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and necromantic power for the cult. The cultistshoped to call back Ashardalon, but the dragon neveranswered their summons.DC 25: Ashardalon received a blow so grievousthat his heart was damaged beyond repair. Thedragon, calling on all his craft and knowledge ofancient rituals, managed to replace his heart with amagically bound demon—no less than a balor, namedAmmet. But so terrible was Ashardalon’s wound thateven Ammet’s enchanted labor began to fail the dragon’sbody. Ashardalon began to search for a sourceof life energy so pure that nothing could ever againthreaten to kill him.DC 30: Ashardalon’s lair is a mysterious domainin the Astral Sea called the Bastion of Unborn Souls.Claims that the Bastion is a font of preincarnate soulsare derided as improbable. Still, the Bastion’s crystallinetrees sprout soullike manifestations like brilliantpoints of light. When “ripe,” they fall from the treesand flow away, possibly to incarnate as living creatures.Whatever the truth, each point of light is asource of life and energy to a creature that consumesit. Ashardalon has ensconced himself in the centerof the Bastion, bathed in a stream of raw soulstuffto keep his faltering life steady. Like a boulder in astream, the dragon’s body interrupts the flow, whichbeads across him like water.DC 35: Creatures who stay within the confinesof the Bastion of Unborn Souls do not noticeablyage—the raw soulstuff keeps them young and vibrant.Ashardalon could conceivably live forever here. Ifindeed its points of light are preincarnate souls, creaturesof the world might be born as soulless husks,shambling vestiges of what they might otherwise be,and open to malign influence.TacticsAshardalon flies into combat and releases his breathweapon, then spends an action point to use demonicfury. On the following round, he spends anotheraction point to use dominating presence. Afterward, hecontinues to make melee attacks, unleashing an abyssaltorrent whenever he gets the opportunity.Ashardalon knows that if he is killed, the balor inhis breast will have its freedom, so when he becomesbloodied, he warns his foes: “Fools! Kill me, and yourelease Ammet, Eater of Souls!”Encounter GroupsAdventurers might encounter Gulthias and his minionsin Nightfang Spire or, if they are bold, confrontAshardalon in the Bastion.Level 12 Encounter (XP 3,400)✦ Gulthias, vampire lord (level 11 elite skirmisher)✦ 1 skull lord (level 10 artillery, MM 236)✦ 8 vampire spawn bloodhunters (level 10 minion,MM 259)✦ 2 zombie hulks (level 8 brute, MM 275)Level 33 Encounter (XP 170,000)✦ Ashardalon (level 30 solo brute)✦ 1 dragonborn annihilator (level 29 solo soldier,page 216)ASHARDALONTARA RUEPINGAshardalon was a creature of great fury and power evenbefore he achieved his legendary status or gathered a cultfollowing. Indeed, at least a century prior to the woundthat ultimately paved the way for his demonic heart, heand his red dragon mate hunted a lush green land calledthe Golden Plain. The Golden Plain was ruled by a humanking who dwelt in a many-towered fortress. As Ashardalongrew more reckless with his power, he came intodirect conflict with the kingdom and its king. Thinking toSUNLESS CITADELshow the dragon a monarch’s true might, the king senta secret force of his knights to slay Ashardalon’s mate.Upon learning of his mate’s death, Ashardalon went ona rampage so fierce and so extended that the land itselffinally buckled, pulling the king’s fortress beneath theground. The once-lush region was renamed the AshenPlain, and the fortress was rechristened the SunlessCitadel. In this sunken castle, Ashardalon’s first followerscame to revere him.CHAPTER 4 | New Monsters233