Ludinus Da'leth's Betrayal

Lore & Background

Ludinus Da'leth discovered that the gods crafted Ruidus specifically to imprison Predathos. Motivated by a belief that this entity could be used against the divine or simply freed, he established the Ruby Vanguard. The group's strategy involved constructing Malleus Keys across Exandria to aid their ritual during the Apogee Solstice. Ludinus worked closely with his daughter-in-law, Liliana Temult, a general in the Ruby Vanguard and an Exaltant Ruidusborn who draws power from the red moon. Their collaboration aimed toward mysterious ends involving the red moon's influence, drawing the Bells Hells into a mystery surrounding Ruidus and the superstitions of the Ruidusborn.

In Their Own Story

The campaign follows the Bells Hells as they target the Malleus Keys to stop Ludinus Da'leth. The party successfully interferes with the ritual at the Hellcatch Valley Malleus Key, preventing the release of Predathos. In the aftermath, Ruidus is locked in place over this specific key, a development that allows people to travel between the moon and Exandria. This event leads to the formation of the Exandrian Accord, a military alliance of nations and factions opposing the forces of Ruidus. The Bells Hells, joined by Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein, serve as coordinated strike teams against various Ruidian targets.

Reader's Guide

To understand Ludinus Da'leth's arc in Campaign Three, follow these key plot points:

1. Identify his role as the founder and leader of the Ruby Vanguard. 2. Recognize the goal: freeing Predathos from Ruidus during the Apogee Solstice. 3. Note the tools used: the Malleus Keys built to aid the ritual. 4. Observe the Bells Hells' intervention which stops the release at the Hellcatch Valley Key. 5. Acknowledge the aftermath where Ruidus remains locked over the key, enabling travel between the moon and Exandria.

Did You Know?

• The campaign begins two months before the Apogee Solstice, a celestial event that influences Exandria's ley lines.
• Predathos is an ancient evil imprisoned by the gods on the moon Ruidus.
• Ludinus Da'leth founded and leads the Ruby Vanguard to free Predathos.
• The Bells Hells interfered with the ritual at the Hellcatch Valley Malleus Key, preventing the release of the entity.
• After the failed ritual, Ruidus is locked in place over the Hellcatch Valley key, allowing travel between the moon and Exandria.