# 2026-05-27 — Parley with Baphomet & the Infernal Train Depot > [!quote] Session Hook > Escaping the Bronze Citadel aboard [[Koh Tam]]'s barge, the party's journey down the River Styx was halted by a demonic army. Their path to the [[War Slough — Infernal Map Player Handout|War-Slough]] was interrupted when they were escorted at spear-point to parley with the demon lord [[Baphomet]]. --- ## Overview The party was conscripted by [[Baphomet]] to serve as bait to lure a flying devil citadel to his war camp, in exchange for gold, soul coins, and the freedom of human prisoners. After securing a deal, they crossed a mine-laden Avernus battlefield and discovered an abandoned infernal train depot, recovering weapons, treasure, and unsettling technology. --- ## Key Events ### 1. Audience with Baphomet Led into a command tent of flayed devil skin and bone, the party was brought before [[Baphomet]] — a colossal black-furred minotaur with six iron horns, flanked by two massive minotaur demons. Cages of wailing human prisoners lined the back. Baphomet commanded the party to kneel. He derided the "order" of the devils and their flying citadels, and revealed his plan: his forces had rage and a plan, but required bait. He tasked the party with locating the nearest flying citadel, drawing its attention, and leading it back to his encampment. For their success: a chest of 5,000 gp and soul coins. For failure: their flesh would hang beside the prisoners'. He also gave them the option to walk away — and leave the prisoners to their fate. ### 2. The Deal Struck [[The Party|Casanova Frankenstein]] negotiated on the party's behalf, asking that the six human prisoners outside the tent be freed as deckhands upon success. [[Baphomet]] agreed — on the condition that the party also fight alongside his forces when the citadel arrives. With the deal struck, a demon guide pointed them north, past an "infernal highway," where a citadel had reportedly been spotted. ### 3. The Minefield Cresting a rise, the party entered a desolate, carnage-strewn wasteland littered with the remains of past conflicts, derelict war machines, and hidden landmines. - [[The Party|Casanova Frankenstein]] rushed an interesting bottle and triggered a landmine — a bright flash temporarily blinded him. Despite his blindness, he collected a sample of the shimmering red and blue liquid inside. - [[The Party|Lilly Pallywally]] carefully checked a nearby scythe and battle axe for traps before collecting them. She cast Bless on several companions. - [[The Party|Dr. Herbert Who]] flew up to guide the blinded [[The Party|Casanova Frankenstein]], but he stumbled into a pile of skulls anyway. - [[The Party|Celeste Valentin]] attempted to harvest sinew from barrel remains and failed. [[The Party|Tahara Rahma]] succeeded easily. - [[The Party|Casanova Frankenstein]] then triggered a pressure plate — a shrapnel explosion he mostly dodged. Shortly after, one of [[The Party|Celeste Valentin]]'s hooves hit another trap, unleashing a fiery blast that burned both her and her rider [[The Party|Lilly Pallywally]], though [[The Party|Lilly Pallywally]] mitigated some of the damage. - [[The Party|Unit-NULL]] urged companions to stay within their protective aura. [[The Party|Casanova Frankenstein]]'s vision returned, revealing the full horror of the carnage-strewn, trap-laden ground. ### 4. The Infernal War Machine Near the banks of the Styx, the party found a large stationary infernal war machine entangled with the corpses of a chain devil and a hellhound — mostly intact. [[The Party|Dr. Herbert Who]] identified a nearby tank as volatile infernal fuel. As Timmy approached, he narrowly dodged a series of large spikes shooting up from the ground. He noted the machine appeared to require [[Soul Coins]] to operate. ### 5. The Infernal Train Depot Cresting another hill, the party discovered a massive enclosed infernal war machine — a train-like depot of black infernal steel — amid a scene of recent carnage. - [[The Party|Tahara Rahma]] entered the blood-spattered control room, finding complex tubes, connections, and technology unlike anything she had witnessed. - [[The Party|Lilly Pallywally]] investigated a nearby summoning circle with a giant chitinous claw at its center. She translated the Infernal runes: *"Come forth, infernal beast. And answer us through sigil, sacrifice, and brand. Obey the will of my command."* She chose not to take the claw. - [[The Party|Celeste Valentin]] scavenged a nearby bag and found a well-preserved cloak of unknown properties. - [[The Party|Unit-NULL]] discovered a pile of gold coins — but touching one revealed they were coated in corrosive acid. Minor injury. - ⚠️ Unknown Character collected a bottle of unknown liquid and a magical scroll they could not decipher. - [[The Party|Lilly Pallywally]] retrieved another unlabeled bottle. - [[The Party|Dr. Herbert Who]] flew to the roof to keep watch. --- ## Notable NPCs | NPC | Role | Notes | |-----|------|-------| | [[Baphomet]] | Demon Lord | Prince of Beasts; colossal black-furred minotaur with six iron horns; conscripted the party as citadel bait | | [[Koh Tam]] | Guide / Barge Captain | Transported the party on the River Styx before the session opened | | Minotaur Demons ×2 | Guards | Flanked Baphomet in the command tent | | Human Prisoners | Captives | 6 outside the tent (negotiated for); 12 inside a bone cage | --- ## Locations - **Baphomet's War Camp** — Temporary demonic encampment; central tent of devil skin and bone - **Avernus Battlefield** — Desolate wasteland littered with corpses, traps, and derelict war machines; confirmed minefield - **Infernal War Machine** — Near the Styx; entangled with corpses; requires Soul Coins as fuel - **Infernal Train Depot** — Large stationary train-like war machine; blood-soaked interior; summoning circle with giant claw --- ## Decisions & Consequences | Decision | Consequence | |----------|-------------| | Agreed to serve as bait for Baphomet | Obligated to lure a flying citadel to the war camp and fight when it arrives | | Negotiated for prisoners | Baphomet agreed — but the party must also fight; added obligation | | Casanova Frankenstein rushed the bottle without checking | Landmine triggered; temporarily blinded; unknown red/blue potion recovered | | Party explored the battlefield | Discovered war machine fuel mechanic (Soul Coins); triggered multiple traps; sustained damage | | Lilly Pallywally translated the summoning circle | Learned incantation and identified chitinous claw; chose not to take it | | Unit-NULL touched the gold pile | Acid trap — minor injury; coins remain a known hazard | --- ## Loot Recovered | Item | Who | |------|-----| | Unknown red/blue potion | [[The Party|Casanova Frankenstein]] | | Scythe + battle axe | [[The Party|Lilly Pallywally]] | | Harvested sinew | [[The Party|Tahara Rahma]] | | Cloak of unknown properties | [[The Party|Celeste Valentin]] | | Unlabeled bottle | [[The Party|Lilly Pallywally]] | | Bottle of unknown liquid + magical scroll | ⚠️ Unknown Character | > For a full loot breakdown see [[Session Loot]]. --- ## Open Threads > [!warning] Unresolved > - [ ] Will the party successfully lure a flying citadel back to Baphomet's camp? > - [ ] Will Baphomet honor his deal — freedom for the party and the prisoners? > - [ ] What are the properties of: Casanova Frankenstein's red/blue potion, Lilly Pallywally's bottle, Celeste Valentin's cloak, and the unknown character's bottle and scroll? > - [ ] More landmines and hazards likely remain on the battlefield > - [ ] What was the infernal train depot's purpose? Who was piloting it? Who were they fighting? > - [ ] What creature was summoned by the circle? Is it still in Avernus? > - [ ] Soul Coins needed to operate the infernal war machine — where will they come from? > - [ ] Who is the ⚠️ Unknown Character that collected the bottle and scroll? --- ## Party This Session | Character | Highlights | |-----------|-----------| | [[The Party|Casanova Frankenstein]] | Negotiated with Baphomet; triggered landmine (temporarily blinded); recovered unknown potion | | [[The Party|Lilly Pallywally]] | Collected scythe + axe; cast Bless; translated summoning circle runes; chose not to take the claw | | [[The Party|Celeste Valentin]] | Attempted sinew harvest (failed); found cloak; took burns from trap | | [[The Party|Tahara Rahma]] | Successfully harvested sinew; entered train control room first | | [[The Party|Unit-NULL]] | Urged party into protective aura; explored train; triggered acid coin trap | | [[The Party|Dr. Herbert Who]] | Guided blinded Casanova; aerial scouting; roof watch | | Timmy | Inspected war machine; narrowly dodged spike trap | | ⚠️ Unknown Character | Recovered bottle + unidentified scroll — identity unconfirmed | --- *Session recorded on Plaud · File ID: `e0d70648fb4510c4e95d290e7e602a43` · Duration ~2h 08m*