🐂82. the pactmonger

session 82 • june 18 2023 • 777 words

🌑 DAY 27 • 📅 MARPENOTH 17

Now You See Me

Nezznar lunges for the ring which is all that's left of Soren, correctly deducing that it's an interdimensional space created by Graz'zt into which Soren has retreated to heal from his wounds.

Sildar goes for the ring at the same time, but Nezznar manages to grab it. Sildar demands that Nezznar give him ring!Soren, but Nezznar adamantly refuses. Will tries to make peace, reminding the group that they shouldn't be fighting each other, but Sildar and Nezznar begin to argue heatedly over the ring.

Sildar and Nezznar scrabble for the ring-- these are supposed to be our highest-strength fighters, folks-- but Nezznar remains victorious.

Nezznar argues that he should hold onto the ring because Soren is his. Fuelled by a LOT of pent up anger against Nezznar for his actions against Soren, Sildar incredulously asks if Nezznar is truly so delusional as to think that Soren would ever willingly follow Nezznar again.

Nezznar insists that the surfacers have filled Soren's head with "self-righteous expectations", and that Soren will eventually come around. He reminds the group that last night, after they bombarded him with "surfacer bullshit", Soren chose to stay by Nezznar for the night--asking the group to consider if Soren really wants to be with them.

Sildar points out that Soren very much betrayed Nezznar LMFAO.

Nezznar brushes it off, noting that Soren will always come back to him.

SILDAR CALLS NEZZNAR A DELUSIONAL LITTLE FUCKER!!!

Sildar draws his sword, pointing out that if Nezznar doesn't give him the ring, the party would take it from him--that he had no power here. Will continues trying to remind the two that they shouldn't be in-fighting, but Hugh grabs the crystal axe from the minotaur corpse and menacingly threatens Nezznar.

Recognizing that he can't fight the party, Nezznar spitefully drops the ring.

Sildar tries to catch it before it hits the ground, but fails. Worried that the fall might have hurt Soren, he scoops the ring up and carefully wipes off any dirt and debris, checking it for damage. omfg ; ; ... we don't deserve this man

Before leaving, Hugh grabs the greataxe and some crystals from the cave, remembering how the glint from the crystals had been blinding at some points of the fight, and planning to use them as flashbangs in future fights.

Travel Time

Eventually, the group pauses in their travels to short rest.

Will checks in to see if Soren has made any noise or said anything--Sildar, who still has the ring, mournfully says no.

At some point, Hugh misunderstands and thinks that Soren is dead and the ring is all we have left of him. SADLY, HE AND DROOP START DIGGING A GRAVE FOR SOREN!!! He is relieved when Will corrects him.

Despite Sildar's and Will's best efforts to coax him out, Soren remains silent and does not emerge from the ring.

Demon Daddy???

The group continue traveling and find a cave with firelight coming from it. Will and Hugh go to scout, and find it inhabited by a drow accompanied by two TERRIFYING looking demons.

Hugh is eager to speak to them, but Will drags him back to the group to discuss further action.

Eventually, they decide to approach as a group, hoping that their strength in numbers will dissuade an attack. The drow notices them as they enter this time, and--when the two demons get defensive--instructs the demons to stand down in Abyssal.

The demons seem to obey him completely, and sit back down, albeit still on high alert.

The drow politely introduces himself as "Jakoth", a traveling merchant, as evidenced by his cart and supplies. Drily, he requests that the group stow their weapons and speak civilly.

The group conducts some trade with Jakoth, though Jakoth's prices are exorbitant and he refuses to cut them down, even raising them when Will requests a fairer price. Realizing that they have no alternative, the party gives everything they have (gold, scroll from the cart, etc) for 9 empty water skins, hoping that they'll be able to find clean water to fill it with later.

Jakoth remains civil, but is scathingly disgusted by Nezznar's presence, even demanding that Nezznar stay far away from him. Surprisingly, Nezznar does not snap back, and remains a good distance away from Jakoth.

When pushed for information about the party in exchange for directions to the Darklake, Will tells Jakoth EVERYTHING--that the party is trying to escape from the Mizzryms, that Nezznar is from the former-noble house Xorlarrin (Jakoth scoffs at how far he's fallen), etc. \

Satisfied, Jakoth gives the party exact directions towards the lake, as well as advice on how to navigate the caverns ahead.

As the party readies themselves to depart, suddenly, Ilvara Mizzrym appears out of thin air in front of them.