🌒23. troll in the night

session 23 • 04/05/2022 • 2,652 words

『 📜 』 adventure log

🌞 DAY 6 • 📅 ELEINT 27

📌Triboar Trail

Catching Colds

The group considers going to Thundertree, which is between Cragmaw Castle and Phandalin. We decide to go rescue Gundren first, considering the urgent nature of the mission, and check out Thundertree on the way back.

Soren and Sildar try to get the other party members to take shelter from the rain, worried about their health. Hugh maintains that he's OK under his waterproof bear pelt, and Lera insists that she needs to stay outside to keep an extra eye out for any dangers.

Droop, however, is the only one who reluctantly listens and comes into the tent with SIldar and Soren. Lera inquires where Sildar wants to send his paper bird, and he says that he's unsure. Lera tries to insight check if he really doesn't have anyone to send the paper bird, or if he's unwilling to talk about it -- it seems as though he truly doesn't have anyone to send to.

Mosquitoes (?)

Prompted by Lera's caution, Soren recounts some stories he heard from a decimated adventurer party while he was in Phandalin. He recounts that the party had been attacked at night by a huge beast and several blood sucking monsters.

The group is a little alarmed at this. Hugh recounts that there are some mosses that can be burned as insect repellant. Droop helpfully supplies that there are: wolves, bears, orcs, mosquitoes, flies as big as his hands in the Neverwinter Woods. Also ghouls that can paralyze victims with a single scratch!

Soren, half-jokingly, suggests going back to The Bad Piano back at Neverwinter. This alarms Lera slightly, and she tries to ascertain whether he's serious. Though Soren said it in a resigned, ironic way, if the party truly chose to run away from the Black Spider, he would happily join them.

Soren processes the plants he obtained from Glasstaff for a little bit, and creates two potions of Movement from the Blue Cress.

📌Neverwinter Woods

Into the Woods!

We eventually reach the edge of Neverwinter Woods. The rain is easing off, but it's still overcast. We hide the cart and bring the Rothe with us, led by Droop deeper into the woods.

Lera ask Droop abt wave echo cave, learns more than she bargained for, that he often hid in caves from the bugbears when they were angry and looking to hurt him. Droop brags about being good at hide and seek, leading to a hiding competition of sorts between Lera and Droop when they get to Phandalin.

Sildar, after Soren whinges about walking, offers to piggyback Soren. Soren weighs being in close contact with Sildar, vs. his drow pride. Surprisingly, his pride wins this one.

We ask Droop about goblin patrols around the castle, and traps. Droop says that there are no traps, but there are patrols often in the woods.

Along the way, Soren forages for plants while Hugh forages for the insect repellant moss. Soren enlists Lera's help to find Healer's Boon berries, but she rolls a nat 1 and tries her best. :' )

As we near around 3 hours away from the castle (walked for 5 hours), Droop's littol baby feet get tired and we prepare to stop for the night.

🌙 NIGHT 6 • 📅 ELEINT 27

📌Neverwinter Woods • Campsite

Setting Up Camp

As we look for a place to set up camp, we notice massive humanoid tracks, surrounded with blood. We also notice that it's dragging what looks like a giant, blunt weapon through the mud. We move away from the tracks and try (and fail) to stealthily set up a camp.

Sildar laments his lack of dark vision. Soren reassures him that he should just sit there and look pretty (affectionate), which sounds condescending bc Soren is a dumbass drow. Sildar does not take it condescendingly. :)

Soren tries and fails to find dry kindling, returning to camp complaining about the lack of wood, while Hugh makes eye contact with him and returns with an entire armful of dry branches.

Noodles with Cheese

Soren announces, gleefully, that he is going to make something for the group called "Noodles with Cheese" with his newfound groceries. He uses the Alchemy Jug to obtain "water uhh fresh" to boil the noodles in, while Lera helps him cut the salted pork, after we roast her for forgetting her entire ass 10lb pot.

Hugh takes this chance to give Soren a gift: a plate that he "bought" from Toblen, without Toblen's knowledge. We hear Sildar making the mental note to nail down all his furniture when we go visit.

Sildar asks about the Alchemy Jug's properties, showing more interest in learning magic. Soren attempts to explain it in layman's terms, but they both end the conversation a little confused. Soren finishes up the Noodles with Cheese with a nat20! It's good.

Droop reminds Soren that he needs to make him a fox pelt! Soren agrees but says he has something else he needs to work on first.

🌙 NIGHT 6 • 📅 ELEINT 26

Bed Time

Watch Order:

• Hugh+Droop

• Lera

• Soren

• Soren+Sildar

Lera "gently" reminds Soren and Sildar to please do not go fuck behind a tree and leave the group to die to a wolf attack or something. Sildar denies that he would EVER do such a thing.

Watch 1: Hugh + Droop

Hugh and Droop have more tree shenanigans, in which Droop is thrown really hard against a tree branch so they can "keep watch" from a higher height!!! Droop does not take any damage due to Inspiring Leader, which makes him think that he's a god.

Hugh inquires about Droop's life and future, asking if he would want to go live in a town. Droop acknowledges that the people of Phandalin were good to him, and that he feels safe with them. Hugh talks a bit about his family, alarming Droop when he learns that he has a sister who enjoys making fun of and hitting him. Droop offers to go try and stop her.

They discuss snow, with Droop insisting that it's "rock water".

Droop wonders if he can come with the group to Candlekeep. Hugh agrees.

Hugh implies that he was going to cook Yegg, the mean cook, into food. Droop is Extremely Alarmed at the notion of eating other goblins. Hugh assures him that he would not be eaten.

Watch: Interrupted

Hugh and Droop hear the Rothe screech, and the stampede of panicked hooves as the Rothe steps on Lera's head trying to get away from an assailant. Hugh jumps off the tree with Droop on his back, in time to see a hulking troll come out of the forest, swarming with stirges that immediately turn their attention to the Rothe.

Hugh wakes Sildar and Soren up, while Lera rouses naturally from... the hoof to the face. Sildar equips his shield before rushing to the front -- edge of the campfire's light -- taking three very heavy hits from the troll (crit)!

The stirges swarm the rothe and Lera, putting the group in a very dangerous spot, before Hugh begins to rage upon seeing the damage the troll did to Sildar. He has a wild magic surge, which triggers a series of shadowy tentacles to extend from Hugh, killing 4 stirges instantly and, once again, turning the tides.

Soren, seeing Sildar's fear at the troll (crit hit table), forces the troll backwards with UWDW, proccing an opportunity attack from Hugh and Sildar. Lera heals Sildar of his heavy injuries, thank you for our lives. Droop and Soren clean up the rest of the stirges, with Sildar unfortunately missing several times due to the darkness.

Soren instructs Droop to calm the Rothe in order to keep him out of the fight.

Knowing the troll's regenerative powers and knowing that fire halts it, Soren tosses the oil they got from the Dendrars to Lera, who tosses it onto the troll. Hugh sets it on fire with his kindling box, and the troll stops regenerating.

The group launches a series of heavy attacks onto the troll, which breaks off two of its arms -- which in turn begin attacking the group as well. We manage to make short work of the weakened and non-regenerating troll, however.

Aftermath

We vial some of the troll blood -- 6 vials, which we know to sell for 40gp each. Lera casts Prayer of Healing, healing everyone for 20 health! We inspect the troll's weapon, but it's just a regular stick.

"Thank you"s get passed around when Lera once again insists that she is not thanked for healing. We will now just be thanking everyone for their parts that they played during combat, which is how adventuring parties should be tbh we will be the politest party you've ever met.

We discuss which direction to drag the troll's body, lamenting the fact that we would have to come back to a bloodstained camp.... before realizing that we can just pack up and move lmfao. We go.

Past Gobbos

Along the way, Droop learns that Soren has met goblins before, and inquires about them -- if they were good or bad, or if Soren killed them. Lera, seeing Soren uneasy, attempts to change the subject but Droop is stubborn. Soren concedes, responding in goblin that "they were like brothers".

At Droop's eagerness to hear more, Soren elaborates that in the neighborhood where he grew up, people would often come to "call him names", at which point he and the goblins of his neighborhood would help each other hide. Soren acknowledges, hesitantly and guiltily, that "they were good to me".

Droop expresses concern over Soren being called names, and lets him know that those goblins must have "loved him very much", causing Soren to tear up from guilt.

Droop tries to reassure Soren, and hugs him twice to make sure he’s fine, and "super better, can’t be sad, no sad business here, only good". Soren kisses him on the head, and Droop tries to do the same to Soren when Soren explains that it's how he and Sildar seal promises, and that he will promise to be ok.

Droop gets excited, and says that he can't break the promise otherwise he will have to do bad things (omg???), such as eat his food

Soren: Oh no! -dramatic-

This Droop Empty, YEET

After this conversation, Soren ruffles Lera's hair and expresses appreciation that she tried to change the subject when she saw that he was uncomfortable, Lera begins to respond in kind with her own appreciation, and Soren is in the middle of getting his CHEEKS CUPPED when he is interrupted by a flying Droop as Hugh tosses him back onto the tree. : (

Soren, seeing as this is the third time he's witnessed Droop being put in danger, snitches on Hugh and Droop's past endeavors with roofs and trees, alarming Sildar and Lera. Combined, they mom-and-dad-lecture Droop and Hugh into no longer engaging in such dangerous throwing activities.

Droop promptly jumps out of a tree due to his god complex, Soren catches him.

Sildar commends Hugh on his fighting ability. Hugh alarms EVERYONE by saying that MYCO was talking to the group, before claiming it was a joke. Lera claps for his joke.

Unprepared

Sildar waits for Soren to get into the bedroll with him, but Soren wonders if he's being too complacent around the group -- letting down too much of his guard, and suggests that he should perhaps start sleeping while sitting upright again -- which the group knows to be his defense mechanism.

Sildar tries to convince Soren that it's "not his fault" that the group was caught unprepared, but Soren assures him that he's not assigning blame to anyone. Sildar reluctantly wonders if he should put on some armor while sleeping as well -- it would hinder his rest and recovery, but it would ensure that he was more battle-ready if the group was ambushed again.

Soren sadly asks if they can hold hands while they sleep. Sildar in turn suggests just. both of them spooning on the bedroll. Though this solves neither of their concerns, Soren quickly agrees and drapes himself on Sildar like the blankit. They both go to sleep.

Bed Time 2.0

Watch 1: Continued

Droop fangirls over Hugh's combat prowess, and his rage. He expresses that he wants to learn weaponry like Hugh uses, such as a flail.

Hugh indicts him into the Flail Bros, telling him that it's a secret organization that only very few people are allowed to know about. He promises to get him a tiny flail when they get back to Phandalin.

They talk about dice games, with Droop lamenting that his dice set got confiscated by the bugbears. Droop explains the goblin version of rollies, which is that the number on the dice represents the number of "goblins" the roller has, and the higher the number, the "better the goblins can kill the other person's goblins", which alarms Hugh until Droop explains that it's all make believe ("it's all head goblin").

Hugh breaks his knees jumping off the tree while carrying Droop. He acknowledges that maybe they should stop jumping out of trees. Droop gently wakes Lera, then jumps into Hugh's hammock. The two of them sleep spooning :D BABBIESS

Watch 2: Lera

Lera contemplates the day, thinks about her friends, familiy, Black Spider, what's at stake, and enjoys the night sky. Her watch goes by relatively peacefully.

She goes to wake Soren at the end of the watch, and lets him know that it brings her comfort that he's letting his guard down -- seeing him draped over Sildar like that. She ruffles his hair the same way he did hers, which Soren leans into, and goes back to sleep.

Watch 3: Soren

Soren begins to make an extra condensed smoothie out of the rest of the Blue Cress he found at Glasstaff's laboratory, but doesn't do too well -- it'll take a few more hours of processing to finish.

After working on the potion for about an hour, he takes a break and stitches a line under all the names on his cloak with an air of finality -- regardless of what happens in the showdown with Nezznar, he will never add another name to the cloak again.

He begins stitching a small biscuit into the left side of his cloak, which has no embroidery presently.

Watch 4: Soren + Sildar

Soren goes to wake Sildar at the end of the two hour mark of his watch. Sildar whinges about having to get up, and Soren lets him know that he can sleep more, Soren will just be "sad and alone and sad and cold and alone and s--" which gets Sildar up.

He gives Sildar one of the Potions of Movement that he had processed earlier in the cart. Soren hesitates in giving Sildar something else, which Sildar pushes for. Soren produces his field journal, and shows Sildar a sketch of Vulmar and Aire.

Sildar begins tearing up, leading to Soren to wonder if he had ruined Sildar's mood and try to take the journal back.

Sildar: You have no idea how much this means to you, do you? Do you know my greatest regrets? It's not about what happens, but that I didn’t get to keep anything from them… drawings, pictures, none of that. So this is great, honestly… don’t be sad about this, these are happy tears, this means so much that you gave this to me.

They hug. Soren is relieved that Sildar enjoyed the gift, and gives Sildar his whole field journal, implying he expects Sildar to stay by him awhile.

Soren expresses that if Sildar is ever caught without him in the Underdark, he could use the journal to survive. Sildar assures him that that would never happen.