⚔️62. might of the drow

session 62 • february 14 2023 • 2,146 words

🌞 DAY 17 • 📅 MARPENOTH 6

📌 The High Road (Phandalin -> Waterdeep)

Rope Alarm

As we set up camp for the night, Will fashions an alarm around the perimeter of our camp with rope and bottles that will clink if an intruder approaches. Droop asks about it and does not understand, thinking Will is "off his shits". Soren and Sildar forage for dinner and return with various root veggies.

Nezznar makes snide remarks at Will, prompting Will to sigh and Droop to express concern about Will's "breathing" because Will has been sighing a lot. Hugh and Droop decide that they need to give Will the "heinielich" maneuver and CPR in order to cure his breathing issues. Will barely manages to prevent getting heimiched by a 18STR goblin.

Soren cooks soup and serves it to the party. Nezznar, having been starved for two days, demands soup. Soren asks him to ask--and Nezznar mockingly begs for it the way Soren used to have to. Soren is unamused and does not give Nezznar soup until he asks nicely.

Glitter enlarges so that Will can Kalm and rest in her kitten fur, Nezznar is shaken and asks what Glitter is. Hugh is still convinced that Glitter is an avatar of the gnomish god Glittergold and says as much. We finish eating and take our watches.

Will and Droop

Will attempts to teach Droop how to read. Nezznar tries to bargain for sleep, but Will wants to discuss it with Soren; Nezznar cites that Will could never make his own decisions, like when he was told to run from his burning village and did so. Droop is alarmed by Nezznar's rudeness and fetches his javelin because "where I come from, if you talk shit you get hit!"

Will stops Droop from impaling Nezznar.

Nezznar sneers at Will’s mercy and wonders if this is Will trying to get an easier “punishment” “when Nezznar inevitably gets free”. Will says no, kindness would be out of Nezznar's character. Nezznar calls Will dull, and wishes that someone more “fun” survived the drow massacre. Will wonders why Nezznar is putting so much effort into instigating him, Nezznar says it’s fun and the highlight of his night to cause pain to Will.

Droop again offers to hit Nezznar, Will says that Nezznar is just taking out his anger and not to worry. Nezznar says that there are better people to take his anger out on, people who were actually able to hurt him. Will suggests that Nezznar could maybe try to be nicer to other people, Nezznar is LMAO at the idea that he should try and conform to others’ standards.

Will reminds Nezz that he’s been conforming to others all his life, and Nezznar goes on a tirade about how Will is so insignificant that he doesn’t deserve Nezznar’s thoughts. Will says that kindness tends to warrant more kindness in turn, and Nezznar cites the surfacers’ tendencies towards war and violence.

Will casts speak with animals and talks to glitter- and glitter says that he can eat nezznar for will and will says no, that its okay. Glitter is just very cute and will tells her that he loves her

Hugh

LMAO Nezznar is Aghast at the idea of spending time with Hugh, and bargains that if Hugh leaves him alone, Nezznar would in turn not make noise and disturb the rest of the sleeping party. Hugh asks Nezznar to thank him for his juicy ass drider pants, Nezznar refuses but Hugh says he's going to tell people that Nezznar did, anyway.

Hugh literally hard countered Nezznar oh my god we stan a king.

Hugh fixes the wear and tear on the rothe cart, and then goes to wake Soren. Nezznar falls asleep during Hugh's watch and is asleep when Soren rises.

Soren and Sildar

Soren pulls Sildar aside while Nezznar is sleeping, and confides in Sildar that he feels guilty that he's not treating Nezznar more poorly, that it feels like he's "doing wrong by everyone Nezznar has ever hurt".

Sildar reminds Soren that Nezznar will be dead by the end of the month, and that Soren has done enough, which greatly relieves Soren.

Soren wakes Nezznar, who is exhausted after being kept awake for four days. He begins to plead with Soren to let him have one good night's sleep, noting that even he never forced Soren to stay up so long, that "you don't want to do this", capitalizing on Soren's empathy. Reluctantly, Soren is manipulated into letting Nezznar get a full long rest.

Sildar isn't happy about this, but allows it. Soren scorns himself for being too soft, for not wanting to hurt Nezznar more, for "being too soft to be drow but too drow to be human". Sildar reassures him that he doesn't need to fit in with any group, that he is perfect the way he is. ; ;

After ascertaining that Nezznar is Out like a light, these two chucklefuck clowns go behind the cart to have "fun". Sildar, who is obviously responsible for keeping Soren quiet during the deed , fails and the two end up accidentally getting tangled Will's alarm LMAO. Sildar lies his ass off and gets Will to go back to sleep.

Eventually, the two finish and Sildar goes back to sleep.

Soren

Nezznar eventually wakes up after a 4-hour trance, fully rested and healed (gets 90HP back,, good god). He's in an excellent mood, which scares Soren a little. Nezznar negotiates for regular sleep, and Soren asks in return that he leave Will alone. Nezznar reluctantly agrees, citing that he doesn't like cowards.

Nezznar engages in surprisingly pleasant conversation with Soren, asking Soren what his goal is, if he's content living on the surface--among people who will never accept him for being drow. Soren acknowledges that but admits that he hopes that he will grow strong enough to never be at the mercy of anyone else again. Nezznar scoffs and advises Soren that there will always be bigger fish in the sea.

Soren acknowledges this, but says that he hopes to enjoy a peaceful life on the surface with his friends. Nezznar likens this to his enjoying the peace and quiet of traveling away from family in the Underdark, but Soren points out that Nezznar travelled with armed guards whom Nezznar considered fodder; while Soren cares about his friends.

Nezznar is confused by the concept of caring, and notes that it would be inefficient for Soren to care, because his friends might die and that would be "troublesome". Soren once again cites their love for each other as a source of strength, and declares that he will never let any of his loved ones die.

Nezznar is skeptical and sarcastically wishes Soren luck in this endeavor. Soren, seeing that Nezznar seems to be making an effort to not be unpleasant, gives Nezznar some treats for being a good boy leftover soup.

The Proudhollow Cart

As the party rouses, Nezznar tells Will that he'll leave Will alone and offers to shake his hand and is thoroughly smug and sussy about the whole thing. Will is sussy but cannot detect any maliciousness.

We pick back up on our travels, with Hugh requesting that Will cast Speak with Animals on the rothe, Black, to inform it that it's about the same price as a cart. Will does so, which just confuses the rothe. Black requests more food, and we let it graze for a bit.

Eventually, we come across a traveling merchant cart driven by a halfling. Will and Hugh successfully purchase a bandana for Glitter, and two Capes of Billowing + one Javelin of Lightning respectively, but when Soren attempts to purchase some paper to write the book he promised he would write about the party's adventures, the halfing brusquely refuses to "serve your kind here".

Soren takes it in stride and retreats back to the party, trying to stop Hugh from acting out against the "racism". When Will expresses the desire to purchase more items, Soren casts Charm Person to get the halfing to stay. Will pretends to buy some paper for his field journal and purchases an Enduring Spellbook for Soren at his request.

Pelts and Stew

Hugh shoots a deer on the ensuing travels, and bullies Will into agreeing to wear a pelt like he and Droop does.

Jalester sending-stone's Sildar with the following message:

Hallwinter: Bregan D'aerthe activity's at an all time high. Sources say they're involved in something big. Be wary of drow you meet on your travels.

Hugh and Will spar, and Will emerges victorious. Soren cooks the deer into a stew, and it's goob! We set up camp for watch.

Hugh

Hugh dumps entrails around the camp to try and attract wolves so as to make Sildar and Soren wolf pelts. Hugh also tries to coerce Nezznar into wearing a pelt lmao.

Sildar

Sildar takes second watch, and spends his watch keeping Nezznar awake.

Will and Soren

Nezznar wonders if Will wants to go to the Underdark to locate the people who were taken from his village. Will is unforthcoming and undecided. Nezznar begins trying to offer his connections to Will to try and find them, leading Soren to interrupt and reveal what he learned from Agatha: that the survivors from Will's village are not being held by the drow.

Will is astonished that Soren is able to recount exact names from his village, and inquires about his claim. At this point, however, Nezznar tells them both to shut up--something is approaching the camp. Will and Soren realize that the forest has fallen silent, as though some dangerous predator is afoot.

As they ready their weapons, a group of nine drow emerge silently from the woods and completely surrounds the party.

🌙 NIGHT 17 • 📅 MARPENOTH 6

Ilvara Mizzrym

Terrified, Soren goes to wake Sildar as Will wakes Hugh and Droop. Soren recognizes the leader of the group as a priestess of Lolth, and can barely speak from fear, urging Sildar that they have to run. Sildar points out that they are surrounded, and squeezes Soren's hand, reassuring him that everything would be OK.

The priestess scorns the group and asks that we surrender to save her the time--musing that the group would fetch a good price in Menzoberranzan.

As the group readies for battle, Sildar bait-and-switches Soren, granting the 6AC to Soren, before rushing forward straight towards the priestess, whom a frightened Nezznar notes to be Ilvara Mizzrym, of Menzoberranzan's formidable fifth house. Ilvara scoffs at his attacks and strikes him rapidly three times with a grotesque tentacle rod, knocking him unconscious.

Soren begs Graz'zt for help, but does not receive a response.

The group realizes at Sildar's going down that this was hardly a fight we could win, but still stand our ground, with Soren debuffing the drow soldiers surrounding them, and Hugh and Will almost taking one down. Will grabs Soren's arm and urges that they escape together; but Soren is devastated by Sildar's state and attempts to heal Sildar, but has his healing counterspelled by Ilvara.

As Hugh runs towards Ilvara, she instead chooses to strike Sildar again, killing him instantly.

Soren, who has a Ring of Matrimony linked to Sildar, feels the lifeforce drain from his betrothed and knows that Sildar is, beyond a doubt, dead. Numbly, he takes the knee and surrenders, loudly lamenting Ilvara's "waste of a perfectly good slave".

Hugh presses the attack against Ilvara, but urges Droop to run. Droop begins to, but decides against abandoning the party and turns around to launch a massive attack against the drow soldiers with his Javelin of Lightning. This causes the soldiers to catch up with him. In a heart-wrenching moment, Hugh takes the opportunity attacks of the nearby soldiers and Will misty-steps in a conjoined effort to ensure that Droop escapes.

Droop, however, is determined to stay with the party "no matter what", and refuses to leave Will's side. The same happens with Glitter, who Will tries to help escape through the woods; but the kitten refuses to leave. Surrounded by soldiers, Will offers his surrender as long as they don't hurt Droop. In front of Ilvara, Hugh also reluctantly surrenders.

We Lose.

The party, along with Nezznar, are forced to their knees and manacled with magic-dampening steel. Hugh, who is unawares of the mannerisms that the drow expect, is blunt with Ilvara and ignores her orders in order to go to comfort Droop. Will, Droop and Hugh hold hands as they are put into chains, and Hugh is knocked out for his previous disrespect towards Ilvara.

Soren outs Nezznar, who is disguised as a human, as "Nezznar Xorlarrin, cursed by our goddess", which delights and distracts Ilvara. Nezznar is horrified by Soren's "second betrayal", but Soren seems unbothered by Nezznar's ensuing threats and insults.

As the party lays in the grass, their faces pressed to the dirt and wrists shackled in chains, Ilvara approaches Nezznar.