Descent into Avernus - Part Two

Right, fifth blog post, how exciting this has become. So in the last post I revealed the first half of the second campaign I played. Sedruid had been reunited with his brother down in Avernus, a very unlikely place to find someone dear to you, especially after they've been missing for about 30 years. He isn't trusting of the person who is supposedly his brother right away, and after his ordeal in the forest, he's not in the best of ways, mentally speaking. Here goes;

Sedruid climbed upon the Warmachine, ready to press on. Suddenly Sandaril started to violently convulse. He writhed on the ground and made an unearthly noise. Ahead of them, a bright light appeared from nowhere and from within emerged a Demon of Infinite Death. He lurked there, eyeing up the group, chief of all Sandaril. He made for him, but was quickly intercepted by Sedruid and his companions. A violent battle ensued, each warrior striking devastating blows from every angle until finally it was Sandaril who struck the killing blow. The Demon began to writhe and fade, disappearing into ash. Sandaril may have gained the trust of some of the group, but Sedruid remained wary.

Many days and nights floated by as the Warmachine stode across the death ridden planes of Avernus. One by one the group drove the machine, ensuring everyone got sufficient rest. On one of the nights Sedruid was permitted some rest, he laid there in a deep slumber. He had vivid dreams, he was in a battle arena, slaying foes with ease. His comrades and friends were cheering him on, it was a gallant time to be him. He was in his element, until he felt a cold chill go up his spine. He turned to see a mysterious face. Floating. The face was expressionless but floating, frozen, staring Sedruid down.

Suddenly, tumbling. The Warmachine flipped and was thrown across Avernus, waking everyone up. Each of them clambered out of the Warmachine to see what had happened. There stood a grand tower that hadn't been there before. As if my magic this tower had emerged from the ground. At the top of the tower was a balcony. The doors flung open, and someone they never thought they'd see again emerged. Short'N'Deadly strolled out and summoned the group to the tower.

They stood amongst mages and wizardry as Short'N'Deadly eyed up Sedruid, realising his predicament. They expensed pleasantries and then suddenly the frozen devil face from Sedruid's dream appeared and spoke to Sedruid. As if in a trance, Sedruid stepped forward and followed this frozen face. They both disappeared in a flash.

Sedruid awoke in a stark white abyss. The face floating before him. 'What do you want with me? Where am I?' barked Sedruid at the face. The face floated and slowly began to rotate around Sedruid. 'You're missing something, aren't you?' hissed the face at Sedruid. 'I can offer you something in the meantime, but you must do something for me.'

Sedruid eyed up the face, his face twisted into confusion. 'What can a devil do for me? I'm afraid I've already lost my soul so I haven't much to offer you.' retorted Sedruid to the face. The face, still frozen in expression stopped in mid air. Suddenly Sedruid felt a white hot heat consume his upper body. He tore open his shirt to see the black wound on his chest healing and the veins receding. The pale grey of his skin was fading as he felt strength returning.

'I cannot return your soul to you, for you have to do that yourself. But I can offer you a temporary one. I offer you this soul as an offering.' hissed the mysterious face.

Now breathing heavily with a flood of emotions and feelings he thought he had lost, Sedruid stood there, trying to compose himself. He looked down, contemplating. He considered everything he stood for, everything he had tried to achieve in his life and everything he was. He then darted his head up and stared at the face, his eyes full of fire.

'What is your bidding?'

Inside the tower a blinding light occured, the group shielded their faces. They looked at the light and Sedruid emerged, almost glowing. He pushed past them, urging them to press on.

The Warmachine, which had since been placed upright, raced across Avernus. Sedruid was at the wheel and made quick work of their journey.

For many days they raced across Avernus, they found themselves at a doorway which contained a swirling portal. One by one they crossed through. As Sedruid did so, he felt the temporary soul inside himself start to degrade away. He blundered through the portal and landed in the dirt. He was returning to his past self, he didn't have long. A sharp pain shot through his chest, he tore his shirt open and the gaping black wound was growing once again. The veins were beginning to encompass him once more.

In the meantime they fought Zariel, one of their companions betrayed them and Sedruid was fading even faster.

They returned to the Warmachine, reeling from their victory, when the floating face appeared once more. The face floated around and took them all in and then went back to Sedruid. He began to sprout a body from his face. A hulking great devil stood before them, menacingly. 'It's faded, hasn't it?' the devil enquired of Sedruid. Sedruid was now looking weak, he was shaking and his skin had turned a light grey colour. 'Did it feel nice? Did feeling alive again give you purpose?'. Sedruid, now on the verge of collapse, nodded to the devil. 'You want your own soul back don't you? You're not long for this world. I do know where it is, and where it has been. Or should I say, we know. Don't we, Sandaril?'.

The group turned and looked at Sandaril, who was now backing away, a distasteful look on his face. 'What does he mean, brother?' Sedruid enquired. 'Yes, Sandaril. What do I mean?' hissed the devil.

Sandaril bowed his head to the floor. 'I am sorry brother. I have not been forthcoming with you. The night Mother and Father died, you've been remembering it wrong. You have remembered much wrong. When we were little I demonstrated some abilities some consider to be unnatural. It was small things at first, fruit was fresher when I held it and pets lasted a little longer. It wasn't long before I realised I had an inane ability to perform necromancy. In a small town like ours, nothing stays quiet for long. One night a group of villagers came to take me away. Mother and Father argued with them, ultimately being restrained.They came at me, I was scared, I was petrified! I was going to be taken somewhere and most likely killed. But then something happened. It appears necromancy wasn't the only ability I had. I summoned a power, an energy from deep within. I killed them. I killed them all. Not just the villagers, but Mother and Father too. I watched it all. I watched as the flesh burnt from their bones. I watched as their bones crumbled and turned into dust and I fled. I fled, intent on never seeing anyone I ever knew again. I hid and understudied some of the foulest creatures for a long time. I ended up as a novice necromancer under the scrutiny of a horrible Lich. That was until I saw you. I saw you defeating his bandits and slaying him. I saw him ride a sword through your chest and I saw you die. I had to bring you back. I did bring you back. Then I fled.'

Sedruid, upon hearing this, swayed on the spot. Sandaril's words spun around his head. 'Where is it? My soul, where is it?' Sedruid whispers to his brother. 'I have it' interjected the devil, now staring at Sedruid with a menacing smile, his eyes full of malice.

Sedruid stood momentarily, looking between the devil and his brother. His breathing hitched and his hands shaking, he took one long look at his brother. In an instant he withdrew his sword and drove into the devil. A white flash blinded him and Sedruid screamed. He had pierced his own soul. He collapsed as the rest of the group battled. They hacked and slashed at the devil from every angle. The Devil got Sandaril by the throat and gutted him, dropping him on the ground on the cusp of death. Finally the devil was defeated, he was impaled on a tree to live out the rest of his days miserably. Both Sedruid and his brother lay, dying on the battlefield.

His last breaths slowly escape him as his chest rose and fell one last time. Then light. His soul was put back in his body. The veins retracted and his chest healed. His skin regained its colour and his demeanour changed. His scraggly beard disappeared. He laid there, breathing heavily. He was alive. More alive than he had been for a long time. The group helped him up and he glanced over at his brother dying on the ground.

He hobbled towards him and stood, looking down upon him. Sandaril was using his own necromancy to keep himself alive. Sedruid then collapsed to his knees beside his brother and sobbed, the memories of his childhood now coming back to him. His entire life had been a lie, his morals and his code had come crashing down and he was crushed. Sandaril, now gasping, tried to say his brothers name. Sedruid looked at him, his eyes full of sorrow. Which was quickly replaced with anger. Sedruid pulled out his sword and slashed his brothers throat. Sandaril drowned in his own blood, the two of them staring into eachothers eyes.

Sedruid got up and walked into the Warmachine. A new chapter was to begin.

So, yeah. Fun little story isn't it? Now you're all caught up on what made Sedruid who he was, you're ready for my own campaign. See you soon.