Session XVII - 17.12.2020

General Summary

• After the ritual to cleanse the helmet of Torm, Jo reports about her visions: She saw a woman (later revealed to be Yael, lieutenant of Zariel) ramming a shining sword (Zariel's sword) into the ground while being threatened by devils. In the background, Jo could see Lulu. Lulu then released holy energies to form a gigantic marble citadel around the sword and protect it. The citadel is immediately engulfed in dark and foul energies as hell rejects the sanctity of the place and the sword that is entombed within. The vision then shifts and Jo sees Elturel being dragged lower into avernus, almost touching the river styx. she spots a shining winged creature striking the chains that hold it in place and shattering them, freeing the city. Lastly, a third vision shows a peculiar hand-shaped mountainside covered in ramparts, elturel can be seen smoldering far in the east. The visions end and the helmet is indeed cleansed from Baphomet's influence. Moreover, Jo can now discern the position of all living beings (humanoids but also devils) within the citnotey of Elturel (but not beyond the borders of the city)! Because of this, the group later (when leaving the city) decides to give the helmet to Ulder Ravenguard who remains in the city organizing its defenses while the party tries to find a way to free Elturel from its chains.
• The group learns from Lulu that in order to cut the chains which hold Elturel in Avernus, they would have to use Zariel's sword. Furthermore, Lulu starts to remember some details: She remarks that after protecting/hiding Zariel's sword within the citadel (see above), she remembers being around some Moving Emporium of merchants who helped her leaving Avernus. Apparently, there was a feline humanoid around.
• The group discusses what the next steps should be and agrees that they would need to get hold of Zariel's sword to free Elturel. Hence, they move to the high tower of the citadel to inspect the surrounding "land". Indeed, the group finds something to the East which may resemble the hand-like structure that Jo witnessed in her last vision. The group leaves the high hall (leaving the helmet of Torm with Ulder, see above; also, Piltser Pebblehuck hands the group two greater healing potions he brew from the grave moss the group found at the cemetery) and decides to climb down from the "flying" Elturel on the dark chains holding the city in place. Darius suggests that Darrak summons a giant constrictor snake and turns himself also in one, so that climbing the chain would be easier. This is indeed the case. However, the group did not anticipate that the foul energies residing in the chain would harm the snakes and so climbing becomes a life-threatening hazard which is even aggravated as flying devils (or demons?) attack. Luckily, the group manages to survive and reaches the shores of the river Styx.
• Here, the group has the option to use one of the old soul barges which still lie at the shore of the river. However, as they have to leave the river soon to get to their destination soon, they decide to march. Luckily, the group manages to circumvent a particularly fierce battle between devils and demons (apparently, the devils were lead by the now archdevil Zariel herself!).
• The group reaches a petrified forest which reeks of dust and rotten food. It takes several hours before the group reaches its destination: Some sort of scrapyard structure which indeed resembles the image from Jo's vision. There is one main gate with an imp flying in front of it. The group approaches the imp and despite failing in persuading the imp that they are people of importance, the imp opens the gate (or: asks the people inside to open the gate). The group is astonished to see that inside this place is buzzing with small humanoids wearing red hats. There are also devils and human-looking humanoids. A hunched creature recognises the group and walks towards them ...

Report Date

17 Dec 2020