Yearning to Breathe Free

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist Primer

Introduction: This FREE primer is designed to allow you to integrate your reputation with the Factions introduced in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist into the Yearning to Breathe Free campaign. This primer also offers a new faction: The Order of the Hellfire Hearth.

Yearning to Breathe Free: When a prominent Waterdhavian Noble is murdered in what appears to be a ritual designed to empower the Order of the Hellfire Hearth, things grow bleak for the tieflings of Faerûn. In response to the murder, the Lords of Waterdeep begin rounding up and jailing tieflings with no cause. The Order of the Hellfire Hearth does not take the accusation of murder lightly, nor do they respond well to the summary imprisonment and demonization of their tiefling brothers and sisters. This climate of intolerance, bigotry and fear spreads outward through the Sword Coast, for as it is often said, “as goes Waterdeep, so goes the North.” As heroes of the Sword Coast, it is up to the players to discover the truth about the murder, bring the parties responsible to justice, and if possible, relieve tensions across the Sword Coast before the fragile peace between various factions of the North is irreparably damaged.

by Travis Legge Cover Art Some artwork copyright Claudio Pozas, used with Additional Writers permission. R P Davis Some Artwork David Revoy Rafa Martins Dan Layman-Kennedy Interior Art Seth Rinker David Revoy

edited by Sarah Scharnweber

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All other original material in this work is copyright 2018 by Travis Legge and published under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild. 2 YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE Order of the Hellfire Hearth in any way he can, and King Prelude to a Crisis Bruenor Battlehammer of Gauntlgrym has befriended many of the leaders of the Hellfire Hearth, offering This document is designed to give the Dungeon Master support and supplies to the tieflings. Many tieflings a toolkit to integrate the information in Waterdeep: who have answered the call to settle the Order of the Dragon Heist into a Yearning to Breathe Free Hellfire Hearth’s new holdings have connections to campaign. As Yearning to Breathe Free is designed the Zhentarim, which can offer aid and support to the for characters of levels 5-15, the suggestions within this tieflings, for a price. Perhaps most importantly, the primer operate from the assumption that Waterdeep: Hellfire Hearth has forged an alliance with the Harpell Dragon Heist will be run as a prelude, or the first phase wizards from their nearest neighbors to the North: of the Yearning to Breathe Free story. Longsaddle. Each of these alliances will be strained and tested by the course of the Yearning to Breathe Free Introduction adventure, but beforehand, the Order of the Hellfire On the continent of Faerûn, tieflings are people Hearth makes gestures to form alliances across the without a homeland. Distrusted in many communities, Sword Coast, including in the City of Splendors... the tieflings of the Sword Coast encounter prejudice and fear wherever they tread. Though the city of Neverwinter, How to Use This Book which is arguably the most welcoming and cosmopolitan settlement on the Sword Coast, is officially welcoming to The information included in this volume draws from tieflings, the citizenry is often suspicious of the infernal- and builds upon the information provided in both blooded. This leads to discrimination and fear on the Yearning to Breathe Free and Waterdeep: Dragon streets of Neverwinter, even if such behavior is not Heist. This information can be used to enrich either officially supported by the city government. campaign book and to serve as a bridge between both stories. Beyond the walls of Neverwinter, tieflings are treated less favorably by the other humanoid races. The smaller and more remote a settlement is, the less likely it is to Additional Information be welcoming to those with “the blood of Asmodeus.” Of Some of the NPCs discussed in Yearning to Breathe course, there are some exceptions, as some small and Free either draw from basic NPC stat blocks, or lacked remote villages celebrate their heroic tiefling residents, game traits. As Waterdeep: Dragon Heist includes but such cases are exceedingly rare. Across the Sword additional information regarding game traits and Coast, tieflings are tolerated at best, feared and hated at statistics for such NPCs, as well as additional information worst. regarding items and locations.

In recent months, a new faction has gained some power, and a small foothold on the Sword Coast. The Waterdeep Order of the Hellfire Hearth is an organization formed The information below, can be used to supersede, to rescue young tieflings from those who would oppress replace, or supplement the information in Yearning to them and build a permanent home for the tiefling people Breathe Free. on the Sword Coast. Since its inception, the Order of the Hellfire Hearth has ventured into the Underdark to The People of Waterdeep liberate enslaved tieflings and to protect the mothers of There are several people within Waterdeep and the unborn tiefling children. In the wake of the Demon Lords surrounding area who have a role to play in the events of running rampant through the Underdark, hundreds of Yearning to Breathe Free. DMs may wish to include the women were left carrying tiefling babies. The Order wealth of NPCs detailed throughout Waterdeep: Dragon of the Hellfire Hearth was able to free several of these Heist in their campaign, particularly if the two are run women, bringing them into the fold and offering them back to back. protection and safety. The Order of the Hellfire Hearth has now set up two semi-permanent settlements in the North, straddling a gateway between the surface and the Waterdhavian Nobles Underdark. On the surface side, stands Camp Brimstone, Harkas Kormallis a quickly growing outpost-turned-village just south of Lawful good male human paladin Longsaddle. Below, Hrast Het stands as the Hellfire Harkas Kormallis retains the traits and information Hearth’sSample Underdark home. detailed in Yearning to Breathefile Free. As the Order of the Hellfire Hearth has amassed Helm “The Torturer” Kormallis lands and recruited tieflings and sympathetic Lawful evil male human knight humanoids from across Faerûn, they have also forged Though not explicitly stated in either campaign, it can a few important political alliances in the North. Lord be assumed that Helm Kormallis is a Masked Lord of Neverember of Neverwinter has pledged to aid the 3 Waterdeep, and therefore has in his possession a Lord’s point in a number of ways. Perhaps the party discovers Ensemble as described in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, the ensemble while investigating the murder. Do they Appendix A: Magic Items. hand it over or try and keep it for their own purposes? Or they could find out that the ensemble has gone missing. Kylynne Silmerhelve Was it stolen by the assassins? A member of the City Lawful good female tiefling noble Watch? What could a missing ensemble mean for the city? Magistra Silmerhelve receives a brief mention in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, Chapter 1: A Friend in Need. Waterdhavian Law Enforcement If running both campaigns, be sure to take note of the City Guard party’s interactions with the Magistra. While she may Any alignment, any race (though most are lawful humans, barely recall the party if they are respectful and courteous dwarves, or elves) (most people who come before her have the good sense As suggested in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, Appendix to be) if they treat her with disrepsect, rudeness, or B: Monsters and NPCs you may use the veteran stat otherwise in a manner out of step with her station this block from the Monster Manual to represent the majority can certainly negatively impact relations during Yearning of the City Watch, Sergeants and higher ranks may be . to Breathe Free represented by the knight stat block. Lady Laeral Silverhand The Waterdhavian Inquisition Chaotic good female human archmage Any lawful alignment, any race but tieflings (most are Lady Silverhand is detailed at length in Waterdeep: humans, half-elves, or aasimar) . The Dragon Heist, Appendix B: Monsters and NPCs As described in Yearning to Breathe Free, the information provided there can come in very handy, Inquisition is a loud and influential minority who usurp especially if any of the various parties involved in the authority through fear and indifference. Their true threat events of Yearning to Breathe Free are suicidal enough is only apparent to a few at their inception. The following to attempt a direct assault on the Open Lord. NPCs from Waterdeep: Dragon Heist could align Malcer Kormallis themselves with the Inquision, offering support: Rishaal the Page-Turner: The proprietor of the Book Neutral Samplegood male human paladin, deceased Wyrm’s Treasure is easily persuaded file that a conspiracy Malcer was a Masked Lord. This offers the Dungeon of Asmodeus-worshipping tieflings is responsible for Master a few opportunities to add complications to the the murder of Malcer Kormallis, and has no qualms plot of Yearning to Breathe Free as there are no details about lending aid to the Inquisition, should they ask. offered within that supplement as to the whereabouts of He takes his duty as a member of the Watchful Order of Malcer’s Lord’s Ensemble. This could be used as a plot Magists and Protectors seriously and will not shirk that 4 YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE responsibility, even if it means dragging every tiefling in Despite Lady Silverhand’s public approval of the Waterdeep before the magistrates. Inquisition, she has specifically forbidden Force Grey Victoro and Ammalia Cassalanter: The Cassalanters from getting involved in the situation. are more than happy to support the holy quest of the Unofficially, Lady Silverhand has communicated to the Inquisition. Doing so adds another level of subterfuge Blackstaff that a small amount of Force Grey activity on to their secret lives as cultists of Asmodeus. The behalf of the tiefling population might be overlooked. Cassalanters neither know nor care if Malcer was Characters with rank in Force Grey can receive the murdered by followers of Asmodeus. Depending on the following support during Yearning to Breathe Free: events of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist the noble family may • Adventurers who are arrested are released under even hold a direct grudge against the Order of the Hellfire the loose supervision of the Blackstaff, Vajra Hearth, particularly if the faction was instrumental in Safahr. This protection could even extend to preventing the Cassalanters from bringing their plan to tieflings arrested by the Inquisition, though the fruition. Blackstaff will consider this amassive debt to be worked off for any character of lower rank than Force Grey Initiate. Factions in Waterdeep • Inquisitors pursuing the adventurers are interfered Waterdeep: Dragon Heist covers a number of factions, with and delayed by members of Force Grey, who which the characters may earn a reputation with in invoke their privilege to question the Inquisitiors the events of that campaign. In this section, tips are (and subsequently communicate their regrets at offered for applying that reputation during the events of being unable to get involved.) Yearning to Breathe Free. • Access to Force Grey safehouses throughout Waterdeep and the Lord’s Alliance. Bregan D’aerthe Xanathar Guild Being a band of misfit and ostracized drow, Bregan D’aerthe is likely to be very sympathetic to the Order As detailed in Yearning to Breathe Free, the Xanathar of the Hellfire Hearth. With the Order’s activities in the Guild maintains an official position of non-involvement Underdark liberating drow from the matriarchy and with the Inquisition and the surrounding drama. However, saving those pregnant with tiefling children, Jarlaxle is a member of the Guild is still a member of the Guild, and likely to see the Order’s work as good. It stands to reason can draw upon the same support offered detailed in the that the drow renegade would lend support and succor Introduction of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. to the Hellfire Hearth, so long as doing so does not jeopardize any established Bregan D’aerthe operations. A New Faction Characters with rank in Bregan D’aerthe can receive the For Dungeon Masters who plan to run Waterdeep: following support during Yearning to Breathe Free: Dragon Heist as an introduction or use its events • The adventurers receive small, unmarked black and structure in the lead up to Yearning to Breathe pouches of coins from an anonymous source. Free, the Order of the Hellfire Hearth may act as an • The adventurers are granted access to a Bregan additional faction in Waterdeep. Though the Order of the D’aerthe safehouse while traveling to the Brimstone Hellfire Hearth is of limited influence within the City of Trail. Splendors (and virtually no influence whatsoever once the • Sanctuary in Luskan. Inquisition begins) those with renown among this faction can expect support in the following ways: Though Bregan D’aerthe will not openly or directly engage the Inquisition, characters of sufficent renown • If the adventurers require healing, a member of the may find that Inquisitors hot on their heels are suddenly Order can provide it, or facilitate a meeting with dispatched by drow gunslingers, at DM discretion. one who can. • If the adventurers are seeking a person or object, Force Grey the particular skills of paladins of the Oath of the Orphaned can be of assistance. Force Grey is placed in a particularly nasty bind by the • If the adventurers need aid in securing, rebuilding, events of Yearning to Breathe Free. As adventurers with and protecting their holdings in Trollskull Alley, the experience, and a penchant for heroism, the members Order may be willing to help. of Force Grey are unlikely to be very sympathetic to the Inquisition’s methods. Few members of Force Grey are Renown in the Order of the Hellfire Hearth can be naiveSample enough to buy the theory that a grand conspiracy file gained by any character, though it is easier (+2 to all of tieflings is bumping off nobility. There is also history renown rewards) for a tiefling. The order also shows a between Force Grey and the Knights of Samular, as the slight preference (+1 to all renown rewards) for drow and two factions have often not seen eye to eye regarding dragonborn. what is best for Waterdeep.

5 Table: Order of the Hellfire Hearth Missions Party Level Mission Brief Mission Requirements and Reward

2nd “An associate of ours, a young Characters can find Jinny, a young and quiet NG female tiefling commoner woman named Jinny, has been who wears spectacles, with a successful DC 13 Intelligence (Investigation) check. collecting some sensitive information Characters who begin their search with local pubs and taverns may make this check for the Order. She was meant to dead with advantage. If she is located while she is working, she will quickly shut the drop it to us two days ago and has not characters down, offering to speak with them at the Yawning Portal at sunset. The done so. She works for Hammond characters must try to convince Jinny that they’re working on behalf of the Order by Kraddoc, a salesman for the Vintners’, making a DC 13 Charisma (Persuasion) check. If the check succeeds, Jinny explains Distillers’, and Brewers’ Guild and that she was forced to work late due to a mistake on Hammond’s part dealing with is usually in his company during the a delivery of spirits to Lady Cassalanter. As such, she missed the drop, but she did workday. Find her, find out what went discover that there are a couple of tiefling servants working for the Cassalanters, wrong with the drop, and, if possible, and struck up a conversation with the nanny, a young woman called Nana. Jinny acquire the documents she has been happily hands over the documents, in a sealed envelope, which she produces from the preparing for us.” notebook she carries everywhere.

Reward: Each Order of the Hellfire Hearth character gains 1 renown. 3rd “An operative of ours, a paladin Imrae Dyrr (CN female drow commoner) and Chandara Ousstyl (NE female drow named Hate, has smuggled two drow knight) await collection at the Hellfire Hearth safehouse. Both are pregnant. While women out of the Underdark and into Imrae is not due for a couple of months, Chandara could give birth any day. The party one of our safehouses in the city. The must find the safehouse, introducer themselves and convince the drow to follow women are with child, one of them is them to the rendevous by making a DC 13 Charisma (Persuasion) check or through nearly due. Hate was wounded during roleplay. travel and to complicate matters, he Hate is severely wounded, currenlty only at 5 hit points. If the party heals him, he felt he may have been followed by drow elects to remain at the safehouse, not wanting to draw attention (as he is dressed in when he came into the city. Make haste plate armor and carrying a glowing moon-touched sword.) to the safehouse in the Southern Ward! Once the party begins traveling to the God Catcher, they find themselves being You will find it on the southeast corner tailed by two mysterious figures. A DC 18 Wisdom (Perception) check will reveal of Carter’s Way and Coach Street. that they are being followed by two drow. These are drow gunslingers in the service Gather the drow and escort them to of Bregan D’aerthe, though the party will not likely be able to discern this. The drow the God Catcher, where two of our gunslingers can be shaken with a successful DC 13 group Dexterity (Stealth) check. paladins will meet you with a cart.” If the party attacks the drow, they fight only to ee.fl This will earn the group the ire of Bregan D’aerthe.

Reward: Each Order of the Hellfire Hearth character gains 1 renown if Imrae and Chandara are escorted to the rendevous without drow in pursuit. Each Order of the Hellfire Hearth character gains 1 additional renown if Hate is healed by the party. 4th “One of our associates, a farmer The characters must speak with Franciso Lackman (LN male Illuskan human named Criella, has run into a spot commoner) and ease tensions between the Solemn Order of Recognized Furriers of trouble with the Solemn Order of and Woolmen and Criella (CG tieflling femalecommoner ). Taking Criella for a rustic Recognized Furriers and Woolmen. backwoods yokel, Lackman has insisted she pay a 5 gp tax to sell her wares in the Please head over to the Market and market. Criella has refused and has a stubborn, stern manner. She is unwilling to lend her a hand.” “choke down offal from an inflated windbag.” The party can defuse the situation by calming Criella down with a DC 14 Charisma (Persuasion) check and talking Francisco into lowering his tax to 1 gp, also requiring with a DC 14 Charisma (Persuasion) check. Characters who mention the rate of Guild membership being 1 gp a month may have advantage on this check. Alternatively, the characters can simply pay the tax out of pocket, which will offend Criella.

Reward: Each Order of the Hellfire Hearth character gains 2 renown. 5th “Lady Remallia Haventree is hosting Passion provides this quest as a favor to her Harper contact, Mirt (see Waterdeep: a party at House Ulbrinter, her villa Dragon Heist, Appendix B: Monsters and NPCs). If the party performs well, they on Delzorin Street, located between will earn Mirt’s respect in addition to the reward listed below. Vhezoar Street and Brondar’s Way in Remallia Haventree (see Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, Appendix B: Monsters and the North Ward. We have reason to NPCs) knows of the mission, but it’s not revealed to the characters that she’s a Harper. suspect that drow spies have infiltrated There’s one drow spy in attendance: Jarlaxle Baenre (see Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, the guest list. Attend the party and root Appendix B: Monsters and NPCs). He uses his hat of disguise to appear as a young out the disguised drow. Dress sharply.” actor from Luskan named Erystian Demarne. A successful DC 24 Wisdom (Insight) check is needed to out Jarlaxle. Impressed by the perceptive adventurers, he thanks Lady Haventree for an entertaining evening and dashes off, but not without first Sampletipping his hat to the character or characters who exposed file him. Reward: Each Order of the Hellfire Hearth character gains 2 renown./ Every party member who attended the party receives 200 gp.

6 YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE Order of the Hellfire Hearth Missions As with the other factions detailed in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, the Order of the Hellfire Hearth offers missions to characters of levels 2-5. The missions and the manner in which they can be completed are described in Table: Order of the Hellfire Hearth Missions. You can use missions from this table or replace any of them with ones of your own creation. If a mission ends in failure, the characters can try again after 24 hours, unless the failure has created circumstances where doing so is impossible. The Order of the Hellfire Hearth contact in Waterdeep is a femalePaladin of the Hellfire Hearth (see Yearning to Breathe Free, Appendix A: NPCs) named Passion. What’s Next? After completing Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, you can continue this storyline with Yearning to Breathe Free, available in .pdf and print on demand at DMsGuild

https://www.dmsguild.com/product/244598/Yearning-to-Breathe-Free

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