Mace?!?

The pitfiend screams. As he does, the ceiling of the tower opens to the red-hot flames of Avernus. We see a vertical ceiling of flames being created. He says to us:

• “The password to turn the flames off is the string of numbers that represent every the layer of hell mosaic you all passed through, in order, that brought you here. To turn the flames off, one of you will have to spend your action correctly providing the numerical/layer of hell password, or you’ll pass through the flames on your way up.”

The battle begins as the floor begins to rise. They all take turns during the first round battling the devil.

• During his turn, Glittr shouts aloud “4-1-3-7” and upon doing us, the flames above shut off. The Pitfiend uses wall of flame and burn half of our party, as flames from the wall roast us.

• Brylwynn ends the battle with a strong Tidal Wave spell, crushing the field into the ground on the tower. Once the spells stops, his body is not left over, as the monster died in hell. 

Once the battle ends, we have just 2 short rounds, or 12 seconds, before we reach the top of the tower. We use beacon of hope and mass curse wounds.

At the top of the tower, we see howling winds and hear the screams of souls. A mass of red death swirls around us. Down on the ground, we see Larael holding her own with the portal and out exit back to the material plane. Ahead of us, we see Zariel seated upon her throne. We remind

She says to us “Well, well, well, what is it that you humans say? If you want something done, do it yourself. I have stolen much of which you draw near. It’s only fitting that I steal your lives as well.” 

• Around us, we see the unconscious of Krislynn and Bahamut’s three stolen forms, which are bound by magical chains.” All four of these towers have runes inscribed in Infernal.

• She continues “Look at you, all battered and bruised… For so long, your mother has provided me with a defense against radiance. I suggest we put it to the test, don’t you?” Zariel then blinks and teleports to Bahamut’s Red Form, and says the same thing. As she touches him, all four runes on the towers begin to glow.”

• She unsheaths her longsword and flail. As she does, we hear a “Not so far, Zariel” as we see…

• “Zariel is correct. My daughter brought you were. You, dwarven girl, my daughter saw a spark in you and I see it too. [...] I carry the support of many [...] It takes a certain je ne sais quoi to make it all the way down to Avernus.” She gives us a boon of rest and for a brief moment, we see nothing but peace, as we gain the benefits of a short rest. 

• We recognized that deity as Mystra.

During the battle, we all see an image of the person we are closest to being burned alive. This causes fear to stricken us as the battle goes on. She shoots a fireball at the group, which Pearl counterstrikes successfully. 

The battle rages on with Zariel taking down various members of the party one by one. We continue to revive ourselves with the Beacon of Hope. She teleports away from the group, ensuring no one can hit her up close.

She flies over the group and casts a downwards fireball, obliterating all of us. We manage to mostly stay upright as the session ends. [