Descent into Avernus — Session #5
The party's first day on the road to Avernus ended with blood on the ground and a warning in the air. Nbalik's sudden departure and his cryptic rules for surviving Hell hung over the camp like a shadow. The cultist ambush confirmed that their enemies were already aware of their mission. Figaro Pennygood's custom outfits, with their protective symbols and magical return patches, were a small comfort against the unknown. The road ahead was long, and Hell was waiting.
Figaro Pennygood's dramatic horror at the party's filthy appearance, locking the shop door and declaring an 'emergency' as he paced around them pointing out mud and blood stains, then redesigning their outfits for hell itself.
Ohsoss cannonballing off the seventy-five-foot Worm Crossing bridge into the icy river, with the GM describing the cold water giving him 'a bath and an enema all in one go.'
Nbalik sharing four rules for surviving Avernus by the campfire, then abruptly leaving after warning Sam that his intelligence would attract dangerous attention in Hell.
Reya casting guiding bolt on a cultist, obliterating it into fine red paste during the ambush.
Elowena acquiring the unique repeating hand crossbow from Dan Palong in exchange for gold and a promise to find the missing Mara Bell.
Sam politely refusing to haggle for his +1 rapier, saying 'I don't tend to haggle because I know your job is quite hard.'
The morning in Baldur's Gate began with the clink of coin and the scent of old leather. At Dan Palong's cluttered shop, the party traded their unneeded burdens for gold and purpose. Elowena ran her fingers over a peculiar crossbow that hummed with latent power—a weapon that forged its own spectral silver bolts. Dan Palong named his price: eight hundred and fifty gold, and a favor. A half-elven adventurer named Mara Bell had vanished near an abandoned toll house along the Coastway. Elowena agreed without hesitation, the crossbow now hers. Sam purchased a +1 rapier with quiet dignity, refusing to haggle. "I don't tend to haggle because I know your job is quite hard," he said, and the shopkeeper nodded in appreciation. Ohsoss attempted to intimidate Dan Palong into a discount on a cloak of protection, but the merchant only laughed. "I've been threatened by much bigger things," he said. Frustrated, Ohsoss bought a book for four hundred gold, then stormed out. Moments later, a distant splash echoed from the Worm Crossing. Ohsoss had cannonballed off the seventy-five-foot bridge into the icy river below. "Ice cold water shoots straight up your rectum," the GM described. "You got a bath and an enema all in one go." Aun claimed a broken ceremonial dagger from the party's belongings, and Nick repaired it with a whispered spell of mending. The party then sought civilization's comforts: a bathhouse to wash away the grime, and Facemakers Boutique for proper attire.
Figaro Pennygood was a whirlwind of silk and indignation. "Oh, you poor things. You brought mud in. Close the door. Lock up. We have an emergency," he declared, circling the party with a measuring tape. He outfitted Sam and Elowena in custom traveling clothes, then froze when he learned their destination. "I thought we were dressing for high society, but no. We are dressing for hell," he said, and immediately began redesigning both outfits for Avernus. Sam's Sam's Avernus Outfit was a dark charcoal coat with silver arcane embroidery, its pockets lined with protective symbols from a dozen faiths—some contradictory, which made Figaro Pennygood shrug. Elowena's Elowena's Avernus Outfit was practical and deadly: a dark green traveling coat with reinforced shoulders, concealed ammunition loops, a scarf for ash protection, and goggles. Both garments had magical patches stitched inside that would return the clothing to his shop if destroyed in the hellish plane. He charged only seventy-five gold for the redesigns, asking only that they spread word of his work if they returned.
That night, on the road south, the party shared their campfire with a mysterious traveler named Nbalik. He was lean, watchful, and spoke with the weight of experience. When Sam openly discussed their mission to confront Zariel, Nbalik leaned forward. "Do not drink anything you didn't bring. Do not accept transportation from anyone without agreeing upon the destination first. Never ever answer a double question with the words 'I swear' or 'I promise.' And never assume that because something is written in common that you're reading the entire contract." Sam listened intently, then offered to keep the stranger safe. Nbalik grew visibly uncomfortable. "You, my friend, have just demonstrated considerably more than it's healthy for a person to know in Avernus," he warned, and then he was gone, swallowed by the darkness. Sam cast Leomund's tiny hut, a purple dome of arcane shelter, and the party rested.
The next day, the road turned violent. Road Cultists and two Spined Devils erupted from the roadside brush. Ohsoss answered with a fireball that consumed several cultists in a roar of flame, but the devils emerged unscathed, their infernal hides resistant to fire. Nick charged forward, his glaive cutting down a cultist in a single stroke, while his steel defender tore into another. Elowena fired her new crossbow, the spectral bolt finding its mark. Reya raised her hand and a guiding bolt of pure radiance reduced a cultist to fine red paste. Sam activated his Bladesong and engaged a spined devil, his blade dancing through the air. The devils used flyby to strike from above, but the party's combined might eventually brought them down. After a short rest, the rest of the day passed uneventfully, and the party made camp for the night, the road to Avernus stretching before them.
This chronicle was generated by Kazkar from a live D&D session.
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