🌊4. wtfiuwt

session 4 • 01/18/22 • 2,874 words

『 📜 』 adventure log

🌙 NIGHT 1 • 📅 ELEINT 22

Campfire Stories

The group begins their game of "What The Fuck Is Up With That".

Sildar > Lera | "You're a Cleric, WTFIUWT?"

Lera explains that she's a life domain cleric, and that her powers are from Helm. A while ago, during a storm, she risked life and limb to rescue some kidnapped children. Due to the weather, she carried and coaxed several of them into a cave for shelter, cheering them up with her puppet performances. She believes that this is what got Helm’s attention, as she received her powers shortly after.

Sorennar wonders idly if her ideals truly align with Helm's, mentioning that Helm values justice above all and that he likely wouldn't have appreciated her sparing of the goblins that afternoon. Lera explains that though she wanted to stay and investigate the issue further, the group had been hard pressed for time.

She apologizes to Sildar for letting Yeemik, his tormentor, go. Sildar assures her that he would be returning to check on the goblins, and invoke justice on them if they were still causing trouble on the High Road.

Hugh > Sorennar | "You're good at music, WTFIUWT?"

Hugh asks Sorennar about his music. Sorennar tells the story of how he used to steal from travelers, until he was stopped and "taught a lesson" by a powerful adventuring group. The group didn't kill him, to his surprise, and the dwarven bard of the group -- Gwynthel Kindsbane -- taught Sorennar how to play various instruments. Sorennar lost contact with the group for over a century, and wonders what they're up to.

Sildar asks if Sorennar stole out of necessity. Though initially glib with his answers, Sorennar admits to having been forced to due to his family being impoverished. He assures Sildar that since he was adopted into a generous, rich noble Drow family, his family no longer had to subsist on scraps and he no longer had to steal.

Sorennar smugly asks Sildar how, as a seasoned adventurer, he would have reacted towards a "young drow boy with his hands in your pockets". Sildar responds that he would not hurt children, and would have given him what he needed, surprising Sorennar.

Break | Lera's Alcohol Tolerance + More Meat

The party tries to convince Lera to partake in the alcohol, which Sorennar points out is not very strong and tastes of flowers. Hugh offers Lera some meat, since he is also not drinking anything. Lera changes the subject by questioning Sorennar on his herbalism expertise, asking if he has a favorite flower to eat.

Sorennar cites the Golden Coneflower as one of them, and offers to mix up some herbs for them tomorrow. Lera and Sorennar go to the deer to retrieve more meat. Lera cooks her meat medium rare, which earns a slight grimace from Sorennar.

Lera > Colt | "Your favorite food, WTFIUWT?"

Colt answers that he likes meat, but not rats. He compliments Sorennar's cooking, which surprises and pleases Sorennar (though he's loathe to show it). Hugh chides Colt for his vague answer, prompting Colt to admit that he hasn't tried many foods.

He says that Sorennar's and Tina's meals have been in his top 5, but that his top 5 isn't too far from his most hated food, rats, anyway, due to the lack of variety he's familiar with. Sorennar begrudgingly asks if there are any meals that he would like to try, to which Colt responds that he's not sure.

The group has, at this point, gotten into the practice of going around the campfire to take turns answering the questions.

Hugh's favorite food is truffles, and he enjoys goat milk, chevon, and pork with truffles. Sorennar wonders if Hugh likes other mushrooms, and he says that he doesn't know the names of any but that he does. Sorennar offers to bring Hugh to the Underdark to try the various fungi there.

Sorennar enjoys all the exotic foods of the overworld, but he's partial to bluecap bread made from flour ground out of bluecap mushrooms. He admits that perhaps it's the sentimental value behind the bread that he enjoys, as the bread itself is rather bland.

Sildar's favorite is biscuits and gravy. Colt says he wants to try some.

Lera's favorite food is spicy things and desserts. She's not picky. Sorennar offers to bring her to the Underdark to try some of the "extremely spicy" mushrooms down there.

Lera begins to ask the group if they can cook.

Hugh says that he once cooked eggs by laying them on an open flame for an hour. Colt admits that his last dish of potatoes and butter ended up burned. Sildar says he's not great at cooking but could probably do better than the other two.

Colt > Lera | "Your hair is so red and pretty, WTFIUWT?"

Lera gets very flustered and nervous at this question, and says that her hair is natural and most likely from her mother. She compliments Colt's hair in turn, which Colt laments makes him look old.

Colt wonders if Sorennar's hair gets dirty during travels, to which Sorennar retorts that he grooms his hair very, very seriously. Hugh's sideburns also get a compliment! Sildar's hair does not. :(

Sorennar > Colt | "Your favorite color, WTFIUWT?"

Colt: Green

Hugh: Orange

Sorennar: Bright colors. There are no bad colors, only bad artists.

Lera: Those during sunset and sunrise, different blues, purples, yellows, oranges, and reds

Sildar: Orange, but after getting yelled at by Hugh for sharing his, changes it to Blood Orange.

Sildar comments on Sorennar's answer as being "bard-like", to which Sorennar wonders if he's known many bards. Sildar says that Sorennar is the only one he's interacted with, to which Sorennar slyly says "perhaps we can interact further in the near future".

Hugh > Sildar | "Your cart is full of mining stuff, WTFIUWT?"

Sildar recounts that Gundren Rockseeker was in pursuit of some powerful artifiact near Phandalin, which required mining supplies to excavate.

Sildar is hesitant to offer too much information, but admits to being sent by the Lord's Alliance to escort Gundren so that the Alliance would be able to share in the profits and power of the artifact. Sorennar tries to pry further into the Lord's Alliances' business with Phandalin, and how much power Sildar had, but Sildar apologetically says that he cannot say too much.

Hugh wonders if Sorennar knows this "Black Spider". Sorennar says no, but that he suspects Drow interference due to the name. Sorennar questions if Sildar had cracked under torture, and Sildar admits that he let some of the information slip. Lera heals Sildar of more injuries, and Sildar is grateful, and assures that he is withholding the information for the group's safety.

Lera > Colt | "Your pet peeves, WTFIUWT?"

Before he can answer, Hugh teases Colt for being knocked out. Colt responds with "no one likes being knocked out" -- to which both Hugh and Sorennar respond with "speak for yourself". Colt answers that he hates "fake friends" -- people who feign trust, belief and support but secretly root for your failure.

Sorennar questions how specific this is, but Colt denies that he's gone through it. Sildar takes the moment to question why Colt tried to steal the tomato, prompting Colt to admit that he had only recently gotten out of a situation wherein he wasn't sure when his next meal would be. This seems to soften Sorennar to him, who admits that "hunger makes people do things that aren't smart".

Colt establishes that he has a moral code: he won't steal from the needy, or his friends. Lera points out that Colt apologized to Tina for the tomato fiesta, and carved her a spoon, which satisfies Sildar. Hugh establishes that he has no qualms about stealing.

Lera > Hugh | "Your family, WTFIUWT?"

Lera and Sorennar question Hugh on his "sister spike pit prank" story. Hugh admits that his sister, Nutila, enjoys poking fun at him, usually at his physical expense and sometimes seriously injuring him. Lera is extremely concerned, and though Hugh doesn't like it, he doesn't seem to see a huge problem with it. Sorennar brushes it off with "siblings can be cruel".

Upon learning that Hugh is from the area around Mithral Hall, Sildar asks if Hugh is familiar with the Battlehammer dwarves (he’s not). Sorennar reacts with amusement at the question

Sildar wonders if Sorennar is familiar with the Battlehammer dwarves, due to his reaction. Sorennar says that Battlehammer dwarves were infamous, in Drow upbringing, for “corrupting Drow” because Drizzt Do’Urden, a famous drow adventurer who “defected” from the Drow, used to travel with one. Sorennar thinks that it would have been ironic if Hugh had been Battlehammer.

Sildar wonders what Sorennar thinks of Drizzt, for defecting. Sorennar calls Drizzt a fool for foregoing a cushy noble life in the upper city of Menzoberranzan, but admits that he can see how the call of adventure might have appealed to him.

Sildar > Colt | "The scar on your eye, WTFIUWT?"

Colt says that it was from a bar fight, but is so drunk and out of it at this point that he can't produce a coherent answer.

Lake Bath

Sorennar and Sildar seem to be taking well to the alcohol, but Colt is wasted. The group sets off to take a cold bath in the lake that Sorennar found during his hunting expedition with Lera. Sorennar leads Sildar by the hand because Sildar is human and can't see. He also offers to take Lera's hand, and is a very happy little Drow holding both Sildar's and Lera's hands on the way there.

Colt can barely walk due to intoxication, so Hugh picks him up and carries him all the way to the lake, at which point he runs straight in. Colt panics about his fur coat getting wet, and carefully dries it on a rock before wading back in.

Everyone disrobes down to their underwear to take the bath. Sorennar draws some attention with the spider markings and words on his back, which he tells everyone is a tattoo dedicated to Lolth. He is also heavily scarred on his back and arm, which he attributes to life among the dangerous creatures of the Underdark.

A concerned Sildar questions if Sorennar truly worships the demon queen Lolth. Sorennar wryly quotes Sildar's reluctance to speak about his mission due to fear of backlash from higher ups in the Lord's Alliance -- implying that he has no true love for Lolth. He acknowledges her power, however.

Colt notices something slightly off about Sorennar's tattoo (the skin is raised), and tries his best to touch it, including: asking to touch it, and then immediately asking to hug Sorennar. Sorennar reacts in mild panic and turns him down each time, agreeing to hug only when he is clothed. Colt asks for a tattoo from Sorennar, which Sorennar happily agrees. Colt asks that it not be a tattoo of a penis. Sorennar rescinds his offer.

Colt complains about the cold water, but when Lera tries to drag him out, says that it "warmed up", leading everyone around him to think that he peed in the lake. He is dragged out of the lake.

Lera washes Hugh's hair gently, and they speak about her Sun Elven heritage. Sorennar chimes in occasionally with comments about high elves, like the annoying little bitch he is. Lera does a FANTASTIC job with Hugh's hair.

Sorennar starts a campfire for everyone to warm themselves around and so that Sildar isn't in complete darkness. He plays a short, relaxing melody at Colt's request. Colt reminisces, in his drunken stupor, about an old late friend who was also very good at playing the flute. Sorennar offers to play the flute for him, if they manage to acquire one on their journey, which makes Colt happy and produce a very eloquent: "I look forward to you".

Begrudgingly, Sorennar compliments Colt's swordsmanship, lamenting that "as a lowborn Drow", he would never get the chance to learn how to dual-wield swords. Colt eagerly promises to teach him.

The group begins to head back to the camp, and divide themselves for the night watch as such:

11-1 lera + sorennar

1-3 sildar + sorennar

3-5 hugh + colt

5-7 colt, alone

Night Watch

Lera + Sorennar

Sorennar explains the history of the Underdark at Lera's request -- that it was created by a mad mage and filled with unpredictable magic and creatures. He wonders if it's what Hugh is afflicted with.

Lera further questions the words on Sorennar's back, having seen through his lie about them being praises to Lolth, or Drow proverbs. He admits to lying, but changes the subject to lament how vicious and strange Drow proverbs are. This leads Lera to ask about his family, which he explains as a marriage of "convenience" -- tolerance for each other, out of necessity to survive.

Sorennar admits that he may be called back into the Underdark to "entertain his noble brethren" with song and music, which Lera is concerned about. He brushes it off as his duty.

Lera picks up that there is some truth to his story, but it's a practiced one.

As their watch ends, Sorennar questions Lera if she is disinterested or oblivious in his advances, which leads Lera to be extremely flustered and in denial of noticing his interest. Sorennar takes this to mean that she is not disinterested, and is extremely glad for it.

Sorennar + Sildar

Sorennar asks Sildar about his adventuring stories, which Sildar obliges with.

They engage in idle talk about Phandalin, and Sildar laments that one of the Lord's Alliances' agents may have gone to ground and perhaps even defected from the faction.

Sorennar very subtly tries to warn Sildar off of his mission to rescue Gundren, saying that it seems that there are powerful forces at play, and that he wouldn't want to see Sildar captured again, or worse. Sildar brushes off his concerns.

Hugh + Colt

Hugh has a nightmare as he awakens from his slumber:

As you fall asleep on this peaceful night, you appear in the oh-so-familiar place that has been following you since the event. The landscape in front of you is void of sky and the ground is littered with mushrooms and other plants being consumed by mushrooms.

The distant figure that has been ever watching, you notice that it has moved forward from where you have seen it in the past. The strange dwarf in front of you, its dead eyes staring at you.

You notice his mouth moving, even though everything is silent, you hear nothing but the deafening quiet that is this world inside your head. Just before you wake, you hear a female voice boom "Soon, I shall come"

Hugh is terrified and runs out of the tent naked. He fails to explain the terror of the dream to Sorennar, who idly comments that his dreamscape sounded like home. Sorennar collapses the tent on Colt, who wakes up with a start and a horrible hangover.

Hugh and Colt proceed to have the most BAFFLING conversation anyone in the party has ever had the fortune of not witnessing. They debate the morality of wolves, each others' "martial prowess", and various fighting tactics. It's amazing.

Colt

Colt's watch is peaceful and uneventful.

🌞 DAY 2 • 📅 ELEINT 23

The Morning After

Sorennar has a nightmare shortly before Colt wakes him up:

You find yourself back in the forest, the same place where you killed the deer. You are look off into the distance as you hear Lera say behind you "You must really love your family! Your step brother is so generous and kind for bringing you into it!"

As you turn around, you see Lera hold your brother Rizoyn, being held below his chin, forcing his head upwards. You feel something in your hand and as you look down you see a dagger that you are familiar with.

No matter how hard you try, you try, you are not able to pull back the dagger as you bring it up to his neck.

He quickly calms himself despite waking in a panic, and takes Colt on his offer of a hug from last night. Sorennar immediately goes off exploring in the woods, smoking weed whilst collecting eggs from nests for breakfast.

Hugh cuts a tree down so that the group has somewhere to sit. Sorennar makes shakshuka for the group with the rest of Tina's tomatoes. Lera approaches him in high spirits to discuss where they left off during their last watch, but Sorennar reacts to her in brief fear due to his nightmare, which discourages her.

Sildar gathers the group around in order to discuss further actions. Sildar will ride ahead to Phandalin, but wants the group to stop by a Willow Inn on the High Road, to investigate some rumors of missing people. The group agrees -- for a price, which Sorennar successfully haggles to be 30gp per person IF there are no dangers at the inn, and 60gp per person if there is something nefarious afoot.