Crossing the Labyrinthian City

Their confidence shaken, the party turned back to the Hellgate, hoping to rest and re-equip. On the way, they meet Aegmir and talk to him from a distance. Aegmir warned of some unspecified danger if they try to leave hell. He also said that the characters who were dead would not be permitted to leave by this route. After this encounter the party rested in a shallow ravine, waiting for the acid fog between them and the gate to clear.

Many characters were wounded at the Black Keep, and a couple were still dead. After resting and praying, Cheung raised Angus and Voran from the dead.

The party rested for several hours until the fog cleared, then continued on to the gate. Before continuing, gargoylish creatures passed over the party's hiding place, and thousands of bloated humanoids were seen quartering the slope behind the party. In the cavern concealing the gate terminus, Tasha (the winged devil woman) was waiting with 80 tough looking devil warriors keeping watch over many more gargoylish creatures near the gate. The party decided to turn away and return to their original quest.

With a diversion, the party slipped the tightening noose of searchers, and traveled to the edge of the Labyrinthian City. There they found a vast ruin, several miles across, with thousands of tormented souls and devils camped in loose hoards throughout. While crossing this ruin, the party avoided confrontation wherever possible, saved from many encounters by a Seeming cast by Quivalis.

Strangely, they discovered that most of the creatures here were illusions. Thousands became hundreds when approached, and of the hundreds remaining only 1 in 10 were real. The vast hoards of devil creatures were therefor not nearly so numerous as they first appeared.

Almost to their destination, a storm of acid fog and burning rain swept down. With only a couple minutes to spare, the party found a ruined building. In the cellar, they attacked and slew 5 bone devils, making it safe for them to bring their mounts underground to wait out the storm.

Next time, they hope to enter a canyon at the edge of this city. From there it should be a short hike to the place where Ipsar met the King in Irons.