#24.5 What Family Means To Me

Location: Mithral Hall

Skjorn and Jorlan leave the hospital after receiving confirmation of Skjorn's new disability

while Derendil watches over Shoor for them, they return to their room at the inn for a private moment together

Jorlan asks Skjorn how he's feeling and tries to comfort him after the news

Skjorn says he wants to take care of Jorlan, not the other way around; Jorlan insists that he wants to be here for Skjorn
Skjorn starts crying; he just wants to be good at magic
- Jorlan thinks Skjorn is still talented and cool and powerful, he just has to adapt to this new circumstance
- Jorlan realizes they have even more in common now
Skjorn is just glad Jorlan wasn't hurt, and Jorlan thanks him for saving his life

Skjorn notices that Jorlan has been emotionally off for some time now

Jorlan tries to brush it off but Skjorn pushes, saying he may be dumb but he knows something is up
- Jorlan insists he's not dumb, he just needs to learn more about the world and be more concerned for his own safety
Jorlan then admits that he's been troubled by the realization he might have children
Skjorn comforts Jorlan and says some surprisingly deep stuff
Skjorn asks if Jorlan would ever want to be a father, but Jorlan doesn't know the answer yet

they discuss how difficult childhood is in Menzoberranzan vs how it is for Surface nobles

they are similar in that neither of them were raised by their parents
Jorlan addresses his parents by their first names and titles
Skjorn's great-grandfather invented jolly ranchers and was granted the title of Lord for it
Jorlan talks about his family's great military strength and how they've fended off multiple challenges to their position
Skjorn says that Surface nobles don't spill blood like drow do, but they spill money, and the poor suffer because the rich hoard wealth
- Skjorn cries for his nanny, who might still be alive if she had been able to afford medical treatment