#with lore

Rolan in Avernus ca. mid-late 1493 DR

I swore, upon all of the gods and goddesses, upon all that is good and decent, that I would never step foot in that wreteched hell Avernus so long as I live nor thereafter. Sadly, it would seem the gods had other plans. To think, it was just supposed to be a quiet simple life tending to the needs of a rebuilding town.

Unfortunately, I had not counted upon the love of my life falling victim to the dealings of devils - apparently to save the lives of everyone I loved at that.

I am still apprensive that Lia came along on this journey. I KNOW what happened to her the last time we were here. I fear she thinks herself responsible for this - that had she and Gale not taken command of Ramazith's Tower that perhaps Tavaria wouldn't have been taken. Pure nonsense - she'd have disappeared from there all the same..

Still, I learned long enough that once Lia set her mind to something, there is no stopping her - and the one we've come to rescue is her dearest friend.

As for myself, I could never - would never - abandon the wellspring of everything I hold dear in my life to an eternity of damnation. It is my hope to rescue her, if not we shall stand damned together.

So now I and my sister - alongside our new friends - have to scour the very hell that we once fought so valiantly to escape during Elturel's descent. Because I shall not - I cannot - leave this wretched abyss without her.

No matter how this place has changed her, no matter how it dares threaten change us again, no matter what this waking nightmare shall throw at us, I shall not leave her to Zariel's dominion.

The Road to Hell: Paved with Good Intentions - the next Tavaria and Rolan (and Lia and Gale) epilogue story: coming soon.