16.0 The Hellgate

General Rule: The Hellgate is a large mountain-like device of tremendous magical power which the party must find and destroy in order to win the game. It is guarded by a number of bound demons and X the Unknown. Once the Hellgate is found, there will be an extra Phase in the Combat Sequence called the Hellgate Phase (see 9.2). During this Phase the Hellgate will cast blast spells.

Procedure: Once the Hellgate is found roll 1D3+2 to determine the number of demons guarding it (no level modification). The monster march order is set up with the demons in the first and second rows, X the Unknown in the second row, and the Hellgate in the third. During the Hellgate Phase the Hellgate may cast 3 Blast spells at a character (or split among several characters). The Hellgate does not expend Wound Points to cast spells. The Hellgate will continue to cast spells so long as X the Unknown is alive. When he dies, the Hellgate ceases to function and the demons disappear. The Hellgate may cast spells from the third row. To destroy the Hellgate, X must be killed and then a character with a Hellgate rating must attempt to destroy it. He rolls a die, and if the result is less than or equal to his Hellgate rating, the Hellgate is destroyed. If the roll is higher, he suffers one wound. The die is rolled separately for each character attempting to destroy the Hellgate. A character may continue to roll until he succeeds, dies or gives up. See Victory Conditions, 17.0. Demons and X the Unknown are only affected by the Monster Wound, Monster Combat Bonus, Treasure Type and Experience Points rows on the Level Chart (6.7). The number of monsters and Negotiation Value rows are not used. A character's Hellgate rating may not be increased above 5.