🦉5. owlbear rescue
session 5 • 01/22/22 • 2,612 words
『 📜 』 adventure log
🌞 DAY 2 • 📅 ELEINT 23
Sildar Stays!
The party confirms the details of the Willow Inn investigation with Sildar Hallwinter -- 30GP each just to investigate, and 60GP each if anything happens that should cause us any harm, or force us to draw our weapons.
He also asks us for anything that can be used as proof for the Lord's Alliance, if anything should happen -- which he's doubtful of. He notes that all of the reported "missing" people were sighted staying at the inn, just much longer than they should have been. He notes that most people who have gone missing are generally people with connections -- merchants, politicians, traders, etc.
Sorennar mentions that he has some noble-looking, formal clothing in his bag, and suggests that he pretend to be a noble prince from some distant land, in order to draw in whatever is seemingly manipulating these people. The group is on board with this plan.
Sildar shares some of the rumors and reports that the Lord's Alliance has received. The first report came from a Grendel Mett, whose husband disappeared on a business trip to Neverwinter. When she went looking, she found him at the inn, acting as if nothing was wrong. When she could not convince him to leave, she reported this to the authorities. Harold Mett, the husband, is a human with brown hair and green eyes.
Sildar wonders if the wife is keeping any secrets about their married life, and if the husband was simply unwilling to return home for other reasons. He acknowledges that there have been other reports, however, that he is not familiar with, and that it's worth checking out.
When Sildar mentions that he will be leaving the party at the inn that night, he is met with immediate resistance from Sorennar and Lera, who "worry" about his travelling alone at night. Sildar tries to assure them that he is a fast runner and knows how to travel, but Sorennar convinces him to stay the night through a mix of persuasion and light teasing -- "surely a prince living in the same room as a member of the Lord's Alliance, surely whatever is in that inn will take notice?"
Sorennar, who has been smoking weed all morning, reaches a giddy high and shows off his dancing lights cantrip to Lera, which takes the form of four technicolor butterflies, much to the delight of Hugh. Sildar wonders about all of Soren's butterfly motifs, and Sorennar simply marvels at their beauty.
Ballad for Hugh
Sildar tries to drive, but is vetoed by Lera. Sildar is indignant at being treated like a damsel in distress, which Lera mutters flirtations to under her breath -- Sorennar hears. Lera convinces Sildar to get into the back by promising that she enjoys driving the cart.
Colt does not remember promising Sorennar that he would teach him how to fight with two swords, but pretends that he does, citing Sorennar's compliment of his "martial prowess" as a reason why he would teach Sorennar.
The group muses over the items we obtained from Klaarg's goblin cave, and Lera states that she would pray to Helm for spells that could help detect magic from the items the next day -- she did not have the spell at that moment.
Hugh requests that Sorennar play something upbeat and "with thumps" for him, which Sorennar obliges. Sildar seems to enjoy the song. After the song, Sorennar begins to process what looks like a health potion. He also offers a hand-made health potion to everyone, which Colt and Hugh fight over until Sildar mentions that Colt probably needs it more, which makes him sad. Sorennar promises Hugh the next one.
Sorennar scares Colt with some potential "side effects" with the health potion, including nausea, dizziness and spider-like appendages protruding from his forehead and sides, which scares Colt a little bit.
Colt's Story
Lera talks to the group about potentially bringing Hugh to the Underdark with Sorennar as a guide. Colt tries to tag along by saying that the group needed his strength, but after minimal prodding from Sorennar, Colt admits that he believes his missing parents might be in the Underdark.
Colt tells his story: that he and his parents used to run trade routes as escorts. One particularly valuable cargo wagon was robbed, and Colt's parents were taken as collateral -- hostages, until Colt could pay back the value of the robbed goods. Colt got close, but it seemed that the kidnappers got tired of waiting and sold his parents off to the Underdark.
Hearing this, Sorennar asks if Colt's parents could put up a fight. Colt said that his parents were -- mother was a mage, father was a fighter. Sorennar, out of what he calls kindness, tells Colt that despite that, they were probably dead. Sildar agrees with this. Sorennar grills Colt on whether he took revenge on his parent's kidnappers, to which Colt tries to unsuccessfully lie and say yes. Sorennar acknowledges that it may be smarter to avoid conflict with people so powerful.
Colt looks defeated and tired, and says that he just wants it all to be over.
The group asks Sorennar about what in the Underdark would purchase slaves, much to Sildar's alarm -- he asks everyone to be mindful of Colt, who does not want to hear about the horrors of slavery in the Underdark, given his parents' circumstance. Sorennar respects this, but acknowledges that there are no lack of slave-owning civilizations in the Underdark.
Sildar offers his assistance with Hugh's ailment and Colt's parents, if the group earns the goodwill of the Lord's Alliance by helping Sildar. He wonders if there is anything he can do for Lera and Soren, prompting Hugh to suggest that he destroy the sun, which in turn leads to a fiesta of a debate about the nature of the sun between Sildar and Hugh.
Hugh suggests that Sildar help Lera with her divine issues, which Lera declines, saying that she wants to choose her way. Sildar wonders why Lera is so skeptical of the gods, and Lera explains that she simply doesn't have full trust in them due to their actions (and lack thereof) in the world. She's fine with using Helm's power, but doesn't want to rely fully on them, nor devote her entire life to divine worship. Inadvertently, Sildar insults Lera's attempts at joking with Is.
Quest Quest Quest!
Sorennar shares some of the rumors he heard in Phandalin. Upon recounting the rumors of the large winged shadow, the group immediately choruses around wanting to see a dragon for the first time in their life, much to Sildar's horror -- "meeting a dragon means death. seeing a dragon means it can see you, which means death."
Unfortunately, the group manages to convince Sorennar's last braincell that meeting a dragon would make for a great song, so Sildar's concerns fall on deaf ears.
Sorennar recounts that there are acquaintances he's eager to revisit in Phandalin, and notes that he promised an acquaintance that he would help look into the Redbrands, a group of thugs who have been harassing the town. Sildar is surprised to hear this, and enlists the group's help in dealing with them.
Around this time, Lera, driving, notices a series of tracks on the road.
Damn Nature U Scary
Lera notices that there are wolf and owlbear tracks. Sorennar and Sildar both agree that the group should move on and let nature do its thing. However, the group eventually chances upon the wolves attacking the owlbear -- who has three babies. Colt and Hugh lose their minds over the babies. Recognizing that letting the babies die in front of them would devastate the "soft" group, Sorennar begrudgingly agrees to attack the wolves.
The group beats down the wolves without much difficulty, with Sildar performing extraordinarily in combat. This lets the owlbear family escape after Lera heals them with her channel divinity. More wolves appear from the woods, and Hugh begins SCREAMING and flapping his hands at them, which almost everyone joins in with in order to drive them away (Sorennar draws the line at badly playing his instrument in order to create unpleasant noise).
After the battle, Sorennar praises Sildar on the fight, citing that he took down three wolves on his own. Colt, thinking the compliment is for him, thanks Sorennar before becoming deflated at the truth. Colt and Sildar get into a slight battle of wits, where they compare swords skills. Sorennar attempts to flirt with Sildar, but just leaves him and Lera confused. Colt harvests some pelt from the wolves.
Back on the cart, Lera questions Colt about having eaten rats. Sorennar snidely answers to the taste of dead rat, but denies having been in the presence of any -- Lera picks up that he is being overly defensive. The group reflects on their actions in saving the owlbear cubs. Sorennar admits that after "so much killing", it feels good to save something, acknowledging that he has killed plenty of "prey".
Sildar questions Sorennar on the "prey" of Drow, leading Sorennar to show off his sketches and notes of the following Underdark creatures:
Sildar seems to thoroughly enjoy the stories about the Underdark monsters. Colt seems to be having second thoughts about going down there. ☹️ Sildar takes the reins from Lera, and off we go on our way.
The Way to Willow Inn
Shortly after the journey starts, Sorennar retreats back into his tent due to the sunlight and continues working on his herbs. Colt climbs into the tent and starts feeling Sorennar's face for a few seconds. Sorennar protests, aghast, but does not seem to hate the touching.
Lera offers Sorennar a head massage, which he gladly accepts. In the following conversation about hair, Sorennar inadvertently compliments Lera's hair. When she protests, he asks the entire party to confirm that her hair is gorgeous, which sends her into a flustered panic.
Sorennar compliments her massage skills, attempting to probe into her platonic/romantic past, but only learns that she used to do it for her friends. Hugh explains Sorennar and Lera's "head massage" horribly to Sildar, which combined with the noises of the mortar and pestle + Sorennar's ,,, light,, moaning, leads to a comical misunderstanding.
Sorennar finishes his herb-mashing, and reluctantly asks Lera to pause her massage for a moment to address the group. Hesitantly, he distributes two vials of contact poison to Colt and Lera, and promising one to Sildar and Hugh tomorrow.
Sorennar tries to subtly imply that the poison is there so that the group has an "out" if they are ever captured and tortured by this "Black Spider" -- since they are now involved in the search for this artifact at Phandalin -- but when the group is confused, he comes out and says it directly. Sildar reinforces the idea, stating that more cruel enemies would have no issue partaking in nightmarish tortures and even removing limbs.
The group, though shaken, thanks him, to which he responds that he wouldn't wish Drow hospitality on even his worst enemies. He admits, however, that the poison can also be used for other purposes if needed -- it just needs to rest on the target's skin for 30s-ish without being wiped off.
Sildar requests a happy song from Sorennar, to lighten the mood. He plays a song called Underdark Dog Songs, while laying on Lera's lap with his eyes closed. At this point, Colt finishes his carving and puts it onto Sorennar's face like a secret/surprise. Despite protesting, Sorennar realizes that Colt had made him glasses out of concern for his sunlight sensitivity, and is extremely touched -- almost to tears -- though he tries not to show it.
He complains about its bulkiness, but balks when Colt tries to take them back to fix them, stating that they were "perfect". Sorennar tries to mark the glasses down as a "favor" he has to repay, but Colt has none of it and tells him that it is a gift. Sorennar thanks Colt (ONLY at Lera's prodding), and plays a short song for Colt, inspired by Moon Elven lullabies, which Sorennar DENIES having written specifically for Colt (he did).
The group compliments Sorennar on his glasses. ;--; Sorennar tries to offer Lera a favor as well for her massage, but she chides him for continually wanting to "repay" kind deeds and states that "you need a reason to do evil things, but you don't need a reason to do kind things", which Sorennar disagrees with but says he's going to steal for song lyrics.
Lera writes a letter to her family, citing all of the events that have happened so far: Hugh's condition, Colt's parents, the goblins, Sildar (young, handsome gentleman). She beseeches them to not look for her should she meet an untimely end, knowing that she is going into dangerous territory and getting involved in the hunt for this artifact. Hearing this, Sorennar "jokingly" offers to turn the cart around and go back to Neverwinter. Sildar is crestfallen but brightens up when Sorennar claims to be just kidding.
Hugh brings attention to the fact that he still needs money for his ailment. Sildar suggests that he seek a Greater Restoration spell, which is a 5th level spell -- estimated at around 300-400 gold per cast, not including the diamond dust material cost. Hugh is HORRIFIED at the cost. Sorennar suggests that they pay a visit to Sister Garaele in Phandalin, who is a religious cleric and might help.
Sildar is curious about Sorennar's claims that SIster Garaele is in trouble, and asks the group to look into the unrest surrounding this as well for extra rewards. Sildar also shares a bit more about the missing Lord's Alliance agent, Iarno Albrek, though no one knows of him. There's some discussion about the Lord's Alliances' ranks, Sildar being the third (and third-highest) rank within the faction.
Sorennar muses over the amount of power and influence that Sildar has, and suggests that they have a private conversation about the aforementioned "favors" that Sildar owes him.
Sildar has a midlife crisis over Hugh's insistence that he WILL find a dragon wyrmling to go fishing with.
Sorennar offers to help with all of Sildar's investigations, which Lera comments on as mildly uncharacteristic, wondering if he "likes Sildar". Sorennar claims to have been influenced by Lera's kindness and wise words, which Lera believes and is happy about.
LONG SWORDS SHORT SWORDS
Colt offers to share a room with Sorennar at the Stonehill Inn. Sorennar suggests, not so subtly, that he would love to sample everyones' "rooms" over the nights they stay together. Colt offers to teach Sorennar swordsmanship, which Sildar bristles at, since Sorennar... asked Sildar for... "swords lessons" earlier.
Sildar and Colt ... compare sword lengths. It is a fiesta. I truly don't know how to recap this. Colt makes fun of Sildar's "long sword" and claims that "short swords" are more dexterous and "attack faster". They agree that short swords suit Sorennar more because he is flexible.
Hugh suggests that they offer "tip support" for Sorennar, and that Colt and Sildar could "sword fight" so that Sorennar can choose between them. Lera says that that she's glad Sorennar has found two "practice mates" to teach him about swords.
Sorennar is FUCKING LIVING.
Sildar and Colt's banter turns to Colt's combat prowess. They bicker about whether heavy armor is good in combat.
The group discusses the matter of payment further, before turning down a road towards Willow Inn -- an unkempt, messy and worn-down building with a stable.
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