Chapter 8: Malbolge, the Realm of Decay - Chains of Asmodeus

Chapter 8: Malbolge, the Realm of Decay. The Sign of the Hag's Arms offers little respite to weary travelers from outside the Nine Hells. Practically infinite mountain slopes and falling boulders make up Malbolge, the sixth layer of the Nine Hells. It was once ruled by Malagard, the Hag Countess, who has since been replaced by Asmodeus's daughter Glasya. Prior to her rule, the layer was almost entirely stone, with very little distinguishing features. However, due to a curse placed upon Malagard, her body grew to a grotesque size and imploded when Glasya took over. Now Malbolge is decorated with pieces of her corpse, a marriage between a rotting carcass and a cliff-face. What little pockets of devil civilization remain do so in caves carved from the mountain or inside fortresses supported by indestructible pillars. Running This Chapter Before running this chapter read the "Malbolge Overview" section. It provides you with everything you need to guide your players across this bloated and decaying landscape. Use the information provided to set the scene during their travels through Malbolge. Encounters The denizens of Malbolge are divided in their loyalties but united in their fear and disarray over the changed landscape. If the characters are wandering far and wide, roll on the Random Encounters in Malbolge table to determine what they might encounter. 1 There is a terrible shaking as the earth nearby splits apart and a broad-faced beast, as large as a dragon but wingless, erupts, a mouthful of rocks and gems falling from its mouth. It is a miasmorne (see appendix B) burrowing through the Nine Hells, in search of metal and magic to devour. 2 Inside a small, fortified structure is a Corruption Devil (Paeliryon) (see appendix B). It hates Glasya's rule and believes it can revive the Hag Countess. 3 A maelephant nomad (see appendix B), driven slightly insane by its extended lifespan, searches the ruins for something to guard. When it sees the characters, there is a 50...