High Hall (session 12&13 or 25&26)

Dear Nori,
I hope you are still doing okay.
I feel like a lot is going on, but we also found a safe place to stay. I feel better or rather, safer in the maze than I've felt in Avernus so far. The maze is probably the best organised place in Elthurel at the moment. I should probably tell you how we got here.
In my last letter I wrote we were making a plan to bring the bandits in Symbrils house to justice. I wasn't quite right about that. There are very few devils, demons and erruptions in Westerly. The party thinks that might be because of the bandits, and we don't want to bring those things into Westerly, so we let them be (for now). Honestly, I feel like we should beat the crap out of them, but doing that against the parties wishes is wrong. I hope they survive 'till we bring Elthurel back to Faerûn, so we can give them what they deserve.
We made our way to High Hall. From outside the building everything seemed deserted, but we still tried (and failed) to enter silently. The courtyard looked impressive, but we didn't have time to enjoy it, since 2 hellhounds (I assume) charged into us, followed by their master, some kind of devil with a golden mask. Beating them wasn't a problem. However, I noticed the doggos attacked us because they were more afraid of the devil than us. I wonder if we find a litter of hellhounds we can raise them to be good pets.
Entering High Hall was an experience. It's hard to explain it's grandeur. Although I'm pretty sure I don't have to explain it to you, you have probably been there yourself. We still had to be quiet though, since we weren't the only people inside. A couple of devils were torturing a hellrider on the altar. We tried to be sneaky about it, and not fight them all at once, but it was a long and hard fight, which Lulu didn't survive. Leo tried to resurrect her, but unfortunately wasn't able to do so.
I have a hard time processing her loss. We all do, even Ron, who claimed he didn't like her. She was too pure for Avernus, but chose to come back here to fight for her friends.
After the fight, one of the "bodies"(I forgot to mention this, but when we entered High Hall there were a lot of bodies laying around. I think there was a big fight with casualties on both the devils and humans side before we entered) asked us if the fight was over. This guy played dead during the torture of the hellriders and our fight. It was probably for the best since he is quite old. Although I have to admit I would have preferred it if he was slain instead of Lulu. While we were talking to him, Ron inspected the statue of the fist. Usually the fist is closed, like Thorms symbol. But it was open. Ron figured out you can push some of the stones on the wall to make the fist open and close, which is also connected to the door to the maze.
The not-really-dead-guy (I forgot to ask his name) lead us and the traitor hellrider through (a bit of) the maze to where people are living. We got introduced to Uldur Ravenguard, grand duke of Baldurs Gate and leader of the defense of the underground. I'm not quite sure why an outsider is leading the defense instead of a hellrider. But he has like 40 Flaming fist guards which probably count for something. And he does seem to do a good job. He didn't like the traitor hellrider though. In fact, he disliked him so much he killed him on the spot, not giving us a chance to interrogate him. I understand with everything going on Ravenguard doesn't want traitor mouths to feed, but striking a guy in chains like that just feels wrong. Ravenguard also ordered for the dead guy to be removed out of fear of debook demons (I'm assuming I don't have to tell you debook demons are some kind of demon that takes control of a corpse and corrupts their essence. It's probably the reason you had to kill our parents twice).
After we talked for a bit Ravenguard decided we had to meet the 'actual leaders' of the maze and escorted us to them. We met 3 people: Wilber Tryl, who is the secretary of state (promoted because Kreeg isn't in Eltharel right now) and the most boring guy I have ever met (this changed for a few seconds when he mentioned he knew about Kreegs betrayal and possible other secrets, but went back to boring as fuck when he refused to tell them). We also met Lore Ricon who used to be an ambassador of Eriabor but acts as quartermaster right now and Freya Jinx who is the leader of the clergy of the Companion. Freya almost worships poor dead Lulu (held in Fenrirs arms the entire time). At the end of the conversation she promised they would try to revive Lulu, and brought her to a room with a statue of her.
During the conversation, we talked about a lot of different topics. The leaders told us what happened to Elthurel since the descent in great detail (I think I got a better understanding of the shit you went through because of this. I am truly sorry you had to go through all of that by yourself), we told them about the contract with Zariel and that we want to save Elthurel by throwing it in the Styx (they mentioned punching Zariel is definitely not a good idea, she will seek vengeance on our loved ones and make an example out of it), we mentioned Edgar and Symbrils house, they don't know who we were talking about. I almost got in a fight with Freya when we were talking about the keep of the Twin Suns (she's the leader of the cult of the Companion, but for some reason she doesn't want to send a magical message to the keep to tell them there isn't an ascension waiting for them at the Companion. I don't understand why she wouldn't. At all). They also told us they haven't found the package from Taxidor, which is a shame, and the last thing they told us was about Thorms helmet, which is buried at the graveyard. It is supposed to give you visions, and therefor help us with the contract. I think it's only usable by worshipers of Thorm, but luckily we have Fenrir.
We got a bed and had an actual good nights rest for the first time since arriving in hell. At some point during the night I woke up because someone was standing over me. It was Rhivaun, the guy I was a squire for. I figured I was dreaming, so I asked him if we could meet for breakfast. When I met him the next morning he actually seemed happy to see me. First time I met someone from my past here that didn't make me feel like shit (not trying to make you feel bad, but our relation is complicated at the moment).
I wasn't the only one who saw a familiar face though. While standing in line for breakfast a dwarf woman passed by. She was Rons grandmother! She seemed really nice and proud of him. She wanted us (mostly Ron though) to sit with her and Rons 6 aunts (and Leo says humans get a lot of children). Ron declined, telling us they are a bit much, which is interesting since Ron isn't a man of many words.
After breakfast we asked for some supplies. They are making some healing potions for us. The search for diamonds was less successful, Lore Ricon said he didn't have any. However, mentioned some clerics might have a private stash. He doesn't want us to steal them, even though he thinks we have a greater use for them. I'm pretty sure he is hinting we should steal them, but isn't allowed to say so. Ron also needs high quality ink for wizard stuff, but Lore Ricon doesn't have any. But he thinks we can get some from ancarnists either in the maze or Westerly. If we can't find it, there is also the wizards tower of Bear Normul, which we will pass on the graveyard anyway.
After visiting Lulu (seeing the statue of Lulu with her lying next to it was super weird) and being told they might resurrect her if her soul is willing we went to see the Creed resolute. Somehow I forgot how holy the book is to hellriders. While Ron got to read it, I focused on the magical energies and felt not only that it's highly magical, but that everyone (or at least the hellriders) are connected to it. Ron said that when he got the book handed, he felt it vibrating and saw some metallic sheen coming through the pages, although he can't reach it without breaking it. Combining that with the 2 different versions of the Creed he read makes us wonder if the Creed resolute is the devils copy of the contract, especially since every hellrider signs it (one of the two versions also pledges "my blood" which apparently means "my descendants". We were both fucked just because our parents were hellriders).
I'm sorry I brought this bad news to you, although I try to stay hopeful, focusing on the goals on hand and hoping we actually find a solution.
I almost forgot, but something else happened. Ever since the marketplace, Fenrir has been standing up for Ikaya ("he does the best he can" kind of bullshit). Ron does not like that at all. He got suspicious of it, and decided to use dispel on Fenrir. Which worked. I mean, Fenrir claims nothing changed, but he doesn't say the people are safe with the vampire anymore.
I hope everyone at the marketplace can come here. It's safe, homely and vampire free. The gods know you all deserve a rest.
Stay safe, stay strong,
Your sister,
Caja