🧦16. dobby and gollum
session 16 • 03/01/2022 • 3,826 words
『 📜 』 adventure log
🌞 DAY 5 • 📅 ELEINT 26
"What is WRONG with ALL OF YOU"
A little uneasily after the recent events involving Sorennar and Colt's seeming "possession", the group makes their way to Barthen's General Store in order to pick up supplies, as well as our pets and Lion Coster crates that a sheepish Sildar had left in the cart when he delivered it.
Sorennar briefly suggests obtaining Tresendar Manor's blueprints from Harbin Wester, but the group decides that it's too risky to confront the Townsmaster given his predisposition to siding with the Redbrands.
As we near Barthen's, however, we see Sister Garaele at the Shrine of Luck. Hugh asks her to heal Sorennar, and she begins to attempt to heal Sorennar's side, where she had seen the spider gouge him -- Sorennar and Hugh inform her that that wound has been healed but Sorennar has managed to break his finger in the past thirty minutes, bewildering Garaele.
Sorennar explains what happened at Alderleaf farm, asking if Garaele can divine something wrong with him and Colt regarding the possession. She says that she can do something about it in the morning after preparing some new spells, though she does heal his finger.
As the group is raring to go to stop the Redbrands, Garaele says that they can talk more at dinner. We get roped into cooking for dinner (it's gonna be Soren lbr ;-; )
Sildar grumbles about Garaele's uncharacteristic niceness, prompting the group to pry about their pasts together. Sorennar asks Garaele to regale us with Sildar past stories, which she agrees to eagerly, much to Sildar's horror.
As we walk away, Sildar expresses hesitation, offering to tell the group the story on his own terms as he's sure Garaele will lie. Sorennar and Colt tease him on this.
Barthen's Provisions
Drum go Dum! ಥ_ಥ
We reach Barthen's, which has tables full of books, pelt, tools, instruments, and other adventurer supplies. Sorennar immediately gravitates towards the instrument table, touching the instruments all over longingly.
He latches onto a beautiful drum with a gold border and jewels, but deflates when told by Barthen it was 70GP -- Sorennar believes his money should be better used by purchasing items for the group in their fight against the Black Spider. Hugh offers to buy it for him, shocking Sorennar with his kindness.
Hugh establishes that he no longer feels like he needs to save too much money, as the experience with Garaele has taught him that he can just run errands for the doctors... oh m ygod
Colt pretends that the silver coins in his pouch are hurting his back with their weight, and chips in for the drum. Sildar bandwagons this lie, also contributing the last of his coins. Together with Hugh's hefty contribution, they cover the cost of the drum and gift Sorennar the drum.
Shopping!
Hugh purchases a bear pelt and some string, and DOES NOT elaborate on why (until later). He asks for blueprints of Tresendar Manor, but does not find any satisfactory ones from Barthen.
Colt tries to start a coat business by giving his pelts to Barthen to make them into coats, then planning on selling the coats later, leading to a comical back and forth between him and Barthen about the feasibility of it, and the quality of Colt's wolf pelts.
Barthens attempts to sell walking sticks to Colt and Sildar for their aforementioned "back pain". Sildar declines, Colt debates purchasing one of those "cool canes with the sword in them" for covert operations.
Lera inquires about ACTUAL PRACTICAL THINGS thank god -- rations and cooking utensils, which Barthen has aplenty of. She purchases 12 rations and some cooking utensils. She also purchases a few books for a few gold:
Oathbreaker on the Run: a self written autobiography about nibbin, a former paladin on the run after doing some bad things- 1 gold
A Guide to Smiting: Undead - 4 gold
Hands Free: Study of Verbal Casting - 1 gold
Deadlift Bro
We leave for the stables to pick up the pets and Lion Coster crates. The pets seem fine!
There are several large and small crates. Everyone picks up their fair share of crates easily, except Sorennar who DO BE struggling with even one large one. Sildar offers to carry it, then suggests they do it together when he realizes how hard Sorennar is trying to contribute to the group.
HE FUCKING just LIFTS a LARGE ONE and THREE SMALL ONES without breaking a sweat, and tries his best to make Sorennar think that he's contributing to the weight shift. oh my god ; ;
Lera suggests running back to Stonehill to give the pets to Pip, but Sildar volunteers to do it as he LEFT his chainmail at Stonehill somehow! We leave Dinner in the cart because his 80 gallons of water is too much for our spaghetti arms.
The rest of the group goes to Lionshield Coster to return the crates for a hopeful reward.
The Lionshield Coster
The Lionshield Coster is manned by a human woman who introduces herself as Linene.
Sorennar leads the conversation like the attention whore he is as they get to LIonshield Coster, flattering Linene into increasing the reward for the return of the crates from 50GP to 100GP.
The group inquires about magical items. She is unable to identify Hugh's flail, and states that magical items will need to be shipped from the LSC Headquarters in Yartar, meaning it will take several days to arrive.
Sorennar barters with Linene to obtain a sizable discount on potions -- 5 health potions for 200GP, as opposed to the regular 250GP. Sorennar purchases these health potions for the group, in return for their purchasing of the drum for him. Lera insists on paying him back the money, and tries to encourage the rest of the group to do so -- to no avail.
Reminded of the unidentified potions, Sorennar leaves the building to stand outside and fiddle with / identify them. He figures out that the 2 red potions are health potions, and gets a rough feel of the yellow one. While outside, Hugh asks Sorennar to sew the bear pelt into a cloak for him. Sorennar agrees to that night, much to an impatient Hugh's dismay, though Sorennar manages to convince him that it takes time for good work.
Meanwhile, inside Linene out here trying to CAPITALIZE on Lera. Linene tries to convince Lera to purchase a new crossbow, but after learning that it's a normal, albeit well-made crossbow, Lera declines as she's attached to her's (her dad made it for her). However, Lera wants 3 crossbow bolts and walks out with 43 and a bolt case LMAO
Sorennar attempts to engage Lera in idle chatter, to no avail. They return to Stonehill Inn to meet with Sildar.
Back at Stonehill
We enter to see Pip TORTURING Sildar with his incessant talking, because Sildar has no clue how to talk to kids.
Sorennar catches Sildar up on what had occurred at the Lionshield Coster, and learns that Sildar grew up in Yartar. Remembering Sildar's offhand comment about an unhappy childhood, however, Sorennar does not pry.
The group discuss plans to rescue the Alderleafs, causing Pip alarm in thinking Carp was also kidnapped. Sorennar reminds him to keep his promise to stay out of the matter.
Lera gives some of the rations she bought from Barthen's to Sildar. Sildar offers to pay her and Sorennar back for the rations and health potion respectively, but Lera declines and hurries the group along to rescue the Alderleafs. We leave Gravy, Truffles with Pip.
Pre-Game Planning
Though initially hesitant about whether it's his place to speak up, Sorennar is encouraged by Hugh and Colt to come up with a plan. Remembering that the Redbrands were identified only by their cloaks, he suggests donning the cloaks from the 4 from the night before, and having one person pretend to be their prisoner, in order to get past any guards.
The group briefly squabbles over who gets to be the prisoner -- Sorennar pointing out that him being prisoner "isn't far from the truth", and Hugh arguing against it by volunteering. Sildar volunteers, and Hugh shuts him up by pointing out he doesn't have a shirt LMAO,,, and Sildar ACTUALLY concedes that this point. Hugh is the prisoner!
We attach a rope to him and pretend to poke him along the way.
Sorennar attempts to strategize a bit, but it's hesitant and not as coherent from his usually strategizing. Colt encourages him to play his new drums, which he acknowledges he might.
At the outskirts of the woods, Sorennar balks as this is where his meeting point with the Black Spider is. He suggests skirting around it to the foot of Tresendar Manor. Colt suggests, instead, heading right into the heart of the woods to kill the Spider, which Hugh and Sorennar chastise him gently for -- it would do no good to alert the Black Spider of Sorennar's treachery.
The group rolls like shit clankin' their way up to the cave LMFAO
As we pass through the woods, we don’t notice anything, as it's pretty far from where Soren met the Spider. Still, Sorennar is terrified, and Hugh asks if he wants to hold hands, which he accepts.
Sorennar tries to instate himself as Sildar's guide in the dark cave, but Sildar offers to hold Hugh's rope so Hugh can guide him in the dark + the tankiest two, Hugh and Sildar, can be in the front. Sad Sorennar Noises.
Sorennar tries again to form a coherent story behind why they had captured Hugh. Colt loses track of the story halfway and establishes that he'll just keep his mouth shut.
Lera mentions that the Redbrands may have the group's descriptions. Sorennar acknowledges the possibility, and instructs the group to be on the lookout for abnormal behavior from the Redbrands, but advises that we stick to the plan as it's still the best shot. He compliments Lera on the observation, but Lera believes him to be patronizing...?
Into the Redbrand Hideout
As we delve deeper into the dark caverns, we come across an opening and a large crevasse in the ground, connected by two wooden bridges. We begin to hear a gruff voice coming in from the left, which seems to be ordering someone to "lick their feet".
The group decides to investigate, but are stopped in their tracks as Sorennar feels something probe his mind. He fends it off, but spots a horrifyingly large green eye peering at them from the shadows.
Sorennar recognizes it as a Nothic, a deranged creature that tends towards dark, underground spaces -- and are therefore occasionally found in the Underdark.
While Sorennar attempts to communicate with it politely, it turns its gaze to Sildar and seems to get through into Sildar's mind. Though nothing happens, Sildar exclaims aloud about the probing.
Sorennar relays, in hasty whispers, to the group that this is a creature that can "make your flesh fall off" with just one look, as well as good at plucking weaknesses out of minds. He points out that it may have read Sildar and therefore a fight would not be ideal.
We learn that the Nothic serves "Master Glasstaff", and though it's initially reluctant to let us through, Sorennar manages to deceive it to let us through. Sorennar positions himself between the Nothic and the group, trying to shield the group from its gaze and distract it with conversation.
The Nothic latches onto Sorennar's offer of food, and begins jittering, popping OFF about how it loves it when "blood oozes down its throat". Sorennar hastily promises it "oozing meat" and herds the group along towards the voice we heard earlier.
As we approach a door, we hear the voice more clearly, demanding that someone "enjoy the floor" and "enjoy my feet", then ordering them to "roll around more like a dog".
Sorennar is a little bothered by the demeaning orders, but makes his way to the front of the group and knocks on the door in order to see if he can sweet-talk the captors into releasing the captive.
Pleasure, Once More
The door flies open, and a Bugbear stands in the doorway, furious at the interruption. He demands to know why we are here.
Sorennar tries to explain their position as new recruits, but catches sight of a goblin, huddled and terrified in the room -- clearly a slave to the bugbears. As the bugbear confirms this by calling the goblin "garbage", Sorennar's eyes meet the goblin's pleading ones and glaze over in the same white glow from Alderleaf Farm.
As the same ink drips down his face, he wordlessly -- and recklessly -- stabs the bugbear mid-sentence, and begins the fight.
Sildar attempts to switch places with Sorennar with his battlemaster maneuvers, but Sorennar resists, rambling about how this is his redemption. Sildar, resigned, instead pushes the bugbear away from Sorennar
Despite Sildar's attempts at keeping him safe, Sorennar rushes into the room recklessly at the bugbear he was talking to, once again stabbing it, although incurring the attention of another bugbear lounging in one of the beds.
Though Sorennar's hits connect, the bugbears quickly retaliate with heavy blows of their own. Sildar, panicked, attempts to intercept one of the blows and succeeds -- mroe than halving the damage. Still, one of the blows hit Sorennar full force, winding him and snapping him out of his reverie.
The Nothic scuttles over to look at the fight, and offers to help the party for food. Lera agrees eagerly.
Hugh pushes into the room as well, chiding a disoriented and bewildered Sorennar for his rash actions. He provokes opportunity attacks from both bugbears near Sorennar so that Sorennar can escape ;;
THE GOBLIN SEES US COME IN AND PASSES OUT FROM FEAR OH M YGOD
Colt tries, keyword tries, to get in on the action, after also chiding Sorennar's recklessness.
Lera heals Sorennar and brings him back to full health, good as new. Sorennar retreats out of the room, to a safe distance as he usually does, and begins to play music to bolster the team.
(Sorennar saves Sildar from a crit w/ Vicious Mockery and Silvery Barbs' an attack on Lera successfully ; u;)
Despite some fumbles, Hugh, Colt and Sildar press on their vicious attack against the bugbears, and backed by Sorennar and Lera's supportive capabilities, manage to whittle down the bugbears fairly easily.
The Nothic jitters about its food outside the room, and Sorennar promises it the bugbear corpses.
Sildar manages to take down the last bugbear alive with a precise non-lethal strike. We tie the bugbear up and prop him in a corner.
Feeding Time!
Sorennar enlists Sildar's help in dragging one of the heavy bugbear corpses to the Nothic as promised -- the Nothic is VERY excited about the prospect of fresh meat. After the bugbear is dragged out, Sorennar asks Sildar to return to the room so the Nothic doesn't target him anymore, which Sildar flatly refuses as he doesn't want to leave Sorennar out alone with it.
Sorennar tells him he can mentally fend it off, but Sildar can’t, and Sildar says that if it hits him, it at least won’t be hitting Sorennar
The Nothic, after accepting the food, turns its attention to Sorennar and asks to taste him!!! Sorennar lies that he and the rest of the party are filled with sand and not blood LMFAO, rolling a nat20 and causing it to reluctantly back off.
Sildar is thoroughly horrified by the Nothic. Sorennar implies that "home" is filled with creatures just like it, and warns Sildar against trusting mad creatures.
Sorennar sincerely expresses gratitude to Sildar for looking out for him, still. Sildar shrugs it off as nothing extraordinary. As we return to the room, we see the Nothic jerk its head, as though seeing someone come down the hall.
Droop, Our BELOVED
Sorennar warns the group of this, and shoves bunkbeds against the door to barricade it. We hear shouts of alarm from outside.
Lera rouses the goblin as the group is standing around it, and he wakes up just to immediately pass back out again from fear. GOOD GOD PROTECT HIM
We stand a bit further away and let Lera rouse the goblin again. She reassures him of our friendliness, and does very well, but he remains terrified.
The goblin, whose name is Droop, explains that he is from Cragmaw Castle, where the goblins endure harsh servitude under their bugbear masters. We introduce ourselves gently, and Sorennar asks to come a bit closer, still seeming very bothered by the enslavement of the goblins.
Lera offers Droop food, which he accepts eagerly. She attempts to get Barthen's rations, but Sorennar stops her and offers Droop one of the rations he got from Tina, stating that he "deserved better now". Droop cries as he eats.
Sorennar inquires about Droop's mistreatment at the hands of the goblins. Droops states that the one that we left unconscious takes his food, kicks him like 3 times when angry, then hit them when he wants to, they make him do whatever they enjoy, "like before you came they made me crawl and lick their feet, roll around, and bark."
Around now, there's a knock on the door. A Redbrand ruffian hesitantly asks about the bugbear corpse outside. Sorennar pretends to be the bugbear and puts up a good performance, threatening the Redbrands and stating that the corpse outside "pissed them off".
The ruffian expresses worry over Glasstaff being mad about "losing the Spider's forces", confirming to the group that Glasstaff is working with the Black Spider. Sorennar begins counting down from 3, causing the ruffian to run away.
Sorennar assures Droop that he will never be hurt by the bugbears again, and offers Droop the chance to do something "fun" to the bugbears. Droop is terrified by the prospect, so Sorennar offers to do it instead and kicks the bugbear awake violently.
Too Far
As the bugbear stirs awake, Sorennar kicks him to the ground. Though the bugbear is resistant at first, Sorennar implies that he'll badly hurt the bugbear, drawing his rapier, and intimidates the bugbear into cooperation.
Throughout the interrogation, Sorennar is demeaning and violent, kicking him several times when there's no satisfactory answer. We learn from the bugbear:
King Grol is working with the Black Spider
Cragmaw Castle's approximate direction
Glasstaff had put Phandalin on a lockdown against adventurers
The Black Spider is "helping" King Grol, which Sorennar scoffs at
The approximate forces at Cragmaw (10 bugbears?)
There are lots of goblin slaves at Cragmaw Castle.
Lera begins inquiring about the bugbear's past actions towards these slaves, which Sorennar becomes irritated at. Sorennar stops her line of questioning, stating that there is no reason to give the abuser a platform when the victim is standing right there. Lera insists that they need to know his crimes to pass proper judgement.
Sorennar, after the Redbrand incident the night before, in which the group let the Redbrand live when he begged for his life, expresses fear that the group is too soft to properly punish the bugbear. A trickle of ink runs down his face and disappears, alarming Lera into gripping Sorennar's shoulders and shaking him, exclaiming that it's the same possession.
Sorennar seems unphased, and begins furiously demanding that the bugbear start to bark like a dog, similar to how the bugbears had humiliated Droop.
The group jumps to attention at that, with Hugh warningly calling Sorennar's name, and Lera holding Sorennar's hand, squeezing it. Despite these things, Sorennar continues demanding the bugbear's humiliation. Sildar, at this point, hugs Sorennar, causing him to stop mid-sentence.
Transcript bc no summary can do this chaos justice:
Sildar: I know this is making you feel a lot of horrible emotions, but this might be going a little too far. He deserves to die, and even Droop might think it's better that way (if the bugbear is killed right now instead of humiliated/forced to bark). Okay? (VERY GENTLY 
)
[Droops is trembling]
[Sorennar kinda just slumps in Sildar's arms like all the tension has left his body]
Sildar: Are you okay?
Sorennar: Uh. Yes. Just make sure it dies. Please.
Sildar: (cold laugh) It won't be making out of here alive. I promise that.
Hugh: DONE DEAL!!!! (hits it with his flail, killing it instantly)
Chris: What are you doing now, Soren?
Kunj: BEING HUGGED ;-;
Annie: Being hugged ;-;
Sorennar: You have no idea how much it pains me to say this, Sildar, but could you let go of me for a moment?
Sildar: Of course. But just promise me you're fine.
Sorennar: I... have a splitting headache, and I feel like I've failed at doing something, and I don't even know what.
Sildar: What does it matter if you've failed? You haven't failed any of us. Though what you did was a little reckless... (pause to remember the midlife crisis he went through when Sorennar started running in) .... Please don't do that again. Do you know how scared I was?
Sorennar: I'm sorry. (leans back into Sildar)
Hugh: SO I HAVE SOMETHING WRONG IN MY BRAIN AND SOREN HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIS BRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!! >: (
Whoops! Wrong Door
We debate bringing Droop along with us for the rest of the dungeon, and decide against it as it may be too dangerous for him -- despite his eager offer to help us bless his little heart.
We instruct him to go to town and search for a Sister Garaele. Figuring that it may be good for him to present information that only Sildar and her would know, we prod Sildar for backstory details... only for him to provide the year they met, STINKY (1457).
Droop gives us information about the unsteady bridge, as well as warning us against skeletons and telling us where the Alderleafs are being held. Sildar gives Droop the vest we obtained from Willow Inn, and Sorennar gives him his dark hooded cloak.
We promise Droop that we'll come fetch him as soon as we're done, and that we would bring him to eat all sorts of food and have a warm bath, which he is ECSTATIC at!!!! my fkin HEART,,
After giving him more instructions about how to get to town and to avoid the center of the woods, we open the door to find the opposite door also open..... and full of Redbrands, who have been keeping an eye on our door.
Though clearly inebriated, they jump to attention. Sorennar tries to weasel out of the situation, but it doesn't look too good. Shrugging, Sorennar shoots a web into the center of the room, engulfing its occupants and ensnaring a couple, and gestures to the party to have at them. 😊
Last updated