Maggot Pit

Because this 1,000-foot-diameter Pit lies closer to the other Planes than most other features of Avernus, it is the most famous of Baator's many facilities for converting the souls of the damned into wretched Lemures. Filled with ooze and writhing white worms, this mammoth crater radiates an almost palpable sense of evil and corruption.

A legion of pain devils hauls the trembling, insensate soul shells from carts and wagons, then pushes and prods them up the crater's steep side and over the lip. The mindlessly protesting souls land in the pit with a hideous splosh, quickly drown, and are devoured by the maggots. The creatures' rancid excretions then coalesce into gelatinous lemure forms, which the pain devils fish out of the pit with nets.

Because the Maggot Pit blocks entrance to the realm of Tiamat, a red abishai named Arraka is on hand to guard the Dragon Queen's realm from intruders. The abishai's loyalty is to Tiamat, not to the pain devils working the pit, but Arraka might come to their aid if they are molested by intruders—especially if the abishai is bored. If it needs assistance, Arraka can summon an essentially unlimited supply of abishai to prevent interlopers from entering Tiamat's fortress.

Now and then, Tiamat finds it useful to let certain enemies believe that they have sneaked into her headquarters undetected. When so instructed, Arraka accepts the biggest bribe she can browbeat out of the intruders and sends them on their way in supposed safety. Then, through a telepathic maggot implanted in her brain, she alerts the fortress security forces to their presence.

Refer to the accompanying map for points of interest at the Maggot Pit.

1. Dragon Cliff: A sheer cliff face rises to a series of crownlike spires 1,000 feet above the Maggot Pit’s surface. Above these craggy peaks loom the dragon-shaped spires of Tiamat’s mountain citadel.
2. Citadel Entrance: Though dragons can reach Tiamat's Citadel by air, landbound creatures must enter through a cave mouth protected by the Maggot Pit. The red abishai guard Arraka perches here to ensure that no one enters uninvited.
3. Soul Pens: Dispirited, listless soul shells mill about in stony, garrison-style structures, awaiting their eventual transformation into lemures. Bands of cranky pain devils ensure that none escape their lawful punishment.
4. Access Roads: Wide lanes, cut into the soft earth by thousands of prison carts, lead to the soul pens.
5. Maggot Pit: This stinking pit is 1,000 feet in diameter and quite deep. Mortals who fall into the pit are not transformed into lemures, though they do face the usual risk of drown ing. In addition, the goo within the pit acts like a poison that affects the awareness and confidence of a living creature.

Maggot Goo: Contact, Fortitude DC 25, initial and secondary damage 1d6 Wis.