Brandes Stoddard shared the table of contents from Quests from the Infinite Staircase, along with the stats for the elder evil Zargon the Returner, over on BlueSky. Quests from the Infinite Staircase comes out on July 16th, and is an adventure anthology for character levels 1-13.
D&D 5E Quests from the Infinite Staircase TOC and Zargon.
- Thread starter MonsterEnvy
- Start date
Brandes Stoddard shared the table of contents along with the stats for the elder evil Zargon the Returner.
Necropolitan
Adventurer
Alright, that makes sense then.
It also explains why Asmodeus couldn't kill Zargon but the PCs can: Zargon's cut off from most of the power he had on his home plane while he's on the material plane so he's way weaker than when he faced Asmodeus and it's been long enough since then for his power to have greatly diminished.
And explains why Asmodeus hasn't finished him off since then: Archfiends/Gods like Asmodeus (depending on the setting) can't affect the material plane to that extent (reasons why vary by setting) and he wouldn't waste his followers going after Zargon when he can make Zargon a problem for someone else instead.
Parmandur
Book-Friend
Even more direct than that: Zargon can only be finally destroyed in the Upper Planes by soaking his horn in pools of positive energy. So, no go for Asmodeus (and he might not even know!).
Necropolitan
Adventurer
If Asmodeus knew he'd do something like ensure that information made it's way into the hands of a party of adventurers powerful enough to slay Zargon.
He might even steer such a party in Zargon's direction to begin with.
(Writing down adventure idea)
MonsterEnvy
Legend
Asmodeus could easily kill Zargon, he just couldn't put him down permanently. Zargon is also fairly sure in his own invincibility, and enjoys fighting foes that can challenge him.
Necropolitan
Adventurer
You're being pedantic.
Asmodeus couldn't kill Zargon because doing so would require destroying Zargon's horn with a method Asmodeus didn't have access to.
MonsterEnvy
Legend
Sorry, just trying to say nothing suggested Zargon got weaker from leaving Hell, as it also suggests he was not a native of it either.
Paul Farquhar
Legend
Why would Asmodeus care about Zargon now he is out of the way? It might even amuse him to think of Zargon ruling over his pathetic little domain.
Upper_Krust
Hero
If he really wanted to Asmodeus could kill Zargon and give the horn to one of his Archmage servants who would hire a party of do-gooders to get the horn to the relevant place for its final destruction.
MonsterEnvy
Legend
If he knows that’s how to destroy it.
Veltharis ap Rylix
Legend
Zargon is an ancient baatorian, and implied to have been their greatest leader. His "people" may have been (seemingly) driven to extinction eons ago, but he's effectively the "rightful" ruler of Baator that the baatezu overthrew back in planar pre-history.
So even if the threat of him making a play for revenge is low, I can see plenty of reason for Asmodeus to devote at least a small fraction of his attention to keeping an eye on Zargon's movements and making contingencies in case he ever becomes a problem again. Wouldn't want a "once and future king" scenario.
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