"Ugh, you're saying we have to go down into a crypt even here? There's just something especially stifling about going underground when we're already..." he stops short of naming the Hells, remembering that the man didn't know where he was and not wishing to give him such a sudden rude awakening. "But very well," Darvin sighs, following Tibi.

"If it helps think of it as a box in a box ..." Tibi comments perhaps not so helpfully.

"You could think of it like a cake if you wanted... lots of layers and all.."

Reya looks at the man, "I don't know if we can trust him.  I do not recognize him or know him."

At this Seltern speaks up "No, but I know who you are.  You are a Hellrider, sworn protector of the city."

Reya answers.  "This is true and why I am here.  We will leave these refugees with you Seltern.  I know an entrance to the catacombs is below the altar.  Let us go find Grand Duke Ravengard.  I do not know if we can trust him either, but I doubt he is in league with the demons as, well you know who I speak of." Reya is reluctant to name Thavius Kreeg with so many people around.

She heads to the altar and reveals the concealed passage below.

(H15)

Heading down you end up in a small, isolated tomb which opens up at the end of a flight of broad stairs off the open central area of this level. The body of a young woman lies on the bier, a gleaming greatsword at her side.

Reya speaks up "Years before the Companion appeared in the sky, a young red dragon made life miserable for the residents of Elturel. It ate livestock, burned crops, and demanded tribute. Then one day, a scruffy-looking, unarmored woman wielding a greatsword marched up to the dragon and hacked at the beast with mighty swings. Before the stunned creature could fly away, she slew it. A startled and overwhelmed populace rushed toward the woman to thank and reward her for her bravery. As they approached, however, she fell dead. The unknown woman was laid to rest in this special place in the cathedral, and her body has never decomposed. Her nonmagical greatsword was placed at her side. Rumors suggest that she was an incarnation of Torm, or that Torm’s essence filled the woman and inspired her to defeat the threat."

You are at H15.  Passageways run to the north and to the south.

Tibi looks at Gil as if daring him to touch the sword and then pulls out the decisionist coin "right lets see what Tymora has to say on the matter" as he flips the coin in the air (1-2 = north towards H14 / 3-4 = south towards H11) {4} "right, right turn gentlemen we're off down this corridor" Tibi says leading the party down the corridor across the intersecting corridor into H11.

You make your way south and find a number of recessed vaults and mausoleums.  Some hold the dead bodies, others refugees hiding in the corners, frightened by your presence but assured when they see Reya, a known Hellrider. 

East to H16 or west to H12?

West to H12

You enter a larger room with twelve alcoves.  Each of the semicircular alcoves here contains an elaborate, upright sarcophagus 

Tibi turns to the party "well gentlemen what do you think - are they worthy of further investigation or do we proceeed?"

Feel free to keep this one going while I look to recruit another player.

Without getting to close to the Sarcophagi what, if anything, can Tibi determine.

Reya sees Tibi studying the sarcophagi . "This large temple was used for private ceremonies involving the most powerful and respected figures in Elturel. Each of the semicircular alcoves here contains an the body of a former high priest of Torm.  Best to leave them undisturbed .  I have no idea what power Torm could still have here in Avernus.  But we saw the power of his altar above to heal.  To disturb those that lay at rest down here may be more trouble than it is worth."

Tibi can see that they bear elaborate works of art engraved onto the covers showing mighty deeds and faithful service.

"You're right. Best leave them in peace." Tibi responds. He then leads the party towards H16 via H13 & H14.

Drabash wipes some sweat off his forehead, "Phew, I know hell is hot but it definitely is making me rethink my choices about wearing armour." He says with a grin as he follows Tibi down the hallway, constantly scanning for any hiding threats

You pass room H13.  Reya explains that this crypt holds the bones of those who served Torm and Elturel through their knowledge instead of magic or skill at arms: teachers, engineers, sages, and other public servants. Plain stone shelves in the eleven alcoves each hold one set of remains.

The next room (H14) has two sets of stairs that lead down a few feet.  "This is the Chamber of Torm’s Council." Reya says as you see a large oval table made of fine red oak fills the center of this room, and is surrounded by forty comfortable chairs. "This chamber was used for meetings with individuals chosen to provide counsel to the high priests."

As you make your way into a larger crypt, this large crypt area is presently home to over a hundred frightened people. They cower behind sarcophagi and in alcoves, their eyes red and their cheeks stained with tears. Standing before a large font is a haggard woman, her gray hair matted with sweat. With one arm, she clutches a leather-bound tome to her breast. In the other hand, she wields a ceremonial mace that would probably shatter if it struck anything harder than a pillow.

Looking around you see another man who seems a bit more confident than any others, he doesn't seem to be cowering like the rest of the frightened people.  He watches you carefully as you enter the room. (Yeah that's you Kaelani)

"Halt! You shall not have these innocents! You may not look like the other devils roaming this place, but evil bears many disguises. So if you not here to help, then you should either turn back, or prepare to meet your final end!"

A humanoid man stands before the rest of the scared people, wearing stained chainmail, with a shield in one hand and a glowing longsword in the other. He has a deep crimson cloak that drapes dramatically over his shoulders. His skin is a golden pale complexion, marking him as more than human but less than divine - an aasimar most likely.

Tibi puts up his hands “whoa we’re not here to take these people - too much like hard work I can assure you. In fact we’ve been doing out bit to collect some of this flotsam and jetsam.” He puts out one hand and says “‘Cractcus Tibicen, Decionist of the Baldurs Gate franchise of Acquisitions Incorporated, and you are?”

"I am Kaelani, protector of the innocent and servant of the people. So what exactly is your purpose here, then?" The aasimar lowers his sword and looks towards the other woman. "But this one speaks for these people, so I defer to her on that matter."

Tibi turns to Reya "I think he wants you to answer?"

(Sorry - I was looking at the "...haggard woman, her gray hair matted with sweat. With one arm, she clutches a leather-bound tome to her breast. In the other hand, she wields a ceremonial mace that would probably shatter if it struck anything harder than a pillow.")