A plot-oriented challenge....

[FrancisBean]

Most 3.P challenge threads are oriented toward building characters to meet a set of constraints. 5e doesn't really make that satisfying. Here's a different challenge for the 5e DM's in the group. It's an epic plot arc from levels 1 to 20 and a little beyond.

A concept: Asmodeus was once a mortal human. He fell into darkness. Thoroughly and completely. But now, somehow, some niggling hint of a glimmer of light has entered his heart. He has a tenuous, razor-thin shot at redemption. And your player characters are in exactly the right place at exactly the right time....

In at most 5-6 paragraphs (one for each proficiency tier plus one optional for post-20 play), what's your plan for the campaign?

Side note: I reserve the right to steal your idea wholesale for use in my own campaigns. :D

[strangebloke]

Children have been going missing in the typically quiet town of redport. The party soon falls into the tangled web of zzyssarius, the demonologist who has corrupted the Earl's son.

The demonologist bore a holy book, the chant of unending radiance. He did not know what he had, and thought that the book could control demons. Indeed, it can help with the destruction of demons, but the party needs to restore the book to the list Temple from which it came, restoring that places connection to the Divine.

After defeating noth-gorun the corrupter of the temple, the party restores the book, only for a wave of powerful Divine energy to wash over them. A vision assaults them... The land will soon come under a demonic invasion. The high council of wizards tasks then with assembling the seven binding chords, a series of artifacts of which they book is one, said to be able to end the power of even a demon prince.

It is not a mere prince who leads the a assault, but asmodeus himself. The chords will not be enough. A desperate plan is hatched: set the princes to fighting each other, and hope that this leaves asmodeus weak enough for the chords to work.

You'd have to build the idea that he's a noble devil, with remnants of something good in him. You'd have to make the other princes seem far more repulsive by comparison. You'd have to make the party feel a little bad for asmodeus at the end.

Then, as they sit in the tavern at the end of the campaign, a gray-haired young man pulls up a table next to them...

[FrancisBean]

Then, as they sit in the tavern at the end of the campaign, a gray-haired young man pulls up a table next to them...

OK, you got me right there. That's where I want to pick up the campaign!

[Corran]

Then, as they sit in the tavern at the end of the campaign, a gray-haired young man pulls up a table next to them...
What happens then? :smalleek:

[Unoriginal]

Just to point out, Asmodeus is a Devil, and a god. Not a Demon Prince.

It should be taken into account.

[Callak_Remier]

I suggest you read up and understand everything you can about the 9 hells.
All the Lord's thier followers. The Bloodwar.
Everything.
Since as far as the defeat of Asmodeus goes there will be fall out. Someone will claim the throne of the entirety of existence will unravel as Demonic scourge sweeps over every realm unopposed

[Man_Over_Game]

I suggest you read up and understand everything you can about the 9 hells.
All the Lord's thier followers. The Bloodwar.
Everything.
Since as far as the defeat of Asmodeus goes there will be fall out. Someone will claim the throne of the entirety of existence will unravel as Demonic scourge sweeps over every realm unopposed

That would definitely fall under the part where OP said:
20 and a little beyond.

[Legendairy]

Just to point out, Asmodeus is a Devil, and a god. Not a Demon Prince.

It should be taken into account.

Beat me to it.

The fall out from Asmodeus leaving the hells, and maybe changing his “portfolio” would be devestating but also interesting.

Aside from nit-picking Strangebloke...that is pretty fantastic and I applaud you.

[Legendairy]

In the local town the call was put out for able body adventurers to do some investigating. The roads have become too dangerous from the reports and caravans full of supplies have stopped altogether. The party is tasked with going into a nearby wood area to confront the bandits that have increased in activity. What they find is the normal people and merchants that normally run the routes with supplies have turned to a demonic cult and have become mindless slaves. The cult leader is using them as willing sacrifices to open a portal for their demonic masters. After a few encounters into the small complex they find the portal is open, the key holding it the hilt of a golden sword, the handle has varies demonic symbols and charms hanging from it, to desecrate it. After the players fight a lesser demon and the cult leader they stop the portal from opening using this handle.

Upon reaching town and completing the task (hopefully with the handle which they would find out is just that with part of the broken blade still attached, not enough to wield it) they will find out that these portals have been opening a crossed the land and have become a problem and as of yet no one has figured out the way to close them. After they explain it they are tasked with taking the hilt to a wizards guild in a further off place. The journey is anything but safe. The countryside is plagued with lesser demons and common folk turned into mindless thralls.

Upon arriving at the wizard archive, they figure out not everything is as it seems. Within the wizards are different factions and agents of the demons seeking to stop the investigation into the portals. The party takes place in clearing out the archive of its demonic allies, culminating in a fight with a wizard and a powerful demon. The place they fight them is the vault containing knowledge from ages past, they find a shard of a weapon that was once used by a hero of the light who is said to be able to cross the planes and kill the demons on their home planes permanently destroying them. The pieces of this weapon are what is being used to power these lesser mortals in this demonic gate opening rituals. It also explains that the demonic influence over the area is lost when these gate type alters are destroyed.

The party seeks out the pieces of the sword to not only stop the portals and influence but to try and reassemble this holy weapon of power. As they fight from one gate to another they find out clues that the demon who is orchestrating this is none other than fraz-ablu, he is scheming to take control of the plane and spread his influence while building a mindless army of fodder to throw into the abyss for his demonic whims. After the portals are finally stopped and the blades prices recovered the world itself shakes. It seems the demon has weakened the border to the realms enough he is able to tear a portal and send a bloodthirsty army into the prime, while the nations band together to fight the horde that marches towards them from these blasted lands the party is tasked with repairing the blade and finding the ancient hero.

After traveling to the ruins of a forgotten city supposedly named the shining citidale they are able to trace the steps of this mysterious hero. He was a commoner much like the adventurers, he came from basic stock, he traveled with a party to stamp out evil until he finally figured out that while mindless demons ruled they could never truly stop the spread of the demonic plague. They have to fight their way deep into the pits of the ruins fighting creatures that have attached themselves to this place because of the powerful energies deep within. They find a gate that would send the party to the seat of the once magnificent blades power and the resting place of the ancient hero. After battling an ancient shadow dragons in his dark layer they are able to use the portal...they are transported to a massive cathedral the stained glass windows glow with a reddish hellfire as they show a story of a human fighting back the hordes of demons, then it shows him in this very cathedral making a pact on the corrupt alter in front of him, the weapon exploding and leaving little motes of light as the hero stands up showing he has changed in appearance. Then the chilling deep voice echoes throughout “ahhh visitors” as the lord of Nessus stands from a chair near the front. Asmodeus explains that he had to sacrifice his humanity to keep the hordes at bay, the only way for law to win was to gain the power to keep them busy to protect the planes, he became the necessary evil to stop the chaotic waves of demons. He explains he has remorse and redemption after all these years is now possible with the sword being reformed. He empowers the blade. He offers the party the chance to be his champions and help him use the light and take the fight to the demons, he explains that if he does this the devils will have a massive power struggle so they must strike at the heart of the demon forces immediately going after Demogorgon to stall the chaos wave so they can incite as well. Asmodeus takes up the blade and becomes a beacon of light if the players choose this route or he stays as the God of the nine and continues the bloodwar, giving the players the weapon to fight the hordes.

The players have the choice to become the chosen of a good god and throw the planes into utter chaos. Or choose to take up the weapon themselves and use it to fight back the army on their home plane.

Edit: please excuse the grammatical errors and poor structure, I’m on my phone.

Edit2: bonus points if it was Mephistopheles who orchestrated the whole thing sensing a weakness in Asmodeus he could exploit.