Scales of War - [Lvl 22] - Grasp of the Mantled Citadel

Oct 5, 2026

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“Grasp of the Mantled Citadel” is an adventure for five 22nd-level characters, positioned as the second epic-level installment in the Scales of War adventure path and a direct sequel to “Betrayal at Monadhan.” The scenario drives parties through Vaerothim and the Forest of Twisted Souls to breach the Mantled Citadel and stop Irfelujhar’s completed research. The text outlines multiple quests and the campaign framework, including reaching the portal via the Sword of Kas, navigating hostile encounters, and overcoming defense-heavy chambers, monsters, and traps.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryComic

FormatPDF

Pages44

Reading Time17 min

AccessFree to download

Start the Adventure

Previous Events: Betrayal at Monadhan

The Demiplane of Vaerothim and Key Details

Portal Access via the Sword of Kas

Adventure Progression

Travel Through the Forest of Twisted Souls

Major and Minor Quests

Approach to the Mantled Citadel

Subterranean Chambers and Escalation

Upper Levels and Final Approach

􀀃􀀄􀀅􀀆􀀇 􀀐􀀊􀀑􀀒􀀌􀀎􀀈􀀅􀀏􀀊􀀉􀀅􀀊􀀋􀀍􀀌􀀍􀀌􀀋 By Creighton Broadhurst An adventure for 22nd-level characters illustrations by William O’Connor cartography by Mike Schley TM & © 2009 Wizards of the Coast LLC All rights reserved. “From here I look out over the gloom of the Forest of Twisted Souls, and although my actions have brought me to this benighted place, I have no regrets. With new allegiances come terrifying opportunities. Who among those living upon the world now have the power, the discipline, and the knowledge to utterly destroy a god? My new mistress is indeed muniﬁcent” “Grasp of the Mantled Citadel” is an adventure for five 22nd-level characters. By the end ofthe adventure, the PCs should have accumulated enough XP to reach 24th level. This adventure is the second epic-level adventure of the Scales of War adventure path.“Grasp of the Mantled Citadel” is a direct sequel to “Betrayal at Monadhan.” With a little work, it can be adapted for use in any campaign. October 2 0 09 | DUNGEON 17 1 􀀂􀀃 􀀃􀀄􀀅􀀆􀀇 􀀐􀀑 􀀊􀀒􀀌 􀀈􀀅􀀉􀀊􀀋􀀌􀀍 􀀎􀀏􀀊􀀅􀀍􀀌􀀋 In this adventure, characters enter the shadowed demiplane of Vaerothim, plunge through the skeletal depths ofthe Forest of Twisted Souls, and breach the Mantled Citadel’s fearsome defense. 􀀓􀀔􀀎􀀕􀀃􀀖􀀗􀀘􀀙􀀚 At the beginning of “Betrayal at Monadhan,” the heroes were in Sayre under the Coalition’s protection. There they met an angel of secrets going by the name of Rachaela. She told them of the demiplane of Vaerothim and its most dangerous inhabitants—Mornujhar, Black Exarch of Tiamat, and the powerful lich Irfelujhar, a peerless ritual crafter. She didn’t know what the pair were up to but desperately desired the information and so paid the heroes to uncover the truth of the matter. Unfortunately, the demiplane of Vaerothim is accessible only through Monadhan, the Domain of Betrayal, itself part of the Shadowfell. The PCs’ trip to Monadhan was complicated by the difficulty of leaving Monadhan—the domain is a supernatural prison for traitors and betrayers. To reach Vaerothim, the PCs had to locate a portal and the key which unlocks it—the Sword ofKas! Ultimately, the heroes met Kas and agreed to a bargain with him. He would tell them how to operate the portal to Vaerothim if they retrieved his sword and returned it to him. After recovering the sword and learning that the weapon itself was the key to the portal, the characters defeated Arantor, an undead dragon and dark lord of Monadhan, and likely double-crossed Kas so that they could activate the portal leading to Vaerothim.“Grasp of the Mantled Citadel begins as the characters step through the portal into Vaerothim (see“Start the Adventure” on page 43). "􀀘􀀜􀀞􀀝􀀞 In “Grasp of the Mantled Citadel,” the characters travel through the Forest of Twisted Souls to the Mantled Citadel to defeat Irfelujhar and uncover the terrifying consequences of his research. Along the way, they can complete two other quests. Lay Naiethar Traihel to Rest 22nd-Level Minor Quest (4,150 XP) If the heroes parley with Naiethar Traihel (the dryad lich in Encounter F4), she explains that the forest has warped her and her tree. She asks them to take a single bough from her tree (her phylactery) andreplant it in untainted soil. If they do so, she is laid to rest. Freeing Agyrturyte 23rd-Level Minor Quest (5,100 XP) In Encounter C4, the PCs fight Tiamat’s Black Exarch Mornujhar. If they defeat him andAgyrturyte survives the ensuing battle, she begs the characters to escort her from the Shadowfell. If they do so, they gain the reward listed above. Defeating Irfelujhar 23rd-Level Major Quest (25,500 XP) If the PCs penetrate the Mantled Citadel, defeat Irfelujhar, and discover the nature of his completed research, they gain the reward listed above. 􀀔􀀚􀀛􀀜􀀙􀀝􀀘􀀖􀀜 􀀞􀀙􀀗􀀞!􀀞 At the end of“Betrayal at Monadhan,” the PCs used the Sword ofKas to reach Vaerothim. Arriving on ableak, high hill in the Forest of Twisted Souls, they can see the gaunt spire of the Mantled Citadel

FAQs

What level range is “Grasp of the Mantled Citadel” designed for?

It is designed for five 22nd-level characters. By the end, the PCs should have accumulated enough XP to reach 24th level.

How do the characters reach Vaerothim in this adventure?

The demiplane of Vaerothim is accessible only through Monadhan. The PCs must locate a portal and key, and they ultimately use the Sword of Kas as the key to activate the portal.

What are the adventure’s main quest objectives?

The characters travel through the Forest of Twisted Souls to the Mantled Citadel to defeat Irfelujhar and uncover the consequences of his research, progressing through battles, traps, and increasingly dangerous chambers.

Oct 5, 2026

Upload by Ben