Found: One Open Lord
The Saturday game, recapping 11/7/20 – In a hall in Helm’s Shieldhall we face down four barbed devils. As the Archer, Paladin and Wizard begin to destroy them, the remaining ones summon two others to help. But In the end, we overwhelm them. Searching rooms off the hall, we find several unoccupied bedrooms, but nothing else.
As we open a door to the north, a horrific scene unfolds before us in a large gymnasium. Three chained devils encircle an enormous bonfire fueled by a pile of equipment. Dangling above the fire are three humans in chains that are ripping into their flesh. During battle, one of the devils throws a chain which grapples the Cleric. Other chains hanging from the ceiling attack us as we fight. But when the Druid dispels the magic that animates them, they fall still.
After killing the devils, we rescue the three humans and learn they are a mother and her twin sons, all of whom are Hellriders. They agree to accompany us as we search for the townspeople in hiding.
We continue searching the hallway north of the gymnasium but find more empty bedrooms. As we approach a set of stairs, we hear a battle above us. Hurrying to the third floor, we see a massive fight taking place. A large ice devil leads a charge of wights and merregon against a few human guards who, it is apparent, are losing.
When the Wizard and Archer kill two from range, the ice devil throws up a wall of ice harming and preventing half the party from entering the room. While half the party begins picking off enemies, the other half hack away at the ice wall. When they have a hole large enough, they enter the battle and begin to turn the tide. Then, the ice devil summons another ice devil! Finally, the Rogue gets the killing blow on the last ice devil and we loot two precious soul coins.
In a room to the south, we find the corpse of a priest and the hidden staircase that leads down to a cave. Here, more than a hundred townspeople and guards are in hiding. They generously allow us to take a long rest.
Now that Helm’s Shieldhall has been secured, our next objective is High Hall. We set out south and begin to climb the switchback that leads to the building. Areas that were previously gardens and springs are now a burnt hellscape with rivers of lava. High Hall is a large alabaster building dedicated to Torm. Four watch towers anchor the cathedral, although the west one lies shattered. No is one around as we pass through an archway and enter a long hall. Although many symbols and statues of Torm are scattered around, we also see likenesses of Zariel.
An altar with a huge Torm’s hand resting on it sits in the middle of the central room. When the Cleric pulls a nearby lever, the hand opens for an offering. After he puts an offering in it, the hand closes and his hitpoints are restored. The Paladin notices a trap door in the hand through which the offerings fall. Also inspecting the area, the Rogue discovers stairs descending under the altar. Below, we find our offerings intact in an area under the hand. Nearby is a small tomb which we later find out is the final resting place of an unknown woman, who while inspired by Torm, killed a dragon.
As we explore north in the catacombs, we find knights guarding a barricade. They escort us into a large crypt area where we see the Open Lord of Waterdeep, Laeral Silverhand, in discussion with an older woman. The Open Lord tells us that she came to speak to the High Overseer, but there was an assault on the cathedral. Most of the troops were killed, but she, her knights and about one hundred townspeople escaped to the crypt. After relating our tale of being tasked to find her and destroy the contract that imprisons Elturel in Avernus, she tells us of a fabled “Helmet of Torm’s Sight” that allows the wearer to commune with Torm himself. It is said to be found in an ossuary beneath a chapel that is currently overrun with undead. A secret chamber hides the helm there. Seeing an opportunity to have Torm help us in our mission to locate Zariel, we make this our next goal. The Lord says that although Zariel is certainly in Avernus, she is not in the city of Elturel. With this information and a new mission, we have reached a milestone of experience.