Crisis Conclave, Lulu and into hell (session 4&5 or 17&18)

Dear Nori,
I hope you're still doing well. Or at least as well as one can be considering all things.
In my last letter I told you we found out about Eltharels contract with Zariel, fallen angel turned archduchess. Silvera also told us there are 3 ways to undo a devil contract. The first 2 (make sure the devil doesn't fulfill it's part or talk to it's superior) aren't really viable for Eltharel, but the third one (get both contracts and submerge it in the Styx) is. So I'm slightly optimistic about that.
Silvera also called for the crisis conclave of Candlekeep, which was to be held in a couple of days. A lot of high readers were invited (all of them?) and we were invited as well, like we could provide additional information. I'm still not sure what they expected from us.
There was a lot of talk, but they were basicly trying to form a party to go to hell and get Eltharel back. They also said they wanted to do it because it's the right thing (yes, I asked. Living in Scornubell made me suspicious of these kind of things). They just didn't really know how to get in the right spot in Hell. Myrriim however, does (remember the name, I will get back to her). When they were fighting over who should talk to Myrriim something weird happened. The puzzlebox summoned a giant devil, and Silvera ordered us to get a book from her library.
When we got to her room had some problems finding the book. While the rest searched for it, I tried to get the quasit to get it for me (Pipjap was drunk and asleep) by bribing it with our good dwarven whiskey. Apparently quasits don't have taste since she grabbed the bottle from my hands and breaking it after a few sips. At least it woke Pipjap, who was slightly more helpful (but not a lot).
When Bertha found the book a portal opened. Both me and Pipjap couldn't resist. He reacted faster by pushing Bertha in, but I was already on my way to grab him and jump. The others followed us.
We found ourselves in a dark room. I used my new spell to light up Pipjaps pants (that way I'm sure he's useful) which he didn't like for some reason. It didn't matter anyway since it didn't give enough light to see who was talking to us. Yes there was talking, and a lot of it. But friendly. Honestly, I prepared myself for a fight. When I asked the voice to light up the room we could see we've been talking to a ghost dragon! She said her name was Myrriim. She was really nice although clearly very lonely. She told us a lot of things, and quite frankly, I think the Candlekeepians refuse to release her, in a way storing her knowledge like the books (When I told Silvera this days later, she said they don't know the magic to release her. For now I give them the benefit of the doubt, but once we free you from hell I really think we, or rather you, should look into it).
Anyway, after a while we could finally ask her if she knows where the portal to hell where the hellriders originally charged through is (apparently it was never actually sealed off, but only hidden). Which she knew, and she teleported us there right away.
We arrived in a swamp in the fields of the dead. Immediately we heard a voice telling us to leave. Which we of course didn't. Then, the guardian "of the grove", an unicorn, attacked us. I tried to keep the unicorn busy (I rode it! It was amazing, although a lot harder than riding a horse. Then again, most horses don't try to kill me) while the others searched for the portal. There was no portal visible, but there was a gigantic dead tree which had magic residue. It took a while to figure out, but once we destroyed it we was the portal (the unicorn fainted upon destroying the tree). It was a lot smaller than expected and frankly, none of us wanted or could get through. Then we heard a pop, and a small winged, golden elephant got through., This cost the last of the portals magical energy, after which it closed.
The elephant was unconscious. Ron tried to wake up the unicorn (we assumed it would be friendly now since the thing it was supposed to protect, the portal, was destroyed), but instead of being grateful for setting it free it attacked Ron. Kinda. So we left before it could do some actual damage.
When the elephant woke up she told us her name is Lulu. Lulu is one of the most adorable creatures I've ever seen. Bertha agrees with me and tries to keep her close. Lulu herself seems to be very fond of Leo and Fenrir. Ron on the other hand, doesn't seem impressed. At all.
Lulus's memory seems a bit cloudy, but she knows one thing: She lost her best friend. However, her memory seems to improve a bit every day. At first she didn't remember where she came from, but later seemed to remember she had, indeed, been in hell. After some questioning a few days later we found out her best friend is Zariel! The guys insisted to tell her Zariel is an archdevil now, which broke her heart. Silvera told Ron (I assume she used the same spell as you used to do) she is a holliphant, and holliphants sometimes are used as mounts for angels.
The walk through the fields of dad wasn't very interesting. It took a few days to get to Baldurs gate. In Baldurs gate we reported to Portyr (the person who send us to Candlekeep). Portyr was happy to see us, although disappointed we didn't have any evidence against Vanthampur (I didn't even know we were supposed to gather it). However, Fenrir would testify against her the next day which would help a bit. We went to the market for new whiskey which we didn't buy, and after the testimony we wanted to leave. But before we did, a kid snuck up on us. The kid turned out to be Fenrirs! I'm not sure how it's even possible since the kid seems to be 12-ish and Fenrir is younger than I am! He must have been 12 at the latest when he got him! Maybe tieflings age different? I don't think so. Also, did you get laid during your first years of training? I know I didn't, and haven't heard about anyone who did. Maybe later, but definitely not those years. It really doesn't make any sense. Leo is convinced this is normal for humans by the way, and that we all get like 20 kids (that's why there are so many humans). I think that's hilarious, and I'm definitely not telling him that's not how it works.
Anyway, the kid tried to shiv Fenrir, at which he failed, then tried to steal his money, at which he also failed, then yelled something about how Fenrir didn't return and the kingpin took care of him, and then he ran away. Actually, it was kinda sad. Maybe we should help Fenrir reconnect with his kid, if we ever get back. Family is important, after all.
The road to Candlekeep was uneventful. We didn't have to pay with expensive books to get in this time. We reported back to Silvera, and I asked her to testify against Vanthampur as well (I'm not sure why, but it seems important) to which she agreed even though she didn't have much on Vanthampur. She and Taxidor were working on the spell to get to hell. They also found some more hellriders to come. They are coming themselves as well, as does Volothamp Geddarm (who was at the conclave as well) and Garrix, who is a lawyer and priest of Tyr, brought specifically to find problems in contracts.
Taxidor can only bring 8 people at a time. So the first trip will be the 5 of us, Taxidor, Volo and Garrix. After a day or 2 (the spell wasn't ready at our arrival) we went to actual hell. Or Eltharel, which is the same at the moment. We had some trouble orienting at first. Then we heard a woman scream. We looked were the scream was coming from and saw a woman with a child in her arms being chased by 3 bearded devils. We came at the womans aid (we doesn't include Taxidor who teleported away or Volo and Garrix, who hid). We bested them pretty fast. Weirdly enough they didn't fight to death, but surrendered. Asked us to make a deal. Ron and Fenrir didn't want to, but Leo and me did (not sure how Bertha feels about it). Eventually we agreed to one soul coin for us, and they would bring us to a relatively safe house, and we wouldn't kill them, and they would leave us alone for 90 days. I feel like we made a good deal, but I am not 100% sure. Garrix checked the contract though, so we shouldn't get fucked to badly.
We're here now, Nori. The last time we were in the same city was when I ran away. I promise you I won't leave the city without you. Or at least your soul intact. I'll also try to keep my companions (soul) safe (as hellriders they lost their soul as well). If it's possible, we'll save all of Elthurel. Right now, we're in hell anyway, things can only get better.
Stay strong,
Love,
Caja