And This Horrible Bitch, Zariel…

Looking down from her tower, Zariel speaks to us. She says that we are the first mortals to come to her tower and try to ascend it

RC speaks about the fire he has inside

Brylwynn’s salvation is inside the tower. She is feeling a big struggle with the task ahead, but feels comfort with having all of the information they have

Caulkin is feeling as strong sense of who he is in the group and his purpose. He is feeling confident. 

Glittr is reeling on the opportunity to see his mother and speak with her after the discovery that she may not have been evil over the past few months

Pearl knows that her sister is not in the tower, but she struggles trying to balance her commitments to her two deities

Baptiste, although newest to the group, feeling on edge especially with painful memories being brought up when his old students were killed

Looking at the tower, there aren’t any guards or other protection for the tower. Behind us are demons and imps running amok. There is an archway above the door which Pearl recognizes as Infernal, but no one in the party speaks it. 

We leave the protection of Larael’s bubble. We step inside the tower, through a smokescreen that was obscuring the view from the outside. 

In the entry hall, we see 9 walls in a nonagonal room shape. In the center is a pit, and there are 9 walls around that pit too. In the pit, there are stairs leading down into the 9-sided pit room. It looks like a miniature version of the room we currently stand in. One ledge is about 2’ off the ground (right) and the one on the left is about 5’ off the ground (left). The scariest part of the room is a large devil, standing in the pit.

The devil stands there silent and still. As we enter, it doesn’t engage with us at all. 

Looking at the ceiling, we see a stone ceiling. Each of the 9 walls appears to have a tapestry-like art with writing underneath them. The two closest tiled mosaics next to us are depicting scenes. Under them is a script of writing. 

The red dots are marble busts of Zariel. 

The mosaic at 5 o’clock is depicting a frozen landscape that is not familiar to us. Pearl gathers that this is the 5th layer of Hell, Stygia. 

The mosaic at 7 o’clock, looks like the bone city from Lion King.

We look at the bust located at 9 o’clock which is mounted to the wall about 10’ off the ground. In front of it is a grate which the light spell cannot permeate. Pearl uses devilsight and looks in. About 10’ down, the bottom of the grate is just worked stone. 

Caulkin and Baptiste look at the 4 busts spread out throughout the room, each of them are of the same screaming face. 

Brylwynn casts Comprehend Languages on herself. The mural at 7 o’clock reads ‘Malebolge’. The one at 8 o’clock depicts a flaming citadel maze and it reads ‘Maladomini’. 

Cania is at 9 o’clock and it looks like a crystalized frozen wasteland, most like a gemstone and less rocky. Nessus is next and it looks like an even worse Avernus with volcanoes, a giant castle. At 12 o’clock, the top inscription reads Avernus and depicts the rocky mountain landscape of Avernus. At 1 o’clock, it looks like polluted water, as if a fire swept through recently and left water behind depicted as ‘Dis’. At 3 o’clock the inscription is of Minauros, it looks like a muddy disgusting swamp. Phlegethos is next and it looks similar to Avernus with fire and brimstone, but it looks like it has more terrain features. 

Pearl ritual casts Detect Magic and stands next to the busts which give off Evocation magic.  

She stands next to the Dis mural which gives off conjuration. The next mural also gives off conjuration. There is also a sense of Conjuration from the grates in the room. 

Pearl gets closer to the door leading to the pit, which gives off Abjuration, the protection and buffing types of magic. 

Brylwynn comes over and reads:

“Before you stands your first trial to reach Zariel. Beyond this stands Zariel’s strongest champion. A pit fiend of no mercy and great strength. It has observed your every move upon entry into the tower up until this point and beyond. He will be your first test, and your last test. When all others are completed, and not a moment before, he will face you in combat. 

To begin, you must leave behind one of the companions you have braved the hells with. One person in your companionship must open the door to the forcecage and leave themselves behind. Once a lone person has joined the devil in the cage, the mosaic that is the path up to the next tower floor will become transparent. All those except the person you leave behind are to leave their comrade behind and proceed through the transparent door. As long as all but the person in the cage leave, the person who remains behind will be unharmed. Should the person attempt to escape, via magical or regular means, should anyone attempt to join the lone person in the cage, or if anyone attempts to break out the lone person, the lone person will be slaughtered without remorse, and you will be forced to begin the trail anew. That is, pick one person to leave behind until all but one living member of your group departs the first trial. 

May you have a memorable journey through the hells!

By My Devil’s Word, all of the above is true. Zariel.

After a very long discussion, we settled on leaving Baptiste behind. He walks into the pit room and opens the door. Nothing happens as he enters the room. 

Back in the main room, the mosaic of Phlegethos becomes transparent as promised. On the other side and through the darkness, we see a staircase that wraps around and up the building. The five of us begin our ascent up the stairs. Once the five of us leave the room, for the first time, the Pit field acknowledges Baptiste’s presence in the room. In a deep voice it says, “You have succeeded the first trial successfully. As promised, the first trial has been completed. As Zariel harkened, may you have a memorable journey through the hells.” Another wall that would have been Avernus also turns transparent. “Perhaps I will see you again, perhaps I will not” and then the Pit fiend disappears.

Baptiste decides what to do, thinking that this may be a trap. He does decide to go through the newly transparent mosaic picture. 

Back with the 5 other party members, it’s almost like an outer shell spiraling upwards. After what feels like hours, we come to a large cast iron door reminiscent of the door on the first floor. 

We walk inside and we see the Pit fiend again with 3 figures standing behind it. “See what happens when you fail to enact Zariel’s will. I believe you've been entangled with these three ladies before. Succeed here and your next door will become transparent.”