Session 11: To Avernus. Wait What? Report

General Summary

...After being transported to Myriims cave, the dragon shared with the party her story. Following this and some idle conversation, the spirit told them that the original portal to Avernus was somewhere in the Fields of the Dead, hidden by a powerful illusion. The only way to dispel this illusion was to destroy a large tree at the centre of a grove in the fields. Now armed with the info they needed, Myriim teleported the party to the Fields of the Dead.
Once in the barren planes, the party traveled to the only landmark within miles, a grove of trees. Inside of which they heard a telepathic voice telling them all those with good intentions were welcome. They ate some fruit, and encountered some more than friendly animals; and eventually found their way to the centre of the grove. There in the centre stood a large oak tree and a unicorn protecting it. The creature urged the party to leave as strong magic compelled it to attack anyone who threatened the tree. Tensions rose until Johan decided to attack the unicorn. A fight now inevitable, Johan continued his assault, while Chelle attempted to protect the creature, Reya attempted to calm it, and Johan & Stocke tried to destroy the tree. Thankfully Stocke and Johan managed to fell the tree quickly, which caused the unicorn to faint in shock. After it awoke it thanked the party, apparently it had been under some sort of spell that forced it to protect that tree. And with its purpose gone it teleported away. Soon afterwards there were some confrontations between characters just as the grove of trees began to dissipate before their eyes. The illusion dispelled, a crater just 60 ft. north revealed itself.
Upon approaching the crater, the group noticed a crack at the bottom which was glowing with some silvery light and releasing red fumes. As well as sets of hoof prints on the inside which indicated this was the portal the hellriders used so long ago. They decided to take a much needed rest before heading into the portal, but not before being approached by a small golden haired elephant whcih flew over to them and introduced itself as Lulu the Hollyphant. She said her memory was cloudy but recalled that she was once friends with an angel named Zariel, and wanted to go back into Avernus to attempt to recover her memories.
Following their rest, all the party members steeled themselves before making the journey through the silvery portal one by one. Once they arrived, they found themselves in a burning city street with collapsed buildings all around them; a massive crack in the middle of the city which separated the eastern and western sections; enormous iron spikes driven into the city around its perimeter which chained it to a black and desolate wasteland below; and a gargantuan black orb swirling with blue lightning above them. This was Elturel.
The group got their bearings, and noticed a large crumbling fortress on the bottom of the western side of the city. Reya told them that it was the High Hall, and if anyone in the city was left alive, they would be there, as well as any leadership that might have formed as a resistance. But to get there, the party would have to cross one of two bridges connecting the eastern and western sections: Torms Blade or Torms Reach.
Heading onward to Torm Blade, the closer of the two, they encountered a woman running with two infants from a group of bearded devils. After dispatching the fiends, the woman introduced herself as Harkina Hunt, a common woman who had left the safety of a tavern a little while ago in search of food. She handed a quiver of arrows (some silvered) over to Johan and asked the party to allow her and her boys to join them on their journey to High Hall. 
Further down the road the group stopped by the gap between the two city sections and peered down to find that the city was floating above a long black river surrounded by flames and infernal creatures. And the curious thing was that ever so slightly, the river seemed to be getting closer. 
Upon Approaching Torm's Blade, the party saw a man with spiked black armor, riding a flaming horse. Lulu told them that it was a Narzugon and they shouldn't try fightning it. The party agreed and headed for the second bridge.
On the way the group witnessed some conversation between a Halfling and an Imp. The imp was attempting to make a deal with the halfling, a months worth of food for his soul. But when the party arrived the halfling requested a second opinion. Handing over a contract made of skin, the party discovered a clause which also promised the souls of the halflings family. The man then refused the deal, causing the imp to curse the party and fly away. The man then introduced himself as Pilster Perchillux and requested that his wife Merrywile and their three children come with them to High Hall.
Before arriving at Torm's Reach, distant cries for help were heard just to the north east. The party discovered a half collapsed building that was actively crumbling with yells for aid coming from within. A few party members tried to intervene but Harkina held them back saying that the building was to collapse at any moment, if all 4 of them went in their, some wearing heavy armor and equipment, the building was sure to fall. Everyon hesitated. Thus the lightest decided to press forward regardless of the danger. Stocke rushed in, jumping over cracks and pushing past fallen debris. He found three dwarves in there, but despite his best efforts, two of them were crushed by rubble and killed. THe last urged him to run before it was too late for them as well. Here Stocke learned an important lesson, you can't save everyone, and sometimes trying to puts your own life at risk.
The dwarf told them she was a laborer and they had been seeking refuge in the house before a bolt of lightning struck it and caused the collapse. She as well requested to join the group on their way to High Hall.
Just infront of the bridge, there was a charred body holding a silver sword. Upon approaching it a spout of hellfire erupted from the ground and injured Stocke, thankfully he held on and managed to recover the silvered longsword and some other items.
While crossing Torm's Reach, they were stopped at the centre by a group of devils patrolling the bridge. And with only one way forward...

Rewards Granted

Silver Arrows (20)

Silvered Sword

Potion

Created Content

Myriim

Uni

Sword Coast Map

Lulu

Harkina Hunt

Kartra Boulderstern

Pilster and Merrywile Perchillux

Elturel

The Companion

High Hall

Bestiary

Bearded Devil

Imp

Spiked Devil

Narzugon

Spined Devil

Unicorn

Campaign

Baldur's Gate

Protagonists

Sariel Amakiir Irlentree

Level 6 Ar-tel-quessir (Half-Elf) Paladin
(Noble)

/ 46 HP

Chelle Savikas

Stocke

Aelar Galanodel

Report Date

27 May 2020