# Infernal Map of the War-Slough ![[a_dark_fantasy_illustrated_map_poster_wide_landsc.png]] ![[Pasted image 20260617203108.png]] ## What the Characters See As the infernal parchment unfolds, the ink immediately begins to shift and crawl across its surface. Rivers move. Roads twist. Entire landmarks drift slightly from where they were moments before. Despite this impossible movement, the names of locations remain constant. The map does not reveal distances or true geography. Instead, it seems to reveal only places that matter. A faint smell of sulfur rises from the parchment, and the edges occasionally drip small droplets of blood that vanish before touching the ground. --- ## Read Aloud > The parchment shudders in your hands. > > Crimson lines creep across its surface like veins beneath skin. Entire roads slowly change position, while mountains bend and rivers split apart. > > Yet the names remain fixed. > > The Crystal Battlefield. > > The Forgotten Trenches. > > The Choir of the Forgotten. > > Pillar of Skulls. > > The Largest Ichor Lake. > > No scale exists. No measurements are marked. > > A sentence appears briefly at the bottom of the map before fading again: > > ***"Hell remembers destinations, not journeys."*** --- # Infernal Map Mechanics The map is not a conventional map. ## Fixed Information The party always knows: - The names of major locations. - Which locations connect to one another. - Which routes eventually lead toward the Largest Ichor Lake. The party never knows: - Exact distances. - Travel times. - Which route is safest. - What dangers lie ahead. --- # Choosing a Route Whenever the party reaches a location, they may choose any visible connecting path. Each path represents a **Travel Segment**. During each Travel Segment: 1. Roll for encounters. 2. Apply environmental hazards. 3. Allow roleplaying scenes. 4. Present temptations or discoveries. Distances change constantly. A path that once took hours might later require an entire day. --- # Crystal Battlefield (Starting Area) The party begins at: ## [[The Crystal Battlefield]] Visible routes lead toward: - [[The Forgotten Trenches]] - [[The Field Hospital]] - [[Shattered Redoubts]] The players may choose any route. --- # Travel Segment Procedure For each segment: ### Step 1: Navigation Choose the next destination shown on the map. ### Step 2: Roll 1d6 | d6 | Result | | --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | Combat encounter | | 2 | Environmental hazard | | 3 | Infernal temptation — see [[Placed Temptations by Layer]] or [[Random Temptations (d12)]] | | 4 | Lost souls or roleplaying scene | | 5 | Strange discovery | | 6 | Uneventful travel | ### Step 3: Describe the Landscape Emphasize: - Endless battlefields. - Rusted war machines. - Rivers of demon ichor. - Bones protruding from the mud. - Distant sounds of war that never cease. --- # Special Rule: The Map Changes After each long rest, roll 1d4. > ⚠️ **Reminder:** Long rests in the War-Slough also trigger a DC 20 Con save vs. [[Flesh Warping Table (d10)]]. Roll the map change *after* resolving any warping effects. | d4 | Effect | |----|---------| | 1 | A route disappears temporarily. | | 2 | A new route appears. | | 3 | Nothing changes. | | 4 | Two destinations swap positions on the map. | Only the destinations remain constant. --- # Reaching the Largest Ichor Lake No matter which routes are chosen, all paths eventually converge upon: ## [[The Largest Ichor Lake]] Deep beneath its blood-red waters lies the resting place of Brother. And something else waits there. # War-Slough Encounter Ideas *Chains of Asmodeus* The War-Slough is a realm where ancient battlefields never truly died. Trenches, ruined war machines, and rivers of demon ichor still echo with the memories of soldiers who never realized the war ended. > **On short or long rests**, also roll on [[War-Slough Random Encounters (d6)]] in addition to any homebrew encounters below. > **Demon Blood Mechanic:** After 1 hour in the War-Slough, DC 15 Con save or roll [[Flesh Warping Table (d10)]]. Same save after short rests; DC 20 after long rests. --- # Encounter 1: The Trench That Won't End The party discovers an ancient infernal trench line still occupied by devils who believe the war is ongoing. ## Creatures - 1 Merregon Captain - 8 Merregons - 2 Spine Devils acting as messengers ## Roleplaying Opportunity The captain mistakes the party for reinforcements. > "Which command post survived? Have we won?" If told the truth, many of the soldiers simply collapse into ash and mud, finally released from their duty. ## Rewards - Cache of soul coins - Infernal grenades - An old battlefield map pointing toward the largest ichor lake --- # Encounter 2: Corpse Worm Ambush The party must cross a graveyard of half-submerged war machines. ## Environmental Hazard At the start of each round: - DC 15 Dexterity saving throw - Failure causes a creature to sink into the mud and become restrained ## Creatures - 2 Corpse Worms (use Purple Worm statistics) - Swarms of abyssal insects When a worm dies, trapped souls burst free and vanish into the sky. --- # Encounter 3: The Field Hospital An abandoned infernal medical station remains strangely intact. ## Creatures - Animated surgical instruments - 2 Helmed Horror nurses - 1 Chain Devil surgeon The surgeon believes the war continues. > "Present your wounds for treatment." ## Outcomes ### Cooperation The party may receive: - Healing - Lesser Restoration - Temporary hit points ### Failed Surgery Roll on [[Flesh Warping Table (d10)]] or apply a random mutation. --- # Encounter 4: The Crystal Battlefield Black infernal crystals jut from the battlefield. ## Crystal Effect Whenever a ranged attack or spell misses: Roll 1d6: | d6 | Result | |-----|--------| | 1-2 | Energy absorbed | | 3-4 | Attack reflected randomly | | 5-6 | Attack damage doubled and redirected | ## Creatures - 2 Hezrou - 1 Glabrezu --- # Encounter 5: The Choir of the Forgotten The party hears distant singing. A hillside contains hundreds of severed devil heads embedded in the mud. They sing old marching songs from the Great Fray. ## Puzzle Each head remembers only part of a phrase. Combining their memories reveals the password required to open the vault beneath the largest ichor lake. --- # The Largest Ichor Lake At the center of the War-Slough lies a vast lake of demon blood. > **Entering the ichor lake area:** Contact with ichor triggers DC 15 Con save vs. [[Flesh Warping Table (d10)]]. Features include: - Broken siege towers - The skeleton of a Goristro - Thousands of discarded weapons - A colossal sword driven into the lake floor The Brother's phylactery lies somewhere beneath these waters. --- # Boss Encounter: Avatar of Brother Brother's soul has merged with the hatred and despair of the War-Slough itself. ## Appearance - Skeletal knight partially submerged in demon ichor - Six arms formed from screaming souls - Broken halo above his head - Chains wrapped around his body - Armor fused with mud and bone --- # Phase One: The Lost Brother Brother appears calm and almost sorrowful. > "Help me remember who I was." ## Base Statistics Use a [[Death Knight]] as a foundation. ### Modifications - HP: 350 - Legendary Resistance (3/day) ## Abilities ### Soul Cleaver Melee Weapon Attack: - 4d8 Necrotic damage - 4d8 Force damage ### Command the Fallen Summons either: - 4 Merregons or - 2 Hezrou --- # Phase Two: Endless Regret Triggered at 50% HP. Brother suddenly remembers his failure. > "I WAS SUPPOSED TO SAVE THEM!" The lake erupts. ## New Features - Flight 60 feet - Regeneration 20 - Two Tentacle attacks ### Battlefield Effects At initiative count 20, roll 1d4: | d4 | Effect | |----|--------| | 1 | Acid rain | | 2 | Soul screams (Wisdom save or frightened) | | 3 | Mud eruption | | 4 | Flesh warping — roll [[Flesh Warping Table (d10)]] | --- # Legendary Actions ## Soul Chain Pull one creature up to 30 feet toward Brother. ## Lost Memory Target creature: - DC 19 Wisdom saving throw Failure: - Experiences one of Brother's memories - Cannot take reactions until the start of its next turn ## Endless War One dead creature rises as a zombie. --- # Mythic Phase (Optional) When reduced to 0 HP: Brother falls into the mud. Thousands of voices cry out: > "NO ONE LEAVES." The War-Slough itself rises to protect him. ## Form A gigantic humanoid made from: - Mud - Bones - Broken weapons - Screaming souls Use a modified [[Empyrean]] or [[Molydeus]] stat block. ## Battlefield Changes - Entire battlefield becomes difficult terrain. - Chunks of earth collapse into the ichor lake. - Random soul geysers erupt each round. --- # Conclusion When Brother is finally defeated: - The lake becomes still. - The endless sounds of battle cease. - Silence falls over the War-Slough for the first time in ages. The Brother's phylactery rises from the mud. His final words are: > "Tell my sister... I tried." The party may now continue deeper into the Nine Hells.