🐟67. fishy therapy

session 67 • march 12 2023 • 2,082 words

🌑 DAY 22 • 📅 MARPENOTH 11

Tough Crowd

As Soren follows Ilvara and her entourage towards the quaggoth nest, she remarks that she had always been curious about the rumors surrounding Nezznar's slave. Soren is surprised to learn that he had a slight reputation amongst the nobles for his bardic skill. He wheedles about being honored to receive praise / to be able to play in front of Ilvara. When asked which instrument he wanted / what song he was to play, Soren takes care to ask for Ilvara's preferences.

Ilvara asks that he play the the instrument he usually played for Nezznar's parties (the lute), but is disgusted at the battered lute, ordering Soren to throw it off the cliff after. (I FORGOT OH GOD)

Soren attempts to charm the quaggoths with his usual tavern performances, but the Alpha is unamused and attempts to steal Soren's lute. Soren manages to get a few chords off, which pleases the Alpha--it demands that Soren "do more", and Soren obliges with a high performance roll.

After his performance concludes, Ilvara admits that she's surprised and that the playing was "better than she expected", prompting another round of wheedling from Soren. She asks where he was taught--Soren avoids talking about his dwarven mentor and instead lies to say that he learned from some nobody tavern-patron in the Braeryn. Ilvara is scornful of this but does not question more.

The quaggoths pound their chests in approval as Soren takes a sweeping bow and leaves. As Soren tries to return to the cell, however, Ilvara dismisses her goon squad and orders Soren to follow her to her chambers.

Old Times

Will, who sighed in relief upon seeing Soren unharmed (yet), is immediately hounded by Droop, who (as per usual) misunderstands his sigh as difficulty breathing. Hugh joins in and (as per usual) they chase Will around, threatening to give him the "heinie-lick maneuver" to help him breathe better.

Though Will usually takes their teasing in stride, he snaps at them and demands that they leave him alone.

Eldeth introduces herself to Sildar, since this is the first time they've been alone together since Sildar was brought back to life. Eldeth promises to get Sildar some water when she can, and notes that Sildar has "a good group of friends". Sildar agrees.

Sildar wonders how Eldeth ended up here, and she says that she was separated from her battlesquad by an orc attack--citing Ront as one of them--but mentions that she's not lonely anymore because she has the group.

Shortly after, Eldeth comments idly that the group is great... except they keep foolishly trusting "that demon-fucker".Quickly, Sildar learns that she means Soren LOL and defends Soren's honor; asking her to treat him with the most basic of respect.

Eldeth, who was hoping that Sildar might be the only one who hadn't fallen for the EVIL DROW'S WILES, deflates. Sildar inquires if she's tried to befriend or speak to the other Underdark creatures in the pen; she admits that Shuushar keeps trying to talk to her, but that she refuses to speak to denizens of the Underdark because they are all evil and crazy.

The Worth of a Slave

Meanwhile, Ilvara takes Soren into her chambers, which is located under a temple to Lolth. She quietly smokes some pipe weed, while Soren gets on his knees and silently waits for her to initiate conversation. After some time, Ilvara remarks that Nezznar at least did right in training Soren to be a good slave. She laments that it’s a shame that Soren has such a generous buyer waiting for him.

Ilvara begins to question Soren as to who might be willing to buy him; she admits that he had often been talk of the town among the nobles, but isn’t worth the amount being offered.

Soren responds that he is but a humble slave, and does not know the intricacies of the noble court. Apologetically, he admits that he has no idea who would be interested in buying him.

Finally, Ilvara reveals that someone is offering to pay 2000 gold pieces for him. She notes that her family is in charge of the slave trade in Menzoberranzan, and rattles off a few common prices for slaves. Goblins are worth less than 10 gold, while humans and dwarves can fetch up to 100 if they seem like they could put up a fight for the arena. Soren is taken aback by how much he’s worth to this mystery buyer.

Ilvara believes that he is completely clueless as to this buyers identity and wryly remarks that she’ll have to torture it out of Nezznar the next time he’s in here.

She also notes that 2000 GP, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t that much gold to her and asks how Soren would feel about becoming her personal slave. Aghast, Soren manages to choke out that it would be an honor to serve and please her in any way that he can. This greatly pleases Ilvara, who muses that it is adorable when males try to stay strong, despite being terrified.

Ilvara says that she is still trying to decide whether he is worth 2000 gold or not but that for now, he was allowed to return to the prison. Grateful to be unharmed, Soren leaves, but not before noticing Glitter in a cage, as well as several of the party's items in the room.

The Worth of a Cat

Eventually, Soren returns and tells the group that Ilvara has many other items. When asked about Glitter, Soren says that she’s there as well. Will is relieved and expresses determination to get her back.

Soren points out that Ilvara’s room is far out of the way and that it’s more than likely they’ll have to leave behind all of those items and Glitter when they escape. Will insists on saving Glitter, prompting Soren to demand if he’s willing to sacrifice the party for a cat. Distraught, Will says it’s unfair for Soren to even ask that. After a bit more arguing, Will turns around and removes himself from the situation.

SHUUSHAR, LOCAL THERAPIST

Shuushar saunters up to the arguing group and says that he spies a conflict that needs mediating!!

Will shooes him away but Soren calls him over when Shuushar expresses the desire to help the group. Still trying to find a target for Grazzt’s request, Soren asks Shuushar if he would be willing to die on command. Regretfully, Shuushar says that that isn’t something he can do--at least before he returns to his people to deliver his teachings to them.

Frustrated and shaken from his encounter with Ilvara, Soren snaps that Shuushar is useless like the rest of the prisoners. Shuushar,,, bless his heart,, begins to reason that he is not in fact, useless, and that he wants to protect and defend the party.

Eventually, Shuushar calls Soren a friend. Soren falls quiet at this, and does not stop Shuushar when he departs to give Soren some space alone.

Veegatarians

In the meantime, Hugh and Shuushar have an absolute clownshow of a conversation. When Shuushar mentions that he wants to enlighten his people, Hugh wonders if he wants to turn everyone into "veegatarians", then expresses confusion about Shuushar's pacifism.

When Shuushar explains it further Hugh says, "bro you’re going to die."

Shuushar remarks that death is just a stepping stone, that he does not fear death; and that he only wants to enjoy life. Hugh is confused by the philosophy of it all but maintains that Shuushar will only bring death to his village if he teaches them all to be pacifists.

Eldeth steps in to agree with Hugh, after growing visibly annoyed by Shuushar’s philosophy. She notes that she and her dwarven kin have been fighting for a decade to wrangle her city back from the drow; she wonders if Shuushar would fault her and her kin for doing so instead of laying down and letting the drow’s kill them.

Shuushar says that he does not fault them for defending themselves, maintaining that what happened was meant to be.

Meanwhile, Nezznar realizes from Eldeth’s outburst that she was part of the dwarven armies that took back Gauntlgrym from his family and caused House Xorlarrin to fall out of favor with Lolth. Furious, he gets up to attack her. Soren, wanting to avoid drawing the drow guards’ ire, pleads with Nezznar not to do so.

Eventually, he makes the point that his wounds are not yet healed, and that Soren needs to change his bandages, which convinces Nezznar to reluctantly sit down.

Not Allowed to Die

Soren asks Nezznar if he has ever talked to his noble friends about Soren. Nezznar feigns disgust and asks why he would ever do tha. (Narrator voice: he has, a lot). Soren, who does not know this, confusedly admits that someone wants to buy him for no small amount of gold. Nezznar immediately gets very upset and agitated, calling Soren used goods and wondering who in their right mind would want to buy him at all.

Soren is a little hurt by Nezznar's harsh words, but not surprised--and does not disagree.

Sorne also admits that Ilvara may keep him, and--getting a little choked up--tells Nezznar that he isn’t sure he’ll be able to take care of Nezznar for much longer if she decides to take Soren as her slave.

Nezznar is devastated, and once again wonders why Ilvara would keep someone so worthless as Soren. Weakly, Soren points out that Nezznar kept him; but Nezz quickly response that that was only because his Matron gave Soren to him as a gift, and he had no choice.

GIRL ADMIT THAT YOU CARE A LIL BIT ABOUT SOREN LMAO

Soren points out that Nezzy should learn how to bandage himself, considering that Soren may be killed by Ilavara at any notice, and that no one else in this prison would help Nezznar change his bandages.

Nezznar agrees to learn, but tells Soren firmly that Ilvara will not take him, and even if she does, "you'll come back to me. You always have."

Bruh my heart???? like Nezznar used to say that as a THREAT, like "hehe I have your family, you'll return to me, you always will. etc" . BUT HERE he's just sad and miserable and clinging to Soren as the last scrap of his old life / familiarity. I'm gonna cry

Soren reassures Nezznar that he can't possibly die: "you've made it very clear that I am not allowed to die until you tell me to." This feeble joke gets a weak smile from Nezznar.

I'm so soft about these two fucking dumbasses

Feeding Time

WE GET FOOD and WATER! Yay.

Ron begins to eat right out of the pot of slop but Hugh manages to intimidate him into standing down. Although there is a bit of a scramble for food, there is enough for everyone to get a half portion and we all eat.

Though still sullen after their fight, Soren tells Will to take care of his wounds so they don’t fester. Will awkwardly agrees. Soren also reminds Will to stop making the drow angry, and to just tell them what they want. Will remarks that Soren does know them best, which hurts all of Soren's feelings.

Necessary.

As the group settles down to rest, Soren--trying to prepare himself for performing Graz'zt's task--asks his bunkmate, Nezznar, if he has ever felt remorse for any of the people he’s killed; mentioning that Nezznar even killed his own brother, and killed his betrothed.

Nezznar remarks that he’s glad he killed that stupid bitch (the betrothed) but does not comment on the murder of his brother.

When Soren pushes, Nezznar reluctantly admits that he has felt remorse before, but it did not matter because one way or another these deaths benefited him and so they were necessary. Nezznar frames the lives of the people he’s killed as resources and a necessary cost.

Nezznar sneers about how soft Soren is compared to the average drow. Soren admits that he used to be proud of being different; but now he’s not so sure.

Soren notes that he knows he doesn't mean much to Nezznar, but offers his ear to Nezznar if he needs to talk. Nezznar considers this, but ends up curtly declining.

🌑 DAY 23 • 📅 MARPENOTH 12

As a group rouses from their rest, Cliff cheerfully announces that we have new chore groups!