Chapter 7: Rifts in Reality - Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

Chapter 7: Rifts in Reality. While hunting obelisk fragments in the previous chapter, the characters learned of the fanatics' headquarters: a mind flayer enclave called Illithinoch deep in the Underdark below Phandalin. In this chapter, the characters learn more about the fanatics and rescue the kidnap victims from Phandalin. However, doing so-as well as stopping the ritual that threatens to turn Phandalin's townspeople into mind flayers-will be far more harrowing than the characters realize. The old mind flayer stronghold of Illithinoch has become even more terrifying with the rise of a cult dedicated to an evil Far Realm entity Running This Chapter The characters start this chapter knowing that a trio of mind flayers are preparing a ritual to transform surface-dwelling Humanoids into mind flayers. The ritual will certainly affect Phandalin, and it might wash over other small population pockets in the region. The exact parameters of the ritual are up to you. If you decide that the characters are too easily vanquishing this adventure's challenges, you could decide that the fanatics' ritual is nearly complete, urging the characters to press ahead without resting and resupplying. If this adventure's threats have significantly challenged the characters, you could tell them they have a comfortable amount of time before the fanatics can finish their ritual, and the heroes can rest and resupply as needed. Either option is viable. The characters' best option is to return to Phandalin and share what they've discovered with a knowledgeable ally, such as Gwyn Oresong or Rivibiddel. Shortly after returning to Phandalin, the characters discover a passage beneath the town that leads into the Underdark and to Illithinoch. They set off through the Underdark to reach the deteriorating mind flayer stronghold of Illithinoch, facing threats along the way. In Illithinoch, the characters learn that the mind flayer fanatics already escaped through a gateway into the Far Realm. To purs...