High Hall

The next few days are a blur of gore and hellfire. There are no words for the desecrated state of Elturel now. It’s hard to imagine how it could ever be salvaged, or if it’s even possible to sever the chains that tether it in Avernus.
 
I spotted the spire of the cathedral tower near what once was the city center and decided to seek shelter there. The bridges have mostly fallen away now. I watched as some larger hunks of stone plummeted to the molten lava flows far below, while smaller ones simply disintegrated in the heat haze radiating mercilessly, incessantly. I scruffed Ash in my talons and attempted to lift off, to no avail.
 
"Can you make that jump, boy?" I asked. Ash appeared to study the gap, cocking his head to one side. He looked at me with a reassuring expression. "Okay," I said, taking a deep breath. "See you on the other side."
 
I spread my wings and took flight, coasting on the thermal flares across the canyon toward High Hall. Several yards below me, Ash sprang forth, his lithe form sprawling as he surged through the air. He faltered, however, and started to fall. I folded my wings and made a steep dive, scruffing him in my talons as I shot Gust of Wind, powering us skyward in a tumult of air.
 
As we soared over what remained of people's homes, little more than the imprints of stone foundations now, flaming blasts seared past me, singeing feathers as they flew by. I deflected the worst of them and sent a blast of pinkish golden light in the direction of my attackers. They were deterred long enough for us to make a dash toward the cathedral with only a few stray shots scraping down the side of my torso and across Ash's legs. It was enough to throw off my landing, but not to pull me off course.
 
I tumbled onto a balcony near the top of the spire, flattening my body in case of any more enemy fire. After a moment, feeling no whisks of air overhead, I dared to get to my feet. A set of familiar claw marks scored the crumbling marble railing beside me. Someone, an Aarakocran someone, had perched here at some point. Ash sniffed at the marks and perked up. I knew we were on the right track.
 
We rested there for two days, gathering our strength and exploring the cathedral. Ash and I were careful to avoid the undead minotaurs jostling and jousting in the halls. I sent them galloping in the opposite direction whenever possible with a simple Origami spell. A paper crane or dog could keep them at bay for an hour or so, long enough to sneak by. We descended into the depths of the cathedral in the faint hope that we might recover any abandoned resources or perhaps find more clues.