# 50. we win.

## 🌞 DAY 12 **• 📅** MARPENOTH 2

## Another Child

As the party takes in the situation, Soren stumbles forward babbling praises for the Black Spider, claiming that he'd brought the party to him "exactly when I said I would, exactly as I've been writing to you about".&#x20;

Since the group was under the impression that Soren told the Spider that the party would only arrive in 2 days, and taking into account that neither the bugbears nor Nezznar were particularly surprised at their arrival, the party (minus Will, who is far too babby to be sussy) begins to doubt Soren's true loyalties.

This doubt is amplified when Soren stands comfortably by the Spider and taunts the party and a terrified Pip for trusting a drow. Enraged, Hugh charges forward, and so commences our final battle of the campaign. His rage unleashes several tendrils that lash out at the numerous spiders, the bugbear, and Nezznar--though Hugh does not attack Soren out of hope that he is acting. Will also uses his Fancy Buttimar powers to grow wings and fly upward to gain a better vantage point.&#x20;

Though Hugh's attack catches him off guard, Soren grabs Pip as Nezznar goes to kill the child, and seems to whisk Pip off into a different plane, much like Soren once did in Reidoth's cabin.&#x20;

Triumphantly, Soren yells at Nezz that "you will not take another child from me, you fucking piece of shit!" before running back to the party.&#x20;

Nezznar, thoroughly outraged, hits Sorennar with his staff but Inspiring Leader temp-hp takes the blow, and Soren returns to Sildar's side unscathed before taking his hand. :)

## Oh No Our Only Weakness: Our Barbarian

As the party forges into battle, a furious Nezznar uses enchantment magic to take control of Hugh's mind. Hugh is forced to turn his attack against Sildar, who is forced into the defensive against the barbarian's fierce attack.&#x20;

Will and Soren turn their attacks towards Nezznar in order to cause him to lose concentration. Eventually, Will prevails and an extremely angry Hugh returns to us, turning his rage upon Nezznar. Stepping through the shadows to a corner of the room, he lets loose a lightning bolt that fries the bugbear and almost kills it, as well as severely damages the rest of the party.

After brief scuffles with the spiders and bugbear, the 3 martials manage to corner Nezznar, causing the drow to let loose an explosive spell of binding ice that freezes Sildar to the spot.&#x20;

In the meantime, Soren, though taking hefty blows from the additional enemies in the backline, amplifies the rhythm-maker drums that Hugh gave him in order to cause a cave-in on the bugbear and spiders, killing the former and injuring the latter.&#x20;

## Swan Song

Though the party has sustained hefty damages, Nezznar is also looking worse for wear. He attempts to keep casting but is hit by a silence spell from Will. Somewhat panicked, he begins to channel some sort of ritual that causes a rift to open. A yochlol--demons known as the Handmaidens of Lolth--steps out, seemingly in response to his prayers.&#x20;

Nezznar reacts in glee as Soren hysterically warns the party to back off from the powerful demon. Will shoots an arrow at Nezznar to try to stop the ritual, but the yochlol absorbs the arrow without much issue.

The yochlol beholds Nezznar briefly and utters words (that we cannot hear because of the silence) that turns his expression into horror. As we watch, Nezznar begins to change, cartilage enveloping his legs and six new ones beginning to grow from the fresh tissue.&#x20;

The yochlol disappears back into the Abyss, leaving Nezznar to scream and beg in agony.&#x20;

We watch in horror as the Black Spider is painfully and irrevocably turned into a drider.

## The Black Spider

One the horrible transformation comes to its grotesque fruition, Nezznar--now a monstrous drider, turns to us in fiery hatred. It becomes immediately clear that the fight is not over as Nezznar, still clear of mind and retaining of his memories, launches a vicious attack against the party with his now strengthened drider body.&#x20;

Though his physical attacks are now plentiful and deadly, he does not attempt to cast, and may potentially have lost his spellcasting abilities.&#x20;

Eventually, Soren lands a Dissonant Whispers on him, gently telling him that "it's over, Master. Lay down your weapon. Please." This only seems to enrage Nezznar even more, and the drider corners Soren behind the Statue of Lathander before tearing his throat out. Sildar heals Soren back to health quickly while Hugh enacts a strategy of bouncing Nezznar "like a ping pong ball" with his the new Battering Shield.&#x20;

The group engages in this game of "keep the malding drider away from Soren" for a couple of rounds, before finally, as Nezznar takes a reckless step away from Hugh in order to get to Soren, Hugh lands the final blow that knocks Nezznar unconscious.&#x20;

We take a moment to bask in relief.

After we regroup and check in with each other, Will and Soren attempt to tie Nezznar to one of the stone pillars, though with a great deal of awkwardness due to his new form. ("Uhh do we tie the spide rlegs together or...?") Soren takes great pains to completely immobilize his former master, as well as gag him in case he can still cast.&#x20;

Will and Hugh begin searching the room as Soren sort of sinks down in disbelief, and, after confirming with the group his newfound freedom, lets himself get picked up and twirled by Sildar in a celebration of pure joy.

## LOOT LOOT LOOT

Hugh discovers a strange, glowing cube of force in a corner of the room. Soren identifies it as a magical safe and breaks it open using some of Nezznar's blood. We find some rings and various other magical items. Soren searches deeper into the structure and finds an unconscious Nundro in a bedroom, whom we heal and leave to rest by the campfire.&#x20;

Soren identifies all the items for the group. (TBA)

## A Moment, Alone

Eventually, as Soren works, we hear Nezznar wake up and stir. He strains against the restraints and attempts to talk, but is tied and gagged too firmly for that.&#x20;

Noting Soren's request from the previous day, Hugh ushers the party out so that Soren can have his minute alone with his former master, seemingly now trusting Soren not to resort to torture. Sildar hesitates to leave Soren alone with nezznar for fear of his mental state, but Soren insists.

Finally alone together, Soren puts a bnlade to Nezznar's throat and after noting that Nezznar shrinks back in fear, cuts the gag off of him. Snidely, Nezznar remarks that Soren is ever a good boy, before taunting Soren that "now the slave thinks he's become the master".&#x20;

Soren remains eeriely calm, he picks up Nezznar's staff, which is adorned with a metal spider, and muses over its similarity to the brand that Nezznar used on Soren's back years ago. The implications visibly scare Nezznar, but he puts on a brave face. Soren places the staff in the lit campfire, furthering the threat.

### Zaara

Though still defiant, the implications of torture make Nezznar a little more susceptible to questioning. Soren asks Nezznar what happened with Zaara Xorlarrin.&#x20;

Nezznar admits that he enlisted Zaara's help with the forge, and takes great joy in telling Soren that the only thing that Zaara asked for in return was Soren's head on a platter. Soren is deeply hurt--both by Nezz's words and beause he is unable to, due to the nature of the drow, tell if Nezznar is telling the truth or not.&#x20;

### Screams

Soren proceeds to ask Nezznar why Nezznar had it out for him so bad, as Nezznar had treated him far worse than any kobold, goblin, or "Krebby'g". Nezz wryly answers that he loved the particular sound of Soren's screams. Soren goes to retrieve the "brand" which is now red hot from the fire.

In the face of Nezznar's well-concealed fear, Soren sets the "brand" down to the floor to let it cool, and allows begrudgingly that Nezznar was, at least, responsive to questioning. Nezznar continues to issue threats towards the party and Soren; Soren cites that both of them are intelligent enough to know that with the fall of the Xorlarrins, Nezznar can no longer deliver on these threats.

Soren advises Nezznar to "shove your pride wherever you used to when you used to wheedle and grovel at your sisters". This sets Nezznar off, as he maintains that he's never grovelled in his life.&#x20;

### Bandages

Soren asks if Nezznar has medical supplies, meaning to treat Nezznar's wounds. Nezznar is confused and asks why he would bring medical supplies along for "slaves like bugbears".&#x20;

Soren points out that Nezznar brought along the Siren's Lyre, Nezznar's first gift to Soren, meaning that nezznar had planned on keeping Soren around even if he had obtained the Forge and successfully established dominance over the drow.&#x20;

Spitefully, Nezznar admits that if Soren had, "for once", not thoroughly disappointed him, Nezznar might have liked to keep Soren in his life. There is emotional damage.&#x20;

As Soren becomes thoughtful about this, Nezznar asks for the release of death, baring his throat to Soren. When Soren hesitates, Nezznar sardonically reminds Soren that this is how he had Rizoyn killed, calling Soren's younger brother a "sweet little boy". Soren bristles a tthis but before Nezznar can continue, the group returns from outside.&#x20;

## Pain and Shame

Nezznar immediately rips into them with more threats against their family. The party is generally nonplussed and Will even idly comments on how talkative Nezznar is. Soren concurs, causing Nezznar to go off harder.

Will asks Nezz why he takes so much pleasure in hurting other people. Nezznar answers that its easy when you don't see them as people--what's wrong with batting a few objects around every now and again?

Soren's further attempts to converse are met with Nezznar taunting and goading Soren into admitting that he *wants* to torture Nezznar, that it's innate within his drow blood and that he's always been jealous of what Nezznar had and was.

LMAO WILL IS LIKE "like... a drider?"

This really, really, really seems to bother Nezznar. Soren quickly catches onto the shame that Nezznar must have been feeling--which has been engrained in all drow--and refrains from commenting on his former master's new body.&#x20;

He does, however, shred and clean some of the present bedrolls before offering Nezznar some water. Nezznar rudely refuses, so Soren begins to use the water to clean the wounds on Nezznar's spider half.&#x20;

Nezznar violently strains against his bindings then, almost desperately ordering Soren to stop. When Will approaches to help, Nezznar drops a globe of darkness on them, which alarms and repels the surfacers, though Soren, with his Devil's Sight from Graz'zt, is unphased.

Soren reasons that dying of sepsis would be a painful way to go. Nezznar establishes that he does not care, and even asks (orders) for Soren to kill him. As the group had agreed to bring Nezznar back to Waterdeep for interrogation, he flatly refuses.

Eventually, as Soren persists through all of Nezznar's wriggling and protesting, the drider desperately roars, "stop looking at me!" which deals 10d10 emotional damage to Soren. He gently but coldly reminds Nezznar that he has witnessed more monstrous sides of his former master. Nezznar replies that he hasn't seen anything yet and launches back into threats.

## You Think This Redemption?

As Soren steadly works on Nezznar's wounds, he admits that he had started this journey with so much hatred and insults for Nezznar, that he wanted to hurt Nezznar even a fraction of the amount that Nezznar had hurt him. But now, after everything and after journeying with the surfacers, all Soren could feel was sorriness, that after 80 years of knowing each other, everything had to lead to this and end this way.

Soren promises though he would make sure that Nezznar dies, he would not suffer the way Soren did.&#x20;

Nezznar sneers at the idea disbelievingly and questions if Soren thinks he'll believe such a lie--and if Soren thought that this made him a good person. He cites the people that Soren lured into the Underdark for him, and reminds Soren that no matter what, Nezznar's presence would stick by Soren for a long, long time, even after his death.&#x20;

Soren does not respond, but continues to treat Nezznar's wounds.&#x20;
