Choir will take a moment to look up Kenku, and learn their history...something she never studied or learned about growing up in the Temple of Akadi.

Polly brightens at her words. “If that is the case I wonder if you have any spells I can study which is especially effective against fiends?” She blushes at her request, but they will most likely need every bit of help they can get. “Most of my spells are fire based and that has proved quite useless against them. And also if you have any cantrips available would be most generous of you.” 

“With only fire bolt as an offensive cantrip, I’m quite useless once my magic runs out.” 

"Well, I guess I'm going to Hell.  I appreciate the sentiment and u our confidence Polly but I leave this choice to each of you.  This might be a one way trip and I'll not force any to come but I'd feel better having ya with me by my side..."

To Sylvyra he says, "yeah, some study might be good but the longer we wait the worse i fear this will turn out.  I think we'll have to get the basics firsts.  Whatever we can find on weaknesses and strengths, maybe how to blend in, a map if there ever was one and whatever else you all think would be handy.  No more than a day though."

"Oh, my... Indeed, fire or poison are not that helpful over there. Still, you might manage, just as I did." She frowned a bit. "You are willingly going to thei place where very few dared to wander voluntarily. Yet, all I am allowed to offer to you is my knowledge. You understand, we are not a Magic Academy to freely share spells and scrolls, otherwise it would be long overrun by mages from all corners of the world. Here, let me give you this," she picked up a scroll from her desk, checked if it was the right one and gave it to Polly. "It is not an offence strictly speaking, but something that might help you to protect yourself and others. If not right away, then soon you will be able to copy it into your book."

(Counterspell scroll is given to Polly

"Now, about that map..." Sylvyra dived back into the piles of papers on her desk. "I have this." She turned to the group with a quite shabby scroll case with traces of old ornament still visible on it. "This is the map of Avernus — the only such map known to exist, a true, incredible and absolutely priceless treasure of knowledge." She opened the case, took out the map and unfold it for everyone to see. Then she fold it back, closed the case and gave it to Adray. “A word of caution, though: this map might not be entirely reliable. Its creator went mad making it. Still, you would not be completely clueless.”

"About strengths and weaknesses of devils and demons - that would take some time for you to learn. Both kind take many forms and even we, who only barely scratched the surface of the subject, know tens if not hundreds of different types of Hells dwellers. But I will help you with the books on the matter."

((Everyone, who is willing to spend some days reading and studying suggested books can consider him/herself familiar with the lore of Nine Hells - some now added to the campaign page : https://www.dndbeyond.com/campaigns/709337    and with the entire “Devils” entry of the Monster Manual. ))

Ordrag's mental faculties take a little longer to get up to speed, but the more he thinks about it the more questions come to mind...

So, what's it like ... in Hell? Can us breathe the air? Do they even have air? Is there water, or food? Are there devils everywhere trying to kill us?

The half-orc draws on his Survival savvy to think of any other factors that they mind need to consider to survive in Hell. 7

Polly accept the scroll “thank you very much, this will certainly come in handy.” She bows to Sylvyra.

then she hear Ordrag speak up about the survival in hell. Well at least someone is thinking of how to survive down there.. she think. 

“I have been thinking for a while how we are to survive the nights down there and I think I have finally come up with a way for us to have at least some peaceful rest. I remember one of the teachers talking about how you can create a magical space which no one can enter during a class a year or so ago, and just before we arrived I managed pull it of..” 

Choir is impressed with Polly's useful new spell.  She has one herself, if it's ever possible. She shows Polly the spell Revivify in a book of clerical prayers, and comments regretfully, "Need diamonds."

After spending some time reading about Avernus and what is going on there Polly remembers about the dragon cultists they encountered after the fight with the dead tree cult. 

She goes of to find Sylvira to ask her about it. “Sylvira, what can you tell me about the dragon queen Tiamat? Some time ago we encountered some of her underlings after we cleaned a sewer from some cultists. They said we had something that belonged to Tiamat and that it needed to be returned. A white mask with magical properties. Will this cause us any harm when we enter Avernus?” 

Sylvura was obviously excited to ... well.. send someone to Hell - with a lot of scientific envy and curiosity in it, of course. So, she postponed whatever research and duties she had around the Keep, to accommodate expedition.

"Diamonds... We do not sell magical components specifically, of course, and do not encourage use of magic within the walls of the Keep, but I am sure you can find some in the Oghma Temple. Try it out, Choir." (By now Sylvyra remembered groups name)

"Avernus itself... Well, yes, there is air. But food and water is scarce and expensive. And, yes, there are plenty of beings there that will try to kill you right away, though, specifically devils would prefer to make a deal, at least. Taking it ... might not be the wisest idea, yet you might not have a choice sometimes." "It is hot, desolated and dangerous like a side of erupting volcano, but there are safer places too."

Polly's confession about Tiamat maid Sylvyra to shake her head in sad thoughts: "I can tell you a lot about Tiamat, but right now the most important thing you have to know is that she was the formal ruler of Avernus and she is still there - locked away, last I heard, but present. She also never forgets the thieves, who took something of hers. And she considers "hers" anything, that was ever given to her, no matter how that "anything" was obtained. You might want to stay away from her and her followers there."

Choir nods, definitely intending to avoid evil dragon gods and their minions whenever possible, and heads for the Ogma Temple, attempting to sell the dragon crown along the way.

(Choir will try to trade the Crown of Tiamat for 250 and cover 50 herself...if you guys want her to be able to cast Revivify more than once, feel free to chip in for more diamonds.)

((They do not buy anything here, it is not exactly a shop or a museum. But centralized purchases for the most common and needed components - that they do here in Candlekeep. And can re-sell it to those in urgent need. For now you are stuck with the crown, mask and coins/stones from the treasure))

((In that case, Choir does not have enough gold to buy enough diamonds on her own.))

(Not sure whether we are still in Sylvyra's room, or if we come and go, or if it matters... but I'm posting this now. It's kinda long and just character development, so I'll put in spoiler)

Ordrag finds religion

The House of the Binder - the temple dedicated to the Lord of Knowledge - was a plain, rather severe rectangular building, built of large fieldstone boulders topped with a slate roof. Inside its great iron double doors a visitor could see forecourt with three much smaller doors of oak, all leading into the same interior hall.

Aside from alcoves, leading to privies built in the narrow space between the temple and the seaward wall of Candlekeep (the temple stands hard against the south wall of the fortified monastery, about four paces east of its west or sea- wall), the interior of the temple of Oghma is a single vast hall, about sixty feet across (east-west) by a hundred feet long.

It is lit by the glowing illusion of a pair of spread, palms-uppermost hands of human male appearance (ending at the wrists, and presumably those of the god himself) that float about twenty feet off the floor at the rear of the temple, the space between them being filled by the glowing illusion of an open book. There are no words on the book, and both hands and book can be seen through.

Their light is strongest just beneath them, where there are six plain stone reading-tables and benches, arranged in a ring about a raised, circular stone altar graven with the symbol of the god. It is the practise to leave writings as offerings here (such gifts always vanish, sooner or later), or to kiss the altar and whisper things learned, in reverence to the god.

The rest of the hall is bare, but faithful of Oghma are allowed to camp in it, though they may not cook or make any fire within the temple. In fact, no fire not caused by the hand of a priest of Oghma will ignite, kindle, or remain alight within the temple.

It is very quiet in here, like in the library, but priests greet visitors and direct them to alcoves, so they could speak without disturbing others. Ordrag was greeted the same way and an old human monk politely and friendly offered his help.

(Choir - when party decide if they want to chip in on diamond buying affair, would be treated the same way)

Adray will chip in money for the diamonds.  He will chip in all of his money to buy gear and supplies for the journey.  Whatever will give the the best chance of not dying/reviving if they do die.

Adray would spend his next bit if time studying what he could about Devil's, their general weaknesses and then environment of they will be going to.

Investigation 20

(Adray can consider himself to be familiar with Monster Manual :) )

Fran honestly didn't really have much else to say beyond constant muttering and cursing. How dare someone damn her to hell. But, it was the reality and as hard as it was to swallow, she would accept it none the less.

The artificer would spend her time shadowing the others. Each one of them presented good points of thought and study, and it was worth brushing up on all of them: the map, the monsters, their weaknesses and our strengths.

Fran would like to add powdered iron spell component to the shopping list. Otherwise, she would give all the leftover gold she had to Choir to acquire whatever she needed for her spells.

Choir tries to remember what she learned about hell at the temple.  Religion: 11

She will join Adray in doing a little studying, just in case. Investigation: 13

Polly walks around looking for Fran, she want to see if she still has that wand and amulet. She finds her tinkering with something but could not tell head nor tails of it. “Hey Fran, I’ve been thinking of how I can get by with my components when we go down stairs, and I wonder if you still have that amulet and wand of secrets on you? I think I can use the wand as a way to cast spells without mundane components and would like to get some training in with it before we depart.” 

Ordrag walks into the temple with some trepidation - it being the first time he has set foot in one in his life - and looks around. The sight of the giant transparent book at the far end of the hall doesn't do anything to make him feel more comfortable, and he is about to walk out again when the priest arrives and gently ushers him into the alcove. Reassured by the priest's kindly manner, Ordrag poses his question: Me sorry to disturb your ... priest business, sir, but me has a question. How does me worship a god? Me not interested in your god, though. Me talking about Tyr, the blind fella with one hand.