Session #21 - Soul Dredging

Emerging from Burney’s and back into the ever-present daytime of Avernus they were immediately struck by an ominous heaviness that permeated the open part of the emporium.  It wrapped them all in a sense of dread.  The normal cast of characters went about their business, hawkers offering food and wares, jugglers tossing and catching, minstrels singing, but there was even less enthusiasm for it than normal.  It was as if going through the motions was only delaying the inevitable.  There wasn’t an actual customer to be seen anywhere.

 

As they left the enclosed area the Tormentor and Devil’s Ride were where they left them, but no other vehicles were parked.  More than the usual number of guard vehicles circled the emporium, operated by glaive-wielding bearded devils that looked to be on high alert.  

 

Donyxn sniffed the air.  “I can’t quite explain it, but there is some serious infernal power emanating from the emporium.  It’s as if many powerful devils were congregating in one place.”

 

The others felt it as well, in their own ways.  To Almont it was simply a blanket of evil casting a shadow over the area. Katla could feel the disruption in the strands of wild magic from which she drew her spells.  As for Kent, he had a faraway look in his eyes. 

 

“It feels like death.  I can smell the souls.”  He was absently rolling the blue cube in his hands.

 

Katla stopped and looked at the dwarf.  “You can smell the souls?”

 

Kent seemed to snap out of his stupor.  He looked at the elf, then at his hand, and quickly stashed the cube back into his cloak.  “I said soup.  Not souls.  I can smell the soup.  I got soup on my beard…”  Donyxn and Almont paid the pair no mind as they secured their gear in the Tormentor.  Katla was clearly not buying what Kent was selling, but she also didn’t feel this was the time to probe further.

 

Everyone agreed that their next course of action was to get the rods back to Bel.  Unfortunately Bel’s forge was on the other side of the Styx, and there was no telling exactly where the barge would be at this point.  The two most logical options were to head directly to the Styx and follow it north, which would hopefully catch them up with the barge.  The other was to head west, back to the portal they used to teleport to Kostchtchie’s Maw.  But portals were always risky, and no one wanted to accidently end up in hell’s eighth level by mistake.  Or someplace even worse if that was possible.

 

“What if we head to Bazlsteen’s dock,” Almont asked out loud.  The others looked at him.  “Madhi told us once before there was work there, and when we passed through the area there were barges along the banks.  Maybe we go, see what kind of help Bazlsteen needs, and ask if anyone has seen Bel’s barge yet.  If not we can wait for them there, or find another way across.”

 

It seemed as reasonable a plan as any, so they headed north to the dock.  It was yet another mind-numbing ride on the infernal vehicles as the plain sped by.  Kent and Donyxn were increasingly comfortable driving and seemed to take perverse pleasure in seeing just how far they could push their machines.  It was still impossible to say if their increased speed got them there any faster, time losing all meaning in hell.  

 

The first thing to come into view was a smaller sword-shaped fortress hovering over the Styx.  Tendrils hung below it and into the water, pulsating like some kind of digestive system.  As they got closer the dock itself rose from the sand, a series of small buildings and a few wide docks jutting out into the river.  Devils milled about the general area, some appearing to be working at particular tasks while others staved off the boredom, often by tormenting weaker creatures.  

 

A trio of bearded devils were talking and leaning on their glaives a few hundred feet from the dock.  As the vehicles approached they looked over and resignedly picked up their weapons.  One held out his hand to signal the party to stop.

 

Donyxn remained astride the Devil’s Ride, its engine still growling and greasy black smoke trickling from its tailpipe as it idled, while Kent stayed in the cockpit of the Tormentor.  Almont and Katla hopped down and walked over to where the devils stood.

 

“What do you want,” the largest of the three said in infernal.

 

“We’re here to see Bazlsteen,” Katla replied, inflecting the words in a way conveying that just speaking to the bearded devils was beneath her.

 

The leader stared hard at the elf, the two devils behind him becoming more alert and gripping their glaives tightly.

 

“Imp!” it shouted, never breaking eye contact with Katla.

 

A few moments later an imp appeared over the devil’s right shoulder in a puff of black smoke.

 

“Tell the master some… creatures from the material plane are here to help with his work.”  The bearded devil grinned, it’s sharp teeth showing behind black lips.  It turned and looked at its companions and all three began to laugh.  

 

The imp disappeared, leaving behind more black smoke.  The bearded devils went back to their more relaxed posture and continued their previous conversation which, as near as Katla could tell, involved wagering on fights to the death.

 

A few minutes later a larger devil flew from the docks to where they waited.  It was a horned devil, similar to the one they slew outside of Bel’s forge what seemed like weeks ago, even though it was most likely less than a day in the past.  The bearded devils took no notice of its arrival as it landed.

 

“I am Bazlsteen,” the horned devil said softly.  “What brings you to me?”

 

Katla smiled.  “We seek passage across the river.  One of Bel’s barges should be passing this way.  Have you seen it?”

 

“So many barges pass here,” Bazlsteen replied thoughtfully.  “I don’t recall seeing such a vessel, but it is impossible to say.”

 

“Well then, perhaps you could aid us.  We understand from Madhi that you might need some assistance.  If we were to complete your task, would you be able to ferry us and our vehicles across the river?”

 

Bazlsteen’s eyes brightened, not in the evil way of devils who are about to do something hideous, but with what appeared to be genuine joy.  It was startling.

 

“Yes, yes!  Come!  Have your friends drive and park alongside the building.”  Bazlsteen then looked at Almont and changed from speaking infernal to common.  “Walk with me and I will tell you what I need.”

 

Almont stayed in telepathic communication with Donyxn and Kent to provide them the gist of Bazlsteen’s story.  

 

Bazlsteen spoke as they walked towards the dock.  “We skim the Styx to harvest souls.  As you can see, the larger fortresses plunge tubes into it.  Here we also use barges to suck them out of the river, and they are later converted to soul coins.  It is tedious work down here on the surface.  A few devils may only pull a dozen souls from the river in a day.  But I have a theory as to how this can be done faster.”

 

The reached the dock.   Tied to it was a corroded barge with a crane-like apparatus on the end furthest from the shore.  Attached was a length of infernal iron chain as thick as a man’s torso.  Secured to the opposite end of the chain was a metal sphere, perhaps ten feet in diameter.  Four round glass portholes dotted one axis of the orb.  A hatch at the top was open, and jutting from the sides and bottom were hoses and tubes of varying thickness.

 

“Behold the future of soul harvesting!” Bazlsteen exclaimed proudly.  He turned to Katla and Almont, who had now been joined by Kent and Donyxn.  “You see, the density of souls is much greater deeper in the river.  By sending Mildred under its waters, we can suck in the souls directly from that rich layer!  It’s only thirty feet below the surface.”

 

Donyxn held up a finger.  “I’m sorry.  Did you say Mildred?”

 

Kent was sure he heard a whispered “quack” in the distance as his eyes grew wide.

 

“Oh, um, yes.  Well, Mad Maggie sent some red caps here to operate the bell, and they named it Mildred.  They even painted the name on the side.”  He gestured sheepishly toward a spot above one of the portholes where the word Mildred was painted, though the first ‘d’ was backwards.  “It turns out they weren’t suited for the work.”

 

Kent walked to the bell and rubbed the word with his right hand as if in a trance.

 

“Do tell,” said Donyxn.

 

Bazlsteen looked down at its hooves.  “We got the three of them into the bell and dropped it into the river without incident,” the devil began.  It looked up.  “But they never turned on the equipment.”  He sounded exasperated.  “The thing just bobbed around for a few minutes before we pulled it up.  When we opened the hatch we saw two of the red caps had been murdered, and the third was gnawing on an arm.”  

 

Bazlsteen shook his head.  “They’re a bit feral, those red caps.  The survivor lunged out at me with its sickle, so I had to crush its head.  Very distasteful.”

 

“Quite,” Katla agreed.

 

“But now you’re here,” Bazlsteen said, the joy back in his voice.  “I offered Madhi five soul coins for someone who could operate the bell and show that my theory works, and I’ll gladly pay you those coins if you succeed.  Once I can prove that this works, I can go back to the warlords and request more assistance.”

 

“More?” Katla asked.

 

“Well, yes, um… some of the other tests didn’t go so well, and no one will send me any more devils to pilot the bell.  You know, if a devil dies in hell it is destroyed permanently, so they don’t want to expend their lives unnecessarily.”

 

Kent had broken out of his fugue and had climbed inside the bell.  His head poked out of the top.  “How many tests have there been?”

 

“Oh, well, you know, I’d have to check my notes…”

 

“And what became of those who participated in the earlier tests?” Donyxn asked.

 

“You mean other than the red caps?”

 

“You just told us what happened to the red caps,” Katla said softly.

 

“Oh, yes I guess I did.  Well, you know how these things go…”

 

“That’s what I thought,” Donyxn said, shaking his head and walking over to the bell.  “What do you think, brother?”

 

Kent jumped down onto the barge.  “Seals look good.  It should stay watertight, and the controls look easy enough to manage.  But we’ll need at least two people, one to steer and one to operate the pumps.”

 

“Bazlteen, if you could give us a moment,” Katla said sweetly.

 

“But of course,” Bazlsteen replied.  “I’ll just go get read for the next test!”  He walked back to a small building with one side open to the river.

 

Once he was out of earshot, Katla asked, “You can’t seriously be thinking of going down there in that?”

 

“To be fair, we’ve done dumber things in the past,” Donyxn said.  

 

Kent nodded in agreement.  “It’ll be fine, lass.  Donyxn has that magic cloak we took from David, and he can use it to teleport us out of the bell and back to the dock at the first sign of trouble.  Plus the priest has been dying to try out his ability to part the waters, so he can be our backup.  You two stay up here and make sure we don’t get bushwhacked, and Lola can communicate with us telepathically.”

 

Almont nodded.  “I agree.  It’s a good plan.”

 

Katla shook her head.  “You’re all insane.”

 

 

Bazlsteen was giddy with excitement.  Because of the size of the barge there was no need for it to even leave the dock.  The diving bell containing Donyxn and Kent dangled from the end of the crane.  

 

“Here goes nothing,” Kent said, pulling down the lever to lower them into the Styx.  The bell hit the surface harder than expected, but the seals held as it sank below the waters.

 

“Test number 221 off to a great start!” Bazlsteen shouted from his spot along the shore.

 

Almont turned to look at the devil.  “Wait, there were 220 tests before this?” he asked incredulously.  Bazlsteen simply waved and smiled in response before turning his gaze back to the barge.

 

Down in the bell, things were going surprisingly well.  Kent and Donyxn extended the hoses into a darker patch of water and a counter ticked off as the souls were extracted.  The currents moved the bell around a bit, but it was still dry inside.

 

“You know, here we are in this smelly ball taking all the risks while those two just stand up there doing nothing,” Kent muttered.  “Typical.”

 

Meanwhile, back on the surface Almont and Katla watched as a massive creature pulled itself out of the water at the far end of the dock.  It was a ten-foot tall nightmare, a four-armed beast from the abyss.  Red with a pearlescent underbelly, it was humanoid in shape and bulging with corded muscle.  The lower pair of arms were similar to those of a giant, while the upper, longer pair ended in razor-sharp black pincers.  Its head was like that of a deranged wolf, spike-like incisors framing its mouth.  It let out a roar as it stood at the far end of the dock, then began to move towards them.

 Almont attempted to hold the beast as he had the remorhaz.  A blue glow covered it, but it simply flexed and extended its arms, shattering the field as it continued to stride toward them.

 

“Let me try,” Katla said, grinning slyly as her hands danced in the air.  The sorceress threw a ball of energy at the demon, which they later learned was called a glabrezu, and it struck with a thunderous blast.  The beast was knocked backwards and the barge rocked back and forth from the blast.  

 

“What are those idiots doing up there?” Kent spat.  “Lola, if you can hear me tell them to quit rocking the damn boat!”

 

Um, Almont and Katla are a bit busy a the moment, came Lola’s sing-song voice into their minds.  Kent and Donyxn looked at one another nervously.

 

Instead of attacking Almont and Katla head-on as they expected, the glabrezu stepped onto the barge.  With one pincer it began squeezing the chain holding the diving bell.  The other tried to grab the hose delivering the souls to the surface but it was just out of reach.  One of the more normal hands on the second set of arms threw a fire bolt at Katla, but she artfully stepped aside and it passed by her.  Lola flit about the demon’s head trying to kick at it, but it paid her no mind.

 

Almont considered his options and none of them seemed appealing, so he reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a fist-sized yellow gem.  “Here goes nothing,” he said as he tossed it gently into the air with his left hand.  His right whipped around his warhammer, and when the head of the magic weapon struck the stone it shattered.  The yellow dust and fragments seemed to increase in volume at an exponential pace and formed a vaguely humanoid shape.  It took about two seconds to solidify, and when it did what stood before them resembled a piece of living rock, all sharp and jagged angles.  It turned and looked at the cleric, and Almont simply pointed at the glabrezu.  The earth elemental turned and charged forward, slamming into the demon with its body and pummeling it with stone fists the size of pumpkins.

 

Lola flashed images of the battle to the pair in the bell.  “He did what?” shouted Kent.  “Almont released an earth elemental?  And we’re missing it?”

 

Donyxn chuckled.  “I think we have enough souls,” he said, pointing to the counter that showed ‘22’.  “How about we get up there and join the fun?”

 

Kent reached up and shoved the crane control lever up and the bell began to ascend.

 

Katla hit the glabrezu with another ball of thunder.  It had given up on the chain and hoses and was now going toe-to-toe with the smaller but very solid earth elemental, the pair trading powerful blows.  Almont sought an opening and found one when the elemental was knocked backwards by one of the demon’s clawed arms.  The cleric called forth a bolt of radiant energy that struck the glabrezu on its white chest, black burns radiating outward as it howled in a mix of pain and rage.  The whole creature glowed with a dim radiance.

 

“I can’t miss with that glow,” Katla said as she threw another ball of thunderous force that hit the same spot as Almont’s bolt.  The glabrezu burst apart, its four arms flying off in different directions, the lower half of its body still standing.  The earth elemental calmly picked up the remaining piece of the demon and threw it into the river before turning back to Almont.

 

“Help hoist up the bell,” he said.  The elemental grabbed the chain and began to pull.  About twenty seconds later the bell broke the surface.  Using the crane they hefted it out of the river and placed it onto the barge.  It looked like they were home free.

 

That is until a second glabrezu climbed out of the river and onto the dock.

 

Donyxn and Kent scrambled to get out of the bell and onto the barge.  Almont whistled and the earth elemental turned to look at him.  The cleric pointed at the new demon and the elemental hopped onto the dock and charged forward.  Moments before the irresistible force of the demon crashed into the immovable object of the elemental, Almont cast a bolt of radiant energy that struck the glabrezu, slowing it slightly and throwing off its balance just enough to allow the elemental an opening for its stone fists.  The sound of stone impacting wet flesh and bones breaking filled the air as the demon staggered backwards.

 

But the glabrezu was made of stern, demonic stuff.  It lashed out with its pincers and ripped chunks of stone from the surface of the elemental.  As it did so it turned its gaze upon Katla, its eyes flashing red.  The gaze pierced like an ice pick in her mind, leaving her standing stunned and slack-jawed. 

 

Things were moving fast now.  A pair of Donyxn’s arrows struck the glabrezu in the chest.  Almont began to intone a woeful sounding prayer that ended with the cleric clapping his hands together.  The sound they made was not that of two hands meeting, but the low tolling of massive church bells, a sound that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time.  The noise hurt the demon, blood beginning to flow from its ears, eyes, and mouth as it continued its slugfest with the earth elemental.

 

Neither creature saw the swift-footed dwarf as he ran around behind the glabrezu, his scimitar flashing brightly as it cut with breathtaking speed.  The wails of the dead joined in a chorus with Almont’s tolling bells as the dwarf cleanly severed the demon’s spine.  It immediately went limp, its eyes rolling back into its head as it died.  A pool of ichor began to form on the dock.  The elemental turned away and walked back to Almont, taking up position behind him.

 

Kent remained standing over the body of the slain demon as the voices and bells faded away.  The ichor pooled around him but never touched his boots, leaving him standing in a dry patch.  Only Katla had seen this new death ritual when it occurred with the remorhaz, but this time they all witnessed the rogue hold out his left hand.  Sparkles of energy flowed above his outstretched palm before solidifying, leaving the dwarf holding a small golden whistle.  He regarded it for a few moments before carefully putting it in a pocket inside his cloak.  

 

“Any idea what’s happening to him?” Almont asked Donyxn out of the side of his mouth, never taking his gaze off the dwarf.

 

“No.  But I don’t think I like it.”

 

Bazlsteen walked up the dock excitedly, paying absolutely no attention to the dead demon, the growing pool of ichor, or the earth elemental.  It was as if this kind of thing happened every day.  “Twenty-two!  Twenty-two souls in ten minutes!  My idea works!”

 

The devil held a handful of soul coins.  He handed a stack of five to Donyxn.  “That’s for the agreed upon fee.”  He then handed one extra one to the tiefling.  “And that is a bonus.  I can’t wait to share these results!”

 

“We’re so glad we could help,” Katla said.  “Now, about that river crossing.”

 

Bazlsteen looked at the elf with a hint of disappointment.  “Of course.  But are you sure you won’t stay and continue to pilot the machine?  It could be quite lucrative for you.”

 

“No, we have business on the other side.”

 

“Perhaps we shall meet again, then.  A deal is a deal, after all.  Head to that point there,” the devil said, pointing to the south.  “It’s a safer place for a crossing.  I’ll bring a barge down myself.”

 

They drove to the spot Bazlsteen indicated, the elemental running alongside the Tormentor.  After waiting for about an hour they saw the barge come around a bend in the river.  Two bearded devils capably piloted it to the shore and the party loaded their vehicles onboard.  

 

During the passage Donyxn engaged the horned devil in some conversation.  “Does Zariel ever bring her fortress down here?”

 

“Of course,” replied Bazlsteen.  “Probably in two or three days time, she’ll return here to refuel.  Unlike most archdevils, she has no lair.  She lives aboard her fortress and travels Avernus slaying demons.”  He seemed to find this an admirable trait.

 

“I’d heard tell that she has a powerful sword.”

 

“Supposedly she did at one time.  But it was lost long ago, and no one knows where or how.  She wields a warhammer now, and I can promise you it is plenty deadly.  I saw it in action after the ill-fated test number 116.”  Bazlsteen shuddered at the memory.

 

They drifted across the river in silence for a bit.  Donyxn looked to the northeast where Elturel continued to be pulled down to the surface by massive chains.  “That’s quite a sight.  How long do you figure until it reaches the surface?”

 

“Probably another ten days or so,” Bazlsteen mused.  “But it will get worse and worse for the residents in the days to come as demons and devils climb the chains to reap the bounty of fresh souls still in the city.”  The devil sighed.  “It’s such a waste, really.  They’d be much more useful in soul coins.”

 

On the east side of the Styx the vehicles were offloaded and they bid farewell to Bazlsteen.  He was the first seemingly decent devil they had encountered.  

 

Kent walked over to Almont and jerked his thumb at the elemental.  “How much longer will we have this thing?”

 

“Not much longer.  Probably just a few minutes.  Why?”

 

Kent whispered something to the cleric.  “Sure, I don’t see why not,” Almont said.  

 

Katla and Donyxn turned when they heard Kent shouting with joy, and it took them a moment to comprehend what they were seeing.  Kent was astride the elemental, sitting up on its shoulders and waving his hat in the air as the creature ran a few hundred yards out into the sands and then turned and ran back.  Upon returning to the vehicles the elemental bent down and let the dwarf climb off.  It then stood upright and began to dissipate in the wind, the entire eight-foot creature disappearing in just a few seconds.

 

“Now that was fun,” said Kent.

 

They climbed aboard their vehicles and headed to Bel’s forge.  On arrival they were met by two bearded devils and a horned devil.  “State your business,” boomed the horned beast.

 

Kent hopped off the Tormentor and strode to the devil, which was easily twice his height.  The dwarf pointed toward the fortress entrance fifty yards away.

 

“You see that harpoon in the wall?  I put that there.  Ripped the wings clean off the last horned devil that told me ‘state your business’.”

 

The devil looked at the harpoon and back at the dwarf, more intrigued than concerned.  It was about to speak when Donyxn approached.  “You know who we are.  And you know your master is expecting us.  So let us pass.  Or perhaps you’d rather explain to Bel why you kept us waiting.”

 

“Which might be hard to do without any wings,” Kent said sternly.

 

A voice boomed out of the fortress.  “Allow them to pass!”

 

The devils winced at the sound and quickly stepped aside.  Kent and Donyxn got aboard their vehicles and drove to the entrance.  An imp appeared to usher them downstairs and back into Bel’s forge.

 

The pit field floated on his jewel-encrusted throne.  The four fire giants stood silently at their anvils, each dripping mucus-like gobs of sweat and holding hammers larger than a man.

 

“I did not expect to see you again,” Bel said evenly.

 

“And why is that?” Donyxn asked.

 

“I heard that you killed Vincenes with your lightning arrow.  I would have thought that you would be smarter than to show yourselves here again after killing one of my champions.”

 

“Well, to be clear,” Almont interjected, “I killed Vincenes.”

 

Everyone turned to look at the cleric, including the giants.  Katla rolled her eyes.  Kent grinned and looked at his boots.  

 

“No.  It was the tiefling.  A human such as yourself could never have accomplished such a thing.”  Bel turned back to Donyxn.  Almont was about to speak again when Katla backhanded him on the arm to shut him up.

 

“Tell me why I should not have my fire giants destroy you right here and now?”

 

“Because then you’ll never know what the sibriex told us,” Donyxn said straight-faced.  “Or find out about that other errand.”

 

“Proceed.”

 

In usual Donyxn fashion the tiefling wove a narrative about their fight with Vincenes, conversation with the sibriex, and their acquisition of the adamantine bars.  And also as usual he made himself the central character in the story, though this time none of his friends corrected him.  After all, Bel already held the tiefling in high regard.  A little embellishment could only help bolster his reputation further.  

 

After Donyxn finished his tale, no one spoke for what seemed like minutes, the only sounds in the chamber the bubbling of the lava in the floor channels and sizzling caused by fire giant sweat falling on hot anvils.  

 

“Leave my forge,” Bel boomed.

 

“What?  Wait, you said…” Kent started.

 

“NOW!”  The sound wave from Bel’s utterance actually pushed them all back onto their heels.

 

They stood in silence for a few seconds before Donyxn turned, faced his friends, and made a hand signal that basically said, let’s get out of here right now.

 

They climbed the spiral staircase to the main level and walked back out the massive fortress doors, not stopping or speaking until they reached the Tormentor.

 

While they walked Bel reached out and placed some images in their minds.  The first was a map of Avernus with a location to their southeast circled.  The second was of a fortress.  There was also a message.  Take those rods, put then in the Solar Insidiator, and see what happens.

 

“He showed us the way,” Lola said excitedly.  “He showed us the way to Zariel’s sword!” 

 

“I didn’t see any sword in those visions, little one,” Kent said.  “What makes you think that?”

 

“Because I put it there.”

 

All eyes turned to the hollyphant.  

 

“Tell us more,” Katla coaxed.

 

Lola’s wings beat rapidly and she spun a circle in the air before continuing.  “Zariel told me to put it someplace where the devils couldn’t find it.  Yael and I found the spot.  He planted it into the ground, and I used my magic to build a citadel around it.  I had to use all of my magic to make the citadel, and after that I forgot everything.”

 

“You know, this would have been really good information back when we first climbed down from Elturel,” Kent said.

 

“I just remembered it now.  But that’s where the sword is.  I’m sure of it.”

 

“Well,” said Donyxn, “I guess I know where we’re headed.”