🌻101. soren's sanctuary

session 101 • january 16 2024 • words

🌑 NIGHT 29 • 📅 MARPENOTH 19

This Cursed Place

Hugh calls on the group to leave since they've finished their mission! :) Soren agrees that they should leave this cursed place, seeming uncomfortable and guilty with his actions / the ritual.

Diana speaks to Grymus highly, noting that she has the courage to write in a book! Grymus is exhilarated about having participated in the fight, recreating her moves excitedly and recounting them to Diana.

Diana also tries to make small talk with Will, who is Mega Depresso. She compliments him on his aasimar wings, flirting about how he is both an angel literally and figuratively. Will remains depresso but compliments Diana on her magic, which she used to ward against the Demogorgon madness. Diana blushes.

As they leave, Soren tentatively sticks by Sildar, and seems sad and especially guilty at Sildar's seeming disappointment / anger at the events of the ritual. Still, as Soren leaves the cavern, he collects a vial of kuo-toa blood--much to the further disgust of the party.

EEL EEL EEL

We return to the chamber where Bebop is still watching the dead eel with big wet hungry eyes. We start to harvest chunks of it, and end up with 30 (?) pounds of eel!!

Everyone is still quite upset with Soren (except Nezznar and Hugh, who were involved in his plan) and the harvesting goes rather quietly.

Diana stoutly refuses to lower herself so far as to TOUCH a DEAD EEL CARCASS and wanders off to get some kelp instead.

Happier Than You

Thurmond, who has been quiet and cowed since the temple fight, follows Diana and catches up to her. He asks her, in confidence, to essentially try and talk some sense into Grymus.

Diana gushes about Grymus' bravery in the cave, but Thurmond stoutly insists that Grymus should not be doing all these "un-duergar-like" things. Diana, of course, is unappreciative of this sentiment, and notes that Grymus looks a lot happier than Thurmond and should continue to do what makes her happy.

Thurmond is like YEAH NO SHIT IM NOT HAPPY IM STUCK IN A FISH TEMPLE INSTEAD OF BACK HOME IN THE FORGES WHERE WE BELONG . Thurmond expresses that he does NOT get why Grymus is so happy about all this.

Diana says ... "yes and?" LMAO queen. Diana stresses that Thurmond doesn't need to understand, but he should be happy that Grymus is happy, and also be accepting of the things that Grymus loves. Diana also catches on that Thurmond is not just bewildered by Grymus' desire to adventure and fight, but also that he is worried for his little sister.

Thurmond begrudgingly admits that he is. Diana praises him for being worried about family--noting that she herself is in this mess because she is looking for her missing father. Diana also points out that Will has offered them both training lessons, and that if Thurmond was so worried, that he should join in and learn to fight / get stronger for the sake of joining his sister.

She also suggests that he get lessons from Hugh--Thurmond notes that the duergar and surface dwarves hate each other. Diana suggests that his love for his sister might trump that hatred for the surface. Thurmond is quiet. There is some talk about the surface and gorts; Thurmond laments how silly it is that Grymus wants to go see them, and Diana points out that "wouldn't you want to go see them with her?"

Thurmond feebly resists, but Diana points out the bottom line: he wants Grymus to be happy. Thurmond retorts that he doesn't want to see her dead--Diana says that'll never happen, because she has such a brave big brother looking out for her.

PEARL PEARL PEARL

Diana, in her little forage in the kelps, finds a clam with a pearl in it! She's is SO SO HAPPY :D She brings it back to the party and says that it's the color of the dawn. Soren compliments her (something something beautiful eyes finding a beautiful pearl). Diana is flattered, and lets him hold onto the pearl for safekeeping, since Soren expressed interest in using it to cast Identify potentially in the future.

Demon Circle 2.0

We head back up to the surface, arriving back at the rock pool. We debate camping out here on the dismal and barren island, or risk going back via boat to Sloopblodoop. Due to our injuries and the dangerous nature of the lake, we decide to stay for the night and recover before doing so.

Soren asks the group to gather close together, and begins drawing an Abyssal ritual circle around them in kuo-toa blood. The group protests this, and Soren asks them to trust him. Will snaps "haven't you done enough already?"

Though hurt, Soren insists that this is for the betterment of the group, and they eventually begrudgingly relent, letting him draw the circle. Soren completes the ritual and casts a spell, summoning two Maw Demons that emerge from the ground through an Abyssal portal. Soren addresses them in Abyssal, commanding them to protect the area around the circle. They seem to obey.

The party is shaken. Soren seems gratified that he has--presumably--been rewarded these powers as a result of his job well done in the temple.

He asks the party to trust him once more, asking them to hold hands. The party begrudgingly does so--even Nezznar LMAO--and are transported into the demiplane within Soren's ring.

📍 Soren's Sanctuary

🌑 DAY 30 • 📅 MARPENOTH 20