🔮81. crystal caverns

session 81 • june 11 2023 • 1,503 words

🌑 NIGHT 26 • 📅 MARPENOTH 16

A Big Stick

While Soren is with Nezznar, Will prepares to take first watch.

Sunny (Noname) hesitantly approaches Sildar, offering him a walking-stick fashioned from a branch of zurkhwood. Emphasizing with his lack of darkvision as the only other human of the group, she gives him advice on how to use his other senses to navigate the Underdark's pitch blackness.

As Sunny speaks entirely in Undercommon and does not know Common, Will has to translate. Sildar is touched but deeply saddened by the implications of her lifelong servitude to the drow, not having seen the sun or been taught Common.

Will invites her to sleep closer to the campfire / closer to the party. Sunny, taking it as an order, quickly agrees despite her discomfort.

Watch 1 - Buppido / Will

During Will's watch, Buppido siddles over and tries to speak with Will.

Buppido remarks on the earlier fight, noting Will's optimism when Will mentions that it'll all turn out OK. Buppido admits that he's terrified of the rest of the journey, and isn't sure what awaits him when we get to Gracklestugh, as the city is generally very racist towards Derro such as himself.

Buppido attempts to get to know Will but Will, saddened from Soren's earlier outburst, is not very conversational.

Will remains anxious over Soren and Nezznar leaving the group and, close to the end of his watch, goes to check in on them.

Watch 1.5 - Nezznar / Soren

In the meantime, Nezznar begins to drifts off into trance after his conversation with Soren.

Soren asks if Nezznar would prefer to sleep closer to the campfire. Nezznar notes that Soren probably doesn't want to face the party right now. A little bitterly, Soren wonders since when Nezznar has cared about his wants--Nezznar curtly asks "should we change that?"

Intimidated, Soren quickly says no. Nezznar begins to trance.

After making sure Nezznar was completely asleep, Soren—moved by Nezznar's apparent concern for him—drapes his blanket over Nezznar's shoulders.

Will eventually comes over to check in, awkwardly asking if Soren is alright. Seemingly taking Nezznar's words to heart ("it doesn't matter what they think of you, all that matters is they stay alive"), Soren pretends nothing is wrong, shooting down any attempt at Talking About Their Feelings and stating that he's over the fight.

Wil invites Soren back to the fire, and Soren cheerfully accepts, noting that he just has to set up some alarms around the perimeter--avoiding returning to face the party. He takes his time with the Alarm spell, and makes sure to wake Nezznar up before returning to the fire, so that Nezznar does not wake up alone.

Nezznar notices the blanket on him. Soren hurriedly takes it back and explains that it's his blanket. Nezznar gruffly goes "I don't remember telling you to do that". Soren mutely apologizes. God these idiots are emotionally stunted and Broken.

They return to the fire. In an attempt at reconcilation, Will puts Glitter in Soren's lap, but Glitter--surprisingly--refuses to stay there, seemingly unwilling to stay in Soren's vicinity.

Watch 3 - Soren / Sildar

You're Mine

Soren watches for 2 hours and then wakes Sildar up--with clear reluctance.

They idly chatter for a bit. Eventually, Sildar expresses that he wants to see Soren stay in the safety of the group.

Soren agrees, and initiates intimacy. Though Sildar reciprocates the kiss, Soren begins to get more pushy, beginning to climb onto Sildar. When Sildar stops him, Soren seems deeply hurt--Sildar notes that it's not the right time as everyone is asleep next to them.

Suddenly, Soren gets possessive, snarling that "you're mine. Or have you forgotten that, too?" Sildar is taken aback by Soren's sudden change in behavior, and--in his surprise--just says "no, I haven't (forgotten)?"

Sildar's innocent response snaps Soren out of his daze, and he breaks down, confessing that he deeply fears the group will begin to hate him. (Lmao nezznar ur advice lasted exactly 2 hours, sorry! My boy is a little weenie). Shocked, Sildar reassures Soren that he loves him.

They both apologize for their behaviour; Sildar acknowledging that he has been pushing Soren to concede to the group's decisions, while Soren acknowledges that he has been reaching too far in trying to get the group out to safety.

Your Way

Soren notes that their conflict might be because they are just too different of people for this to work out--Sildar is too good.

Sildar disagrees, saying that Soren is an amazing person who loves deeply. However, Sildar admits that he can't bring himself to hurt or sacrifice anyone's wellbeing for his own--despite Soren's desire for the group to prioritize only their safety.

Abruptly, Soren promises Sildar that he'll figure out how to do it "Sildar's way", that he would find the group more clothes, more food, and more water somehow, without sacrificing anyone. Concerned, Sildar says that he doesn't want to strongarm Soren into a moral decision.

Soren sadly notes that there is no choice, and that he would figure something out. "I always have".

No Dog At All

Sildar asks that Soren not wander off with Nezznar again, noting that he can be trusted as much as Sarith--not at all. Sildar wonders why Soren is keeping Nezznar around at all.

Too quickly, Soren affirms that he knows this, and doesn't care about Nezznar's wellbeing at all--is only keeping Nezznar around for his combat strength. Soren points out that Nezznar followed him, and that he was only trying to clear his head. Basically a lot of excuses lmao, intentionally omitting his tender moment with Nezznar earlier that evening.

Sildar expresses concern that Nezznar is biding his time to eventually enslave Soren again. Soren scoffs at the idea of Nezznar settling for a slave who's tried to betray him; "trust me, I know him. He'd rather keep no dog than an untrained one."

As the watch draws to an end, Sildar reminds Soren that no one hates him. 🥺

Soren still appears distant from Sildar, but seems to take comfort in this.

Watch 4 - Soren / Hugh

Sildar goes to wake Hugh and Hugh threatens to punch him in the face LMAO.

Sildar wonders if Hugh is this violent with his goats. Hugh says he'll punch a goat if he need to.

Soren and Hugh finish their watch together, engaging in very little conversation, seemingly still sore about the argument before.

🌑 DAY 27 • 📅 MARPENOTH 17

The Crystal Caves

We eventually all get up, and continue our travels towards the Darklake. We come across a cave filled with blue and white crystals. There is a large crystal sculpture in the middle of the room that resembles a minotaur.

Soren immediately recognizes the cave as brimming with faerzress, an Underdark haze of wild, volatile magic. Soren reminds everyone in the group to avoid casting magic if they can at all, and especially not to cast Divination magic, as it tends to react explosively with the wild magic.

GUESS WHAT WILL IMMEDIATELY DOES~

He casts "Detect Portal", which is, you guessed it! Divination magic! He is instantly yanked out of the plane and dropped into an unknown Outer Plane for a moment. The Plane he's on is a disorienting mass of pitch black and pure white, with the floor an expanse of white powder. The air smells of sulfur and metal, and the air is heavy.

Will remains there for a minute, and feels like something is watching him closely. Eventually, however, he is shunted back to the Material Plane, where the group is having an ANEURYSM about Will disappearing for a minute. Soren is almost sobbing and calling his name when Will returns.

Believing this new Will to be a shapeshifter, Hugh threatens to steal Glitter from Will. Will is distressed.

We test Will for his personal knowledge to make sure that this is still our Will, but Hugh remains unconvinced so, GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HUGH CASTS MAGICAL DETECTION WHICH IS????? DIVINATION MAGIC????? Soren is SCREAMING

Hugh's wild magic surge causes him to lose all his hair instantly. I'M SCREAMING.

Crystalline Battles

Horrified, Hugh blames the minotaur statue in the middle of the room for stealing his hair, and attacks it. IT ATTACKS BACK. We roll initiative and engage in battle with a minotaur statue, but are quickly accosted by strange, shadowy crystal creatures that emerge from the rock.

Will finds more new powers, casting Shield of Faith on Soren when he's stuck in a bad spot. THANK YOU!!

Soren, on the other hand, seems emboldened by his previous Fireball on the Umber Hulks, and puts himself increasingly dangerous positions, even growling at allies that "these kills are mine".

We eventually beat back all the creatures, but Soren finds himself at risk of being gored to death by the minotaur's final charge. Before he's smushed into a kebab, however, Soren puts his hand on the ring, and disappears from sight as the ring clatters to the ground.

Seemingly panicked, Nezznar shouts for Soren while the party stands there, stunned.