Acrid smog swirled around a barren hill from which rose like giant tombstones a pair of leaning monoliths extending more than fifty feet into the smoky red sky. Several dozen armored knights knelt in motionless reverence before the monoliths, between which a set of onyx steps led down under the hill. This was unmistakably the Tomb of the Hellriders Haruman described. The knights did not move or react in any way to the unmistakable approach of the party's war machine.

Darkwing spotted the monoliths on the horizon. "Seems we've found the tomb," he called to the others, as he steered the war machine toward the structures. "I'll close in circle around once, see if those knights make any moves with our presence."

The kneeling knights did not respond to Darkwing doing donuts in their parking lot.

"Hello down there!" Ren hailed the circle of knights from his battle station with a cheery wave. "We've come to treat with you! Hang on a second." Ren hopped down from his seat and made his way through the guts of the Demon Grinder before stepping out into the blood red dust of Avernus's endless plain. He coughed as the dust cleared, though it did nothing to diminish his smile or dampen his mood.

Darkwing knelt down beside R.O.B.I.N. "Stick with Ren and aid him if trouble arises. I'll use the advantage of elevation to provide cover from up here." The mechanical dog bark once, then bound off to follow the the halfling. As Ren addressed the knights, Robin lowered on its haunches in a defensive posture by his side.

(Did we get a long rest in there?  Or does everything reset after the level?)

Elsbeth climbed down once the behemoth of a vehicle stopped moving.  She moved up to the rear of their formation, then knelt down in reverence like the others.  Provided no interruptions, she spent a minute giving silent thanks to those that died.

Lady Caprice arrived the war machine more rested and rejuvenated than she had since they'd arrived in Avernus, and looking absolutely fabulous.  She announced, "A surprisingly pleasant diversion, but we've business to be about.  Make ready the carriage."  She took her position in one of the javelin-launchers, and considered a proper name for their engine of  destruction.

After a characteristically hellish journey, they finally found the Tomb of the Hellriders, and Lady Caprice disembarked.  A cat's-eye gleam flashed over her glittering black eyes as she surveyed the entrance and its stoic guardians.  She remarked drily, "A touch forbidding, is it not?"  Caprice joined Sir Ren and R.O.B.I.N. in awaiting answer to the hail.

Should no answer be forthcoming or any dangers made readily apparent, Lady Caprice would say to the brave knight, "It seems we shall have to see ourselves in.  Lead on, Sir Ren."

---

Detect Magic active!  A little cursory Investigation around the entrance, to look for anything concerning:

• 15:35, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  Investigation.

The knights did not react to Ren's call, nor to Elsbeth joining them in their vigil, nor to Caprice walking past them to investigate the entrance to the crypt. She found a pair of basalt doors, their surfaces engraved with a relief of a knight locked in combat with a devil. Both wielded burning swords. There was no visible handle, lock, or other means of opening the doors.

You got a long rest on the drive.

I'm assuming your investigations so far have not involved touching either the doors or the statues.

Ren’s smile briefly waivers when he received no reply. Instead he turned his divine gaze upon the assembly and the towering basalt doors, hoping for some clue as to what they might be up against.

Divine sense

Seeing that their was no immediate threat from the knights, Darkwing caught up with the others on the ground and joined Caprice in examining the door "No obvious locks or handle. Perhaps some sort of pass phrase? Something known only to the Hell Riders?" DW asked Elsbeth.

No pings for Divine Sense.

Caprice detected Abjuration magic on the crypt doors, sorry I'm forever forgetting tp give DM results.

Elsbeth finished giving silence thanks to those who served before her.  She nodded to DW and stepped up to the door.  In a clear voice she repeated her Creed Resolute.

“I am Elsbeth Du’Crey
I serve the realm of Elturgard and the High Observer,
defend the city of Elturel body and soul,
serve all good people and the greater good,
uphold Elturgard's laws and the Creed Resolute itself, and
permit no difference in faith to come between them,
nor attribute the Companion to one god or another.”

When Elsbeth completed the Creed, the doors slowly ground open, revealing a darkened corridor wreathed in ankle-deep mist. A terrible cold emanated from the corridor, which might have been at least temporarily a welcome respite from the heat of Avernus if it did not feel supernatural and therefore unsettling.

Nothing terrible happened when the first brave soul stepped into it, however, and so the rest followed, continuing down the stone corridor until they arrived in a large, square funerary chamber. Iron burial urns were positioned reverently throughout this hall, each engraved with a noble coats-of-arms from the city of Elturel. Polished swords, lances, and shields hung from racks on the walls.

A similar corridor exited the room at the opposite side.

"Hello?" Ren queried the shadows, pausing on the threshold to the funerary chamber his voice coming back to him in faint echo. "Is anyone here?"

Presuming no response, the stout little paladin plucked up his courage and wandered around the periphery of the chamber staring up in curiosity at the various banners and armaments.

"Do you suppose we keep going?"

She gave DW a look as if to say, ‘That seemed to have worked.’  She entered without fear.  For how could a burial site of her people be corrupted?  Even here, it would be protected from contamination.

Elsbeth paused and the funerary chamber.  Her eyes moistened are the sight, but she took a deep breath and calmed herself so the emotions didn’t take over.  So many had given their lives.  Here they were honored.  Here they could rest.

After a moment to take in the significance of their sacrifice, she responded to Ren.  “Yes.”
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Tue 10 Nov 2020.

The heavy doors rumbled open, and Lady Caprice smiled uneasily, "Splendid."  She snapped her fingers and conjured a magical light, but even its colorful glow seemed little match for the forbidding gloom of the Crypt of the Hellriders.

They descended into the chilly crypt, and Caprice whispered, "Haruman spoke of General Yael, who hid the sword.  Perhaps he or she is interred herein, along with the answers we seek."  She shined arcane light into the dark corners and glinting off the polished arms lining the walls.  Lady Caprice then said, "I daresay a general is not to be found in this vestibule.  We must venture onward..."  She seemed just a touch less brazenly dauntless than usual in this place.

---

Light cantrip: 20 feet of bright light + 20 more feet of dim light.

As they entered the chamber, DW paused and searched for any tracks or other indications of other movement or disturbances within these chambers.

13:22, Today: Darkwing rolled 14 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 6.  Investigation.

Beyond the chamber with the urns lay a corridor lined with iron burial caskets set into recesses in the wall. Each casket had a single, healthy red rose resting on its lid. All was still in crypt, and Lady Caprice's light revealed nothing amiss save the strange, cold mist that continued to writhe around the ankles.

She did, however, detect the presence of abjuration magic on the lids of the caskets. And Darkwing noticed the mist by the south wall disturbed by a slight breeze that seemed to emanate from an unrecessed portion of the wall between two caskets...

Ren waded through the mists that came rather further up his ankles than anyone else's though he didn't seem especially perturbed. "Well now what?" he asked, looking around. There was still seemingly no one here to speak to and he didn't much care to disturb the slumber of the peaceful dead.

She paused and looked at the rose on each lid.  It brought a smile to her face for them to be remembered and cared for like this.

Elsbeth pointed ahead down the corridor as the obvious next move in answer to Ren's question.

DW held up his hand. "Hold up. There is a slight breeze here where the mist is swirling by the wall. Possibly a secret door. Please bring the light closer." Once the wall is better lit, Darkwing begins to examine it closely.


08:31, Today: Darkwing rolled 21 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 13.  Look for Secret Door.

Darkwing did indeed find a secret door built into the south wall of the chamber, and as it swung open, the party could see by the light of Caprice's magic a ritual circle daubed in blood on the floor. Hundreds of slivers of parchment were arranged within it, each tiny strip bearing a name written neatly in blood. The small chamber was otherwise empty.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:55, Wed 11 Nov 2020.

Elsbeth frowned.  This didn’t look like it belonged in a crypt dedicated to her order.  She turned to Lady Caprice to see what she could make of it.

Lady Caprice sauntered to the secret door and shone her radiant light into the interior.  “How intriguing!  You’ve a sharp eye, Darkwing, darling.”  She lowered herself gracefully to have a closer look at the papers, then declared, “A ritual circle, and there’s a touch of necromancy on the slips of parchment.  I would surmise these to be the names of the interred.”  She picked up a random slip of paper and gave it a look, front and back.  As Caprice examined it she asked to her stalwart Hellrider companion, “Do you spy any familiar names, Elsbeth darling?”

---

Rolling Arcana to figure out what this is meant to do:

• 09:20, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Arcana.

Caprice's conjecture seemed reasonable, but it was hard to know for sure.

Elsbeth, if you'd like to try to answer Caprice's question, please give me a history check.

Rolled History 13

“Not really.  If what I’ve heard is accurate, the order I’m familiar with was established by the group that retreated from Avernus and sealed the portal.  I’m not well versed with those names that followed Zariel here.”  She replied.

"Is Yael's name there, perhaps?" Ren offered helpfully. "Or Olanthius?"

"There's got to be hundreds of names there." DW responded. "Would take far too long to read through them all. The real question is what purpose does this all serve?" He contemplated his own question for a moment. "Is this some sort of summoning circle? Could we call out the General's name and summon him here?"

She wasn’t sure she wanted to disturb a Hellriders eternal slumber, but they did need information.  “Or at least allow us to speak with the dead?”  She followed DW’s statement.  Necromancer’s could talk to the dead.  Maybe it was a beneficial prop left in case one needed to contact them.

Nothing special happened when Ren said aloud the names of Yael or Olanthius.

Lady Caprice sighed theatrically, “This is rather tedious, but I refuse to leave this dismal tomb without answers.  We will pore through these accursed slips until we find the names we seek.  If we all work at it, it will not take so long.”  She magically dusted clean an area of floor of suitable size and then sat primly upon it.  Lady Caprice set to work plucking up individual slips of paper, checking the names for any matching the three generals mentioned by Haruman, then carefully setting aside any that did not match.  Anybody who didn’t help with this effort would receive a sustained, withering glare until they joined her in the effort.

---

Does anyone have better than my +1 Investigation?  Let’s roll that with advantage for Help!

Are there any other visible doors/passages/rooms that we haven’t looked at yet?

With a sigh, DW started sifting through a handful of the paper slips. "What do you propose we do if we do find the names we are looking for?" the vigilante asked Caprice. "Clearly, calling their name does nothing on its own. Perhaps rather than a summoning circle this is some sort of ward or circle of circle of protection against the spirits of these fallen knights?"

Investigation is +8, guessing that best we have, so rolled w/ Advantage

19:42, Today: Darkwing rolled 26 using 2d20+8, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 7,18.  Start sorting through the paper slips w/ Help.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:45, Thu 12 Nov 2020.

Darkwing developed a painstaking method for reading every single slip of paper. It was heartbreaking to think of so many dead, for that was surely what the names represented, but none read "Olanthius" or anything similar to it. It might be, he determined, that the meaning of the papers would reveal itself once they'd seen more of the crypt.

Exiting the chamber in temporary defeat, the party continued through more casket-lined hallways and urn-filled chambers before arriving finally in a great hall. Four memorial steles stood in this hall, each engraved with hundreds of names. Many were familiar from the slips of paper in the bloody circle, but many others were not.

A legend etched at the top of each stele read, in Common: "Here lie the fallen. May their souls echo here until the end of time."

Adorning the wall across from the steles was a carved relief showing a solemn, blindfolded angel on the back of a mammoth with feathered wings. The mammoth was reared up on its hind legs, and the angel held her sword high while all around them lay the broken bodies of fallen knights and devils.

With this new information, Darkwing concluded the papers bound the named warriors' souls to the steles and compelled them to serve Zariel in undeath by the terms of their original oath to her.

The last revelation brought a quick response by Elsbeth.  “What?!?  If Zariel has sworn for Asmodeus, then we need to free the knights!”

She wasn’t sure how easy that might be.  Burning those papers or destroying the circle with hammer and chisel were within her means.  She had no idea if either of those would work though.

The Hell rider then studied the carved relief.  Sometimes keys were hidden in such details.  Or a sword made to look part of the art.

Elsbeth found neither hidden key nor hidden sword on the steles. She did, however, discover that pressing Zariel's sword in the relief opened a secret door behind the steles. Opening it revealed a cramped chamber containing little more than a writing table with a stack of eight leather-bound journals resting atop it.

Ren clapped his hands together in delight. "Oh, good show, Elsbeth! Well spotted!" he commended. "Truly this crypt is a mystery upon mystery!"

Stepping towards the desk, Ren reached for the top tome and brought it down to his level where he could look upon the first page.

Studying the journals (beyond the first page!) revealed the following information:

• Olanthius never recovered from Zariel's capitulation to Asmodeus and subsequent transformation into a devil. He blames himself for not seeing warning signs of Zariel's fall from grace early on- her single-minded determination to slay demons at all costs.

• Olanthius took his life rather than face damnation, but he was transformed into an undead monster by Zariel to serve her forevermore.

• Olanthius describes Haruman, his one-time comrade in arms, as a heartless man bereft of compassionnow a devil bent on punishing anyone who stands in Zariel's way.

• Olanthius mourns the deaths of his fallen warriors and feels powerless to help them.

• Olanthius speaks well of General Yael, whom he clearly respects and secretly adores. In one journal, Olanthius hints that he knows where Yael hid the Sword of Zariel but fails to note the location.

"Well now, this is very helpful," Ren said, pointing to the entry concerning Olanthius's knowledge of the sword's location. "Now we just need to find this Olanthius!"

Darkwing set down the book he was looking through and raised his hand.
"Shhhh!" When all was quiet, he cocked his head slightly and concentrated on listening. "We have visitors," he said finally. "There were riders approaching above. I thought maybe they would pass by, but I just heard the crypt doors open. Prepare yourselves."

"Willaby!" Ren cried out in alarm. Closing his eyes the little paladin reached out to his nightmarish mount.

"What do you see, Willaby? Are you okay?"

Lady Caprice raised a slender hand to shine her colorful light upon the great bas relief depicting the blindfolded angel triumphant in battle.  She noted the curious mount depicted in the relief, then glanced sidelong at Lulu.  Caprice asked the hollyphaunt lightly, "Lulu, darling?  Were you ever a touch larger, perhaps?"

To discover that the dead knights interred all around them were oath-bound to servitude beyond death was an unnerving revelation, to say the least.  Elsbeth was upset by this, as was to be expected.  Lady Caprice considered and then said, "One wonders whether the knights themselves swore to serve beyond death, or if the matter was decided for them postmortem..."  (OOC: did the names on the papers seem to be written by the same hand, or were they different enough to surmise that each knight wrote their own names in their own blood?)  The journals of Olanthius provided further revelations, but all contemplations were interrupted when Darkwing heard the sounds of hoofbeats and the tomb doors rumbling open!

Rising to readiness, Lady Caprice said, "We may need not look far for General Olanthius, after all.  Perhaps he has found us first."  She sauntered to the entrance to the great hall and looked down the long, casket-lined corridor, and stood out in the open to greet whomever may appear.  Lady Caprice declared, "We shall greet our visitors, but we must be prepared in the case of hostilities.  Sir Ren and madame Elsbeth flank the doorway, would you my darlings?  Lulu, with me."  Lady Caprice stood tall and graceful in the center of the great hall, ready to greet their visitors with that bewitching smile of hers.  Whether that smile was delivered with courtesy or with destruction, would remain to be seen.

OOC: Suggesting that Elsbeth and Ren take either side of the doorway and be ready to hold there while Lady C stands back into the room (with Lulu) to address the new arrivals.  DW can hide as he likes :)

Of course.  It’s not like they could hide their vehicle, so someone coming to investigate made sense.  She just hoped it wasn’t Mr. Rotting Vegetation.

Her first thought was more Wereboars.  In that case, flanking the doors would have been her choice as well.  She was already moving that direction when Caprice made the comment.  What she hadn’t considered was they might be friendly.  In that case, Ms. Nathaire could handle any negotiations.  Elsbeth would be in position to keep whatever it was from entering the room.

Take up a flanking position on the hallway entrance.  Elsbeth has the Sentinel feat if anything tries to rush the room.

"Clearly, whoever is here knew the pass phrase to open the doors, but it is better to be prepared for trouble than to assume they are friendly." DW reminded them then disappeared in to the shadows of the far corner. He sent R.O.B.I.N. to Caprice's side to defend her if attacked.


10:31, Today: Darkwing rolled 28 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 20.  Stealth.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:34, Fri 13 Nov 2020.

Elsbeth was amazed as DW disappeared.  She felt he was still there somewhere but couldn’t see him.  “It’s like he was born to the darkness.”  She muttered.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:18, Fri 13 Nov 2020.

Ren's nightmarish steed arrived at his side, more smoke than usual puffing forth from its nostrils as if it had come in a hurry.

Everyone could hear it now, heavy footfalls moving determinedly but in no particular hurry towards the chamber the party now occupied.

Sorry I've been slow getting this encounter together. Just about ready now. Please let me know the coordinates where you'd like to start on this map. The objects on the east side are the four memorial steles. The room to the north is the study where you found Olanthius's journals. The corridor to the west is the direction from which you hear the footsteps approaching.

Ren hasted to where he'd been bidden by Lady Nathaire and clutched tightly to The Hidden Lord. B7

"I'm ready," he assured, though for what exactly he was not yet certain.

Elsbeth takes cover at b9

Lady Caprice stood out in the open, albeit behind her warrior companions, hands on hips and aglow with twinkling multi-colored light.

---

Standing proud in D8 and lit up like a fabulous beacon with the Light cantrip!

Darkwing stays hidden in the shadows (F14) and sends R.O.B.I.N. to sit obediently by Lady Caprice's side, ready to defend her if needed (D7).

The party braced for trouble, the air in the crypt growing more tense as each heavy footstep rang through its stone corridors. Olanthius had surely been a great warrior in life, to earn a spot as one of Zariel's most trusted generals. What was he capable of in death, if considered the sanctity of his final resting place violated?

The footsteps sounded ever closer, but when their source finally came into view, it was in the form of a black-armored figure bearing a flaming sword: not Olanthius, but Haruman. The evil general laughed. "Thank you for opening Olanthius's study for me. He had the foresight to shield it against me, but not against a well-intentioned member of our order. Well, you know what they say about good intentions."

He laughed again and pointed a plated finger at the stele behind Caprice. Spectral hands reached out from it, grasping at her and ROBIN. Then he raised his flaming black sword and prepared to fight.

As he did so, the party heard another voice. "Take heart! I sense that Haruman has entered my sanctum, and I will arrive to put an end to his meddling as quickly as I can. Hold your position, and do not allow him to enter my study. I have faith in you, heroes!"

Everyone roll initiative! If you beat a 16, you can post your action now. Otherwise, please wait until after Haruman acts.

Haruman is an extremely tough enemy. Your goal here is not necessarily to kill him, just to hold out until Olanthius arrives. The lower his HP, the fewer attacks he'll get each round.

Caprice, please make a DC 18 Dex save. If you succeed, you take 5 necrotic damage. If you fail, you take 10 necrotic damage and cannot regain HP until the start of your next turn.

Good luck!

Elsbeth opts to wait for him to come to them.

(That statement may or may not have been influenced by her Init roll of 3.)

Darkwing's skin chilled as General Haruman's words echoed through the chamber. It wasn't a chill of fear, but one of anticipation. His heart raced at the thought of punishing one that succumbed to the corruption of power. The vigilante darted so he could see the General and fired a carefully aimed shot from his repeating bow. "Your greed for power will be your downfall!" he exclaimed, as the magical bolt flew through the entrance.


Init: 25
Move: F8
Bonus Action: Cunning Action - Aim
Action: Ranged Attack (20 To Hit, 22 Damage) *Adjusted damage since I forgot to remove the Drop Lowest flag


11:40, Today: Darkwing rolled 25 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 20.  Inititative.
12:13, Today: Darkwing rolled 20 using 2d20+9, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 11,10.  Ranged Attack (Aim).
12:14, Today: Darkwing rolled 18 using 3d6+6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 6,6,4.  Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Tue 17 Nov 2020.

Lady Caprice could not deny that Haruman made for a fearsome presence, but she would not be cowed by this blackguard!  She smiled and greeted him, "Ah, Haruman.  How lovely to see you.  After such vociferous denunciation of treachery, and here you are.  The grandest traitor of them all.  How very typical."  Spectral hands reached from the stele behind her and drained away her life essence, but she held strong.  She then quipped, "What is it you seek in Olanthius's study, hm?  A catalogue of your failures in deed and of character?"

---

• Initiative 10
• Dex save 5, take 10 necrotic damage and no healing!  Bio line updated
• Standing ready with a 4th-level Counterspell in case Haruman casts something unpleasant at us!

09:29, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  Dex save.
09:28, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

Ren made a warding gesture against evil and then moved to block Haruman's advance.

"You'll have to get through me first!" he vowed from behind the bulwark of the Hidden Lord.

Initiative 22. Ignore the comment. My brain wasn't working. The modifier is correct.

13:49, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 22 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 19.  Dex save.

Ren casts Protection from Evil on himself

Move to B8

Haruman chuckled at Ren's bold declaration. "Ah yes, the brave little man." He raised a gauntleted hand, and a vortex of necrotic energy spiraled in his palm.

But Caprice raised a hand of her own, and as quickly as the energy appeared, it vanished. That got under Haruman's skin, or whatever he had beneath that black plate mail. "Impudent witch," he said, his voice deep and menacing.

His annoyance deepened when Darkwing managed to lodge an arrow in the joint between two plates of armor at his shoulder. "Fools," he muttered, shaking his head.

Actions from Caprice and Elsbeth only now, please. FYI Caprice the hands reaching out from that stele are still there. Getting more than 5' from the structure will put you out of their range.

Also Darkwing you technically moved into their range. I think you didn't have other options to get line of sight on Haruman right now, but if I'm missing something, you're free to relocate, since I didn't make clear that would be the case.

She wanted to rush him and shove her sword through that smug mouth of his, but she heard a voice.  Take heart, Hold your position.  The order tempered her anger and gave her hope.  She shifted to take Ren’s original spot.  It would be easier for her to interpose herself between Harumen and the study.  She took a potion and quaffed it.  A gift from Ren, hopefully put to good use.  Then she readied her blade should he get past the halfling.

“For glory”. She said to herself.

Move to B7

Action Drink Potion of Str

Darkwing fired another well placed arrow at Haruman then moved out of range of the spectral hands. "Robin, aid the front line," he commanded his faithful defender. ROBIN obeyed and moved to the halfling's left, prepared for combat.


Bonus Action: Cunning Action - Aim
Action: Ranged Attack (26 To Hit, 21 Damage)
Move: F11

11:47, Today: Darkwing rolled 26 using 2d20+9, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 17,8.  Ranged Attack (Aim.
11:47, Today: Darkwing rolled 21 using 3d6+6 with rolls of 5,4,6.  Damage.


ROBIN (15 ac, 20/25 hp, 40' mv)
==================================
Action: Dodge
Move: B9
Reaction: Deflect Attack (if applicable)

Deflect Attack.:

The defender imposes disadvantage on the attack roll of one creature it can see that is within 5 feet of it, provided the attack roll is against a creature other than the defender.

Ren held his ground, his longsword wavering in the air before him as he steeled himself to meet the general's charge. No matter what else might happen, he told himself, Haruman could not be allowed to advance on Lady Caprice.

"Brave enough," he whispered in reply.

Readied attack: 11. I presume a miss even if Haruman advances within range.

15:21, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 11 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 4.  Readied attack.

Lady Caprice expected Haruman would try to unleash some terrible spell upon them, and so she was ready.  The moment the vortex of dark energy began to form in the undead traitor-general's gauntlet, she tore it from the weave like an ugly tapestry from a wall.  His annoyance brought a laugh to her painted lips, and she quipped back, "Impudent hardly covers it, darling."

For all of her bravado, Lady Caprice recognized Haruman to be a formidable foe that might very well be capable of slaying the lot of them.  Perhaps Olanthius would come to their aid or perhaps not, but either way she would prefer this threat neutralized quickly and decisively.  Lady Caprice focused her will upon Haruman, working to reshape the very nature of his being and transform him into something else.  This spell was a gamble and would test the limits of her arcane ability, but she firmly believed that fortune favors the bold!

---

• Move to C8
• Cast Polymorph on Haruman, and he needs to make a DC 16 Wis save!  If he fails, he is transformed into a sheep, a la Warcraft :)  Lasts for 1 hour (concentration)

https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/polymorph
https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/sheep
This message was last edited by the player at 21:32, Wed 18 Nov 2020.

Elsbeth drank her potion. Caprice attempted to polymorph Haruman, but the black knight laughed it off. Darkwing lodged another arrow between two plates of armor, then vanished deeper into the chamber, sending his steel hound to delay Haruman's advance.

Zariel's general did not let him off so easily, though. At his command, two armored skeletal warriors emerged from the stele behind which the rogue had taken cover and surrounded him, thrusting their swords with jerky motions that would have embarrassed the warriors they once were. (That's a 13 and 14 to hit, which I assume both miss).

Shaking his head at the incompetence of his undead minions, Haruman raised his own sword in two hands. Iridescent black flame danced up and down the length of his blade as he brought it down in a powerful overhand slash at Ren. ROBIN intervened with a mechanical bark and a snap of his steel teeth, and the swing went awry. The knight attacked twice more, but Ren stopped the first with his shield and ducked the second. "Cowardly weasel!" Haruman bellowed in frustration as he deflected a counter-attack from the halfling.

Don't get cocky, gang. Haruman's rolls were garbage this round. He's scary, I swear! At least he didn't get sheeped.

Everyone has an action now.

"Get ready, Elsbeth!" Ren shouted above the fray. As Haruman's sword cut through the air above his head Ren charged between the general's legs and came up swinging behind him. Pincered between the two warriors, Haruman could not keep his attention fully on either and Ren exploited the general's confusion to the best of his ability.

Move behind Haruman.
Attacking with advantage from flanking
1) Hits AC 19 for 11 magical silver slashing damage
2) Hits AC 22 for 11 magical silver slashing damage

IF either one of those hits, Ren will smite for an additional: 9 radiant damage (brutal roll)

09:48, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 9 using 4d8 with rolls of 3,2,2,2.  Smite.
09:46, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 11 using 1d8+6 with rolls of 5.  Damage.
09:46, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 11 using 1d8+6 with rolls of 5.  Damage.
09:46, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 9 using 1d20 with rolls of 9.  Halfling Luck.
09:45, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 22 using 2d20+7, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 1,15.  Attack (flanking).
09:45, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 19 using 2d20+7, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 11,12.  Attack (flanking).

Spying Darkwing's plight through the forest of flailing limbs, Ren gave a sharp whistle. "Willaby! Go help Darkwing!"

The nightmare stomped its feet, threw back its head and charged!

Willaby charges, hitting AC 22 for 10 damage.

Trampling Charge. If the horse moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a hooves attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the horse can make another attack with its hooves against it as a bonus action.

Regardless of whether the skeleton gets knocked prone however, the trample misses (natural 1).

09:51, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 7 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 1.  Trample.
09:51, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 10 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 4,2.  Damage.
09:51, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 22 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 16.  Willaby charge.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:53, Thu 19 Nov 2020.

Her pupils expanded as she felt the potion’s effects take hold to give her strength.

As the power flowed into her body, she raised the family sword and whispered to it. “Du’Crey”.  A soft flash of blue light burst forth from the blade and her hair flowed out as if from an unseen wind.

Elsbeth turned the corner with a deadly serious look in her eyes and stated.  “You are no Hellrider.”  She stepped in on him and took a powerful swing aimed just below his grip on the sword at his wrists.

The ancient commander saw it coming, adjusted his angle and parried.

“You are a disgrace.” She followed the momentum for her second swing bringing the blade around to target his upper arm of his weapon hand.  She connected, but he held on.

From somewhere deep inside, she felt the Hellriders.  Maybe it was a need to strike back for those strung up to endure an eternity of pain.  She continued her assault.

“For my brethren...”Her third slash was off, but she corrected turning it into a thrust into his shoulder.

“I judge you unworthy.”Her final blow came down as a cut across the torso hoping to blow through his guard and send the blade to the ground.

Note to self: Nova - Goal 100
Potion Frost Giant Strength Str 23
Bonus Action: activate Sword to give +5 temp hps and Advantage on attacks this round
Action: Attack1 Hit 18 for 31 damage and must make Str save vs DC17 or be disarmed
 MISS due to Haruman’s reaction.

Attack2 Hit 25 for 26 damage and Str Save or Disarmed
  Haruman rolled 25 and Saved

Trigger Action Surge
Action: Attack3 Rolled 16+2Precision for Hit for 25 damage

Attack4 Hit 22 for 31 damage and Str save or be Disarmed
  Haruman rolled 19 and Saved

AC 18  HP 61/61 +5Temp Hps
 BONUS ACTION: Extra melee attack if Crit or Drop enemy to 0hps
0/1 Human Determination, gain Advantage, Short Rest
1/5 Battle Master Maneuvers (d8) Short Rest
 REACTION: Riposte Or Parry
1/1 Second Wind, Heal 1d10+8, Bonus Action, Short Rest
0/1 Action Surge, +1 Action, Short Rest
0/1 Sword of Du'Crey Long Rest
1/3 Lucky 3/3 Long Rest
4/8 Healing Dice Long Rest (restore 1/2 with long rest)

This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Fri 20 Nov 2020.

"Do you regret this foolishness yet, Haruman?"  Lady Caprice extended her hands and magic flared into incandescent hues within her palms.  She sent the twin bolts of force lancing toward the undead warrior, and one punched through his armor with a CLANG!

Lady Caprice glanced over her shoulder toward Darkwing, who was beset by skeletons.  Not wanting to give Haruman the satisfaction of thinking he was troubling them, she spoke to the caped crusader telepathically, ~Are you quite alright back there, darling?~

---

• Eldritch Blast vs. Haru-manchild!  Two attacks:
  1. Miss 13 AC
  2. Hit 26 AC for 9 force damage!

10:20, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 9 using 1d10+5.  Eldritch Blast 2 damage.
10:20, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 13,26 using d20+8,d20+8 with rolls of 5,18.  Eldritch Blast attacks 1 & 2.

Darkwing was surprised when the two skeletal warriors surrounded him, but he evaded their incoming. He dropped his bow as he drew his short sword and lashed out at the skeleton to the north. His strike went wide and clanged against the wall. ~I'll be fine, just a bit rusty with the sword,~ he replied to Caprice in his mind.

00:09, Today: Darkwing rolled 8 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 1.  Melee Attack .

Haruman's head snapped back a bit when Caprice's eldritch blast slammed into him, but a quiet grunt was the only indication he gave of pain.

His fellow Hellrider, however, hit like a tarrasque. He parried her first swing with his flaming sword, a move that would have shattered an inferior weapon. The ancestral sword of the du'Crey's held strong, however, and ripped through his black armor with each subsequent sing. By the end of the barrage, Haruman was battered and breathless.

There was no opportunity to catch his breath, however, because the Pint Knight was thrusting his own sword into the dark knight's back. Meanwhile, Ren's nightmare charged the skeletons surrounding Darkwing and trampling one of them to dust beneath its hooves.

Darkwing's sword failed to find purchase on the other, which retaliated with a vicious swipe of its own sword (10 damage).

Worse yet, when Darkwing's weapon clattered against the stele, spectral hands reached out, grabbing at Willaby and the caped crusader.

"Enough!" Haruman bellowed. "You waste my time. I feel that fool Olanthius approaching. Begone!" Necrotic energy again swirled in his gauntleted palm, expanding out into a vortex that encompassed Ren and Elsbeth in its dark embrace.

Despite his bold words, the corrupted Hellrider looked to be on his last legs. Evidently he had underestimated these mortals and was suddenly desperate to be rid of them.

DC 18 Cha save from Ren and Elsbeth. On a fail, you are banished back to the material plan for 1 minute.

DC 18 Dex save from DW and Willaby, please. If you succeed, you take 5 necrotic damage. If you fail, you take 10 necrotic damage and cannot regain HP until the start of your next turn.

Not posting a new map as not much has changed. One skeleton down so DW is no longer surrounded. The hands will grab again at him and Willaby if they are still adjacent to the stele.

Whatever foul Magic’s he used were successful. Although is going home really a punishment?

Human Determination for Advantage and Lucky reroll
Save 11, 14, 17.  Foiled by my low Chr
Unless there’s a +1 somewhere I missed, Failed my save.  I hope I appear in an Ogre den or something to unload back home ;)

A moment ago two valiant allies held the ground between Lady Caprice and a ruthless and powerful undead general, but now both were swept away in a necrotic vortex.  Poof, gone!  This circumstance was most disagreeable.

Lady Caprice backed away toward Olanthius's study, and launched another pair of bright bolts of force at the death knight on the move.  Both arcane missiles deflected off his black armor.  She quipped with feigned confidence, "You are afraid of Olanthius, are you now, Haruman?  Perhaps you'd best flee while you've the chance."  Lady Caprice blocked the way into the study not out of any heroic desire to defend it, but simply because that way her foe would remain in front of her.

Telepathically, Caprice shrieked at Darkwing, ~We must break Haruman's focus on the banishment spell to bring back Sir Ren and Madame Elsbeth.  It would be quite lovely if you and your hound could join me in the study, darling!~

---

• Move to D2
• Eldritch Blast vs. Haru-maniac!  Two attacks:
  1. Miss with a natural 1
  2. Miss with a 15
• Rolled Deception for the heck of it to not act scared and got a 14, so we'll see if Haruman believes it ;P
• Standing ready with Misty Escape to turn invisible and teleport away the first time I take damage!

10:30, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 14 using 1d20+8.  Deception.
10:02, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 9,15 using d20+8,d20+8 with rolls of 1,7.  Eldritch Blast attacks 1 & 2.

"B-" The beginnings of a rebuke formed on Ren's lips but before the halfling could give voice to it he vanished with an audible *pop* and a fleeting look of surprise.

Meanwhile Willaby turned from tromping the skeleton into so much bone dust and witnessed his master disappear into the ether. Snorting angrily the nightmare charged Haruman and clipped him with his fiery hooves, trying valiantly to knock the general to the floor where he could be suitably trampled!

Ren fails (despite halfling luck no less!)
Willaby succeeds and charges Haruman, hitting AC 19 for 12 bludgeoning damage (and forcing a knockdown save).
If the knockdown succeeds he tramples for a further 16 bludgeoning damage.
Also, I think Banishment is a concentration spell so at least one concentration check to make, thankfully.

Trampling Charge. If the horse moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a hooves attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the horse can make another attack with its hooves against it as a bonus action.

13:37, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 16 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 6,6.  Damage.
13:36, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 20 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 14.  Trample.
13:36, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 12 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 2,6.  Damage.
13:36, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 19 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 13.  Attack.
13:31, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 18 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 17.  Dex save.
13:30, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 14 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 7.  Halfling Luck.
13:30, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 8 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 1.  Charisma save.

* * * * *

Ren appeared suddenly on the banks of a broad river beneath a shining sun. The day was crisp and bright and birdsong filled the air. He blinked and cast his gaze about worriedly.

"Willaby? Lulu!?!"

"Where is everyone??"

The spectral hands grabbed at Darkwing and the pain shot through his bones. Then he saw Ren and Elsbeth vanish from sight. ~We must have really pissed him off!~ he replied telepathically to Caprice. Desperate, the masked man left his sword clatter to the floor and retrieved his bow. Ignoring the remaining, skeleton, DW dashed toward the study, pausing briefly to fire a shot toward the general. "ROBIN, attack!" he called out to his faithful companion. The construct nipped at the knight, but found nothing but air.


Action: Ranged Attack (15 To Hit, 14 Damage - but likely is a miss anyway)
Bonus Action: Command ROBIN to Attack use
Move: D5
Reaction: Shield vs Skeleton Opp. Attack (AC=21)

ROBIN (15 ac, 20/25 hp, 40' mv)
==================================
Action: Force-Empowered Rend vs General (9 To Hit - Miss)
Move: Hold ground
Reaction: Opp. Attack (if possible)

16:32, Today: Darkwing rolled 11 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 6.  DEX Save.
16:34, Today: Darkwing rolled 15 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 6.  Ranged Attack.
16:34, Today: Darkwing rolled 13 using 3d3+6 with rolls of 3,1,3.  Damage.
16:36, Today: Darkwing rolled 9 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 4.  ROBIN Attack.

"Impudent worms," Haruman muttered as Ren and Elsbeth disappeared into the void he'd summoned. He strode forward towards Olanthius's study, heedless of the arrows and eldritch energies flying towards him. His armor, though dented and torn in places, deflected them all.

Willaby, but Haruman idly battered the beast aside with his flaming sword, which did not burn the nightmare but did a fine job of interrupting its charge.

Then he raised a hand, raising up two more skeletal warriors from the crypt to fight on his behalf. The new skeletons fell on Willaby, skewering the nightmare from both sides. (They both crit on poor Willaby! Exactly 19 damage total.)

Skeletal soldier as his side, Haruman strode across the room, ignoring the steel hound snapping at his heels. He raised his sword as he came, bringing it crashing down on Darkwing. A surge of necrotic energy flowed through it into the rogue.

Hits AC 29 for 45 damage (17 of that is necrotic, 19 is psychic), using Staggering Smite:

The target must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 18). On a failed save, it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks, and can't take reactions, until the end of its next turn.


This message was last edited by the GM at 23:21, Fri 20 Nov 2020.

Haruman advanced inexorably toward the study in which Lady Caprice had taken refuge and ruthlessly struck down Darkwing as he went.  Was that canny masked avenger slain so easily as that?  Lady Caprice watched in horror and fury as the dead knight closed the distance, her black eyes glittering in the magical glow that was the only illumination in the sepulchral darkness.

She had never imagined that she might die alone in a forsaken tomb beneath the scorched plains of the Hells.  She had never imagined she would die at all, come to that.  She was young and had too many great things yet to accomplish!

A sneer crossed Lady Caprice's painted lips as she glared defiantly at the dead knight, and twin incandescent glows flared to life within each outstretched palm.  She might die, but she would never consent to be defeated.  She snarled, "Away with you, disloyal churl!"  With a cry of last-ditch fury, Caprice launched twin bolts of arcane force at the knight, one of which smashed straight through his armored greathelm!

---

• Eldritch Blast vs. Haruman!  Possibly the last two attacks of Lady C's life:
  1. Hit 25 AC for 11 force damage!
  2. Miss with a natural 1
• Standing ready with Misty Escape to turn invisible and teleport away the first time I take damage!

15:31, Today: Secret Roll: Caprice Nathaire rolled 11 using 1d10+5.  Eldritch damage.
15:31, Today: Secret Roll: Caprice Nathaire rolled 25,9 using d20+8,d20+8 with rolls of 17,1.  Eldritch Blast attacks 1 & 2.

This message was last edited by the player at 23:59, Fri 20 Nov 2020.

Ren followed the bank of the stream backwards against the current. The sun rode high in the sky and told him nothing of East or West. Cresting a grassy rise the land before him seemed to fall away into a massive pit of broken stone and exposed earth. It took his mind several moments to come to terms with what lay before him and when it did so he fell upon his knees.

"Elturel..." The word, barely a whisper upon his tight lips. "Yondalla save me, I've been sent back!"

His eyes went wide.

"Oh no! No, no, no, Caprice! Darkwing! Elsbeth! I have to go back. Urogalan, take me back! I have to go back!"

As Haruman strode towards him, black-fire sword held high, Darkwing heard more distant footsteps approaching. Olanthius! If only he could hold out a moment longer.

Heedless of skeletal swords, R.O.B.I.N. rushed to his master's side. But he was too late. Haruman plunged the sword into Darkwing's belly, the blade crackled with necrotic energy, and the masked rogue collapsed at the threshold of Olanthius's study.

The death knight stepped over his body as if it were no more than a pile of rubble and entered the study, where only Caprice stood between him and Olanthius's journals.

She, too, heard the other general approaching, and she saw that Haruman did as well. "Out of my way, foolish child. I have no more time to waste on you pathetic interlopers."

He raised a black hand in which dark magic was already swirling. Caprice saw the words of a spell on his lips, saw his ever-growing skeletal army gathering behind him.

She struck first, however, her own magic exploding in his face before he could unleash his spell. "NOOOOOOO!" The crypt shook with his howl of frustration, for he waited many years for the opportunity to plunder his rival's study, and there was no telling how many more years it would be before he got this close again.

His broken and burned armor clattered to the stone floor, empty. The skeletons behind him collapsed into piles of bone.

"Begone, fiend!" a new voice commanded. "Defile my study no long- oh. Oh, my." An old man with hollow eyes and corroded armor but long hair and beard that remained strangely blond stepped into view, taking in the scene. He was at a loss for words as he took in the robot dog, the empty pile of armor, and the unconscious rogue in the bat suit. The scene grew no clearer for him when a living Hellrider and a halfling bearing a demonic shield suddenly appeared in the crypt behind him.

"You...," he said slowly, reluctant to believe what his vacant eyes told him. "You defeated Haruman?"

"Olanthius!" Lulu flew out from where she'd been cowering.

"Lulu!" the old knight cried with obvious joy. "I ought to have known you were behind this."

The foul magics brought against her were terrifying.  She did all she could to resist, but this was her weakness.  Nine times out of ten such an attack would kill her.  At least she died having hit him with everything she had first.  Her one moment of glory.

A moment later, everything was different.  She blinked.

The wind was fresh and cool.  The air smelled familiar.  She was on a hillock overlooking the void left when Elturel fell.  Was this some illusion?  She knelt and felt the grass.  It felt real.  She recognized the rocks nearby her and her brothers use to climb on.  Elsbeth Du'Crey was home.

He had sent her home with the knowledge that she had failed.  She didn't save a single soul.  She would live her life out with that regret.  Haruman truly <i>was</> a monster.


The tears had just started to fall at this realization when she was sucked back.  She was still kneeling when the foulness of Avernus draped her like a cloak and weighed heavily on her.  At first she didn't know whether to be relieved she hadn't failed in her oath or curse for being back in hell.

She started to turn away when she saw DW unmoving on the ground.  "No."  Her heart fell again.  It should have been her.  She should have been here.

"You defeated Haruman?"

Once again her vision moved and fell on the pile of Haruman's armor.  A bitter relief took hold.  They had stopped him, but at a dreadful cost.

The power she had held left her body.  It was more than she had ever experienced in her life.  It left her shaking and nauseous.  It was unlikely she would ever attain such a height again.  Hopefully the need would never arise again.  She closed her eyes tight and silently mourned for the fallen.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:31, Sat 21 Nov 2020.

Ren knelt with his hand pressed over his eyes, tears streaming down his ruddy cheeks. He didn’t notice the shift in the ground beneath his knees or the sudden stillness in the air around him. He didn’t even feel the sun’s warmth slip away.

What he heard was a voice.

”Lulu?” he said cautiously, opening his eyes. Ren’s head swam once more as he adjusted to his new surroundings. ”Urogalen brought me back!”

Ren clambered to his feet and ran to Lulu’s side, throwing his arms around the Holyphant.

”Elsbeth! Caprice! And where is - oh! Oh no, Darkwing.”

The little halfling let go of his embrace and knelt down beside his stricken companion, laying his hands upon the dark knight’s shoulder.

Lay on hands for 20hp
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Sat 21 Nov 2020.

Lady Caprice tried not to look too shocked when the final magical attack of her life slew her would-be murderer.  She stared as the death knight toppled with a roar, and flinched at the echoing clatter of heavy armor hitting the floor.  Lady Caprice collected herself some moments later, straightened up and then declared with an impish grin of triumph, “Ha!  So it ends for all who oppose Lady Caprice Nathaire!”

A wizened warrior arrived moments later that could be none other than general Olanthius, followed shortly thereafter by Sir Ren and Elsbeth!  The Lady’s exultation was dampened somewhat when she recalled that Darkwing lay dying or dead at the entrance to the study.  The ever-compassionate Sir Ren was already at the fallen vigilante’s side, but Caprice gave an unnecessary post hoc command, “See to his wounds, if you would, Sir Ren.  He fought bravely.  Oh, and welcome back, darlings.”

Lady Caprice then turned to general Olanthius and raised her chin to announce, “Indeed I have defeated Haruman, the faithless blackguard.  We defeated him, I rather ought to say.  I could not have done it without these stalwart companions.”  She patted R.O.B.I.N. affectionately on its metallic head to assure that it was included in that number.  Lulu was joyfully reunited with Olanthius, which was interesting.  Lady Caprice said to Olanthius, “As it happens, we’ve come seeking you, General.  We seek Zariel’s sword so that we might return Elturel to its rightful place.  Perhaps you may be able to help.”

"Zariel's sword? My, you are ambitious, aren't you. I suppose once you've bested Haruman, only one act is big enough to follow that. Aye, I can help you.

The sword is protected by a cathedral formed out of positive energy. Avernus abhors the structure and has surrounded it in a bloody scab, earning it the name the Bleeding Citadel. The holy power of the citadel resists the scab's attempts to fully engulf it and make it one with Avernus, leaving the top of the citadel accessible.

Zariel monitors the Bleeding Citadel closely, however. If you intend to approach it without her noticing - and you should - you'll need a distraction. Conveniently, I know just the thing.

Years ago, Zariel stole a magical hammer from the demon lord Kostchtchie, who is imprisoned in Avernus. If freed, he will be sure to want his weapon back. When he goes to collect it from Zariel, which should create the diversion you need."

Ren lifted his head, only half listening to Olanthius's exposition. Instead he cast his gaze about the chamber, finding Willaby lying where he'd been struck by Haruman's footmen. Ren hastened towards the stricken nightmare and placed his hands upon its coal black flesh.

"Easy now, Willaby," he said, choking back tears as he ran his fingers through the steed's fiery mane. "I'm here now."

Lay on Hands for 15
This message was last edited by the player at 01:30, Mon 23 Nov 2020.

Darkwing gasped for air as consciousness returned to him. He opened his eyes and say Ren kneeling over him. At first, he thought perhaps Haruman had sent him to wherever Ren was, but then he heard the other speaking. He sat up and took in the scene before him.

"We won?" he asked windedly. "This truly is a grand victory, friends! A justice brought against corruption. And we all yet live to continue our pursuit." He was holding his side as he spoke, and saw the blood still soaking his glove. "But, maybe some rest first?"

He turned his attention toward Olanthius "Do you suppose we could safely recover here before we attempt to free this Demon Lord?" Telepathically he shared other thoughts with his party. ~This seems very risky, freeing a Demon Lord. Are we sure there is no other way?~

"You may certainly rest before you depart. Now that the master of the crypt is here, no harm shall come to you in this place."

Ren looked up from tending to Willaby. "What about Haruman's steed?" he asked, remembering the Nightmare the general had rode to confront them previously upon the hill. "He must be terribly frightened. Is he outside the crypt waiting for his master's return?"

Ren did it!  DW lived!  Elsbeth sighed in relief and squared her shoulders more as that weight left her.  They had accomplished the impossible.  Perhaps there was hope for Elturel.

She stood and saluted Olanthius.  “Sir, What of Haruman himself?  Is he truly gone or will he be back with a vengeance?  Hell wasn’t someplace she feigned to understand how things worked.  Although she took a bit of pride in the thought he would take a step back from her if they did ever meet again.

“Also, what of the knights on the hill.  Can they be given peace now?”

Lady Caprice listened to Olanthius’s description of the Bleeding Citadel, then arched a perfectly-manicured brow at the suggestion to free an imprisoned demon lord by way of distraction.  She said, “I can only imagine this Kostchtchie is imprisoned for very good reason, and amply-guarded.  What enemies must we make and with what risks must we contend to release this demon lord, pray tell?”  She cocked her head and then asked further, “What of the Bleeding Citadel?  General Yael must be quite the paragon to have established such a bastion of good in this realm of corruption.  He will oppose the sword’s removal, will he not?”

After the ordeal with Haruman a rest came most welcome, and Lady Caprice found a clean enough place to take respite with dignity.  During the rest she spoke to Olanthius, “General Olanthius, you should know that Elsbeth has fought with incomparable skill and honor in defense of Elturel and her fellow Hellriders.  It was she who truly slew Haruman herself with pure skill at arms.  I daresay she is the very embodiment of the order’s highest ideals.”  Lady Caprice turned to Elsbeth with chin high and a smile, then said, “If the word of a Lady Patriar of Baldur’s Gate holds any sway with the knights of Elturel, then allow me to formally recommend Elsbeth for promotion.”

---

Does Lady C know anything about Kostchtchie?  Result is 9 if it’s Religion, 12 if Arcana or History:

• 11:03, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  Int roll.

Then spend 1 hit die during the short rest to heal 8 HP:

• 11:05, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 8 using 1d8+1.  HD 1.

This message was last edited by the player at 01:08, Fri 27 Nov 2020.

Olanthius waved his hand dismissively. "Sure, frightened of my foot in his ass! I ran that fiend off the moment I arrived."



"Alas, it is not so simple a thing to be rid of a death knight. He'll be back, and yes, vengeance is a safe bet.

As for the knights upon his hill, a prayer on their behalf in this hallowed place might do the trick. But think well on whether they deserve a reprieve before you plead for one. They are deserters, after all. If you decide you do, then make your case in a prayer to Helm, and perhaps he will see fit to free them."

If you choose to do this, please make two religion checks. I'll choose which to use based on how Elsbeth makes her case ;-)



"You must know nothing of the Blood War to imagine such a foolish thing! The devils and demons have been warring since before time. They'll imprison each other for any reason or no reason at all. Zariel and her devils will begrudge you, sure, but then that's the point, is it not? And yes, safe to assume she'll have some guards there. But nothing you can't handle, I'm sure," the general said with a nod towards the death knight's empty armor.



"She will do no such thing, if your friend is half the noble warrior you say she is. The Citadel is there to guard against Zariel reclaiming her sword. If a noble Hellrider claims it to oppose Zariel, I imagine Yael would welcome that."

A mournful look crossed his face. "If you see the general, please... give her my love."



"You speak wisely. I believe you have earned this, Mademoiselle du'Crey. Wear it with pride." At his gesture, a compartment in the wall opened to reveal a suit of crimson and white plate armor bearing the symbol of the Hellriders: a blazing sun alongside its smaller Companion.

Elsbeth, this is plate mail that also grants advantage on Charisma checks and saves made against fiends or residents of Elturel.

You can long rest here, so need to spend hit dice. Caprice, you know just enough of the Blood War to know what Olanthius says is true. You don't know anything about this demon in particular.

"Oh well that's all well and good then," Ren said uncertainly, rubbing at the back of his neck.

"Where do we, er, find this demon lord then?" he asked.

Elsbeth looked to the old knight with mixed emotions.  She was overwhelmed to be given such a gift by one who had worked directly with Zariel.  She also didn’t feel worthy of it.  But to refuse would be an insult.  All of this scant minutes after the most terrifying fight she had ever been a part of.  She settled for a hesitant, “Th... thank you.”

While her body hadn’t suffered in the battle, the weeks spent in the abyss trying simply to survive weighed heavily on her mind and soul.  She also saw her fate tied to those Haruman tortured for they were the founders of the order she knew.  She found a quiet corner and shed her armor.  It had been a long time since she could stretch and not feel the threat of being attacked at any moment.  A brief thought of another life when she wore a dress and attended a dance crossed her mind.  She held no illusions that she would be able to do that again.  Her hope now was to save those left in the town and give them that chance.  After food and drink, she knelt and prayed.

“Helm, I beseech you in the name of the fallen.  Those that returned to Elturel after Zariel’s assault suffer.  I now know they are viewed as deserters and traitors.  The history I was taught does not mention that.  I know not what the outcome would have had they stayed to fight.  Seeing this place first hand, I don’t know that they would have changed the outcome.  What I do know is they sealed the portal and Elturel knew peace.  The Hellrider tradition continued and was passed down generation after generation.  If not for them, I would not be here now.”   She paused to wipe tears away.

“It pains me to see my forebears suffer for eternity.  They instilled in the Hellriders the heart and duty to defend Elturel.  Good men and women defend it still with their very lives.  As long as I draw breath, I will fight to save Elturel.  None of that would have been possible without them.  Good did come of it.  You are their judge.  I ask for their sake and every Hellrider for their suffering to come to an end.”

Lady Caprice pursed her lips and remarked breezily, "If Haruman wishes to be vanquished again, we will oblige him."


Annoyed at Olanthius calling her question foolish, Caprice answered with biting sarcasm, "I am sure some guards will hardly impede us from releasing a demon lord imprisoned for who-knows-why.  Thank you for the incisive tactical analysis, General."


Learning that General Yael was a she brought a smile back to Lady Caprice's face, and she said, "Oh, pardon my mistake.  I am glad to know that General Yael is likely to listen to reason in this matter.  We will convey your regards, to be certain."


Lady Caprice was quite pleased to have persuaded the General to bestow this well-deserved honor.  When Elsbeth returned adorned in the heroic Hellrider plate, she sunk into a curtseyed and looked upon the warrioress with genuine admiration.  "You are every inch the heroic ideal the Hellriders aspire to, Madame.  Your father would be proud to see you now, as am I."

Lady Caprice awaited the answer to Sir Ren's question of where this imprisoned demon lord might be found.  That answer would set their next course, once all were rested.

Despite Elsbeth's fervent, moving prayer, not so much as a gentle breeze blew through the crypt in answer.

"Helm is an unforgiving god," Olanthius explained. "This does not mean he is a cruel one. He is the god of protectors, and protectors who flee from danger are of no use to those they are charged with protecting. Your concern for those tortured souls is to your credit, and perhaps you will yet redeem them. But it will require more than prayer."

To Ren and the others, he said, "You have traveled long enough in Avernus to know distance and direction are unreliable guides. You will find what you are meant to find, or it will find you. Kostchtchie is imprisoned between active volcanos. Follow the plumes of smog, and you will find him."

Rest eventually came.  It was more due to complete exhaustion catching up to her and the feeling of a safe haven than any intention on her part.  When she woke, the weight of two worlds felt heavy on her shoulders.  Before Avernus, she would have gladly died in service of Elturel.  Now, when she did, she saw her fate upon that hill with the stirges feasting on her.  Her torture to be lorded over her by Haruman.  She doubted she would get off as easy as the others since her battle with him.

She stoically dressed in the new armor.  It’s weight felt appropriate to the burden on her soul.  At Lady Caprice’s praise, Elsbeth managed a weak smile that didn’t touch her eyes.

“Thank you Olanthius.  For Glory.”  The Hellrider saluted him.  It wasn’t the fervent cry of the young eager for battle.  It was of one resigned to her fate.  She wished there was something that could be done for the old Knight.  She had no idea what though.  It seemed an impossible task to save Elturel, let alone anyone from Zariel’s assault.

She then nodded to the others to indicate she was ready.