A neverending field

[Anastasia]

It's barely two hours later that you come on another barrier in the distance - similar to the last, but with three erinyes instead of a malebranche, and a cornugon leads this as well. However, they're interrogating a band of travelers as it is right now, surrounding a group of lesser devils.

[Corwin]

Seira uses her superior senses and the advantage of distance to try and see what's being asked. Perhaps if she understood what the devils were looking for, they could approach this new challenge forewarned.

[Anastasia]

They're yelling at them, demanding that they explain why their paperwork isn't perfectly in order. They're also grilling them about any possible chaotic acts and their adherence to Baator.

[Corwin]

Seira fills her friends in while heading towards the checkpoint. Perhaps they'll be too busy with this group to go over their forgeries too closely, so that would be to their benefit. And no torture just yet, so there's hope things will keep going like that!

[Anastasia]

Indeed, as you approach, only a pair of barbazu stop you. "Papers," they bark.

[Corwin]

Seira gestures for Zariel to provide them.

[Anastasia]

Zariel does so. They get a look before they're shoved back at her and the barbazu split aside to let you pass.

[Corwin]

Seira is perfectly alright with proceeding past towards their destination.

[Anastasia]

Once gone, 'Do they have any chance at all?' Amaryl asks.

'Unlikely,' Zariel says, 'Hell awaits them.'

[Corwin]

They already are in Hell, villingly at that. Seira supposes it's possible someone else decided to infiltrate the Iron Tower on behalf of the heavens, but given she's touched base originally with Celestia who would be the best suited for this task, it's highly unlikely they sponsored that party.

[Anastasia]

Between one step and another, Black Resolve suddenly looms on the horizon. A city of steel and shadows, lying in the shadow of a great, looming mountain that appeared with it. It's no gentle rise, but a near vertical rise of jagged stone arching up high into the sky. It leaves the entire city drenched in shadowy darkness, visible by the occasional deep red light that comes from a towering window or from the depths of a canal.

The entire city is surrounded by a vast wall, and just outside of them are gallows. Here mortal souls and devils alike hang, for they fight hopelessly as they clutch at their necks, yet never quite dying. Before them are thousands of fiends in military formation, watching these near and endless executions and overseen by officers.

As you approach, you hear it in your mind, as if coming into a room to hear a conversation. '...ee, guilty of chaotic sympathies. Argalath, guilty of dereliction of duty. Argun, guilty of assault against a superior...'

On each name, a deep, scornful jeer comes from the crowd. Pure hatred and contempt, as the officers lead these jeers, the powerful voices of cornugons spurring them all on.

[Corwin]

Seira focuses on the gates, leading the way there with military precision. Some of the local mortals might be here to cheer, but their group is here on a mission and cannot delay for such frivolties until it is complete!

[Anastasia]

Give me a Bluff check, I suppose.

[Corwin]

10 for 102. +2 vs men!

[Anastasia]

Somehow your presence is enough. You walk right past as if you own it and your party follows. The devils seem to accept this and allow you to pass towards the gates.

The gates are manned by barbazu in full plate armor, utterly covered by heavy steel. They bar the way wordlessly, as if they await your retort.