D&D 5E Quests from the Infinite Staircase TOC and Zargon.

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.

 

[dave2008]

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.

Is the lore in the 5e (Infinite Staircase) or the old 3e lore from Elder Evils?

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

Is the lore in the 5e (Infinite Staircase) or the old 3e lore from Elder Evils?

3.5e Elder Evils, combined with more general knowledge of what ancient baatorians are/were from 2e Planescape-era stuff.

Don't have Infinite Staircase yet, so can't personally attest to what's in it, but I think I've heard that Zargon's status as an ancient baatorian was retained.

 

[Stalker0]

If he knows that’s how to destroy it.

I mean that's literally what legend lore is for right? If the lord of Hell doesn't have that spell on tap than Hell just ain't what it used to be!

 

[Not a Decepticon]

This discussion, of coruse, assumes Zargon isn't Demon Lord who was kicked from the Abyss. Imo in Mystara he's jsut creature from nightmare Dimension and nobody knows what exactly he is.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Is the lore in the 5e (Infinite Staircase) or the old 3e lore from Elder Evils?

3.5e Elder Evils, combined with more general knowledge of what ancient baatorians are/were from 2e Planescape-era stuff.

Don't have Infinite Staircase yet, so can't personally attest to what's in it, but I think I've heard that Zargon's status as an ancient baatorian was retained.

So having the book now here is his lore.

 

[Parmandur]

Basically, noncommittal but nods towards the 3.5 Elder Evils story being probable.

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

Sensible way to go about it.

I talk about ancient baatorians because I'm a planar lore junkie, but in-universe, they've been gone so long that only the most ancient planar entities have ever even heard of them, and the few places they're implied to still exist are basically treated like Lovecraftian horror sites that even devils are instinctually terrified to approach, not helped by the fact that those who do tend to never come back.

 

[Parmandur]

Sensible way to go about it.

I talk about ancient baatorians because I'm a planar lore junkie, but in-universe, they've been gone so long that only the most ancient entities have ever even heard of them, and the few places they're implied to still exist are basically treated like Lovecraftian horror sites that devils are instinctually terrified to even approach.

Yeah, Baataorians haven't gotten too much play in 5E. ToF and MotM later had some Obyirths, from the Abyss, but the Infinite nature of the Abyss might make the weirder corners easier to work into a Mosnter book.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

Do we know what his third lair action is?

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Do we know what his third lair action is?

Zargon's lair actions are

Turning into goop and teleporting anywhere in the lair, Ending all spells on up to two creatures of 5th level or lower, and creating a 20ft radius slime puddle that is difficult terrain and can grapple creatures that are not aberrations and oozes.

One of his regional effects is also combat relevant enemies within a mile of the lair have disadvantage on saving throws to maintain concentration.