Location: Blingdenstone
Zaz takes time to heal and cope with what happened to him, while Sarith guards his and Dibrael's room
- Off-Screen: Sarith is invited to stay in Dibrael & Zaz's room to help comfort them; it's homoerotic
Party rests for about a week
- they sell old loot, buy new goodies, and restock 3 months worth of supplies
- Thora helps Sarith learn how to use and interpret the map to Gravenhollow while Zaz watches with curiosity
- Tappy Foamstrap shows off the updates she's made to her inn, including a painting of her with the party hanging over the fireplace
several days in, during a group meal with the majority of the party, Sylrien calls for everyone to join him in his room for a private talk
- Zaz and Sarith are missing, the latter still keeping the former company while he recovers in privacy
Sylrien speaks on behalf of the newcomers who are unfamiliar with the PCs and their friends, and has an air of authority that Dibrael perceives as threatening
- he asks what happened when everyone was separated and Dibrael bluntly admits that he killed Aerlian
- Sylrien asks why it was so violent, concerned about whether Dibrael is suffering from madness and if he is a danger to the rest of the group or their mission
Mylz uses her extensive experience to point out that Aerlian was the true threat to the group, and he's gone now
- she also personally vouches for Dibrael, stating that he's proven himself again and again and she trusts him to have her back
- both Jorlan and Shoor vouch for Dibrael's personality, skills, and value to the group
- Jorlan says he trusts Dibrael with his life and that he wouldn't have done what he did without good reason
- Shoor says Aerlian would fit in well with the drow and that he deserved what he got
- Sylrien will take their opinions into account, since they have known Dibrael longer and know him better
- Tamryn builds off of what Mylz said, giving her own observations
- she points out how Aerlian affected the party, abandoned the mission and endangered them all, tortured one of them, and fought everyone with the intent to kill
Sylrien then addresses Dibrael directly, because he hasn't defended himself at all so far
- Dibrael explains himself; he is devoted to protecting the party above all else and is only a danger to things that threaten them, and he doesn't regret what he did
- with all of this in mind, everyone feels more comfortable continuing with the one responsible for such a brutal kill
to brighten their day, Jimjar suggests visiting old friends in the city, and invites Zaz & Sarith along
- he leads the original party (plus Shoor) to the wererat neighborhood, where the residents seem more peaceful and open about their transformations than the last time they were here
Topsy excitedly invites everyone into her home and through the beaded curtain in place of a door; several of them have to crouch
- Turvy is happy to see them as well, and his daughter Rocketee is curious about the visitors
- Rocketee takes a liking to Mylz, who reads a book to the toddler and lets her (attempt and fail) to braid her hair
- Topsy asks about Shoor, and the party teasingly explains that he's "good now;" Jorlan gives a brief recap on how he ended up becoming a permanent member of the group
- the deep gnomes describe how calm their lives have been, returning to their previous careers as tailors and participating in peace talks between the wererats and other citizens
Yuk Yuk comes in from the kitchen with a tray of fresh pastries, freezing upon seeing the party
- he hugs the nearest person, being Skjorn, and apologizes for the things he said and did the last time he saw everyone
- Yuk Yuk shares that he's become a baker now and Skjorn takes the first of many pastries he will eat
Sarith explains what they're doing in the Underdark again, stating that they're looking for a secret library
- after being asked for details, he admits that they're looking for information on something
- Shoor lets slip that they're on a world-saving mission "or something"
- picking up on the hints that they're taking on the demon lords, Topsy & Turvy express concern over their friends' safety
- Yuk Yuk gives his support and hopes that they're having a fun and exciting adventure (Zaz assures him they are 😬)
Yuk Yuk has something to show the party and leads them to another room where there's a small memorial shrine to Spiderbait
- he takes an old key from the altar and gives it to Zaz, explaining that Spiderbait found it years ago but they never found what it unlocked
- he believes Spiderbait would want them to have it, and hey, maybe they'll even find its treasure
- everyone leaves small offerings on the altar; it's an emotional moment
- returning to the living room, the pleasant reunion continues until it's time to put Rocketee down for a nap
on their way back to the inn, Shoor overhears someone mention the date and announces that he "was born tomorrow"
- Jorlan reveals that tomorrow is also his birthday, to which Shoor says Jorlan never lets him have anything
- the PCs grow excited to celebrate their birthdays, much to the drows' confusion
- they explain what birthday parties are and their traditions, and insist that Jorlan and Shoor are worth it and they will be celebrating
- Zaz in particular says that it would be miserable without them, and the two drow return the sentiment
- they explain what birthday parties are and their traditions, and insist that Jorlan and Shoor are worth it and they will be celebrating
- they discuss cake and gifts and their plans for tomorrow