Same for Choir

Well, whatever Fran and Ordrag decide, you could rest now. It did not seem as if someone was going to attack a facility so close to Bel's Forge. And his own goons were stationed on the barge outside, probably happy to get away from harder work for a while.

Sibriex kept his silence, not indicating anyhow what he feels about (potentially) a night without a torture - or may be not believing yet that he can get one (he definitely was not deft or daft).

The chains around him remained just that - heavy chain, waiting to be broken. Neither Fran, nor Choir or Polly could see any other way. And if not for the dreadful aura the task would be relatively simple, just a bit time consuming. But aura was there - to dangerous for any living being to simply walk in.

(Are the chains magical in nature?)

Choir sleeps, and awakes to pray for Akadi's guidance for the following day, preparing appropriate spells to the situation.

(Not exactly - infernal iron, yes, so immunity to fire, poison, and psychic damage. Or, and have special a damage threshold of 10 (only something over 10 affects them). Other than that - just the metal. )

In the morning, when everybody is ready to get started, Choir mentions casually, "Freedom of Movement. You touch a willing creature. For the duration, the target's movement is unaffected by difficult terrain, and spells and other magical effects can neither reduce the target's speed nor cause the target to be paralyzed or restrained. The target can also spend 5 feet of movement to automatically escape from nonmagical restraints, such as manacles or a creature that has it grappled...."  She adds, in Polly's new voice, "Let's at least TRY talking first!"

     Polly talks in a hushed tone though still assume the creature can hear her.  “That does sound ideally suited! Great idea...” There was a brief pause, first cause Polly just realized her own voice had come from Choir.  Of course Polly knew this was how she communicated, still was odd when it was your own voice on occasion...  the other reason is that there was a “but” coming up.

     “But... I don’t think we should do that first, maybe?  We need some leverage and we’ll lose that once we free it...” Polly explained.  ”We could maybe explain we have that power, and are willing to use if we get info we need...  but show we can free them even if your idea doesn’t work?”

     “I could just use my Eldritch Blasts to attack the one chain until it breaks.  I can do all day if that is what it takes...  that would show we could do it the long way, even if the short way doesn’t work... and then get the info before we continue?”

"Get the info before we continue," Choir agrees.

Ordrag nods and grunts in agreement. He keeps the pitons and hammer handy in case the other plans don't work. But if the others can simply convince the creature to cooperate, then that seems like less sweaty work.

Fran would shrug. She’d go back to tinkering with something to keep her busy and pass the time in this dungeon. It was the first time since landing in Avernus where she actually was starting to feel trapped.

     After everyone has had their long test Polly addresses the Sibriex.  Polly explains that her fine feathered companion has a spell they believe will quickly free them of the chains but we would like the information we need first.  Trust is obviously an issue so we tend to prove we can free them even if Choirs spell doesn’t work as thought.  As such, Polly continues, we will break one chain as proof of ability to free... the brute strength way will take more time but will prove it can be done that way as needed.  
     Assuming the Sibriex agrees, Polly will then use Shatter  targeting a point where one of the chains bolted to the floor is affected but the rest of the spell affects are underneath that area. This could take a while but as far as Polly knows there is no time constraints... And hopefully there’s nothing below us but ground!

      Polly thusly casts the spell twice, then veins a short rest before being able to try again.

((A nonmagical object that isn't being worn or carried also takes the damage if it's in the spell's area. So just damage rolls...))

Shatter 1: 26
Shatter 2: 34

 When the loud ringing noise finally died out and everyone were able to hear again and also concentrate on the visuals, they could see that the chosen chain (the part caught in the sphere) practically disintegrated. As did the part of the floor, leaving behind a hole that looks a bit deeper than you would expect. 

"I know that you can break my chains. What I do not know - whether you will do it or not". Sibriex was talking openly through different heads - when one stopped another continued immediately. "Still, your effort should count. Here is the place you are looking for."

In the mind of everyone present suddenly appeared a picture with blurry surrounding, but very clear center piece. A great, disgusting scab the size of a large hill rising up from a stinking swamp of blood. The domed top of an alabaster temple pokes through the scab. Many black iron chains of Avernus converge on the building, attaching within the grotesque mound.

"They call it "The Bleeding Citadel". The sword you are looking for is inside. Now free me, and you will learn the way to that place."

Lulu gasped. "I... I remember... I did it... The Temple - I made it! Zariel’s most loyal Hellrider, Yael, took the sword and plunged it into a rock. I called on every ounce of goodness in my heart to raise a shield around it — a fortress against evil. But that thing around - it was not there! It's eating the temple up! We can loose the sword!" Hollyphant was more agitated than ever and looked as if she is about to flew away right now in search of the Temple, slowly absorbed by Avernus.

Do us even need to know the way? Ordrag asks his companions, cautious about releasing the creature for the sake of information they don't need. Us just start moving and places come to us. Is that how this place works?

     "We did make a deal..." Polly opined. "I don't know how quickly gossip spreads in this realms but I suspect if you break one deal it is harder to make others..."

Ordrag shrugs and nods, but keeps his hands cautiously hovering over the hilt and handle of his weapons.

Adray finally pipes up.  "I think you are right Ordrag.  If we know of the destination and what it looks like. We drive forward.  We can always ask for directions if needed."  He turns to Polly, " I think you are right as well.  A deal was struck and needs to be followed through.  Though its not unlike a fiend to twist the terms of the deal."

     "Appearances to the contrary, I am no fiend..." Polly says in a whisper loud enough to carry the tone of her displeasure.

Choir nods.  The creature had done as they asked, and even though it was foul and evil, they had an obligation. She raises her holy symbol of Akadi and casts Freedom of Movement.

For a moment nothing was happening, but then the heavy chains slipped from the deformed mountain of flesh and the demon rushed to the exit. He was obviously hurrying up, yet it looked as if he was slowly gliding - the creature was not fastest runner of the plains, though with his aura and most likely many other skills it was not all that important.

He did not warn about his movements, did not stop to say anything - just charged to the doors. Mooncolor jumped out of the way (pushing others too). However, before disappearing behind the doors, he sent last image - even series of it, changing in fast pace: marks on the hellscape. With them came the memories, warnings from Maggie, that you go from point to point here, not wandering freely. Otherwise things that would "come to you" might not be the one you wanted to see9by far) .

You saw Bel's forge, the road from it and the clear direction to some dark chasm, gaping between grumbling volcanoes that spew lava and smoke into the hateful sky. It looked like you were supposed to follow the chasm, then turn sharply and see the white spot that was the top of the temple you were after.

With that the demon disappeared into the planes (silence outside proved that waiting devils were smart enough to hide). You knew were to go. All you needed was your Tormentor now, the one that was left in the Fortress.

Fran would pat herself down to make sure she had all her tools. She’d then move to take her leave now that they were free to go as well. At least she assumed as much.

Once outside, the artificer would stand staring blankly out. She’d raise her arm into the air, ready to fire off a new sound maker. Just make some noise... Fran would then look to Choir, then to Mooncolour, then to Lulu. They were the purest things here, a stark contrast to everything else. And they weren’t getting twisted by this place, or at least not as quickly. With a sigh, she’d lower her arm.

”Come on Brute...” Fran would give a pat on Brutus’ side. “Guess we gotta go pick a scab.” She’d follow the others when they were ready back towards the fortress to retrieve Tormentor, assuming that would be the next task. 

     Polly watched (while frantically farting out of the way) the Sibriex leave and felt a sense of pride.  We did that, she thought.  As hideous and odiferous as it may have been, it was chained and tortured and abused... but now it’s free thanks to us.  We actually got the information we needed, for once, without having to trade part of ourselves, without corrupting ourselves.  For once we just... helped.  And hot rewarded.

     I hope... That last part of the thought rand ominously in her head.  It is possible the released an even greater I’ll?  But freedom is freedom and all things deserved it, no?

     Quietly happy, Polly just fluttered slowly along with the rest of her group, her wings keeping her feet a few inches off the ground.