Owlbear Butcher Shop
General Summary
Day 6 since arriving in Avernus
The City of Elturel, Avernus, First Layer of the Nine Hells
While Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard was resting, Ontharr Frume had asked Wink's Warriors to help rescue Hellriders reported to have been taken hostage by a new group of cultists dedicated to Zariel, Lord of Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells.
Ontharr, who had just arrive with all the survivors from Helm's Shieldhall, said the captured Hellriders were being kept hostage by cultists led by Lora Zurag, a beloved community figure in Elturel who had apparently somehow been corrupted by Zariel. He said that as an adventurer and butcher, Lora would go out into the wild and come back with the meat of exotic animals and monsters for her patrons to experience and enjoy. Pancake, her beloved pet owlbear was always at her side and became the namesake for her butcher shop. As the legend of the Owlbear Butcher Shop grew, people all over the city came to try Lora's meats and hear tales of her adventures.
**
When the adventurers arrive at the butcher shop, they came upon three female human cultists singing a terrible discordant song. The group noticed that each cultist had the mark of a longsword branded on her forehead. Rather than fight their way into the butcher shop, the group came up with an ingenious plan.
They approached the shop singing the same song and just as equally discordant. They then convinced the three cultists they were newly recruited cultists who had lost their robes and needed new ones. The cultists believed the group and even offered to take them directly to Mistress Zurag who was in the middle of sacrificing a gnoll. Mistress Zurag was suspicious of the group. To prove their allegiance to Zariel and her cultists, she offered for one of them to slay the bound gnoll. Brimsdall offered to do so.
After the gnoll was sacrificed, Mistress Zurag wanted to sacrifice one of the captured Hellriders being kept in an adjoining room.
Brimsdall tapped into the mind of Mistress Zurag and pretended to be Zariel. Speaking as Zariel, Brimsdall convinced the cultist leader to let him and Jade enter the prisoners' room by themselves so they may choose one to sacrifice.
Inside the prison room, they found a dozen Hellriders stripped down to their loincloths. Each was suspended by meat hooks that pierced their shoulders.
An enormous owlbear covered in thick black fur and red feathers was also in the room. Again, speaking as Zariel in Mistress Zorag's mind, Brimsdall had her call the owlbear out of the room.
Inside, Jade and Brimsdall began freeing the prisoners who were barely conscious.
Outside the room, a cultist heard noises coming from inside the prisoners' room. The cultist opened the door and was immediately struck by a spell cast by Brimsdall.
The spell sent the cultist tumbling back over a table and onto the floor where he landed dead.
Mistress Zorag, now realizing she had been duped by Wink's Warriors ordered the cultists to attack.
**
The encounter proved deadly for the cultists of Zariel.
In the end, not one cultist was spared while every Hellrider prisoner was rescued and brought back to High Hall by Wink's Warriors.
Onthar Frume was grateful for having the Hellriders safely back in High Hall.
Wink's Warriors decided to recuperate while Grand Duke Ravengard recovered from his horrific ordeal. Everyone hoped that Grand Duke Ravengard would awaken in time to save the city of Elturel.
Report Date
30 Dec 2021
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