Marxstaff Sacrifice
General Summary
TLDR;
Cohor Pithedaiya discovered a portal connecting the Material Plane to the Hells in a destroyed hamlet known as Marxstaff. He requested the aid of willing adventurers to dive into the realm of fiends, locate any other portals, obtain their keystones, and exact vengeance upon any fiends they come across. Despite almost certain doom, the group of adventurers managed to slay over a dozen fiends and recover their sought-after keystones for the three remaining portals. Crater Chaser perished at the hands of dretches, but Nora entered a contract with Imanimp, their imp-guide, to restore Crater's life. As they were heading back to Southgate, the portal to Marxstaff's well caverns, Imanimp shifted into a skulking, smoky, shadowy demon and attacked the group, summoning a hell hound to join him. The demon fell, full bodily control was restored to Imanimp, and the contract that bound Nora and Crater was broken. Imanimp agreed to accompany Crater in his ventures outside of the hells and they were able to report to Cohor for their reward.Quest Start
Throughout the city of Wildcross and listed on a multitude of job boards and other locations, one might notice the following in flowing script.
“SETTLEMENT DESTROYED. Marxstaff was ransacked by fiends and witchcraft. A portal was discovered beneath the settlement, in the caverns of the water well. Though the portal was disabled, we have the means to reactivate it; we will execute retribution for the senseless murders committed by these invaders. On the evening of the next full moon, arrive at Captain Janburry's Inn. Of the present throng, four will be selected. Adventure and Vengeance Awaits. ~C. Pith”The adventurers arrived at Captain Janburry's Inn in Wildcross late one evening, with the moon bright in the sky. There was quite the crowd. A young woman in chain armor and short dark hair welcomed each hopeful to Captain Janburry's, handing each a slip of paper with a number on it. Every few minutes a blonde-haired man with a milky-white right eye in fine clothes would descend the stairs of the inn with an individual in tow. He'd then call out a number and lead the answering individual up the stairs. Each hopeful was brought to a fine room with a desk. The fine-dressed man would sit on one side and the hopeful the other, in interview fashion. He introduced himself as Cohor, gauged each individual's qualifications, and ended the interview by expounding on the details listed and ommitted in the job posting. Marxstaff was a small settlement nestled on a ridge that looked out over the ocean. Most of the region is heavy jungle; the settlement was ruined when Cohor had discovered it. But most importantly, he had found a portal humming beneath the settlement in the caverns of the water well. He described the creatures he had fought to provide context on what the chosen adventurers were likely to face. He explained that he had thought his purging of the evils in Marxstaff had been successful with the deactivation of the portal, but his most recent trip there proved him otherwise; there must be other portals. His hope is for the heroes to enter this portal he'd deactivated and find out if there's a way to close the other portals from the inside. He'd do it on this plane, but he'd been unable to locate other gateways. He promised to pay fifty pieces of gold each should the adventurers succeed.
Selection Day - Journey to Marxstaff
The following morning, a list was posted to the inn's door. It contained these names:
"After careful review of the many candidates, I have decided that most qualified individuals for purging Marxstaff of this demonic invasion are listed below:The woman who had done introductions the day before lead the newly formed group to the Iron Coin where they were prepared for Waypoint Travel. Cohor met them there, clad in full plated armor. He transported with them to Marxstaff, the teleportation landing the new party in a small cave ringed by pedestals and glowing runes carved on the stone floor. Evil cackling in the jungle trees and a faint red mist wafting in the distance could be heard and seen. A rough ten minutes passed as they waded through jungle undergrowth before finally breaking the treeline, Marxstaff appearing in front of them. A poor, ruined town. Not a building was left untouched, most were husks of what they once were. Cohor led them down into the water well some twenty feet beneath the surface. The well cavern was large, the water rising to a man's waist. He lit a torch and guided you down a few natural corridors, some 12-feet tall. The corridors ended, eventually, ending in a large cavern. An obsidian arch formed in its center, and Cohor placed four glowing amethysts into little slots on what must be the deactivated portal. Upon the placement of the last amethyst, the portal sprang to life, a warbling green energy filling the arche's cavity. “Very well, my friends. I wish you luck. You fight for the slain souls of Marxstaff and to help prevent the further infestations of these fiends. Adventure and Vengeance await.” Magnaminity frowned. "Now wait one second. Are you not coming with us? And how do we know that you won’t just remove the crystals and slam this portal shut the second we step through?" The night furrowed his eyebrows. "Magnanimity, I have no reason to execute those I hired and every reason to hope for your success. This region is wealthy in natural resources and could be of incredible use to myself and others once we rid ourselves of this fiend infestation. I'm afraid my current efforts are best put to use here; I've gleaned some information on several particularly nasty devils having made it to the Material Plane...the last thing we need is for them to round up the forces here and organize themselves into a formidable legion." He paused. "And you have it on my Oath as an agent of Kelemvor; if you fear my betrayal, you can deactivate the portal yourself on the other side by plucking the gems from their slots--which I'd recommend. It's the same portal, after all, and that will give only the wielders of the gems power to reactivate it. Or so I've been told." "Yesh, lesh do dis." Came Crater Chaser's reply. The glimmering portal seemed to call to the adventurers to step through. Is it aching to be closed or is it a trap to bring more souls into hell? As the group begins to enter the portal, Cohor pauses for a small prayer for his new strike team. They are not experienced, but have very resolute resolve and determination. As the last party member steps through, he see's the portal deactivate.May vengeance guide and light protect you, ~C. Pith"
- Nora Sunmeadow
- Crater Chaser
- Aelar
- Magnanimity Truthspeaker
- Anmo Greymeadow
Delving into Avernus
The adventurers step through the portal to arrive at, well what looks like the exact same place. In fact, they at first feel like maybe they didn't actually go through the portal, but after a few moments, they do sense that something is amiss. Something isn't quite right. Feeling as though someone is watching them, they grab the jewels to deactivate this portal and start to step away from it. After about four paces, the illusion of the environment changes to a desolate place. No buildings in sight, just vast space... there are small demon like vermin scattering about, much like a hell version of being out in a field. The gray-haired halfling looks around, still wearing a scowl on his face that you have yet to see leave. “I love what they’ve done with the place.” He says flatly. Then he looks back to where they just walked from when the illusion dropped. "Wa ish thish. Wher ish the town?" Crater Chaser asked, confused. ”My friends, do not despair, we came here to fight demons, did we not? Let us complete our task with haste.” Nora looks around at the wasteland ”Without getting too much demon's blood in our tunics. It is a pain to get out.” Anmo looks at his kin with a frown, though she appears to be quite different from himself, opposites in many ways. “If you have fought these creatures before, then maybe we are not as different as I had first presumed.” He speaks gravely. ”I'll admit, I have yet to face them myself, but there were those in my temple that did. They mainly did house calls not this” She motions out to the wastleand and sounds a little unhappy as she moves on ”kind of warfare level killing. And I hope we don't face anything like from their stories. But I learned much from. 'A cleric is not helpful if they do not know what they are facing.' “ She states almost rotely like it is a proverb or a known saying ”I would not have come if I knew nothing of our intended foe.” That prompts a slight, almost imperceptible smile from Anmo. “Neither would I. I have spent several years studying creatures from this realm. It appears our employer has good taste in who to send to the hells.” “Well, it sounds like you lot may be more experienced, but from what I understand, since we are in the hells, these would technically be considered devils, not demons,” Magnanimity says with the slightest of flick of his hair that burns like hot coals. “Although, I don’t suppose it makes too much of a different for our purposes here.” ”Devilsh, demonsh, doeshn't matter. They all die the same.” Crater Chaser says, looking to the distance. ”Are we continuing?” Most of the little hellish creatures running about dont pay much attention to party. They are lizardy, some are flying. If they decided to eat lunch, it wouldn't be much of a fight. After they let their eyes adjust and their body temperature even out to the warmer conditions, things still seem odd. Looking out over the horizon long enough yielded visions of blurry buildings. They come and go, much like a mirage in the desert. Some seem like they are closer than others, but its hard to tell if its half a mile or 5 miles. They all took in the scene, each feeling like they see something, yet none of them can really confirm they are looking at the same thing. Awkwardly, a raven flies towards the group, it is obviously headed towards you and your team. “I don’t like the look of this. I don’t know if it’s just an ordinary raven, but if not, I don’t think we want anyone knowing we’re here...” Mag says, as he readies himself to cast fire bolt at the raven if it begins to turn around and head back. Magnanimity also commands his owl familiar, Avarice, to leave his shoulder and begin circling overhead at about the same height as the raven. “I think you’re right.” The Halfling growls, loading a bolt into his hand crossbow. Nora gently places her hand on Anmo's shoulder, and holds out another hand to Mag. ”Peace, friends, we don't know that it is dangerous. Perhaps even here there are those that would help us.” As the raven gets closer to the ground, about 15ft out, the party all has everything they own pointed at this thing. Before their eyes, the raven transforms into an imp. He is a rough looking, perhaps down on his luck a bit. "Don’t shoot, don’t shoot, all you surface dwellers want to do is shoot everything you see. My name is Imanimp, why in the nine hells would you come here!" ”White haired man shaid come here and mashter said to lishen sho I came. I asshume we all have shimilar shtories.” Crater says, looking around. Not at all fazed by the sight of the imp. Without lowering his defensive posture or the flames dancing on the tips of his fingers, Mag gives a respectful nod of his head towards the imp. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Imanimp. You may call me Magnanimity. Please forgive the hostility, but I hope that you understand that this is a foreign and dangerous place for us. “You see, we came here because fiends recently entered our world from this portal and butchered the inhabitants of the nearby town. We are here to better understand why that happened, and try our best to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Nora, who didn't ready a weapon yet, nods at Mag's words ”Yes, we came to prevent anymore bloodshed or invasion of our side of the portal. Is that something you seek as well, Mr. Imp?” “Ah, the portals, there are four portals to the surface currently. Gazel has opened them all in hopes of adventurers to come ‘help’. Then he takes their souls to help with his quest for power. It’s ruining life as we know it here, we need all the creatures in the plane to help us grow, It’s like it’s own world, we need fiends here supporting what we are trying to do. You are at Southgate. And evidently know how to deactivate this one. The other three all need different gem stones to manipulate. Do you have the other gems?” “Eastgate needs Emeralds, it’s in the field, maybe 5 miles from here.. Should be easy to close them if you brought the gems.” ”Excushe me shir Imanimp. I don believe we have theshe gemsh you shpeak of. Do you know where we can find 'em.” Crater Chaser says, emptying his pockets. “You mean, the Eastgate doesn’t have the emerald gems sitting in the portal currently? Is it active?” Pipes the grey-haired halfling, Anmo. "It’s a bit tricky," the imp began, "there are those among us carrying the gems, they use them to open and close the gates as they see fit. So, get the gems from them, then you can open and close them as you see fit. See? Now, I can’t 'help' you cause I’d they see me I will be send down to the sixth-level and live a life of complete misery. But I can point you in the right direction." “Thank you, we greatly appreciate your help,” Mag says, finally beginning to lower his spell. “Did you previously hold the gems for this particular portal?” "Me no way, only big scary things hold those! Good luck!" Imanimp flies off, he points east. "Try that one first!" The heroes move slowly through the area. After about an hour, they see an entrance to a cavern. It’s painfully obvious this must be were Imanimp was talking about. Small rivers of lava run around and through the entrance. Its dark and the team pauses to discuss the options at hand... “I have never been in a cave, much less one in the hells, but most of the books I've read don't speak too kindly of them. The lava seems like a bad touch too. I can see alright in the dark, but I believe that someone a little more... physically... inclined would be better suited. Anyone interested?” Looking around the group and not being one to walk away from a crater, cave, suicide; Crater Chaser begins to walk in. Nora slowly creeps in behind Crater Chaser. If he's brave enough, then she's brave enough to stand by him. Grim faced, Anmo takes next in line. Scimitar and crossbow in hand. Magnanimity gives a slight shrug and follows behind Anmo. “I don’t know if you want to try to move unseen, but if not, I can produce some light, if you all would like.” ”Ish there a reashon why we don wanna create light? If so, I can see on the dark.” Crater Chaser says while cautiously moving forward. ”Honestly I can't see well in the dark, and I'm a bit clumsy in this armor. It might be better if we just use light, but I can create my own.” Nora smiles at Mag and whispers a quick prayer, so that the head of her mace begins to glow like a torch. ”As long as we aren't worried about stealth.”
Eastgate
The group entered a large opening, a cavern that could fit a vessel like ones in the Wildcross Harbor. Nasty manes and a spined devil were there, protecting a portal on the far side of the cavern. "Trying to get our, huh? Nobody opens the portal except for me! For I am the keeper of the Eastgate, and you SHALL NOT PASS!" Chaos ensues. Magnanimity throws arcane bolts that strike the flying devil, who immediately assailed the poor wizard with its barbed tail spines. The stress of the wounds caused him to collapse; Anmo was quick to provide aid, skillfully removing the piercing, hot spines and staunching the blood flow. Nora stopped by moments later and blessed the tiefling, granting renewed strength to his will and soul. Magnanimity was able to stand and vanquish the devil with impressive arcane power. The rest of the group manages to destroy the manes, their remains puffing into a sickening green wisps of smoke. Magnanimity moves over to Nora and reaches a slightly shaking hand down onto her shoulder. "Really, I appreciate it. I have not lost consciousness like that before. That was terrifying." Nora looks over her shoulder and pats Mag's hand, the slight golden glow of her Sanctuary spell fading, as she flashes him a bright smile. ”Well thank you, but it is my job to protect and shelter those that I can.” She turns and gives him a slight bow ”It is why my goddess grants me my power.” The team spreads out, covering each other and searches the cavern, there is a small chest by the currently deactivated portal. Though it is locked, with a simple search of the small devil, they find the key to open it. Inside the team finds a Pearl of Power and 4 sparkling emeralds. "Well thish ish intereshting. What'sh thish shiny pearl?” Crater asks, inspecting the contents. Anmo walks up to Crater and inspects the jewels in the chest, then walks over to the portal and eyes it for the slot locations and number of slots it requires. “East gate needs emeralds. I wonder if that other jewel is related or not.” Anmo returns to the party and inspects the pearl again. His scowl shows signs of 'Oh! Duh!' “This is a Pearl of Power. Useful for those who play with magic and unrelated to the portal.” He'll then leave the pearl in the chest, scoop up the emeralds, and return to the portal before looking back at the party. “Do you think the more powerful of these creatures know when these portals are activated and deactivated?” "Mosh definitely. We should be exshpecting dem.” Crater Chaser says excited to get back into the fray. “I think that it may be best for us to avoid opening the portals. Imanimp came straight to us minutes after our portal was opened. I think that the best plan may be to try to collect the gems for the remaining two portals without attracting a heap of attention.” “Well thought.” Anmo slides the gems into his pack. “Let's decide who gets that pearl then move onto the next portal.” “It appears that Nora and I are the most reliant on magic, so maybe one of us can hold onto it for now? I don’t want to be unfair, and I imagine that Nora feels the same. Perhaps we can sell it when we return to Wildcross and split whatever coin we can get for it.” ”I mean, I also have need for more shpell shlots if this doesh what you shay it doesh.” Crater Chaser responds to Mag with a curious and confused expression on his face. ”Why would we want to shell thish?” ”On the other hand, shplitting one item between so many people would be very difficult. We couldn't break it ash the magic would eshcape. Maybe we should just shell it. We could alwaysh hold onto it and hope we get other itemsh to put into a pile to shplit.” “I think I disagree. We could use every ounce of magic we can muster in a place like this.” He looks to Nora. “For getting us going past our exhaustion point or--” Anmo turns his gaze to the tiefling. “To blast flyers out of the air. I'd rather walk out of one of these portals alive without this pearl than dead with hopes of coin. Maybe we can discuss selling it when it is all over; until then, someone should take it.” Magnanimity interjects. “Sorry if that wasn’t clear, but of course I meant that one of us should use it while we’re here. I was simply being optimistic that we will all leave this place alive and want some sort of fairness.” Anmo waves his hand dismissively. “This pearl would do one of you far better than a few coins would do for all of us. I say keep it.” “I believe that Nora should take it, personally. I think that our best shot of surviving this place will be for her to have her healing spells ready. I already benefited from it once, and would hate to be without that if another one of us goes down.” Was Mag's response. Nora has stayed silent while they discussed what to do with the Pearl “If you all think it is best. I don't know where we would be without the offensive magic that you and Crater provide though. I feel like my contribution is small. Although I have currently exhausted my spells.” She shrugs. ”That ish alsho a fair point. I tend to shoak up damage and can alsho heal myshelf and othersh but after that combat, I shtill have shome magic left.” Crater Chaser looks to Nora, *”You were definitely quicker on the draw and were able to help Anmo when they needed it. I can take the damage but I may need shomeone to pick me back up.” “Very well.” Anmo's scowl remains. “Back out and then west?” Nora nods “Sounds like a good plan.” The cavern starts to rumble a bit as our heroes head out to the next portal. As they leave Imanimp flies up to the group, “I can sense the portal is closed, you must be a powerful group. Off to the next one I see?” ”Yesh, yesh. Off to the nexsht one.” "Very well, good luck!" The imp piped. ”Shir Imanimp, do you have any advice on which is closhest? Or where we may resht?” "There is no rest for the wicked! The word is already spreading that there are people here to taken ive the open gates. I have spread lies hoping to take the ‘heat’ off you, he heh. Anyway, maybe an hour or so wouldn’t hurt, but spending too long here isn’t a good idea. Next would be North Gate, might as well go in a circle, it’s the shortest route to all four." ”Thank you for your ashishtance, shir Imanimp. I musht ashk tho, why are you helping ush?” "If these gates open and close whenever someone wants them to, then it lets some of our residents out, they get slaughtered out in the ‘real world’, plus more fair skins come here trying to kill us. We live here, you live there, we shouldn’t have all these portals not under proper security!" ”I shee, and you believe that we are... more qualified... to manage the openingsh and closhingsh of theshe portalsh?” Crater asks the imp. ”I like you, shir Imanimp. If I were to promise you unlimited power if only you would sherve me (in a few levels) ash my familiar, would you join me?” Imanimp responds, a bit unsettled. "Eh? What? I think I am best here, but when that time comes, come visit again and we shall talk!" Magnanimity turns to Imanimp with a slight bow and says in Infernal “We truly do appreciate your assistance thus far. I understand that you cannot become too involved without bringing harm to yourself, but is there anything you can tell us about who might be guarding the other portals?” The imp answered, "I dont get too close to them, so I cant be of much help. I would expect with word of the hijacking of one of the portals that security may be amped up." “Very well. Then we shall head to the northern portal. It's unfortunate that rumor has spread already...” Anmo arcs an eyebrow at Imanimp. “That wasn't your doing, was it? How does word travel so quickly here?” The imp looks clearly offended. "What... me? Well, no, no no, the portals all notify each other when attacked or activated or deactivated. So the guardians already knew of someone coming through the south portal. The East Portal Guardian must have set off the alarm. Look up in the sky, (you see a small batman like signal in the so called sky of a gem.) That notifies that there is something amiss at the four new portals." Anmo leers at the signal through squinted eyes then gruffs. “I don't like the looks of this. Is this region heavily populated? I think we can handle a few more numbers than the previous portal-guard. But the few of us are not set to handle a legion.” "I better take off before I get a bad rep for helping surface dwellers. I wouldnt worry too much, most of the population wants these extra gates closed as well, so its only like 50/50 that you get attacked. Good Luck!" And Imanimp again flies off. “Onward, then.” grumps Anmo. "If we have an hour, we should likely take a breather." Crater Chaser says to the group. "Doesh anyone need to resht?" Aelar shrugs "I'll survive." He states plainly looking to the rest if the group. “Can you all handle securing one more portal and take a break after that?” Anmo asked. ”I am good to go. I can do thish all day long” Crater says with a huge grin. His smile shows his missing front teeth, likely having been lost in a fight or battle somehow. “I will happily go along with what the group decides, but I personally could benefit from a bit of rest. I feel tapped out of my bigger spells current. With a rest I should be able to use the magic missile spell from earlier another time, otherwise I will only be able to use smaller bits of magic.” Magnanimity interjected.
Dretch Attack
And so the group carefully moves through the cracked ground of this hellishly hot place. They can see another cavern ahead. However, the team looks over and sees a pack of some sort of hellish creatures sprinting towards them. Dretches. And a lot of them. This was the moment where the party almost perished in Avernus. These disgusting ape-demons carried with them the stench of death, and their fists were unceasing and brutal. All but Magnanimity fell to their blows, and he would have gone next had Imanimp not appeared and lent his aid. "What the hell happened here! Everyone is dead! Look, you have to close these portals... I have a small cave you can rest in. It’s close by and you will be safe there, unless someone detects you." He looks at the situation... then picks up a comrade and turns invisible. Magnanimity grabs one of the halflings and follows, heading to the north west. After about an hour of shuttling barely-alive (and in one case, dead) bodies, Imanimp and Magnanimity had the lot safely placed in a small, desolate cave.
Resurrection
Shortly after being placed in the cave, Nora and Anmo came to. They learned of Crater's passing. That's when Imanimp spoke up again. "I have a way to revive him. But it will cost two pounds of platinum. You'll need to repay me with a blood diamond; they're not easy to come by, but I know if you give me your word, you will follow through. Do we have a deal?" Anmo stared daggers at the imp, and was caught off guard when Nora humbly stepped in, holding out her hand.
"Yes, we have a deal. I will bring you your blood diamond as soon as I obtain it." The imp held his hand up, unready to shake on it. "Before your fifth season? Your fallen comrade is part of this pact?" Anmo looks at Nora bewildered. “I didn’t peg you as the type to make deals with fiends.” Imanimp interjected with a pained voice. "Fiend! Well... I... I mean, I did save your lives!" The ghostwise halfling waved his hand dismissively at the imp. "It's he surface dwellers' name for those of this realm." Nora turns away just slightly “I, well, normally you would be right. No offense Mr. Imp.” She bows her head and shakes it and then turns back to Anmo and the group, tears silently streaming down her face “This” she begins pointing at Crater Chaser “was my fault. I don't know if it was my faith was not strong enough, or I simply am not, but if a deal with this...” she stops and struggles to come up with a better word “FIEND...sorry Mr. Imp... will correct it then so be it. I will bring him his diamond. And I'll vow to never be this unprepared, or defeated ever again.” At the end, she finally lets out a small sob and walks over to Crater Chaser, and kneels down touching his shoulder. “I am sorry, friend. Sorry that I failed you. In the name of Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth, I will see you home in one piece even though it means making a deal with Mr. Imp. My goddess please spare this poor soul from any anger with me and allow him the warmth of your embrace, allow all of your lost and wayward children, especially those still stuck in the Nine Hells, your warmth on their journey home. Thank you.” Nora sighs and stands up wiping tears from her face. Imanimp flitted to the back of the cave. When he returned, he held a blood gem in his hand and placed it in Crater Chaser's mouth. "From the innocent soul of the sacrifice to this fallen comrade, live again and provide a life worthy of the sacrifice." The gem glowed a deep red and melted into the back of Crater's throat. “Your fault? No, Sunmeadow. For your namesake, it isn't your fault. If anything, it's that noble, Cohor's, fault. He sent us in to our deaths with little thought of preparing us for such foes.” Anmo watched solemnly as Nora somberly prayed to her god. Then shook his head disapprovingly as the gem melted in Chaser's mouth. Shortly after, Crater began to cough, life returning to him. "Ish everyone elsh ok?" He wheezed out to Imanimp after he rolled over, the gem's melted essence affected his windpipe. "I don't know what I'd do if anything were to happen to you all." “Everyone is doing alright.” Anmo sighs. “You have Nora to thank, else you'd be dead in the realms beyond. She blames herself, so she made a binding deal with our imp-friend.” ”Oh Nora, I'm not worth thish kindnessh you have shown me today but I'm very grashous.” Turning his attention back to Imanimp. ”Shir Imanimp, If I pay you double what my companionsh owe for reviving me, will you do me the kindnessh of relinquishing them of all debt owed?” Nora shakes her head “No, Crater, the deal is done. It is between me and Mr. Imp here. If you want to help me with my debt then I will accept that, but I will pay him back for his kindness.” ”Absholutely, dear friend. I would be happy to help you repay thish debt.” The imp interrupted the tender moment, circling the party back to the task at hand. "Welcome back to the land of the living! Please rest up, the sooner the better to deactivate these portals. You are taking the gems right, from each portal? That is how they activate, so don't leave them in the caverns, or anyone can just open them again." “We've got the gems in our possession.” The ghostwise says flatly. "Good, get them far away from here. Maybe some of the 'heat'" he winked, "will die down about the closing of the portals. I noticed the beacon light was no longer in the sky this morning. Perhaps the alarm has been turned off."
Northgate
The team exited Imanimp's cave and moved carefully to the mouth of the north portal entrance. Again, it's a winding path into the cave, and the team goes in single file. Eventually, they found themselves looking into another cavern, a portal right in the middle of it. They inched forward towards what felt like certain death. The cavern was eerily quiet... the portal hummed, activated, and the gems were gleaming in their holders. The heroes held their ground -- and their breath -- as they waited. A fifteen-foot ledge made the terrain somewhat difficult to navigate. The cavern remained still, the portal active and shimmering. Finally, Aelar broke the silence. "I'll get it. Back me up." Anmo piped in just before the thin fellow leapt the gap. "I’ve got some rope. Why don’t we tie that around you just in case? If you slip, we can pull you up before you become lava food." Aelar nodded. "Let's do it." When Anmo asked for help to ensure the knots were tight and secure, Aelar offered his. His was the life on the line. Aelar cleared the gap, and as his light frame touched the floor on the other end, the platform sunk into the surrounding lava about three feet. He approached the portal and attempted to remove the gems from the portal frame. That's when the quasit's, the invisible guardians, struck. Within the first minute-and-a-half, they dropped the first quasit. All but Aelar fighting from across the gap. Immediately after slaying the first portal guardian, Aelar removed two of the gems from the frame, the shimmering portal dissipated. The remaining quasit poisoned Aelar with its nasty claws before Anmo's crossbow bolt skewered it out of the air. Aelar removed the final four gems and, with the help of the rope and his friends, managed to scale the twenty-foot cliff that separated them. They returned to Imanimp's cave where they regained their strength and managed to sleep in this bizarre place. Nora spent a good deal of time studying her new pearl, learning of its magical properties and attuning to its power. "It's exciting to think that the portals can finally be closed! You are doing a great service." After their rest, they bid Imanimp farewell and moved towards the west and final gate.
Westgate
More vermin seemed to be present on this leg of the journey and the heroes felt stronger today. Perhaps this place isn't so bad after all. The vermin showed interest in the group, and got close at times, but none bared teeth or acted aggressively. An hour's walk passed, and they found themselves looking at a cave entrance that obviously descended deep under the surface. A faint red glow emanating from the entrance reminded them that they were indeed in some plane of hell. With their newfound strength, they took a moment to collect their thoughts and delve into the depths of hell. Anmo led the brave lot, Crater immediately behind him. Intense heat radiated up the cavern towards them, the sound of something thick bubbling and boiling ahead. They came into an opening where a thirty-foot suspended, rickety old bridge crossed over a bit of magma, the final portal on its opposite end. Lava falls fell from the portal's far side of the cavern, drizzling molten material into the lake below. Dogs from hell lay napping at the base of the portal. Though the entrance of the heroes startled the awful creatures awake. The portal behind them shimmered and shined, reminding the heroes that, at any time, something could come through it. With amazing speed and agility, the hell hounds crossed the bridge, their lava-spittle jaws snapping. All felt like it was going to fail when the two hounds released breath of flame, searing and burning the adventurers. Just before they downed the first dog, another came howling through the portal. Magnanimity threw bolt after bolt of powerful, arcane energy, Anmo struck with blade and dagger, and Nora filled the air with painful sounds. Crater attempted to cross the bridge, but tripped on one of the uneven surface. He quickly managed to get off the bridge, with Anmo's help. His second attempt to cross was successful, and he dashed to across without any issues. He removed the gems and safely returned to the party. With the last portal closed, the adventurers gathered up their gear, ensuring they had everything, bandaged up some wounds, and began to buzz with excitement about getting back to Southgate and to warm, safe beds.
Deceived
And so, our heroes have accomplished their task, having acquired the sixteen gems of the portals. Closing each was not easy, but they have proven their mettle, and their worth. Even as they were approaching Southgate, an all too familiar raven approaches them, awkwardly at first, but before their eyes it transformed into Imanimp. "You are alive, I see! Great news! You have secured all the gems and closed the portals? Very good. If I may, I would like to give you some small rewards?" "I feel some rewards are... well-deserved... Yes, yes. We have all the gems." Anmo stated. "Ah, great. I appreciate your valor and determination. As for a reward, I think... eternal damnation in hell sounds appropriate? Yes..." Imanimp magically transformed into a demon in front of their eyes. His hellhound pet materializes in the air beside him. Anmo recognized this fiend as a shadow demon, which he had come across on his intense studies before starting his adventuring life. He shared what he knew regarding their foe with his party. Stressful combat ensued. Having encountered hellhounds before, they knew to spread out so as to not all get toasted by its firebreath. Eventually, Anmo drove his scimitar between the hound's shoulderblades, driving its belly to the ground. The fight against the demon wasn't faring as well; their strikes passed through its non-physical form; they seemed to be doing little by way of harming it. It drove its shadowy claws into Anmo's side, and the halfling dropped to the ground, writhing in pain. Nora helped Anmo drive away the pain, and they encircled the demon, assaulting it from every side. Finally, Aelar roundhouse kicked the demon into a puff of black smoke, which quickly disappeared into the air. Exhausted, haggard, and many suffering unpleasant wounds, the group stood about in hell in disbelief. Imanimp added to that: "I AM FREE.... You guys did it, you killed it and closed the gates! Thank you, thank you! For all your help. I don't have much to offer in a way of thanks, but here are a few trinkets you can have!" From seemingly out of nowhere, the imp retrieved a dagger that vanished if you looked at it with the right angle, a red figurine of a chicken, two rings, and a tabard. ”Shir Imanimp, Now that you are free, I don't want you to feel obligated but I would be honored to have you join me ash my familiar. What do you think?” Crater looks over to Imanimp offering a hand in friendship.
Conclusion
Some time after they stumbled into the subterranean cavern in Marxstaff, the purple light from the humming portal much softer than the violent reds and oranges of the hells bathing the stone, Cohor will appear, clinking in his regal armor. “It is good what you have accomplished and that you are alive! I would love to hear of your tales and exploits over a hot meal in Wildcross!” He appears to be accompanied by a scholarly fellow. “Very well, I'll escort you back to the waypoint.” Once comfortably situated in an inn, and after some degree of conversation, he'll hand each of hero a pound of gold. And he'll toss a small book to the tiefling--all in exchange for the gems. “I've located the the other three portals on our plane. I believe there are a few more of their fiendish leaders about Marxstaff (I slew two while you were away, great dragonesque brutes of fiends, warriors of Tiamat herself or so I'm told) but this ensures they will not be sending in reinforcements. At least for a time. Hopefully I can eradicate the lingering demonspawn and rebuild that region. When we have a foothold there, I shall never forget the part you played in laying its foundations!”
Rewards Granted
Items
- Stiletto of the Infiltrator - +1 Dagger, Properties: Finesse, Light, thrown (40/80ft) While wielding this dagger in one hand and a light weapon in the other, you gain a +1 bonus to your armor class. If you impale this dagger in a surface you may, for the next minute, use a bonus action to teleport to its location as long as it is within 100ft of you. Once you use this ability it can not be used again until you finish a short or long rest.
- Anmo Greymeadow
- Figurine of Wondrous Power: Ruby Chicken - This figurine can become a Large chicken for 24 hours, strong enough to be ridden and carry up to 250 pounds. It has an AC of 10, HP of 22, to-hit of +4, can peck for 1d6 piercing damage. Has the effect of Featherfall. This can not be used again until you finish a long rest.
- Pearl of Power
- Nore Sunmeadow
- Tabard of Rage - A leather Tabard made of orc skin that allows those who wear it to be able to use Rage once per day. Legends tell of the friendship between an elf ranger and an orc barbarian, whose tribe had strange funerary rites. When the orc was struck down, with his final words, he requested that he’d be turned into a tabard so he could protect his friend once more.
- Pearl of Power
- Crater Chaser
- Ring of Recall - A small ring that allows the spellcaster wearing it to regain a spell slot if the target succeeds the saving throw. Has 2 charges that refreshes after a long rest.
- Pearl of Power
- Apprentice Wizard Spellbook (gifted by Cohor Pithedaiya)
- Magnanimity Truthspeaker
- Alchemist Ring - When the wearer of this ring drinks a healing potion, they receive an additional 1d6 HP.
- Aelar
Gold & Experience
- XP: 300 (Mid-Adventure Level-up to 2) + 600 (Level-up to 3)
- Gold: 250gp + 50gp from Cohor Pithedaiya
Missions/Quests Completed
- Discovered and closed the three other portals that connected Avernus to the Marxstaff region; retrieved the keystones and delivered them to Cohor Pithedaiya
Character(s) interacted with
- Cohor Pithedaiya
- Imanimp, accepted Crater's invitation to become his familiar
Hero Roster
- Nora Sunmeadow, Level 1 Halfling Cleric
- Crater Chaser, Level 1 Shifter Warlock
- Anmo Greymeadow, Level 1 Halfling Blood Hunter
- Magnanimity Truthspeaker, Level 1 Fire Genasi (Tiefling) Wizard
- Aelar, Level 2 High Elf Monk
