🍻21. not drunk
session 21 • 03/29/2022 • 4,713 words
『 📜 』 adventure log
Note: Art the Doppelganger got a token!
🌙 NIGHT 5 • 📅 ELEINT 26
Sleeping Giant
13 Meals and 2 Steaks
We arrive at the Sleeping Giant, where the group encourages Hugh to speak to Grista about his prison-food plan, since it was his plan in the first place. Hugh barges in and requests that Grista prepare 13 meals for the prisoners and 2 steaks for Droop (as promised after the Roof Incident™️)
Grista is initially confused and pretty annoyed at what we did to her business regarding the Redbrands, but warms to the idea after Hugh explains that this will be an ongoing thing, in which Sildar -- and the future Townsmasters, potentially -- will be making use of her establishment to feed the incarcerated prisoners in the town.
Though not expecting the arrangement to go on for very long due to what she assumes will be a swift judgement and execution for the prisoners, Grista agrees to the plan. Grista goes into the kitchen to begin preparing the food.
Chair Exchange
Hugh lets the group know that the discussions went well, and invites the group in before immediately attempting to swap out the bitten chair from Garaele's for one of the chairs at the Sleeping Giant.
Alarmed, Lera attempts to stop him. Hugh insists that it's OK for him to exchange the chair, and even goes so far as to leave two silver behind for the exchange -- because Grista would never know, and it is functionally an identical chair.
Lera argues that the moral principle of this course of action is wrong, as even if Grista never finds out, it would still be wrong. Sildar attempts to help by pointing out that even if the chairs are functionally identical, to swap one out without the knowledge of the owner is still wrong as it may have sentimental value to the owner.
Hugh points out that none of it matters if it never comes to light.
Soren is 💓💓 at how passionate the surfacers about morality and doing good things. Art is suffering because he has to carry the keg from the Redbrand Hideout still. The group ends up convincing Hugh to go ask Grista beforehand, which he does, by yelling through the taphouse and trying to hide the bitemarks.
Grista notices. She questions why the Fuck he's trying to trade in a bitten chair before settling for a 4SP trade, which Hugh accepts.
Soren, seeing how much the situation seemed to bother Sildar and Lera, attempts to get Hugh to get a new chair for Garaele by reminding him that he had an "appointment" with her that night and it would do good to impress Garaele. Hugh reluctantly agrees to go get a new chair from Thel Dendrar, the local woodworker, for Garaele, but still takes Grista's chair.
Soren looks to Sildar and Lera for approval like the attention-starved whore he is, and they BOTH give him thumbs-up. Soren Happiness Noises
Grista returns with the food. We discuss payment options: Sildar will pay her tomorrow after checking in with the town funds at the Townsmaster's Hall, which we depart for immediately after.
Townmaster's Hall
Feeding Time!
At the Townmaster's Hall, Lera refuses to enter until everyone has entered. Soren checks in with her about her constant hanging back. She states that it's because he's older, which Soren can't find a lie with, so he continues on. Sildar expresses that he has to look over some administrative paperwork.
As the group enters the hall, Soren runs to sit on the comfy chair, but, wanting to be part of the team, gets up promptly when Lera urges Sildar to follow them to feed the prisoners as a "team-building activity". They feed the prisoners with Grista's food, putting Art into a cell with just Fynn. Fynn once again thanks us for sparing his life -- something Hugh should have informed us.
Hugh runs upstairs. Unseen to the party, Hugh replaces one of the chairs in the Townsmaster's Hall with the one he "exchanged" from Grista. Shortly after, Soren and Lera join him upstairs, where Lera attempts to recruit them both in helping her return the money "Sildar" put into her pocket to Sildar.
Aldith Tresendar
Sildar returns upstairs after having been left to deal with the prisoners alone LMAO sorry ; ; He settles in at the desk to work, and Soren secretly casts message to warn Sildar that Lera is trying to use Hugh and himself to distract Sildar in their little "war".
Sildar gets up IMMEDIATELY and just. Leaves. Very inconspicuous thank you good job.
Lera shadows Sildar into one of the back rooms where many books are stored. She sifts through the shelves while trying to corner Sildar / make small talk. She finds one detailing the history of Tresendar Manor, with the following information:
The Tresendar family was a wealthy family that settled here and built the manor that we now know to be the Tresendar Manor.
400-500 years ago, a tribe of orcs rampaged through the area, and ransacked Phandalin, which was a small town at the time. They also launched an attack on Tresendar Manor.
Sir Aldith Tresendar, also known as the Black Hawk, tried to prevent and defend the Manor from the attack, but was chased into the basement, heavily injured, and succumbed to his wounds there.
He also had a blue-white shortsword that he always had with him, known as Talon. The sword was never found, though his body was recovered and the history of his sacrifice was documented.
We bring out the shortsword that the Nothic had gifted Soren, and make the connection that this is most likely Talon. This lends credence to the fact that the sword might not be cursed after all.
Happy Hour
Lera wanders into the side room and finds several bottles of alcohol, calling Soren over to appraise the bottles and take some.
Lera reminds Soren that his job is to distract Sildar, at which Soren proposes the idea that -- with how enlivened Sildar has become because of this war, and what a rough day he's had -- that maybe it would be good to let him have this victory. After mulling this over, Lera eventually agrees.
Soren appraises the wines, and finds two bottles of Fortnight and two bottles of Tea Ale -- strong and weak brews respectively. He's excited about partaking in the Fortnight.
Meanwhile, Hugh grills Sildar on why it's OK if Lera steals the alcohol without asking, while he couldn't exchange a chair. Sildar, distracted by reading, absently agrees that Lera and Soren shouldn't be taking the alcohol without asking.
At this point, Soren pops his head out of the door and asks Sildar if he can take the alcohol, which Sildar promptly agrees to LMAO. Sildar reasons that whomever takes office after him shouldn't be drinking alcohol anyway.
Banana Hair
Lera tries to compliment Sildar and it comes out as "I like your hair, it's the color of bananas". At some point, she also drops that he has elephant ears.
On this topic, Hugh begins to grill Sildar on what he likes about Soren, curious to know why Sildar would fuck Soren but not Hugh. Sildar is reluctant to answer, and Hugh begins to guess that Sildar "has a thing for pointy ears".
After much hounding, Sildar eventually lists the following: "Soren's personality, his intelligence, wisdom, humor, how much he cares for others, and how his expressions show on his ears", which kills Soren INSTANTLY dead.
Eventually, Sildar finishes sorting through the documents and goes to a back room, coming back out with some papers and a large sack.
Keys to the Manor
Sildar asks us to gather round, explaining that as we cleared the Redbrands out of Tresendar Manor, and it had no rightful owner, that we should receive the deed to it. Hugh is initially less than enthusiastic, suggesting selling the Manor back to the town, but stops himself when Soren expresses excitement at owning a place of his own to stay.
Sildar also explains that Harbin had been embezzling funds meant for hiring mercenaries for the protection of the town -- including culling threats like the Redbrands. As we did it, we deserve the portion of funds set aside for that. Sildar claims that it's around 400-500 gold and that he's already taken his share of 50GP from it, so it's all ours.
Though initially reluctant to take such a big sum from the town, the group eventually accepts.
We head back to the Shrine of Luck to collect Droop, Truffle and Gravy.
Along the way back, Soren recalls how mean he was to Pip when trying to protect him from Nezznar -- even though he explained the situation to Pip after the fact and he was understanding -- and laments how much he has to lie about "hating surfacers". Sildar reassures him that the day will soon come where he doesn't have to.
Shrine of Luck
"30 Minutes"
We find Garaele with Droop on the porch. Soren casts message to inform them of our arrival, and Droop runs at us in excitement that he knocks Soren flat on his back with a hug-tackle.
After a tearful reunion, we explain what we did to "Nezznar". Garaele explains that Droop had been worried sick about us the whole time and that she couldn't get him to go to bed. We tease Sildar for the parallels in his former situation with Garaele.
Hugh gives Droop his two steaks, finally, and they almost leak the "rooftop fiesta" to the rest of the group. Soren warns Garaele of the Doppelganger, and the group decides on "jinglebells" for a passcode in case anyone gets compromised or is a shapeshifter in disguise. We collect the two pets.
Hugh alludes to a fun time with Garaele in 30 minutes, and the group heads back to Stonehill.
Stonehill Tavern
Frost Mead
As promised, the tavern is empty and "closed". Soren breaks out the alcohol, lamenting the lack of mixers and wondering if he can break into the kitchen for juice, which Lera judges him for : (
He lists off a few alcohols for Sildar to choose from, and Sildar chooses the Frost Mead, which tastes like honey.
The group counts the gold as Sildar and Soren partake in the alcohol. There are 534 gold coins in the sack. Soren, believing that Sildar had taken 50GP, asks Sildar to return the 50GP so that they can give him his fair share.
Sildar puts his own fucking 50GP into the pile im sobbing. Soren is proud of himself thinking that he got Sildar more money.
Annoyed at this new addition to the pile and not trusting basic addition math, Hugh sets about recounting the pile, making him late for Garaele's appointment.
Sildar and Soren get through one cup without much issue, but Soren starts getting tipsy at the second.
After Hugh recounts, we each receive 145GP.
Ceiling Nests
Soren, getting buzzed after the third glass, begins trying to demonstrate his potion-appraisal abilities, by almost drinking them all. Hugh stops him quickly and proceeds to very terribly appraise the red potions we found in Glasstaff's lair, so now we just have two potions labelled "health pots" that were appraised by drunk!soren and -2int!hugh !
Sildar, a little tipsy, begins questioning Soren about whether he's ever seen people "making nests out of blankets and hanging off the ceiling in them", bewildering Soren until he explains that this is about Vulmar and Aire. Soren recounts that all drow children are raised in web cradles, and it was most likely some sort of instinct.
They bond over drow sunlight sensitivity troubles, with Sildar having to make big hats for Vulmar and Aire to stop them from getting puffy eyes. Soren laments that he would have done the same if he'd had the chance to bring Rizoyn to the surface.
Sildar remembers giving Vulmar and Aire candy. Soren alludes that all drow enjoy sweet things, before remembering that he had bought cream and chili peppers to make ice cream for Lera with.
Lera begs him to not make her chili ice cream. Hugh requests strawberry ice cream. Sildar mentions craving chicken and maple syrup??
"That THING"
Soren brings up Sildar's compliments of him in the Townsmaster's Hall, and returns his own College of Eloquence - worthy compliment: "you have also good face", and touches his face and ears.
Sildar, happy, asks what Soren likes about his ears. Soren responds that "they're round, and they turn red just like when we did that thing at the tree", which Instantly Creates Blushdar
Sildar tries to move past the conversation but the rest of the group presses, leading Soren to explain in great, explicit detail, exactly what they did at the tree. He advises Hugh to do the same to Garaele.
Sildar dyin
Hugh departs to make good on his promise with Garaele despite being very late.
Tired
Lera tries to shoo the two drunk bois to bed, but they resist. She brings Droop to bed in Hugh's and her room, patting Soren on the head as she passes. Soren leans into the gentle touch and almost purrs ;u;
Soren tries to drink more and Sildar stops him because he's super drunk.
Soren: Boo you whore
Sildar: Boo me whore
In his drunken state, Soren snitches on Lera's plans to distract Sildar. Sildar thanks him for his help. Soren tries to say, as always, "that's what I'm here for", but Sildar stops him and tells him that he is more to the party than his usefulness. Noticing Soren deflate, Sildar pushes to ask if he's OK.
Emotional, Soren admits that:
I thought I did it, Sildar, I thought I did it, I thought we did it. I thought we would be safe, I thought that I was finally, finally free. I thought we could go travel together. It took everything I had to open that bottle and it wasn’t even him.
I can’t do this anymore, I spent my whole life running and I can keep running, we can keep running, we can just forget about all this and we can go down to Candlekeep, someone else can do something about this Forge.
Sildar gently reassures Soren that his fear does not make him weak -- and that the fact that he is standing with the party despite enduring decades of suffering proves his strength. Sildar reminds Soren that the party needs him for the upcoming fight, but if he can't find it in himself to do it, the party will still make sure that he gets his freedom (i.e. kills Nezznar).
; - ;
The Gray Scarf
Meanwhile, Hugh has reached Garaele's house. After exchanging pleasantries, Hugh gives her the chair he stole from the Townsmaster's Hall, the theft of which Garaele is very much OK with.
Hugh also gives her the gray scarf that Lera gave him to give Garaele as a gift, knowing that Garaele's favorite color is gray. She's very appreciative, and immediately alludes to using the scarf for... tying-up-bedroom-purposes.
Hugh is completely down but requests that they take turns. Garaele considers this, then agrees. The two make their way to the bedroom.
Sildar's Story
Soren has a barely-coherent conversation with Lera about her needing him as well, then face-plants back into Sildar's shoulderpads.
Lera and Sildar speak briefly, with Lera asking questions about Sildar's past and Vulmar and Aire. Sildar reveals the following information:
Vulmar and Aire were about 4/5 in human years when he found them by an orphanage in the Beggar's Nest.
Sildar was initially apprehensive due to them being drow, but they warmed to him immediately and were very nice kids.
He was never able to actually adopt them, though he was working to afford a house for them when they died .
Sildar was around 15/16 at the time of this meeting. He was a sellsword during this time.
His parents died when he was around 14, he left Yartar in search of self-sufficient work and found luck in Neverwinter, staying here.
Lera, upon learning that Sildar still blames himself for not being there for Vulmar and Aire when they died, reasons that it's been a very, very long time and that he will eventually need to let go of his grudge / regrets. Sildar, though appreciative of Lera's efforts, insists that his remorse is justified and states that with the knowledge he learned from Glasstaff, it's clear to him that he needs to bring those responsible to justice.
Soren decides to check in on Hugh, collapsing halfway to the door in an attempt to get within Message range. Hugh is mid-coitus and responds to the cast Message as such. Soren lets the alarmed Lera and Sildar know that Hugh is having fun. :)
Sildar helps him up off the floor and decides that it's bedtime. Lera turns off the lights in the tavern, taking care of both Gravy and Truffle as the emotional-drunk, sappy-drunk Soren is climbing Sildar like a tree.
Lera reminds Sildar that he can call her if Soren gets sick, and reminds Sildar to take off Soren's cloak in case there's an accident, as Soren clearly holds the cloak in high sentimental value.
Sildar assures her that he can take care of him, and promptly forgets to take off his cloak for the rest of the night!!!
Lera returns to her room to write a letter to her dad.
Long Talks
Sildar attempts to make conversation with Soren about the relationship worries that he had previously mentioned, but Soren, intoxicated, pushes to have "fun". Sildar refuses to take advantage of the drunk Soren, leading Soren to offer Sildar increasingly violent acts so that Sildar can "take it out" on him and relax from the stressful day that they had all had.
Horrified, Sildar refuses again and requests that Soren promise him to take better care of himself, and to never let anyone hurt him. A little confused, Soren promises.
Sildar proceeds to continue with the relationship talk, establishing that he is worried about their lifespan expectancies as a human and an elf. He reminds Soren that he has a fraction of the years that Soren has left, and that he would change drastically while Soren would remain the same.
Soren wonders why it bothers him, Sildar explains that he doesn't want to grow old and weak in front of the party, and especially in front of Soren. Soren reminds Sildar of what he had said earlier that day, that "a few decades with you is better than centuries without" -- that they should take advantage of the time they had left together.
Sildar reasserts that he doesn't want Soren to have to watch him wither and have to take care of him when he can't do so himself anymore. Soren considers this for a long time and just. fucking. rambles for an hour
You know. When, I was first came out of the Underdark, I was. scared. Dwarves and fairies — that’s what we call sun and moon elves — who killed us and stuff. We had to escape them. and of course, huMANS. so scary. you know. The drow think that if you didnt live so short, humans would be the scariest things on earth.
So whennnnnnnnn i popped my head out of the hole. I thought i was going to get snapped like a twig. it was noon. it was bright. it burned and it hurted so much but it was also. wonderful. everything is vibrant, colorful. i thought it was beautiufl.
I think... every drow yearns for the light they lost once.
(slaps sildar's cheeks gently)
Annd here you are. sildar hallwinter. you brighten the room when you walk in. you lit up the darkness i festered in for decades. you are my light. i love you. (slaps cheeks again) and i want to bask in your warmth for as long as you will have me, and if youre ok with it, i will tend your flame until it burns out. ok? (slaps cheeks)
And besides we can find magic for it or something
College of Eloquence, BOIS
Saddar is slightly comforted by this, though he presses on that he's worried that he will be a burden to Soren eventually. Soren states that he will not be, and that he's "not doing the lying thing" anymore. Sildar kisses him on the forehead for a promise I can't remember : ) and suggests that they go to sleep.
Soren reassures him that he's always known of the age difference, but that they weren't going to let the relationship not happen "because of stuff".
24 Inches
As they cuddle in bed, Soren fishes for praise about the Glasstaff fight like the attention-starved hoe he is. Sildar compliments him on the Enlarge/Reduce cast, which helped with Sildar's damage. Soren promises that he would make him 3x as big next time.
Sildar balks at this and expresses worry about "becoming too big" and "hurting Soren more than the enemy". Soren sleepily promises that he "can take 3 times as big". Sildar, who had meant that he didn't want to accidentally "crush Soren" in a fight as a 18-foot giant, becomes Blushdar.
Sildar wonders if Soren will even remember the conversation tomorrow. Soren promises he will, and Sildar asks that Soren buy him some new clothes if he doesn't, as a small wager. Soren teases him for giving his clothes to Droop, again. Sildar expresses that he wants clothes that Soren picked out for him instead of found in a murder basement.
Soren promises to buy him extra tiny, revealing clothes.
They spoon like this:
🌞 DAY 6 • 📅 ELEINT 27
Stonehill Tavern
The Morning After
Soren wakes up with one HELL of a hangover.
Mortified by the memories of the previous night and his conduct, Soren stays in bed and wallows in Shame for a bit before kissing Sildar on the cheeks and doing some work in the armchair -- working on Hugh's pelt, identifying the plants from Glasstaff, and drawing for the rest of the time.
Lera wakes up a couple hours after, checks on the pets and Droop to find them all still sleeping. She checks on Soren, who is initially jumpy as well and readies an attack until realizing it's just her. They talk briefly and exchange passcodes. Lera offers him some water and goes out to fill his waterskin from the tavern, where she finds a sleeping Toblen.
Soren is very grateful for the water thank you for his stupid hungover head
The Wedding
Meanwhile, Hugh be havin' some dreams with his demon roomie
Demon: ‘I can't wait for it to happen’
H: What to happen?
D: ‘There's so much that needs to go on, what do you think of the palette?
H: For the palette I don't understand, a color palette?
D: Yes, what did you think it'll be for
H: Color palette for who?
D: I don't know, can you imagine the silhouette
H: The silhouette of what?
D: I wonder if I can usher I have been looking forward to this for so long
H: I think you should go back to sleep
D: I’m not sleepy
H: Yeah I'm sorry for the sleep (?)
D: I am tired I'm not supposed to be awake at this point
H: Yeah rest, relax, rest, don't hurt me
D: Thank you kind person, I will see you
H: Ok don't worry, thank you, ill make sure no one messes with you
D: That was painful, I didn't like it at all
H: I'm sorry I didn't know it was going to happen when it happened
D: It was nice meeting you, if you can think of a palette please
H: What palette?
D: Wait until she comes
H: Who comes? whose she? And where is she coming to? Is she coming here?
D: Its for her wedding, the dress, the plants, they all gotta be matching
H: there's an address and plant for a wedding? Where is it being held?
D: You don't know?
H: No I don't know a whole lot
D: It's hard to say where, it's just there, I’m getting tired-
H: Tired? Yeah you seem real tired, you should rest
D: I… I will -The voice fades out-
Garaele is already awake as Hugh emerges, and offers to walk him to the inn after affirming they both had a good time last night. Hugh asks if she wants to hold hands on the way there, and she agrees ; u ;
Morning Sunshine
Soren shuffles back into bed as Sildar wakes up, so that Sildar doesn't wake up to an empty bed. Sildar asks if Soren remembers everything, and Soren considers lying bc SHAME but admits that he remembers everything pretty clearly.
Sildar is glad, saying that the conversation was meaningful to him, then proceeds to ABSOLUTELY HUMILIATE Soren by calling him adorable and that he needs to get new armor because Soren's face is imprinted in it.
Soren promises to never drink again, until Sildar promises that next time we get to see drunk SILDAR! Soren agrees to drink with him again. They briefly lament what Hugh would do to them if they both got drunk. After a short silence, Soren thanks Sildar for taking care of him and for what he said regarding the start of the night. Sildar asks him again to promise that he would take better care of himself. Soren promises w/ their usual kiss on the forehead.
Toblen comes into the room to get them to come to breakfast, and gets full view of Soren and Sildar cuddling. He is flustered, even moreso when Soren promises him the sheets are clean because he "would never waste a drop".
Toblen hurriedly leaves and goes to fetch Lera. He reports what he saw and heard in Sildar's room to her, and she tries to reassure him that Soren meant the water.... even though she knows what Soren do be meaning. Neither of them are convinced.
Lera wakes Droop and they go to the tavern, but are stopped by the door by Toblen, who wants the whole group to be together. Lera is initially wary and suspicious, but sees that his nervousness is nothing malicious, and agrees to wait for the group.
Flowers, Butterflies, Lights and Food
Soren and Sildar discuss the previous night as they get dressed. Soren reaffirms that they can find magic to prolong Sildar's life, and suggests looking in Candlekeep for it. Sildar is comforted by the fact that "when Soren puts his mind to things, he doesn't half-ass".
Soren laments what a fool he made of himself; Sildar disagrees and states that he feels that Soren being open, emotional and light-hearted is the real Soren. Sildar promises again that he would get Soren the "flowers, butterflies, lights and food" that Soren had talked about being part of "surfacer courting rituals". Soren is skeptical about finding these things so far into near-winter, but Sildar is determined.
Sildar also alludes to wanting to learn magic from Soren, which flusters Soren a bit. He tries to offer Sildar the book that Lera gave him, but Sildar establishes that he's a "hands-on learner" and wants to "learn about every last drop", goodbye Soren is dead
They emerge from their rooms where Lera is waiting for them. She graciously and humbly admits defeat to Sildar in their little war, despite having "both Hugh and Soren" on her side. Sildar accepts this, but makes it clear that Soren was in league with him.
We open the door and see half the town waiting for us!! They start cheering and congratulating us for being the heroes of the town.
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