Paragon Protocol Arc 3: Damnation in Dis

Return to The Paragon Protocol

Overview: The party arrive on the second layer of the Ten Hells, the Iron City of Dis. The party learn that the Last Demon is being held captive by the Lord of the Second Layer, Dispater in the impenetrable Ironfell Prison. The party seeks refuge in the relaxing halls of the Garden of Pleasures under the watch of the garden's proprietor, the noble Efreeti Dalia Embervale. The longer they remain in Dis though, the more they begin to discover a cultist conspiracy of giants whose reach stretches across all the planes of Quelmar. Here in Dis, the party must navigate infernal galas, packed city streets, and hellish jails in order to find their quarry and survive, as long as they can avoid the ire of the Iron Tower...

Through the Iron Gates

After leaving Duumal and diving into the Devil's Anus, the party fall through the sky into the second layer of the Hells, Dis. After safely landing on the ground, the party enter into the city, passing by the city gate's guardian, a massive Iron Medusa.After passing through, the party discovers another branch of the magic store Mammart, run by an aspect of the Archdevil Mammon. Mammon congratulates the party on safely arriving is Dis and as a show of kindness gifts them two-day tickets for the Gardens of Pleasure, the Hells' premiere house of gambling, relaxation, and pleasures of all kind.

The Gardens of Pleasure

Arriving at the Garden's of Pleasure, the party meets the Gardens' front desk manager Sarah Singe, a fire Genasi woman and bound servant of the gardens' proprietor, Dalia Embervale. Sarah reveals that for the Gardens, tickets aren't what gets you in, but instead they let you get out, else you are trapped in the gardens forever. The party takes a long deserved rest enjoying their first night in Dis relaxing in the Gardens.

For her protection, the Aasimar Druid Dina would decide to teleport Bella Dawn, who they recently rescued from the Pit Fiend Bel, back to Mt. Celestia. Later Dina would be contacted by Gabriel, informing Dina of Bella's safe arrival and requesting updates on the mission's progress, which Dina shares.

During their time in the gardens, the members of the party each have very interesting encounters. Balaam encounters Onath and Greela and Onath, the Venomseer twins, two adult Black Dragons in humanoid form and both serving as heralds of the Red Dragon Barroth. They inform Barroth that they are in Dis to speak with the Archduke of Dis, Dispater on their lord's behalf.

Nyrgoth during his time in the gardens meets a pair of giants bearing the symbol of the Shattered Mountain, the same symbol worn by the Hill Giant Angrboda that the party met in Duumal. The pair was made up of a Cloud Giant named Stratia Nimbus, and a silent Stone Giant named Waord. Both were silent on their intentions, but shared that they had business in Dis and were not allies of Dispater. Later Nyrgoth and Stratia would share a quick but passionate night of passion.

The Tielfing Warlock Aliria would receive a message from her patron Glasya, advising Aliria to seek guidance from one of her own teachers, the witch who manages the tea shop, the Mirage.

The next morning, the party are all called to the VIP section of the Gardens by its proprietor, the Noble Efreeti genie Dalia Embervale. Dalia shared that one of the fire salamanders that the party freed from Bel's imprisonment in the Soulnaught had been a dear friend of hers, and not wanting to be left owing them, offered the party a favor in turn. The party requested assistance in freeing the Last Demon from Ironfell Prison. Dalia then directed the party to a fallen angel named Sarial who is the only being to ever escape the prison and live.

Dalia also informs them that the prison's warden, a Chain Devil named Zuul, possessed something very dear to her. As a Noble Genie, Dalia can grant wishes, but can only grant a wish for herself after granting three for another creature. Centuries ago, she was tricked by Dispater into giving him two wishes, with him holding onto the third indefinitely. Dispater turned this wish into a red ruby which he placed under the protection of Zuul. Dalia tells the party that if they recover the wish, she will reward them.

Wandering Dis

Before heading out to find the fallen angel Sarial, Aliria leaves the Garden of Pleasures to travel to the Mirage. Entering, the witch Glasya spoke of as one of her teachers is Grandmother Theresa, a kind old woman who Balaam knew back in the Material Plane. Grandmother Theresa reveals she is actually an ancient witch and part of the Cloven Coven, a coven of three powerful witches in the Ten Hells. She helps guide Aliria and helps Aliria learn more about Charon's Book of the Dead.

The party then reconvenes and travels to find Sarial, who is living is a massive rundown apartment building in Dis. Arriving at Sarial's apartment, they meet a fellow who calls themselves "John," but the party quickly realizes that John is actually Sarial trying to keep a low profile. Sarial shares how they escapes Ironfell Prison as well as shows the party their massive conspiracy board, where they are tracking movements if Dis and trying to find out who killed Charon. Before they fell from grace, they were tracking an order known as the Cult of the Shattered Mountain and their leaders, a group of six giants known as the Ordained who had recently infiltrated the Hells. He also shares that he has learned that Dispater is building an army to invade the Material Plane in order to harvest new souls, and that this army was being built by a devil named Belphagor.

X

X

X

X