((With or without double EB the demon does not look weakened. There are some cuts and small wounds, but so far the battle did not even ware him out))

The party endured - but for how long? The demon was not going to give up and seemed as strong as he was at the beginning of the battle. Brutus was the first one to fall, the monster would take some more with him before - or even "if"! - he dies here.

As if answering Fran's thoughts something changed around the battlefield. The cackling demon lord shut his maw and narrowed his eyes, gazing up toward the sky as a beam of radiant light pierced the haze. A shining winged figure -an angel? - streaked down from above, followed by a gold-furred mammoth with feathered wings. The angel slashed the radiant sword across demon’s chest and uttered a spell. A portal opened behind the demon lord as the mammoth rammed its head into the fiend's chest. The demon lord tumbled through the portal, which quickly closed behind him.

The angel's radiant light, impossible to look at, dimmed enough to make out her features. Yes, that was Zariel, you saw that face before in Lulu's dreams in Maggie's place and the golden creature by her side - Lulu herself in her true glorious form. Though, that Lulu do not recognize you. The angel came closer - with kind but also very serious and determined expression - and raised her hand sending healing light towards the injured ((consider yourselves fully healed)) (the only one the light was not able to bring back was Brutus). Mooncolor bowed before the higher celestial and Zariel smiled to the unicorn then looked at each of you.

"You fought very brave against the odds many would consider impossible. But this is my battle". She repeated the spell and another portal opened up - in it you could see familiar hellscape you had to traverse for ... days? you can not tell anymore how long you've being in this place. From the mist, surrounding the village, other figures stepped in - warriors, the original Hellriders, judging by the emblems, on warhorses. You recognize some faces if not the names. One of these Hellriders, a woman in her thirties with a fresh, deep cut on her cheek bowed her head and thanked you with the same voice that sent you here, in that dream (it feels very surreal now or especially now).

In a perfect formation the knights were riding trough the portal, but before entering herself, Zariel turned, looked at you and added “The demon lord Yeenoghu slaughtered those I swore to protect. I can stop him and others like him. I might have to give up all I stand for, but I could stem the tide of chaos and save many lives from the demonic terrors of the Abyss. Were you in my place, would not you risk it all to save others?”

She continued to look - intently, seriously, sadly - as if expecting the answer from each you. Lulu and knights stopped moving and were standing in strange poses as if frozen in time. Zariel waited.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Choir calls out, kneeling before the glorious, celestial, flying creatures. Actually, she is not totally sure she would, but she wishes she would be strong enough to make that sort of sacrifice. "Be careful!" she adds.

Adray, brought out of the paralysis by this quite literal divine intervention, moves forward and stands with the others.  He knows these events are not the true world but is caught up in the moment.

"Ive have always been raised to fight and protect others.  That is what brought me here to this point I think.  I would lay down what life I have yet to give but..."  he begins to say and then pulls open his cloak to reveal the brand from the Dragon Queen, "I am bound to ultimately further my queen's goals."

     “I...” But Polly paused, unsure of her answer.

     “I like to think that I would,” she started again, slowly and thinking on it even as she answered.  “I would hope that I would... but in truth?  I don’t know.  Can any of us ever know before being put to the test?  And even if one test is passed does that mean all tests will be? Does one failure mean I could never live up to another test?”

     Polly babbles on in similar indecisive tangents for a minute before losing steam and sighing a giant sigh.

     “Yes.  The answer is yes!  True or not doesn’t matter, what matters is that I would want to and hope to...”

     “I think...”

Fran had begun taking calm steps towards the scrap pile of her loyal steel defender. With tools in hand, she was ready to spend her next action during the battle to mend him. The artificer would be about to squat down to tend to her companion when Zariel, along with an extravagant Lulu in all her glory at her side, would decent upon them.

Although Lulu would not recognize her, Fran still felt a warmth of pride and a small sense of comfort seeing them together. Lulu pushed through and fought alongside them for her belief in Zariel, and this was a snippet of that time together. This is a sample of the situation that had unfolded, and of the heavy burden that found itself upon the shoulders of the angel.

Fran felt a range of emotions caught in her chest as a portal opened up, showing the familiar hellscape they’ve trudge through. As figures stepped forward, revealing themselves as the warriors that faught along Zariel’s side, Fran’s eyes would fall over one she recognized and remembered. Reya... She couldn’t help but feel a small smile tug at the corner of her lip as she wondered how she was doing now... Sensing a thank you, whether it was real to her in this moment or not, Fran would dip her head in a small bow in response.

The moment turned serious when Zariel would turn to look at them. The words that left her lips were sobering. A reminder of what it was that they came here to face... and difficult decisions they were. None were easy.

Fran knew she wasn’t without her flaws. Fran knew she was not the purest of beings. But Fran also knew that she had nothing to go back too... Nothing to lose except... What she’d come to learn as friendship? Companionship? If Fran understood anything, it was loyalty. It was the one aspect about herself that she knew she exhibited and was inspired even further as she experienced Lulu’s unrelenting loyalty to Zariel and her belief.

Finally, after a quick correction of her posture, Fran would hold herself tall and strong to address the angel before her. “Yes.” She’d say firmly, refusing to waver from her answer. “One may have teh give up all they stand fer teh save many... but that does not mean what they stood fer, will fall.” Fran would pause to swallow and allow her words to hang in the air. “A true, strong belief is capable of persisting and carrying on through those they’ve influenced.” Her eyes would move from Zariel’s to the Lulu that does not know her. “Loyalty can be the beacon of light that carries through the darkness.” It only takes one strong enough to believe... Even the smallest drop in the ocean causes a ripple...

Ordrag watched with wonder as the angel so easily dispatched the demon they had been fighting. Such power! Such glory! He watched the Hellriders going valiantly through the portal, and imagined that he too would follow such a captain anywhere. And hadn't they already done just that? They'd ventured into hell itself, risking their lives to save a city. So much more willing would he be under the leadership of a mighty celestial.

Then he thought about Reya and her story of Zariel's betrayal and conversion into a devil. He had pondered that often since Candlekeep. But now with the angel standing before them, Ordrag felt that he could follow her regardless of what happened, would even make the same sacrifice if ordered to do so, and could understand all those who did just that. So it was with a sincere nod that Ordrag simply replied: Yep, me would go.

Zariel listened silently, her intent look questioned but did not judge and after Ordrag had spoken she lowered her head for a moment and finally said: "Then you understand me. Whatever choice is awaiting you, stay true to your believes. But be vigilant too," she looked at Adray, then Polly, "anything can be a test."

She turned way and stepped into the portal that closed behind her, but not before one last time her unearthly light touched each of you.

(Everyone got Charm of Heroism. This charm allows you to give yourself the benefit of a potion of heroism as an action. Once you do so, the charm vanishes from you.)

The moment portal closed, the fog, surrounding the village, closed around the party, but only for a moment, then it was gone completely and you found yourself back to the Bleeding Citadel.

You stand before the dais, atop which glows the Sword of Zariel. Also before you are Lulu and the ghostly warrior that looks like that Hellrider woman with the scar that thanked you. The hollyphant is the first to speak. “I remember everything now. Idyllglen was the last straw. We followed Zariel to Avernus, but the evil there proved to be too much for us. Asmodeus appeared and promised Zariel infernal legions to end the Blood War, but she had to give the Lord of the Nine Hells her fealty. She accepted and became an archdevil, but not before Yael and I took her sword, hoping it could redeem Zariel someday. I gave up my magic and memories, and Yael gave her life to construct this place to protect the sword.”

Yael’s ghost smiled sadly and added, “You have faced many trials to claim the Sword of Zariel. I’m sorry to say, you face one more. As the inscription on the dais says, ‘The hero who becomes one with this blade exists no longer.’ Would one of you be brave enough to draw the blade and be gone forever?”

For Adray

 To Polly

To Ordrag

 Fran

 Choir

     Polly felt herself torn as if it was a physical reality.  I am unworthy or such a sword, I am corrupted and never did live up to the potential I always strived to have, she thought to herself. I wasn't good enough as a wizard, so much so that I gave that and everything else up at the first temptation.  I didn't do any better as a warlock, staying in the back fighting while hiding behind others...  No, she was entirely unworthy of the blade and every bit of her essence told her so.

     Yet she still craved it.  Just as she surrendered her wizardry, her very nature for a chance to change, she now sensed the same chance once again.  Ok, so she wouldn't be surrendering for power, but rather just surrendering to be rid of all the consequences...  But what could be more enticing than to be erased, to have all her mistakes and failures washed away and not have to live with them any further.

     It was so, so tempting... the oblivion of not existing any more, hidden behind a heroic action...  So tempting. 

     But Polly knew from the get go, this was not for her.  The voice in her head told her that.  Her familiar told her that.  Her very skin told her that...  But most of all, her logic told her that.  She was not worthy, and never would be.  Never truly every tried to be...  

     Not yet, anyway...  

     Maybe... maybe continuing is the more heroic act?  For with continuing...  one can always strive to do better.  Maybe.

Choir is not even tempted to be gone forever. She looks with worry on her companions. She does not want them gone, either.

The thing that intrigued Fran the most to have come here, was to see the forge that created the sword. And that was brief. But as a Battle Smith, to see the sword before her, left her with a sense of awe in appreciation for all that it was.

As the silence hung in the air, wind would whistle passed. Fran stepped back with a bowed head. It was not meant for her. It was never meant for her. She was never worthy. Her eyes would stay down, no longer looking to the blade.

This was a weapon for a true fighter. A growing and open heart. Patience and loyalty. Not only for those around them, but for themselves as well. Lulu already looked to the true warrior meant to take the sword.

Adray stared at the sword.  He yearnd to run up and grab.  To take the blade and use it to free the city and make his father proud.  He took a step forward and felt the queen's presence through the make.  The hunger for such a treasure to be added to the hoard and he stopped.  There was a chance that maybe this would wipe away her presence and free him but he couldn't be certain.  What he could be certain of, was that she couldn't be in possession of something so powerful, so he stopped.

Riveted by the glorious weapon, Ordrag's first impulse was to reach out and pick it up, even just to hold it for a moment. But Yael's words echoed in his mind...

Exist no longer. Become one with the blade. Would Ordrag become the sword? Whatever it meant, it sounded pretty final. Not death surely, but the end of his existence as he knew it. Maybe this was the cost required to redeem Zariel. The humble sailors life flashed before his eyes - it wasn't much to look at to be honest, apart from this extraordinary adventure, and certainly nothing worthy of the term 'hero' compared to those magnificent Hellrider knights. He was little more than a humble sailor, the half-breed offspring of a prostitute - the world would hardly miss him...

Except for his mother. What would become of her if he was gone? He could only ask his companions, if they should ever return to the world they know, to find her and explain his choice, and perhaps even to do what they could for her in his stead. Without breaking his gaze from the sword, and with an uncharacteristic tremor in his voice, Ordrag says to Adray beside him: Take care of my mum, eh? before stepping forward...

There were no questions, not suggestions to reconsider or to ask yourself once more. Lulu and Yael just moved back a little, allowing Ordrag to get closer and try to pull the Sword of Zariel from the dais. When warrior's hand touched the handle of the sword, there was the moment of complete and utter stillness, like the one at the portal, when Zariel seemed to stop time itself. Ordrag felt... judgement? curiosity? - not the kind or caring one, but if someone mighty looked into his very soul deciding whether to kill or accept the service of the being that dared to come so close. Every imperfection of his soul and body suddenly became very clear to half-orc, his very nature was questioned, weighted - and finally changed. From angelic light that covered both - the sword and the warrior - out stepped... It was still Ordrag, you could somewhat recognise him, but transformed: orc's prominent features disappeared - green skin changed into just tanned, eyes became bigger and darker but with bright sparkles in it, coarse rough hair turned into a shoulder-grazing shiny mane of black curls. Where before stood a half-orc brute, now an angelic knight, blessed with otherworldly beauty , was spreading his wings - big beautiful pair of feathered wings.

"The sword deemed you worthy," without a smile more acknowledging the fact said Yael, and Lulu just lowered her eyes in agreement. Returned memories seemed to push away her usual joy, now, even as a flying ball of golden fur, she still looked more serious and more important. "Now we can save her." It seemed Lulu's goal did not change. Yael nodded: "Save Zariel, and save the city. This is up to you." The ghost smiled and disappeared, and with her gone, the citadel and the scab around it exploded outward in blinding rays of light, leaving you unharmed but standing under Avernus’s red sky in the middle of a flattened surface, dotted with spots of ichor - all what was left of the demons inhabited the scab. Far away - well over a 1000ft is something resembling your warmachine, with some figures by it.

     "That's ours!" Polly says, just making out the warmachine and some mysterious figures around it.  Without even taking a second breath to consider all that has happened and all that it meant, Polly reaches out a hand and grabs Odrag's shoulder.  

     "Câlgon, ewch â fi i ffwrdd ..." she mutters and the two suddenly find themselves 500ft closer than they were a moment before...  (( Dimension Door ))

The radiant being that was Ordrag stands beside the dais grasping the mighty sword in one hand. He closes his eyes and faces heavenward, taking a deep breath and flexing his upper body muscles as his wings spread. The ghost departs. The citadel explodes. The being scans the infernal horizon wordlessly. He turns to the others assembled there and seems about to say something when Polly shouts out and reaches forward to grasp his shoulder. With a nod of agreement, they vanish and reappear halfway to the Tormentor.

The being looks to Polly with eyes like luminous pools of silver, extends one hand, and says with a voice like an echo in a large room:

Take my hand. We fly.

     Polly smiles and takes his hand.  Flying was about the only pure joy she had these days and she welcomed the chance to share it...  Until they were flying above the landscape and Polly realized she wasn't so much flying with Odrag as much as she was being dragged along - his speed that much greater than her own.  Still, they were gaining precious ground towards their vehicle and those who seemed to be accosting it!

Adray could only give a slight nod to Ordraf as he requested him to look after his ma.  He would let her know what had happened, as unbelievable as it may seem, and try and support her, at least as much as he could with being beholden to the Dragon Queen Tiamat.  

He watch, silently, in awe, as Ordrag pulled that sword and was transformed into this angelic being.  The form was at least vaguely recognized as him and he could only hope the old sailor was still in there.  Then he was blast out of his shock by the place literally exploding.

Taking a few moments from the shock of it all he took stock at the others with similar reactions.  Shaking his head on last time he calls out, "Snap out of it!  We are almost done."  He waves his arm, motioning for them to move in the direction of the ship.  "Come on, to the Tormentor!"

Choir stops staring at Ordrag's transformation in awe and hops to it, following Adray to the Tormentor.

All the same, she can;t help feeling a tiny twinge of jealousy. Akadi had promised she would fly one day, and yet everybody she knew seemed to be beating her to it!

:(

Hell didn't stop just because they got the sword. It was time to get straight back to work. The artificer wouldn't even blink when Polly would vanish familiarly out of thin air with Ordrag. Fran didn't have the same giddyup and go that the others had though. She needed to tend to a piece of herself. Her loyal steel defender was the only one cut down during the battle, saving them from deadly blows.

Tools in hand, Fran would begin mending Brutus swifter than ever. The metallic St. Bernard would spring to life with an incredible amount of enthusiasm. He too would notice Ordrag's transformation and immediately go bounding after the half-orc in endless excitement. Fran would then look to Mooncolour and Lulu. It was time for her to get moving.

Fran too was part of the 'no fly' club. There was no way she'd be able to catch up with them if they were traveling by air. Not that she was itching to get airborn again. But the artificer couldn't help but think of Choir who's shown the desire to fly from the beginning. The artificer was glad she was able to craft some kites that gifted Choir the simulation of flying, but she knew it wasn't the same as the freedom she'd experience with true flight. Falling behind the group, Fran would double check and triple check her gear and supplies then tinker and tweak things as she walked. 

Fran would eventually catch up with the party happening at the Tormentor.