison and a tor- as soon as they take serious damage, and most of
ture hall for all the unfortunate who broke the laws them will let the Lost Ones alone after they have been
of Heaven, billions and billions of souls coming from destroyed once. Their lack of Hope of the Height is a
every corner of creation. key weakness to exploit.
A damned’s semblance is strictly connected to the
memories the Lost Ones have of them. If a damned Damned
is a complete stranger to the Travelers, it will appear Medium humanoid, neutral
as a vague gray shadow, whose features remain un-
Armor Class 10
discerned and anonymous, although human. If the
host of the deceased in a certain circle includes a Fa- Hit Points 22 (3d8 + 9)
miliar Spirit to a member of the Brigade, it will ap- Speed 30 ft.
pear as it is remembered by the Lost One.
Anyway, their translucent bodies are intangible, as
if they were made of a sticky fluid. They do not cast
13 (+1) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 8 (-1) 7 (-2)
shadows, nor leave footprints as they pass, and yet
they can interact with the surrounding matter, turn-
ing part of their bodies more tangible. This is also Senses passive Perception 9, darkvision 60 ft.
a weakness: in spite of their shadowy nature, they Languages Primeval Language
can be hurt, dismembered, and torn to pieces. They Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
bleed and feel pain as if they were alive, but they
cannot die, as they are already dead. Their existence
Damned. The damned also counts as undead to de-
in Hell is an endless cycle in which they perish and
termine if it is affected by magic and other effects
reform, they are dismembered and spring out of the
affecting undead creatures.
ground again. There is no escape from Hell for them.
Death lifted the veil from the eyes of the damned:
Now they feel time in a non-linear way, and they Actions
may glimpse the future, relive an intense memory
from their past, or gather information about what’s Life Drain. Melee Spell Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
currently going on in Hell. Thus, speaking with the one creature. Hit: 4 (1d6+1) necrotic damage. The
damned can be very useful, although their knowl- target must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution sav-
edge of the souls remains flawed and is based on ing throw or its hit point maximum is reduced by an
their personal experiences and the circle they are amount equal to the damage taken. This reduc-
bound to. A damned who lived in Florence will not tion lasts until the creature finishes a long rest.
talk about Rome, and an Indifferent knows nothing The target dies if this effect reduces its hit
about the circle of Wantons. point maximum to 0.
In addition, some damned are stronger than oth-
ers, especially the Violent and all those who have to

Host of the Damned Host of the Damned
Large swarm of Medium humanoids, neutral
D
amned have no real consistency or thickness:
Armor Class 10
They can overlap one another in the endless
empty space of Hell, so that thousands of souls Hit Points 51 (6d10 + 18)
may occupy the same space of ten persons. Speed 30 ft.
These hosts of souls can be dangerous, as even the
weakest damned can demonstrate a remarkable STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
strength when united in a single purpose and overlap-
17 (+3) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 8 (-1) 7 (-2)
ping in the same space.
Condition Immunities charmed, grappled, par-

alyzed, petrified, prone, frightened, stunned
S ome damned can gain one or more features

from the circle they inhabit. The Guide can
choose to apply one of the following traits to a
restrained
damned or to a host of the damned: Languages Primeval Language
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Indifferent. The damned has disadvantage to
initiative rolls and to any action taken on its
Damned. The swarm also counts as undead to de-
first turn in a combat.
termine if it is affected by magic and other effects
Incontinent. The damned gains advantage on
affecting undead creatures.
all melee weapon attack rolls it makes, but at-
tack rolls against it also have advantage. Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s
Heretic. The damned has resistance to fire dam- space and vice versa, and the swarm can move
age. A creature that touches the damned or hits through any opening large enough for a Medium
it with a me-lee attack while within 5 feet of it humanoid. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain
takes 7 (2d6) fire damage. temporary hit points.
Violent. The damned makes two melee attacks.
Fraudulent. The damned gains advantage on
all Charisma (Deception) and Charisma (Per-
Actions
suasion) checks. Life Drain. Melee Spell Attack: +5 to hit, reach 0 ft.,
Thief. Once per turn, the damned deals an ex- one creature in the swarm’s space. Hit: 10 (2d6+3)
tra 7 (2d6) poison damage when it hits a target necrotic damage or 6 (1d6+3) necrotic damage if the
with a weapon attack and has advantage on the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer. The target
attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw
an ally of the damned that isn’t incapacitated or its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount
and the damned doesn’t have disadvantage on equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until
the attack roll. the creature finishes a long rest. The target dies if
Traitor. The damned is restrained. In addition, this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.
it has resistance to cold damage.

190
Guardian Devil
Guardian Devil
Large fiend, lawful evil
G
uardian devils are the cruel captors and tor- Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
turers of the damned. They lead minor devils Hit Points 114 (12d10 + 48)
just like sergeants lead their own troops. Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
They belong to the middle ranks of the diabolical
choirs and often look like dark-skinned winged be-
ing, sporting curled hons like those of a ram. In the
18 (+4) 14 (+2) 19 (+4) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 15 (+2)
city of Dite they often take care of administrative and
commercial duties. Deception is a key part of their na-
ture, and although they can never blatantly lie, they Saving Throws Str +7, Dex +5
use omissions and specific interpretations of truth to Damage Resistances cold, fire, poison; blud-
deceive and ruin the Lost Ones for their own personal geoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmag-
pleasure. If forced to fight, they fight until their de- ical attacks
struction. Senses passive Perception 12, darkvision 120 ft.
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
D evils as Innate Spellcasters

The circles of hell teem with devils of ev-
ery kind. Their legacy grants them innate magic
Devil’s Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede the
devil’s darkvision.
and allows them to master a few spells. If the
Magic Resistance. The guardian devil has advantage
Guide wishes so, a devil can cast a number of
on saving throws against spells and other magical
innate spells equal to its Charisma modifier.
effects.
Each spell can be cast once per day, requires
no material component, and its level cannot
be higher than half the challenge rating of the Actions
devil (rounded down).
Multiattack. The guardian devil makes two melee at-
A devil’s spell attack bonus is equal to its pro-
tacks.
ficiency bonus + its Charisma bonus. A devil’s
spell save DC is equal to 8 + its proficiency bo- Reaper of the Damned. Melee Weapon Attack:
nus + its Charisma bonus. +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4)
A minor devil has a +2 proficiency bonus. slashing damage. In addition, the target must suc-
A guardian devil has a +3 proficiency bonus. ceed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or lose 5
A major devil has a +4 proficiency bonus. (1d10) hit points at the start of each of its turns due
A tempestarii has a +4 proficiency bonus. to an infernal wound. Each time the devil hits the
wounded target with this attack, the damage dealt
by the wound increases by 5 (1d10). Any creature
can take an action to stanch the wound with a suc-
cessful DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check. The wound
also closes if the target receives magical healing.

191
Major Devil
M
ajor devils are the low aristocracy of Hell.
They include the captains of the Infernal
Hordes, the Knights of Dite, the foul officials
of the Gloomy Kingdom and of the City of Fire.
As a status of their rank, they wield the Scourge of
Dite, a weapon made in the forges of the city of Ecate.
M ajor devils have different powers and im-

munities, determined by the weapons
they hold. Their Breath and their Damage Immu-
nities change according to the damage type dealt
by their infernal weapon. For example, a major
devil holding a Shard of Cocito is immune to
cold damage and its Breath deals cold damage.

192
Major Devil Actions

Multiattack. The devil makes two Scourge of Dite at-
Armor Class 17 (natural armor) tacks.
Hit Points 142 (15d10 + 60) Scourge of Dite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit,
reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing dam-
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
age plus 7 (2d6) fire damage.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Breath (Recharge 6). The devil exhales a disruptive
breath in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area
18 (+4) 16 (+3) 19 (+4) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 17 (+3)
must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw, taking 31
(7d8) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much
Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +8 dam-age on a successful one.
Damage Resistances poison; bludgeoning, pierc-
ing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities fire Legendar y Actions
Senses passive Perception 14, darkvision 120 ft. The major devil can take 3 legendary actions, choos-
ing from the options below. Only one legendary action
option can be used at a time and only at the end of
another creature’s turn. The major devil regains spent
legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Special Equipment. The devil wields a Scourge of Dite.
Attack. The devil makes an attack.
Legendary Resistance (1/Day). If the devil fails a sav-
Movement. The devil moves up to its speed.
ing throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Breath (Costs 3 Actions). The devil recharges its
Devil’s Sight. Magic darkness does not impede the
breath and uses it.
devil’s darkvision.
Elusive Flight. The devil does not provoke an attack

of opportunity when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.
V ariant: Servants of the Nine Circles

Some major devils have enslaved other infer-
nal creatures which now follow them as faithful
minions. For example, a major devil may have 1
fire elemental*,
elemental*, 1 fury
fury,, 1d4 infernal hounds*,
hounds*,
1d4 will’o’wisps*
will’o’wisps*,, or 2d6 magma mephits* in its
service.

193
Minor Devil Minor Devil

Medium fiend, chaotic evil
T
hree things abound in Hell: good intentions, Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
damned souls and devils. Hit Points 52 (8d8 + 16)
All the angelic choirs who turned against the
Lord at the dawn of time, sorted into nine hierarchies
and tasked with endless chores, are now prisoners in
Hell along with their emperor, Lucifero. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2)
Guardian devils, brewers, sentinels, malebranche, or a
thousand other types: minor devils are the most vari-
able of enemies the Travelers may encounter in Hell. Saving Throws Con +4, Cha +4
Their semblances are so different that sometimes it is Skills Deception +4, Insight +4, Perception +4
hard to ascribe them to one common species. Damage Resistances cold, fire, poison; blud-
Although a single minor devil can easily be van- geoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmag-
ical attacks
quished or outwitted by a determined and organized
Brigade, their endless hosts and hordes remain an im- Senses passive Perception 14, darkvision 120 ft.
passable obstacle even for the most resourceful and Languages Infernal, Primeval Language
experienced Travelers. Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Devils use weapons of many types to torment the
damned and attack the Lost Ones: They can wield Weapons of the Damned. A minor devil’s weapon
long hooked poles, forks, and scourges, but also more attacks are magical. When the minor devil hits with
classical weapons such as swords, maces, and bows. any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 4 (1d8) ne-
Some of them are also equipped with armor, helms, crotic damage (included in the attack).
and shields.
Every devil maintains a glimpse of its own personality, devil’s darkvision.
personal goals, and schemes, but they are all sneaky,
Magic Resistance. The devil has advantage on sav-
sadistic, untrustworthy, and foul. They love cheat-
ing throws against spells and other magical effects.
ing everyone and make fun of the Lost Ones before
cutting them to pieces. Still, intelligence is not their
strong suit, and sometimes they can be deceived as
Actions
well.
Multiattack. The devil makes two melee attacks or
two ranged attacks.
Sting. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft.,

one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) piercing damage plus 4
(1d8) necrotic damage.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range

150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing dam-
age plus 4 (1d8) necrotic damage.

194
Erinyes: Megera, Aletto, and Tisifone

incapacitated or stunned. Aletto is prone to madness,
and often stops in the middle of a fight to speak to the
wind or strike with her whip someone who only she
M
egera, Aletto, and Tisifone are the three can see.
sovereign furies, three sisters who have Tisifone is the highest and strongest sister. She wields
spawned all other furies and lead the flights a scorching iron, as the ones used to brand cattle, and
that overrun the City of Dite. They are also known as the snakes of her hair are so long that they cover her
the Erinyes, Guardians of the High Tower, and person- face and hide her eyes.
al maidservants of Ecate.
Megera is the oldest sister. Her body looks mummified,
When men still paid homage to Olympus, the Erinyes,
her wrinkled head is covered with just a few snakes,
along with Fate, were the only authority to rule over
but she is the fastest and most agile of the sisters. Her
the gods themselves. Even Jupiter had to bow his head
snakes look asleep and pose no danger. Unlike Aletto
before the Sisters of Vengeance, as their wrath was
and Tisifone, Megera knows when she must retreat
unavoidable.
from a fight, or stay back to guide her sisters.
Now Megera, Aletto, and Tisifone guard the palace of
If you are going to face the sisters in their lair, as of-
Ecate in the City of Dite. From their necks hang the
ten happens, you will find yourself in a torture room.
keys that open the secret passage under the throne of
The Erinyes will use any torture tool at their disposal
the Queen of Eternal Weeping, and their eerie is the
to hurt you, and will try to trap you in their cages or
next-to-last level of the High Tower.
gallows. Pay attention to what you see around you:
Aletto, the youngest, wields a thorny whip. This fury is You may turn some of their own tools against them.
known as “Restless”, as her indomitable will does not From time to time, the furies intone a hideous chant
allow her to sleep, but also prevents her from being to call forth Medusa. In that case, a quick escape is
recommended.

195
Aletto is a fury with the following modifications: She
is immune to psychic damage and to exhaustion and Furies
T
the paralyzed condition. he furies are the spawn of the three Erinni, and
share many traits with them. Their semblance
Megera is a fury with the following modifications: is that of a gaunt, fierce woman with shark-like
each Traveler who faces her cannot use their Divine teeth and emerald snakes instead of hair. They wear
Inspiration as long as they are fighting with her. tattered, blood-covered robes and two bat-like wings
protrude from a tear on their back.
Tisifone is a fury with the following modifications: Ti-
sifone has advantage on her melee attack rolls against
any creature which is not at its maximum hit points. Furies
Medium fiend, neutral evil
As their role commands, the three Erinyes feature
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
many abilities beyond those of the common furies
and each one of them has a challenge rating of 7 Hit Points 104 (16d8 + 32)
(2.900 XP). Speed 30 ft., fly 40 ft.
Truesight. While Megera, Aletto, and Tisifone are all STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
within 60 feet of each other, they gain truesight with- 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 19 (+4)
in 120 feet.
Saving Throws Con +5, Wis +5

Shared Spells. While Megera, Aletto, and Tisifone are
all within 30 feet of one another, they can each cast Damage Resistances fire, poison; bludgeoning,
the following spells from the wizard’s spell list but piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
must share the spell slots among themselves: Skills Deception +7, Perception +5
◊ 1 st
level (4 slots): bane, magic missile, shield
◊ 2 nd
level (3 slots): darkness, hold person, invisibil-
ity, shatter
◊ 3 rd level (3 slots): bestow curse, counterspell, fear
◊ 4 th level (3 slots): confusion, phantasmal killer, Magic Resistance. The fury has advantage on sav-
wall of fire ing throws against spells and other magical effects.
◊ 5 th level (2 slots): antilife shell, dominate person
◊ 6 th level (1 slots): eyebite
Actions
For casting these spells, each Erinyes is a 12th-lev- Snake Hair. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10
el spellcaster that uses Charisma as her spellcasting ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage plus
ability (spell save DC 12, +7 to their spell attack rolls). 14 (4d6) poison damage.
Throw Flame. Ranged Spell Attack: +5 to hit, range

135 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (3d6) fire damage. The fire
ignites flammable objects that aren’t being worn or
carried.

Indifferent Angel
T
hese eternal and supernatural beings could not
make their choice between the Lord and Lucif-
ero at the dawn of time, and their impassivity
and neutrality condemned them to the Choir of the In-
different. Reviled and mocked both by angels and by
devils, they are now exiled in the Antinferno, between
Acheronte and the Eternal Gate, where they guide
hosts of souls as indifferent as themselves in senseless
marches, empty prayers, vacuous gestures, and useless
acts.
The cowardice that prevented them from taking a side
has now turned into an endless longing for power and
recognition, and the indifferent angels are forever
looking for something that may give meaning to their
tortured existence.
Indifferent angels don’t want to sully their hands and

they will join a direct fight with the Lost Ones only if
the latter put in serious danger their empty plans.
An indifferent angel’s power pales in comparison to

what they wielded in the highest heavens, but they
remain powerful and dangerous foes, gifted with
the power to gather and command the damned of
Antinferno.
An Indifferent angel’s main weakness is its innate be-

lief in its superiority, which often leads them to un-
derestimate many dangers. In addition, they seem
to have many difficulties when there is an important
decision to be taken, and they are known to freeze be-
fore a choice. When cornered, they revert back to their
coward ways and will attempt to flee and recover their
strength.
Still, they may be intrigued by those who pursue a

true ideal or are gifted with Hope. They realize there
is a chance of redemption for them at the End of the
Days. It is for this reason that they may help the Trav-
elers and even join them, if properly persuaded or
made part of the Hope they keep.

197
Indifferent Angel Actions

Large fiend, neutral
Multiattack. The indifferent angel makes two mace
Armor Class 17 (natural armor) attacks.
Hit Points 114 (12d10 + 48) Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage plus 4
Speed 30 ft.
(1d8) psychic damage.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Inhibiting Presence (Recharge 6). Each creature with-
in 60 feet of the indifferent angel must succeed on a
18 (+4) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 17 (+3) 16 (+3)
DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by the in-
different angel. The charmed target’s speed becomes
Saving Throws Wis +6 Cha +6
0, and it can’t benefit from any bonus to its speed. A
Skills Insight +6, Perception +6, Persuasion +6 charmed target can repeat the saving throw at the end
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a
slashing from nonmagical attacks success. If a target’s saving throw is successful or the
Senses passive Perception 16, darkvision 120 ft. effect ends for it, the target is immune to the indiffer-
ent angel’s Inhibiting Presence for the next 24 hours.
Languages Primeval Language; they can also un-
derstand Celestial and Infernal, but they cannot
speak and write them.
Legendar y Actions
The indifferent angel can take 2 legendary actions,
choosing from the options below. Only one legendary
Weapons of the Damned. The indifferent angel’s
action option can be used at a time and only at the
weapon attacks are magical. When the indifferent an-
end of another creature’s turn. The indifferent angel
gel hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra
regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
1d8 psychic damage (included in the attack).
Movement. The indifferent angel moves up to its
Innate Spellcasting. The indifferent angel’s spellcast-
speed.
ing ability is Charisma (spell save DC 25). It can in-
nately cast the following spells, requiring only verbal Mace. The indifferent angel makes a mace attack.
components: Healing (Costs 2 Actions). The indifferent angel magi-
1/day each: confusion, insect plague cally regains 13 (3d8) hit points and is freed from any
curse, disease, poison, blindness, or deafness.
Magic Resistance. The indifferent angel has advan-
tage on saving throws against spells and other magical
effects.

198
Sariel
S
ariel is a spirit of fragile beauty and perfect
symmetry in its face and body, although its
features look dim, empty, and devoid of any re-
markable trait. Those who look at it forget everything
about its shape, face and expression a few seconds
later, except for its angelic look and the huge pinned
wings on its back.
And yet, from time to time, something stirs behind its
veiled gaze, as if a remote glimpse of life still struggled
to emerge from those dim eyes…
Sariel Innate Spellcasting. Sariel’s spellcasting ability is

Large fiend, neutral Charisma (spell save DC 13). It can innately cast the
following spells, requiring only verbal components:
At will: detect evil and good
Hit Points 59 (7d10 + 2 1)
1/day each: bane, hold person
Speed 30 ft.
Magic Resistance. Sariel has advantage on saving
throws against spells and other magical effects.
16 (+3) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 16 (+3)
Actions
Saving Throws Wis + 4, Cha +5 Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Skills Deception +5, Insight +4, Perception +4, one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage plus 4
Persuasion +5 (1d8) psychic damage.
Senses passive Perception 14, darkvision 120 ft. Inhibiting Presence (Recharge 6). Each creature with-
Languages Celestial, Infernal, Primeval Language in 30 feet of Sariel must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom
saving throw or be charmed by Sariel. The charmed
target’s speed becomes 0, and it can’t benefit from
any bonus to its speed. A charmed target can repeat
Weapons of the Fallen. Sariel’s weapon attacks are
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, end-
magical. When Sariel hits with any weapon, the weap-
ing the effect on itself on a success. If a target’s saving
on deals an extra 4 (1d8) psychic damage (included in
throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target
the attack).
is immune to the Sariel’s Inhibiting Presence for the
next 24 hours.

Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Sariel throw, taking 4 (1d8) piercing damage on a failed
takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Sariel can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row. A creature that ends its turn in the cloud takes 4
(1d8) piercing damage.
◊ The temple is violently shaken. Any creature ◊ Sariel calls an indifferent damned who acts as its
standing on the temple’s floor (except Sariel) must ally and obeys its spoken commands. The damned
succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity save, or be knocked remains for 1 hour, until Sariel dies, or until it is
prone. dismissed as a bonus action.
◊ A cloud of swarming insects fills a 15-foot-radius
sphere centered on a point Sariel chooses within
60 feet. The cloud spreads around corners and re-
mains until Sariel dismisses it as an action, uses
this lair action again, or dies. The cloud is light-
ly obscured. Any creature in the cloud when it
appears must make a DC 10 Constitution saving

200
Infernal Centaur Infernal Centaur
I
Large monstrosity, neutral
t is difficult to say whether these mythic be-
ings were an earthly race of ancient times, just Armor Class 15
a variant of the infernal devils, or an unex-
Hit Points 93 (11d10 + 33)
plainable and forsaken aberration.
Speed 45 ft.
In Hell, these half-men, half-horses are fated to pa-
trol the shores of Flegetonte to pummel any Violent
who tries to emerge from the boiling blood. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
18 (+4) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
Infernal centaurs are swift and agile, and can rely on
their equine bulk to trample those who cross their
path. Watch out for their hooves and pikes in me- Skills Athletics +6, Perception +4
lee, and for their arrows in a ranged combat. They Senses passive Perception 14, darkvision 60 ft.
wield bows that can shoot arrows from one shore
of Flegetonte to the other with enough strength to
pierce any armor. Their arrows have a serrated point Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
made of bone, hard to remove without dealing se-
rious damage. In addition, some centaurs tie their Charge. If the infernal centaur moves at least 30 feet
arrows or serrated pikes with a rope, so that they can straight toward a target and then hits it with a pike
harpoon their targets and pull them over. at-tack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 10
(3d6) piercing damage.
Infernal centaurs are not mindless monsters or time-
less beings damned for all eternity. If you appeal to Pack Tactics. The infernal centaur has advantage on
the wisest among them and their sense of justice, an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the
you can turn them into powerful allies rather than cen-taur’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and
enemies. the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Actions
Multiattack. The centaur makes two attacks: one
with its pike and one with its hooves or two with its
longbow.
Pike. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft.,

one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage.
Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft.,

one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range

150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing dam-
age.

Infernal Harpy Infernal Harpy
Medium monstrosity, chaotic evil
T
he foul forests of the Seventh Circles grow
Armor Class 13
hands on their branches, bleed from their
leaves and scream from their bark. In addi- Hit Points 52 (8d8 + 16)
tion to all this, piercing shrieks echo from the can- Speed 20 ft., fly 40 ft.
opy: a mix between the wail of tortured women and
the croaking of crows. They come from the Infernal STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
harpies, who watch the Travelers from above, ready
14 (+2) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 7 (-2) 8 (-1) 9 (-1)
to pluck out their eyes.
These monsters have the body of a large, white-feath-
ered eagle, a round belly covered in thick white
feathers, and paws ending in fearsome claws. From Languages Infernal, Primeval Language
the neck up, they look like crones with crooked nos- Challenge 3 (700 XP)
es, sharp teeth, and foul hair. In the Forest, they are
tasked with attacking the Suicides turned into trees,
Blood Frenzy. The infernal harpy has advantage on
breaking their branches and biting their leaves. This
melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn’t
does not prevent them from taking an interest in the
have all its hit points.
Travelers, of course.
Harpies are hungry territorial creatures which at-

tack any trespasser they find in their claimed area. Actions
Infernal harpies attack in flights, diving from the Multiattack. The infernal harpy makes two melee at-
branches. They attempt to confound their targets tacks: one with its bite and one with its talons.
with their deafening shrieks and wound their targets Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
as they fly, then vanish among the trees. target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Cover your eyes, as harpies love blinding their prey Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
before finishing them off. In addition to their claws one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.
and teeth, pay attention to their caustic fluids as
Caustic Fluids. The infernal harpy exudes a flow of
well: They often spray that toxic goo as they glide
caustic fluids in a line that is 30 feet long and 4 feet
from tree to tree.
wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 13
Once half of the flight has been eliminated, you have Dexterity saving throw, taking 13 (3d8) acid damage
the upper hand: When they can no longer rely on on a failed save.
their greater numbers, they retreat.
There is only one place they will never abandon will-

ingly: the tree in the heart of the Forest where they
lay their eggs. These winged monsters protect their
spawn at the cost of their utter destruction, if nec-
essary.

202
Infernal Medusa
as hair and her hands end with bronze claws. To meet
her gaze is certain death: your semblance will imme-
diately turn into stone.
I
n the bowels of Ecate’s Palace, a monster awaits. Being a Traveler, your new semblance will soon appear
Medusa, the last of the gorgons, blocks your next to the closest source of the divine flame, but you
way. She is the watchdog and the hound of the will lose part of your Hope. You must thus fight with-
Queen of Eternal Weeping. out ever letting Medusa get in your line of sight, or
When she has no specific errand, she stalks the corri- just fight blindfolded. You can see the gorgon without
dors and the halls of the Blind Prisons, looking for any being petrified only through her reflections, so you
fool that may trespass in her dominion, whether they can use a mirror or a liquid surface to detect her. For-
are damned, devils, or Lost Ones. In her dungeon, Me- tunately, there are more than enough barrels you can
dusa rules unchallenged and can tear to pieces and smash in the dungeon, to make a few reflecting pools.
devour anyone. The infernal Medusa, though, will not sit idly by in the
Her aspect is unknown, as those who have seen her meanwhile.
face can no longer tell what they saw. She has vipers
Infernal Medusa Petrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see Medu-
Large fiend, neutral evil sa’s eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of Medusa, Me-
du-sa can force it to make a DC 19 Constitution saving
Armor Class 18 (natural armor) throw if Medusa isn’t incapacitated and can see the
Hit Points 2 10 (20d10 + 100) crea-ture. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the
Speed 30 ft. creature is instantly petrified. Otherwise, a creature
that fails the save begins to turn to stone and is re-
strained. The restrained creature must repeat the sav-
ing throw at the end of its next turn, becoming petri-
20 (+5) 22 (+6) 21 (+5) 12 (+1) 15 (+2) 18 (+4) fied on a failure (in this case, the Traveler is destroyed)
or ending the effect on a success. The petrification
Saving Throws Dex +12 , Con +11, Wis +8, Cha +10 lasts until the creature is freed by the greater resto-
Skills Perception +8 ration spell or other magic.
Damage Resistances poison Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid
the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature
Condition Immunities poisoned, prone
does so, it can’t see Medusa until the start of its next
turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature
Languages Infernal, Primeval Language looks at Medusa in the meantime, it must immediately
Challenge 19 (22 ,000 XP) make the save.
If Medusa sees itself reflected on a polished surface

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Medusa fails a sav- within 30 feet of it and in an area of bright light, Medu-
ing throw, it can choose to succeed instead. sa is, due to her curse, affected by her own gaze.
Magical Attacks. Medusa’s weapon attacks are mag-
ical.

203
Actions Legendar y Actions
Multiattack. Medusa makes three attacks: two with Medusa can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
her snake hair and one with her constrict. the options below. Only one legendary action option
can be used at a time and only at the end of another
Snake Hair. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10
creature’s turn. Medusa regains spent legendary ac-
ft., one creature. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) piercing damage plus
tions at the start of its turn.
21 (6d6) poison damage.
Movement. Medusa moves up to her speed without
Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 15
provoking attacks of opportunity.
ft., one Large or smaller creature. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) blud-
geoning damage, and the target is grappled. Until this Snake Hair. Medusa makes an attack with her snake
grapple ends, the target is restrained, it takes 9 (2d8) hair.
piercing damage at the start of each of its turns, and
Irresistible (Costs 3 Actions). Medusa can force a
Medusa can’t constrict another target.
grappled creature to stare into her eyes and suffer
the effects of her petrifying gaze.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Medusa
takes a lair action to cause one of the following ef-
fects; Medusa can’t use the same effect two rounds in
a row.
◊ Medusa calls forth 2d6 constrictor snakes* or

2d6 giant poisonous snakes*, acting as Medusa’s
allies and obeying her commands. The snakes re-
main for 1 hour, until Medusa dies, until she uses
this lair action again, or until she dismisses them
as a bonus action.
◊ The ground within 120 ft. of Medusa is filled with a
host of twisting snakes which remain until initia-
tive count 20 of the round after the next. Any crea-
ture chosen by Medusa which starts its turn on the
ground must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw,
or it is grappled. A grappled target must succeed
on a DC 15 Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acro-
batics) test to break free.
◊ Medusa petrifies dozens of snakes crawling around
her lair. A 30 ft. area centered on Medusa becomes
difficult terrain until initiative count 20 of the next
round.

204
Tempestarii Tempestarii
S
torm devils, also known as tempestarii, are
tasked with feeding the Hurricane of the Sec- Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
ond Circle, subjugating the ziz trapped in the
Hit Points 152 (16d10 + 64)
dark infernal sky, and unleashing whirlwinds, gusts,
and lightning bolts against the damned exposed to the Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
eternal storm. One of their Infernal Emblems, Tormen-
tor, is both the tool they use to reinforce and command STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
the Gale and their weapon of choice against anyone 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 19 (+4) 12 (+1) 19 (+4) 17 (+3)
who incurs in their wrath.
Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +8

Damage Resistances cold, poison; bludgeon-
ing, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical at-
tacks
Damage Immunities lightning, thunder
Special Equipment. The tempestarii wields a Tor-

mentor.
Legendary Resistance (1/Day). If the tempestarii

fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

tempestarii’s darkvision.
Elusive Flight. The tempestarii does not provoke an

attack of opportunity when it flies out of an enemy’s
reach.

205
Actions
Multiattack. The tempestarii makes two melee at-
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the tem-
tacks.
pestarii takes a lair action to cause one of the follow-
Tormentor. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ing effects; the tempestarii can’t use the same effect
ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage plus 7 two rounds in a row.
(2d6) lightning damage.
Vortex (Recharge 4-6). Any creature within 5 feet of ◊ The tempestarii calls forth an air demon (air el-
the tempestarii must make a DC 15 Strength saving emental*), acting as the tempestarii’s ally and
throw. On a failed save, it takes 16 (3d8 + 3) blud- obeying its commands. The demon remains for 1
geoning damage, it is pushed away from the tempe- hour, until the tempestarii dies, until it uses this
starii in a random direction and is knocked prone. If a lair action again, or until it is dismissed as a bonus
pushed target hits an object, such aa a wall, that tar- action.
get takes 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage per 10 feet it ◊ A whirlwind of debris fills a 20-foot-radius sphere
has been pushed away. If the target is pushed against centered on a point the tempestarii chooses within
another creature, that creature must succeed on a 120 feet of it. The whirlwind is heavily obscured.
DC 15 saving throw, or take the same damage and be Any creature in the whirlwind when it appears
knocked prone. must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, becom-
ing blinded for 1 minute on a failed save. An affect-
A target that succeeds on its saving throw takes half
ed creature can repeat the saving throw at the end
as much bludgeoning damage, is not pushed away,
of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on
and isn’t knocked prone.
a success. The whirlwind remains until the tempe-
starii uses this lair action again, or dies.
Legendar y Actions ◊ The tempestarii throws three lightning bolts, each

of which can hit a target that it can see within 120
The tempestarii can take 3 legendary actions, choos- feet. A target must make a DC 15 Dexterity sav-
ing from the options below. Only one legendary ac- ing throw, taking 11 (2d10) lightning damage on a
tion option can be used at a time and only at the end failed save, or half as much damage on a success-
of another creature’s turn. The tempestarii regains ful one.
spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Tormentor. The tempestarii makes a melee attack

with its Tormentor.
Movement. The tempestarii moves up to its speed.
Choke (Costs 3 Actions). The tempestarii syphons

the air from a creature it can see within 60 ft. of it.
The Target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving
throw. On a failed save, it drops to 0 hit points; on
a success, the target cannot breathe or speak until
the end of its next turn.

206
The Three Beasts – First Keepers
T
he Panther, the Lion, and the She-Wolf are the
Three Beasts, Guardians of the Dark Forest and
First Keepers of Hell. Although they look like
animals, they are actually the embodiment of man-
kind’s vices and sins, gaining a tangible shape because
of the foul influence of the kingdom of the damned.
They usually attack the Lost Ones near the Bright Hill
at the edges of the Dark Forest, hiding among ancient
ruins and the last vestiges of the wood.
The Panther
A blood-red shape prowls behind the ruins, among
the trees, where the shadows are thicker. In that dark-
ness, two amber eyes appear, and a bared, flayed paw
approaches. Finally, the beast reveals itself, leaving
smoking footprints and withered plants in its wake.
The Panther is always the first to step forward. Its ag-

ile catlike body is afflicted by a foul curse: its mottled
skin keeps rotting and rejuvenating in an endless cy-
cle. A bloody rain follows the panther at every step, The Lion
and wherever the beast touches the ground, plants A roar breaks the silence and a golden sun sudden-
turn into a black goo. The Panther is the one that ly pierces the darkness. Proud and perfect, the Lion
traces the twisted pathways crisscrossing the Dark looks down on its prey, and its eyes betray its utmost
Forest, between the Pool, the Eternal Gate, and the scorn.
Bright Hill. Its movements are smooth and its gaze is
filled with hunger. Sometimes it stalks the Lost Ones When the Lion appears, many feel the urge to kneel
as soon as they enter the Dark Forest without ever re- in awe, too upset to mount any form of resistance. Its
vealing itself. Although it is the weakest of the Three mighty roar can shake the trees and send a grown man
Beasts, its agility and cruelty make it a fearsome foe. head over heels. Its skin is pure gold, glittering under
The Panther always tries to outflank its prey to launch the smallest ray of sun. The mane framing its head is
a sneak attack, and it likes to toy with them. Its bites pointed and sharp, and it has the power to bend the
and claws are always painful, but never deadly. mind of any creature that sets its gaze on it. The Lion
considers itself invincible and always attacks what it
The Panther always lets the Lion and the She-Wolf fin- perceives as the most dangerous prey, to demonstrate
ish the prey. its superiority. Its movements are slow and predict-
able, but this will not be enough to withstand its fear-
some strength, if its blows strike true.

207
The She-Wolf The She-Wolf is definitely the most dangerous of the
A sinister growl echoes among the bushes, followed by Three Beasts, as it can feed on virtually anything.
a rustle and a faint beating heart. The She-Wolf steps When it devours the ground, a chasm opens at its
forward. As it walks, strands of hair fall from its mane feet. As it bites a tree, a part of the trunk disappears
and morsels of flesh fall from its bones, revealing its and the rest of the tree collapses. As it bites the air, a
bare chest and the heart among the ribs, a black, wiz- sphere of void appears, syphoning away everything in
ened, slowly beating heart. A dark tongue hangs from its immediate whereabouts. If the She-Wolf clenches
its slavering jaws. At first sight, it would seem a dying its teeth on a living being, it literally cancels a part of
animal, but it is sustained by a fiendish strength and its hapless victim: the bitten leg, arm, or a part of the
an insatiable hunger. chest suddenly disappears, and the victim bleeds out
in endless agony.
Panther of the Dark Forest Actions

Medium monstrosity, unaligned Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Armor Class 13 target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is
a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution
Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6)
saving throw against disease or become poisoned un-
Speed 40 ft. til the disease is cured. Every 1 hour that elapses, the
target must repeat the saving throw, reducing its hit
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA point maximum by 2 (1d4) on a failure. This reduction
16 (+3) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 5 (-3) lasts until the disease is cured.
The target dies if the disease reduces its hit point max-
Skills Stealth +7, Perception +3 imum to 0.
Senses passive Perception 13, darkvision 120 ft. Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Languages - one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Keen Smell and Sight. The Panther of the Dark Forest

has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that
rely on smell or sight.
Pounce. If the Panther of the Dark Forest moves at

least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits
it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target
must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be
knocked prone. If the target is prone, the Panther of
the Dark Forest can make one bite attack against it as
a bonus action.

Lion of the Dark Forest Running Leap. With a 10-foot running start, the Lion
Large construct, unaligned of the Dark Forest can long jump up to 25 feet.

Hit Points 59 (7d10 + 2 1) Actions
Speed 40 ft. Multiattack. The Lion of the Dark Forest makes three
attacks: one with its bite, two with its claws.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
17 (+3) 16 (+3) 17 (+3) 3 (-4) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,

Skills Stealth +5, Perception +4 one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Damage Immunities fire, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, poisoned, ex-
Legendar y Actions
haustion, petrified, frightened
The Lion of the Dark Forest can take 2 legendary ac-
tions, choosing from the options below. Only one leg-
Languages -
end-ary action option can be used at a time and only
Challenge 3 (700 XP) at the end of another creature’s turn. The Lion of the
Dark Forest regains spent legendary actions at the
Legendary Resistance (1/Day). If the Lion of the Dark start of its turn.
Forest fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed Movement. The Lion of the Dark Forest moves up to
instead. its speed.
Keen Smell and Sight. The Lion of the Dark Forest has Claws. The Lion of the Dark Forest makes a claws at-
advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely tack.
on smell or sight.
Roar (Costs 2 Actions). The Lion of the Dark Forest
Pounce. If the Lion of the Dark Forest moves at least lets out a mighty magical roar - Any creature that
20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with can hear the roar within 60 ft. of the Lion of the
a claw attack on the same turn, that target must suc- Dark Forest must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom sav-
ceed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked ing throw; on a failed save, the target is frightened
prone. If the target is prone, the Lion of the Dark For- by the Lion of the Dark Forest until the end of the
est can make one bite attack against it as a bonus ac- target’s next turn.
tion.

209
She-Wolf of the Dark Forest Frightful Presence. Each creature of the She-Wolf’s
Large undead, neutral evil choice that is within 30 feet of the She-Wolf and aware
of it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can re-
Hit Points 75 (10d10 + 20) peat the sav-ing throw at the end of each of its turns,
Speed 40 ft. ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s
saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the
creature is immune to the She-Wolf’s Frightful Pres-
ence for the next 24 hours.
19 (+4) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 7 (-2) 14 (+2) 15 (+2)
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is
Skills Stealth +5, Perception +8
a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving
Damage Resistances cold throw or be knocked prone.
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison Necrotic Breath (Recharge 5–6). The She-Wolf ex-
Condition Immunities charmed, poisoned, exhales a blast of foul black wind in a 15-foot cone. Each
haustion, paralyzed, petrified, frightened creature in that area must make a DC 13 Dexterity sav-
Senses passive Perception 18, darkvision 120 ft. ing throw, taking 18 (4d8) necrotic damage on a failed
Languages - save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Legendar y Actions
Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If the She-Wolf of the
The She-Wolf of the Dark Forest can take 3 legendary
Dark Forest fails a saving throw, it can choose to suc-
actions, choosing from the options below. Only one
ceed instead.
legend-ary action option can be used at a time and
Keen Hearing and Smell. The She-Wolf of the Dark only at the end of another creature’s turn. The She-
Forest has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks Wolf of the Dark Forest regains spent legendary ac-
that rely on hearing or smell. tions at the start of its turn.
Pack Tactics. The She-Wolf of the Dark Forest has ad- Movement. The She-Wolf of the Dark Forest moves up
vantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least to its speed.
one of the She-Wolf’s allies is within 5 feet of the crea-
Bite. The She-Wolf of the Dark Forest makes a bite at-
ture and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
tack.
Breath (Costs 3 Actions). The She-Wolf of the Dark

Actions Forest recharges its Necrotic Breath and uses it.
Multiattack. The She- Wolf of the Dark Forest can use

its Frightful Presence. Then it makes a bite attack.

210
Lair Actions
The Wolf of the Dark Forest can take 3 legendary ac- throw or be restrained by the roots and vines. A
tions, choosing from the options below. Only one leg- creature can be freed if it or another creature takes
end-ary action option can be used at a time and only an action to make a DC 13 Strength check and suc-
at the end of another creature’s turn. The Wolf of the ceeds. The roots and vines wilt away when the Wolf
Dark Forest regains spent legendary actions at the uses this lair action again, or when the Wolf dies.
start of its turn. ◊ A wall of tangled brush springs into existence on
a solid surface within 120 feet of the Wolf of the
◊ Grasping roots and vines erupt in a 20-foot radius Dark Forest. The wall is up to 60 feet long, 10 feet
centered on a point on the ground that the Wolf of high, and 5 feet thick, and it blocks line of sight.
the Dark Forest can see within 120 feet of it. That When the wall appears, each creature in its area
area becomes difficult terrain, and each crea-ture must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. A crea-
there must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving ture that fails the save is pushed 5 feet out of the
wall’s space, appearing on whichever side of the
wall it wants. A creature can move through the
wall, albeit slowly and painfully. For every 1 foot a
creature travels through the wall, it must spend 4
feet of movement. Each 10-foot section of wall has
AC 5, 15 hit points, vulnerability to fire damage, re-
sistance to bludgeoning and piercing damage, and
immunity to psychic damage. The wall sinks back
into the ground when the Wolf uses this lair action
again or when the Wolf dies..

211
Caronte – Second Keeper
Helmsman of Acheronte
and Keeper of the First Circle
T
he waters of Acheronte swell and crash upon
the shore, and their foam sweeps the Dam-
ned away. A huge boat emerges from the mist,
commanded by the helmsman of the dead. This is Ca-
ronte, Ferryman of Acheronte, Guardian of the First
Circle and Second Keeper of Hell. Caronte is a towering
figure, and the oar he uses to push the boat is as long
as a sailboat. Infernal embers shine in his orbs, and a
layer of flames engulfs the oar as it strikes the waters
of Acheron or the souls who crowd the ship. His voice
makes the whole universe tremble, stirs the waters,
and plants the seeds of dread in every heart.
When Caronte the Demon steps on the shore, the
earth trembles. As he rises, his bent back and his white
beard are those of an ancient man, but his counte-
nance is so fierce that it vanquishes any attempt at
courage. This is the power of an Infernal Keeper, the Those who try and sneak aboard his vessel will awak-
sheer force that allows him to enact eternal justice in en his most cruel side. Caronte can sense whenever a
the name of the Lord. new passenger climbs on board, at the very moment
He is not alone: His boat crawls with helmsmen devils, they step onto the deck. His first reaction is a reaction
reddish creatures in whose eyes burns the same flame of bewilderment, sometimes he is even amused by the
as their master’s. They are armed with oars, long courage shown by the stowaway. Then he orders his
hooked poles, and forks, which they use to push back helmsmen under the deck, so that he may act freely.
any Indifferent who would dare to set foot on board. Then his face grows dark and a black smoke rises from
Their bat-like wings allow them to glide and flit from his clenched jaw. Now he is ready to fight.
one end of the vessel to the other, as quick as the Let it be known that fighting with Caronte is an act of
wind, with skittish movements like those of an insect. sheer madness.
If you really think you can be a stowaway on Caronte’s Still, if someone manages to prove their worth and
boat, you will have to face them first. Caronte himself defeats him, Caronte will submit to the heavenly will
does not concern himself with these details, unless that led his foes to him.
necessary. He spends his time howling at the damned
and sowing fear without ever leaving his precious He will then agree to ferry his foes without requiring
boat. From time to time, he hits the Lost Ones who any other payment. Provided that they have any Hope
bother him most with his oar, but he rarely means to of the Height left after such a struggle.
kill.

212
Caronte Actions
Gargantuan fiend, lawful neutral
Multiattack. Caronte can use his Frightful Presence.
Armor Class 20 (natural armor) Then he makes two oar attacks.
Hit Points 370 (20d20 + 160) Frightful Presence. Each creature of Caronte’s choice
that is within 30 feet of Caronte and aware of it must
Speed 60 ft.
succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become
frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the sav-
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA ing throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the ef-
27 (+8) 10 (+0) 26 (+8) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) 10 (+0) fect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw
is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is
Saving Throws Str +15, Con +15, Wis +11, Cha +7 immune to Caronte’s Frightful Presence for the next
Skills Intimidation +7, Insight +11, Perception +11 24 hours.
Damage Resistances cold, fire Oar. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 20 ft., one
target. Hit: 26 (4d8 + 8) bludgeoning damage. In addi-
Damage Immunities necrotic, poisoned; blud-
geoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical tion, the target must make a DC 23 Dexterity saving
attacks throw; on a failed save, it is pushed 60 ft. away.
Condition Immunities charmed, deafened, poi-

soned, exhaustion, weakened, paralyzed, petri-
fied, prone, frightened, stunned Legendar y Actions
Senses passive Perception 2 1, truesight 120 ft. Caronte can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
the options below. Only one legendary action option
Challenge 2 1 (33,000 XP) creature’s turn. Caronte regains spent legendary ac-
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Caronte fails a sav-
Movement. Caronte moves up to his speed.
Oar. Caronte makes an oar attack.
Infernal Weapons. Caronte’s weapon attacks are
magical. Waters of Acheronte (Costs 2 Actions). With a strike
of his oar, Caronte raises the waters of Acheronte in
Siege Monster. Caronte deals double damage to ob-
a 60 ft. cone. Any creature in that area must make
jects and structures.
a DC 23 Dexterity saving throw; on a failed save, a
target takes 2 exhaustion levels.

213
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Caronte ◊ The ground shakes in a radius of 60 feet around
takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; Caronte and his boat is rocked by the waters. Any
Caronte can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row. creature in that area or on the boat (except Caro-
nte) must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving
◊ Caronte calls forth a helmsman devil (guardian throw, or be knocked prone.
devil), acting as Caronte’s ally and obeying his
commands. The devil remains for 1 hour, until
Caronte dies, until he uses this lair action again,
or until he dismisses it as a bonus action.
◊ Caronte points at a creature he can see within 60
feet of him. The indifferent crawling in the waters
of Acheronte rise like a wave. They are quickly
fading and they assail the target before being de-
stroyed, hoping to gain the ferryman’s approval.
The creature must make a DC 15 Constitution sav-
ing throw taking 52 (15d6) necrotic damage on a
failed save, or half as much damage on a success-
ful one. Then the indifferent fade into nothing.

214
Minosse – Third Keeper
J
ustice is not blind and does not wield a set of
scales. Justice is a monster with the eyes of a
wild cat and an apparently unending tail that
spells the sentence of Heaven. It is a monster named
Minosse, Third Keeper of Hell, Judge of the Dead, Kee-
per of the Second Circle and Supreme Watcher of High
Hell.
Minosse waits at the center of the ruined coliseum

where he holds court, with his arms crossed and his
unflinching gaze fixed on the endless queue of souls
waiting to be judged. Three men one on another would
not reach his shoulders and his whole body is made
of bulging muscles. He wears no clothes, except for a
loincloth tied at his waist, but his countenance is ma-
jestic nonetheless.
Do not challenge Minosse of Creta, Traveler, as he will

certainly accept it. The Judge loves drama, and he
considers wrestling the highest form of drama. The
Minosse is one of the most hated Keepers of Hell, as he
actors are already on the stage, ready to chant po-
is the one who dispatches the damned to their eternal
ems of blood and fury. Minosse steps back and opens
and constant damnation. If someone were to face him
his arms, summoning a fierce wind that raises all the
and defeat him, a true insurrection of the unjudged
damned waiting to be judged and drops them on the
spirits would begin, and the very rules of Hell would
bleachers. The public is ready.
finally be subverted!
The ancient king bows, the souls cheer, the torches
suddenly burn again, and the show can begin.
Minosse moves swiftly in spite of his size and he at-

tacks his foes with powerful hammer blows. His fangs
can pierce any metal, his skin is as hard as bark and
his ears detect the slightest movement in the air. But
his most dangerous weapon is his tail: Minosse can ex-
tend it at will and use it as a versatile weapon, to pin,
whip, entangle, lift and throw his foes.

215
Minosse Tail of Judgment. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit,

Huge fiend, lawful evil reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning
damage and the target is grappled (DC 16 to escape).
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained and
Hit Points 161 (14d12 + 70) Minosse can’t grapple another target with his tail of
Speed 40 ft. judgment.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft.,

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA one target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
23 (+6) 10 (+0) 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 16 (+3)
Legendar y Actions
Saving Throws Str +10, Dex +4, Wis +8, Cha +7
Minosse can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
Skills Intimidation +7, Insight +8, Perception +12
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and can be used at a time and only at the end of another
slashing from nonmagical attacks creature’s turn. Minosse regains spent legendary ac-
Senses passive Perception 22 , truesight 120 ft. tions at the start of its turn.
Languages Infernal, Primeval Language Slam. Minosse makes a slam attack.
Challenge 11 (7, 200 XP) Telluric Strike (Costs 2 Actions). Minosse hits the
ground, unleashing a small earthquake. All creature
Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If Minosse fails a sav- on the ground within 40 feet of Minosse must make
ing throw, it can choose to succeed instead. a DC 18 Strength saving throw; on a failed save, the
creature falls prone.
Actions Fling. One item or creature Large or smaller grap-

pled by Minosse is flung up to 30 feet away from
Multiattack. Minosse can use his Frightful Presence. Minosse in a random direction and knocked prone.
Then he makes two attacks: one with his tail of judg- If a thrown target strikes a solid surface, the tar-
ment and one with his slam. get takes 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage for every 10
Frightful Presence. Each creature of Minosse’s choice feet it was thrown. If the target is thrown at anoth-
that is within 120 feet of Minosse and aware of it must er creature, that creature must succeed on a DC 14
succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become Dexterity saving throw or take the same damage
frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the sav- and be knocked prone.
ing throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the ef-
fect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw
is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is
immune to Minosse’s Frightful Presence for the next
24 hours.

216
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Minosse it falls prone. If a creature tries to concentrate
takes a lair action to cause one of the following ef- in the muddy area, it must succeed on al DC 15
fects; Minosse can’t use the same effect two rounds in Constitution saving throw, or lose concentration.
a row. The effect remains until Minosse uses a lair action
again, or dies.
◊ Second Circle ◊ Fourth Circle
Minosse wraps his tail around himself twice, call- Minosse wraps his tail around himself four times,
ing forth the effects of the Second Circle’s eternal calling forth 2d4 stone creatures (gargoyles*)
hurricane. Any creature starting its turn within that act as Minosse’s allies and obey his com-
40 feet of Minosse must make a DC 15 Strength mands. The stone creatures remain until Minosse
saving throw. On a failure, the target is flung up dies, until he uses a lair action again, or until he
20 feet away from Minosse in a random direction dismisses them as a bonus action.
and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes a ◊ Fifth Circle
solid surface, the target takes 3 (1d6) bludgeoning Minosse wraps his tail around himself five times,
damage for every 10 feet it was thrown. If the tar- calling forth the effects of the Fifth Circle. The
get is thrown at another creature, that creature area within 120 feet of Minosse is covered with
must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw the marshy mud of the Stige and becomes diffi-
or take the same damage and be knocked prone. cult terrain. When a creature enters the affect-
Any creature starting its turn within 40 feet of ed area for the first time on a turn or starts its
Minosse must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving turn there, the creature must succeed on a DC 15
throw, or be pushed 15 feet away from Minosse. Strength saving throw. On a failed save, it sinks in
Any creature within 40 feet of Minosse must the mud up to its waist and becomes restrained.
spend 2 feet of movement for every 1 foot it moves The creature can escape by using its action and
when moving closer to Minosse. The hurricane succeeding on a CD 15 Strength check. A creature
disperses gas or vapor, and it extinguishes can- can pull an-other creature within its reach out of
dles, torches, and similar unprotected flames in the mud by using its action and succeeding on a
the area. It causes protected flames, such as those DC 15 Strength check. The effect remains until Mi-
of lanterns, to dance wildly and has a 50 percent nosse uses a lair action again, or dies.
chance to extinguish them. The effect remains ◊ Sixth Circle
until Minosse uses a lair action again, or dies. Minosse wraps his tail around himself six times,
◊ Third Circle calling forth the purifying flames of the Sixth Circle.
Minosse wraps his tail around himself trice, call- Any creature within 40 feet of Minosse must make
ing forth the effects of the Third Circle. a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, it
Frozen sleet and hail pound to the ground in a takes 9 (2d8) fire damage. On a successful save, it
40-foot-radius, 20-foot-high cylinder centered
on Minosse. The area is heavily obscured and any
exposed flame is extinguished. The ground in the
area is covered with sickening mud and becomes
difficult terrain. When a creature enters the af-
fected area for the first time on a turn or starts
its turn there, the creature must succeed on a
DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save,

217
takes half as much damage. A creature must also ◊ Ninth Circle

make this saving throw when it enters the affect- Minosse wraps his tail around himself nine times,
ed area for the first time on a turn or ends its turn calling forth the effects of the Ninth Circle.
there. The effect remains until Minosse uses a lair Any creature within 40 feet of Minosse must make
action again, or dies. a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save,
◊ Seventh Circle it takes 11 (2d10) cold damage and becomes re-
Minosse wraps his tail around himself seven strained. On a successful save, it only takes half
times, calling forth 1d4 infernal harpies that act as much damage and is not restrained. A creature
as Minosse’s allies and obey his commands. The restrained by the ice can use its action to make a
harpies remain until Minosse uses a lair action DC 15 Strength check. On a successful check, it is
again, or dies. free.
◊ Eighth Circle The ground in the area is covered with slippery
Minosse wraps his tail around himself eight ice and becomes difficult terrain. When a crea-
times, calling forth 1d4 minor devils that act as ture enters the affected area for the first time on
Minosse’s allies and obey his commands. The dev- a turn or starts its turn there, the creature must
ils remain until Minosse uses a lair action again, succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a
or dies. failed save, it falls prone. The effect remains until
Minosse uses a lair action again, or dies.

218
Cerbero – Fourth Keeper
T
hree barks echo above the pounding rain.
Three thunderclaps shake the Pit. Then a hea-
vy figure steps forward in the slimy mud.
This is Cerbero, the Infernal Hound, Fourth Keeper of
Hell, Guardian and Scourge of the Third Circle, eager
to assault the Gluttons and rend their pale flesh. From
its slobbering mouths drips a thick and whitish slime
even fouler than the mud on the ground, covering the
remains of the damned. Cerbero’s body is not the lean
body of a hunting hound: The Infernal hound is fat
and heavy, and its snouts are flattened. Its breath is
heavy, and from its sagging cheeks falls a constant
rain of drool.
The hound raises one of its heads, sniffs the air, and
growls. All three heads turn to face the newcomers,
followed by the gargantuan body. Cerbero has found
a new toy.
The torturer of the Gluttons was once a common dog,

but the titan Tifone and his partner Echidna fed it
with their tainted blood, turning it into the monster
that stands before you now. The blood of the giants
flowing in its veins, in addition to its size and its sharp
fangs, make of Cerbero a very dangerous foe.
Its layers of fat and its thick skin act as armor for this
beast, and can protect it from most attacks. In spite of
its size, Cerbero can also move swiftly. When it does,
the ground shakes under its leaps.

219
Cerbero Actions
Huge fiend, neutral evil
Multiattack. Cerbero makes three bite attacks and
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) two claws attacks.
Hit Points 175 (14d12 + 84) Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage.
Speed 60 ft.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) slashing damage.
21 (+5) 10 (+0) 23 (+6) 7 (-2) 13 (+1) 5 (-3) Bark (Recharge 5-6). Cerbero’s barking is deafening.
Any creature that can hear it within 60 feet of it must
Saving Throws Wis +5 make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed
save, the creature takes 31 (7d8) thunder damage and
Skills Athletics +9, Perception +9
is deafened. On a successful save, the creature takes
Senses passive Perception 19, darkvision 120 ft. half as much damage and isn’t deafened. A creature
Languages understands Infernal and Primeval can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its
Language but can’t speak turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Legendar y Actions
Fury. When Cerbero drops a creature to 0 hit points
with a melee attack on its turn, it can take a bonus ac- Cerbero can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
tion to move up to its speed and make one bite attack. the options below. Only one legendary action option
Keen Hearing and Smell. Cerbero has advantage on
creature’s turn. Cerbero regains spent legendary ac-
Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or
smell.
Movement. Cerbero moves up to its speed.
Three Heads. Cerbero can’t be surprised and has ad-
vantage on Wisdom (Perception) tests and on saving Bite. Cerbero makes a bite attack.
throws against being blinded, charmed, deafened, Raging Attack (Costs 2 Actions). Cerbero makes a
frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious. claws attack against any creature within 10 feet of it.
Reactive. Because of its three heads, Cerbero gets Bark (Costs 3 Actions). Cerbero recharges its Bark and
two extra reactions that can be used only for oppor- uses it.
tunity attacks.
Sleepy. Cerbero is particularly vulnerable to any ef-

fects that may put it to sleep, and it has disadvantage
on any saving throw against such effects. In addition,
if Cerbero is targeted by the sleep spell, its current hit
points are halved to determine how many hit points
the spell can affect.

220
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Cerbero ◊ The twisted bodies of a host of damned emerge
takes a lair action to cause one of the following ef- from the mud until initiative count 20 on the
fects; Cerbero can’t use the same effect two rounds in round after next. Any creature except Cerbero
a row. that starts its turn in that area must succeed on
a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or be grappled. Es-
◊ An area that is a 50-foot cube within 120 feet of caping requires a successful DC 15 Strength (Ath-
Cerbero becomes particularly muddy and slip- letics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check.
pery. That area is difficult terrain until initiative
count 20 on the next round.

221
Flegias – Fifth Keeper
T
he boat silently glides on the marsh, directly
headed for you. It is rowed by a leering demon
with a chiseled body like that of a Greek statue
and a pair of horns cutting through the thick air that
looms over the Stige.
This is Flegias, Fifth Keeper of Hell, Ferryman of the
Stige, and Guardian of the Fifth Circle. As the boat
reaches the shore, he nimbly jumps down and wields
the oar as if it were a weapon. His bloodshot, ruby
eyes meet your gaze. The demon’s smile widens. He
spits on the ground.
Well, Traveler, now there is no escape. Flegias has is-

sued a challenge: You will have to fight him to earn
passage to the city of Dite.
Flegias is not just a ferryman, this is obvious from

his sheer size and his wiry muscles. Before the fall,
he wielded a flaming sword against Lucifero and he
fought with such a momentum that he singlehandedly
a limb. He often includes grappling and tail swipes
defeated the most powerful enemy generals. Once the
in his tactics. The rags he wears around his waist are
Great Enemy was defeated, though, the fury and the
animated and can strike as a scourge or move Flegias
rapture of battle did not fade, and he turned against
away to save him from a sneak attack.
his own companions. It was Archangel Michele who
disarmed and killed Flegias with his own sword, be- To quench Flegias’ wrath you only need to cast him
fore casting his body into the Stige. The river brought into the Stige. the mud will calm his senseless rage.
him back to life, in his new, demonic semblance. On Knocking the demon prone and finding the strength
his back, where once sprouted two mighty wings, now to push him into the mire will not be easy, though.
only two sharp vestigial bones remain. If you defeat Flegias, you will earn his admiration and
Flegias fights without restraint. He savors every mo- respect. His flesh will turn into ash, then take a new
ment of the fight. shape. Then Flegias will allow you to climb onto his
boat.
The demon is as strong as three men and a blow from
his oar can send you tumbling head over heels or break

222
Flegias Actions
Large fiend, neutral
Multiattack. Flegias makes three melee attacks: two
Armor Class 17 (natural armor) with the oar and one with the tail.
Hit Points 2 18 (19d10 + 114) Oar. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage. In ad-
dition, the target must succeed on a DC 19 Strength
saving throw, or be pushed 10 feet away.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
22 (+6) 16 (+3) 22 (+6) 13 (+1) 17 (+3) 12 (+1)
target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage, and the
target is grappled (escape DC 16). Until this grapple
Saving Throws Str +11, Con +11, Wis +8 ends, the target is restrained, and Flegias can’t grapple
Skills Athletics +11 another target with his tail.
Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing from nonmagical attacks
Legendar y Actions
Senses passive Perception 13, truesight 120 ft.
Flegias can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
creature’s turn. Flegias regains spent legendary ac-
Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If Flegias fails a saving tions at the start of its turn.
throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Movement. Flegias moves up to his speed.
Son of Mars. Flegias’ attacks are magical.
Oar. Flegias makes an oar attack.
Magic Resistance. Flegias has advantage on saving
throws against spells and other magical effects.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Flegias ◊ The ground within 60 ft. of Flegias shakes and his
takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; boat is rocked by churning waters. Any creature in
Flegias can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row. that area (except Flegias) must succeed on a DC 15
Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone.
◊ Flegias calls forth 2d4 (irascible damned), acting ◊ Grasping hands and muddy tentacles emerge
as Flegias’ allies and obeying his commands. The from Stige’s watery surface. Any creature on solid
damned remain until Flegias dies, until he uses ground within 20 feet of the water must succeed
this lair action again, or until he dismisses them on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pulled up to
as a bonus action. 20 feet into the water.

223
Infernal Minotaur – Sixth Keeper
A
huge figure emerges from the rocks. Until a
moment ago, it seemed invisible. You can ba-
rely make out what is it, then the creature ru-
shes toward you, followed by a thundering rockslide.
Whether by divine grace or sheer luck, it misses you,
and only now you realize what you have to face. Sure,
you had heard the tales, but seeing it in person is
another matter entirely.
The Minotaur is the Sixth Keeper of Hell, Watcher of
the Lower Gate of Dite, and Keeper of the Seventh Cir-
cle. As if Dite needed further Keepers in addition to
devils, archdevils, furies, and monsters of every kind,
not to mention Ecate and her court, the boundary be-
tween the Sixth and Seventh Circle is guarded by this
huge abomination.
The Minotaur is a gargantuan creature and its horns

are as sharp as the point of a spear. At each step of
his, the rocks break. At each breath, the air trembles. gular room. This is the starting room of the Maze,
It has the body of a man and the head of a bull, but an exact replica of the one where the Minotaur was
that man is Goliath and the bull is a beast sprung from bound. You cannot rely on Arianna’s thread, but you
the ravings of a madman. Its widened eyes are blood- have something better: the Divine Flame. The Lantern
shot and a flow of drool drops from its open mouth, will show you the way, pointing in the direction of
filled with teeth more suitable to a tiger than to an ox. the exit, although in a general way. It will not tell you
which path to take at a fork, but it will point toward
The Minotaur is a violent creature, but it is no fool. Its
the exit as a compass would do. As you search for the
favorite tactic consists of charging immediately, to let
exit, keep in mind that this is the Minotaur’s favorite
its prey believe that they are facing a raging and pre-
hunting ground. It is here, somewhere, maybe hiding
dictable brute. Yet, it would be unwise to be deceived
behind a corner or biding its time to demolish a wall
by this tactic, as the Minotaur has many tricks up its
and make its entrance.
sleeve.
And, of course, it will be there at the exit, waiting for
First it tries to exploit the environment around it,
you.
throwing huge stones or handfuls of gravel at a quick
rate. Then it uses its bellow, which can stun nearby Once you have killed the Minotaur, you will find a path
creatures and provoke a rockslide. Then there is the starting from a hidden tunnel in the cliff, just where
Maze. you met it. Your descent can proceed from there.
The Minotaur hits the ground with its horns and the Hurry up, though: Soon it will rise up and attack
rocks move, engulfing its victim in a structure inside again!
the mountain. You are incapacitated by the blow, and
when you come to your senses, you are in a rectan-

224
Infernal Minotaur Siege Monster. The Minotaur deals double damage to

Gargantuan monstrosity, neutral evil objects and structures.
Vulnerable Horns. If a foe scores a critical hit against

the Minotaur, they can decide to hit one of its horns,
Hit Points 333 (18d20 + 144)
instead of dealing damage. In this case, one of its
Speed 60 ft. two horns will break and become an Infernal Artefact
available for the Travelers (see Horn of the Minotaur,
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA page 175). If both horns are removed in this way, the
26 (+8) 9 (-1) 26 (+8) 6 (-2) 12 (+1) 7 (-2) minotaur can no longer use its gore.
Saving Throws Str +14, Dex +5, Con +14, Wis +7 Actions
Skills Perception +7
Multiattack. The Minotaur makes three attacks: two
Condition Immunities charmed, weakened, with its fists and one with its hooves.
frightened, stunned
Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
target. Hit: 19 (2d10 + 8) bludgeoning damage.
Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 1,5 m,
Challenge 17 (18,000 XP) one target. Hit: 24 (3d10 + 8) bludgeoning damage. If
the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 22
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the Minotaur fails a Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
Reckless. At the start of its turn, the Minotaur can gain one target. Hit: 35 (5d10 + 8) piercing damage.
advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls it makes
Maze of the Minotaur (Recharge 6). The Minotaur
during that turn, but attack rolls against it have advan-
banishes a creature it can see within 60 feet into a
tage until the start of its next turn.
labyrinthine demiplane. The target remains there
Charge. If the Minotaur moves at least 15 feet straight for 10 minutes or until it escapes the maze. The tar-
toward a target and then hits it with a gore attack on get can use its action to attempt to escape. When
the same turn, the target takes an extra 27 (5d10) pierc- it does so, it makes a DC 15 Intelligence check. If it
ing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed succeeds, it escapes, and the spell ends for it.
on a DC 22 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to
20 feet away and knocked prone.
Labyrinthine Recall. The Minotaur can perfectly recall

any path it has traveled.

225
Legendar y Actions Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the Mi-
The Minotaur can take 3 legendary actions, choosing
notaur takes a lair action to cause one of the follow-
from the options below. Only one legendary action
ing effects; the Minotaur can’t use the same effect two
op-tion can be used at a time and only at the end of
rounds in a row.
another creature’s turn. The Minotaur regains spent
leg-endary actions at the start of its turn.
◊ A creature that the Minotaur can see within 120
Movement. The Minotaur moves up to his speed. feet of the Minotaur must succeed on a DC 15
Wisdom saving throw, or lose the ability to dis-
Fist. The Minotaur makes a fist attack.
cern friend from foe, as its mind is overwhelmed
Cloud of Dust. The Minotaur kicks the ground with with savage thoughts and its actions are guided
its hooves, raising a whirling cloud of dust and stone by sheer instinct. The creature loses the ability to
shards. Any creature within 20 feet of the Minotaur discern friend from foe, it considers all creatures it
must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, can see as its enemies, and every time it chooses
or be blinded until the end of the Minotaur’s next turn. another creature as a target, it must choose it ran-
On a successful save, the creature is immune to this domly among those within range of its attack that
effect until the end of the Minotaur’s next turn. it can see. If an enemy provokes an attack of op-
Telluric Strike (Costs 2 Actions). The Minotaur hits portunity from the creature, the latter must make
the ground, unleashing a small earthquake. All crea- that attack, if it can. This effect ends on initiative
ture on the ground within 60 feet from the Minotaur count 20 of the next round.
must succeed on a DC 22 Strength saving throw, or be ◊ The Minotaur calls forth 1d4 infernal centaurs,
knocked prone. acting as the Minotaur’s allies and obeying its
commands. The centaurs remain for 1 hour, un-
til the Minotaur dies, until it uses this lair action
again, or until it dismisses them as a bonus action.
◊ The Minotaur calls forth 1d4 infernal harpies,
acting as the Minotaur’s allies and obeying its
commands. The harpies remain for 1 hour, un-
til the Minotaur dies, until it uses this lair action
again, or until it dismisses them as a bonus action.
◊ A burst of boiling blood erupts from a point in the
ground the Minotaur can see within 120 feet, pro-
ducing a 5-foot radius, 20 feet high geyser. Any
creature in the geyser’s area must make a DC 15
Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) fire dam-
age on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
successful one.

226
Gerione – Seventh Keeper
I
t grasps the air with its claws and crawls into the
sky, a nightmare invading the waking world. It
is Gerione, the Living Stair, Keeper of the Eighth
Circle and Supreme Watcher of Low Hell.
In the ancient world, Gerione was a three-headed gi-
ant. And it was also three giants joined at the waist
in a single body. It was a dragon, a manticore, a great
warrior. Gerione could become whatever it wished.
But now that the Infernal cliff is its lair, now that its
shifting shape is wreathed in darkness, Gerione is just
Gerione. It has the face of a bearded man whose eyes
have been blinded by the boiling blood of Flegeton-
te. Its body is slithering, huge, endless: the body of a
dragon as large as a river, twisting on itself in dark-
ness. Gerione is so huge that I may easily lay down on
one of its eyelids.
Fear Gerione, Travelers. Don’t expect to face a mind-

less beast, another demon to vanquish on your path. Once you reach the back of its head, a well-aimed blow
It is as large as a territory, not as the monster that will be enough to deal serious damage to Gerione. As
haunts it. Its mind is keen and its abilities are many. soon as it thinks it is in danger, the giant begins to
shapeshift. The spirals on its body spin and open, re-
The first thing you need to remember is that Gerione
leasing dozens of crawling arms which try to grapple
can go wherever it wants in Low Hell, as its watcher.
those who have wounded it.
Yet it does not need to swim in the air. It can dive
against the cliff, emerge from the sand, or disappear When Gerione realizes it is about to lose the fight, it
among the fiery clouds. begins to speak. Then you only need to ask it for pas-
sage to the bottom of the chasm and your task is done.
A good way to fight Gerione is to jump on its back and
to climb up to its head. Gerione will not realize there
is a Lost One crawling on its back until the Lost One
attacks. Climbing up the monster’s body is not easy,
as Gerione keeps moving and the scales are made slip-
pery by the blood, but this is the best option you have.
Its coils are immune to most weapons. In addition, it
is not harmed by the Flegetonte, and it often dives un-
der the waterfall to shed the vermin away. Cling to its
scales with all your strength when it soars in the sky,
or get ready to jump down when it dives against a wall
or into the scorching sand.

227
Gerione succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or become

Gargantuan dragon, neutral frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the sav-
ing throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the ef-
Armor Class 20 (natural armor) fect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw
Hit Points 444 (24d20 + 192) is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is
Speed 60 ft., fly 80 ft. immune to Gerione’s Frightful Presence for the next
24 hours.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 20 ft.,
30 (+10) 10 (+0) 26 (+8) 20 (+5) 21 (+5) 22 (+6) one target. Hit: 17 (2d6 + 10) slashing damage plus 10
(3d6) fire damage.
Saving Throws Str +17, Dex +7, Con +15, Wis +12 Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 60 ft., one
target. Hit: 21 (2d10 + 10) bludgeoning damage plus 10
Skills Intimidation +13, Deception +13, Insight
+12, Perception +12 (3d6) fire damage.
Damage Immunities fire

Senses passive Perception 22 , darkvision 400 ft., Legendar y Actions
blindsight 120 ft.
Gerione can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
Languages Infernal, Primeval Language the options below. Only one legendary action option
Challenge 23 (50,000 XP) can be used at a time and only at the end of another
creature’s turn. Gerione regains spent legendary ac-
Drenched in Flegetonte’s Waters. A creature that tions at the start of its turn.
touches Gerione or that hits it with a melee attack Detect. Gerione makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
while within 5 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) fire damage.
Tail Attack. Gerione makes a tail attack.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Gerione fails a sav-
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). Gerione beats its
wings. Each creature within 40 feet of the dragon
Actions must suc-ceed on a DC 25 Dexterity saving throw or
Multiattack. Gerione can use its Frightful Presence. take 17 (2d6 + 8) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (3d6)
Then it makes four attacks: two with its tail and two fire damage and be knocked prone. Gerione can
with its claws. then fly up to half its flying speed.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of Gerione’s choice

that is within 120 feet of Gerione and aware of it must

228
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Gerione ◊ Wriggling its serpentine coils, Gerione sends a
takes a lair action to cause one of the following ef- wave from Flegetonte’s waters against a creature
fects; Gerione can’t use the same effect two rounds in it can see within 40 feet of Gerione. The creature
a row. must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, or
take 10 (3d6) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (3d6)
◊ Gerione plunges its forked tail into the waters of fire damage and be knocked prone.
Flegetonte, then it waves it in the air, raining blood ◊ A tremor shakes the rocks in a 60-foot radius of
in a 40-foot radius sphere centered on a point Gerione. Any creature in that area (except Geri-
Gerione can see within 160 feet of it. Any creature one) must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving
under the rain must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity throw, or be knocked prone.
saving throw, or take 10 (3d6) fire damage.

229
Giants of Cocito – Eighth Keepers
Y our gaze is drawn to the Pit, you feel the pull of

its darkness. Six towers stand in the night. Yet
they are not towers at all. Their shapes stir as
you approach, and their chains scratch the cliff. You
stand in the presence of myths, Traveler. When the
world was young, monsters and heroes freely walked
among men. Earth and sky were closer, and the hea-
vens opened to let the children of the Lord pass. But
an ancient sin wiped away that world in forty days and
forty nights, so that a new world could rise. The bein-
gs imprisoned in the Pit are the last survivors of that
age, the rebellious and unholy spawn of two realities
that should never have merged. Nembrot, Fialte, An-
teo, Tizio, Tifone, and Briareo. Giants.
Now that you have arrived here, arrogance might get

the better of you. Don’t be overconfident, Traveler.
Nothing can prepare you to the fight against these
creatures. Your best chance is to convince the most Well. Having said this, let’s take a closer look at each
reasonable of them to let you climb down without a Giant’s abilities and weaknesses.
fight. Still, if a fight is unavoidable, I have a few sug-
gestions for you. Nembrot
Nembrot, the first king of Babylon, cannot under-
First, keep in mind that giants share no bonds with
stand anything he hears and speaks an unintelligible
their kin. Even those of the same blood led a solitary
language. His only way to communicate is the horn he
life, away from their ilk. This is also true in Hell, whe-
bears at his shoulder, which is also his most powerful
re every Giant only cares about himself. They will not
weapon. The sonic blast of this horn at close range can
help each other. Indeed, you may even convince some
wipe away an entire Brigade of Lost Ones and dam-
of them to help you against the others.
age their hearing for hours. Nembrot can also freely
move his arms, and can easily crush the Lost Ones. He
Another important thing to remember is the fact that
is proud in his rebellion against God, but he does not
all Giants are restrained and chained in the Pit, and
attack without a reason.
they can never be free. They stand on the outer rim
of Cocito, and their bodies are chained to the cliffs of
Fialte
the chasm, from which they emerge from the waist up.
Fialte’s arms are chained along his body. Although
Keep an eye on the chains that restrain them, keep he understands human languages, he only commu-
away from their attacks and pay attention to the ma- nicates through raging bellows and outbursts. To ob-
ximum range of their movements. tain a sensible answer from him is a remarkable task,
requiring an oratory skill that may quench his wrath.

230
Although his limbs are blocked, climbing down Fial- Tifone
te without his permission is unwise. The Giant wildly Tifone was considered the most fearsome among the
thrashes, causing earthquakes and serrated thorns Giants, and with good reason. Not only is he the big-
protrude from his body. Each one of these spikes looks gest of the six Giants imprisoned in the Pit, but he can
like a black iron spear and is two arm-lengths long. also shapeshift at will. He can grow wings and cast
strong buffets of wind, long arms with which to snatch
Anteo the Lost Ones, additional heads, a bony armor on his
Anteo is not particularly bright, but he can be rea- skin, and so on…
soned with. Among the six giants, he is the one who His wounds can become fire-spitting maws, the hair
has the best chance to help you out. But you’ll do well on his chained arms turn into snakes, his hair and
to remember that he has little patience and that his beard turn into thorny tentacles. Tifone’s shifting
wrath can easily get the better of him if things don’t horrors are unending. His only limits are the inability
go as he says. His marble skin is very resistant, except to change his size and to get rid of his chains.
in those spots where time has eroded it. Anteo can Tifone is as smart as he is cruel, and he loves to show
touch the rocks with both hands to absorb a mysteri- off his keen mind. If you can surprise him and demon-
ous energy, apparently drawn from the bowels of the strate you are his intellectual equal, he may decide to
Earth. When he increases his power in this way, the spare your life and drop you to the bottom of the Pit.
cracks in his skin glow red and the same happens to
his eyes. Briareo
Briareo, with his fifty heads and one hundred hands,
Tizio is the last of the ecatonchiri. This brood of monstrous
Tizio looks like a dying ember. His coal-like flesh is Giants was the result of the union between a human
warm to the touch and tendrils of smoke constantly woman and a cherub with four faces. Briareo’s mind
rise from his empty sockets, nose, and mouth. Tizio’s is a confused babbling of fifty brains working togeth-
arms are free, but his neck is chained, so the Giant er, something that makes him highly unpredictable.
cannot freely bow his head. Although he is usually quiet, from time to time he
The five huge arrows piercing his liver are excellent gives in to fits of rage and attacks everything with-
steps, if you decide to climb down his body to reach in his reach. He is chained at the forearm and at the
the bottom of the Pit, but when you touch them, a neck, so he enjoys a better freedom of movement than
lightning storm is unleashed in the bowels of the Gi- Tifone and Tizio. Briareo has no supernatural powers
ant, and in doing so you will earn his undying hate. On like the other Giants. He must rely on his huge physi-
the other hand, they are a good weak point to hit, if cal strength and on his host of arms, which can each
you intend to kill him. Keep in mind that you may talk move independently of the others.
him out of fighting and convince him to help, Traveler.
Tizio is indeed a violent and despicable creature, but
he is also open to debate, and he might help you if you
promise to remove one of his arrows or do him anoth-
er favor. Once removed, an arrow will always reappear
in its place after a few hours, but in the meantime, the
Giant will know some relief.

231
Giant of Cocito the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is grappled.

Gargantuan fiend, chaotic neutral (DC 19 to escape) Until this grapple ends, the target is
restrained, and the Giant can’t snatch another target.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, range
Hit Points 333 (18d20 + 144)
180/720 ft., one target. Hit: 43 (6d10 + 10) bludgeoning
Speed 0 ft. damage.

Legendar y Actions
30 (+10) 8 (-1) 26 (+8) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 11 (+0)
The Giant can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
Saving Throws Str +16, Con +14
Damage Resistances cold
creature’s turn. The Giant regains spent legendary ac-
Senses passive Perception 12 , darkvision 120 ft. tions at the start of its turn.
Languages Primeval Language Attack. The Giant makes an attack.
Telluric Strike (Costs 2 Actions). The Giant hits the
ground with its fists, unleashing a small earthquake.
Chained. The Giant is restrained. Any creature on the ground within 60 feet of the Gi-
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the Giant fails a savant must make a DC 24 Strength saving throw; on a
ing throw, it can choose to succeed instead. failed save, the creature falls prone.
Siege Monster. The Giant deals double damage to ob- Fling. One Large or smaller object or creature grap-
jects and structures pled by the Giant is thrown up to 60 feet in a ran-
dom direc-tion and knocked prone. If a thrown
target strikes a solid surface, the target takes 3
Actions (1d6) bludgeoning dam-age for every 10 feet it was
thrown. If the target is thrown at another creature,
Multiattack. The giant makes two melee attacks.
that creature must succeed on a DC 19 Dexter-
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., ity saving throw or take the same damage and be
one target. Hit: 29 (3d12 + 10) bludgeoning damage. knocked prone.
Snatch. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
one target. Hit: 19 (2d8 + 10) bludgeoning damage. If

232
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the Giant ◊ The Giant blows its Horn. Each creature within 200
takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; feet of the Giant must make a DC 15 Wisdom sav-
the Giant can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row: ing throw, taking 14 (4d6) thunder damage and be
stunned on a failed save. On a successful save, the
◊ The Giant hits the ice around it with its fists, target takes half the damage and isn’t stunned.
spreading a cloud of shards. Each creature within
120 feet of the Giant must make a DC 18 Dexterity
saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) cold damage and 10
(3d6) piercing damage on a failed save, or half as
much damage on a successful one.

233
Lucifero – Ninth Keeper
Y ou are almost swept away by a sharp, cruel

wind smelling of brimstone. Every gust also
carries the painful breath of something huge,
a hate so strong that it drains every color from crea-
tion. The landscape of Hell grows grey, then it darkens
to the point that your sight is limited to a small cone
surrounded by a layer of thick darkness. You glimpse
some figures on the frozen walls, and suddenly a
mountain appears in front of you, enshrouded in fla-
mes that shine in the eternal night. But you know very
well that this is no mountain. You step forward, out
of Giudecca’s maze, and you come to the place where
the Morning Star fell. Lucifero stops his wings, as if he
were surprised by your arrival, and your sight returns.
You feel compelled to bow your head, maybe in awe,

maybe in horror: This is Lucifero, the Foe, the Devil,
the Tempter, Emperor of Hell, Ninth and Last Keeper
of this place.
Lucifero’s shape is so huge that your eyes can hardly

take in the magnitude of the figure before you. A sha-
dow emerges from the frozen lake, a head as high as
a peak. Oh, what a glorious sight the Light Bea-
rer had to be in the highest of heavens, if his
twisted shape is now so fearful!

234
Still, even more than his semblance, you are strick- You will not yield. This was all done on purpose. Ev-
en by the foul energy constantly radiating from his erything was planned from the beginning, since your
shape. You are so close to him that only the presence journey began. All the Familiar Spirits you invoked, all
of the Divine Flame prevents you from collapsing to the Hope you spent during your journey, it was all a
the ground and abandoning every Hope. Keep as close scheme to lose you, to consume you, to provoke your
as you can to the Flame, Travelers, as that light is the fall…
last bastion shielding your mind from Lucifero, the
You ignore their pleas and focus on the divine light.
only thing that preserves your sanity.
You search for Hope within yourselves, and rise again.
There are no words in this world to describe how it Now the real battle begins.
feels to be in the presence of the Great Foe. I will there-
Lucifero can beat his wings to create buffets of frozen
fore use a metaphor to convey at least a fragment of
wind that can lift you into the air and cast you aside,
the Evil brooding at the center of Cocito. Lucifero is
covering your shapes with ice. When he hits the frozen
an oozing wound, whose foul ichor taints all men. He
lake with his fists, he generates an earthquake, open-
is a mass of men and women melted together in an
ing fissures and raising sharp blades of ice.
agonizing tower of torn flesh, so high as to pierce the
starry sky. He is a son who smiles as he slowly pushes You cannot even conceive of the possibility of killing
a blade into his father’s belly. Lucifero himself. The Devil is immortal, his existence
sustains the very structure of Hell. You can only hope
Lucifero eternally gnaws his damned. He does not
to weaken him enough to bypass him before it’s too
look at you, although it is obvious that he noticed
late, and even this opportunity is the hardest of all
your arrival. Each of those damned looks familiar to
tasks…
you. Maybe they are someone you know, or someone
you have heard about. Giuda, Bruto, Cassio, or may- Lucifero enjoys every distraction from his punish-
be someone close to you. Maybe they’re your father ment, so he will toy with you and torture you in cre-
or your sister. They wail, begging you to save them, ative ways. Actually, this will play to your advantage.
longing for relief, aid, Hope. If he actually wanted to vanquish you, you would not
stand a chance, so seize this opportunity. His overcon-
fidence will be once again his downfall.

235
Lucifero Limited Magic Immunity. Lucifero can’t be affect-

Gargantuan fiend, lawful evil ed or detected by spells of 6th level or lower unless
he wishes to be. He has advantage on saving throws
Armor Class 22 (natural armor) against all other spells and magical effects.
Hit Points 666 (36d20 + 288)
Regeneration. Lucifero regains 30 hit points at the
Speed 0 ft. start of his turn, if he has at least 1 hit point.
Innate Spellcasting. Lucifero’s spellcasting ability is

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Charisma (spell save DC 27). He can innately cast the
28(+9) 22 (+6) 26 (+8) 26 (+8) 24 (+7) 30 (+10) following spells, requiring no material components:
At will: cone of cold (6 th level), dispel magic (6th level),

Saving Throws Str +18, Dex +15, Con +17, Int +17, finger of death, ice storm (6 th level)
Wis +16, Cha +19
1/day each: dominate monster, wall of ice, meteor
Skills Deception +19, Intimidation +19, Insight
+16, Perception +16, Persuasion +19 swarm (dealing cold damage instead of fire damage)
Damage Resistances acid, cold, lightning, fire,

radiant, thunder, and poison
Actions
Damage Immunities necrotic; bludgeoning,
Multiattack. Lucifero can use his Frightful Presence.
piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Then he makes two melee attacks.
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deaf-
ened, poisoned, exhaustion, paralyzed, petrified, Frightful Presence. Each creature of Lucifero’s choice
prone, frightened, and stunned that is within 120 feet of Lucifero and aware of him
Senses passive Perception 26, truesight 400 ft. must succeed on a DC 27 Wisdom saving throw or be-
come frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
Challenge 30 (155,000 XP) the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving
throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the crea-
Stuck. Lucifero is restrained. ture is immune to Lucifero’s Frightful Presence for the
Prince of the Fallen. The range of Lucifero’s spells and next 24 hours.
powers extends to his line of sight. Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 15 ft.,
First Corruptor. Lucifero is the root of all sins. All costs one target. Hit: 19 (2d8 + 10) slashing damage plus 18
in Hope Points a Traveler must pay to Embrace the Sin (4d8) necrotic damage.
within 120 feet of Lucifero are doubled. Snatch. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 15 ft.,
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Lucifero fails a sav- one target. Hit: 19 (2d8 + 10) bludgeoning damage plus
ing throw, he can choose to succeed instead. 18 (4d8) necrotic damage. If the target is a Large or
smaller creature, it is grappled (DC 19 to escape). Until
Infernal Weapons. Lucifero’s weapon attacks are this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and Lucifero
magical. When Lucifero hits with any weapon, his can’t snatch another target.
weapon deals 4d8 extra necrotic damage (included in
the attack).

236
Legendar y Actions
Lucifero can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
creature’s turn. Lucifero regains spent legendary ac-
tions at the start of his turn.
Attack. Lucifero makes a melee attack.
Gnaw. Lucifero gnaws a creature he has grappled with

his snatch attack, dealing 19 (2d8 + 10) piercing dam-
age plus 18 (4d8) necrotic damage to that creature.
Spell (Costs 2 Actions). Lucifero casts one of his at-

will innate spells.
Heal (Costs 3 Actions). Lucifero magically regains 45

(10d8) hit points.

237
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Lucifero
takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects;
Lucifero can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:
◊ Any creature in Cocito must make a DC 17 Dex-

terity saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 11
(2d10) cold damage and becomes restrained. On
a successful save, the creature takes half as much
damage and isn’t restrained. A creature restrained
by ice can use its action to make a DC 17 Strength
check. On a successful check, it is free. The ground
in the area is covered with slippery ice and becomes
difficult terrain. Any creature that enters this area
for the first time in a turn or starts its turn in this
area must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw. On
a failed save, it is knocked prone.
◊ Lucifero haunts his foes’ minds with their deep-
est fears and desires. Any creature in Cocito must
succeed on a DC 27 Wisdom saving throw, or lose
1 Hope Point and be stunned until the start of its
next turn.
◊ Lucifero calls forth 1d4 guardian devils, acting as
Lucifero’s allies and obeying his commands. The
devils remain for 1 hour, until Lucifero dies, until
he uses this lair action again, or until he dismisses
them as a bonus action.

Index
Ettore106 Leviathan140 Skin, Key 127
A Ettore’s Helm
Euridice63
Evils of Hell
173
182
Limbo94
Lion
Lovers
208
118
Skins
Skin, Salamander
Skin, Torch
127
127
127
Eye of Minosse 174 Lucifero233 Sodoma and Gomorra 158
Acheronte 89
Space in Hell 44
Aletto 194
F
Spirit, Familiar 56
Alternate Endings 48
Spirit, Noble 31
Ancient Relics 38
Angelic Rod
Angel, Indifferent
Antenora163
171
15, 197
Fialte229
M Staff of the Cross
Stige
Stone Effigy
179
137
38
Anteo230 Fifth Circle 138 Magic and Material Components 8
Antinferno83 Fifth Keeper 221 Malebolge 158
Archetypes8
Artifacts, Infernal
Avaricious136
168
First Circle
First Keeper
Flegetonte154
94
206
Malebranche
Medusa, Infernal
Megera
23
202
194
T
Flegias221 Minosse 214 Tantalo 131
Flying in Hell 45 Minotaur, Infernal 223 Tears of Wax 180
B Fourth Circle 134 Monsters and Naming 69 Tempestarii 204

Fourth Keeper 218 Multiclassing 10 Tifone 230
Fury195 Time in Hell 44
N
Behemoth’s Club 172 Tisifone 194
Binding an Infernal Artifact 170 Tizio 230
G
Bow of the Asp 172 Third Circle 125
Brews 127 Third Keeper 214
Briareo 230 Narrative Annotation 69 Three Beasts 206
Brutal Cleaver 173 Nembrot 229 Tolomea 163
Gargoyles and Behemoths 129 Nesso’s Robe 176 Torch of the Divine Flame 180
C
Gerione226 Ninth Circle 159 Tormentor 181
Gerione ‘s Scale 174 Ninth Keeper 233 Traitors 160
Giants of Cocito 229 Noble Spirits 94
Giudecca164
O U
Caco159 Gluttonous128
Caina163 Golden Skeleton 28, 38
Calcabrina120 Guiding Travelers through Hell 40
Calcagnaccio109 Guide60
Caronte211 Orfeo 63 Uccione de’ Pazzi 110
Castle of the Noble Spirits 101 Orfeo’s Lyre 177
Centaur, Infernal
Cerbero218
200
H
Cerbero’s Lair
Champion of the False Gods
Chasm
131
185
134
Harpy, Infernal
Haunting Insects
201
21
P V
Cocito 161 Hope, Give 11 Panther 207 Veil of Indifference 21
Constant Decline 46 Hope Points 10 Perseo’s Shield 177 Violent 154
Horn of the Minotaur 175 Pit 126
Pluto 136
D W
Host of Damned 189
Hurricane116 Primeval Language 184
Prodigal 136
Damned
Dark Forest
Darkness of the Blind World
188
70
68
I R Wanton 117
Way is Long, and Difficult the Road,
The 66
Dedalo102 Weapons of Damnation 2
Defeating the Devil 166 Icaro 103 Rest in Hell 44 8
Despair 11 Indifferent80 Ricciardino de’ Pazzi 110 Wings of Sin 28
Despondent Characters 53 Infernal Chronicle 54 Wood of Suicides, The 155
Infernal Sand Waste 157
S
Devil, Guardian 190
Devil, Major 191 Irascible138
Devil, Minor 192
Dite142
Divine Flame
Divine Inspiration
10
11 J Sariel
Scourge of Dite
Second Circle
198
178
108
Second Keeper 211
E Jar of Infernal Sand 175 Secret of the Lyre

Seventh Circle
Seventh Keeper
64
153
226
L
Ecate134 Sferzavento 119
Eighth Keepers 229 Shard of Cocito 179
Emblems, Infernal 8 She-Wolf 209
Embrace the Sin 10 Shield of Indifference 21
Equipment8 Labyrinth of Fog 98 Sixth Circle 151
Erinyes200 Lantern of the Divine Flame 176 Sixth Keeper 223
Eternal Gate 77 Level Progression 45 Skin, Centauress 127

Acheron Games. Made in Italy.
Shared Worldwide.
us players: www.acheronstore.com
all the other countries: www.acheron.it

OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a 2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a
Legal Information notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in
Permission to copy, modify and distribute the files collectively known as the System terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content
Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD5”) is granted solely through the use of the Open that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except
Gaming License, Version 1.0a. as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to
This material is being released using the Open Gaming License Version 1.0a and any Open Game Content distributed using this License.
you should read and understand the terms of that license before using this material. 3. Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game ContentYou indicateYour acceptance
The text of the Open Gaming License itself is not Open Game Content. Instructions of the terms of this License.
on using the License are provided within the License itself.
The following items are designated Product Identity, as defined in Section 1(e) of 4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License,
the Open Game License Version 1.0a, and are subject to the conditions set forth in the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty free, non exclusive
Section 7 of the OGL, and are not Open Content: Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.
Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master, Monster Manual, d20 System, Wizards of the 5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing origi-
Coast, d20 (when used as a trademark), Forgotten Realms, Faerûn, proper names nal material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions
(including those used in the names of spells or items), places, Underdark, Red Wizard are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights
of Thay, the City of Union, Heroic Domains of Ysgard, Ever Changing Chaos of conveyed by this License.
Limbo, Windswept Depths of Pandemonium, Infinite Layers of the Abyss, Tarterian 6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Depths of Carceri, Gray Waste of Hades, Bleak Eternity of Gehenna, Nine Hells of portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Baator, Infernal Battlefield of Acheron, Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus, Peaceable of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and
Kingdoms of Arcadia, Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia, Twin Paradises of You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder’s name to the
Bytopia, Blessed Fields of Elysium, Wilderness of the Beastlands, Olympian Glades of COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.
Arborea, Concordant Domain of the Outlands, Sigil, Lady of Pain, Book of Exalted
7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, inclu-
Deeds, Book of Vile Darkness, beholder, gauth, carrion crawler, tanar’ri, baatezu,
ding as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another,
displacer beast, githyanki, githzerai, mind flayer, illithid, umber hulk, yuan ti.
independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity.
All of the rest of the SRD5 is Open Game Content as described in Section 1(d)
You agree not to indicate compatibility or co adaptability with any Trademark
of the License.
or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game
Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with
The terms of the Open Gaming License Version 1.0a are as follows:
the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright
of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game
2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved.
Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.
8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate
1. Definitions: (a)”Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners
which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.
who have contributed Open Game Content; (b)”Derivative Material” means
copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including 9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated
into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to
extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed
which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) “Distribute” under any version of this License.
means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit 10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy
or otherwise distribute; (d)”Open Game Content” means the game mechanic of the Open Game Content You Distribute.
and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such
11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game
content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the
Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission
prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content
from the Contributor to do so.
by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including
translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes 12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms
Product Identity. (e) “Product Identity” means product and product line names, of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to
logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any
stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, Open Game Material so affected.
symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, 13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply
photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming
of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.
special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or
Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such
supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other
provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.
trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the
owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game COPYRIGHT NOTICE Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000,
Content; (f) “Trademark” means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs Wizards of the Coast, LLC.
that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast,
products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) “Use”, Inc.; Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thomp-
“Used” or “Using” means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate son, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris
and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) “You” Sims, and Steve Townshend, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax
and Dave Arneson.
www.acheronstore.com

INFERNO is the first original 5 th edition Campaign Setting adapting Dante
Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy” into a tabletop roleplaying game.
INFERNO - Virgilio’s Untold Tales is the game’s “Dungeon Master’s Guide”

and “Monster Manual”, with three new playable archetypes, a campaign in ten
episodes, perils, game hooks, secrets, infernal artifacts, the bestiary and the Nine
Keepers of Dante’s Hell.
Thence We Came Forth To Rebehold The Stars
www.acheronstore.com

Inferno Virgilio S Untold Tales (ENG)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Inferno Virgilio S Untold Tales (ENG)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Inferno Virgilio S Untold Tales (ENG)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

5E

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

edition of the world’s most popular tabletop role-playing game and

Dante’s Guide to Hell, which can be read freely by all players.

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Samuel Marolla Daniela Giubellini

Masa Daniela Giubellini, Vincenzo Pratticò, Gustave Dorè

Two Little Mice Fabio Porfidia

John Marron Alex Valente and Fiorenzo Delle Rupi

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Indifferent Angels, Malebranche, and Noble

Leading the Travelers through Hell 40

The Way is Long, and Difficult the Road 66

Infernal Artifacts 168

Evils of Hell 182

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Buon Maestro to Dante himself, exalted mind

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Leading the Journey The Role of the Guide

The Guide of the Game

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

The Guide in the Game

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Playing New Archetypes

Chapter I – Indifferent Angels, Malebranche, and Noble Spirits

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

P rovidence and Free Will

Chapter I – Indifferent Angels, Malebranche, and Noble Spirits

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

W hen indifferent angels, malebranche, and

As they acquire their Hope in Hell, after centu-

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Other Traits in Indifferent

Alignment. Although a Lost Ones’ alignment

Chapter I – Indifferent Angels, Malebranche, and Noble Spirits

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

The heavens expelled them, not to be less fair;

This is your sentence, this is your fate. Your

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Roleplaying an Indifferent Angel Traits of the Indifferent Angels

T he angels of the Indifferent Choir, those who

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Ability Score Improvement

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

At 20th level, you are ready to push the limits

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Ah, how ferocious was he in his aspect!

His shoulders, which sharp-pointed were and high,

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Roleplaying a Malebranche  Malebranche Traits

T he fallen angels who followed Lucifero have

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

Farkas Botond (Order #39684625)

As a malebranche, you gain the following

Leading the Travelers through Hell 40

The Way is Long, and Difficult the Road 66

Infernal Artifacts 168

Evils of Hell 182

Leading the Journey The Role of the Guide

The Guide of the Game

The Guide in the Game

Roleplaying an Indifferent Angel Traits of the Indifferent Angels

Ability Score Improvement

Roleplaying a Malebranche Malebranche Traits

Ability Score Improvement

Roleplaying a Noble Spirit ◊ Noble Spirit Names. The noble spirits

Noble Spirit Traits

Authority of the Castle

Infernal Lore Preparing and Casting Spells

Improved Declaration of Courage

Touch of the Aoidos

Secret of the Mages

Through the Dark Forest

Rest in Hell I f players choose to start playing the campai-

Lower Circles, Higher Levels

Filled with Hope

Adding more Travelers

The Lost Ones and Their Bonds