Final Act

 Mad Pursuit


After getting their bearings the party decided to make a run for it: get to their war machine, and then speed away to Hellturel to cut the chains with The Sword of Zariel. From the demon camp, a huge gnoll-demon (Yeenoghu) emerged and started chasing after the heroes. At the same time a dark winged figure (Zariel) lept to the sky from the fortress and swooped down toward them. On the ground the warmachines of Thalamra Vanthampur roared to intercept them.

The PCs managed to get to their vehicle, revved up the engine and pushed the pedal to the metal, just as Yeenoghu grabbed the rear bumper and smashed the side of the truck with his huge flail. As a result of the impact a panel broke loose in the back of the truck. A satchel fell to the floor, spilling its contents across it: the stolen potions of the warlock.

With no time to contemplate this, Margor slotted additional soul coins into the vehicle desperate to tear free of the grasp of the demonlord. The boost of the extra coins together with the rest of the group bashing at Yeenoghu's arm was enough to break loose. This happened just in time, as the next moment Zariel swooped in to engage in hand-to-hand combat with her eternal foe.

As the party speed away from the fighters, Thalamra's flagship tormentor pulled up next to them. After exchanging a few pot shots at high speed, two bearded devils jumped over and boarded the wagon of the party. Margor took this opportunity to bump the other tormentor into a rock, resulting in its engine flaming up. In the meantime, the two devils were dealt with by the rest of the party in short order.

Having tormentor in flames did not stop their pursuers though, and they pulled closer again to unload a new pair of fighters. However, the party pulled their car away at the last second, so one out of the two devils landed in the dirt. The bigger one made it over though, not long before Thalamra's tormentor was completely engulfed in the flames and was left behind.

With no more active pursuers, the only threat left to the party was the bone devil on the plateau of their tormentor. The most able fighters of the group rallied, and managed to beat the devil with their combined efforts - pulling the dragonborn paladin back from unconsciousness a couple of times during the process.

Finally, having rid themselves of danger, the PCs continued onward to Hellturel.

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Ascension of Elturel


Upon arriving at their destination, the party did not hesitate a moment. The dragonborn paladin quickly flew around the city, cutting the gigantic chains with Zariel's Sword. As the city started to rise, Tarhun held out the glowing sword in front and flew directly into the dark companion. It folded open like a blossoming flower, as an angel emerged from inside. She briefly thanked her savior and dissapeared in a flash of light, taking the city with her.

With that the party gathered together to leave Avernus with the help of the teleportation book they secured from Vaaz. But just as they were about the leave, Pock held his arms toward the sky and yelled 'I give you the sign'. Just as he did so, a shimmering pentagram appeared in the air behind him, and a huge red fiend stepped through this unholy portal.

It was Bel, former Archduke of Avernus. He demanded that the group hand over the Sword of Zariel to him. In the heat of the moment all party members had different ideas of what to do: the dwarf fighter urged Tarhun to throw the sword into the Styx, Pock thought that they ultimately don't care who has the sword, while Fion was mostly concerned of getting out of there alive.

But despite the adversity Tarhun stood strong and refused to hand the sword over to Bel. In fact, he was determined to fight the fiend off should he attempt to take the sword. As a result, the dragonborn's eyes began radiating with white light and he sprouted wings as the Holy energy of the Sword of Zariel filled him up.

Then again, he was no match for the Archfiend, so the party rescued the zelous paladin and his new sword from the clutches of Bel.

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Epilogue


After they made their escape from Avernus, the party helped sever the magical influence that Bel had on Pock.

Tarhun returned to Elturel, disbanded the order of the Hellriders and formed a new order to protect Elturgard and its peoples.

Margor and Fion investigated the Shield of Ezekiel, and found out that in fact it's a devil named Gargoth who is imprisoned within. Since it's a very dangerous artifact, they decided to embark on a quest to find a secure hiding place where no evil can get their clutches on it.

Finally, Pock took the monetary wealth he accumulated during the ordeal, and funded a company that produces plastic barrels, which don't make as much noise when someone accidentally gets their leg stuck in them.

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Available equipment

1 - Fort Morninglord

The First Charge of the Hellriders