... He eventually takes note of the tall blonde human's interest in his use of drow magic, smiling wryly as she vainly tries to practice by herself. "If you'd let me I could teach you something on how to use your hands." He offers the blonde warrior as they sit down to eat. "Magic comes very easily to the drow, but I'm sure with your conviction you will master it eventually." He adds with an encouraging smile.
...
Khessa is learning to appreciate more and more the noble drow she was so suspicious of in the beginning. Once again, he offers to help her, spontaneously, in something she cares about, such as magic... The blonde warrior has experienced firsthand, previously, what an advantage it gave the drow to be able to rely on wizards! If she could master this skill, at least in part, she could use it to supplement her own fighting techniques. Ever since she escaped drow captivity the first time, taking the magic notes of one of their wizards with her, she's been trying over and over again...
"You are always so kind to me, Traydark!" she smiles brightly at him "I'd be glad to let you teach me what you can!"
Her blue eyes go to the agile hands of the other: "You have such beautiful hands, you know? They seem made for those elegant gestures... Not like mine!" she looks at her own, instead "Mine are more strong than agile. Used to the hoe, first... and then, when they had to, to greatswords and mauls. But I'll try my best to learn".
"And thanks also for what you told me: that you think I can learn" she is looking into his eyes now, intrigued. "I'm convinced too, you know? My mother, Eshta, always told me how good I was at learning things. And what's more, I know that when I really decide to do something, I don't give up until I have success. Even with magic it will be like that. I will leave no stone unturned, I will make the most of every help... including yours, for which I thank you again... and I also believe that in the end I will succeed".
"Do you know what?" the tall adventurer marvels, gently placing a hand on his shoulder and pulling herself closer "Usually, other people are more... skeptical of my abilities than I am. You, instead, really seem to trust in what I can do. And this I like it very much! But can I ask you why? Do you see... something special about me?"
(Well, I just didn't want to waste a Rage if the thing's already dead before my turn)...
(I'd love for the thing to be do squishy... But I don't think it likely. If it is meant as a challenge for 10 characters, it is most likely a tough one)
"Kind?" The noble drow scoffs. "Believe what you want human, but the drow doesn't even have a word for that. I would say the closest word would be weak" He chuckles briefly before turning serious again, coldly looking back at the blonde human. "Listen, I wouldn't want the others to say that I've decieved you Khessa, they all mistrust me enough as it is, perhaps rightfully so, but the truth is I need you all to survive this, more than you would need me most likely. It would be beneficial to our attempts to survive if you learned to wield magic. Also, I wouldn't mind you having some sense of indebtment to me, I will certainly be in need of a favor eventually. Whatever goodness is in your heart and you would vainly hope to ever find in mine will only give us a disadvantage trying to survive down here." The noble drow goes silent for a while, his purple eyes studying the human intently. "I will say this though, I do believe you're special, your conviction and determination is a pride to your weak race."He says, like it was a sincere compliment.. "If you don't master the arts of magic it will definitely not be due to lack of conviction. Also, I can see why the slavers took you. You would likely fetch an especially good price in Menzoberranzan, for a human." He adds with a smirk.
The strange floating creature shrieks horribly as your attacks hit it, but it holds fast to Eldeth until the very end, blood running profusely from it down it's odd body and tentacle like tendrils and onto the ground. Eldeth comes with it but isn't moving at the moment.
(Combat over. :) The power of many people! When you all are ready to move on, leader make a perception check.)
"Well done, brief and merciless."The noble drow says grimly to no one in particular as he slowly reloads the hand crossbow. "Can you walk Eldeth? We need to continue!" He says with a hint of impatience as the dwarf still lies in a pool of aberration blood and goo not aware and maybe not caring that she is likely paralyzed at the moment.
Ebzer takes a minute to come down from his battle high. His breathing slows, and his eyes regain the appearance of rationality.
He looks with concern at Eldeth, and walks to her, offering a hand up. If she cannot move under her own volition, he will gently assist her to sit up, and wipe monster goo off of her with a cloth.
As the strange floating creature finally goes down, Khessa thrusts her two blades, the long, curved one of the scimitar and the straight, sharp one of the dagger, one last time into her body, just to be sure: "And stay down!"
Euphoric for having got away without a scratch despite having fought without armor, the blonde warrior puts down her weapons and compliments everyone, distributing smiles and pats on the back: "Great job people! Nobody comes to pick up one of us as if we were cherries to simply bring away and eat! Nobody!"
To Katryl she shows the dagger still dripping with the monster's vital fluids: "Thank you, my friend!" she hugs her briefly "As you can see, it came in handy right away!"
Then, hearing Traydark talking to the dwarf scout, she realizes that she hasn't got up yet... so the tall adventurer, worried, approaches: "Eldeth?" she tries to take her hand to help her get up - at least she takes her away from the monster and begins to examine her "Hey, what have you got? Something broken? Silas," she looks for the tabaxi cleric with her blue eyes "can you come here and check how she is?"
Meanwhile, Khessa tries to figure out even by herself what the problem of the dwarf may be: if there are traces of strong bruises, or indications of possible broken bones, or traces of poison...
"Who knows if this beast is good to eat..." the blonde warrior muses aloud in the while "Since there are those of us who have no problem creating fire, we could probably cook it and try to taste it... If it is edible, why leave it to rot here?"
"Besides," continues the tall adventurer, "if this abomination did with everyone the same... Swooping down on travelers from above, picking up one and taking they away (in his lair, I guess, to eat they)... its lair shouldn't be too far. If we can reach it, we could find the belongings of the unfortunate travelers who have fed the monster to this day... and said belongings could be useful! What do you think friends?" she tries looking around (especially in the direction in which the monster was trying to escape with the she-dwarf) "Someone can spot this thing's den?"
"Kind?" The noble drow scoffs. "Believe what you want human, but the drow doesn't even have a word for that. I would say the closest word would be weak" He chuckles briefly before turning serious again, coldly looking back at the blonde human. "Listen, I wouldn't want the others to say that I've decieved you Khessa, they all mistrust me enough as it is, perhaps rightfully so, but the truth is I need you all to survive this, more than you would need me most likely. It would be beneficial to our attempts to survive if you learned to wield magic. Also, I wouldn't mind you having some sense of indebtment to me, I will certainly be in need of a favor eventually. Whatever goodness is in your heart and you would vainly hope to ever find in mine will only give us a disadvantage trying to survive down here." The noble drow goes silent for a while, his purple eyes studying the human intently. "I will say this though, I do believe you're special, your conviction and determination is a pride to your weak race."He says, like it was a sincere compliment.. "If you don't master the arts of magic it will definitely not be due to lack of conviction. Also, I can see why the slavers took you. You would likely fetch an especially good price in Menzoberranzan, for a human." He adds with a smirk.
"Traydark, Traydark..." Khessa shakes her head, as she looks at him with mixed feelings in her blue eyes and gently puts her arm over his shoulders "You know I'm undecided? I don't know if I should feel flattered and kiss you..." she examines for a moment the elegant features of the noble drow's face "...or feel offended and smash your face" and she thinks how easy it would be, now that she already has her hand behind his head, to push down his head suddenly, repeatedly sending his face to impact violently with her knee; at that point his nose would fluff, his lips would split in several places, some teeth would probably break or fall out, that superior smile of a moment ago would vanish in a mask of blood...
"Not having a coin to make heads or tails," Khessa jokes, detaching herself from the other "I will do neither".
"But still I thank you, Traydark" declares the blonde warrior seriously. "Because you decide not to deceive me, to make it very clear that you are motivated only by self-interest. And also because you (maybe just in your interest) are willing to offer me a possible help to find those I care about. And also because you (maybe just in your interest) are willing to help me learn magic. And also because you (maybe just in your interest) think that I'm special. And even because you think I'm a person of value - albeit you mean a monetary value".
"In fact," continues the tall adventurer "even if you talked like a real rotten bastard, I'm smart enough to understand that your intention was to pay me a compliment; so thank you".
Khessa lets the words settle a bit, then resumes: "Personally, though, I think you're wrong. You're not like that, Traydark; drow are usually like that (and they are like that because Lolth made them so, with the culture that she imposed). And since you were born drow, you are inclined to think yourself to be like that. To adhere to this stereotype. Just you, who pretend not to be a servant of Lolth..." the blue-eyed woman smiles wryly "...you end up behaving as she has decided. Don't you understand that, this way, it is as if you were a puppet and she was pulling your strings, Traydark?" she pretends with her right hand to move the strings of an imaginary puppet.
"And I see that you don't want her to pull your strings" continues the blonde warrior. "I realize that you feel (I don't know if you also understand it, but you certainly feel it) that life can be better than what Lolth wants you drow to live. Plotting behind each other," starts conting on her fingers the tall adventurer "betraying each other, exploiting each other... is this the 'strength' of the drow? Is this what makes them superior to 'weak' races like mine?"
"Bullshits!" snaps the blue-eyed woman "This is weakness, instead! And you have experienced it yourself! Look at us: a group of poorly matched and ill-equipped ordinary prisoners; thanks to this drow weakness we have been able to escape from their prison easily. Look at you, Traydark: proud, shrewd, skilled in the arcane arts; because of this drow weakness, instead of being helped to grow and become a force for the drow, you have been betrayed, imprisoned, forced to flee and join us - and now, whatever power that you will learn to master over time, the drow will not be able to use it".
"But look also at the drow more 'lucky' than you," Khessa's voice becomes more pained than angry "at those who are 'strong', who have 'power'. How much do you think they can enjoy it? A 'power' that the next conspiracy can snatch away from them at any moment? How 'lucky' are they, forced to be wary of everyone, including their family, practically alone forever, as if they were in a cell instead of a house or a city? Plus, even for them, no matter how 'strong' they are, sooner or later a difficult moment comes. And at that point? Are they helped, so that their 'strength' can benefit the drow? No! They are taken down by the less 'strong' that fear them! And so this 'strength' is lost! This tradition that Lolth enjoyed inculcating you, it doesn't even help your race to prosper... it only serves to entertain that vermin goddes, to make her play with you all".
"If you listen to your heart, Traydark, you can feel that the life Lolth has chosen for you drow is wrong" states Khessa. "In fact, I think you feel it already; because, you know... it seems your self-interest leads you to help me often and willingly - and while I'm a little disappointed that you don't have any better motivation," the tone of her voice becomes slighltly ironic "I'm still grateful that, for some reason, you always end up helping me. Almost as if you care, deep down, for me. But it's clear that you don't - I understand, I'm just particularly useful to you, right?"
"Let me tell you something, Traydark" the blonde warrior concludes "You pretend to behave like a typical drow... but that's not who you are; you are the drow Traydark. A free-willed individual. And you can decide to live differently. Without an insect goddess pulling your strings. F-u-c-k Lolth's tradition, Traydark! You did not chose it, you absorbed it by living in it, but you can live better than that! You can decide that there are people worth trusting. People worth respecting. People worth being attached to. Oh, and if some of these words don't exist in the drow language, don't worry, okay?" she jokes yet another time "You can always say them in common".
"Come on, Traydark!" the tall adventurer unconsciously clenches her fists as she heats up "You did already try the standard drow way... are you happy with where it took you? Why not try something different? It might take effort, it might take time, but why not even try? What do you have to lose? Should you'll not be content, you'll be able to revert to be the rotten bastard stereotyped Lolth's puppet any time" now she looks at him very intensely, as if to imprint the next words in his mind with sheer force of will. "You told me I'm special Traydark. And indeed I am. I'm Khessa and I'm free as the blowing wind. Well, you know what, Traydark? Free can be you too! Because, I tell you, you too are special. Well, I'll bother you no longer with this; but you just think about it," she winks "during these days, okay?"
"By the way, at the moment," Khessa, serene after having let off steam with the long speech, is eager to finally focus on magic "if you are still willing to increase my usefulness by trying to explain to me the posture of the hands when casting spells..."
Checking the dwarf over, it takes a few long moments before she is able to move again, albeit sluggishly at first, as whatever toxin or agent was in her slowly finishes its course. Eldeth is otherwise unharmed, save for a few minor scrapes and bruises. If the creature has a lair, it is nowhere in the immediate vicinity that you can tell.
Congratulations, you all level up to level 2! You've managed to escape the Drow...for now...and deal with a pesky grell! What more lies in wait for you in the Underdark?...
Another 2 days of travel after the grell, starting to close in surely on Sloopludoop, when you realize your voices are beginning to carry a bit more than usual, and coming down out of a narrow passage it suddenly widens out to an immense cavern, where a monstrous gorge lies before you, littered with spiderwebs. The far edge cannot be seen, it is nothing but darkness over this immense ravine. However, as you take a moment to survey the area, you see a couple of goblins come sliding along the webs and notice you, running up to greet you at the edge of the dropoff!
"Hey hey hey!" one of them says. "Lookie we got a buncha persons read for the Silken Paths! For a mere two gold...each...we'd be happy to help you across if you like! Preeetty dangerous though! But we knows it good!"
The noble drow stands politely and listens to the blonde humans extensive sermon, smirking slightly at the mention of a kiss. "Are you quite finished?" He asks politely as she finally goes silent again. "Yes, I blame others for ending up here with all of you, but I mostly blame myself for not realizing how they schemed against me, a mistake I will not repeat. I do believe the drow enjoy themselves in many ways, debaucheries you would not even want to hear about innocent one. I never truly considered myself a servant of Lolth though and I am as free as you are, which also won't help us survive in these endless tunnels. I'm quite aware none of you approve of the ways of the drow, but in spite of you seeing us as flawed we have somehow made oursleves the masters of the underdark, and it is only that blasted burning orb in the sky that prevents us from putting the surface world in shackles as well. That said, I do not consider myself a part of drow society at the moment and I will continue to do what I feel is necessary to survive, including teaching you to wield magic. It would require more listening and less talking though. Do you think you can manage that Khessa?" The noble drow finishes with a wry smile.
"We will accept your offer goblins, but you will have our gold when we're all safely at the other end of the Silken paths."The noble drow says as he steps forward, his servant Sarith coming up behind him, looking intimidating, now wielding his hand crossbow again.
Intimidation/Persuasion to make our guide accept Traydark's terms: 18 Another roll if Sarith can be considered helping: 6
Scimitar Attack: 20 Damage: 7
Dagger Off-hand Attack (bonus action): 23 Damage: 1
Khessa is learning to appreciate more and more the noble drow she was so suspicious of in the beginning. Once again, he offers to help her, spontaneously, in something she cares about, such as magic... The blonde warrior has experienced firsthand, previously, what an advantage it gave the drow to be able to rely on wizards! If she could master this skill, at least in part, she could use it to supplement her own fighting techniques. Ever since she escaped drow captivity the first time, taking the magic notes of one of their wizards with her, she's been trying over and over again...
"You are always so kind to me, Traydark!" she smiles brightly at him "I'd be glad to let you teach me what you can!"
Her blue eyes go to the agile hands of the other: "You have such beautiful hands, you know? They seem made for those elegant gestures... Not like mine!" she looks at her own, instead "Mine are more strong than agile. Used to the hoe, first... and then, when they had to, to greatswords and mauls. But I'll try my best to learn".
"And thanks also for what you told me: that you think I can learn" she is looking into his eyes now, intrigued. "I'm convinced too, you know? My mother, Eshta, always told me how good I was at learning things. And what's more, I know that when I really decide to do something, I don't give up until I have success. Even with magic it will be like that. I will leave no stone unturned, I will make the most of every help... including yours, for which I thank you again... and I also believe that in the end I will succeed".
"Do you know what?" the tall adventurer marvels, gently placing a hand on his shoulder and pulling herself closer "Usually, other people are more... skeptical of my abilities than I am. You, instead, really seem to trust in what I can do. And this I like it very much! But can I ask you why? Do you see... something special about me?"
(Where are we in initiative order?)
(I might be wrong, but I came to the concludion that we are expected to declare our actions and the DM will then sort things out)
Buppido's crossbow shot: 19 Damage: 9
(Well, I just didn't want to waste a Rage if the thing's already dead before my turn)
Smiling at the chance to unleash some of the pent-up anger in his heart, the duergar grips his greataxe and charges the tentacled beast.
(BA) Rage: His pulse begins to race, and he feels a surge of strength as bloodlust overtakes him.
(Move) He runs to within 5 feet of the creature
(Action) Greataxe Attack: 22 Damage: 13 slashing
(I'd love for the thing to be do squishy... But I don't think it likely. If it is meant as a challenge for 10 characters, it is most likely a tough one)
"Kind?" The noble drow scoffs. "Believe what you want human, but the drow doesn't even have a word for that. I would say the closest word would be weak" He chuckles briefly before turning serious again, coldly looking back at the blonde human. "Listen, I wouldn't want the others to say that I've decieved you Khessa, they all mistrust me enough as it is, perhaps rightfully so, but the truth is I need you all to survive this, more than you would need me most likely. It would be beneficial to our attempts to survive if you learned to wield magic. Also, I wouldn't mind you having some sense of indebtment to me, I will certainly be in need of a favor eventually. Whatever goodness is in your heart and you would vainly hope to ever find in mine will only give us a disadvantage trying to survive down here." The noble drow goes silent for a while, his purple eyes studying the human intently. "I will say this though, I do believe you're special, your conviction and determination is a pride to your weak race." He says, like it was a sincere compliment.. "If you don't master the arts of magic it will definitely not be due to lack of conviction. Also, I can see why the slavers took you. You would likely fetch an especially good price in Menzoberranzan, for a human." He adds with a smirk.
(OOC - Can all the melee weapon attacks reach the grell? It just sounded like it was high up in the cave.)
Katryl pulls out her shortbow as she sees Eldeth being pulled up the tentacle. (Shortbow Attack: 11 Damage: 7 piercing)
Eldeth squirms about and pulls at the tentacle pulling her up, trying to see if she can slip out quickly before she is too far up.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The strange floating creature shrieks horribly as your attacks hit it, but it holds fast to Eldeth until the very end, blood running profusely from it down it's odd body and tentacle like tendrils and onto the ground. Eldeth comes with it but isn't moving at the moment.
(Combat over. :) The power of many people! When you all are ready to move on, leader make a perception check.)
"Well done, brief and merciless." The noble drow says grimly to no one in particular as he slowly reloads the hand crossbow. "Can you walk Eldeth? We need to continue!" He says with a hint of impatience as the dwarf still lies in a pool of aberration blood and goo not aware and maybe not caring that she is likely paralyzed at the moment.
Ebzer takes a minute to come down from his battle high. His breathing slows, and his eyes regain the appearance of rationality.
He looks with concern at Eldeth, and walks to her, offering a hand up. If she cannot move under her own volition, he will gently assist her to sit up, and wipe monster goo off of her with a cloth.
As the strange floating creature finally goes down, Khessa thrusts her two blades, the long, curved one of the scimitar and the straight, sharp one of the dagger, one last time into her body, just to be sure: "And stay down!"
Euphoric for having got away without a scratch despite having fought without armor, the blonde warrior puts down her weapons and compliments everyone, distributing smiles and pats on the back: "Great job people! Nobody comes to pick up one of us as if we were cherries to simply bring away and eat! Nobody!"
To Katryl she shows the dagger still dripping with the monster's vital fluids: "Thank you, my friend!" she hugs her briefly "As you can see, it came in handy right away!"
Then, hearing Traydark talking to the dwarf scout, she realizes that she hasn't got up yet... so the tall adventurer, worried, approaches: "Eldeth?" she tries to take her hand to help her get up - at least she takes her away from the monster and begins to examine her "Hey, what have you got? Something broken? Silas," she looks for the tabaxi cleric with her blue eyes "can you come here and check how she is?"
Meanwhile, Khessa tries to figure out even by herself what the problem of the dwarf may be: if there are traces of strong bruises, or indications of possible broken bones, or traces of poison...
"Who knows if this beast is good to eat..." the blonde warrior muses aloud in the while "Since there are those of us who have no problem creating fire, we could probably cook it and try to taste it... If it is edible, why leave it to rot here?"
"Besides," continues the tall adventurer, "if this abomination did with everyone the same... Swooping down on travelers from above, picking up one and taking they away (in his lair, I guess, to eat they)... its lair shouldn't be too far. If we can reach it, we could find the belongings of the unfortunate travelers who have fed the monster to this day... and said belongings could be useful! What do you think friends?" she tries looking around (especially in the direction in which the monster was trying to escape with the she-dwarf) "Someone can spot this thing's den?"
Medicine (to understand something about Eledth's current problem): 17
Perceptiion (to see if she spots something that could be the monster's lair): 18
"Traydark, Traydark..." Khessa shakes her head, as she looks at him with mixed feelings in her blue eyes and gently puts her arm over his shoulders "You know I'm undecided? I don't know if I should feel flattered and kiss you..." she examines for a moment the elegant features of the noble drow's face "...or feel offended and smash your face" and she thinks how easy it would be, now that she already has her hand behind his head, to push down his head suddenly, repeatedly sending his face to impact violently with her knee; at that point his nose would fluff, his lips would split in several places, some teeth would probably break or fall out, that superior smile of a moment ago would vanish in a mask of blood...
"Not having a coin to make heads or tails," Khessa jokes, detaching herself from the other "I will do neither".
"But still I thank you, Traydark" declares the blonde warrior seriously. "Because you decide not to deceive me, to make it very clear that you are motivated only by self-interest. And also because you (maybe just in your interest) are willing to offer me a possible help to find those I care about. And also because you (maybe just in your interest) are willing to help me learn magic. And also because you (maybe just in your interest) think that I'm special. And even because you think I'm a person of value - albeit you mean a monetary value".
"In fact," continues the tall adventurer "even if you talked like a real rotten bastard, I'm smart enough to understand that your intention was to pay me a compliment; so thank you".
Khessa lets the words settle a bit, then resumes: "Personally, though, I think you're wrong. You're not like that, Traydark; drow are usually like that (and they are like that because Lolth made them so, with the culture that she imposed). And since you were born drow, you are inclined to think yourself to be like that. To adhere to this stereotype. Just you, who pretend not to be a servant of Lolth..." the blue-eyed woman smiles wryly "...you end up behaving as she has decided. Don't you understand that, this way, it is as if you were a puppet and she was pulling your strings, Traydark?" she pretends with her right hand to move the strings of an imaginary puppet.
"And I see that you don't want her to pull your strings" continues the blonde warrior. "I realize that you feel (I don't know if you also understand it, but you certainly feel it) that life can be better than what Lolth wants you drow to live. Plotting behind each other," starts conting on her fingers the tall adventurer "betraying each other, exploiting each other... is this the 'strength' of the drow? Is this what makes them superior to 'weak' races like mine?"
"Bullshits!" snaps the blue-eyed woman "This is weakness, instead! And you have experienced it yourself! Look at us: a group of poorly matched and ill-equipped ordinary prisoners; thanks to this drow weakness we have been able to escape from their prison easily. Look at you, Traydark: proud, shrewd, skilled in the arcane arts; because of this drow weakness, instead of being helped to grow and become a force for the drow, you have been betrayed, imprisoned, forced to flee and join us - and now, whatever power that you will learn to master over time, the drow will not be able to use it".
"But look also at the drow more 'lucky' than you," Khessa's voice becomes more pained than angry "at those who are 'strong', who have 'power'. How much do you think they can enjoy it? A 'power' that the next conspiracy can snatch away from them at any moment? How 'lucky' are they, forced to be wary of everyone, including their family, practically alone forever, as if they were in a cell instead of a house or a city? Plus, even for them, no matter how 'strong' they are, sooner or later a difficult moment comes. And at that point? Are they helped, so that their 'strength' can benefit the drow? No! They are taken down by the less 'strong' that fear them! And so this 'strength' is lost! This tradition that Lolth enjoyed inculcating you, it doesn't even help your race to prosper... it only serves to entertain that vermin goddes, to make her play with you all".
"If you listen to your heart, Traydark, you can feel that the life Lolth has chosen for you drow is wrong" states Khessa. "In fact, I think you feel it already; because, you know... it seems your self-interest leads you to help me often and willingly - and while I'm a little disappointed that you don't have any better motivation," the tone of her voice becomes slighltly ironic "I'm still grateful that, for some reason, you always end up helping me. Almost as if you care, deep down, for me. But it's clear that you don't - I understand, I'm just particularly useful to you, right?"
"Let me tell you something, Traydark" the blonde warrior concludes "You pretend to behave like a typical drow... but that's not who you are; you are the drow Traydark. A free-willed individual. And you can decide to live differently. Without an insect goddess pulling your strings. F-u-c-k Lolth's tradition, Traydark! You did not chose it, you absorbed it by living in it, but you can live better than that! You can decide that there are people worth trusting. People worth respecting. People worth being attached to. Oh, and if some of these words don't exist in the drow language, don't worry, okay?" she jokes yet another time "You can always say them in common".
"Come on, Traydark!" the tall adventurer unconsciously clenches her fists as she heats up "You did already try the standard drow way... are you happy with where it took you? Why not try something different? It might take effort, it might take time, but why not even try? What do you have to lose? Should you'll not be content, you'll be able to revert to be the rotten bastard stereotyped Lolth's puppet any time" now she looks at him very intensely, as if to imprint the next words in his mind with sheer force of will. "You told me I'm special Traydark. And indeed I am. I'm Khessa and I'm free as the blowing wind. Well, you know what, Traydark? Free can be you too! Because, I tell you, you too are special. Well, I'll bother you no longer with this; but you just think about it," she winks "during these days, okay?"
"By the way, at the moment," Khessa, serene after having let off steam with the long speech, is eager to finally focus on magic "if you are still willing to increase my usefulness by trying to explain to me the posture of the hands when casting spells..."
Checking the dwarf over, it takes a few long moments before she is able to move again, albeit sluggishly at first, as whatever toxin or agent was in her slowly finishes its course. Eldeth is otherwise unharmed, save for a few minor scrapes and bruises. If the creature has a lair, it is nowhere in the immediate vicinity that you can tell.
Congratulations, you all level up to level 2! You've managed to escape the Drow...for now...and deal with a pesky grell! What more lies in wait for you in the Underdark?...
Another 2 days of travel after the grell, starting to close in surely on Sloopludoop, when you realize your voices are beginning to carry a bit more than usual, and coming down out of a narrow passage it suddenly widens out to an immense cavern, where a monstrous gorge lies before you, littered with spiderwebs. The far edge cannot be seen, it is nothing but darkness over this immense ravine. However, as you take a moment to survey the area, you see a couple of goblins come sliding along the webs and notice you, running up to greet you at the edge of the dropoff!
"Hey hey hey!" one of them says. "Lookie we got a buncha persons read for the Silken Paths! For a mere two gold...each...we'd be happy to help you across if you like! Preeetty dangerous though! But we knows it good!"
The noble drow stands politely and listens to the blonde humans extensive sermon, smirking slightly at the mention of a kiss. "Are you quite finished?" He asks politely as she finally goes silent again. "Yes, I blame others for ending up here with all of you, but I mostly blame myself for not realizing how they schemed against me, a mistake I will not repeat. I do believe the drow enjoy themselves in many ways, debaucheries you would not even want to hear about innocent one. I never truly considered myself a servant of Lolth though and I am as free as you are, which also won't help us survive in these endless tunnels. I'm quite aware none of you approve of the ways of the drow, but in spite of you seeing us as flawed we have somehow made oursleves the masters of the underdark, and it is only that blasted burning orb in the sky that prevents us from putting the surface world in shackles as well. That said, I do not consider myself a part of drow society at the moment and I will continue to do what I feel is necessary to survive, including teaching you to wield magic. It would require more listening and less talking though. Do you think you can manage that Khessa?" The noble drow finishes with a wry smile.
"We will accept your offer goblins, but you will have our gold when we're all safely at the other end of the Silken paths." The noble drow says as he steps forward, his servant Sarith coming up behind him, looking intimidating, now wielding his hand crossbow again.
Intimidation/Persuasion to make our guide accept Traydark's terms: 18 Another roll if Sarith can be considered helping: 6
The two goblins confer quietly for a moment before looking at you. "We do it for the first shinies you find and 1 gold at the end! Deal!?"