The west side of town (session 11 or 24)

Nori,
I hope you're still doing fine on the marketplace. Or as fine as things can be, considering everything. I know everyone is in good hands with you, but I fear the worst because of the vampire. Just because he seems to do the right thing doesn't make him good. Which is something I have to remember while working for him.
In my last letter I told you we crossed the bridge and are at the west part of town now. I had to clean my wounds a bit after the fight, so we started looking for a shelter. You were so unlucky to be in the eastern side of town during the descent! I mean, it was bad luck to be in town during the descent, but the eastern side is so much worse than the western side. The first building we saw was in relatively good shape (like most of the buildings here). After carefully checking it out with Rons rat we decided it was safe to enter. The building was an almost abandoned orphanage. I say almost because there was still some 1 child inside, named Billie. It took a while for us to find him since he's really good at hide-and-seek. We talked with him for a bit (remind me to keep Leo away from kids. He's REALLY bad with them, saying the exact wrong things all the time). I don't think he had any contact with people since the descent except maybe miss Thistlewood, the caretaker. We found her upstairs, dead and turning into dust. He also talked about his sister Rose (and his imaginary friend Jeffrey, poor kid must be really lonely). I assumed Rose was a human, like Billie, until he mentioned Rose has blue feathers. Then I thought Rose was an aarakocra or a kenku, serving as an adopted sister. I was so wrong. When Rose returned, we saw she's the demon that flew away at the Antlers. It didn't recognize us (all humanoids look the same). It talked to us (and Billie) through telepathy. It saw actual Rose fall into the Styx, but it seemed to like Billie who gives it "feelings" (it couldn't tell us what feelings since the concept is unnatural to it). It seemed to take care of Billie, although it feeds him demon-iquer, which cannot be healthy. Fenrir took a sip of it and his eyes turned black, but he did like it. We should keep our eyes on Fenrir, this plane is not good for him.
Anyway, Rose was way nicer to us than expected from a demon. It allowed us to rest here, if we answered one question: How long would it take until Eltharel would sink into the Styx? So Bertha, Ron and Leo started calculating and concluded it would take 100-150 normal days. This pleased the demon enough to give us a rest, but Fenrir didn't trust the demon (I think? Maybe there was something else going on?) and decided to attack it. I'm pretty sure we would have beaten it, and I think Rose agreed since it didn't fight back, but grabbed Billie and flew away faster than we could handle.
After the battle I got into a fight with Fenrir. I think he shouldn't have attacked Rose. Fenrir, Leo and Ron say it's a demon and it's dangerous for Billie. They kinda have a point. But, it still escaped with Billie! If we had just coordinated the attack we might have killed it! Although that might still been bad considering Billie actually likes Rose. Killing it right in front of him might cause serious harm and trust issues. Bertha agrees with me. The fight upset Lulu, who flew away and didn't return 'till the next day. Come to think of it, I haven't apologized yet. I should probably do that. Even if I don't agree with Fenrir, I shouldn't get angry with him for doing what he thinks is right.
After we got some sleep we went into town. It felt really weird since everything looked so normal. People were on the streets, talking and stuff. Some woman named Mildred invited us into her house for tea and cookies (which didn't taste ashy). She told us there have been very few eruptions and attacks. Although most of the men have been summoned to high hall. But her husband had been home for a few days, so it's not like they disappear or something. We left with 2 unanswered questions: Why are we the first people from the east side passing through and what exactly happens at high hall?
After the lovely conversation with Mildred we left for Symbrils house. The upper part of the city looks a lot worse than the western part. No people walking around, more houses boarded up, that kind of thing. We didn't get into any trouble on the way. Since this part of the city feels weirdly dangerous, we were careful to enter the tavern. Checked out the courtyard and windows, Bertha checked out a room, and when we were confident there were no fiends inside we walked in through the front door.
Apparently, Symbrils house is occupied by people who don't want someone ordering them around. They seemed willing to help setting up a humanitarian route to east-Elthurel, but we had to do something for them as well. You see, they closed off the underground because there are things down there. It took me way too long to realize they didn't mean we had to clear out the maze but steal supplies from the town. Those people are not the good guys. So, right now we're making a plan to bring them to justice.
I haven't checked this yet, but I hope we can relocate everyone from the marketplace to this side of town. Then, the hellriders don't have to take orders from the vampire anymore. Ikaya probably won't like it, so we have to hide it from him. But there are enough supplies here for everyone. And it's safe. Or at least safer than the marketplace.
I hope I can hear your thoughts about this. Or talk.
Please stay away from the vampire.
Your loving sister,
Caja