🕯️84. a belated birthday

session 84 • july 09 2023 • 1,109 words

🌑 DAY 27 • 📅 MARPENOTH 17

Not Good Enough

As the party gathers the prisoners together--who are still recovering about the Ilvara situation--for the party, Soren pulls Sildar aside.

Sheepishly, he apologizes for the failed attempt, but—hoping for validation from Sildar—notes cheerfully that at least he tried to do it "your way", referring to the conversation they had a few days ago, where Soren promised to try and feed the whole group of prisoners without making the surfacers compromise on their morals.

Sildar is, however, unhappy with Soren's impulsive actions (which endangered Soren himself) and notes that if Jakoth wasn't has chill as he was, he might have demanded Soren's death for what he did. He asks that Soren try to communicate with the group before doing something so dangerous and rash.

Taken aback by Sildar's reaction, Soren quietly asks if what he's doing isn't "good enough" for Sildar.

Frustrated, Sildar explains that that's not what he meant, just that he's worried about Soren. Soren takes this in stride and mutely agrees that he would try to communicate next time.

Birthday Tunes

Soren returns to the group, and asks Jakoth if he has an instrument that Soren can borrow, promising Jakoth a performance by "the best bard in the Underdark". Will helps hype him up by saying Soren does play really well ; ; thank you bby

Jakoth digs through his wares and produces a lute. Soren is ecstatic to be able to play music again—but something is missing and he is unable to reach the Weave with his song.

The group sings a distraught and touched Will happy birthday, after which Will makes a wish. Hugh—still bald from the events of Session 81—asks for Will to wish for his hair back LMFAO. I don't think Will does that, but regardless, he keeps his wish a secret.

Will cuts up the cake and gives it to everyone. It's a small cake but everyone gets a small slice ;w; Sarith, surprisingly, thanks Will for the slice. Will approaches Nezznar, who has retreated behind a rock after the Ilvara situation, and offers him a slice of cake.

Nezznar, seemingly upset, brusquely tells Will to leave. Will does so, but leaves the slice of cake on a small rock for him. Will is softest boy.

Hugh gives Will his present—19 stone arrows, and declares that he has "won" Will's birthday because he gave Will the most presents. GOOD FOR YOU BBY

Abyssal Advice

Amidst the festivities, Jakoth asks Will what our next plans are. Will begins to tell him that we're heading towards Gracklestugh, but Soren stops him and reminds Will that the less Jakoth knows, the safer it is for everyone.

Jakoth acknowledges this again, and tells us that there may be exits to the surface near Gracklestugh, but it's unlikely that the duergar--a xenophobic and closed-off people--would know of them. He says that our best bet would be to travel to Blingdenstone, a deep gnome city connected to Gauntlgrym.

Soren, curious about the nature of familiar-conjuration (and enamored by the idea of having a servant himself) asks about Jakoth's demons. Jakoth is offended that Soren thinks they are his servants, and again cites them as family. Soren expresses interest in controlling demons of his own, and Jakoth retorts that "they're not things".

Sensing that he's not going to get advice about controlling demon slaves from Jakoth, Soren stops asking LOL

Jakoth also notes that because of the disagreeable nature of the duergar, we will have a tough time getting into Gracklestugh, and that most likely the duergar will try to enslave us. In true drow fashion, he expresses his affection for the party by saying "if I see you as slaves next time I'm in the city, I'll buy you and put you to work".

Abyssal Piggyback

Droop, who is off his shits about the birthday cake, asks Soren to make this "every day for ever and ever". Soren tells Droop that they need ingredients such as eggs, and when Droop asks, teaches Droop how to find lizard eggs in the cave walls.

Immediately, Droop drags Hugh off on a lizard-nest hunting trip.

When Hugh returns, he asks Jakoth for a piggyback ride from one of the demons (named Vog, according to Jakoth). Because the drow don't know how to be happy, Jakoth does not know what a piggyback is, but allows Hugh to climb onto Vog's back.

Through a series of misunderstandings ("piggybacks just make people really happy"), Will's explanation of piggybacks convinces Jakoth that piggybacks are a weird surfacer sex thing. Horrified, he asks Hugh to get off of Vog after this. Hugh is satisfied by his short piggyback ride and does so.

We set up camp (across the cave, at Jakoth's request, because no drow can get TOO nice or they'll combust).

Towers of Stone

Will thanks Soren for the cake, but gently chides him for his earlier actions with the Ilvara disguise, expressing his worry for Soren's rashness, asking him to communicate with the group more.

Having gone through the same lecture with Sildar shortly before, Soren is initially snappy. Quickly, however, he mellows out and absently agrees with everything with Will says, promising to "do better" next time.

As they cook and eat dinner, Will plays with the kids, helping them make rock towers and castles.

Soren brings some food to Nezznar, who is still curled up behind a rock a distance away from the party. Nezznar seems taken aback that Soren did so, and is uncharacteristically quiet.

Soren, terrified that Nezznar is furious at him for telling Nezznar to "heel" when disguised as Ilvara earlier, speaks like he's walking on egg shells and makes his leave as soon as possible, leaving the food on the ground near Nezznar. Nezznar does not rejoin the group at this time.

🌑 NIGHT 27 • 📅 MARPENOTH 17

Sunflowers

During first watch, Sunny joins Will and Soren in keeping watch.

Will gently probes Sunny for information about her life; hesitantly and with great fear, Sunny reveals that she is from Menzoberranzan, where she was born into slavery from two human slaves. She admits that she "messed up" and was imprisoned as a result in Velkynvelve.

Will begins talking to Sunny about the flora of the surface, eventually telling her about flowers—of which there are none in the Underdark.

Will tries to show her how they look by forming pebbles and rocks into flower shapes.

Overhearing this, Soren casts Minor Illusion to create a sunny field around them filled with large stalks of sunflowers, which Sunny reacts to with wonder and amazement.

Pleased, Will smiles at Soren and the three share a moment of peace amidst the illusionary flowers.