Divine Contention is a Dungeons & Dragons adventure designed for characters of 11th through 12th level set in the Sword Coast region of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. By the end of the adventure the characters should reach 13th level. You can run the adventure for as few as one player or as many as six players.
You can run Divine Contention as a stand-alone adventure or as the concluding part in a trilogy called Beyond the Dragon of Icespire Peak (of which Storm Lord’s Wrath is the first adventure and Sleeping Dragon’s Wake is the second). This adventure trilogy can be played as a sequel to Dragon of Icespire Peak, the adventure that comes with the D&D Essentials Kit.
Running the Adventure
To run this adventure, you need the D&D fifth edition core rulebooks: the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. The Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide is helpful but not necessary.
The Monster Manual contains stat blocks for most of the creatures found in this adventure. All the necessary stat blocks are included there or in appendix A. When a creature’s name appears in bold type, that’s a visual cue for you to look up the creature’s stat block in the Monster Manual, unless the adventure’s text instead refers you to the monster appendix in this adventure.
Spells and equipment mentioned in the adventure are described in the Player’s Handbook. Magic items are described in the Dungeon Master’s Guide.
At various places, the adventure presents descriptive text that’s meant to be read or paraphrased aloud to the players. This read-aloud text is offset in boxes like this one. Boxed text is most commonly used to describe locations or present bits of scripted dialogue.
Abbreviations
The following abbreviations appear in this book:
- hp = hit points
- AC = Armor Class
- DC = Difficulty Class
- XP = experience points
- pp = platinum piece(s)
- gp = gold piece(s)
- ep = electrum piece(s)
- sp = silver piece(s)
- cp = copper piece(s)
- NPC = nonplayer character
- LG = lawful good
- CG = chaotic good
- NG = neutral good
- LN = lawful neutral
- N = neutral
- LE = lawful evil
- CN = chaotic neutral
- CE = chaotic evil
- NE = neutral evil
- DM = Dungeon Master
Running for One Player
If you’re running this adventure for a single player, you can give that player a sidekick as a secondary character. Let the player choose one of the pregenerated sidekicks that come with this adventure. If a sidekick is lost or no longer needed, the player character can return to Leilon and acquire a new one.
Using Sidekicks
Make sure the player understands the roles and limitations of sidekicks in this adventure:
- Sidekicks are stalwart companions who can perform tasks both in and out of combat, including things such as setting up camp and carrying gear.
- Ideally, a sidekick’s abilities should complement those of the main character. For example, a spellcaster makes a good sidekick for a fighter or rogue.
Map of the Sword Coast
The DM’s Sword Coast map shows a region of the Forgotten Realms called the Sword Coast.This map is for the DM’s eyes only, as it indicates the locations of places described later in this adventure. A player-friendly version of the map is also included with this adventure. It can be shared freely with the players as their characters explore the region.
Geographical locations marked on both the DM’s map and the players' map are described below in alphabetical order. This information is not secret and can be shared with players if they request details about a location.
Conyberry
The Triboar Trail runs right through this abandoned town, which was sacked by barbarians years ago and now lies in ruins.
Crags
These rocky, windswept hills are dotted with old mines that have become infested with monsters.
High Road
This highway hugs the coast, connecting Neverwinter to the coastal cities of Luskan to the north and Waterdeep to the south. For years, the stretch of road south of Neverwinter fell into disuse because of frequent monster attacks. Recently, efforts have been made to keep the road safe, with light patrols of guards on horseback moving between Neverwinter and Leilon.
Kryptgarden Forest
This ancient forest tucked behind the Sword Mountains contains the ruins of bygone dwarven civilizations. The abandoned lair of the green dragon Claugiyliamatar, nicknamed the Old Gnawbone, is found in these woods. During Sleeping Dragons Wake, Claugiyliamatar was possessed by the wraith of the ancient dracolich Chardansearavitriol, also known as Ebondeath, which now loyally serves the worshipers of Myrkul (see “area Mere of Dead Men").
Leilon
This small town along the High Road has just rebuilt itself after being abandoned for years. It serves as the starting location for the adventure. For more information, see “Welcome to Leilon.”
Mere of Dead Men
Travelers on the High Road, which skirts the mere to the east, must resist being lured into the cold and desolate waters. Many have perished in the mere, drawn by tales of ruined castles half-sunk in the mire. The Mere of Dead Men contains the tomb of the dracolich Chardansearavitriol, which is now the headquarters of the cult of Myrkul. For more information on this location, see “Ebondeath’s Mausoleum.”
Neverwinter
This city was badly damaged when Mount Hotenow erupted some fifty years ago. Now, the City of Skilled Hands works to rebuild under the watchful eye of its Lord Protector, Dagult Neverember, who rules in the absence of an heir to Neverwinter’s crown. At present, no legitimate heirs to the old Alagondar royal line are known to exist, and many believe that the line is ended. Lord Neverember, taking no chances, quietly pays off or disposes of anyone claiming a connection to the rulers of old.
Neverwinter Wood
The forest east of Neverwinter seems to have a magical quality about it, or at least an air of mystical secrecy. Reclusive spellcasters are rumored to dwell deep within.
Phandalin
Nestled in the foothills of the Sword Mountains, Phandalin is a sleepy mining settlement that recently had dealings with a white dragon named Cryovain. The dragon was dispatched by a group of adventurers. For more information, see Dragon of Icespire Peak in the D&D Essentials Kit.
Starmetal Hills
This range of rocky knolls is so named because the area has been the impact site of several meteor showers over millennia. The hills are haunted by ruthless barbarian tribes, giving others little reason to visit the area.
Sword Mountains
These steep, craggy, snow-capped mountains are home to scattered tribes of orcs as well as many monsters. Icespire Peak is the tallest among them. Their foothills are strewn with the ruins of bygone kingdoms, and more than a few half-forgotten dungeons and tombs.
Triboar Trail
This path south of Neverwinter Wood is the safest route between Neverwinter and the town of Triboar, located in the Dessarin Valley to the east. The trail is not patrolled, and monster attacks are commonplace.
The Adventure Begins
The adventure begins in the town of Leilon, which has been recently reconstructed after being abandoned for many years. The characters can receive quests, choose which ones to pursue, and experience encounters in Leilon. While Leilon is described in Storm Lord’s Wrath and Sleeping Dragon’s Wake, the settlers from Neverwinter have now finished their reconstruction of the town, adding new locations the characters can visit.
The “Adventure Background” section describes the events leading up to the adventure and the main threats the characters will face. The “area Welcome to Leilon” and “area Exploring Leilon” sections describe the town where the adventure begins. Knowing Leilon well ensures a smooth start to the adventure.
Adventure Background
The ruined town of Leilon was once a fortified settlement on the High Road midway between the cities of Neverwinter and Waterdeep. The Lord Protector of Neverwinter, Dagult Neverember, hired a group of his citizens to rebuild the town, a construction project that has recently completed. They hope to create a fortified waypoint for travelers and merchants that can ward off the threats of the surrounding wilderness.
Two forces of evil are on the rise nearby, eager to control the region around Leilon and eventually the Sword Coast for themselves. The first is a cult of Talos, god of storms, led by their champion Fheralai Stormsworm. The cult’s headquarters are inside a death knight dreadnaught, an undead galleon, which prowls the coast looking for trade ships to plunder.
Ularan Mortus, a priest of Myrkul, god of death, and his followers are raising an army of undead to lay siege to the city of Neverwinter. The spirit of the dead black dragon Chardansearavitriol, known also as Ebondeath, has recently allied with Ularan Mortus to steal a mythical artifact called the
The people of Leilon have just begun to uncover the threats both groups pose to the region. They need the help of adventurers if they want their rebuilt settlement to survive the danger.
Upcoming Threats
Visitors to Leilon soon learn the following troubling rumors. Ensure your players are briefed on these threats before they choose quests from the quest board.
- Two rival cults, worshipers of Talos, god of storms, and Myrkul, god of death, are clashing in the wilds outside town.
- If Fheralai Stormsworn died during Sleeping Dragon’s Wake, word reaches town that Talos has raised her from the dead.
- It is said that Myrkul has also performed a miracle to grant Ularan Mortus an undead army.
- The town council believes that the cultists are plotting to invade Leilon in order to seize control of the High Road.
Divine Contention as a Stand-Alone
Some sections of this adventure reference Storm Lord’s Wrath and Sleeping Dragons Wake, which can be run as prequels to Divine Contention. If you run Divine Contention as a stand-alone adventure, you can ignore the references to the other adventures, since all the information you need to run Divine Contention is contained in the “area Adventure Background” section.