# 46. domination.

## 🌞 DAY 11 **• 📅** MARPENOTH 1

## Eyes? What Eyes?

Soren sweet-talks himself out of trouble when the innkeeper returns and is malding at how Soren broke into the kitchen and baked a cake.&#x20;

Soren tries to change the subject, but everyone hounds him about the fact that his eyes are now white, not red. Soren explains that he didn't ask for the cosmetic change, skirting the fact that he DID ask for more power from Graz'zt, knowing the group would not approve.&#x20;

HUGH ASKS IF SOREN IS TURNING INTO A "VEEGATARIAN" LMAOOO. This manages to change the subject enough that Soren is able to go pester the the innkeeper for his dried mushrooms, which he receives. Soren purchases some fresh produce; Will and Sildar, of course, try to repay him, which he declines.&#x20;

As we leave the village, Josie and Vanessa catch up with us and give us some fresh beef jerky from their family farm. They tell the party to come back and visit sometime.&#x20;

## Travel, At Last

Hugh makes a fine necklace out of Venomfang's teeth and scales. Soren finishes processing his newest potion, which he has experimented with making the effect stronger. He notices Will glancing at him, and teasingly asks Will about it--Will surprises Soren by apologizing for judging him early.&#x20;

Soren delivers his standard spiel of "you did right by being judgmental towards drow, and you should continue to do so". He does, still teasingly, ask Will what his opinion of Soren is now; Will says--a friend. This shookth's Soren, who asks Will if he wants a hug, "friend". Will is too shy to oblige, which Soren takes in stride; they are both happy with this new development.&#x20;

## All That Swims in Darkness

Eventually, the party hears some strange noises, and finds a flabbergasting sight: a roper (apex predator of the Underdark) being chased by a squad of crazed Kuo Toa (Underdark fish people known for being insane slavers).&#x20;

Soren is extremely worried, knowing that neither of these creatures should be ever seen above ground, due to their sunlight sensitivity and natural habitats. He is more convinced than ever that something is terribly wrong in the Underdark. Soren attempts to make peace with the kuo toa in hopes to learn more, and the group helps to take down the roper.&#x20;

With their newfound battle experience from fighting the skilled bandits of the Pudding Faire, the group easily takes down the roper. The kuo toa, however, seem reluctant to talk, and begins ushering the party down to the Underdark to "meet the Mooggoon", which we manage to learn is their deity, also called the Deep Father.&#x20;

Soren, taking advantage of the fact that the kuo toa cannot speak Common and only Undercommon, tells the group to launch a surprise attack against the kuo toa as they get more violent in their ushering. In the ensuing fight, magic from Graz'zt protects Soren (armor of agathys), and he's enamored by the idea that Graz'zt's magic can both protect him and offer him control.

Hugh, Sildar and Will valiantly attack the kuo toa (level 5 multiattack babey!), but are occasionally inconvenienced by the casters of the kuo toa, who continually cast bane on the martials. Eventually, however, the kuo toa break through the backline and one of them manages to land a brutal series of beatings with their staff on Soren, who, faced with physical punishment, instinctively begins to curl into a ball and plead for mercy (vicious mockery).&#x20;

Soren heals Hugh and begs him to help him--Hugh demolishes the one beating Soren. <3 Hugh, however, succumbs to the kuo toa's elemental lightning attacks, and Will brings him back up with Cure Wounds. Though the group tries to keep one kuo toa alive for questioning, we end up killing them all as it became a close fight.&#x20;

Hugh is devastated from getting knocked out for the first time, and vows never again. Will heals him with helping hands.

## Family Traditions

Soren, after recovering, ventures into the nearby Underdark tunnel to forage for fungi. Will joins him out of concern and curiosity. Soren finds some Bluecap and Ripplebark, both very familiar to him as main Underdark / drow food sources, which he eagerly explains to Will. Will, who has heard some of this from Lythrana "Rana", expresses interest and the two nature nerds talk it out.&#x20;

Soren rests in his tent in the cart to avoid the (admittedly minimal) sunlight. Will and Soren talk about mushrooms and about how Soren became a snivelling heap when being beaten. \[text-rp log tba].&#x20;

## Phandalin, Again

### F to Pay Respects

Hugh and Soren pay their respects where they buried Tharden, Gundren's [dead brother](https://edelwysse.gitbook.io/lights-in-the-dark/storyline/along-the-high-road/12.-the-spiders-prey#in-the-woods) whom they had buried.&#x20;

### A Grim Reminder

As Soren is returning to the cart from paying his respects, he is greeted by an unwelcome voice in his mind--the Spider, in his impatience, has cast Sending to contact Soren, which Soren knows to be a last resort and sign of the Spider's fury.

> ***Sorennar, your silence is testing my patience, and I must say that it's being pulled very thin. I expect that the task is done.. Right?***

Soren, who rolls a 6 on the ensuing Wisdom save, shits the bed and shoots himself in the foot literally four times in his reply:

> ***I was caught. But I’ve convinced them I’m on their side. I’ll meet your spider immediately. One of the iblith I think you’ll particularly enjoy.***

There is no response; Soren, realizing that how furious Nezznar is going to be, sinks to the ground and puts his face into his hands, on the verge of hyperventilating in panic. Will comforts him and the group ushers him towards Stonehill Inn, in case they draw unnecessary attention.

## Just Desserts

Shakily, Soren opens the door to Stonehill Inn and is immediately decked in the face by Gundren, who has clearly been heavily drinking--presumably having found out about his brother's death and is furious at the group for hiding it from him. &#x20;

Soren, who is already in a terrible state, just cowers on the ground as Gundren tries to get another hit in.&#x20;
