✂️74. -and into the fire
session 74 • april 11 2023 • 3,532 words
Night Watch
The party begins to set up for watch order. Soren tries to insist that he stay up all night to ensure the groups’ safety. However, Will immediately expresses concern, and insists that Soren get some much-needed rest. Soren agrees to do so, even though he has no intention of following through.
Watch order is as follows:
Hugh
Will
Sildar
--with Soren staying up throughout all of it and taking the final and fourth watch
As the party begins to set up for watch, Shuushar attempts to talk to Will. Will, however, does not seem forthcoming and settles down to sleep.
Sorne begins to filet some of the fishes that the group had caught, meaning to smoke and dry them for the road ahead.
More Fishy Therapy!
Shuushar settles down near Soren, who asks him if seeing all of the fish carcasses bothers him. Shuushar says no, because the suffering of the fish was not prolonged.
Soren starts to smoke the fish filets and dumps the bones into a pot to boil into a soup.
Rather Try
Shushaar encourages Soren to be more open about his feelings, sensing that he was hiding something. Soren is unwilling to trust a kuo-toa, citing their penchant for madness. Shuushar acknowledges that his people have been struck with a sickness--Soren mentions hearing that the kuo-toa were tormented by mind-flayers, which Shuushar affirms.
Shuushar claims that he decided to seek out a different truth--different from his peoples'--left his village for a very long time, and is only now trying to return in order to spread his teachings among his people. He insists that he is different and that Soren is in the same boat: that Soren can choose to be different from the drow of Velkynvelve and cast aside his heritage.
Soren sneers that everything Shuushar says "oozes of honor", but demands to know what the point is, pointing out that Shuushar was either going to get killed as they travel, or get inevitably torn apart by his insane people when he tries to teach them peace. Soren says that Shuushar, one way or another, will die without accomplishing anything/
Shuushar says that even if that is true, as long as he was able to change things for even one person, or change one mind, then his death would have been more than worth it. Soren retorts that Shuushar is going to die for absolutely nothing.
Shuushar insists that there is no such thing, as every our every action and word makes an impact on the world. Soren tells him to "go ahead and spew your teachings to your people, and see how quickly you die without changing a single mind".
Shuushar says he would rather try than run away. This hurts all of Soren's feelings.
Soren demands to know if Shuushar is trying to call him a coward. Shushar denies this, saying that he would never blame someone for having ideals or beliefs entrenched in their unique upbringings and experiences.
A Necessary Sacrifice
Increasingly frustrated and ashamed of himself, Soren tries to goad Shuushar into a conflict.
He recounts how Shuushar said it was OK to kill the fish as long as they did not suffer, asking if Shuushar was, by that logic, OK with how Tor died.
Shuushar asks Soren if Tor's sacrifice was necessary, and Soren admits that it may well not have been--that Alya might have given us the keys to the cell even without the demon attack, in which case, Tor could have lived and escaped with them. Soren continues to say that it was not a risk that he was willing to take, however, and doesn't care if Tor died as long as the party is safe.
Shuushar notices Soren's agitation and expresses doubt that Soren "does not care" about Tor's death. Raising his voice, Soren insists that he cares about no one else except the party, that he would give up the lives of every single prisoner sleeping around them, as long as it meant the party survived.
Taking this all in stride, Shuushar commends Soren for his deep love for the party. LOL having completely and utterly failed at dragging Shuushar down to his level, Soren resorts to "what the fuck is wrong with you".
Shuushar explains that he sees "a scared drow, desperately trying to keep safe everything dear to him"--but expresses concern that "if you continue down this path, you will lose them instead". Still, Shuushar thanks Soren for helping all the prisoners get out and says that this is proof that Soren has the capacity to care about more than the party.
Soren, feeling scalped, lashes out even more: that he is only bringing the rest of the prisoners along to function as "meatshields" to the monsters of the Underdark. Soren tells Shuushar to "go spout your bullshit somewhere else and stop trying to find vestiges of good in me; I'm so tired of everyone trying to do that."
When Shuushar resists, Soren continues on his lil edgy tirade that "I have caused the deaths of dozens. Every person who has been kind to me, I have repaid with a dagger in their back."
Shuushar maintains that the only way for Soren to move past these wrongdoings is to accept that they do not make up his entire life, and that he can atone for them.
In a rare moment of vulnerability, Soren confesses that he so desperately wants the party to survive because he cannot stand the thought of being the reason more good people die, attributing the party's fate to himself and his connection to Nezznar.
Beast of Burden
Shuushar advises Soren to see people not as resources but pillars of support for him; and to stop trying to take on the burden of everything alone. Soren, exhausted, asks what Shuushar wants from him--to promise to be "good" from now on?
Shuushar only asks for his honesty, for Soren to accept that he does care about what happened to Tor and to stop brushing it off or trivalizing it, which is the first step to Soren moving on from it. Soren interrupts Shuushar to insist that "I would cut his throat out a hundred more times to save everyone". Finally, a tired Soren tells Shuushar to leave him alone; that if "if it's redemption you seek to bring about, you won't find it in me."
Shuushar insists that he will not give up on Soren, no matter how long it takes, but respects his wishes and leaves him alone.
VEEGATARIAN
Shuushar then approaches Hugh LMAO and has an entire clown fiesta of a conversation. Hugh insists that they have no common ground and therefore cannot reach an understanding; citing their age, fighting styles, siblings, and dietary habits as differences.
Shuushar insists that despite their differences, they can still be friends! Hugh is Very Skeptical about being friends with a "veegatarian". Still, they end up agreeing to try and bond over common interests, and the two end up chopping down a tree together LOL
Eventually, Shuushar confronts Hugh about what he'd said previously (threatening to knock Eldeth out if she kept fighting with Thurmond). Shuushar expresses discontent at Hugh's threats of violence, telling him not to use fear as motivation.
Hugh explains that he wasn't trying to make them fear him, but was just impulsive and desperate to get them to keep moving. He agrees not to do it again. YAY! Shuushar succeeded here, at least.
Soren, listening to Shuushar and Hugh's converation about friendship, asks if Shuushar truly considers Soren a friend; Shuushar says yes, and that he is very glad he met them. ;-;
ANOTHER Free Haircut!
Mother Dearest
Willow wakes up and Soren pretends he's been sleeping this whole time so as not to cause Will alarm about his health lol. Soren offers Will some of the fish soup, which he gladly accepts.
Soren then offers to tidy up Will's hair during their watch, and does a fairly good job of making it look good.
While Soren works, Will muses about the reasons why he had long hair: not only to hide his aasimar marks, but because his mother also had long hair; and so he kept it long to remind him of her. Soren wonders about Will's mother, and Will recounts some stories of her--noting that she was kind and loving... until she disappeared one day without a trace. Will sadly notes that Agatha mentioned she was busy with recent demon incursions, and attributes her absence to that.
Soren expresses polite disdain at the fact that a "loving" mother would abandon her children like that to the cruelties of the drow. Will is quiet about this.
In Gracklestugh
Will brings up Agatha's answer to Soren's question. Soren hesitates for a while, but eventually admits that Will's villagers are not with the drow, but with the duergar in Gracklestugh.
Will is very thoughtful about this, and--pained by the thought of what they've had to go through all these years--asks that the group stop by Gracklestugh and rescue them.
Soren hesitates, but eventually agrees.
A Tyrant
I ended up transcribing this part bc no notes and so I'm gonna put it here too because I might as well not let it go to waste.
Eventually, Will brings up Tor, confronting Soren about acting without consulting the group. Soren points out that he did, but the group refused to help him; and he was, in that moment, too worried about Hugh to entertain a "civil discussion".
Will expresses discomfort at Soren "choosing who lives and dies". Soren responds that Tor was only chosen because he was volatile. When Will points out the possibility of someone in the party suffering similar bouts of madness, Soren insists that he would not let that happen.
Will expresses worry about Soren's seeming need for control; Soren points out that now that he is in a leadership position with the escaped prisoners, he needs that control in order to keep the party safe.
Will remarks that leaders can become tyrants. Soren asks if Will sees him as a tyrant, but Will denies this, and just asks Soren to "listen to the rest of the party".
Getting mildly frustrated, Soren asks if Will would bring back Tor if it meant the group was put back into prison. Will says it's not fair to ask him that, but admits that he would not. Soren reasons that this means he acted correctly in killing Tor without consulting the group. Will refuses to agree with this and insists that they could have found other options.
Will assures Soren he's not angry. Soren says that Will can be angry if he likes; it doesn't change that Soren would do anything to keep the party safe--Soren points out that if he had taken the time to consult the party, Hugh might have died; Will says we shouldn't talk about hypotheticals and asks Soren to promise to consult the party next time he does something.
Soren says he would "keep it at the forefront of his thoughts".
SOME OF US ARE SLEEPING HERE
At this point, Thurmond wakes up because Will and Soren are talking right by his ear lmao.
He yells at us like a grumpy old granddad, before complaining about the fact that Sarith's feet aren't tied up and he is a danger to us all.
Soren concurs, and goes to tie up Sarith's ankles. Sarith reminds Soren of his deal with the party ("oh, you missed it because you were busy chasing after your master :3 once a slave always a slave") and warns that he will no longer bring the group to the cart.
Stung by Sarith's comments about his enslavement, Soren--in a moment of exasperation--tells Sarith that he has nothing to do with whatever the party and Sarith agreed upon, and forcibly ties Sarith up.
Sarith spits at Soren.
Fish Soup
Will finishes up his crafting of arrows and goes back to sleep. Around this time, the elves begin to rise from their reverie--Sarith, who was already awake from the ankle fiesta, and Nezznar. Soren, despite not having slept, does not feel tired.
He fills a bowl of soup and brings it to Nezznar, jokingly asking if Nezznar wants Soren to "feed him again". Playing along, Nezznar tells Soren to go ahead, but cannot finish his sentence out of embarassment. He snatches the bowl from Soren and drinks, still taking care to check for poison.
He asks Nezznar to make good on his promise from before: to teach him evocation magic. Nezznar inquires what Soren already knows, and is unimpressed to know that Soren only knows basic illusion and enchantment bardic magic. This disgust is further exaberated when Soren speaks of "channeling emotions" in order to cast magic--which Nezznar considers a "shortcut" for bards to cast "inferior trashy magic".
Though initially begrudging, Nezznar grows more enthusiastic as he begins to explain the theories of evocation magic--seeming to lapse into his old habits from teaching at Sorcere.
He explains that different elements of magic interact with the Weave in different ways; the lightning spells that he favors create electricity by causing vibrations in the energy of the Weave. Excited at the prospect of casting elemental magic like Nezznar, Soren asks to learn Fireball--a signature wizard spell.
LMAO Nezznar is repulsed at this idea. He points out that Fireball is "inferior" to his signature Lightning Bolt, and reminds Soren that even novice wizards have to start from the basics and practice theory before casting something like Fireball, a third-level spell.
Soren protests that he is a novice wizard; Nezznar is like LMFAOO, pointing out that Soren is not a wizard at all. Soren recounts that Nezznar taught children at Sorcere (who let this man within 5 feet of any children), and Nezznar reminds Soren that even those noble children had more foundation and innate magical power than Soren.
Soren: :(
Indignant, Soren gets up to show Nezznar that he can, in fact, channel the Weave destructively; he casts Eldritch Blast into the distance over the lake, but--losing his footing from the recoil--falls backwards and off the rock that he and Nezznar are sitting on.
SORNE JUST WANTED TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION :(
Nezznar watches in silence as Soren clambers back up onto the rock, flustered, and drily wonders "what the fuck was that". : ( Soren casts another VERY SUCCESSFUL Eldritch Blast, thank you very much, but still fails to impress Nezznar, who says that he is not concentrating the Weave enough for a higher level evocation spell.
Soren asks if Nezznar could teach him any runes to make it easier. Nezznar laughs at the idea of Soren starting runic magic, saying that it was far too advanced. :( Ur the worst teacher ever. Still, Nezznar runs Soren through the basics and theory, showing Soren some incantations and basic exercises to practice with.
Soren TRIES HIS HIS BESHT
The Storm
As Soren and Nezznar practice, Soren hears a familiar chittering echo through the cave. He rushes to wake the party, while Nezznar "kicks them bitches awake". As Soren drags Sildar towards the lake to hide, Will snuffs out the flame of the campfire and Hugh grabs Sarith--who is tied up and helpless.
Jimjar, Shuushar, Topsy and Turvy--camping a little further away from the lake, run in the opposite direction and hide amongst some foliage. Everyone else manages to make it into the lake, hiding half-underwater, as four huge spiders descend upon the campfire.
The spiders investigate the camp, and seeing evidence that it was recently lived in, make an alarm-esque sound into the distance before helping themselves to the smoking fish D:
As the group waits with bated breath, they hear heavy breathing and snarling, before this ABSOLUTE BEHONKADONK of a creature emerges from the shadows:
The drow of the party stiffen as they recognize the creature as a draegloth--a half-demon, half-drow monstrosity considered the "blessing" of Lolth, frequently used by noble families to do their dirty work.
The draegloth carefully investigates the camp--and finds Topsy's and Turvy's hiding place.
Topsy shoves Turvy out of the way as the draegloth lunges at them, taking the full brunt of the draegloth's vicious attack and immediately getting taken out. As she bleeds out on the ground, the draegloth tries to grab Turvy as well, but Jimjar pulls the boy out of the way and is captured instead.
Terrified, Soren urges the party to run. Hugh sends Eldeth away with the kids (Droop is SO MAD about not being allowed to help), and most of the escaped prisoners listen to Soren's urging and begin to try and slowly back away. Sildar and Will, however, refuse to leave Topsy and Turvy, despite Soren all but begging them to leave the children and save themselves.
In the guttural, low voice, the draegloth demands that Jimjar tell it where "the rest of them" are; Jimjar tells it to suck him. We stan. From his hiding spot, Hugh turns the All Purpose Tool into a hammer and throws it, making a loud clatter. The draegloth hurries to investigate, although it drags Jimjar with it.
Taking this opportunity, Shuushar drags Turvy away as he cries for his sister. Casting Pass without Trace, Will dashes across the shore and retrieves Topsy's unconscious body. As Topsy is in critical condition, Will recalls a moment in his distant past: of his mother and himself as a child, nursing a small injured bird and healing it back to full health. He feels a new warmth in his veins and magically heals Topsy--enough so that she is no longer dying.
Finally, the group turns and escapes into the darkness--leaving Jimjar with the draegloth.
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