This is a recap of my ongoing solo game of D&D. You don’t need to trawl through all prior material to enjoy this, as it’s fairly easy to pick up what’s going on. This session has some content from Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus – specifically chapter 2, Elturel Has Fallen. But it’s been so heavily modified that major (or even moderate) spoilers won’t be an issue.

Melody stays in bed resting on the day following the conference in the ruins. At sundown, she meets up with Kahlun and Lenien to play their thundermonger music in the streets and taverns. She meets Hywotli, a suave wealthy Elkore who’d travelled to Rahm Oru in the hopes to hear more astral music after hearing her play in D’Okai. They hit it off pretty well, but further into the night he offers her a chance to visit the plane of smoke and play for the nobility there – which triggers a PTSD episode for her.

While she was trapped on the infinite city, Mel met a waterfolk called Arkel. He had grown up with the Zailan, and had crash landed while fighting alongside them against the Valkeesh. He was a saviour in her eyes, an angel clad in golden white armour who promised to help her escape the city. In the short time they were together, they fell in love – but before he had a chance to fulfil his promise, he was killed by a Valkeesh ambush. This was mere months ago; the guilt and pain are still fresh in Melody’s mind.

A magical message from the plane of earth cuts into her head next morning, waking her from troubled dreams. Turf sends back the mask of ice via magic box, and a couple of leads. She heads to Pernep to investigate the first, splitting ways with her troupe – they’re headed back to the infinite city to help evacuate the refugees.

Pernep is a settlement deep within the pine forests to the south of Tirkosu: A peaceful, Mirling-free village occupied by the more rich and powerful islanders. A very well-kept and picturesque place, one of the buildings stands out on the border – a tall, somewhat shabby building known as the Lighstep mansion.

Mel is let in by the maid, and shown into the parlour to wait. The only light is filtered through the shuttered window, illuminating the dust and cobwebs lacing the furniture. She’s startled as her first lead enters: a pretty woman with long dark hair, dressed in simple finery.

Mel: Oh- Hey there.

Larissa: Greetings.

Mel: *pause* …I think we’ve met. You were at the attack on the infinite city, right?

Larissa: Yes, that is correct. *takes a seat* How may I help you, Melody of Ice?

Mel: I was told you know about demons and devils. Fiends. That you fought them.

Larissa: *nods* Indeed. I have slain many.

Mel recounts what happened at the conference in the ruins, about someone attempting to scry on the meeting and sending fiends of both kinds to attack when discovered. Larissa’s countenance of gracious sorrow becomes one of concern.

Larissa: This is disturbing news. If demons and devils are working together again…

Mel: Yeah, it’s bad. We need to check out what’s going on in… In the hells.

It still felt weird saying that.

Larissa: *thinks for a moment* There is a means of contacting the hells. A scrying device, belonging to the family Smardane on the plane of dust, could be used to speak with a high-ranking devil. It was used by the youngest son to marshal troops during the war of the Uvahtun (fiend worshipers). The device still exists, but is no longer in use.

Larissa: If I may, I should like to accompany you on this quest. I have a personal desire to keep the hells from reaching the mortal world.

Mel: Okay. Sure. I, could use all the help I can get.

Larissa: Indeed. In fact, we should prepare ourselves a fight, as I expect the Smardanes will be rather less than welcoming.

Mel: Why, are they…? Uvahtun?

Larissa: No. *smiles* But I did kill their son.

They agree to meet up when the next airship is available, Mel bidding the the Lightstep girl farewell and wandering off into the village. She has bacon and eggs for the first time at a restaurant, and almost cries over how good it tastes.

Crunch

MUNE intervention: Advance Plot (Jevak’s warning)



* * *

Leena Nopera calls out to the airship as it undocks, waving her arms as she hurriedly crossing the jungle clearing. The pilot lowers his craft again while a confused Elion appears at the rails.

Elion: Is there a problem?

Nopera would have laughed at what an understatement that was, had the situation now been so serious. Once he disembarks, she explains that the Mirling who’d helped Elion and his team escape the fey isle had revealed the reason for his bizarre actions: he had traveled to the isle to warn people of a plot to bypass the planar seal and unleash the shadow elementals upon the planes once more. The archomental Gok’toth’okth’rith has erected an enormous tower, one so high that it passes right through to the astral plane. Even as they speak, shadow creatures from across the realm are being gathered with the intent to launch an invasion via the stars.

Nopera: Torli, I’m really sorry. Truly. But this is a high priority alert, and we’re short on good men. I need someone to take this Mirling to the plane of earth, and speak before the council. They’re the strongest military force left in the planes.

Elion: *sighs in resigned suffeiring* Yeah, yeah. I get it, I’ll do it. Because bonding with family and emotionally healing is totally insignificant compared to a shadow invasion.

Nopera: Well..

Elion: I’m not being sarcastic. That’s how serious this is. Besides, it’s an escort mission, it’s not like you’re asking me to go to the hells.

Short on good men… That remark cut deeper than Elion expected it was intended to. If only he’d been more careful, hadn’t pushed his team so hard on the fey isle… Shaking his head to clear it of guilty reproaches, he clambers back onboard the airship with the Mirling prisoner, bound for Tirkosu.

* * *

The streets of Rahm Oru are a little less bustling when Melody and Larissa dock at one of the airship towers – but only because most of the populace has gathered at the steep perimeter walls to watch a twin-EPE race. The hoverbike-ish single-crew craft became stable enough in recent years to sell to the public, giving way to the inevitable races. Thanks to the circular nature of Rahm Oru’s layout, Racing around the outside of the wall has become very popular – in spite of the several crashes thanks to riding too close to the stone. In fact, crashing is part of the appeal from the audience’s perspective.

Larissa: There is a guild, the sandstorm pilots, who travel to and from the plane of dust. I am in good standing with them, so finding a ship will not be difficult.

Elion has arranged to hand off the Mirling to an agent in Rahm Oru. As he steps off the airship, a thunderous crack rends the heavens. As one the town looks skyward as the blue skies of Tirkosu dissolve, draining away like blood down a sink. A horrible swooping feeling comes over the denizens as the entirety of Rahm Oru drops, pulled from the very plane it was built.

Elion: …What.

The ground shudders, sending several building toppling. The roar of rushing air is replaced by crackling fire, the sky murky with deep red clouds. Rahm Oru has, by some cursed means, been transported to the nine hells.

And cue the ambience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzVIkY5tKcE

And the music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXLi8pqbH7Y

Panicked screams join the cacophony of roaring fire and crackling masonry. The cuffed Mirling by Elion’s side cowers in fear, screeching in his native tongue. Elion just stands and gapes at the hellscape above, only shaken out of his stunned horror when a nearby thatched roof bursts into flames.

Elion: *shakes the mirling* Dude, come one. We gotta…

Got to what? The suddenness and absurdity of the situation leaves him without a plan. After several seconds wordlessly shaking his head, he pulls on his gauntlet and focuses it on the sky – is this an illusion, or the real deal? Please, Supreme One, let it just be an illusion…

* * *

Mel: What the stars is happening??

Larissa: I’m not sure! But… That sky. It feels familiar.

Mel: What’s going on, is this normal? Does it.. Does it do this?

Larissa: *shakes her head, turning on the spot* No, no.. This is something foul.

The terrified cries get nearer as the citizens flee back into the city, away from the crumbling walls. Larissa’s piercing eyes spot three motes of fire streaking through the clouds, headed toward them.

Larissa: Get back! Hide!

They duck into a small alleyway, glancing fearfully above them in case the walls decide to give way. The flaming demons crash down unceremoniously on the street and immediately begin torching the buildings. But their arson spree doesn’t last long – the crowd from the walls start to converge on their area of town, led by a Dwarven woman and two children. They stagger back at the sight of the fiends, who’s attention immediately switches to the newcomers.

The demons hit hard and fast, throwing the commoners to the ground unconscious. Larissa steps out of the alleyway to challenge them, casting a hand out to scatter the fiends. As she does, Melody feels the mental port embedded in her neck hum with energy – the Lightstep girl must be a Psion.

The demons are way stronger than they anticipated. One solid punch knocks Larissa unconscious – but before they can finish her off, a shout from down the burning street distracts them.

Elion: “Hey, hotheads! Pick on someone your own size!”

The demons rush, as Elion’s feytouched armour unfolds around him and the Mirling cowers behind. The magical wood takes most of the damage, allowing Elion to get a good few punches in. Mel sticks a stimulant into Larissa, allowing her to stagger back to her feet and send a wave of terror washing over the fiends. They roar, and turn their tails to flee.

Mel: Elion? What’s happening? Why are we…?

Elion: *holds up his hands* Don’t look at me, I didn’t do this!

Larissa: We have been somehow transported to hell. Those creatures were demons. *laughs almost incredulously* Why? I have not a sliver of an idea..

They pause for a moment, catching their breath and trying to let their bizarre situation sink in. Then the woman and her children stir.

Larissa: Thank the Supreme One, they’re alive!

They quickly carry them to the relative safety of a nearby shop, making sure to pick one that isn’t on fire. Harkina, the mother, stammeringly explains that she was watching the races when the walls started to sink. The entire town seemed to have been scooped up and sucked into wherever they are now.

Melody: What are you doing here? I thought you were with Maisie?

Elion: What? Oh.. It’s kind of a long story. *nods at the Mirling* I was escorting him.

Mel: Hi…

Jevak: Jevak.

Mel: Right.

They introduce themselves and explain how they wound up in the town at such an unfortunate moment. Mel thinks they should head out and try to protect the civilians, but Elion points out her singed bruises.

Elion: Those three could have eaten us for breakfast. We need to keep low profile until we figure out what’s going on. I’ll be damned before I let another friend walk into oblivion. *casts an anxious glance out of the shot window* Literally.

Mel: Wait, what do you mean?

Larissa: It is only rumour. But some say, that when a physical body is killed in the nine hells, their soul is forever trapped.

Jevak: Sssouls?

Elion: Look, let’s… Wait for a bit. There’s a Tsethem in the city, she can handle whatever this is. *spies Mel’s shrug of “hello?”* A Tsethem other than you, I mean.

Mel: Exactly! I should be out there helping, not drifting about here. Isn’t that what a Tsethem would do? *gives Elion an expectant look* Isn’t that… what a hero would do?

Elion: *long pause* I’m not a hero.

They cautiously head out of the shop, Elion not helping with his grumbling about guilt tripping, and pick their way across the crumbling, charred streets in the direction of Zenia Tharth.

Larissa: The temple is holy ground. If Anika is to make a stand, she will do so there.

The carnage around them is dreadful. Charred corpses dot the streets – one of them carries a silver blade and appears to be moving.

Elion: Oh hells, oh hells, okay it’s okay, I’m gonna help-

As soon as he gets within a few feet, the corpse explodes in a shower of sparks, leaving nothing but the blade and a gourde. Elion just stands there until Mel shakes him, more scarred by the emotional damage than the flames. Larissa picks up the remnants.

Larissa: Certain fiends abhor silver. This may be useful.

Closer to the town centre, the party hears the sounds of battle inside a mortician’s. A male Elf in an overall is being attacked by two goat-headed demons. Elion smashes through the window while Larissa ushers the Dwarf family to stay back. The demons are brought down in a few quick swings, Elion punching one into a coffin where is dissipates while Mel decapitates the other. Unfortunately, the Elf seems to have been infected by the fiend’s blows, as he collapses coughing up blood.

Elion: Hold on, we got you. Does anybody..? *looks hopefully at the others* Any of you got some anti-infection magic? No? Fez..

Undertaker: Help… me… Must get to… safety…

Mel: We’re headed there. The Tharth will be a safe place, we just gotta make our way past the demons.

Elion: Can you walk?

He can. Jevak wasn’t much help in the fight, so Elion orders him to aid the undertaker – which he does so very reluctantly.

Jevak: Alwaysss with Elf, Jevak ordered to helping weaklingsss.

* * *

Zenia Tharth is still standing. The wonderfully detailed roof is missing half its front side, quartz mosaics scattered among the toppled pillars. But compared to the scorched buildings around it, the temple is holding out bravely. The group thankfully staggers up the steps towards the giant doors – before Jevak spots two hell hounds crouching behind the pillars.

The wolfish creatures charge, flames leaking from their muzzles. The team strikes back with their combination of psionics, magitek, elemental power, and the raw chaos of a Mirling. Elion gets a facefull of fire, but quickly finishes off the beast with a mechplate aided punch.

Elion: Never thought I’d be this happy about putting down animals…

Larissa: These are most certainly not animals.

Elion: Wow, you’re right. I should have realised that when when it barfed the entire contents of the plane of fire in my eyes.

Mel: Come on, let’s get inside. *turns to the civilians* You guys o-… Wait.

Elion: What?

Mel: Where’d the undertaker go?

The Elf has disappeared. None of the Dwarfs saw him depart.

Elion: Huh. Maybe, he went into the temple?

Larissa: Either way, we shall be spied here sooner or later. Come.

They pass through the gates, moving much more cautiously now. The interior of the Tharth appears deserted, flames still alight in their sconces. The alter to the Supreme One is hidden from viewers by floor-to-ceiling golden drapes – the middle one has three jagged tears running through it.

Before they can advance, the group hears the sharp crack of rock on rock, followed by a warbling roar. Three humans in blood red Uvahtun robes rip aside the curtain, followed by a small spine-covered devil.

Mel charges forward with a battle cry to take on two of the Uvahtun, swinging her psionically charged battleaxe as Jevak is chased around the room by the devil. The third cultist viciously attacks Larissa – and by the time the enemies are downed, only Elion remains unscathed.

Mel: Elion… We need to rest..

Larissa: The alter. Search the alter, it is common to store healing relics in them.

The beautifully ornate alter beyond the curtains is littered with small rocks – apparently the Uvahtun had been hurling them at the frescos and sculptures in an effort to desecrate what must still be hallowed ground. Elion checks all the nooks and crannies – nothing.

Elion: Doesn’t seem to be anything, just some incense and candles. Maybe the priests took everything when they-

He’s cut short as his hand brushes a candle, which tilts back with a click. A trapdoor grates open in the stone slab floor, revealing a stairway descending into darkness.

Elion: …Secret passages in a place of truth and openness? Tell me it isn’t so.

Larissa: That must be where the clerics are hiding. Hurry, before we are discovered!

As Jevak approaches the alter, he feels a wave of positive energy rush over him – an alien sensation for a Mirling. Feeling unnerved but slightly emboldened, he keeps it to himself.

The passage descends for a short stretch until it opens out into what appears to be part of the city’s famed catacombs. The sprawling place is well lit with torches however, implying recent use.

Mel: Hold up. I can probe these tunnels out, see if they’ve gathered here.

She takes a minute to set up her drones, and sends them to scout for survivors. One of them almost immediately discovers a large crypt occupied by roughly a hundred of Rahm Oru’s citizens, watched over by a single Golath cleric. She welcomes them with a grave face, informing them that these are the only survivors from the temple – aside from the high cleric Nina, who has taken a few guards deeper into the catacombs in search of an artefact that might aid them. Elion breathes a silent prayer of thanks to hear she’s safe.

Elion: Okay, so, everyone just, chill. If we’re ironic enough about it, the hells might freeze over.

Silence from the assembled masses.

Elion: … No but seriously, we got your backs now. We… Look; you got a Tsethem protecting you now!

Mel: Err, hey. *awkwardly waves, activating her Tsethem mask*

The crowd seems a little more comforted by the presence of a titled guardian. Yuraki, the Golath cleric, bids them to rest with them while they await Nina’s return. Melody asks around for Hywotli without expecting to find him, and isn’t disappointed. Jevak stays close to Elion, drawing hostile gazes from the commoners.

Larissa: And what of Anika? Where is the Tsethem of light?

Yuraki: We haven’t had word yet. Her husband is a planewalker, so she might have escaped. Might be alerting the other protectors as we speak.

Larissa: True.. The planar barrier should prevent travel and communication to other realms, but if it was breached by the town’s descent, it may yet be weak enough to pass through.

That’s a comforting thought. But time ticks on, and there’s no sign of rescue. Earthquakes punctuate the far off rumble that seems to permeate the entire layer, like a hellish gong marking every hour.

Slowly, it dawns upon the party that they may be here longer than they had anticipated, trapped in the hells with no way to contact the planes outside.