The Unmade Battlefield

• A1 × Chain Devil (CR 8, 3,900 XP)
• B2 × Hell Hound (CR 3, 700 XP each)

XP

5,300 of a 5,600 XP high budget

Party

4 characters of level 6

The sky is the color of a bruise and has two suns, neither of them warm. The ground hums like a struck bell with every step.

Setup. A chain devil and two hell hounds have been bound to guard the Unmade Battlefield and resent every minute of it.

Terrain

• Burning ground: a creature that ends its turn on the cracked, glowing ground takes 4d6 Fire damage.
• Unstable gravity: at the start of each round, roll a d6; on a 1 gravity reverses until the end of the round, and creatures not anchored fall upward 20 feet.

Tactics. They fight dirty: they target the weakest-looking creature and gloat about it.

Twist. When the last creature falls, its shadow stays behind and walks away.

Adjust on the fly

• Easier: Remove one hell hound (−700 XP).
• Harder: Add one more hell hound (6,000 XP total, beyond the High budget: dangerous for a tired party).

Treasure. 1,900 gp in mixed coins and four gemstones worth 190 gp each; Potion of Resistance; A lock of braided hair tied with a black ribbon.