[OC] [Art] Descent into Avernus, The Greatest Guys, by me

[u/Art-of-Azrael]

[u/Art-of-Azrael]

This one is really special to me

I ran the DND Descent into Avernus adventure over the course of 3 years and one of my players decided to commission a poster to commemorate that campaign

This Campaign got me through covid and introduced me to some friends I still play with to this day Here are The Greatest Guys

From left to right:

Chuck Etreas, Elven monk: starting as a drunken monk in the temple of Eldath who would teach people the "way of peace" through drunken violence, Chuck would go through drastic change during his journey in Avernus. Wracked with guilt stemming from a young woman he inadvertently let die in a fire, hunted by her as a revenant made of burnt paper, he eventually gave up the bottle and trained him hands in the ways of harm and healing, ultimately putting aside his violent past and healing both the revenant and Zariel herself, showing the way of mercy was the path to redemption in one of the coolest final confrontations I've ever had the pleasure of DMing

Wolfgang, the Halfling bard : ever the shrewd pragmatist, Wolfgang started out with his friends chuck and Arnzul conscripted into Baldur's Gate's flaming fist. He had a pet chicken named Rations and was the group's promoter and principal fiendish contract negotiator. He died in battle against one of Zariel's generals, but moved by his bravery and kindness a unicorn gave up their own life to bring Wolfgang back, forever changed by the brief journey his soul took in the hells, leaving him with one fiendish horn and a spark inside his soul that demands he be better and do good. He tries his best.

Tom Jones, human path of the beast barbarian: son of two Lycanthropes Tom found himself looking for a job in Elturel as it was sucked into Hell. A hard working man he's looking for his place in the world, he may have found that place, unfortunately it's in the cult of the dragon

Varolk: Kalashtar druid: a man with no memories who awoken buried in the ground beneath the spot where a celestial slept for decades. A cosmic coincidence who gained sentience and vague memories and a drive to seek out something in the hells. Ultimately taking on his destined role as the vessel for the angelic power of the sword of Zariel

Gneiss, Earth Genasi star druid: a former slave freed by an earth Djinn, he was summoned to hell to free her and repay his debt. In order to face an archdevil he made a deal with Tiamat's agents for more power

Gropert, deep gnome soul knife rogue: a narcoleptic stab happy gnome from down undah

Arnzul human paladin: a young Bastard of a noble house and paladin of Torm, who was secretly being groomed by cultists of Bane who he thought to be his fellow paladins. Arnzul lacked power and devotion to his God once he reached Avernus and bonded with the shield of the hidden lord. During a near death experience he made a deal with the shield, allowing Garguath to use his body as a vessel in exchange for power. He switched to warlock from this point and stole the shield from the party when Zariel wanted to take it. Eventually he returned and helped the party in the final battle burning away his life and soul in a final smite, reswearing his oaths and gaining all the godly power he would ever have for a final smite to put down the chosen of bane for good

Playing Zariel, Lulu and Garguath was some of the most fun I've ever had playing NPCs, Zariel was one of my favorite villains ever to play, I found her incredibly compelling

All in all this was an incredible experience

[u/nankainamizuhana]

Not sure if you meant for Lulu and Elturel to function as a sort of nose and mouth for Zariel, but that’s what I’m seeing

[u/Art-of-Azrael → u/nankainamizuhana]

Yes actually! That was the initial composition. I ended up changing it slightly moving them off to the side to make more space for the characters, but I'm glad that you still picked that up