5 - Avernus
First visit to Knucklebone
The PCs explored the fort, which is split to 4 sections. Upon entering, one finds a tavern called the Well, while gates open to other courtyards to the left and the right. The yard to the left is the Bazaar, where travelers can restock their supplies and buy various equipment and magic items. The yard to the right is a large junkyard/workshop called the Scrapheap. Behind the Scrapheap is where Mad Maggie's quarters can be found.
In terms of notable patrons, the party first encountered a dark-skinned dwarf (duergar) named Torrik, who was chucking down stale beers at the bar. After a while it turned out that he was attacked by Hellwasps on his way to Fort Knucklebone, who knocked him off his motorbike. After falling off, the wasps seemed to be obsessed with his ride, so he could run off and escape.
Later, the players also met Chukka and Klonk, two kenku mechanics working at the Scrapheap (kenku are humanoid raven creatures). They were in the middle of repairing an infernal war-machine (a mad-max style truck in this case), which the PCs helped them with. In return, they shared some information regarding landmarks in the vicinity, and also agreed to the possibility of leasing a war-machine to the party. The PCs also tried to sweeten the deal with offering the kenku a tasty meal - something indeed quite valuable in Avernus.
Last but not least, the party also conferred with Mad Maggie. As it turned out, the night hag is very enthusiastic about retrieving Lulu's memories about where she might have hidden the Sword of Zariel, and she has a Dream Machine, which allows them to pry into the memories of the Holyphant.
Unfortunately the Dream Machine is broken at the moment, and there are several parts that are missing from it:
- A Heartstone is needed as the magical focal point of the machine. Heartstones are used by night hags to invade their victims dreams. Maggie heard that a member of her former coven, Red Ruth also lives in Avernus, and that she is sometimes seen at Mahadi's Emporium (which is a wandering caravan on top of a giant war-machine).
- Astral Pistons provide power to many high-tech war-machines in Avernus, and a set is needed for the Dream Machine as well. It is rumored that the mechanic of the warlord Kolasiah owns a set of pistons. The lair of this warlord is on the eastern side of the Styx, to the north of Zariel's bridge.
- Nirvanan Cogboxes are built into many war machines, but there are no spares available at the Srapheap. Maybe Uldrak the Tinker has one in his shop, on the western edge of the plains of Avernus.
The Hellwasp Nest
The party decided to help Torrik retrieve his ride and gear from the Hellwasps. They struck a deal, stating that the party would get the Nirvanan Cogbox from the bike in exchange for the help they provide to the duergar.
Torrik led them southward from Knucklebone, to the site where the wasps ambushed him, only to find that apart from small bits, his bike seemed to have been carried off by the Hellwasps. The PCs proceeded to locate the Hellwasp nest, a gigantic sac of wet, papery material floating above the surface of Hell. Angelic figures with feathery wings were stuck to its surface like flies in amber, their bodies wilted and drained. Iron chains at the bottom of the structure tethered it to the hellish landscape.
After some deliberation, the PCs decided to try and set the nest on fire, the dwarf shooting a fireball into the nest through one of its many openings. Three Hellwasps trailing smoke buzzed out through the opening and headed straight for the party. The wasps were dispatched after a short fight, but not before bloodying the characters, and incapacitating Torrik.
As the heroes looked up at the nest after the fight, they saw smoke bellowing through the holes of the nest, and more wasps flying frantically in and out.
---
As a result of the fire inside the nest, the bottom half of the structure tore loose and came crashing down.
Pock and the warlock went ahead to explore the part that just fell to the ground, found Torrik's ride and pushed it out of the nest. The dwarves investigated if they can repair it, but failed to figure out a way to fix the machine. They did recover the Nirvanan Cogbox though with the help of a mend spell. While mucking about, Torrik checked the contents of the side-pouch on the bike, and let out a sigh of relief after doing so.
Having little other choice, the party decided to push the bike all the way back to Fort Knucklebone, taking on any hellwasps that might come attacking. After having dispatched a few more, they noticed that the remaining wasps retreated to the nest. The PCs figured that they might have inflicted enough casualties that the beasts no longer dare to attack, so they decided to go back and loot the nest.
This decision proved to be the correct one, as they found plenty of valuables and a few magic items to boot. The party returned to Fort Knucklebone victorious, and proceeded to spend some of their freshly acquired wealth on equipment.
---
A visit to Kolisiah
After recouperating at Fort Knucklebone, the party decided to seek out the Warlord Kolisiah, who is rumored to have Astral Pistons in their workshop.
The party headed north and passed a bunch of hills with tree orchards on top. As they drove by, they saw that there were people impaled on the trees and writhing in agony, while a Narzugon (an armored devil on a flaming mount) was patrolling the rows between the trees. They later learned that this place is called Haruman's Hill, the site of the battle between Zariel and Asmodeus, which ultimately led to the fall of the angel. Haruman (one of Zariel's former generals) has been hunting former Hellriders ever since, those who betrayed him and Zariel and left them to die by fleeing this battle.
From here, the PCs drove due east and crossed Zariel's bridge, which is decorated by murals depicting the history of Zariel and how she became the Archduchess of Avernus. After crossing the bridge they turned north, avoided a battle between some war machines, and managed to find the lair of Kolisiah without an issue.
Once there, they learned that Kolisiah and her gang are under attack by a new general of Zariel, who seems to be hell-bent on destroying every independent warlord of Avernus - probably it's only a matter of time until Mad Maggie also becomes a target. The party also learned that the medusa is very interested in a way to escape Avernus (she has been banished here by a spell many decades ago). The party offered her a way out: if the medusa helps them to save Elturel, she can also hitch a ride out of Hell with the city.
She replied that she can't be much help at the moment because of the recent attacks suffered by this new warlord of Zariel. She was forced to send out her last war-machines to scavenge for provisions, and they have not yet returned. The party concluded that they might have been the ones they saw in battle on their way here, and agreed to find them and get them back to the lair.
The party then returned to the scene of the battle only to find 4 war-machines completely burned out, corpses littered all around. A set of tracks of two vehicles led away from the scene which the party decided to follow. They eventually managed to track them to a canyon - their quarry apparently drove into the canyon, while the PCs decided to drive on the top of the cliff instead.
Soon they saw the two vehicles they've been following: one overturned at the base of the canyon and the other one parked next to it.
---
A fight in the Canyon
The heroes conducted a successful ambush, and took out the flame thrower of the devil war wagon using ranged attacks, and ramming their tormentor into the side of the other one, setting the latter on fire. The surprised devils tried to regroup and mount a counterattack, but they couldn't get their ranks in order, and were overpowered. The last couple tried to run for it, but were cut down mercilessly.
Overall the assault went pretty much to plan, the only exception being that as the warlock wanted to drink a potion of fire resistance to shield himself from the fireballs hurled at him by the devil commander, he realized in surprise that all of his potions, along with his bracelet had vanished.
The party salvaged both vehicles, and headed back to Kolisiah's lair. During the reparations, they came across a letter and a map in the glove compartment of the devil's war machine:
Operation:
While Zariel is resupplying at Bel’s Forge, we are to finish off the remaining
two Warlords in Avernus. First Kolisiah, then Mad Maggie. Afterwards, rendez-vous
with Zariel at the edge Bone Brambles.
Strategical overview: Blockade hideouts, pick-off enemy piecemeal.
Progressively tighten blockade, before final assault.
Orders: Patrol east side of Styx, engage and eliminate any Golgari machines.
Regroup at wrecked flying fortress before assault.
T.V.
Upon their return, Kolisiah thanked them for their help, and provided them the astral pistons as agreed. After reading the letter that the PCs found, the warlord and his clan held a brief discussion, after which it was concluded that it's unlikely that they'd be able to successfully defend the lair against their attackers, and instead decided to gather what provisions they can, and head over to Mad Maggie to perhaps join forces against this common threat.
While at the hideout the warlock asked Kolisiah to look into the issue of his missing potions and bracelet, suspecting that they might have been stolen here - but the medusa told him that she found no trace of the missing items.
---
Meeting old friends
They saw a familiar face at The Well: Thorrik the duergar adventurer. After exchanging pleasantries and telling each other brief summaries of their recent adventures, the duergar told the party that he saw a huge cloud of dust southwest of Fort Knucklebone, moving northward. He also told the PCs that he'd be heading out to the Obelix of Ubbalux: a circle of standing stones on top of a mountain, where apparently a powerful mage is trapped. This is located about 1 days travel to the south of Fort Knucklebone.
Mahadi's Emporium
The heroes then set out to find Mahadi's Emporium. Traveling west, they passed a tower in a distance, and in a few hours they came upon a gargantuan war machine with a bazaar erected on top of its back. Once the market came to a halt, the PCs parked their ride and went inside to be immediately greeted by Mahadi. He invited them to the 'best meal in Avernus' which they accepted. Indeed, the meal was extraordinary, and they were completely recharged.
After the meal they asked Mahadi whether he could procure a Heartstone for them, to which he replied that he would talk to his personnel. While waiting, the party took the opportunity to have a look around the bazaar. They passed by Salamander Forge, a forge of magical weapons and a workshop for war machines; Burney the Barber, operated by a handsome human with a vibrant bronze tan; From Here To Avernus, a post office servicing the Ninth Layer of Hell; Ichors Aweigh, a human mage (called Eliah) with tentacles for hands trading in demon ichor; and finally Zneth's Larva Farm, a farm cultivating and selling demon larvae operated by a hobgoblin named Zneth.
The PCs ended up interacting with Eliah, and figured out that the bucket of black goop that they collected in the canyon is in fact demon ichor with transmutational properties. The mage offered 1000 gp for the bucket of ichor, but the PCs decided not to sell yet.
They went on to talk to Zneth, and it turned out that he knows Red Ruth, and also knows where she lives. To share that information all Zneth wants is for the party to kill Mahadi. He also offered an additional 10 soul coins to sweeten the deal. The hobgoblin claims that most of the people at the market are actually slaves to Mahadi as a result of signing unfavorable contracts with him.
Just as this transpired, Mahadi showed up claiming that he could locate a Heartstone, and it will be here in a few days, but he would like half of the payment upfront, and for the party to sign a contract with him about the transaction. Naturally the PCs asked for some time to think.
As they were debating their next move, Burney invited them into his shop, having overheard their predicament. He warned the party about how dangerous Mahadi is, and told them that many have tried and failed to assassinate him over the years. He seems genuinely interested in all kinds of news about what transpires in Avernus. Unfortunately, he does not know where Red Ruth lives though.
During this discussion Fion (the warlock) decided to try to charm Zneth with a spell, asking him to reveal the whereabouts of Red Ruth. The hobgoblin told them that Red Ruth lives in the Bone Brambles, a huge forest to the north of their current location. With that, the party decided to leave, and reject Mahadi's offer for now.
Upon arriving to the edge of the forest, the PCs tried to find any location that seems twisted or corrupted in some way, as the taint of Night Hags is known to spread out to the area around their lairs. Unfortunately, they didn't see anything out of the ordinary upon first inspection.
---
Bone Brambles
The party scouted around a little and Pock managed to figure out the location of Red Ruth's lair by communicating with local wildlife. After a bit of swaying, Ruth agreed to lend her heartstone to the party, in exchange for them paying for her wellness session at Mahadi's Emporium.
The Dream Machine
Having acquired all the necessary components, the PCs strapped in to delve into the memories of Lulu, in order to find the location of the Sword of Zariel. Their questions prompted the following memories of Lulu:
Where is the sword?
You see Lulu and a beautiful blonde woman clad in full plate armor, holding the Sword of Zariel. They are being surrounded by a horde of demons, closing in from all sides. As escape seems inevitable, the woman looks at Lulu and says "Let's dare to dream big one last time" and plunges the sword into a rock. As that happens, an explosion of blinding light emanates from the sword and engulfs the area, and the memory ends...
What happened after this?
Lulu wakes up on the shore of a large, black, tar-like lake of demon ichor. A tower made of alabaster stone stands on an island in the middle of the lake. The structure seems pure and clean, out of place on the hellish landscape.
Lulu wonders off from the lake, sobbing softly. Some time passes. Hours, days or maybe weeks. As the holyphant wonders the wasteland, a cloud of dust emerges on the horizon, bellowed up by a gargantuan war machine with a market built on its back...
Why were you in Avernus?
You see a great battle unfolding between an army of human knights and a host of devils. The devil army seems to block the path to a dimension door leading out of Hell, which the knights are trying to get to. The human army is led by an angel riding on the back of a glorious, golden furred winged mammoth: Lulu.
Suddenly, the left flank of the devil army seems to break and retreat, opening a path to the portal for the knights fighting them. The riders seize the opportunity and bolt toward the portal, fleeing through it to safety when they get there. After this, the devils that previously seemed to flee reform their lines and encircle the remainder of the human army.
Now badly outnumbered and surrounded, the angel convenes with his three generals, one among them a blonde woman. The angel gives the woman her sword, who hops onto the winged mammoth and they flee the battle...
What happened after the battle?
Lulu and the woman escape the carnage, and are not pursued by any of the devils. They leave the hills of the battleground behind them and fly toward the river Styx. At some point Lulu lands, the woman dismounts, and the holyphant transforms back to her more familiar form, exhausted.
As the pair are resting a large group emerges on the horizon, headed straight toward them. The weary fighters try to flee, but soon are surrounded. As their pursuers draw closer, it becomes visible that a band of demons have stumbled upon the unlucky pair...
Who is the blonde woman?
You see three human warriors, a blonde woman and two men, in the High Hall of Elturel, They stand above a map of Elturgard when the angel Zariel and her companion Lulu enter the hall. Upon introductions you learn that the woman is called Yael, while the two men are Haruman and Olanthius.
The humans describe to Zariel that the woods to the north of Elturel are repeatedly being ravaged by gnoll armies, and that their scouts found evidence that the demon lord Yeenoghu (whom the gnolls worship as their god) is behind the attacks. The angel pledges to help the people of Elturgard by agreeing to lead their army to defeat the gnolls and their demon overlord.
The three warriors are grateful to this unprecedented intervention from an angel, to which Zariel replies that the forces of Celestia have been idle bystanders for way too long in the fight against evil...
How did you escape Hell?
You see Lulu in front of the Fallen Zariel, bound in chains and surrounded by devil guards. Zariel is interrogating Lulu, trying to discern the location of her sword. Upon realizing that Lulu truly lost her memories of the past, Zariel sets her free in honor of their old friendship and the millenia they spent together as companions.
The fallen angel orders her minions to open a dimension door to Faerun and ushers Lulu through the portal...
After a brief discussion with Mad Maggie, the party identified the likely location of the lake of demon ichor to the north of Haruman's Hill, on this side of the Styx. It also seems that Zariel and her army is headed in that direction as well. With that, the group decided to abandon Forth Knucklebone and head toward the lake to retrieve Zariel's Sword.
And just as well: upon leaving the fort behind, the party spotted Zariel's flying fortress looming on the southern horizon headed their way.
---
Sword of Zariel
The party arrived to a giant Hellwasp hive surrounded by a lake of demon ichor. Presumably, the alabaster tower they saw in Lulu's memories was buried somewhere beneath the hill-shaped nest. An army of demons and gnolls have set up camp on the far bank of the lake. A bridge stood over the lake connecting the camp to the wasp-hive. It seemed that the hive is under constant siege by the demon army: fighers were constantly crossing the bridge and then disappearing inside the hive.
After some deliberation, the PCs decided to try to infiltrate the hive undetected. The Holyphant ferried the PCs one-by-one over the lake of ichor to the opposite side of the hive to where the bridge stood. After quickly dispatching a few wasp scouts the heroes entered the mound through one of its countless openings.
The PCs managed to avoid most of the fighting with the guidance of Pock, except for the one time when the gnome stumbled into an iron bucket... nonetheless, the party managed to quickly sweep away any resistance they encountered while making their way into the maw of the caves.
With the dwarf fighter navigating the tunnels the heroes made their way to the entrance of the alabaster tower deep inside the nest. After swinging the doors open, they found themselves in a shrine of tranquil and beauty. At the center of the shrine a sword stood plunged into a white marble slab. As they made their way to it they were greeted by the ghostly apparition of a blonde woman clad in full plate armor.
Upon their inquiry the ghost recounted the final moments of the battle between Zariel and Asmodeus all those years ago: upon seeing that the fight was lost, Zariel planted a part of her soul into the sword and asked Lulu and Yael to hide it. After they fled, Yael thinks that Zariel must have been persuaded by Asmodeus to join the forces of Hell to continue her fight against the demons - thus becoming the Archduke of Avernus.
As to their question of whether Zariel can be redeemed, the ghost replied that the Sword of Zariel is a sentient artifact, and if it deems someone worthy to attune to it, that person will change irrevokably forever. She also reassured them that even without full attunement, the sword is powerful enough to destroy basically any magical construct - including the chains that bind Elturel to Avernus.
After taking a short rest Tarhun drew the sword from the marble. As a result, the alabaster tower exploded in a bright shower of light, eradicating the Hellwasp nest and parts of the lake of demon ichor. As the party regained their eyesight, they saw that although the demon camp was also battered, it was not completely destroyed. Opposite to the demon camp, the small caravan of Mad Maggie was waiting alongside their trucks, now reachable for the PCs by foot. Finally, Zariel's Flying fortress hovered into view, towering over all, an omen of imminent battle.
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