Session #14 - Not All Who Wander Are Lost

From a distance you could be forgiven for mistaking Madhi’s Wandering Emporium for a traveling circus on the material plane.  The horseshoe-shaped encampment was lined on three sides by gaudily colored tents of different sizes, many with flags or pennants flapping loudly in the constant winds of Avernus.  

 

But as you got closer you could see this was not a place of joy.  Forming the outer portion of the enclosure and walling it in were a number of infernal war machines, many of which were four to five times larger than anything they’d seen previous, massive behemoths with ten wheels per side, each wheel at least twice the height of a man.  An array of smaller machines in sizes similar to Maggie’s Savlager and their own Tormentor filled in the gaps.  Four smaller vehicles were parked in the front away from the others.  A pair of Tormentors sporting double harpoon cannons and two Devil’s Rides, which unlike Donyxn’s also appeared to have some kind of arrow launchers mounted on them, slowly circled the emporium.  The size of the machines and their weapons radiated menace.

 

As the party approached the circling guards made no effort to stop them, and they pulled up alongside the four vehicles parked out front.  Dismounting they stretched, the recent battle combined with the poor suspension of the Tormentor having pounded their bodies, and attempted to wipe at least some of the ever-present Avernus dirt from their clothes. Kent’s beard looked red from the dust captured in it.  Donyxn, however, joining his friends after parking his bike, looked immaculate.  

 

Kent greeted him.  “It seems even the dust of hell dislikes you, tiefling.”  

 

“My head is higher off the ground than yours, little dwarf.  The air is much clearer up here.”

 

The pair laughed, grasping one another’s shoulders.  Katla and Almont continued to shake out the grime as best they could.

 

“Welcome, friends.   Welcome to Madhi’s Wandering Emporium!”  The voice was startling as they had not seen anyone approach from the camp, yet here was a figure walking toward them, his pace as relaxed as his appearance was precise.  

 

He looked human, slightly shorter and leaner than Almont.  With light brown skin and a head of shoulder length black hair, he resembled someone of the desert regions back home.  It was difficult to tell his age – he appeared no more than 30 years old, though he had the bearing of a much older man, his gracefully fluid movements like those of a dancer, or perhaps a fencer.  A short and impeccably trimmed black beard outlined his sharp features.  The only aspect of his appearance that clearly set him apart were his eyes, which looked as if they were nothing but black irises surrounded by white.  His garments were of the highest quality, a white linen shirt overlaid with a mustard-yellow tweed vest, the shirt hanging loosely over a pair of tan riding pants that disappeared into a pair of mid-calf buckled boots.  Rings decorated most of his figures and a tangle of necklaces and charms hung over his chest.  There was not a speck of dirt on him.

 

“I am Madhi,” he said, extending his hand to Almont.  He grasped forearms with Almont, Kent, and Donyxn before turning to Katla, delicately touching her hand and bowing slightly, the perfect smile never leaving his face.  “How may I be of service?”

 

Before anyone could answer Madhi gasped slightly and clasped his hands together.  “Lola!  How are you my love?”  He looked genuinely glad to see her.

 

Lola beat her wings faster and spun in a quick circle as she did when she was excited.  “Hello Madhi,” she sang.

 

“However did you find your way back here?” Madhi asked.

 

“I’m traveling with my friends.”

 

Madhi looked at them and held out his arms.  “Any friends of Lola’s are friends of Madhi’s.”

 

“Friends?  The story we heard is that you sold Lola to Zariel.”  Only Katla could say something like that and not make it sound accusatory.

 

Madhi’s smile tightened slightly.  “When Zariel wishes to possess something, one is grateful that she doesn’t simply take it.”

 

The seconds dragged by slowly as the pair’s eyes remained locked.

 

“So Madhi, I’m sure a thirsty dwarf with a pocket full of gold can find some ways to entertain himself in a place like this,” Kent said cheerily.  

 

Madhi looked at the dwarf, then back to the elf, the smile never leaving his face.  “Quite.  Come, let me show you around.”

 

“I’ll stay with the vehicles,” Donyxn said.

 

Madhi turned and chuckled.  “No need to worry about your vehicles here, my friend.  I will personally guarantee than no one will take them or steal from them while you are in the emporium.”

 

Donyxn looked at Kent, who shrugged his shoulders, then Almont, who nodded.  With that he joined the group.

 

Madhi led them into the encampment, pointing out various places of potential interest.  There was the Firesnake Forge, which built and repaired war machines and dealt in anything metal; Ichor’s Aweigh, which traded in demon and devil ichor for use in rituals and spells; Z’neth’s Larvae Farm for, well, larvae; From Here to Avernus offered messenger service via imps.  

 

“And for you, my dwarf friend, I would recommend a visit to Burney’s barber shop,” Madhi finished, tilting his head toward a red-and-white striped tent.

 

“When you are ready, please come see me at my own establishment, Infernal Rapture.  There you can have the finest food and drink available anywhere on Avernus.”  Madhi paused.  “For a price, of course.”

 

“Of course.  We’d expect nothing less from your hospitality,” Katla smiled.

 

Madhi smiled thinly in return.  “Well then, until we meet again.”  He bowed slightly to Katla and walked toward the tent that made up the entire closed side of the horseshoe.

 

“He seems nice,” Lola said, flapping her wings.

 

“Well, let’s see what’s what in this place.”  With that Kent headed toward the Firesnake Forge.

 

The clanging of metal grew louder as they approached the tent.  A sign stood in front of the entrance, a metal plate with an intricately etched snake-like creature on it.  

 

Pulling back the tent flap released a gust of hot air.  It was even hotter inside than outside.  They entered a twenty-foot square space partitioned off from the rest of the tent by sheets of metal.  Based on the sounds and the heat, on the other side of those walls forging and fabrication was occurring.  Laid out on a metal table to one side was an array of metal weapons.  None appeared overtly magic, but they had a certain quality about them that was hard to describe.

 

“Infernal iron,” a voice hissed from their right.  “It has magic-like qualities without being charmed.”

 

They turned to face the speaker.  It resembled a snake, its back flame red and underside bright orange.  It moved partially upright, with five or six feet of its body coiling on the ground behind it and the rest vertical, giving it a height of about seven feet.  A pair of arms protruded from the body just beneath its reptilian head.  A salamander.  “What do you want?”

 

Donyxn continued to examine the display.  “Do you have other weapons besides these?”

 

“What do you have in mind, tiefling?”

 

Donyxn pointed to the bow slung over his shoulder.

 

“May I see it?” asked the salamander.

 

Donxyn handed the weapon to the salamader, which examined it closely with an expert eye.

 

“I have some ideas, but I will need to confer with my brothers.  Are you willing to leave this with us for a time?”

 

Donyxn nodded, which surprised Almont.  

 

“Since you’re looking at that, anything you can do to make this better?” Kent asked, withdrawing his pistol crossbow.

 

The salamander shrugged its small shoulders.  “We will look at this as well.  My name is Rash.  I will treat your items with care until you return.  I know you are guests of Madhi.”

 

“Word travels fast,” Almont said.

 

The salamander considered him for a moment.  “You would not be alive if you were not his guests,” it hissed before slithering through an opening in the back.

 

Kent turned to his friends.  “Well, he seems nice too.”

 

From there they headed towards Ichor’s Aweigh.  Walking through the open square they observed a handful of musicians of various races playing an upbeat tune as well as a few other performers doing feats of juggling and acrobatics.

 

“Something isn’t right about this,” Kent muttered.

 

“Look at their faces,” Katla whispered, never taking her eyes off their destination.  “Their smiles, so pained, so forced.  The emporium is not as joyous and festive as Madhi would have one believe.”

 

In front of Ichor’s Aweigh a pennant rippled in the breeze that circulated within the emporium.  It was bright gold in color with an impossibly black teardrop shape in the middle.

 

Pulling back the curtain the first thing to hit them was the smell.  Smell wasn’t the right word; it more a miasma.  It reeked of death, and things worse than death. 

 

The space was small and cluttered.  Bookshelves and cabinets boxed in the space, all filled with containers of different sizes and compositions.  Glass jars, metal flasks, clay urns, and crystal bottles competed for space.  A worktable stood in one corner holding a still-like contraption of copper and some kind of unidentifiable black metal.  The sound of boiling liquid could be heard.  A robed being was hunched over the contraption using a crystalline pipette to remove tiny amounts of black sludge from a small container at one end of it.

 

Katla cleared her throat, startling the figure.  

 

It turned to face them.  He appeared to be a human man well past middle age, his face lined and large drooping bags under his eyes.  He was slightly hunched over, though his bulky wizard’s robe masked most of his shape and posture. What it couldn’t mask, however, were the thick tentacles that emerged from the sleeves in place of his arms.  Each tentacle ended in something vaguely hand-like, though the fingers were smaller squirming tentacles each about a foot in length.  The tip of a tail could be seen brushing along the floor around his feet.

 

“So sorry, so sorry, didn’t hear you come in!  How silly of me, how rude.  Please, come in, welcome to Ichor’s Aweigh.  I am Illiach.  Can I interest you in some ichor?  We have all types.”

 

Kent was off to the side holding a jar made of blue glass with a few ounces of black liquid in it.  He lifted the lid slightly and sniffed, recoiling at the smell.  “Ugghh… what do you do with this stuff?”

 

“That particular sample would be useful in bestowing a curse on a man to, um, well, make his manhood shrivel.”  Illiach looked at Katla with embarrassment.

 

Kent pushed the lid down hard and quickly put the jar on the shelf, but did so too fast and number of other containers around it began to wobble unsteadily as the dwarf tried to keep any of them from falling.  

 

“No need to be embarrassed, Illiach,” Katla smiled.  “It’s the right component for the spell, I’m sure.”  The wizard exhaled in relief and nodded.

 

“Besides, if that’s what it does it wouldn’t have any effect on Kent,” Donyxn grinned.

 

“I’ll have you know I’ve never heard any complaints,” Kent spat.

 

“Nor compliments, I’m sure.”

 

“Gentlemen,” Katla said softly, not turning around and staying focused on Illiach.  “Please forgive my friends.  They are a bit… unrefined.”

 

Donyxn stifled a laugh.

 

“Of course, of course, no harm at all,” replied Illiach.

 

“Wizard, perhaps you could look at something for us, something we’ve been carrying for some time without understanding its nature.”  With that Almont reached into the bag of holding, withdrew the jar holding the small gelatinous cube, and handed it to Illiach.

 

“Well well well, this is interesting.”  He looked up at Almont.  “Did you know it has a gelatinous cube inside?”

 

Kent rolled his eyes.  “I’m stepping outside for some air.”  He looked at Donyxn who nodded and the pair left the tent.

 

“Yes, we noticed that as well,” Katla said sweetly.  “But how is that possible?”

 

“Oh, well, yes, of course you did.”  The wizard blushed.  He studied the bottle further, rolling it around in his tentacled fingers.  “The jar certainly has magical properties.  I suspect one could use it to hold all types of dangerous items.”  He looked up and smiled as a thought came to him.  “Even the most powerful ichor!”

 

Almont reached out his hand and Illiach returned the item.  “Should you wish to sell it, I’d pay one soul coin for it. Ichor is dangerous to handle,” he said, looking down at his bizarre right arm as if seeing it for the very first time.  “If you get it on you, or consume it, it can have strange effects…”  His voice trailed off as he moved his snake-like fingers and stared at his hand.

 

“We appreciate your generous offer, my friend, and we’ll be back if we decide to sell.”  Katla gave a slight bow of her head, which Illiach returned.  With that she and Almont left.

 

“Almont!  Come over here!  You have to try this.”  It was Kent calling to them from a small cart a few dozen paces away.  The dwarf held out a skewer with some kind of cooked meat on it.  “These aren’t half bad.”

 

Katla wrinkled her nose.  “Kent, what are those?”

 

“Um, you know, I didn’t ask.”  Kent looked to the cart keeper.  “What are these, friend?”

 

“Larvae,” the old man replied.  “Me gets ‘em from Z’neth.”  He thumbed backwards over his shoulder toward a tent.  “Best in Avernus, they are.”

 

Kent looked at the half-eaten meat on the skewer, shrugged his shoulders, and kept eating.

 

“Well this should be interesting,” Almont muttered, walking toward the tent.

 

“I’m not going in there,” Katla said, her arms crossed across her chest.  

 

“Suit yourself.  Stay out here and see if you can keep Kent from getting into a fight.  Donyxn?”

 

The tiefling joined Almont and the pair walked toward the larvae farm.  Just outside it sat a table holding an assemblage of different sized jars, each holding some kind of larvae.  A hobgoblin stood behind the table arranging the containers and looked up as they approached.  “Ah, travelers, welcome to Z’neth’s Larvae Farm!  I see your friend over there is enjoying one of my fenton larvae.  They have a nutty taste when cooked correctly.”

 

“What does one do with these things,” Donyxn asked.

 

“Oh, any number of things,” Z’neth replied.  “Some are for eating.  Some are for feeding to other creatures.  And a few, well, a few have more exotic purposes.  Perhaps you’d like to join me inside, where we can speak in private.”

 

Almont had spent enough time as part of the criminal underworld to know that an invitation such as this had nothing to do with larvae, but some other kind of offer.  “Sounds amazing,” he deadpanned, and walked into the tent, Donyxn trailing.

 

Once inside Z’neth wasted no time in getting down to business.  “You look to be accomplished and powerful warriors,” he started.  “I have a proposition for you.”

 

Almont stared at the hobgoblin.  Behind him Donyxn used a stick to poke at some small larvae in a container.

 

“I want you to kill Madhi.”

 

“You want us to kill our gracious host?”

 

“Madhi is many things, but gracious is not one of them,” the hobgoblin sighed.  “Look around.  I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that most of those in the emporium don’t look happy to be here.”

 

“And?”

 

Z’neth shook his head.  “Madhi makes deals with people, deals he knows will be almost impossible for them to repay on time.  And when they fail to uphold their end of the bargain, they are indebted to him and put into servitude.”

 

“So everyone here is a slave of Madhi’s?” Donyxn asked absently, now prodding a foot-long larvae in a glass tank.  It snapped at the stick with a clawed appendage.

 

“No, not everyone.  Some are here voluntarily.  That crazy wizard, as well as Burney the barber.  The wizard just wants to play with his ichor.  I don’t know what Burney’s story is.  Every time I leave her place I can never seem to remember what we talked about…”  His voice trailed off and he looked confused.

 

“And what about you?” Almont asked.

 

“Ah, me.  I cut a deal with a devil to help me raise an army, and it was all too happy to oblige.  I was young and blinded by revenge and power.  And for many decades I was indeed powerful, the leader of many tribes.  But then the bill came due, and now I’m nothing more than a slave.”  He spit on the ground as he said the last word.  “The devil traded my contract to Madhi.  I figure if you kill him, the contract ends and I can go free.”

 

Almont nodded.  “And what would you pay us for this killing?”

 

“I can pay you ten soul coins.”

 

Donyxn laughed.  “I’m sure if we killed him and took his possessions your ten soul coins would be pocket change.”

 

The hobgoblin shot him a look that the tiefling ignored, continuing to prod the goods.  “Ten soul coins is hardly pocket change, tiefling.”  There was aggression in the larvae-keeper’s voice.

 

Donyxn looked up at the hobgoblin and grinned, exposing his sharp white teeth.  “Why Z’neth, do I detect a hint of a challenge in your voice?”

 

Almont stepped to the side and placed himself between the pair.  “Enough.  We have your offer and will consider it.”

 

The hobgoblin turned back to Almont and nodded.  It then turned and grabbed a green glass jar about the size of a drinking horn off a shelf and handed it to the cleric.  “Here.  So any prying eyes will assume we did some business together.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“It’s a remorhaz larvae.  Who knows?  It may come in handy.  But be careful.  They grow fast.”

 

Almont looked at Donyxn, but the tiefling just shrugged.  With that, the pair left and met back up with Kent and Katla. The sorceress had created a half sized illusion of Kent and was making it dance for a small group of children while the dwarf nodded approvingly.  “’Tis true, I’m quite a good dancer.”

 

Katla had the Kent illusion wave to the children and bow before disappearing.  They all clapped and giggled and then ran off in all directions.  Katla turned to Almont and Donyxn and looked at the jar they carried.

 

“What.  Is.  That.”  It was more of a statement than a question.

 

“Remor-something-or-other.  The hobgoblin gave it to us,” Almont said with more confidence than he felt.

 

She shook her head.  “I’ve warned you about taking gifts from strange hobgoblins.  I can’t leave you two alone for a minute.”

 

“Alright, enough of this jabbering.  I need to go get my beard trimmed.”  With that Kent headed to the barber’s tent.

 

By the time the others entered, Kent was already seated in a chair and explaining to Burney what he wanted done.  “It’ll be one gold piece,” she told him. 

 

“How about I give you five and you take care of each of us.  Including a brush-out for the elephant,” he replied, pulling a handful of coins out of a pouch on his belt.

 

“Hollyphant,” Katla and Burney said in unison.  Katla shook her head and Burney gave her an understanding look.

 

Burney was a Calishite woman and dressed in the traditional garb of her people.   The base color of her long sleeved top and loose fitting pants was a deep burgundy red, offset by cream-colored accents and gold trim.  A red head-covering trailed a sheer shoulder length veil behind it.

 

Katla knew a bit about the Calishite people.  They descended from the former slaves of the genies who once ruled the areas south of the Marching Mountain.  A proud people, they did not bear fools lightly and could react quickly and violently to perceived insults.  And it turns out it’s very easy to slight a Calishite.  Katla knew she’d have to be ready to step in should one of the men say something offensive.

 

Burney spoke freely as she worked on Kent’s hair.  “I never expected to see you back here again, Lola.”

 

“You remember her from before?” asked Katla.

 

“Yes, she was a rare bright spot in this infernal dustbowl.  Madhi treated her as more of a curiosity than anything, having her do tricks for guests or fly about the Infernal Rapture with a tray of drinks on her back.  Very demeaning.  Lola never seemed bothered by it, though.”

 

Lola was on the ground, sitting on a blanket Burney laid out for her in the corner of the space.  She seemed very comfortable around the Calishite.  

 

“I understand that most are here against their will, but that you are here of your own volition.”  It was both a question and a statement from Almont, showing his complete inability to be subtle.

 

If Burney was bothered by the comment she didn’t show it.  “Both parts of that statement are true,” she said.  She sharpened a straight razor on a leather strap as she prepared to bring some shape back to Kent’s unruly beard.  “I have my reasons for being here.  And they are mine alone.”

 

Almont accepted this.  He too had a past that drove his decisions in the present and was satisfied to not push the issue.

 

“Got to make the beard look sharp, love.  We’re dining with Madhi later,” Kent said, closing his eyes.

 

“Oh, you’re going to the Infernal Rapture are you?”

 

“Indeed.  We mustn’t dirty up the place.”

 

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that.”

 

“Why not?” interjected Katla.

 

“The Infernal Rapture is not inside that tent, at least not in the way you’re thinking,” Burney began as she expertly scraped away hair from the dwarf’s face.  “It’s a demiplane.”

 

“Really,” replied Katla.  Her friends had never seen the elf look so surprised and intrigued at the same time.

 

Burney looked at the sorceress and nodded, her hands continuing to move rapidly.

 

“It’s a separate plane of existence,” Katla explained.  “Like a bubble that can exist within a plane while also being completely apart from it.  If by entering the Infernal Rapture we’re entering a demiplane, we could encounter just about anything.  And one thing is for sure, the space we walk into will be much larger than the inside of that tent.”

 

“Right,” said Burney, now turning her attention to the back of Kent’s neck.  “It is said to be quite luxurious and much cooler than this hellish climate.”

 

“’Said to be’?  You’ve never been there?” asked Kent.

 

“No.  The cost is too high, and the risks too great.  Besides, I’ve never been invited.”

 

With that the conversation turned to less serious topics as Burney busied herself with each of them, including Lola.  After a few hours they emerged from her tent still a bit ragged from their travels and battles, but overall looking much more presentable.

 

They began walking across the open space on their way to the Infernal Rapture.  The same musicians and jugglers were still performing the exact same songs and routines as when the party first arrived.  The effect was unnerving, as if time did not pass within the confines of the emporium.  

 

When they were about 50 feet away from the tent Madhi emerged, still looking impossibly fresh and clean.  He clapped his hands once and spread his arms wide.  “My friends, welcome!  I can see you from your hair that you paid a visit to Burney.  A wise choice.  Are you prepared to sit down for the best meal you will ever have?”

 

“What’s the price, Madhi?”  Almont asked.

 

“Yes, of course.  Normally I charge one soul coin for every two people.  But since you are new to Avernus, and friends of Lola, I’ll make you a special offer.  You may all enter for one soul coin.”

 

“What about the food and drink?”  Kent asked.  Almont was fairly certain he could hear the dwarf’s stomach growling.  

 

“Included of course, my friends.  All you can eat and all you can drink.  No strings attached.”  Madhi had the smile of a salesman who had been selling for so long that is was impossible to separate the man from the salesman.  

 

“And we’ll be allowed to depart when we’re done?  No, shall we say, ‘exit tax’ at the end of the night?”  Almont had spent his teen years running scams like this.

 

Madhi put his hands forward, palms up.  “I understand your reticence, priest, and it’s well-deserved given that we’re in Avernus.  So allow me to fully articulate our agreement.  For the price of one soul coin we will admit a human, an elf, a dwarf, a tiefling, and a hollyphant into the Infernal Rapture.  You will all be allowed to eat and drink as much as you like, and leave whenever you choose.  All this for the price of one soul coin.  If any services offered require additional payment, you will be told so in advance.”  With that he bowed, one hand on his heart and his other arm extended outward.  “On my word.”

 

Almont looked to each of his friends in turn, and all nodded in agreement.  Katla spoke next.  “Thank you Madhi for acquiescing to our request for clarity.  We would be honored to dine with you in your establishment.”

 

Almont handed one of their precious soul coins to Madhi, who accepted it and put it in a pocket inside his vest.  Madhi then turned to Katla and extended his arm.  “Miss, I would be honored if you allowed me to escort you inside.”

 

Kent rolled his eyes.

 

Katla loosely held Madhi’s elbow and allowed him to guide her into the Infernal Rapture, the others following behind.

 

Their first step inside was into total blackness.  The second step revealed Madhi’s demiplane.

 

The air temperature dropped noticeably to a luxurious coolness.  The space was, as Burney said, expansive.  There were nine tables in three rows of three, each sunk into its own space a step below the floor level.  The tables were low and made of different types of rare woods.  Even with his expertise born from decades in the woods Donyxn could only identify six of them, and at least two had been extinct for hundreds if not thousands of years.  Seating was on piles of pillows of various shapes and sizes, all covered in the richest and finest fabrics.  Candles were on the tables and walls, while a few crystal globes floated in the air casting off soft light.  The vibe was subdued.

 

They were led to the table at the far right corner, which was set for six.  The corner seat was set up with a blanket and a bowl that was put out with Lola in mind.  Two other tables were occupied.  The far left corner table was occupied by a pair of elves, their dress something that none of the others, with the exception of Katla, had ever seen before, and even her eyes grew wide at the sight of them.  The other left corner table, closest to the entrance, was host to a pair of human warriors, mercenaries most likely.  Based on the number of empty bottles and tankards on the table they were quite deep into a hardcore drinking session.  

 

Madhi led them to their table and bade them to sit.  “I must see to my other guests and some business, but I will return.  In the meantime, I’ve taken the liberty of ordering some things for you.”

 

Madhi snapped his fingers and three human women emerged from somewhere.  Two carried trays of food that they began to deftly lay out on the table.  The third had a tray of drinks, and somehow everyone’s favorites were represented.  Kent’s eyes lit up seeing a small bottle of Skallbender.  Katla raised an eyebrow at the bottle of Elvish wine placed near her.  

 

“A rare wine, Madhi, and an even rarer vintage,” she said, examining the bottle.

 

“Only the best for my guests, Katla.  And now, if you’ll excuse me.”  Madhi bowed and took his leave.

“We need to keep our wits about us,” Almont said.  “This is not the time for drunkenness.”

 

“Relax, priest.  This isn’t the first time someone had tried to butter us up.  We know the drill,” Kent replied.  “That being said, I’m going to partake in a bit of this incredible elixir.”  He smiled as he poured a small portion, swirling it around in the glass and savoring the aroma, his eyes closed as he was taken away to a simpler time and place.  

 

“Shall we work the room?” Katla asked, eyeing the elves.

 

“I’ll go with you,” Almont said.  “Don’t let on that I speak elvish.”  With that the pair headed across the room.  Kent remained at the table taking small sips of Skallbender, while Donyxn walked over to the bar to chat up the gaudily clad half-orc standing behind it and absentmindedly cleaning glasses.

 

The elves were eating off a shared plate of various kinds of fruits and vegetables.  A half-empty bottle of a blue drink stood off to one side, the writing on the label clearly some form of elvish that Almont didn’t recognize.  They sipped at flutes of the liquid, their manners and the grace of their movements impeccable.  They looked up as Katla and Almont arrived.

 

“Well met, cousins.  I am Katla and this is my associate Almont.”  She gave a slight bow of her head.

 

The pair bowed their heads in return.  Now that they were up close Almont could tell that one was male, the other female.  It was the female who spoke.

 

“Welcome, cousin.  It is rare that we encounter other elves here in Avernus.  My name is Elevander, and this is Stoic.”

 

“What brings you to Avernus?” Katla asked.

 

“We are here to buy larvae for the zoological institute on our plane.  Z’neth always has such an exotic assortment of creatures.  Any time we visit we return with some delightful specimens.”

 

Almont was wearing his helm of telepathy and used it to remind Katla that he was carrying a larvae as well, and that it might be useful in keeping the conversation going.

 

“We too acquired a larvae recently and do not know its type.  Would you be willing to share your expertise and help us solve this mystery?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Katla turned to Almont and switched to speaking in common.  “Almont, be a dear and please show our friends the larvae you’re carrying.” 

 

Almont simply nodded and reached into the bag of holding, pulling forth the green jar.  He handed it to Katla, who in turn passed it to Elevander.

 

“Oh, this is a remorhaz.  Odd to see a cold weather creature here on Avernus.”  She continued to speak in elvish, acting as if Almont were just a piece of furniture and beneath her attention.

 

“Is this the kind of thing you would bring home for your institute?”

 

“No,” Elevander replied, handing the jar back to Katla.  “They are much too large and much to dangerous for captivity.  I recommend you be careful with that.  They grow quickly.”

 

Katla handed the jar to Almont who returned it to the bag.  “Almont, what of the other jar?  Perhaps our friends would be interested in seeing it as well.”

 

Almont withdrew the jar containing the small gelatinous cube, which Katla presented to Elevander.

 

“Ah, we have a gelatinous cube in our zoo.  Ours is an adult, of course.  I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one this small.  How have you kept it this size?”

 

“The container has magical properties, the nature of which we don’t full understand,” Katla replied.  “Would you have any insights?”

 

Elevander handed the jar to Stoic who rotated it around in his hands, examining every detail.  He handed it back to Elevander and looked at Katla.  “It is definitely infused with magic, though with only a cursory examination I cannot determine precisely what it can do.”

 

Katla bowed her head in thanks as the jar was returned to her.  

 

“We thank you for indulging our questions.  Perhaps we shall see you tomorrow.  You are welcome to travel with us for a time if you like.”

 

“Your offer is quite gracious,” Elevander said.  “But we return to our plane tomorrow.”

 

“Oh?  And how do you manage that?” Katla asked innocently, her curiosity piqued.  

 

“Stoic, as you can see, is a wizard.  He is able to conjure a portal that allows us to travel to other planes.  We have used it for as many as six creatures before, so if you would like to leave Avernus we would be happy to allow you to join us.”

 

“A wonderful gesture, truly.  Alas, our work here on Avernus is not done.  Perhaps our paths shall cross again.”  With that they exchanged their goodbyes.

 

As Almont and Katla turned their attention away from the elves they noticed that the two humans had become much louder.  It was as if there was a form of sound-dampening surround the elves’ table.  They turned to see Madhi speaking with the men.

 

“We don’t have that many soul coins,” the larger of the two slurred.  His companion stood unsteadily, his right hand resting on a dagger he carried on his belt.

 

“I understand that, gentlemen.  But you signed a contract when you entered.  I fulfilled my part of the contract.  Now it is time for you to meet your obligations.”

 

“I just told you,” the warrior said as he too stood.  “We.  Don’t.  Have.  The.  Money.”

 

“Well then,” Madhi said as he raised his right hand to the level of his head and snapped his fingers, “I suppose we’ll need to find a way for you to work off your debt.”

 

The humans’ eyes narrowed, then opened wide in surprise as four mezzoloths seemed to materialize out of nowhere, each grabbing an in its claws.  “We can discuss the details later.  But for now my associates will take you someplace a bit more private and secure.”

 

The mezzoloths led the men from the room quickly.  Surprisingly they didn’t put up a fight.

 

Katla and Almont returned to the table, as did Donyxn, and they compared notes.  Donyxn hadn’t learned anything from the bartender, half-orcs not being known as conversationalists.

 

A few minutes later Madhi arrived.  “May I join you?”

 

“Of course,” Katla said sweetly, gesturing toward the open spot next to her.

 

Madhi smalled and sat.  “I have followed the reports of your progress,” he said, which caused some raised eyebrows around the table.

 

“I didn’t realize we were so famous,” remarked Kent, only half joking.

 

“Oh, but you are.  The stories are a bit embellished, I’m sure.  Devils are notorious gossips.  But you have definitely attracted some attention.  In fact, there was a bounty on the head of Mr. Karrus here.”

 

The smile left Kent’s face.  “A bounty, you say.”

 

Madhi reclined a bit further back into the pillows as he sipped at a steaming drink that seemed to come from nowhere.  “Indeed.  It seemed that the wizard David wanted you.  Preferably alive, but, if I recall, dead was acceptable.”

 

“I suppose that bounty has been cancelled, you know, given recent events and all,” Almont said firmly.

 

“Yes, the contract died with David.  But no loss.  He was a bit of a bastard.”  Madhi looked to Kent.  “I hear you delivered the killing blow.  My compliments.”  He raised his cup to the dwarf.

 

Katla affected a look of distaste.  “And how did you become aware of that bounty, Madhi?  Such a nasty business, that.  I can’t imagine you’d sully yourself which such things.”  She was putting it on a bit thick, but it wasn’t clear if Madhi noticed.

 

“I am a trader of many things, my lady, including information.  Because I encounter so many different beings here in Avernus, I am at times able to act as a sort of match-maker, bringing together individuals who need certain, shall we say, tasks completed and those who would be interested in completing them.”

 

“And I’m sure you collect a fee,” Almont said.

 

“Yes, there is generally an honorarium.”  Madhi smiled.  “I am aware of a few jobs available currently.  Jobs that warriors of your caliber could surely profit from.”

 

“Tell us more,” Almont said, leaning back into a more relaxed posture.

 

Madhi outlined three available jobs.  The first involved a bounty on a warlord who was causing trouble with his roving band of killers.  The second was offering protection for a hag’s cave, guarding it for a week to allow her to travel to the emporium for business.  The final job involved assisting a pit fiend who needed help channeling a tributary of the Styx for his own personal, vague reasons.  All offered soul coins as payment, and while the party still had eleven of the coins in their possession, their vehicles would need fresh ones when they left.

 

Before the others could start asking questions Katla interjected.  “My friends and I can discuss these nasty little jobs later in private.”  

 

Madhi smiled and bowed his head.  “But of course, my lady.  How rude of me to discuss such business in a social setting such as this.”

 

“Perhaps we could talk about more interesting topics.  For example, what do you know of Elturel and its possible fate?”

 

“Ah that.  Unfortunate business, but not the first time a city has materialized above Avernus.  Eventually it will be dragged to the surface, the waters of the Styx washing over it and consuming the souls of those who still live.  The city itself will be absorbed into the plan and likely no trace of it will remain.”

 

The thought of that sent a shudder up Almont’s spine.  All those souls consumed by the Styx, likely to be later imprisoned within soul coins.  Or worse.

 

“Of course, the real prize is the Solar Insidiator.”

 

“The what now?”  Donyxn asked.

 

Madhi looked at the tiefling.  “Ah.  You may know it as the Companion.  I hear tell it was actually created by none other than Bel himself, in his forge.”

 

Almont was thankful Reya was not in the room to hear that.  

 

Katla continued trying to direct the conversation.  “Yes, Maggie told us about Bel.  She thought he might know the whereabouts of Zariel’s sword.”

 

Madhi simply sipped his drink, not reacting at all to mention of the sword.

 

“She mentioned another as well,” the elf continued.  “A hellrider named Olanthius.”

 

“Oh yes, old Olanthius.  Poor old Olanthius.  He guards the hellrider crypt to the southeast of here.  I can give you directions.  But be careful, I hear it is filled with the undead.”

 

Almont unconsciously caressed the skull head of his mace Lightbringer.  

 

They steered the conversation to the mysterious blue barge, but Madhi didn’t know anything more than they did.  He confirmed, though, that the dock they’d seen in that area served to both refuel infernal airships, including Zariel’s, while also pulling souls out of the Styx.

 

“I must take my leave to attend to the unfortunate business of the humans you saw earlier.”  Madhi got up from the table.  “You are of course welcome to more food and drink, and may leave whenever you like.  Think about the jobs I offered, and at the very least please come to see me before you depart the emporium.”  With that he bowed and left.

 

“Well, it’s clear what we need to do next,” Kent said.

 

Almont locked eyes with the dwarf.  “I agree.”

 

Katla looked back and forth between them, then to Donyxn who shrugged.  “And that would be?”

 

“We take the bounty on the warlord.  He’s obviously a problem, and we could use the soul coins.”

 

Katla looked incredulous.  “We’re not assassins.”

 

Now it was Kent and Almont’s turn to look surprised.  “But we’ve killed plenty of creatures…” started Kent.

 

Katla interrupted the dwarf, something she rarely did and which gave even more weight to her words.  “We’re.  Not.  Assassins.”

 

The table was silent for what seemed an eternity as the four exchanged glances.  It was Donyxn who finally broke it.

 

“We have killed, this is true,” he said quietly, his eyes focused on the tankard of ale he held with both hands.  “And I have no qualms with the things we have done in the past.  We did the things that needed to be done.  While some involved payment, there was always a moral reason underlying our actions.  We don’t simply kill for money.  That’s not who we are.”

 

Almont had, in his past, done just that – killed for money.  But that was in the past, before he was touched by Kiri-Jolith, before he embraced the warrior ethos.  

 

“You are right.  The bounty doesn’t support our goal.”  He looked to Kent who nodded in agreement.  “Thank you Donyxn.”

 

Donyxn continued.  “We have two leads regarding beings who may know where to find the sword.  Bel will require an introduction from a devil, something we cannot accomplish at the moment.  And Olanthius.  We didn’t know how to find the hellrider before, but we do now, and he’s on this side of the Styx.”

 

He took a swig of his ale, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

 

“The path is clear.  We visit Olanthius.”