Watch the episode here.

Hosted by Kate Welch and Chris Perkins.

Essentials Kit now available everywhere.

Kate is DMing a series for IGN called Hellbound. She is running things straight out of Descent Into Avernus. Airs Mondays on IGN’s Twitch then on D&D’s a week later. Finale will air the 16th, the day before Descent Into Avernus is released.

Wild Bangarang’s D&D Collection

Wild Bangarang has a D&D themed clothing collection releasing Friday September 6th. This first collection is aimed at ladies with designs available as leggings and pencil skirts. They have previously released a MtG themed collection.

Level Eater Returns to Portland October 4th-5th. Kate, Chris, Keith Baker, Jen Kretchmer and Chris Funk are special guests. They described it as a bunch of groups playing the same adventure with the final results of all groups being tallied to see how the adventure ends.

Descent Into Avernus

Kate mentions that on Hellbound she revealed that some familiar characters can be encountered in Avernus. They also say that Elturel has already fallen into Avernus and the characters’ actions can save or doom Baldur’s Gate to the same fate.

Map of Avernus

Kate and Chris say they let the cartographer do what they wanted with the map then the team brainstormed and came up with stories for most of the iconography depicted on it.

Mahati and the Wandering Emporium

Mahati is a Rakshasa that runs the Wandering Emporium, a mercantile that travels across Avernus. He made deals with the Lords of the Nine to receive special privileges. He also runs Infernal Rapture – the premiere restaurant and spa in the Nine Hells. In the book they printed the menu in both Common and Infernal. Chris read it out loud:

Appetizers Pickled Vine Blight Salad Pan Fried Myconid Cap with Garlic Butter Spiced Shredded Stirge Sliders

Entrees Broiled Quippers served in Port Reduction Roasted Wereboar seasoned liberally with Pepper and Paprika Twice Battered Axebeak Strips with Plum Sauce Deep Fried Miniature Giant Space Hamster seasoned to perfection with Rosemary, Basil, Thyme and Tears

Dessert Candied Fey Spider Eyes in a Raspberry Liquor Reduction Sweet Apple Tart with Celestial Caramel Drizzle Rare Miniature Stench Cow Cheese Selection



Lulu guiding a party down the River Styx

Lulu is a Hollyphant and was Zariel’s companion when she was still an angel. Lulu wants to get her friend back and will act as a guide to the party in the hopes of them redeeming Zariel. Hollyphants have the ability to transform into golden, winged mastadons that can serve as mounts. Unfortunately Lulu was splashed with some water from the River Styx and has lost that ability and some spellcasting.

The River Styx winds its way through all the lower planes. It is the site of the hottest battle in the Blood War as it serves as one of the main ways Demons travel to Avernus. The River Causes memory loss for creatures that come in contact with it, but the demons have a workaround for this. (More on this later.)

Zariel’s Sword

Detailed Image

Reuniting Zariel with her angelic sword is part of one potential path of redemption for the fallen angel.

Concept Art from Story Pitch

Crokek’toeck

Crokek’toeck is a gigantic demon that other creatures crawl into the maw of. It is not affected by the River Styx and acts as a troop carrier for Yeenogh and his army. They tease that the party can use it in a very unusual way for some help.

Zariel before fall

Zariel vs. Yeenoghu

Zariel after fall

Zarie vs. demon

Zariel leads from the front, even as an angel she was warlike and had a powerful voice. When the celestial host told her not to intervene in the Blood War she decided to take matters into her own hands. When she fell she took a group of loyal paladins wit her – they are now known as the Hellriders. Zariel now has a flail instead of her left hand and wields a hammer she took off the demon lord Kostchtchie. Kostchtchie looks like a giant and is worshipped by Frost Giants, he is in the adventure and wants his hammer back.

Abyssal Chickens

Abyssal Chickens appear in the Nine Hells in a variety of ways. Chris jokes that there is a 99% chance that a portal to the Abyss will let Abyssal Chickens through. They detail one of the ways they appear in the Hells. In Avernus there are gardens of hideous spawning trees with pod like sacs that dangle from them. Effluvia from the Abyss is carried to them by the River Styx and if it gets into these sacs then they will hatch Abyssal Chickens.

Infernal War Machines concept art

Infernal War Machines are an effective mean of travelling around Avernus. But they burn up soul coins and the souls within them. Presents itself as a moral quandary for parties.

Elfsong Tavern map

The Elfsong Tavern finally gets a map in this adventure. Chris drew the original based on screen grabs form the Baldur’s Gate video games. He notes that the outside doesn’t quite match the inside. Dyson Logos drew this map based on Chris’ work. They also note that the Elfsong itself is written out in the adventure by MT Black.

Zariel and Lulu

This art of Zariel and Lulu represents a potential future. They note that it could come about if things go really, really well or really, really bad for the party.

Zariel from Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes had a much different version of Zariel. This commission happened fast and after they realized they wanted to humanize her. They felt this artwork was too devil-y and wanted to show the angel underneath. Kate mentions that this could be a form Zariel takes if she wants to intimidate someone.