The strangers of Avernus (session 55-58 or 68-71)

Dear Nori,
How have you been? It has barely been a week since we've been in Elturel, but at the same time it feels so much longer. I hope you’re still safe.
After the boat trip we went on exploring Avernus. It is quite a big place with very few interesting things to see, but the roads are made for warmachines (and Ash) so the journey went pretty quickly. At a certain point we reached a tower, which our map named Shadow Shimmer tower. Luna explored it for a bit, climbing on it, looking through the windows and such. The second floor had 3 big vases in it, but as far as we could see nothing weird besides that. It was the only floor we could look into. We decided to very carefully enter through the front door. Well, that was the plan. What we actually did was kicking the door open. Inside there was a kind of waiting room, with an imp behind a desk. We showed us from our worst side, demanding to know who the tower belongs to, demanding a room to stay in and so on. Fun fact, everyone talked to the imp, named Phubonic, mostly impolitely, but when it was my turn to talk to them it was all like: “No Caja, we should go, you shouldn’t talk to them. We should behave ourselves. We are nice/good people.” Like they hadn’t threatened the poor imp. Well, not poor. I don’t think I ever felt sorry for an imp (they are mean little bastards themselves), but you get what I’m saying, right? Anyway, I felt like if they all got to talk to the imp, so should I. So I asked who it’s boss was and tried to convince it we had an appointment with their boss (looking back, it might not have been the best strategy) but it didn’t matter. Before we got any answers their boss came downstairs, pretty annoyed with us (which also makes me wonder how we had bothered her already, but that is a completely different question). Their boss was a female drow, dressed in skin tight leather. Luna immediately had a thing for her. To be fair, she looked pretty impressive. She invited us upstairs, so we could talk, before she teleported away again. The waiting room didn't have stairs, but after a little bit of looking around, we found the portal.
Upstairs, I learned 3 things about drow. The first thing is that drow can see in the darkness and love it. You see, it was pretty fucking dark there. I don't think the rooms had any windows, but if it did the drow had casted darkness or something. I casted light on my gauntlets a couple of times, but she kept cancelling it. Very annoying since I couldn’t see shit. After 2 times I stopped trying, and she introduced herself as Raspen Shadow Shimmer of house Devier and high priestess of Lolth. After her introduction I learned the second thing. In drow society, men are slaves. She didn’t outright say it though, but she wasn’t impressed by Fenrirs usual charm. When he said something without it being a direct question to him twice, she told me I should punish him. I’m not sure why she was convinced I’m the leader of the group, but I really did not want to contradict her. So I, still kinda nicely, put Fenrir down and kept him down with my foot. Trying to make it look like I did actually punish him. You can not EVER tell anyone this, especially Fenrir, but I felt pretty powerful. Which is the third thing I learned. Drow woman are pretty fucking powerful. Hell, everything in me said I need Raspen as my ally (I’m pretty sure she doesn’t do friends, and if she does, it won’t be with the likes of me who hang around with guys all day). I tried my best to be on her good side (not just because I think she could hand me my ass to me, although that helps). She decided we had business to do in her office, and escorted Luna and me there while Fenrir and Ron had to sit (on the ground) in the other room.
Raspen talked a lot. She wanted us to retrieve another drow from Play Claw Point. I think this drow was her brother, who was imprisoned there. Or maybe he was already there when their city got moved from the Underdark to Avernus? I’m not actually sure. Like I said, she talked a lot. At a certain point she also told us about her goddess, Lolth. I have not ever heard of this goddess before, but she sounded pretty cool.
In the meantime, Fenrir and Ron got bored. So they decided to go down the stairs (not sure why this room did have stairs while the waiting room didn’t) and ended up in the rooms with the vases. They were smart enough to not look into the vases, but didn’t realise they should just have stayed away from them. In the vases there were behemoths, some kind of octopus-like creatures. They were hostile and when Ron and Fenrir passed they attacked! Ron yelled for help through the telepathic link (did I ever tell you he does that? It’s so useful!), so I excused myself to see what my “slaves” were up to, and Luna followed.
When we arrived the behemoths were grappling Ron and Fenrir. Fenrir was holding himself pretty well, but Ron was in a lot of trouble. Two of the monsters were holding and attacking him. I did the only thing I could think of, run in and attack the monsters. What I hadn't noticed is that Raspen had followed Luna and me, be it at a slower pace. To be honest, I wouldn’t let us run around unsupervised in my tower. Even if we were on our best behaviour. So she came down the stairs, looking at us fighting the behemoths like our lives depend on it (which for Ron it actually did). She started yelling at us, that we couldn’t kill her experiments (she implied the behemoths were the experiments). For once, actually listening, we tried our best to not kill them. Which is harder than it sounds since these things didn’t listen to her. Fenrir brought Ron back to conscience, and they teleported away. Luna hadn’t come close enough to them to be grabbed. Then I was the problem. You see, I wasn’t unconscious or anything, but I got grabbed by all 3 of these monsters (seriously, why do all these nasty tentacle things always attack me?) and I could not get away. I still want to be allies with Raspen, so ignoring her direct order wouldn’t do me any good. Luckily, Raspen, very annoyed, cast freedom of movement on me. I’m really glad she did, I don’t know how I had to get out of their grasps without attacking the monsters otherwise. Raspen wasn't pleased. She started scolding us before I could pretend to punish my friends. She seemed to really enjoy it actually.
Kinda sad we lost this possible future ally, we left Shadow Shimmer tower. Well, Luna and me were sad. I feel like the guys didn’t mind it too much. We kept driving and found the lake Mordenkainen’s tower is supposed to be in quite fast. Although the lake didn’t show any sign of a tower. Kinda annoyed we moved on along the shore hoping to see something that at least represents a tower. We couldn't and eventually we set up camp. Kinda. Ron was casting his dome and Fenrir and me noticed some movement at the shore of the lake. The movements were funny little frogs. It took me a bit of effort, but eventually I caught one. Turned out these frogs were so hot they actually burned my hands. I figured this would be a cool pet for Leo (like 1 fire spirit isn’t enough) and asked Fenrir to hold the frog until I could find something to house the frog until Leo won’t be a cloud anymore. You see, Fenrirs familiarity with the devil shield makes him resistant to fire and the frog wouldn’t burn him. It was a mistake, since Fenrir just let the frog go before I even turned my back! I was kinda sad, I actually think Leo would have liked the frog. Just between you and me, I miss Leo. And not just in a ‘I want my best friend by my side’ kind of way. I think I might be into him. I mean, it’s probably because he resurrected me. That probably messes with my head. And honestly, I do not want to think about it too much. Maybe it’s nothing. It’s probably nothing. It’s probably just a side effect of the resurrection. Then again, the last few times I saw him I kinda got the feeling he’s into me too…
Anyway, after Ron casted his dome we could sleep safely. Ash, Fenrir's horse, also keeps watch, just to be sure we have a good night's rest. I'm not sure if that's a safe plan, considering Ash doesn't like anyone. Then again, he does seem obligated to do Fenrir's bidding. I didn’t expect him to do a good job, he’s a horse after all, but after a few hours he came running in, eyes wide, slightly panicking. He saw someone coming to us. We woke up, and prepared for battle. I mean, what else could have scared Ash this bad? Can’t be good, right? Turns out, it actually was, or at least, not hostile. Turns out our visitor was named Flint, an Oni from Sigil. He said he was a traveller. We talked a bit about our travels in Avernus, and then Ron and Flint talked a lot about magical theory and stuff. I’m not quite sure what it actually was about. I just fell asleep. When we parted ways with Flint he did look better, as if he gained health or energy or something from the conversation. Ron learned a new spell, so he was happy as well.
When we left we kept following the lake's shore, hoping we would actually learn something new. After driving for a while we saw something in the middle of the lake. It wasn’t a tower, but it did look like a lot of folks were camping on an island. When we came closer, we saw a small building. The closer we came the bigger the building became. And no, not the normal amount bigger like you would expect. It was definitely enchanted. Like a wizard's tower should be. We flew to the island. When we arrived we finally saw the building was actually a tower. The tower was surrounded by a lot of different kinds of fiends, who were all camping there. They belonged to different mercenary groups, most of whom were led by an ultraloth. Not all groups were big, and not all of them had only yugoloths. We did actually blend in pretty well. Not sure what to do next, we looked around for a bit. I was very interested in the mercenaries, but also hungry. So I went looking for a group who might want to trade food (and stories?) with us. I found a group chilling around a campfire. It took some effort (they barely talked common) but eventually I got a bit of a conversation. They allowed me to taste some of their food. It was a grey spiked apple like thing and the worst thing I have ever tasted. By far. Even thinking about it makes me want to puke. I think this is the same thing devils “eat”, which makes me think you just lose your taste buds after you die. However, the mercenaries had a laugh, and seemed to like me. Or at least not hate me (feel sorry for me because I ate the abomination? Probably not, they are still fiends). They offered to take care of the vampire problem in Elturel (if we pay them, of course). We friendly declined, telling them we already took care of it. And honestly, after the deal with the stupid arcanaloth who stole my sword I don’t really trust these fiends to do what we pay them for. I would have liked to talk a bit more with them, but the not really speaking common thing is a big barrier.
By then, the others knew there was a line to speak to Mordenkainen, who apparently gives out odd jobs to mercenaries and pays well. So we decided to wait in line for our turn. To be honest, I didn’t really feel like waiting in line. The line was LONG, and just looking at it made me feel bored. But we could talk to the megaloth in front of us, named Crull. Apparently he leads a team who specialise in undercover missions. Which sounds really interesting. The line moved pretty fast, by the way. Crull just went inside, we are next in line.
I’ll write to you some more after we acquired some Flagatosian Sand. Assuming Mordencainen actually has it.
Stay safe.
Your loving sister,
Caja.