Location: The Underdark
Party defends themselves against the loose monsters
- Dibrael distracts the rust monster with a spare shield, so they don't have to kill it
the drider speaks, revealing that he is indeed sapient
- he speaks directly to Jorlan, Sarith, and Shoor, using drow words unfamiliar to Party
- Shoor is triggered into a rage, abandoning his current battle in favor of killing the drider and spitting on his corpse
once the battle ends, Zaz asks Sarith & Jorlan what the drow words were
- Jorlan explains that they were basically called slurs, trash and traitors for associating with the party
- Sarith further explains that even if disgraced or offered a new way of life, their service to Lolth is supposed to trump all else, including being expendable
Shoor has an existential crisis and lashes out, saying he hates Party and what they've "done" to him
- Skjorn begs him not to leave, but Shoor says, "fuck you," and stomps off
- Skjorn asks Jorlan if he'll come back; Jorlan is sure he won't go far
- everyone comforts Skjorn
Thora expresses sadness at how drow would treat their own people, and Aerlian muffles a laugh
- Skjorn immediately confronts Aerlian
- Aerlian is openly very racist, saying that drow are fucked up and nobody should feel bad for them
- everyone disliked that
- all PCs argue with Aerlian, who continues to defend his views until he gets tired of the conversation and moves on ahead
- Zaz anxiously defends Aerlian, not wanting anyone to think badly of his childhood "friend"
- Dibrael struggles on whether to comfort Sarith or Zaz, so Sarith decides for him by pretending everything is fine and walking away with Jorlan
it turns out Shoor didn't go far, and everyone makes camp a few tense hours later
- that night, Dibrael gives Shoor a crossbow (up to now, he's defended himself with only a dagger)
- it's a massive show of trust after the day's events, indicating that Dibrael really sees Shoor as one of them
- Shoor deflates and quietly thanks him
- it's a massive show of trust after the day's events, indicating that Dibrael really sees Shoor as one of them
- Dibrael leaves him to it, making eye contact with Mylz and giving her a subtle nod to her unspoken question
- Mylz joins Shoor and gives him a gentle speech about how difficult his position is and that he has support
Party travels for 2 more weeks, encountering insignificant battles and various difficult terrains
- one morning, they wake up to rock rabbits rummaging through their food, eating their rations
- Zaz manages to catch one and keeps it, naming it after Topsy & Turvy
leading up to Mantol-Derith, Aerlian briefs everyone on what to expect
- the outpost is guarded and entry is through secret trapped doors with passwords
- there are only 3 laws, but they are strictly enforced
Location: Mantol-Derith
Aerlian escorts everyone through the secret doors while Sarith discreetly writes down the passwords
- he leads everyone into a trench and up some lifts to the main cavern, which is beautiful, but all of the stalls are empty
the sounds of combat ring out as groups of deep gnomes flee from enlarged duergar
- the reason for the abnormal chaos is not clearly evident
complete quest: Destination: Mantol-Derith
begin quest: Obtain a Map