History TabletopGame / BaldursGateDescentIntoAvernus

* DropTheHammer: Zariel wields Matalotok, a magical warhammer forged by the frost giant god Thrym. It gives her cold immunity and deals massive cold damage in an area on impact whenever it hits a target. It originally belonged to the demon lord Kostchtchie, until Zariel defeated and imprisoned him. [[spoiler:If the adventurers freed Kostchtchie from his captivity, the demon lord will actively seek out Zariel to reclaim his stolen warhammer.]]

** A spined devil named Uldrak wants the players to get Tiamat's blood to remove a curse she put on him. He offers to help the players free a dao named Ralzala if they lift the curse on him. [[spoiler: He is actually an evil Empyrean who [[BalefulPolymorph Tiamat turned into a spined devil]] when he tried to defeat her. After regaining his true form he is not under any obligation to keep up his end of the deal, but does so regardless.]]

''Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus'' is an adventure module for [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsFifthEdition the fifth edition]] of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', released on September 17, 2019. It also serves as a "pen-and-paper" {{Interquel}} of sorts between ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'' and ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'', set roughly 100 years after the events of the former and shortly before the events of the latter.

* TrickedIntoSigning: A major part of why Elturel has fallen into Avernus is due to this. [[spoiler: After making a contract with Zariel, Thavius Kreeg created the Creed Resolute, a magically binding oath to defend the city and nation. In truth, the Creed Resolute essentially acted as a means of binding those who swore to the city itself, allowing them to be essentially offered to Zariel so that when it was time, their souls could be taken by her.]]

* HateSink: Thavius Kreeg. [[spoiler: In desperation to save Elturel from its vampiric ruler, he made a deal with Zariel to save it. But from that moment, he used that deal to claim he saved the city, allowing him to gain massive political power. Knowing that Elturel would eventually fall into Avernus, however, he [[ScrewThisImOutOfHere left it to its fate when that time comes]] and fled to Baldur's Gate, and [[HistoryRepeats attempted to do the same thing]] to the city just so that he could survive. If he dies before the adventurers head to Avernus, he ends up in Avernus as a devil because of his pact, but when encountered aboard Zariel's flying fortress, [[DidntThinkThisThrough he's crying because he didn't think Zariel]] would [[ItsAllAboutMe have him suffer anything bad]]. He's a selfish man who cares not for the many innocent people who died for his own ambition.]]

** In Chapter 5, [[spoiler:the archdevil Zariel]] can become this '''only if''' the adventurers prove successful in redeeming her. With a newfound sense of hope for herself after being forgiven by the adventurers, [[spoiler:she takes the Sword of Zariel once more and reverts back to her angelic form]].

* ButThouMust: You can't avoid {{conscription}} into the Flaming Fist early in the adventure to help Baldur's Gate with its current refugee crisis. It's mentioned in-universe by Captain Zodge that they have the legal authority to both draft adventurers in times of great need and the authority to execute you if you refuse, [[AnOfferYouCantRefuse which is done as a way to intimidate you into the Fist's service]]. You can't go forward with the adventure until you agree to help them.

** [[spoiler: This is actually what caused Elturel's disappearance into the Nine Hells in the first place. Fifty years prior to the events of the adventure, Elturel's High Overseer Thavius Kreeg struck a deal with the archdevil Zariel to provide him the Solar Insidiator (better known as The Companion) to rid the city of the undead threat. In reality, Zariel was making use of this deal to bring Elturel and its citizens under her control and turn them into CannonFodder for the Blood War.]]
** [[spoiler:One of the ways Elturel can be saved is by making one with Zariel. If the players wish to, they can offer to join the Blood War as devils in exchange for saving the city, or they can offer themselves (if heroic enough) as a sacrifice to her in order to free the city]].

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: [[spoiler: If a good-aligned Paladin or Cleric who is at least level 10 offers [[TakeMeInstead their soul in exchange for saving Elturel]], Zariel will be shocked, so much so that it gives the players Advantage on the Charisma roll to redeem her.]]

** If the players convince [[GodOfEvil Tiamat]] to aid them, [[spoiler:she surprisingly keeps up her end of the deal without betraying them, helping them attack the chains holding Elturel in the Hells, as agreed.]]

* InfinityPlusOneSword: The Sword of Zariel, a legendary sword wielded by her when she was still an angel before [[FallenAngel she fell from grace]]. If the sword [[OnlyTheChosenMayWield deems someone worthy enough to wield it]], then they not only get a +3 blade, but one with a ton of perks. If you can wield the sword, you resist radiant and necrotic damage, learn the Celestial language, your Charisma becomes 20 if it's not already that high, you gain a flying speed and truesight, gain a few minor beneficial properties, gain advantage on all Insight checks, and deal extra radiant damage that can potentially blind your target with every hit. [[spoiler:However, the path to saving the city might involve giving up this sword to Zariel in exchange for saving the city. Not to mention, the sword itself is sentient, and it only lets anyone use it if they're deemed worthy enough by the sword itself.]]

** [[spoiler: If the players convince [[GodOfEvil Tiamat]] to aid them she surprisingly keeps up her end of the deal without betraying them.]]
* KickTheSonOfABitch: [[spoiler: One of the deals players can make with Zariel is to give her the Shield of the Hidden Lord. She destroys the shield and releases the devil trapped within, Gargauth, in an injured state. She then orders him killed. Garguath begs for mercy if this happens. Dick move, but Garguath is a devil, and if he cuts a deal with the players himself he will try to kill them the moment it's concluded.]]

* VillainOfAnotherStory: Tiamat's role in this module. She is the master of Arkhan, who seeks to free her from Avernus. She doesn't directly involve herself in the campaign [[spoiler: unless the players convince her to aid them against their mutual enemy.]]

* ContemplateOurNavels: One of the random encounters the players can have in Elturel is a demon (specifically, a vrock) who broke off from the Blood War and is now thinking over his lot in life, the nature of the war, and just in general the state of things. If spoken to, he actively discusses these things with the players without hostility. In fact, being nice and talking to him is arguably the best option since if one rolls a relatively easy to make Persuasion check after, he'll happily give some information to the players that can be extremely beneficial.

* ButThouMust: You can't avoid being conscripted into the Flaming Fist early on in the adventure. It's mentioned in-universe that the people who are conscripting you have the legal authority to execute you if you refuse as a way to intimidate you into their service. And if you still refuse, you either get executed or the adventure just ends right there.

* {{Conscription}}: The story begins with the [[PlayerCharacter adventurers]] being drafted into the Flaming Fist, coercing them into helping the mercenary company defend Baldur's Gate as they handle the refugee crisis. According to Captain Zodge, the Flaming Fist is empowered to draft adventurers in times of emergency, and he can execute them on the spot for refusing to help, though he would rather insist that they accept.

* HeelRealization: [[spoiler: If the adventurers prove to be convincing enough to sway Zariel back into good, the archdevil eventually comes to a realization that she may have gone too far with her vendetta against demonkind before reclaiming her sword and reverting back to her angelic form. Bonus points if the adventurers brought Lulu and/or Olanthius with them, as their presence makes Zariel [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone feel remorseful]] that her actions almost costed her friendship with Lulu, and/or left Olanthius to suffer a FateWorseThanDeath.]]
* HellHasNewManagement: [[spoiler: If Zariel would be redeemed or defeated in the course of the adventure, another powerful character can fight to take her place and claim Avernus for themselves. Either one of the demon lords (Baphomet, Yeenoghu, or Kostchtchie) would rule Avernus and shift the balance of the Blood War in their favor, Bel reclaiming his title as archduke, Gargauth becoming the new ruler of Avernus after being freed from the Shield of the Hidden Lord (and most likely [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness betraying the adventurers in the process]]), Arkhan the Cruel becoming a PuppetKing in Tiamat's stead, or one of the adventurers themselves would become willing to rule Avernus on their own terms.]]
* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler: Throughout the course of the adventure, the hollyphant Lulu firmly believes that there's is still a spark of hope to save her friend Zariel, and she actively encourages the adventurers to use the Sword of Zariel to try to sway the archdevil back into goodness. Should they fail to redeem her, however, then such a tragic outcome would drive Lulu insane, causing her to suffer the effects of a long-term madness.]]

* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: In Candlekeep, there's an [[AlwaysChaoticEvil ogre]] wearing a ''headband of intellect'', which he obtained from a halfling adventurer that he killed a few years ago. After putting the headband on and gaining the increase to his intelligence, he was overcome with guilt and has come to renounce his violent ways by studying ethics.
* NeverMessWithGranny: Early into the adventurers' trip across Avernus, they'll run into Mad Maggie, a night hag warlord who leads the Knucklebones gang that operates out of a ruined fort near Elturel. She's [[AffablyEvil overall polite and is willing to help the adventurers with their quest should they make it known to her]]. But should she be wronged by the adventurers, especially if they mess with her SacredHospitality or steal one or more of her gang's infernal war machines, she will not hesitate to give them hell just to teach them a lesson.
* OnlyTheChosenMayWield: [[spoiler: The Sword of Zariel, while meant to be wielded only by its namesake FallenAngel, can also allow itself to be attuned to by anyone the artifact deems as [[OnlyThePureOfHeart "someone who embodies bravery and heroism"]].]]

* PracticalCurrency: The soul coins function as this, often being used as fuel for the infernal war machines. Those with soul coins can also expend one of three charges from the soul coin to either gain temporary hit points or telepathically communicate with the trapped soul.

* SeeYouInHell: [[spoiler: Duke Thalamra Vanthampur says this verbatim as she is killed by the adventurers.]]

* CanonImmigrant: This adventure is the one that makes ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' canon to the ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' setting (thus making Exandria part of the canonical D&D multiverse) with the introduction of Arkhan the Cruel (based on [[Creator/JoeManganiello Joe Manganiello's]] PlayerCharacter of the same name), whose character profile makes a reference to his exploits in Exandria. [[spoiler: In particular, on how he acquired the Hand of Vecna following the battle between Vox Machina and the namesake lich demigod.]]
* CentralTheme: What it means to be evil. Several characters are presented as evil when you first meet them, but eventually are expanded upon and their motives and past are discussed in regards to why they ended up the way they did. Zariel in particular gets her motives and reasons explored.

The adventure begins in [[CityOfAdventure Baldur's Gate]], where adventurers are being called upon to help defend the city, which is in the midst of a refugee crisis following the [[DraggedOffToHell "disappearance"]] of the neighboring city of Elturel. But soon, they become embroiled in a dangerous quest that takes them to Avernus, the first layer of the [[CirclesOfHell Nine Hells of]] [[{{Hell}} Baator]] and the main battleground of the [[EvilVersusEvil Blood]] [[ForeverWar War]] between devils (led by the archdevil [[FallenAngel Zariel]]) and demons (led by various [[DemonLordsAndArchDevils demon lords]]), along with some yugoloths, local warlords, and a certain evil dragon goddess caught in between. With the fates of Elturel and Baldur's Gate at stake, adventurers must navigate through the infernal landscape with the help of [[WeaponizedCar infernal war machines]], and deal with the various denizens of Avernus who can either help them in their quest or prevent them from returning home...including those with [[DealWithTheDevil tempting offers that the adventurers can bargain for]].

* ContemplateOurNavels: One of the random encounters the players can have in Elturel is a demon (particularly, a vrock) who broke off from the Blood War and is now thinking over his lot in life, the nature of the war, and just in general the state of things. If spoken to, he actively discusses these things with the players without hostility. In fact, being nice and talking to him is arguably the best option since if one rolls a relatively easy to make Persuasion check after, he'll happily give some information to the players that can be extremely beneficial.