Polly and Ordrag were first to reach the Tormentor (Lulu went ahead too, trying to keep closer to the sword). The figures around the warmachine turned out to be familiar, at least one of them - Smiler himself was standing by the Tromentor, that looked as if it was rolled over a couple times by the explosion. With him were two more ... creatures - a spine devil, keeping his suspicious cold gaze on the arriving party, and a tall blue completely bold man (?) in a strange clothes and covered with tattoos on the exposed skin. All three seemed like ready to fight when Smiler recognized Lulu.

"Last time I checked, that machine belonged to a bunch of assorted guests of Avernus, non of which was you, that had that golden furball with them." He looked at Lulu: "Where did you loose them, Goldy?"

"They are all here." Lulu with her full memory returned looked at Smiler as if she saw him for the first time, studying. "And this machine still belongs to them."

Smiler turned his eyes to the most strange couple - a devilish looking girl and an obvious angel hovering above the machine.

"Everything changes. It is the nature of things," Choir explains. "Polly. Nibs."

     Now within range, Polly separates from Odrag and flutters sideways away from him so as not to be bunched up - so about 30' between the two.  

     "You said the Defilers would take us in, if we changed our mind," Polly said. 

     "We haven't," She follows up quickly,  "Just reminding you of your words last we met.  "You told us to make noise again, if we were in trouble.  That you may come and take a look...  Well, was that enough noise for you?"

"Ha! Looking good, little one. And if I squint enough... Nope, would not recognize you pal, nice wings though." Whether Smiler believed the explanation or not but he seemed to like it, his never fading smile became a bit wider. "Have to admit, that was more than I expected. Did quite a number on the old girl too." He kicked the closest machine's wheel. "You know how to get someones attention." He looked Ordrag up and down "See you got the sword. Ha! Bel knows how to choose them."

He winked at Fran: "You sure you did not change your mind? Things are looking better - got new gang, Chuck and Blondy over there the newest members." The devil and the blue man stoically ignored the looks. "And there is more: big battle is coming, they say. By your city, the trapped one, if you still care. You should, by the way, because now Bel is quite interested too and I am sort of a messenger here. He will meet you at the place where he kept the prisoner. He said you would know."

The angel descends softly to the ground, looking at the loose-tongued elf curiously, as if meeting him for the first time. But as the green-skinned rogue talks, he replies to him by name. Thank you for your message, Smiler. We will first counsel together on the wisdom of bringing this sword within the reach of Bel. Between whom is this great battle to be fought?

As Choir gives her brief explanation, the angelic being turns to the cleric and says in his new sonorous voice: Thou speakest true. None among mortals may wield this blade save they be cleansed every whit, changed from their carnal and fallen state to a state of righteousness, becoming new creatures. Thy companion of old is no more, and yet I am he. A new name I wast given, but I may not speak it. Therefore, thou mayest call me Ordrag as thou didst before.

     Polly flutters around until she is hovering over their tormentor, still keeping a close watch upon the strangers... Probably 50 feet in the air above the vehicle.

For Polly

 "Impressive," Smiler honestly enjoyed the view, "not that I compelled to try my luck with something like this but impressive. Well, talk if you must. We are going with you there - new deal, new gig, might get interesting. Just remember, battle will be soon - the city is almost in the River already, Zariel will fight to her last breath to make it drown and demons wants to get their share before it happens."

Amiler and Co sat down around their bikes waiting for the group's decision.

     "We should go," Polly says with a shrug.  "Not like we really have a choice, huh?  Avernus was why we came here in the first place,  no?"

     "And what is your new deal, Smiler?  You working for Bel now?  What are your plans for the upcoming battle?"

Brutus comes bounding ahead, skidding to a stop quite a few moments before Fran finally made her way. Her eyes would fall over the tumbled Tormentor, catching a familiar green elf kick it's wheel. The artificer would pull her goggles from her eyes and rest them ontop of her head before resting her hand on her hips. "Guess we did come out wit a bang, aye?" She'd offer a smirk to Smiler and a nod of her head in greeting. "Figured ya couldn't keep away from trouble." The redhead would return a wink of her own before stepping away to evaluate the Tormentor as Smiler admired Ordrag in all his glory. That hair an' them wings though. She could gawk some more too, but it looked like she might have some work to do.

"A'ight. Let's see." Fran would pull some tools ready from her belt and begin to check out the damage. "We lookin' at any damage 'ere..." It was a hearty machine, surely a couple quick fixes and some tweaks should be able to get them moving. Heck, maybe not even that. Either way, the artificer would complete a full vehicle inspection, double checking the 'fuel' situation. Though, she was pretty sure Adray still had some on him.

Adray kept his eye on the Ordrag angel, Polly and whatever was happening at the tormentor while trying to not leave the others in the dust.  Seeing that nothing hostile was going on, he hung back with the others hoofing it.  

"So, now we are onto the final battle huh.  Think we can rally so troops from Bel... or even the Queen mother before we go?" He asks.  

"Don't get me wrong Ordrag, you appear to be quite the formidable angle man now but I'm sure that will be enough..."

"Troubles are quite often an opportunity too, and this one is sure is," Smiler happily grinned watching Fran working on Tormetor (artificer's precious scraps though scattered around a bit, were still there and fixes were possible. "See? Told you we can get a good mechanic around here," he elbowed the blue man with bright yellow eyes, that he introduced as "Blondy" before. The man did not answer but was watching too with a curiosity of ethnographer observing a foreign ritual. 

"But I would not be talking about anything final in this place, certainly not battles." Smiler laughed as if that was a good joke. "On the other hand, if the city drowns, that would be at least a final location for it - no way back, that's for sure. I say, do go to Bel and listen carefully what he plans for you. His offer might surprise you."

Smiler glanced at Polly "You do not ask about personal deals, little one. Suffice to say, it was good enough for some crews to join together on it and by "some" I mean may be all of us." He moved closer to Fran again "You'll see the Defilers at it's best yet."

It would take sometime to get back to that ruined citadel, former prison of sibriex, but with Smiler's help you at least could be sure about direction. Your guides did not hurry, though, and were patiently waiting for party to decide wheather or not they are going.

Then go we shall, says Ordrag, if all are agreed.

     "I'm probably the last of us who should argue with an angel..." Polly says, agreeing...

Satisfied with the repairs, Fran would wipe some sweat from her brow. She had some dark grease smudge marks on her cheek bones, probably from scratching an itch as she worked. But it could double as war paint. The artificer would return her tools to her hips and begin brushing the dirt from her hands. "Aye, the excitement never ends, an' work teh be had." She'd return a grin to Smiler's comments. Nodding, she was fine with going to see what Bel had to say.

A soft chuckle would leave Fran's lips when Smiler would boast a little about the Defilers as he nudged closer. She'd reach a fist out for him to bump with his own as a gesture of good faith. "Then let's see whatchya got." She'd smirk with another wink of her own.

Fran would look to Ordrag and give him an affirmative nod. She was in agreement.

Adray gives a slight bow to Ordrag.  "This is your show now my friend.  We follow your lead.  When you're ready we can follow in the warmachine.  Im not sure that you would for fit... anymore with those wings."

Choir hops into the familiar back seat of the Tormentor.

     Polly jumps into the ride and gets ready for the trip... She wouldn’t have a hope of keeping up while flying, but wanted to stay with the team in case they ran into any troubles...

Mooncolor looked at the machines, and realising he is was going to slow down the cavalcade, began his farewells, preparing to simply port to the meeting place, when Lulu stopped him: "You can not go alone in there!" For a moment she was again the old Lulu - easily surprised, reacting to anything with a fountain of emotions. Smiler, who already jumped on his bike (showy as usual), shook his head: "Would not do it on his place. There are devils waiting for our return. One celestial might have a tough time convince them he is with you." Then the elf patted sit on the "bike" and looked at Fran with a . "Want to see what the real speed is? Can drive yourself if you wish."

The unicorn reconsidered teleporting and the small caravan moved forward towards the now abandoned ex-prison for sibriex. The hellscape did not change - dusty dull surface, blood-red in the light of nine ever-setting suns, dotted with twisted ruins, gigantic bones, pits of demon ichor, and abominable overgrowths - homes to the most disgusting creatures. Hot winds seemed to be always blowing against the traveler, no matter where one is going, but with the machines - and guides (Smiler ket in front of the Tormentor all the way with ease, exactly as he said) the travel was surprisingly fast.

Empty rusty shell was still there, where you left it, with a few devils hanging around, not one familiar (though, it's hard to tell with devils). Smiler did not bat an eye on the display of claws, horns and all sorts of evil looks a proper devil can cast upon a mortal, but simply followed inside. "Not the fanciest place, but a few home touches... Can be base too." Though this was more of a small talk to pass the time, you did not have a chance to truly get comfortable in any way, when Bel himself appeared before you.

Now Ordrag could fully understand Mooncolor's and Lulu's uneasiness (to put it very mildly) in the presence of the archdevil. It was pure concentrated dark power, an evil power, and that emanations of strong malicious will felt like a physical pressure. Cold heavy gaze went from one party member to another, not distinguishing anyone specifically - not even Polly, and finally stopped on the Ordrag and the sword. Bel did not bother to comment on the half-orc's transformation but sword got his full attention for a while. "Good," finally said the grand fiend, his low voice echoing in the empty chamber, "you proved your capability. What do you intent to do with this thing now?"

Ordrag responds to Bel's dark presence with righteous defiance. Not in the form of a challenge, because he knows that he could never match Bel for power, nor would that accomplish anything constructive even if he could, but rather in sense of "we will never agree on philosophy but are willing to work together for a common purpose". Hoping the devil actually IS willing to work with them, Ordrag proceeds. Holding aloft the sword he says in Common: This is truly the sword of Zariel. We have faith that it will restore Zariel's divine spark and return her to her former glory. Wilt thou obstruct this our intended course?

Smiler didn’t have to ask twice. Fran’s smirk wouldn’t waver. She’d take her seat where he patted and pulled on her goggles for the road. The redhead was fine with the half-elf taking the lead on driving while she enjoyed the ride. Getting a feel for the machine, she started to wonder if she could even build her own.

Although she was sure Mooncolour would have preferred to teleport, Fran was thankful when Lulu piped up for him to stay with them. There was something extra majestic about the contrast of the celestials against this hellish landscape. She follow along in her usual silence, as Smiler filled the air with small talk. Is a base even possible to begin in Avernus?

Fran’s eyes would widen to take in the view of Ordrag and Bel. She’d even glance to Polly and Adray to see how they would feel considering their patrons. The redhead kept herself close to Lulu and Mooncolour, giving Brutus a faithful hallow pat. She’d wait for the discussion to evolve.