D&D Lore: Descent Into Avernus (Part 1)

It is the year 1492 dale reckoning upon these forgotten realms…

Elturel, a pious city in Faerun… its proud holy walls set near the river Chionthar has just suffered a catastrophic event.

The golden glow of the "Companion" sphere that has bathed the holy city in its protective light for almost 50 years has seen its shimmer darkened, now wrapped in shadow and Elturel has been ripped from its place in Faerun with nothing more than a massive crater where the city once stood.

The calamity that has befallen Elturel is a story of betrayal, vengeance and as is usually the case where the infernal is involved… the short sighted benefits of a mortal forging a faustian pact.

Can Elturel be saved?

Will the tale have a heroic story book ending?

Those questions and many others lie shrouded in the fog of treachery and the flames and fire of infernal evil.

Be warned - Spoilers ahead!

This is the story and lore - my telling - of a descent into avernus.

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Twitter: @ RichesandLiches

Timecodes
01:49 Chapter 1 - A Descending Angel
07:29 Chapter 2 - The Dying Light
12:39 Chapter 3 - A Dark Pact
20:24 Chapter 4 - The Illusion of Light
25:39 Chapter 5 - The Sundering of Elturel

Additional Video Links:

The Shadow Series

[AFBH]

I really hope you get around to finishing out the campaign and cover other modules as well. This is really cool content!

[smoore]

Very well-done sir! Great story, the Art is amazing! I am looking forward to the rest of the parts of the series!

[lunamaria]

Yay back to Baator! It would be really something special if you did a series on the Abyss. There are a lot of layers, excellent lore and very interesting characters and dynamics that I just love!

This was wonderful! Great set up lol. I need more NOW😭

[kjvail]

When he said “in the year 1492”… all I could think was “Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue” 😂

[SoftLessons]

I haven't found lore videos this well done. Thank you for the incredible effort you've clearly put in. I've subscribed just for this and the nine hells series, since I'm running Descent right now, but skimming through your other videos I'm realizing how much better these videos are than most on yt. I actually rarely comment, but wanted to thank you personally. Really hoping you will finish these series. Thank you!

[lilbaz]

Zariel made the ultimate sacrifice. She knew that the demons could eventually win. So sacrificed herself to lead the devils in the fight.
Obviously this has corrupted her and she's made bad decisions. But her sword is her out.
She may find redempgion in the end.

[monkeyjitsu]

This is masterful work, the storytelling accompanied with the artwork 👌
Thank you so much as this is a great asset in helping me navigate DM'ing Descent to Avernus. My party is currently in Chapter 3 and I look forward to more of your videos. 🙏🙏

[uzunaruMelonness]

"Zariel, thou hatred has you furious against the chaos, I see nothing but the chaos of your making." Set widen his smile.

Floating stones rearrange into a sphere of earthen runes. Each written in chaotic magicks.

"Time and Fate may be cruel." Set mourns, "But Elturel's fall is crueler than I would permit in my current station."

The sphere glow and shape the magical energies. The image...

"Destruction shall claim Avernus, as it consume all in its wake. Not even the mighty Zariel will escape it." The tall man's jaw unhinges and resets back into place. His low growl echoes among his silent library of stone.

. . . Greeting the horror is the massive red moon.

"For now, all shall continue as they are. And I to witness the lives in my journey." Set laughs. "The show must go on. I, The Actor, has been chosen for a role. Now... which name shall I chose for this?"

[BryanEisenhart-yrqd]

This might be dating me but, I remember a book of kits called Warriors and Priests of the Realms which had an entry on The Riders of Eturel that would have been an awesome Paladin kit. Anyone else remember those old books?

[duanebradway]

They really need to improve their training for those Priest's, Clerics, & Paladins. They all seem to fall short in the resolve category. It's not like Zariel is a Falxugon or anything. Given her status in the nine hells, she should be on a top 10 most wanted list in most churches and temples.

[blacklite]

Why did Thavius have the authority to sell his people's souls to a devil? Aren't the contracts supposed to be signed of free will? That takes it away from them.

[blackzen]

This is amazing content! Thank you for your valuable work. I’d like to request a video about Null, Dragon God of Death and Undeath.

He is my Warlock Deity and I’d love to know more lore about him.

My character is an Aasimar Paladin and Draconic Sorcerer who made a deal with death (I’m going for a Draconic Angel of Death).

PS - Your video about Malharak was fantastic inspiration for my character’s backstory.

Cheers and thanks again!

[wolfsbanealphas]

She gives off valkia the bloody from warharmner fantasy

[artificerprime]

In my honest opinion, the gods of the Upper Planes are definitely partly at fault here. They were ready to let one of the most devoted cities on the Sword Coast fall to hordes of undead, and Torm and the other gods worshiped by Elturel citizens basically just stood idly by as Zariel corrupted Kreeg. I know gods can't directly intervene in the Material Plane, but they can send visions or act through powerful mortal agents like high-level clerics and paladins, and high-level clerics in this game can call for help from more powerful servants of their deities.

[Mystic_Librarian]

Happy Halloween. Always look forward to your awesome lore vids🎃🎃🎃

[aaronperkins]

What do you mean this video is only 7 hours old and I can't watch part 2 yet?!

[davidpotts]

That was great looking forward to the rest

[ztlss]

Just on time! Am about to prep DIA for my group, thanks for making this video! xD

If I may give some constructive feedback: Check out some videos on how to edit vocals for clarity. If you got rid of the muddiness in your recorded voice, I think it could benefit your videos a lot :D

Big fan since your series on the 9 hells, keep it up! <3

[ciarhdap]

Do not pity the fallen angel. Fallen angels survive the fall. How many souls did Zariel bring down with her?

Mordenkainen

[Pospisk]

A story of another deva who completely lost it😂