The Brass Sanctum

• 3 × Hell Hound (CR 3, 700 XP each)
• 1 × Vrock (CR 6, 2,300 XP)

XP

4,400 of a 4,400 XP high budget

Party

4 characters of level 5

The ground is glass, and far below it something vast is moving. A choir sings a single endless note that seems to come from inside the head.

Setup. Three hell hounds and a vrock are completing a summoning circle, three candles from finished.

Terrain

• Chained anchor: a creature holding the great chain can't be moved against its will.
• Floating platforms: platforms 10 feet apart drift 5 feet each round; jumping between them requires a DC 12 Strength (Athletics) check.

Tactics. They try to grapple or drag a single victim away rather than fight fair.

Twist. The creatures fight only until the moon (or sun) clears the horizon, then stop.

Adjust on the fly

• Easier: Remove one hell hound (−700 XP).
• Harder: Add one more hell hound (5,100 XP total, beyond the High budget: dangerous for a tired party).

Treasure. 1,500 gp in mixed coins and two gemstones worth 150 gp each; A ring of keys, none of which fit any lock nearby.