Session XI - 30.07.2020

General Summary

• The characters arrange some final details in Candle Keep: They buy various items that may come in handy during their trip to hell (tools, trail rations, but also soap and other items that some tormented souls may long for). Furthermore, they research Avernus (they find a crudly drawn map - the only one in existence) as well as Zariel. They also talk to Sylvira Savikas again. In essence, the group tries to prepare for their trip to hell as much as possible.
• Thereafter, they approach Sylvira who points them at the griffon nest in Candle Keep. Before they leave Candlekeep, Sylvira talks to Barakas in privacy. She tells him that his parents were not actually murdered when they had found the little gnome back in the days. Instead, his parents were dragged with the other gnomes of the community to hell to serve there as slaves. However, Sylvira did not tell Barakas until now as she felt that this would impose great pain onto him.
• Now the group heads to the griffon nest where they can ride these magnificent beasts and crosses miles and miles of sea before they find a lonely tiny island in the middle of the ocean on which a single tower resides. The griffons land here.
• The group enters the building - Sylvira mentioned that the group will find the mage Trexigor and a creature named Lulu which will help the characters during their trip to Avernus. Indeed, the group finds both: Trexigor apparently is a mage who turned himself into some sort of otter. Lulu on the other hand is a flying furry elephant which can speak. Lulu mentions that she was once a trusted friend of Zariel before Zariel fell during her lost conquest of Avernus (she lead angelic forces to crush the first layer of hell only to be betrayed and reemerge as the Devil Lord Zariel). Lulu seems to have lost most of her memories but nevertheless the group decides to take Lulu with them.
• Now, Trexigor conjures his magic and opens a gate to hell - the characters and Lulu get dragged and the forces let them reemerge in the ruins of a city in a red and bleak environment, most likely the once great Elturel.
• The group immediately witnesses how some Bearded Devils with a pair of Devil Hounds chases a woman (later to be identified as Elaine Hunt and her three children. So the group enters a fight to protect the civilians. However, the characters fail to save of the children although Darius throws himself between the devils and the woman. The fight is harsh, but eventually all devils are slain.
• The sight of the mourning mother breaks Darius' heart and he remembers that Lathander just granted him the power to revive recently fallen creatures. However, the group only has two of the precious diamonds that are necessary for the ritual. Darius consults with his allies who are not in favor of rescuing the child as the diamond may be too important for their further quest. However, Athanatos encourages Darius to take the decision himself. And so he decides to save the child by spending one of the diamonds. The mother, thankful beyond measures, praises the characters and helps them find shelter. She explains that there were more people here in Elturel when the city got dragged to hell but most have by now been killed or abducted by the devils. She left her hideout as they desperately needed some food. She mentions that the bastion on the west side of the city may provide a better shelter and so the characters decide to head their first during their trip through hell ...

Report Date

30 Jul 2020