(S086) Portal to Avernus in the Basement

Trapped in a sweltering 150-degree Avernus basement, the party fights off Orthons, Hezrous, and swarming demons while chipping away at the ice-vulnerable red orbs powering the hellgate.

📝 Session Summary

The Wild Cards were called The Menagerie by some until they came up with the name The Wild Cards.

• Barlo: A grizzled tabaxi barbarian who has been doing some work for a network that one should be wary of.
• Bastion: An orphan human who spent his life studying magic and blades, even though his elder pushed him away from the sword. He replaced Reginald.
• Calliope: This bardic faun joined the party late when she needed to find help to save her homeland.
• Reginald: A leonin cleric who was off to show his family's royal background and would later find out there were secrets leading to him becoming a king.
• Sas: A tortle hermit was given an item of power and a quest.
• Shadow in the Snow: This tabaxi got a coin, and her curiosity set her on a path.

🎬 Scenes

• Scene 1: Barlo's Backstory — From The Bronze Canyon in Kampos. Gave up Tabaxi name, "Smiles". Help move people. On way to Eushia to help Black Road with a client. Currently on ship near Carrune.
• Scene 2: Bastion's Backstory — When Bastion Bladesinger was very young he lost both of his parents to a plague. He took care of himself as he taught himself how to use the rapier his father once wore. He lived in Dyrt and watched all of the great knights. He also had an interest in the ways of magic and he wished he could do both – use swords and excel in magic – like many elves he had heard about.
• Scene 3: Calliope's Backstory — Calliope was born into the nestled highlands of the Oraniad Mountains. The Skola Vale, wild and free, blessed by the gods and inhabited by whimsical Satyr and Faun. Deep within it among the lush valley, reside the Dawngreets, a long generational line of storytellers and lore keepers.
• Scene 4: Reginald's Backstory — He was born at home, a modest-sized mansion where his family lived a modest means – even though his father could never stop talking about how they were royalty and yet this was the only lands they currently possess. His childhood was generally a happy one full of several friends. He was an only child.
• Scene 5: Sas' Backstory — Sas was born on the continent of Oth'Mar – a content mostly inhabited by Tortles and is far to the south of the Carrune Isles.
• Scene 6: Shadow's Backstory — Deep in the snowy mountains high in the north, there lived a large group of Tabaxi, The Blinding Wild Clan.

📜 Missions & Quests

• Completed:
  • Established individual party origins and initial connections to the world of Dierde.
• Active / Discovered Threads:
  • Barlo's ties to the smuggling rings and the Black Road.
  • Bastion's mysterious past and fallout with Grognard.
  • Calliope's quest to save the Skola Vale.
  • Reginald's pursuit of his family's royal mint commission and claim in Neyer.
  • Sas's vision of the Cat Goddess Bast and journey to find her lost lands.
  • Shadow's golden coin and mystical calling from her clan shaman.

NPCs

S086: Basement Fight

Date: 2025-05-09

Short

The party's quest for a time dragon egg led them to a mysterious, magically-shifting mansion where they defeated a Red Abishai and encountered various beings, including a Rakshasa who revealed he had orchestrated the egg's theft. The Rakshasa warned them about the Red Abishai's eventual return from hell and directed them to close a portal in the basement. In the sweltering basement, the party discovered a massive portal to Avernus guarded by devils and powered by two red crystal orbs. As they fought to destroy the orbs and close the portal, the situation escalated into chaos with demons and devils emerging through the portal, including Orthons, Spine Devils, a Hezrou demon, and swarms of Abyssal Chickens. Despite the intense heat and mounting exhaustion, the party managed to significantly damage one of the crystal orbs while Calliope fought as a Giant Ape and Bastion attacked with Ray of Frost, though the battle remained unresolved.

Summary

The party's quest began with their search for a time dragon egg, which they believed would help them locate the cats of Ultharr. Their journey led them to a mysterious mansion where a Red Abishai had been keeping the egg. After confronting and killing the Red Abishai on the material plane, they discovered the mansion held strange magical properties, with hallways that stretched and doors that appeared and disappeared at will.

During their exploration, they encountered various beings including a succubus interrogating a local politician and a mysterious figure working on potions related to dragon longevity. While Bastion temporarily disappeared, the group eventually met with a Rakshasa, who was engaged in a game of dragon chess with a jackal-like humanoid. The Rakshasa revealed he had wanted the egg taken from the Red Abishai all along and warned the party about the devil's eventual return from hell, suggesting they close a gate in the basement to delay this revenge.

The party was teleported to a sweltering basement where temperatures reached 130-150 degrees Fahrenheit. The space contained a massive portal to Avernus, the first layer of hell, which was protected by magical shimmers on the walls that kept the extreme temperatures from proving lethal. Through the portal's crimson energy, they could see glimpses of a blood-red sky and jagged volcanic terrain where demons and devils waged eternal war.

The portal was guarded by two Orthons - large devils with tusks and metal plates bolted to their bodies - and two Spine Devils - small gargoyle-like creatures with bristling spines and leathery wings. The party discovered two red crystal orbs powering the portal, which needed to be destroyed to close it. The intense heat affected some party members with exhaustion, imposing penalties on their movement and attacks.

As the battle commenced, they learned the orbs were immune to fire but vulnerable to ice damage. The combat grew increasingly chaotic as more creatures emerged from the portal, including a massive toad-like Hezrou demon, Bearded Devils with whip-like barbed beards, disfigured Rutherkin demons, and even a White Abishai. The party managed to damage one of the orbs to about fifty percent while dealing with swarms of Abyssal Chickens - terrier-sized demons with leathery hide instead of feathers.

The battle reached a crescendo with various demons and devils fighting not only the party but also each other. Calliope polymorphed into a Giant Ape to engage in close combat, while Bastion used Ray of Frost to chip away at the crystal orbs. An Orthon turned invisible and escaped through a door, leaving the party to contend with the remaining creatures as they worked to destroy the portal's power source. The session ended with the battle still raging and one orb significantly damaged but not yet destroyed.

Scenes

Recap of Previous Events

The DM recaps the party's quest for a time dragon egg, their encounter with a Red Abishai, and meeting with a Rakshasa.

• Party was searching for a time dragon egg to find the cats of Ultharr
• Found and killed a Red Abishai in a mansion, but on the material plane
• Discovered the mansion had strange magical properties with stretching hallways
• Found a succubus interrogating a politician
• Met someone working on potions related to dragon eggs and longevity
• Bastion disappeared during exploration of the mansion
• Met with a Rakshasa playing dragon chess with a jackal humanoid
• Learned the Rakshasa wanted the egg taken from the Red Abishai
• Were warned about the Red Abishai's eventual return from hell
• Rakshasa asked party to close a gate in the basement to delay the Abishai's return

Arrival at the Hellgate

The party is teleported to a basement containing a massive portal to Avernus, the first layer of hell.

• Party teleported to a basement with extreme heat (130-150 degrees)
• Found a portal showing glimpses of Avernus with ongoing demon/devil battles
• Encountered guards: two Orthons and two Spine Devils
• Discovered red orbs that need to be destroyed to close the portal
• Some party members affected by exhaustion from the intense heat
• Magical shimmers on walls protect from extreme temperatures
• Combat initiated with portal guardians

Battle at the Infernal Portal - Phase 1

The party begins their assault on the portal while various demons and devils emerge to join the fray.

• An Orthon explodes when killed, causing damage to nearby creatures
• Shadow and Bastion discover the orbs are resistant to fire but vulnerable to ice damage
• A Hezrou demon emerges and kills an Orthon
• Spine devils engage in aerial combat
• Party members struggle with exhaustion effects from heat
• Bastion uses Ray of Frost to damage crystal orbs
• Calliope polymorphs into a Giant Ape

Battle at the Infernal Portal - Phase 2

The battle intensifies as more creatures emerge from the portal and join the combat.

• Bearded devils emerge through the portal
• An Orthon turns invisible and escapes through a door
• Abyssal chickens emerge and attack in groups
• A White Abishai enters through the portal
• Party manages to damage one orb to about 50%
• Various demons and devils fight each other as well as the party
• Session ends with battle ongoing and one orb heavily damaged

Memorable Moments

The party meets a Rakshasa playing dragon chess with a jackal-like humanoid, who reveals his true intentions regarding the time dragon egg.

During their exploration of the mysterious mansion's shifting hallways

Calliope polymorphs into a Giant Ape to engage in close combat against a chaotic swarm of demons and devils.

During the massive battle in the sweltering basement to destroy the portal to Avernus

The party is teleported to a 150-degree basement containing a massive, crimson-energy portal to Avernus.

Preparing to fight the portal's devilish guards and destroy the red crystal orbs

NPCs

Rakshasa

A leonin-like creature with backward hands who was playing dragon chess with a jackal humanoid. He wanted the egg taken from the Red Abishai and directed the party to close the hell portal.

Red Abishai

A devil who originally possessed the time dragon egg and was killed by the party on the material plane. Will be reborn in hell and may seek revenge against the party.

Orthons

Large devils with tusks and metal plates bolted to their bodies. Serve as portal guardians, can turn invisible, shoot radiant crossbow bolts, and explode when killed dealing damage to nearby creatures.

Spine Devils

Small gargoyle-like devils about 3 feet tall with bristling spines, leathery wings, and glowing red eyes. Use hit-and-run tactics with flyby ability.

Hezrou

Large toad-like demon standing 8 feet tall, weighing 750 pounds, with arms instead of forelegs, wide maw with crushing force, and spikes down its back.

Bearded Devils

Six-foot-tall muscular devils with thick barbed beards used as whip-like weapons, pointed ears, long tails, and gray-purplish scaly skin.

Rutherkin

Disfigured demonic humanoids with mottled green and blue-violet skin, tumors, elongated skulls, and tiny red hate-filled eyes. Can tear through other creatures' skin when killing them.

White Abishai

Draconic humanoid with white scaled skin, large wings and a long tail, similar to the Red Abishai but white in coloration. Emerged from the portal during combat.

Abyssal Chickens

Terrier-sized demon creatures with scrawny legs, sharp talons, and leathery red-black-purple hide instead of feathers. Attack in groups with pecking and clawing.

Locations

Mansion

A mysterious mansion where the Red Abishai kept the time dragon egg, featuring magically stretching hallways and strange doors. Contains a basement with a portal to Avernus.

Hellgate Basement

A small basement containing a large portal to Avernus, with extreme heat (130-150°F) and protective magical shimmers on the walls. The portal is framed by flames and shows glimpses of hell's landscape. Contains two red crystal orbs powering the portal.

Avernus

The first layer of hell, visible through the portal. Features blood-red skies and jagged volcanic terrain where demons and devils wage the eternal Blood War. Glimpses of ongoing battles can be seen through the portal.

Items

Time Dragon Egg

A magical egg being sought by the party to find the cats of Ultharr. Also desired for a ritual to potentially control a god and being studied for experiments related to dragon longevity.

Red Crystal Orbs

Two magical orbs powering the portal to Avernus. Protected by a red crystalline shell with damage reduction against physical attacks, immune to fire damage but vulnerable to ice damage. Destroying one will supposedly shut down the portal.

Spells

Greater Restoration

Mentioned as a potential solution to remove the exhaustion effect caused by the extreme heat of the basement.

Scorching Ray

Cast by Bastion at 6th level against the crystal orb, but proved ineffective due to the orb's immunity to fire damage.

Stone Skin

Used by Bastion as a bonus action for protection, halving incoming physical damage.

Ray of Frost

Ice-based spell used by Bastion to attack the crystal orbs, proving effective by causing ice crystals to form and damage their structure.

Polymorph

Used by Calliope to transform into a Giant Ape with 157 hit points, gaining powerful but non-magical bludgeoning attacks.

Primal Savagery

Druid cantrip used by Sas to deal acid damage to enemies in melee range.

Classic

Last we left off, our intrepid adventurers found themselves embroiled in a quest for a time dragon egg, which led them to a most peculiar mansion. After defeating a Red Abishai and claiming their prize, they discovered the true nature of this architectural anomaly - a place where reality bent at its seams, with corridors that stretched like taffy and doors that played hide and seek with their sanity. Their exploration revealed a cast of curious characters, including a scheming succubus, a mysterious alchemist, and a Rakshasa engaged in a game of dragon chess, who revealed his orchestration of the egg's theft and warned of the defeated Abishai's inevitable return.

Following the Rakshasa's counsel, our heroes descended into the mansion's hellish basement, where they discovered a massive portal to Avernus itself. Through its crimson veil, they glimpsed the first layer of the Nine Hells, where an eternal war between demons and devils raged beneath blood-red skies. The portal, sustained by two red crystal orbs and guarded by an assembly of fiendish creatures, presented our party with their greatest challenge yet.

Now, in the sweltering heat of this infernal basement, where temperatures soar to near-lethal levels, our heroes find themselves locked in desperate combat. With one crystal orb partially destroyed and vulnerable to ice damage, they battle not only the original guardian devils but also a growing horde of demons and devils pouring through the portal. As Calliope rampages in Giant Ape form and Bastion attempts to destroy the crystals with frost magic, the party must navigate this three-way war between themselves, demons, and devils, all while racing against time to seal the portal before more reinforcements arrive from the depths of Avernus...

Snarky

When last we left our intrepid adventurers, they had stumbled into what could only be described as the world's worst house party - complete with a mansion that played interior decorator on a whim, a Red Abishai who definitely wasn't winning any host-of-the-year awards, and a mysterious time dragon egg that everyone seemed to want a piece of. After dispatching their scaly host (temporarily, as it turns out) and playing an impromptu game of "which door actually exists" through the mansion's ever-changing hallways, our heroes found themselves in an unexpected chess match. Well, sort of - it was actually a Rakshasa playing dragon chess with a jackal-headed figure, because apparently regular chess just isn't fancy enough anymore.

Just when they thought things couldn't get any weirder, they got a one-way ticket to the mansion's basement - a cozy little spot that made a sauna look like an ice box, complete with its own portal to Avernus. You know, just your typical basement renovation project, if your contractor happens to be Satan himself. The portal came with its own security system: a charming collection of devils and demons that included everything from tusked Orthons to what can only be described as the most metal version of chickens ever conceived - the Abyssal Chickens, which are exactly as terrifying as they sound.

Now our heroes find themselves in the middle of what might be the most chaotic family reunion in the planes, with demons and devils throwing down while they try to smash some mysteriously important red crystal orbs. Calliope's embracing her inner King Kong as a Giant Ape, Bastion's playing it cool with Ray of Frost, and everyone's trying not to become barbecue in the literal hell-heat. With one orb already taking a beating and an Orthon playing hide-and-seek somewhere in the mansion, our adventurers are caught between a rock and a hot place, desperately trying to close this portal before their temporary devil problem becomes a permanent one.

Middle English

Harke ye all to tales most rare,
Of adventurers brave beyond compare,
Who sought a dragon's egg of time,
Through mansion halls most serpentine.

In chambers strange where doors did dance,
And corridors stretched by dark romance,
They slew an Abishai of red,
But greater dangers lay ahead.

A Rakshasa wise at dragon's game,
Did warn them of hell's vengeful flame,
"Below there lies a portal bright,
That must be sealed ere comes the night."

Down to depths of scorching air,
Where Avernus' gates did flare,
Through crimson mist they glimpsed below
The endless war 'twixt friend and foe.

Orthons fierce with metal plate,
And Spine Devils guard the gate,
Two crystals red with power bright,
Must shatter 'neath cold magic's might.

Then from the portal's burning maw,
Came creatures foul with tooth and claw,
Hezrou toad and Bearded Devil dire,
While chickens danced on wings of fire.

Fair Calliope, transformed to ape,
While Bastion's frost did crystals scrape,
'Mid demon hordes and devil's rage,
A battle fierce they did engage.

Yet incomplete remains their quest,
One crystal cracked but still possessed
Of power dark from realms below,
As hell's gate continues still to glow.

Thus ends this canto of their tale,
Though victory's end they did not hail,
We wait to learn if they prevail,
When next we meet to lift the veil.

Limerick

A dragon egg led them to where,
A mansion held secrets to share.
Through halls that would bend,
And doors without end,
They met with a Rakshasa there!

In basement depths scorching and hot,
A portal to Hell marked the spot.
With devils galore,
And demons what's more,
The orbs had to break, like it or not!

The crystals glowed crimson and bright,
As creatures poured forth to the fight.
Giant ape versus fiend,
While frost magic gleaned,
The battle raged on through the night!

Exported from GMAssistant on 2026-08-16