🕳️78. burrowing depths

session 78 • may 28 2023 • 806 words

🌑 NIGHT 25 • 📅 MARPENOTH 15

Deja Vu

Seeing that Sarith cannot be trusted not to run away, the party discusses tying Sarith up. Soren, who believes that Sarith would endanger the group if he was caught by Ilvara, still wants to kill him, but the group refuses.

Sildar and Will offer to be tied to Sarith to prevent him from escaping, which annoys Soren more--Soren makes snide remarks referencing when Sildar tied himself to Soren. Bro this is not something to be jealous about bro

Becoming Lost

As the party decides on Sarith's fate, Nezznar pulls Soren aside to speak privately. In drow, Nezznar warns Soren to be careful around Sarith, since the party will not treat him with the adequate amount of wariness--hinting that Soren should take matters into his own hands and kill Sarith himself.

Soren is not opposed to this, but notes that the party would immediately blame himself or Nezznar if Sarith mysteriously died. Nezznar suggests making it look like an accident, but Soren is hesitant to lose the party's favor.

Exasperated, Nezznar remarks that Sarith will kill Soren at the first chance. Soren wonders why Nezznar seems so invested--"you don't care about me, so what's your angle?"

Nezznar seems taken aback and considers this, but eventually says that he's only concerned that the "herd" isn't being "thinned" enough, and that they would all eventually die of starvation at this rate. Soren assures him that he would provide the most food to the "warriors" of the group, including Nezznar.

Nezznar suggests withholding food from the "fodder" of the group, but Soren sharply reminds him that if they are pushed too far, there would be mutiny.

Nezznar reminds Soren that he needs to be the "drow" of the group and do things that the surfacers are too soft to do. Soren recounts his previous conversation with Sildar, where Sildar assured Soren that he "didn't need to fit in the mold of either drow or surfacer", and that he could just be himself.

Skeptical, Nezznar remarks that "that's how you become lost".

Soren tries to deflect the situation by asking Nezznar to teach him magic again, but seems unsure about his identity.

My Sunshine

Sildar tries to inquire about what the two drow are talking about, but Soren lies and says that they were discussing magic lessons.

Sildar asks Soren to teach him some magic tricks, like they once did on the surface. Soren, however, gently declines, noting that the time is better used to ensure the group's survival--such as Nezznar teaching Soren destructive magic, or Soren and Will processing the flora into potions.

Sildar is devastated by this. Soren relents briefly, casting Minor Illusion to create a small, sunlit field around Sildar--Sildar is appreciative, but the dynamic between the two remains tense and sad.

🌑 DAY 26 • 📅 MARPENOTH 16

The Missing Supply Cart

After some traveling, we eventually come across the missing supply cart! Soren is very skeptical that Sarith wouldn't lead us into a trap / into waiting drow guards, but reluctantly notes that they need the supplies more than they can be afford to be too careful.

We approach it cautiously, finding that the drow who were once manning the cart have since been torn to shreds and picked clean. From afar, Soren shoots an Eldritch Blast into the cart, trying to draw out the predators.

The group is promptly attacked by three Umber Hulks--burrowing insectoid creatures that cause confusion with their gaze. Immediately, Hugh is caught in their confusion and begins running around while one chases him, leaving the group to fend off the other two Umber Hulks.

Will and Sildar handle one, with Will praying to his feather amulet and discovering a newfound power in the form of Bless!! 👀-- seemingly having drawn upon his mother's divine power. Sildar utilizes Dancing Lights to light up the arena, but struggles without his equipment and armor, become thoroughly disillusioned in his fighting ability.

Soren and Nezznar are cornered by one, and Nezznar surprisingly listens to Soren's advice, casting Faerie Fire to aid the group. They are able to kill their respective Umber Hulks, though Nezznar accidentally catches Soren with his whip, cutting his cheek open. Droop, seeing this, PROMPTLY attacks Nezznar oh my god beloved, and Soren has to try and shield this feral lil goblin from Nezznar's wrath.

Nezznar seems uncharacteristically embarassed at having hurt Soren on accident.

Hugh becomes cornered by his Umber Hulk, who deals devastating damage by bypassing Hugh's resistances due to their acidic spit. Desperate to save him, Soren manages to call upon Graz'zt's power to launch a Fireball at the creature, incinerating it.

Exhilarated at this display of power and believing this to be a result of his magic lessons with Nezznar, Soren turns back to smile at Nezznar--"I did it!".