Lady Caprice looked on in triumphant satisfaction as the defeated devils fled the rout, picking off a pair of straggling lemures with chromatic bolts.  She unsummoned the wall of radiance to reveal smoldering heaps of blackened devils annihilated by her arcane might.  Perhaps being a warlord over her own plane of Hell would not be the worst thing.

She approached Olanthius and inclined her head respectfully toward the undead general.  Caprice said, "Your Hellriders were worth a dozen devils in this battle.  A valiant defense."  She looked to her brave companions and added her own piece to the discussion of Zariel, "Before we may do anything with Zariel we must first reach her, and fiendish legions stand in our way.  If we must punch through the forces of Hell to save Zariel may we count upon the might of the Hellriders to join our cause, General?"

---

Persuasion!:

• 21:14, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 11 using 1d20+9.  Persuasion.

Not so persuasive :(

Olanthus looked mournfully across the field of battle, his ghostly eyes lingering on the incinerated remains of the attacking devils. "I wish I shared your confidence that she can be," he said. "She commands the devils of Avernus. She sent them here to defile the final resting place of those who once fought alongside her."

"No!" Lulu insisted. "This was Haruman's doing."

"And Haruman is the only one of Zariel's generals who remains loyal to her. He sent his troops here in support of her schemes. If she wished to ensure the Hellriders could not take up arms against her... then she must be planning her final assault. She knows you have the sword. She knows you have freed Kostchtchie. She will try to take Elturel once and for all, before you can stop her. You must go quickly no! You have the support of the Hellriders, of course."

The spectral army formed ranks behind the Demon Grinder, with some of the more elite knights standing by Elsbeth's side.

Elsbeth, you can now use the Sword of the Du'Creys to cast the Spectral Guardians spell once per long rest. And Caprice you may cast Spirit Shroud once per long rest without expending a spell slot. In both cases, the spirits you summon will be Hellriders.

"What about you, Olanthus?" Ren inquired. "Come with us. Ride with your men once more. Zariel placed her trust in you once before. Perhaps she can be made to do so again."

"Of course," the old man said, brandishing his sword. "It has been too long since we took the battle to the enemy. I am sword to defend Elturel, and this is her moment of greatest need."

"To war then."  Elsbeth didn't look forward to a war with Zariel.  She still held out hope to save the Angel.  She was tired and weary of the battle here in Avernus.  She steeled herself for one more fight.


I'm guessing we can get at least a short rest.  But checking on Long Rest.

Lady Caprice climbed up to stand poised and proud atop the Demon Grinder, then called upon her arcane power to amplify her voice in a resounding call to action, “Onward now, to Elturel’s liberation!”  Her eyes blazed with chromatic light and the ground rumbled with the intensity of her resolve.

Having done with the showmanship, Lady Caprice gracefully reclaimed her crew position on the war machine and directed Darkwing to fire up the engines to begin the journey to Elturel, and destiny.

"War," Ren echoed Elsbeth distractedly, his voice sounding very small and far away. "Huh. Good God, y'all. What is it good for?"

The little halfling shook his head and offered up a sad smile as he gave answer to his own question.

"Absolutely nothing. So sayeth the Starrs."

Taking to the wing he fluttered above the demon grinder keeping constant watch mile after mile as the warmachine chewed up the red dirt of Avernus and spat it back out in its wake. Not once since he'd taken the Sword had Ren called for Willaby. The Nightmare was conspicuous in its absence.

Darkwing peeled out, the Demon Grinder kicking up a cloud of dust behind the party that quickly obscured the ghostly army of Hellriders who followed them.

Determining the direction of Elturel was a simple matter, for the dark Companion blazed and crackled in the eternal twilight sky. Yet though they drove unmistakably towards the city's surreal second sun, it never seemed to grow larger. Admittedly, the trip from Elturel to the Bleeding Citadel had been split up across several days, with multiple stops in between, but no one remembered it being so far.

Still, some progress was apparent, for they could now see the outline of the city itself on the horizon, as well as of the infernal chains dragging it inexorably towards the river Styx. But after driving for two days, it seemed they still had an awfully long way to go.

Ren fluttered down from the crimson skies, alighting beside Darkwing at the Demon Grinder's helm. "We are missing something," he said. "Avernus does not want us to reach Elturel, else we'd have done so by now. There is somewhere else we are expected to go first. But where? Fort Knucklebone perhaps, to gather allies? Or Haruman's Hill to release the remaining Hellriders?"

Lulu fluttered tentatively from Elsbeth's side to hover a short distance from Ren. "It's not Avernus slowing us down," the hollyphant said. "I think... it's me. I'm not ready to give up on her, Ren. And I'm worried about what you're planning to do."

Ren turned his beatific gaze upon the fluttering Hollyphant. He nodded understandingly."We will give her every opportunity, Lulu," he assured, his voice containing no trace of annoyance. "But ultimately it is not up to us. It is up to Zariel whether she can be saved."

Lady Caprice considered the problem of reaching Elturel when Avernus itself seemed to be keeping them away, and ultimately gleaned no greater insight than Sir Ren’s.  That deterred her not at all from pronouncing her own opinion, however, "Are you certain it is not Zariel who does not want us to reach Elturel, Lulu darling?  We have gained her attention, and I daresay she is correct to worry what we do next."  Lady Caprice looked to Lulu and said, "As Sir Ren says, it depends on Zariel herself.  We do not come to destroy Zariel, but to release Elturel from this infernal exile.  I would be delighted to solve this by diplomacy and reason, rather than by blood and strife.  The trouble is persuading her to give up the city that was sworn to her."

Caprice turned to Lulu and asked, "What does Zariel want more than to possess Elturel?"

---

Arcana to discern the planar logistics to bring us to Elturel, except not so much:

• 00:08, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Arcana.

"Demons." Lulu said in answer to Caprice's question. "She wants to stop demons from overrunning the Material Plane."



"That sounds like something she would say. You're responsible for your choices, Ren. Who will save your soul? If you won't save your own?"

With Lulu momentarily placated, the journey across Avernus proved easier, and the party arrived at Elturel not a moment too soon. The city hung above the River Styx, the iron spikes that anchored the city having dragged it nearly to the river's banks. Within a few hours, Elturel would sink into the Styx.

Hordes of distant demons flew around the city like gnats while a battle raged fiercely beneath it. Thousands of fiends clashed in Elturel's shadow. At their center stood an angel wreathed in flame, striking down demons with tireless fury.

Lulu pointed at the figure with her trunk and whispered, "That's her. Zariel stands exactly where she always does- where the fighting is fiercest."

The demons, it seemed, had launched a last-ditch, all-out effort to overrun the city. The devils had so far rebuffed the ferocious assault with the help of unlikely allies, swarms of undead who mindlessly aided them in their battle with their demonic foes.

"Well?" Ren asked, fluttering above the helm. "Do we grind a path straight across the plains of Avernus and confront Zariel?"

"Or does someone have another proposition?"

The Demon Grinder at last made headway toward Elturel as it rumbled across Avernus kicking up plumes of dust in its wake.  Lulu's words came to Lady Caprice's mind as she laid eyes upon the enormous battle raging over the sinking city.

Lady Caprice said, "This confrontation must wait, for Elturel will not last much longer.  Zariel fights to preserve the city, even if only to subjugate it.  The demonic horde, however, would murder every living soul in Elturel and leave it in utter ruination.  Whatever our differences with the Lord of the First, we may find common cause against such reckless chaos."  She observed the archdevil cutting through the throngs of demons in the distance and said, "If nothing else, we battle to gain audience."

Caprice stood tall in the harpoon turret and declared loudly, "Bring us in, Master Darkwing, but let us avoid engaging until we need to.  Now, we hunt demons!"

---

OOC:  The idea is to get close to Zariel with the least amount of fighting, so we're looking for a way to punch through weakest point in the lines.  We're the cavalry swooping in to Zariel's aid, and she needs see it ;P

Elsbeth agreed with Caprice.  They had to thin the demons.  Given that two armies were here in war, she had little hope the people were still safe.  She manned the other harpoon as they closed.

Ren alighted and resumed his post behind the controls of the wrecking ball with a look of stern resolve. "I am ready."

Darkwing revved the demonic engine of the Demon Grinder and set it to its eponymous task, crashing across the battlefield and flattening lesser demons in its wake. Their screams filled the air as the war machine ground them into the red dust, then were drowned out by the triumphant cries of the devils at the sight of their ancient enemies being annihilated by this new ally.

The angel Zariel was just ahead, flaming wings billowing behind her as she carved through demonic foes. None of her devils attempted to stop the advancing party whom they perceived as allies.

Just as it seemed they would reach their quarry with minimal interference, a wave of necrotic energy rippled across the wasteland, violently shaking the Demon Grinder and all within it. The War Machine crashed to a halt, smoke billowing from its engine.

A familiar foe stood at their flank, clad in black armor and clutching a shield bearing the insignia of the Hellriders. Haruman raised a gauntleted hand, and a dozen skeletal warriors crawled out of the ground, armed with dark swords and scraps of rusted armor all their own.

"Haruman!" From behind the war machine, Olanthius raised his own sword, and the spectral Hellriders prepared to engage the death knight's undead army.

You can post actions in any order. You'll all act before Haruman goes again.

Thanks to the Demon Grinder's protection, you automatically make your saves and so take just 10 thunder and 10 necrotic damage each. (That won't be a permanent feature of the Demon Grinder, just a way of mitigating the fact that I gave Haruman a free opening attack on you.) You can still use the DG's battle stations, but its movement is now 0.

Haruman is 30' from you. The wights who accompany him are all in melee range, with the Hellriders moving to engage them.

“Forward!” Lady Caprice vehemently declared as the Demon Grinder did what it was meant to do.  One would never expect to so easily smash through an army of demons, but one should never underestimate the power of pure, brazen audacity.

Just when it seemed they would make it all the way to Zariel the triumphant charge was cut short by a terrible necrotic force that forced the war machine out of commission.  That wave of undead power was all too familiar, and it was not long before Haruman showed himself, now returned from destruction.  Lady Caprice climbed atop the smoking war machine and proclaimed, “Stand aside, Haruman!  We have come to repel the demonic hosts that threaten Elturel and parley with the Lord of the First.  We’ve a common foe, and you would be wise not to obstruct us.”

Though her auburn hair and skirts both whipped in the hot winds of the battle raging all around, her steely  black eyes remained locked on Haruman.  “I’ve better things to do than destroy you a second time, but I will if I must!”

---

Intimidation didn’t go so well:

• 14:36, Today: Caprice Nathaire rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Intimidation.

Standing ready to react with either Misty Escape or Counterspell (5th level), should Haruman try something!

"Gargauth." Ren took to the skies above the demon grinder and grimly surveyed the ranks of Haruman's chosen. "Give them hell."

The devil's mouth opened and from its impossibly black recesses belched forth a ball of oily black flame that settled amidst the wights and exploded in a cacophony of heat and thunder.

28 fire damage to soften up the ranks. DC 21 Dex save for half.

Trying to get as many wights as possible without harming allies. Getting Haruman is a bonus but not necessary.

09:43, Today: Sir Ren Hawthorne rolled 28 using 8d6 with rolls of 1,4,4,6,2,5,2,4.  Fireball.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:47, Mon 26 Apr 2021.

Darkwing grinned in satisfaction as the demon grinder plowed through the ranks of vile demons. "I see where this thing got its name!" he cackled from behind the wheel. That laugh was quickly replaced with a grunt when their moment was abruptly halted by an unseen force and his body slammed into the steering mechanism. The vigilante collected his bearings and peered out over the now smoking war machine.

"Stay with Lady Du'Crey," he commanded his faithful companion as he shielded eyes eyes from the sudden explosion amongst the newly risen wraiths. When the flames subsided he fired a volley of magical arrows at the undead that escaped the flying halfling's fireball.



14 To Hit for 8 Damage
23 To Hit for 11 Damage

14:16, Today: Darkwing rolled 14,23,8,11 using 1d20+10,1d20+10,1d6+6,1d6+6 with rolls of 4,13,2,5.  Attack, Extra Attack, Damage, Damage.

Elsbeth dismounted the Demon Grinder again.  It has turned out fighting from the thing was not her preference.

She fixed her gaze on Haruman.  She walked right toward him ready to finish what they had started the last fight.  She drew her sword and a host of ghostly Hell Riders joined her march.

Move: 20' toward Haruman (So he's in range of SG)
Action: Spirit Guardians (All Enemies in 15', Wis save or 15 damage)
  Hit Haruman and whatever Wights in range.
Bonus: Second Wind (Heals 13hps)

AC 19  HP 66/73
 BONUS ACTION: Extra melee attack if Crit or Drop enemy to 0hps
1/1 Human Determination, gain Advantage - Short Rest
5/5 Battle Master Maneuvers (d10) - Short Rest
 REACTION: Riposte, Sentinel
0/1 Second Wind, Heal 1d10+10, Bonus Action - Short Rest
1/1 Action Surge, +1 Action - Short Rest
1/1 Sword of Du'Crey - Long Rest
1/1 SoD Spirit Guardians - Long Rest
3/3 Lucky 3/3 - Long Rest
1/1 Indomitable - Reroll Save - Long Rest
10/10 Healing Dice - Long Rest (restore 1/2 with long rest)
0/1 Inspiration
1/1 Circlet of Blasting (Next Dawn)

Concentrating on Spirit Guardians

Ren's fireball exploded amongst the advancing wraiths, and while they seemed to feel no pain, the smell of singed flesh filled the air and they were quickly much weakened by the blast. Two arrows from Ren finished off one of them.

Haruman laughed at Caprice's threat. "I have no time for you either, young lady." Indeed, he seemed to have eyes only for Elsbeth, and while a black helm hid his face - if he even had a face - you could feel him smile as she stepped forward. The wraiths moved to intercept her, but the death knight raised a hand, and they stopped, breaking off to engage with Olanthius and his Hellriders instead.

"I intended to force a confrontation between us," he told her. "It is to your credit that you come voluntarily. I look forward to resurrecting you so that you may serve as my lieutenant for all eternity."

But it was Elsbeth's servants who struck first, her ghostly retinue carving into him with their spectral swords.

Shrugging the damage off, Haruman stepped up to the Hellrider. He spoke a word in the language of death and necrotic energy surged through the blade until it was wreathed in bone-white lightning.

He ought not to have been so quick to dismiss Caprice, however, because no sooner had the lightning appeared than it fizzled out. Snarling, the death knight, bereft of magic, cut savagely into Elsbeth.

Pausing now for reactions, then I'll have some actions from the friendly NPCs (Olanthius and Lulu), then you all will be up again. Please let me know in OOC if you don't have any reactions, so I'll know when to move on.

That Counterspell from Caprice was CLUTCH. Haruman rolled absurdly well, but he was casting Staggering Smite, which would have triggered on the first hit, which was the crit. So, Elsbeth was spared 8d8 damage. I think Elsbeth is still down, but it took all three of his attacks to do it, whereas he otherwise could have used one or maybe even two of them to make her fail death saves.

Dungeon Master, for the NPC Haruman, rolled 31,27,30 using d20+11,d20+11,d20+11 with rolls of 20,16,19.

Hits AC 31 for 30 damage
Hits AC 27 for 18 damage
Hits AC 30 for 12 damage

As Haruman struck, Ren, hovering above the battlefield, brought his sword down in a brilliant arc and a jagged line of blazing light tore open on the fiendish general's chest.

"You will take nothing," he proclaimed.

Rebuke the violent

Despite the death knight's depraved indifference to moral shaming, Ren's rebuke burned him with the fury of a righteous deity.

Haruman's luck is running out: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Haruman, rolled 16 using 2d20+9, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 5,7.  Wis save.

"Be careful out there, Miss Elsbeth!" Lulu admonished. "Haruman is a bad, bad man." Then the hollyphant showered the Hellrider with sparkling light.

Protection From Evil and Good on Elsbeth.

"Indeed he is." Olanthius pointed his sword at his old rival, and a beam of light shot from it to suffuse the Death Knight with glowing light.

Each of you gets advantage on your first attack against Haruman each round. Also, Haruman now has disadvantage on the first saving throw he makes each round (which would cancel out the advantage he otherwise gets against spell effects).

Y'all are up!