Dimir's Out of the Abyss

“Oh hi!... hello there...”, Oak says as the priest moves beside him. He watches with childlike fascination as the Kao Toa manipulates and smashes the diamond into sparkling dust.“Aaaahhhhhh......” he says, marvelling at it hanging in the air, and then, “Ok... oh my.... no.. ok, ummm... is that right?...Oh!!”, as it starts to thread its way into his thick hide, and then into... who-knows-where!....

As the spell completes, he blinks a few times, and then he looks at each party member in turn,... but with a look none of you have seen before ((he’s been exhausted ever since the zombie gnomes I think!))... No longer dull and dopey; or full of rage; or exhausted... He looks at each of you, clear-headed: a piercing, calculating stare. The slight reflection behind his eyes making him look like a true predator for a split second.

”Oh yes!! ..Oh hells yes!!...”. He stand up: a little taller, a little straighter, muscles rippling. He shakes his head from side to side, and the length of his neck and shoulders quake from side to side, as he stretched out his muscles.

He kneels down and bows to the fish-person, “Thank you!”. He says in a bright, low, tuneful voice...

Without going too far, you can't really see anything. The is too much between you and the ruins.

Shushar walks over to Trill and hands her a tattered scroll. He says, "About two months ago, a few druegar passed through the area with a group of slaves to be sold in Gracklestug. One of slaves told me to hand you this if you ever passed through the area. He said he was a member of your crew of something. His captors beat him bloody when they found out."

The scroll he hands you looks like it was several pieces of paper somehow stuck together. It is dirty and smudged.

" One of the slaves... Who...? What did they look like?", Trill asks, reaching for the paper with shaking hands.

Aimon is about to go explore the mushroom forest more closely when he suddenly registers what Shushar said earlier. The image of a golden, bejeweled broach pops into his mind. He turns to ask Shushar more about the drow noble who came through and if he said anything but sees Trill reacting to the papers she's just been handed and decides to wait until she finishes talking to Shushar before interrupting.

Caelynn files away the information about getting directions for later, making a mental note to ask before they leave. She can't help but chuckle at Oak's reaction to the magic being performed. "Feeling better?" She asks, lightly nudging his side.

Oak’s head snaps round at Caelynn like a whip, at the sound of her voice and her slight nudge: his eyes boring into hers, a slight smile across his lips. The sober, calm, army Captain clear to see...

No longer a snort, he’s breathing deep and clear. He growls “rRrrragh!... Nnnever bBbetter!.. If you can pick and chose your powers from your Fey friends, pick THAT spell! My gods!... gGgrrrrrah!  ..Hahaha!!”.

He grabs her hand, gently but firmly, and guides her into a dancer’s spin, then a close hold... then suddenly he grabs her by the waist and lifts her and throws her up like a baby, and deftly catches her again and places her down. “I haven’t had this much energy since the officers ball when I was made Captain!... ... ... M’Lady? Lieutenant Ravenwood?... may I have this dance?”.

If she’s willing, he’ll lead her in a polite, little, silent waltz, in a small circle while the others natter. The scene must look preposterous down here in the underdark, but it’s just a little glimmer of civilisation they can bring each other in the horror of this place.

((If she hadn't just been handed a clue about her crew, Trill would totally have provided musical accompaniment.)) 

(Damn, if only I had responded earlier...)

"I'll see what I can do," Caelynn responds with a smile. The spell did seem powerful, and expensive, but she would keep it in mind if she ever got the chance to learn it. As she's considering this, she suddenly finds herself spinning around and being tossed in the air. She lets out a small yelp of surprise, but once she realizes what's happening, her smile only widens.

"Captain, it would be my pleasure." Caelynn allows herself to be led through the waltz, silently grateful that Oak has kept it pretty simple. Though she's familiar enough with the steps, it's been years since she's put them to use. She relishes the moment while it lasts - in this gloomy underworld, joy has become harder and harder to find.

Aimon smiles as Oak and Caelynn waltz through the mushroom grove. He hasn’t watched anyone dance since mother and father would dance to music only they could hear at home.

He’s about to ask Trill to dance when he sees her looking down at the letters in her hands. 

“Are you okay, Trill?” He asks her.

Trill reaches out a shaky and and grasps Aimon's for support as she examines the paper.

Shushar says, "Her name was... Oh, what was it now? Oh! Her name was Lillia."

 The letter reads in hasty handwriting.

     "Trill, I have been sold to Clan Firehand in Gracklestug.There are a few other members of our crew with me, but I know not where they are going. If you make it to Gracklestug, please find me. I have heard word you are down here"

 You know Lilia as the ship sorcerer. She is a purple teifling woman with a knack for storm magic. She was excitable and energetic.

Trill hand the paper to Aimon and stands up.

"We should go to Gracklestug. I got wind of another lead. We should go to Gracklestug. This is my %(^% ship, and my &^%#% crew! We should go to Gracklestug.", Trill pipes up excitedly in an amalgam of Eldeth, Oak, and a course, cursing voice you've heard her use before.

She impulsively hugs the kuo-toa. "Shushar, thank you good, Sir.", she says, borrowing Caelynn and Aimon. 

Shushar awkwardly pats your back. When the hug breaks, he steps back and clears his voice. He looks to Aimon. Seeing how antsy you are, he asks, "Can I help you?"

“It took awhile to sink in, but the drow with the broach. Was it golden with jewels worked into it?” Aimon asks Shushar. “Did he say anything while he was here? Any mention of where he was going?”

Aimon realizes to himself that helping Trill rescue her crew or helping the others get home and Caelynn’s suicidal quest to defeat demons are all more worthy endeavours, but hey, if the drow lord happens to be in the same place at the same time, what can it hurt to finish what we started.

Hearing Trill's outburst, Caelynn breaks away from the waltz. "You found your crew? Trill, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you!" She glances around to the others. "I think we were headed towards Gracklestug anyways, weren't we?"

As Caelynn slips out of the waltz, Oak keeps going for a few steps without her, before turning to the group chuckling with pure delight. He steps forward, towards everyone, and says to Trill and the group, “Sounds like good news, eh? They down here then?? That’s great!... Ha! The more, the merrier!...”. 

Trill shakes her head at it being all good news. "...slaves..."

Oak’s face drops as Trill breaks the news, “oh... Oh Miss, I’m sorry... Then we’ve GOT to find them!... ...We can find them...”. He looks around the group for reassurance and support...

Shushar responds, "Yes, it was as you described. I didn't engage with him because I've heard the stories of how drow treat strangers. I did manage to get peek at his map while he was taking a piss. It was a map of Gracklestug and something called the Whorlstone Tunnels."

“Looks like all roads lead to Graklestug,” Aimon says out loud.

”How far away is it from here?” he asks. “Are their trails or do we have to go back out on the water? That didn’t work out for the best last time.”