Descent Into Avernus

30th Flamerule to 2nd Eleasis The group heads south towards Candlekeep, travelling through the night until around 4am. Flea suggests they continue for a few more hours before stopping to rest to be well clear of any heat from the night's dees. Sima judges the woods to be safe enough from an animal point of view, while Honey feels confident she can find somewhere suitable to camp, so the group heads into the trees. On the way, Sima identifies Honey's newly acquired pipes as Pipes of the Sewers. Honey forages and finds four Nightflame seeds. The seeds contain oil which, when thrown onto a fire, turns the flame blue. The fire gives off dim light without smoke, while still keeping everyone warm. Honey gives one seed each to Sima, Talon and Flea, keeping the fourth for herself. Talon takes the opportunity to have a firm conversation with the Hidden Lord. He tells the shield not to keep dropping bombs into his head whenever he is busy, and that their relationship needs to remain prof...

30th Flamerule The group continues up through Vanthampur Villa and encounters two guards on the stairs. The fight takes a long time, but eventually the guards are taken down. At the top of the stairs they find a vanity room, including a closet full of fine clothes, wooden chests, a vanity unit, hats and three wedding dresses. The next room is the Duchess Vanthampur's bedroom, containing a large bed, a bathtub and a padlocked iron chest. The padlock is carved with the image of a scorned devil. Honey finds a key that fits the chest. Inside are three leather books, writing equipment and a set of pan pipes. As Honey begins taking the contents, the chest springs a trap and poison gas fills the room. The group quickly runs out. Further investigation reveals the chest also contains a healthy amount of platinum, gold and silver, a poisoner's kit, calligrapher's supplies and legitimate business records for the Duchess Vanthampur, written in Infernal. While the others investigate the...

29th Flamerule Continuing to explore the dungeon beneath Vanthampur Villa, the group speaks with Falister Fisk about the infernal puzzle box. He explains that such cubes are of infernal design and can only be opened by creatures of infernal origin. They are used to safeguard objects of great power and Fisk believes his tiefling mistress, a scholar who frequently travels to the Hells to conduct her research, can be trusted with whatever lies inside. He trusts her with his soul and pleads with the group to help him recover it. After a brief discussion, the group agrees to allow Fisk to accompany them. Fisk reveals that Thurstwell Vanthampur has the box and assures the party that he is not much of a fighter. The scene shifts eighty years into the past to Conyberry Village. Giant geoliths float in the sky while people farm, fish and simply go about their lives. Beyond the village, surrounded by rich forest, stands Daleth's tower. Inside a chicken coop, just aside from the tower, Daleth...

29th Flamerule Move East - find kitchen & empty mess hall next door.  Across the corridor sounds of ritual chanting are coming from behind a closed door. Honey reads Infernal words "That which falls can rise again" across the door and decides kicking down the door is the best course of action! Inside are Cultists & an Odious Devil, the inevitable fight breaks out. With cultists dispatched but the devil still fighting hard the Duchess herself joins the fight. Vaantrick cuts down the devil which has Flea grappled but Talon is fighting for his life, he goes down several times during the fight. The Duchess seems to make a beeline for the weakling Sima and she also goes down at one point. As Reya lands the final blow on her, Vanthampur tells the group they are "Fools if you think it ends with me" Honey finds keys on Vanthamper's body and Vaantrick looks at a statue in the room. He finds it's hollow, cuts head off & finds the light inside is from a wel...

Over breakfast discuss plans for ways to get into the Upper City with Reya and break for various plans. Talon & Sima look for a library only to find they only exist in the Upper City so go in search of bookshops instead. Flea & Reya spend the morning looking for "Leap" and find him dumpster diving. He assumes Flea has finally gone straight with her fancy armour and kick-ass flail so his hesitant to help at first but after promising to take his boots to a good cobbler he agrees to help find a way. Leep gives Flea a whistle to blew when the group is at a grate he's pointed out to summon him. Talon & Sima have no luck with the books & end up paying some serious gold for some history books including a "rags to riches" story of Duchess Vanthamper. They also head to the harbour where Talon enquires with local workmen trying to find out about grate construction but rubs a few people up the wrong way and ends up with a punch to gut for his troubles! Vaan...

  Combat Resolution - Dungeon of Dead Three Eliminated cult leadership including Voss (skull-headed leader) Rescued Mortlock Van Thamper from cultists Revealed family abuse, sent to sewers as scapegoat Duchess Lady Van Thamper orchestrating Dead Three activities Wants to eliminate Flaming Fist, become Grand Duke Consulting with “darker forces” beyond typical cultists Mortlock departed for Sima’s tower to tend chickens Party cleared of all charges, received official pardon Took head of Voss to Captain Zodge of the Flaming Fist Reya’s Return & Intelligence Hell Rider survivor, tracking Vanthamper conspiracy Believes High Observer Kreeg escaped Elturel destruction Saw him flee with bodyguards during the fall Suspects Vanthampers sheltering him in Upper City Demands justice for Elturel’s destruction Joined party at Elfsong Tavern after cleanup Upper City Infiltration Planning Multiple approaches discussed: Contact Klim Jhasso for legitimate invitation Sima sent formal letter via Sw...

  Dungeon Progress in Bane and Myrkle Wing Freed Kim Jhasso from cultist captivity Noble from merchant family (Jhasso’s Wagons/Seven Suns Trading Coster) Family in financial decline, couldn’t pay ransom Offered future favors in Upper City despite limited resources Defeated Flennis (necromancer) and her forces Flea refused to be resurrected by Vaantrik Flennis had spell book with black leather cover, skull-shaped lock (may have cursed Vaantrik) 1 - Burning Hands, Detect Magic, Ray of Sickness 2 - Darkness, Misty Step, Scorching Ray 3 - Animate Dead, Fireball Found 3 other spell books: Red leather:  1 - Burning Hands, Detect Magic, Disguise Self, Fog Cloud, Ray of Sickness, Silent Image Umber cover:  1 - Charm Person, Find Familiar, Identify, Magic Missile, Sleep Black reptile hide:  1 - Darkvision, Detect Magic, Feather Fall, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter 2 - Cloud of Daggers Honey agrees with Vaantrik that Flea likely lives in a place like these...