Won Tournament in the City of Brass

Military action

Party was invited to take part in an interplanar tournament in the City of Brass. The party defeated many powerful creatures, including Herculon, and ultimately Ice, the combatant for the Cult of Elemental Evil (with help from the Heist Crew). As a reward, they claimed Fire's Heart, Shard of Life...and were told that Asmodeus himself wished an audience.

The party received an invitation to a massive tournament being held in the City of Brass by the Sultan of the Efreet. The prize: Fire's Heart, Shard of Life. The party arrived in the city to find themselves already well known even here. Miniature dolls and stuffed animals of the party were being sold, as well as pickles from their favorite pickle vendor. While exploring, Ezmerelda, showing a soft spot towards urchins, saved a fire genasi child named "Little Flame" and sent her back home to be raised by the Monastery.

They stayed in the Glittering Oasis, an inn known for its air conditioning in the sweltering City of Brass and a haunt for those from the Material Plane. The inn was run by Questar, an eccentric wizard who used the inn as a front for his efforts to liberate slaves from the hands of the Efreet & send them back to the Material Plane. Mittens & Shump Thunderstruck were serving as bouncers in the inn...well, mostly Shump.

The tournament started with a massive blood bath to the great joy of the masses. The more powerful entrants who had been personally invited were exempt from this massive melee, though one creature, Herculon, chose to partake anyway for the sheer joy of combat. Meanwhile, Ander Greycastle let Steve know that they wanted a meeting with various devilish powers, in order to enact their plan of humiliating Bel.

The Battleborn first faced a trio of gnome inventors piloting a mechanical giant, which probably would have been a much tougher fight if the trio were not perpetually arguing and bickering. Upon defeating the gnomes, the party was urged by the Efreet to "finish the combatants". Though Sanosha and Enala refused, Ander Greycastle bathed the gnomes in fire to the delight of the crowd, earning them the favor of the Sultan.

Their second bout was deep in the Underdark, against an elite group of drow. To Eninn Stonehearth's horror, this was the scene of her foretold doom...but the doom was averted and the drow defeated. Third, the party were sent to fight Koschei the Deathless, a lich that has been kept on retainer by the Sultan to serve as a challenge in his arena. This was a mutually beneficial arrangement: The lich gets a steady stream of adventurers full of loot if he kills them. If he loses, he reforms in a few days, a mild inconvenience at worst. Plus, he gets to deliver his villainous monologue!

The party was confronted by Ice, who was changed by her association with Grishnak. The woman was completely mad and utterly confident. Before the next bout, Ander Greycastle met with Mittens & Shump Thunderstruck and learned of their desire to get back at Ice. He purchased their support for the coming fight.

The party then fought the mighty Herculon and his squire Zachriel, but even the son of Tempus could not defeat them. Far from being upset, Herculon loved the challenge and promised his support in the coming battle against the Cult.

Finally, the party faced off against Ice & her champions of the elements. The fight had been rigged, with mages hidden in the crowd interfering in the bout...but fortunately, the party had their own ace up their sleeve. One by one the mages were shot by Marigold, tricked by Mittens into being beaten by audience members, or straight up smashed by Shump. With this aid, the Battleborn emerged victorious and were awarded Fire's Heart, Shard of Life.

After the bout, the party was approached by Steve with an amazing offer: The great Man Downstairs, Asmodeus himself, had agreed to meet with them.