📿92. pacts and penitence
session 92 • september 28 2023 • 1,980 words
🌑 NIGHT 28 • 📅 MARPENOTH 18
Watch Order
We discuss watch order; when Hugh takes first watch and both Will and Diana offer to take second, Hugh solemnly congratulates them on their first date.
Will is like "djlfksjdk it's just a watch ; ; " boy u are so easy to tease
Diana asks where we are sleeping; and is a little deflated to learn that it'll be Right There on the bare ground. Still, she makes the most of it, saying "it's like an adventure". Beloved. She tries to make herself comfortable on her cloak.
Old Habits
Hugh is joined on first watch by Soren--since Soren no longer needs to sleep due to Graz'zt's gift (eldritch invocation).
Hugh has Soren go over to a large rock nearby so as not to disturb the group, and asks Soren to help him identify the boots he had found previously in the spider web cave. Soren, who does not have his instrument and cannot cast bardic magic anymore anyway, regretfully notes that he cannot cast Identify.
Soren does, however, reluctantly points out that Nezznar was an extremely skilled wizard before his driderism, and was very knowledgeable in the forging of magical items.
Hugh runs over to Nezznar and pokes him awake, much to Nezznar's irritation. Nezznar, however, seems to "calm" when he sees that Soren is backing this request. Nezznar and Hugh butt heads over the shoes (Nezznar refuses to study them while they're on Hugh's feet; Hugh doesn't want to take them off), but eventually Hugh relents and gives Nezznar the shoes.
Though Nezznar has lost his magic and cannot magically identify the boots, he sets about reading the inscription and studying the enchantments on the shoes manually.
While Nezznar is trying to concentrate on studying the shoes, Hugh invites Nezznar to Zuggtmoy's wedding LOL. This should be taken as a threat, apparently.
Nezznar shooes Soren and Hugh away so he can concentrate.
New Habits
Hugh sidles up to Soren and sincerely apologizes for hitting Soren before, noting that he panicked. In repentance, Hugh offers his flail to Soren and asks Soren to hit him back.
Soren is shook'th at this, and starts to say that Hugh doesn't need to apologize for that.
Hugh insists that he does need to apologize, and says that he should never have hit Soren, let alone on behalf of Sarith.
Soren remains muted--unused to people apologizing for hitting him. He reassures Hugh that it's fine, and they hug it out.
Nezznar returns with the boots, and declares them Slippers of Spider Climb. Hugh thanks Nezznar, and Soren follows suit. Nezznar shrugs off the thanks indignantly, but seems gratitified to have been of magical assistance to the party.
Soren asks if it's OK for them to bring Nezznar more magical items as they find them; Nezznar agrees, and Soren thanks him again. Nezznar responds with "you're welcome, Soren", notably continuing to call Soren by his preferred name, instead of his "drow" name, which Nezznar has insisted on calling him by until their fight last night.
Brittle Arrows
Hugh expresses discontement that Will is making his own arrows, having wanted to be the sole "arrow-provider" of the party. Soren is amused, especially when Hugh says that he's going to make Will's arrows "extra brittle" now out of spite.
Hugh notes that Will is going to give Diana a bad impression if he continues to be as bottom-energy as the way he is, and that Will-iana was supposed to be the party's power-couple.
Soren, now THOROUGHLY amused, wonders if Hugh is trying to be Will's wingman. Hugh huffs at the impossibility of such a task, saying that he tried to wingman but Will stutters too much and failed miserably at courting Diana.
On that note, Hugh goes over and runs his fingers through Diana's hair until she wakes up in terror. Hugh is like :3 and then goes back to sleep. Diana and Will begin second watch.
Soren, feeling particularly soft after all this and having been reminded of his love for the party, lays down next to Sildar and lets himself sleep--even though he doesn't need to. Sildar is delighted and they cuddle each other to sleep.
To Dance
Diana asks Will to dance; Will notes that he doesn't really know how. Diana asks if he'd like to learn how to dance, but Will declines.
(Need to rewatch recording bc no notes on this)
The Road To Hell
Will wakes Sildar and Hugh, but deliberately leaves Soren asleep. He pulls them aside to talk.
Will tells them about the conversation he had with Sofiel, his celestial mother, the previous night. He is very solemn when delivering the news, so Sildar and Hugh both wonder if it was not a pleasant reunion--with Hugh getting defensive over Will ("was she BEING A BITCH >:/" )
Will admits that Sofiel was "kinda worried about you having Myco". Will warns them not to go to the Zuggtmoy wedding that Myco keeps hounding them to go to.
Hugh then gets very defensive about MYCO and the wedding, and becomes convinced that Sofiel is 1. racist against dwarves and 2. wants him to die LOL. Sildar reassures him that Sofiel probably just doesn't have the full picture.
Will also hesitantly admits that Sofiel is very concerned about Soren. Hugh pipes in with "YAH we all are, he is a very tiny person :/" (OMGG I LOVE HIM ; ; ) Will corrects him and notes that she's more concerned about Graz'zt. Hugh is indignant about this because to him, Graz'zt gave Soren a lot of "cool powers".
Will cites Soren's behavioral changes, such as becoming more assertive, burning Sarith, arguing with the surfacers and sniding their morality, having Nezznar kill Tor to help the group escape, becoming closer to Nezznar, etc. Hugh and Sildar defend Soren, saying that he's just stressed and overprotective.
Will notes that the changes have been very drastic. Sildar shares some of Will's concern, but firmly insists that Soren is just trying to help them, and that his intentions are good. Hugh accuses Will of being jealous he's not the only one who can fly now LOOL.
Too Far
Will initially omits that Sofiel implied that he should kill Soren if Soren displays more drastic changes for the worse. The trio decide that they just need to keep their eyes and ears out, and they hug--with Sildar and Hugh thanking Will for being honest with them.
Uncomfortable at omitting information, Will finally admits Sofiel's threat against Soren: "if Soren gets too far, she said it would be best to..." Hugh doesn't understand, but Sildar sternly cuts Will off and says that it will never get to that point.
Alarmed by Will's mother and her threats, Hugh speaks to Myco in his head, warning him of Sofiel. Hugh says that he doesn't want Myco to die :( and admits that Sofiel wants both Myco and Soren dead.
Myco immediately suggests killing Will's mom LMAO. Hugh is open to the idea, but is adamant that they can't kill Will. Aww(?)
Myco demands that Hugh ask what Will thinks of the wedding, to prove Will's loyalty.
The First Snow
Sildar returns to Soren's side and watches him sleep for a moment before patting his head. Soren jolts awake and jumps in terror before realizing where he is, and relaxing in Sildar's arms. Frustrated, Soren notes that he wants to be able to enjoy the small things with Sildar, like waking up together.
The two make small talk about their situation and Diana, the new addition to the party. They discuss Will and Diana's ship name -- Williana or Dill LMAOOOO. They muse about how cute it is to see Will so flustered every time Diana flirts with him.
Eventually, Sildar idly wonders what it must be like up on the surface right now. He laments that they don't even know what time it is, whether it's raining or if the skies are clear above them right now. Soren, who knows jack shit really about surface weather, wonders if it's snowing (it's september babygirl).
Sildar says that it might be a shame if they miss the first snow, but it'll be there to explore when they get out. 🥺
Soren smiles and says "yes, we'll have nothing but time."
They joke about Will making snow angels due to his celestial heritage. They start to muse about what a snowy day with the party might look like--agreeing that Hugh and Droop would be a fucken menace with snowballs.
Sildar wonders if Will would engage in a snowball fight; Soren bets that Will would throw one single snowball and then apologize profusely to whomever he hit. Sildar laughs at the imagery.
They get to talking about what they'd do when they got to the surface--starting with returning the rothe to Mr. Grundle, whom we probably owe a whole fortune in late fees by now.
Sildar is excited to explore the world with Soren, and expresses that he wants to show Soren all that the surface has to offer. When Soren says that he's seen much of the surface already, Sildar insists that it hasn't even been a fraction--"there is so much to see, and I hope we get to see it all together, Soren."
Soren tenderly replies, "that I can promise you."
They cuddle back to sleep.
The Marble Palace
As Soren drifts off to reverie, he finds himself in Graz'zt's palace once more.
Graz'zt, sitting on his marble throne, cordially and casually greets Soren as usual--"It's wonderful to see you again. I'm sure you understand my recent absence."
Soren is shaken and stammers formalities: "my lord, I stand humbled in your presence, you owe me no explanation" etc etc. As always, Graz'zt gently tells him to drop the formalities. When Soren wonders to what he owes this "pleasure", Graz'zt winks and asks if he can't just check in.
Soren is, understandably, bewildered.
Eventually, Graz'zt admits that his last "favor"--breaking the group out of Velkynvelve--drained him. Soren, with passing knowledge of Demon Lords, understands that Graz'zt should be much stronger than to struggle with summoning a small group of demons--but wisely keeps quiet about this discrepancy.
Instead, Soren thanks Graz'zt for "checking in", and wonders if the palace around him is "Graz'zt's realm". Graz'zt chuckles at the idea, and says, "no; if you were to enter my realm, you would not come back the same."
Soren stays quiet and muted; Graz'zt prompts him to speak his mind. Soren admits that this dynamic bewilders him; that he knows he is just an ant to Graz'zt and that Graz'zt is being kind where he doesn't have to be. Politely, he pleads with Graz'zt to be transparent and tell Soren what he wants of him, so that he can serve and enact the Demon Lord's will--"I will do whatever you wish, be whatever you need of me; I just ask that you leave me enough of myself to shield my friends."
Graz'zt seems amused with this show of submission, and admits that he does have his own motives; but promises that he will not "take more of Soren" than he needs to. He also gently refutes that Soren isn't an ant to him; but snidely thanks Soren for "giving him permission to do as he pleases".
Alarmed at having offended him, Soren breaks down into apology. Graz'zt reassures Soren that he is not angry, and agrees to be more transparent going forward.
He delivers a set of orders to Soren, unseen from the rest of the players.
Soren, unflinchingly, agrees to carry them out: "my loyalty and abilities are at your command. Every beat of my heart shall be devoted to this task."
Seemingly pleased, Graz'zt commends him: "Very good. Show me how deep your devotion goes."
With a snap of his fingers, Soren is woken up from his reverie.
Across the campsite, Hugh screams "HEY WILL, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WEDDINGS!!?!"
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