Session Report 91
General Summary
The unwelcomed sight of Pata’traeya’s figure approached. He greeted Vistara and walked over to the Muskrats. Surprisingly warm, he acknowledged them and mentioned they hadn’t seen each other since the Bastard’s Court. As usual, the crew did not reciprocate the warmth and asked what he had been up to in the Nine Hells. Pata’traeya seemed to have business with Vistara but, more importantly, had come across a mysterious elven man in Magmarath Caldera with whom he had traded his ‘livestock’ in return for powerful cursed items. The Muskrats were presented with a variety of these ‘Dendallen’ items, which they carefully examined. Eventually, Dami purchased the Greaves of Dendallen, which allowed the wearer to walk on any liquid surface as if it were solid ground. Itzal’s eyes twinkled as he considered the new opportunities unlocked. After the deal was made, Pata’traeya explained that, as the Muskrats had been and remained loyal customers, he could provide them with other services as he was also a broker. Cambio took the chance and inquired about obtaining a coffin for Master Linel’s body, which had been precariously thrown into his bag of holding. Meanwhile, Itzal cleared his own bag and sold unused items, like the fossilized hydra egg he’d held onto for ages. Since the egg worth much less than before, he decided to gift it to Cambio instead. Before leaving, Pata’traeya told the Muskrats that they could find work by going to the lower levels and searching for a place called the Nest.
Once the crew concluded their business with Pata’traeya, Lyllis walked over and explained why she couldn’t take them in. If caught, Lyllis would have faced severe punishment, including a 20-year sentence of fighting in the Iron Maw Arena— certain death. She had only helped them due to her strong sense of justice and because she was sure that the three were not responsible for the deaths of the bearded devils they had encountered. The potential of new customers also helped a little. Lyllis briefly described the structure of the Wrath-Spike, a giant black tower the crew had seen in the center of the city. Built out of lava, it was the tallest structure in this layer of hell by hundreds of feet, directly connected to the Iron Maw Arena and framed by cascading falls of lava. It was within this impressive tower that the Tribunal Lyllis had hoped to avoid conducted their business. She recommended that the crew go to the Sniveling Mortal to meet with Zelura, an erinyes who owned and ran the establishment. Lyllis mentioned that the place also served as a bustling brothel but assured the Muskrats that the proprietor's familiarity with the city made her a valuable resource. Cambio, Itzal, and Dami left the Living Armory in pursuit of rest at the Sniveling Mortal, however, the magical city twisted, turned, and transported them through ever-changing loops. Despite Itzal’s best efforts, the three Muskrats found themselves wandering for hours until, by chance, they stumbled upon the Sniveling Mortal. The establishment was immense, the size of a small arena, with five open levels and a large pit in the middle. The levels were interspersed with bars and groups of fiends feasting upon humanoids, and smoke filled the air. Despite attempts to avoid attention, including Cambio’s transformation into a fiend who looked suspiciously like Lyllis, the crowd immediately caught the smell of the Muskrats and watched their entrance with suspicion. Fortunately, Zelura swooped down and welcomed them in immediately. She was the owner, with alert green eyes and almost fully black attire. After quick introductions, she flew back up to the rafters and kept a watchful eye over all dealings.
Dami made a beeline for the nearest table and Cambio joined her for a drink. An imp named Ekrat took their order— Dami chose a drink called the flaming fire and swallowed down the burning, yet sweet, concoction. Cambio ordered the putrid pit, a foul-smelling cocktail made of sulfur with a thick consistency. Without fear, Cambio drank it all until smoke poured out of his ears. While the two enjoyed their drinks, Itzal headed up the levels for a better look. He noticed that Zelura was keeping a close eye on the three Muskrats. At one point, she whispered into the ear of another erinyes and suspiciously sent them away. Soon after, a cloaked individual walked in flanked by two pit fiends. Itzal suspected they were a mortal and was shocked to discover the individual was Tritemeus! Itzal also noticed that Zelura quickly left her post after Tritemeus’ appearance and disappeared. Suddenly, a large figure walked up to Dami and Cambio and placed two large hands on both of their shoulders. It was the Infernal Knight the Muskrats had met in Ashenfall and who had destroyed Shade at Wave’s Break Castle. This time, however, he simply offered them work and promised it would be useful. After some grumbling, he agreed to escort the three of them down to the Nest where his lord resided.
With the help of the Infernal Knight, the group deftly navigated the spinning stairwells and alleys and descended into the pits. The Nest was aptly named, with nasty patched-together walls and bug-like fiends scurrying around. They were led into a circular backroom and faced Arbeyach, the Prince of Swarms and Lord of Decay. He appeared as a 7-foot-tall, gaunt gentleman in rags. His flesh was in strips and his innards were exposed and filled with insects. The Lord of Decay was known as a very rigid man who despised disorder. He was created when Baalzebul, the Lord of the Flies, spat out vermin which melded with souls. Once considered on par with the power of an archdevil, Arbeyach was viewed as a fading power due to his lack of ambition to take mortal souls. He had become closer to a pit fiend, and many tried to overtake him as a result. Sitting upon a wooden throne, Arbeyach explained that he was disillusioned with all the chaos of the Nine Hells, but Asmodeus had warned him that he would be deposed and replaced soon. Asmodeus told him that he could gain back favor if he killed and claimed the soul of a certain mortal —Chev! Unfortunately, Arbeyach failed, and House Vassa had taken the soul instead. Seeking revenge, the Lord of Decay offered a job to the Muskrats. They had to bring Zorron and Kilakas Zypher, the father and son who ruled House Vassa, back to him alive- or at least their souls.
The Muskrats were confused since they had just killed the pair, but Arbeyach drily denied this since both had been spotted at the Wrath-Spike with Mizanoros, a representative on the Tribunal. He offered them answers to five questions of their choice, with two questions up front, as a reward. Arbeyach also brought up a bonus if they wiped out the whole family line and killed Kilakas’ pregnant wife, Esmerelda. The Muskrats once again relied on Itzal to string together the correct words. First, Itzal asked what Tritemeus’ intentions were in his involvement with Mizanoros. Arbeyach described how Mizanoros had funneled countless souls to Tritemeus in return for his support. Mizanoros wished to end the Blood War and allow fiends to overtake the planes. Tritemeus wished to use the fiends to defeat the Achivelli. Additionally, Tritemeus had been trying to get Mizanoros to take him to the Oubliette. The Oubliette was a secret high-security prison overseen by Warden Tezmozel. Warden Tezmozel was infamous and known to be extremely powerful. The prison nullified almost all magic (apart from a single teleportation circle and certain artifacts) and was so well guarded that no one had ever managed to escape. The second question Itzal posed was how they kept all their prisoners in place. It was a simple response— brute force. Warden Tezmozel ran a strict system with hundreds of pit fiends, high pillars filled with demon guards, chains made out of Black Iron, and constant torture. Tired of their presence, the Lord of Decay told the Muskrats to figure out a way in themselves and told them to leave.
Exhausted, the Muskrats found a quiet spot for Itzal to conjure up a mansion. Cambio and Dami went to sleep in an instant, while Itzal dutifully researched any information he could about the Oubliette. He got the sense that, due to its secure nature, the prison had also been used as a vault. However, Itzal could not find anything further. Any mention of items left within the Oubliette had been so effectively erased, it could only be the work of the gods.
Once the crew concluded their business with Pata’traeya, Lyllis walked over and explained why she couldn’t take them in. If caught, Lyllis would have faced severe punishment, including a 20-year sentence of fighting in the Iron Maw Arena— certain death. She had only helped them due to her strong sense of justice and because she was sure that the three were not responsible for the deaths of the bearded devils they had encountered. The potential of new customers also helped a little. Lyllis briefly described the structure of the Wrath-Spike, a giant black tower the crew had seen in the center of the city. Built out of lava, it was the tallest structure in this layer of hell by hundreds of feet, directly connected to the Iron Maw Arena and framed by cascading falls of lava. It was within this impressive tower that the Tribunal Lyllis had hoped to avoid conducted their business. She recommended that the crew go to the Sniveling Mortal to meet with Zelura, an erinyes who owned and ran the establishment. Lyllis mentioned that the place also served as a bustling brothel but assured the Muskrats that the proprietor's familiarity with the city made her a valuable resource. Cambio, Itzal, and Dami left the Living Armory in pursuit of rest at the Sniveling Mortal, however, the magical city twisted, turned, and transported them through ever-changing loops. Despite Itzal’s best efforts, the three Muskrats found themselves wandering for hours until, by chance, they stumbled upon the Sniveling Mortal. The establishment was immense, the size of a small arena, with five open levels and a large pit in the middle. The levels were interspersed with bars and groups of fiends feasting upon humanoids, and smoke filled the air. Despite attempts to avoid attention, including Cambio’s transformation into a fiend who looked suspiciously like Lyllis, the crowd immediately caught the smell of the Muskrats and watched their entrance with suspicion. Fortunately, Zelura swooped down and welcomed them in immediately. She was the owner, with alert green eyes and almost fully black attire. After quick introductions, she flew back up to the rafters and kept a watchful eye over all dealings.
Dami made a beeline for the nearest table and Cambio joined her for a drink. An imp named Ekrat took their order— Dami chose a drink called the flaming fire and swallowed down the burning, yet sweet, concoction. Cambio ordered the putrid pit, a foul-smelling cocktail made of sulfur with a thick consistency. Without fear, Cambio drank it all until smoke poured out of his ears. While the two enjoyed their drinks, Itzal headed up the levels for a better look. He noticed that Zelura was keeping a close eye on the three Muskrats. At one point, she whispered into the ear of another erinyes and suspiciously sent them away. Soon after, a cloaked individual walked in flanked by two pit fiends. Itzal suspected they were a mortal and was shocked to discover the individual was Tritemeus! Itzal also noticed that Zelura quickly left her post after Tritemeus’ appearance and disappeared. Suddenly, a large figure walked up to Dami and Cambio and placed two large hands on both of their shoulders. It was the Infernal Knight the Muskrats had met in Ashenfall and who had destroyed Shade at Wave’s Break Castle. This time, however, he simply offered them work and promised it would be useful. After some grumbling, he agreed to escort the three of them down to the Nest where his lord resided.
With the help of the Infernal Knight, the group deftly navigated the spinning stairwells and alleys and descended into the pits. The Nest was aptly named, with nasty patched-together walls and bug-like fiends scurrying around. They were led into a circular backroom and faced Arbeyach, the Prince of Swarms and Lord of Decay. He appeared as a 7-foot-tall, gaunt gentleman in rags. His flesh was in strips and his innards were exposed and filled with insects. The Lord of Decay was known as a very rigid man who despised disorder. He was created when Baalzebul, the Lord of the Flies, spat out vermin which melded with souls. Once considered on par with the power of an archdevil, Arbeyach was viewed as a fading power due to his lack of ambition to take mortal souls. He had become closer to a pit fiend, and many tried to overtake him as a result. Sitting upon a wooden throne, Arbeyach explained that he was disillusioned with all the chaos of the Nine Hells, but Asmodeus had warned him that he would be deposed and replaced soon. Asmodeus told him that he could gain back favor if he killed and claimed the soul of a certain mortal —Chev! Unfortunately, Arbeyach failed, and House Vassa had taken the soul instead. Seeking revenge, the Lord of Decay offered a job to the Muskrats. They had to bring Zorron and Kilakas Zypher, the father and son who ruled House Vassa, back to him alive- or at least their souls.
The Muskrats were confused since they had just killed the pair, but Arbeyach drily denied this since both had been spotted at the Wrath-Spike with Mizanoros, a representative on the Tribunal. He offered them answers to five questions of their choice, with two questions up front, as a reward. Arbeyach also brought up a bonus if they wiped out the whole family line and killed Kilakas’ pregnant wife, Esmerelda. The Muskrats once again relied on Itzal to string together the correct words. First, Itzal asked what Tritemeus’ intentions were in his involvement with Mizanoros. Arbeyach described how Mizanoros had funneled countless souls to Tritemeus in return for his support. Mizanoros wished to end the Blood War and allow fiends to overtake the planes. Tritemeus wished to use the fiends to defeat the Achivelli. Additionally, Tritemeus had been trying to get Mizanoros to take him to the Oubliette. The Oubliette was a secret high-security prison overseen by Warden Tezmozel. Warden Tezmozel was infamous and known to be extremely powerful. The prison nullified almost all magic (apart from a single teleportation circle and certain artifacts) and was so well guarded that no one had ever managed to escape. The second question Itzal posed was how they kept all their prisoners in place. It was a simple response— brute force. Warden Tezmozel ran a strict system with hundreds of pit fiends, high pillars filled with demon guards, chains made out of Black Iron, and constant torture. Tired of their presence, the Lord of Decay told the Muskrats to figure out a way in themselves and told them to leave.
Exhausted, the Muskrats found a quiet spot for Itzal to conjure up a mansion. Cambio and Dami went to sleep in an instant, while Itzal dutifully researched any information he could about the Oubliette. He got the sense that, due to its secure nature, the prison had also been used as a vault. However, Itzal could not find anything further. Any mention of items left within the Oubliette had been so effectively erased, it could only be the work of the gods.
Report Date
18 Jun 2023
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