🫀53. a coward's choice

session 53 • november 29 2022 • 836 words

🌞 DAY 13 • 📅 MARPENOTH 3 • 🎂🦋

A Short Break

We notice a glow that indicates that the flameskull is back. Exasperated, we retreat back to the campground room. Soren points out that Nezznar acted weird when we "killed" the flameskull, and that our wizard man probably knows what happened.

Nezznar admits that he might have information, but demands that he is not starved or denied water in exchange for said information. Soren says that they were never going to torment him in that way, though Nezznar is unconvinced. Nezznar explains that the flameskull can only be truly killed if dispel magic is cast on it at its time of "death"; Soren points out that Nezznar can cast dispel magic innately. He agrees to do so in exchange for rations.

Soren taunts Nezznar by offering him brown mushrooms, which Soren knows well to be Nezznar's least favorite food. Will offers Nezznar a pumpkin cupcake which Nezznar is not very happy about either.

Soren tries to feed Nezznar a ration because he refuses to untie Nezznar. Nezznar tries to tempt Soren with power; Soren snaps that that he's found a new patron now, one who is kind to him. Nezznar sneers that Soren is like a parasite; always leeching off of someone else. Soren throws down the ration he had been trying to feed Nezznar, and Nezznar kicks it to pieces cuz he's a big babey.

Will takes a turn trying to feed Nezznar; Nezznar remains a big babey and refuses to be fed by a surfacer, taunting him about how Will knows nothing about the drow. Will returns that he knows nothing about surfacers, to which Nezznar retorts that he does: that the surfacer tradition of love and family is a weakness.

Will maintains that it is a strength.

A Brother's Love

Soren tries to get more information about Nadhiir, but Nezznar is unforthcoming. Eventually, as the rest of the group faces the flameskull, Sorennar admits that he still cares deeply about Nadhiir, and --perturbed by Nezznar's claim that his brother had been sold off to another family as well--asks to at least know where he is.

Nezznar snidely asks to learn more about Willow, the surfacer he's had the most trouble with so far. Soren hesitates to say, but eventually obliges completely, telling Nezznar everything: that Lythrana Catanzaro had been found in his village, and that it was razed to the ground for it.

Nezznar in turn makes good on his part of the deal, telling Soren that his brother had been sold to Ilvara Mizzrym, a particularly vicious daughter of the fifth house with a penchant for torture and limb-removal. Soren realizes that his eighty-year enslavement had only benefited Amalka and this hurts all three of his feelings.

Outside, Hugh, Sildar and Will get assblasted by a fireball but manage to kill the flameskull. Nezznar makes good on his end again, casting dispel magic and permanently killing it. When Will ties his hands again, however, Nezznar begins to taunt him about his village. Soren apologizes, and Will realizes that Soren told Nezznar everything.

Will, distraught, tries to move past this by leaving the cave, but Nezznar continues to taunt. Soren drags Nezznar back by the rope and kinda loses it.

I know that it’s a difficult distinction to make for the drow, but do not confuse mercy for weakness. My civility is not unconditional. So scream all you want, if it makes you feel a little better about your situation, call me names, threaten me, whatever makes you more comfortable. But if one more time you darken my friend's name with your tongue, I will cut it out in strips, and I will make sure it is the only thing you eat for the rest of your very, very short life. Am I understood?

Shaken, Nezznar sneers that "look at that, the dog's finally learned how to bark", but does not push the matter further.

In the Shadows

We stumble into the next room and hear terrible noises :( Will does a light-the-rock as distraction trick and it is immediately set upon by ghouls. We launch an attack but are taken by surprise when shadows join the fray and drain a sizable part of Will's strength before Sildar is able to switch him out.

During this time, Nezznar snidely comments on Will's retreat (wondering if he also ran away from his village's doom). Soren nails him in the cheek with the hilt of his rapier, and gives him one warning against his earlier threat. Nezznar is furious at having been hit by a slave (and not being able to do anything about it).

Though we eventually emerge victorious, Will is badly affected by the strength drain. We find an empty room to rest in.

After a moment of severe discomfort, Soren heals Nezznar and apologizes for hitting him, lamenting that "how did you do this for eighty years?" because it did not feel good to Soren to exert power over someone helpless.