Descent into Avernus - Part One

Hello and welcome back! Right, so four posts in and we've covered the creation of Sedruid, the first campaign I played with him, and what happened after he left Phandalin. Now here we are, the second campaign I played in; Descent into Avernus. This was a big one in terms of story, Sedruid as a character was carried into a whole new level.

The DM promised he'd step up the game big time and boy did he deliver on that promise. For a start, the group somehow doubled. I remember the first time we met up physically as a kind of pre-game warm-up, it was anarchy. The DM decided to split the group, story-wise we were all going down to Avernus but we would go down separately. He appointed a co-DM (hi Patrick) and we kicked off. Once again, I wasn't there for the first session so I joined during the second, mid-anarchy.

Sedruid met up with what was to be his group of misfits for the campaign, one familiar face and a whole load of new ones. I tried keeping his soul-less-ness a secret but I got drunk one night and basically told everyone, but I had some secrets to keep.

So battle ensued, Sedruid was demonstrating some new found abilities, then shit hit the metaphorical fan. It was also metaphorical shit btw. He and the group were facing some real hell-like foes, when out of nowhere, the ground opened up and they got pulled in. They were falling through the air, down below them was a literal hell-scape, they were falling down into Avernus, and at speed. Out of nowhere a stray fireball hit Sedruid, burning off his shirt, revealing his gaping black chest wound to the rest of the group. Before anyone could say anything, another fireball hit him and he was flung across Avernus, out of sight of the others.

Sedruid was flung across Avernus and landed into a forest of some sorts. When he awoke he was incredibly confused, he didn't recognise any of the terrain he was in. Suddenly he felt an ache and the black veins on his chest grew. He could feel his time running out but decided he couldn't dwell on that in that moment. He pondered for a moment and then picked a direction and headed in it. For what felt like days he listened out for any signs of life, he had a small amount of water left and managed to scavenge some berries he didn't recognise. After a long time of walking, even hunger didn't phase him anymore.

He collapsed amongst the unusual foliage, exhausted. He decided to rest for a little while until in the distance he heard a faint growling, some kind of beast was nearby. He slowly got on to his feet and pressed on. After the noise got louder and louder he decided that he couldn't fight in his condition, he climbed a nearby tree and burrowed himself amongst the odd sharp black leaves. He rested there for a while, gathering his strength. Then he looked down and saw the beast that was pursuing him, a deformed looking dog slowly made its way past the tree, sniffing the ground, trying to find him. It signaled behind it and a small pack of them follow. They were Yeth Hounds, beasts native to Avernus.

The beasts pressed on. He waited until they were a little ways ahead before jumping down to initiate attack. He fired an arrow in to the back of the head of the closest Yeth Hound, causing it to howl in pain. The beasts then immediately turned to look at him, they stood their ground and growled at him. He shakily stood his too. Then they pounced. They made for him at lightning speed, he immediately launched another arrow through the eye of the beast he already injured, downing it for good.

The other beasts were still coming for him with vengeance, the one in front pounced. Whilst it was airborne Sedruid shot an arrow into its upper torso. The momentum of the beast was affected but still it pursued. Using his bow, he absorbed the blow of the beast landing on him and pushed both the beast and his bow aside. At this, the other two beasts were now airborne. He drew his aquamarine dagger (the one that extends) and plunged it through the first beasts head. He activated its extension ability and it killed the beast. The final beast pushed past its now dead companion and embedded its claws into Sedruids face, injuring him. It dragged its claws down his face and into Sedruids chest, pulling him down to the ground.

When Sedruid was down, the beast embedded its claws into his chest wound. The hound then beared all of its considerable weight down onto Sedruid. He lay there, his vision blurred by blood and all of the air in his body being forced out by the Yeth Hound, he thought this might be the end. Through his blurred vision, he saw the cast aside beast coming for him. It wasn't over yet. He used all of his strength and angled himself and the beast atop him slightly. The two Yeth Hounds clashed, causing them both to fly away from him. Now free, he struggled up and grabbed the sword still embedded in a beasts head. He desperately slashed at the two remaining Yeth Hounds, fighting for his life. The beasts taunted him, thinking they had the upper hand. He'd had enough. He summoned every ounce of strength left in him and went for the head. Bleeding, soulless and on the cusp of death, he found mild solace in the moment where the beasts head was freed from its shoulders, dark blood flying through the air. In a quick motion he then turned around and went for the other beast, cutting its legs off in one foul swoop.

The last beast lay there, dying on the twisted forest floor. Sedruid hobbled over to it, now whimpering in pain. He took pity on the beast and put it out of its misery. He drove his sword through its head and then collapsed in exhaustion.

He awoke some time later. He got up and slowly skinned the beast in order to fashion some clothes. He then hobbled away to find his way out of the twisted forest.

What feels like months later, he was a dirty shell of the Elf he once was. He was filthy, his hands are calloused and he'd grown a great big bushy beard. He stood in a clearing, his hope has faded and he was ready for the end. Until he saw something he never thought he'd see. A break in the wall of trees. He raced towards it, using every ounce of strength he had left and he burst through the brush. He was free. Metres outside of the hell-bound forest, he collapsed into dry black grass.

Some time later he awoke to a vibration he could feel humming through the ground. Hoping it was his group, he abandoned all logic and headed towards the vibration. He heard a machine the closer he got to the vibration. The only thing that lay between him and his potential salvation was a small mud hill. He used everything he had left and climbed the hill. His bony hands digging into the dried mud, he finally made it up. He saw over the mound and its them, his group, his salvation. They've commandeered some kind of warmachine. They see him and he collapsed, knowing he's finally safe.

He awoke some time later inside the warmachine, they were all surrounding him. They were looking at the sheer state of him and were full of questions. He answers all of their questions, he tells them of the village, of the bandits and of the Lich. They ask how he killed the Lich as it's quite difficult, he then came to realise that the Lich did not die. He produced the small wooden box he picked up in the Lich's lair and further realised the Lich's essence is contained within it.

They battle with the Lich, Sedruids strength returning as they go. He was becoming himself again. They struck the final blow on the Lich, a small amount of trepidation filled him, hoping the monster may have his soul. Nothing. He remained soulless and full of questions.

After defeating the Lich, they decided to press on. Some time later they found themselves on a narrow dirt path, horrid thorny trees lines either side of it. But they weren't just trees, each of them had bodies in them, giant spikes forced through their torsos, keeping them attached. An Elf had been strung up one of these trees. They pressed him for information, he informed them the trees were a form of torture and they can never die whilst up there, but can be tortured and will always heal. He then eyed up Sedruid and took an interest in him. He announced he saw an Elf with a likeness dragged by there not too long ago.

They press on down the path for some time before being alerted to a nearby struggle. It's another Elf in a tree, the one the previous Elf spoke of. He said he was put there some days prior by a devil and knows not why. He then glanced to his side and noticed Sedruid, his face softened and his eyes widened.

'Sedruid, brother?' the Elf whispered. Sedruid looked up at the Elf, his face full of confusion. Then his face softened and his eyes began to expand. 'No, it can't be. Sandaril?' Sedruid quietly responds. He had finally found his brother. The group helped Sandaril down whilst Sedruid stood there and reeled from the information he just recieved. When Sandaril was finally down he went to embrace Sedruid, who immediately drew his sword and placed the tip on his supposed brothers chest.

'Now listen here. You might be my brother, and that would fill me with more joy than I could ever possibly imagine. But you might not be my brother, you might be some kind of trickster or devil, which would make me very angry. I have been through enough in one lifetime to be fucked around like this, okay? You will come with us, you will fight and if you are who you say you are, then we will celebrate. But if you're not, I will part your head from your shoulders and curse the day you were born. Understood?'

Having heard this, Sandaril nodded in understanding. Sedruid sheathed his sword and pressed on. He may have his brother back, but what did that really mean? Why was he down here if it really was him? And what really happened that night?

He pondered these things as he climbed aboard the Warmachine, ready to press on and maybe find his soul.

To be continued...