TEXT: EN World EN5IDER | Collegia Magia: The Festung
  EN World EN5IDER | Collegia Magia: The Festung
   
  writing Josh Gentry
   color art Victoria Oliveria
   
  editing James J. Haeck
   
  layout Eric Life-Putnam
  T
  he following is The fourTh parT of 
  Collegia Magia, a series focusing on magical 
  academies that can be dropped into a 
  campaign with minimal preparation. Each article in 
  the series presents several detailed NPCs, points of 
  interest, and loose plot hooks that can be developed 
  during play. Also included are lore and options 
  for enrolled PCs! This installment of the series 
  details the Festung, a castle refuge for all that is 
  nightmarish and vile!
  Collegia Magia
  The 
  Festung
  
  Collegia Magia: The Festung | EN World EN5IDER
  Collegia Magia: The Festung | EN World EN5IDER
  Introduction
  On a frozen, razor-edged crag looms the dread 
  castle known only as the Festung. From its 
  chimneys bellow a putrid pillar of smoke that 
  defiles the virgin snow. Inside, lavish interiors 
  suitable for a king lay dusty and cobwebbed, or 
  utterly re-purposed into laboratories of devilry, 
  necromancy, and torture. Seekers of darkness flock 
  here to deprave and spawn. Indeed, the Festung 
  is less a school for magic and more a sanctuary for 
  the profane.
   Posted outside the Festung gates are two guards, 
  tirelessly loyal in undeath, who ask entrants, 
  “What do ye here seek?” Regardless of the answer, 
  the guards respond based on the darkness of the 
  entrant’s heart. If one answers with a heart stained 
  with mortal sin, the guards reply, “Ye might find 
  such, here in the darkness.” If the heart is innocent, 
  the guards issue a low and menacing chuckle, for 
  in this place purity never survives.
  Class Relationships
  Members of any spellcasting class can be affected 
  by their association with the Festung.
   Bard. Rare but blessed is the bard who sings the 
  sad ballad of the Festung’s dark guardian. Few 
  would dare visit the place, except to experience a 
  tale of terror.
   Cleric. The library contains many tomes on the 
  theology of dark beings, including the worship of 
  demonkind, shadow, and death.
   Diabolist.* Few places are so appropriate 
  to meditate on the cosmic truths of Evil as the 
  Festung. Those who in visions witness a bleeding 
  eclipse will learn to command fiends.
   Druid. If a druid dared to visit the Festung, it 
  would be in dedication to winter, rot, and entities 
  that trespass upon this plane. 
   Occultist.* Vile arcane experiments are a 
  mainstay at the Festung. Abominable creatures 
  frequent here, and a would-be occultist can easily 
  collect their essences.
   Sorcerer. Prisoners with the ill fortune to be 
  born in the Festung dungeons are blessed with the 
  dark angel’s mercy. Almost all grow to be gifted 
  dread sorcerers.†
   Warlock. Eldritch entities of all kinds send their 
  envoys to the Festung to acquire new pawns. 
  Established warlocks curry their favor by offering 
  Festung novices into their patron’s servitude. 
  What’s more, one who would brave the castle’s 
  tallest tower may be able to traffic with the 
  Festung’s dark guardian...
   Wizard. The Festung is the place for inquirers 
  to ask questions the rest of the world is too afraid 
  to utter. Shadowcalling† and necromancy are 
  common, and no spell is too vicious for frank 
  conversation.
  Open Game Content
  The game rule information in this article is designated Open Game Content. All of the other material in this article, 
  including maps and illustrations (including illustrations in the public domain), narrative and descriptive 
  text, character and place names, trade dress, “EN Publishing,” “EN World,” “EN5ider,” EN Publishing 
  product and article titles, and EN World and EN Publishing logos, are designated Product Identity.
  EN
  EN
  Publishing
  Publishing
  ™
   * “A Touch of Class,” EN World EN5ider, https://www.patreon.com/
  posts/touch-of-class-11594111
   † Ari Marmell, “Volumes of Forgotten Lore: Arcane,” 
  EN World EN5ider, https://www.patreon.com/posts/
  volumes-of-lore-2716738
  
  EN World EN5IDER | Collegia Magia: The Festung
  EN World EN5IDER | Collegia Magia: The Festung
  New Spell
  Characters affiliated with the Festung can learn 
  the following cantrip.
  Void Maw
  Evocation cantrip
  Casting Time: 1 action
  Range: 60 feet
  Components: V, S
  Duration: Instantaneous 
   By reaching out to the perilous void, you create 
  an orb of hungry shadows. Make a ranged spell 
  attack against a creature or object within range. 
  On a hit, the target takes 1d6 necrotic damage. 
  Inanimate corpses and Tiny or smaller non-
  magical objects hit by this spell disintegrate into 
  nothing. If this spell kills a creature, the corpse 
  disintegrates into nothing. Creatures who fall 
  unconscious as a result of this spell’s damage are 
  not consumed. Only creatures who fail their third 
  death saving throw by taking damage from this 
  spell are destroyed.
   The spell’s damage increases by 1d6 when you 
  reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th 
  level (4d6).
  Background Expansion
  If you are affiliated with the Festung, you can take 
  the following trait options, replacing the normal 
  trait from your background. You can also replace 
  one your background’s proficiencies with an 
  optional proficiencies or language below. 
  Optional Proficiencies: Arcana
  Optional Languages: Abyssal, Infernal
  Optional Ideals and Flaws
  d6
  Ideal
  1
  Cruelty. Suffering is the only truth. (Evil)
  2
  Death. All must return to the void. (Evil)
  3
  Discovery. All knowledge has its price, and I’m will-
  ing to pay. (Any)
  4
  Impunity. I can do anything. (Chaotic)
  5
  Indifference. Shadows are shadows. There is noth-
  ing to fear. (Neutral)
  6
  Resolve. My ends justify my means. (Lawful)
  d6
  Flaw
  1
  I compulsively cackle as my schemes come to frui-
  tion.
  2
  At the smallest slight, I surge with bitterness and 
  hateful memories. 
  3
  My eyes bulge, and I stare unblinking at objects of 
  my desire.
  4
  It makes me smile to think of all the ways I can 
  slaughter the folks before me.
  5
  Pain is an illusion. The suffering of others is as 
  meaningless to me as the breeze.
  6
  There is one thing I fear terribly, and I will sacrifice 
  even those most dear to me to avoid it.
  
  Collegia Magia: The Festung | EN World EN5IDER
  Collegia Magia: The Festung | EN World EN5IDER
  New Artifact
  Fountain of Innocent Blood
  Wondrous item, artifact
   In the Festung’s basement is a mystical fountain 
  running with the blood of innocents. Supplying 
  the fountain is an army of nearly invisible imps, 
  who travel the world in spiritual form collecting 
  the blood wherever it may fall. Drinking from this 
  fountain increases the drinker’s capabilities.
   If you drink from this fountain, you must 
  make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a 
  failed saving throw, you vomit the blood and are 
  poisoned until you complete a long rest. Evil-
  aligned creatures automatically succeed on this 
  saving throw.
   If you successfully imbibe the blood, one ability 
  score of your choice increases an ability score of 
  your choice increases by 2 (maximum 22). Each 
  ability score can only be enhanced with the blood 
  fountain once. Additionally, your alignment shifts 
  one step towards Evil, if you are not Evil already. 
   Once you attempt to drink from the fountain, 
  you cannot do so again until the dawn of the next 
  day.
  New Warlock Patron
  The Fallen Angel
  Your patron’s heavenly crusade could end all 
  existence, and for its sins, the higher powers 
  cast down the Fallen Angel from the heavens. 
  Nonetheless, your patron remains assured of 
  its righteousness. Some Fallen Angels acquire 
  disciples and pawns to advance a grand 
  extraplanar war; others envision a radical new 
  cosmic order, and see mortals—including you—as 
  little more than dust. 
   Fallen Angel patrons carry epithets like the Soul 
  Reaper, the Voice of the Apocalypse, or the Dread 
  Star. They include disgraced solars and mighty 
  rogue planetars like Zalakiel—the Fallen Angel of 
  the Festung.
  Expanded Spell List
  The Fallen Angel lets you choose from an 
  expanded list of spells when you learn a warlock 
  spell. You gain the celestial burst* cantrip, and the 
  following spells are added to the warlock spell list 
  for you.
  Fallen Angel Expanded Spells
  Spell Level
  Spells
  1st
  detect evil and good, guiding bolt
  2nd
  lesser restoration, zone of truth
  3rd
  daylight, lightning bolt
  4th
  death ward, locate creature
  5th
  flame strike, greater restoration
  Radiant Onslaught
  Once per turn when you reduce a hostile creature 
  to 0 hit points, you may choose a hostile creature 
  you can see within 30 feet. This creature must 
  make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell 
  save DC. On a failure, it takes radiant damage 
  equal to your Charisma modifier + your warlock 
  level (minimum of 1).
  Indignation
  Starting at 6th level, you fury echoes your 
  patron’s blade of judgement. You can use this 
  feature to cast either spiritual weapon or spirit 
  guardians without expending a spell slot. At 7th 
  level, add guardian of faith to this list. 
   Once you use this feature, you can’t do so again 
  until you complete a long rest. 
  Darkling Radiance
  Starting at 10th level, you wield both the 
  viciousness of light and the hidden glory of 
  darkness. Whenever you deal necrotic or radiant 
  damage, the creature’s resistances and immunities 
  apply to the damage only if they affect both 
  necrotic and radiant damage.
   *  Josh Gentry, “Collegia Magia: Granspire Seminary,” EN World 
  EN5ider, https://www.patreon.com/posts/collegia-magia-7901247
  
  EN World EN5IDER | Collegia Magia: The Festung
  EN World EN5IDER | Collegia Magia: The Festung
  Wings of Disgrace
  At 14th level, you gain the ability to sprout a pair 
  of feathery wings from your back (black, gray, or 
  white and bloodstained), gaining a flying speed 
  equal to your walking speed. You can create these 
  wings as a bonus action on your turn. They last 
  until you dismiss them as a bonus action on your 
  turn.
   You can’t manifest your wings while wearing 
  armor unless the armor is made to accommodate 
  them, and clothing not made to accommodate 
  your wings might be destroyed when you 
  manifest them. You cannot use your wings to 
  fly while carrying more than maximum carrying 
  capacity; if you do not track carrying capacity, 
  you cannot fly while carrying a creature who 
  weighs more than 15 times your Strength score.
  Significant NPCs
  Zalakiel, Rogue Planetar (Lawful Neutral)
  This female-appearing angel with emerald skin 
  wears dark flowing robes, and boasts mighty 
  black and bloodstained wings. She resides in 
  the highest tower in muted contemplation, only 
  showing her face to gaze at the stars. 
   Trait: Even her softest whisper resounds like a 
  blaring trumpet.
   Ideal: Pity. “Go in peace, and seek thy next 
  generation.”
   Bond: She never overcame the guilt of slaying 
  a vampire that loved its children. She left the 
  heavens’ service afterward.
   Flaw: She has resigned herself to isolation, and 
  little can rouse her to action.
  Kagerus, Fleshstitcher and Information 
  Broker (Neutral Evil)
  This dark elf of opaline complexion and black-
  green hair collects slaves and corpses for 
  unspeakable surgical experiments. 
   Trait: He always finds a way to profit from 
  directing newcomers to what they seek.
   Ideal: Brokership. “There are favors abound 
  here at the Festung, all for a price. Or a cost.” 
   Bond: He grants his “projects” female names, 
  like the daughters he will never have.
   Flaw: His breath reeks from snacking on 
  unusable trimmings of humanoid flesh. 
  Raymund, Captive (Chaotic Neutral)
  This twelve-year-old human boy hides in the 
  basement dungeon. His fate shall soon be 
  decided—either in liberation, death, or corruption.
   Trait: He hides from everyone, because he has 
  seen the Festung’s terrible truths.
   Ideal: Survival. “Don’t! Eat! Me!”
   Bond: In a hidden alcove, he fingerpaints a 
  mural of his lost family.
   Flaw: He is almost feral, and scarcely 
  remembers reason.
  Rumors and Plot Hooks
  1. Blessings of the Hells be upon you. (False; the 
  Festung’s blessing is angelic.)
  2. The Festung blesses all seekers of darkness. No 
  lone hero dare strike here, for we shall consume 
  him. (True)
  3. If you brand your slaves properly, they’ll be safe 
  in the dungeon. We respect property. (False) 
  4. This castle’s queen is a vampire! She lives in the 
  tallest tower, and few dare provoke her. (False; 
  mistaken identity.)
  5. The prison is in the basement, just by the 
  furnace. It makes stocking the fires convenient. 
  (True)
  6. Beware Kagerus. He keeps a ledger of every 
  favor owed to him. (True)
  7. I’ve seen the Festung’s guest book before, but it 
  keeps disappearing! (True)
  8. I love that rooms are quiet and dark here … but 
  you are never truly alone. (True)
  
  Collegia Magia: The Festung | EN World EN5IDER
  Collegia Magia: The Festung | EN World EN5IDER
  A Brief History
  Before the lands froze over, a kind princess ruled 
  a small mountain kingdom. She grew into a lonely 
  queen, and in her isolated discernment her mind 
  turned to darker matters. Her kingdom slowly 
  but surely fell into a state of vile decadence, and 
  its people suffered for the queen’s transgressions. 
  The queen, ridden by guilt and fear of death, fell 
  further into darkness—until the day a mysterious 
  suitor visited. The vampire offered the queen his 
  dark gift, and the queen grew an army of vampire 
  spawn to replace her fallen kingdom.
   When the gods sent Zalakiel to intervene, the 
  vampire queen pleaded for her life. When facing 
  the angel’s sword, the sanguine queen pleaded, 
  “I love my dark children. Please, let us find our 
  place in this world.” The planetar found no 
  duplicity within her words, yet nonetheless she 
  struck her down. Though Zalakiel’s duty was 
  complete, the queen’s pity infected her heart with 
  guilt. Zalakiel began to see the so-called forces of 
  darkness not as abominations but as a different 
  form of life, and swore no prejudice against 
  them. She immediately fell from grace, and was 
  flung from the heavens with bloodstained wings. 
  Zalakiel returned to the castle and embraced it in 
  a protective blessing, such that evil might spare 
  itself long enough to propagate.
  New Blessing
  Dark Angel’s Mercy
  Upon entering the Festung castle grounds, this 
  blessing instantly surrounds all Evil-aligned 
  creatures and all non-Evil humanoids who 
  have committed a mortal sin, such as slaying an 
  innocent, defiling love, or abusing the weak. The 
  castle guards indicate those unbound by this 
  blessing with their predatory laughter. 
   When a blessed creature attempts to attack 
  or cast a damage-dealing spell against another 
  creature likewise bound by this blessing, the 
  attack roll automatically misses, or the creature 
  automatically succeeds on its saving throw.
   This blessing is permanent, even outside 
  Festung grounds. However, a wish spell can 
  remove the blessing from one creature. This 
  blessing is bound to Zalakiel’s life force, and some 
  Festung scholars speculate that should Zalakiel 
  die, the blessing would disappear.
  Shadow’s Denizens
  The Festung’s “student” population is broad and 
  grotesque. The castle’s numerous shadowy and 
  surreal halls obscure a deceptively large number 
  of inhabitants. When the GM wants to introduce a 
  new “classmate,” roll on the following table.
  Festung Inhabitants
  d12
  Result
  1
  released slave (commoner)
  2
  1d4 cultists
  3
  cult fanatic
  4
  wererat
  5
  vampire spawn
  6
  imp
  7
  werewolf
  8
  mage
  9
  oni
  10
  green hag
  11
  spellcaster vampire
  12
  succubus or incubus
   
  e
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/EN World EN5ider/EN5ider 154 - Collegia Magia Festung.pdf