Xunhar ponders as he looks at the others, "A few days laying low somewhere might be enough to shake these spider-kissers off our trail." he nods at the kuo-toa as he speaks, "Surely don't mean to offend you, Shuushar, but haven't had great experiences with your people back in the east. Don't know if most of them are like that." he points to Stool, "Even if their ways may seem outlandish to us, I'd say we'd be a bit safer with them." then he seems as if he just remembered something and raises one eyebrow, "You won't mind if we eat a few of the mushrooms, though, will you? The non-sentient ones, I mean."
Armalis considers. "Very well. Neverlight Grove it is. Let's hope that your sovereign is willing to give us the protection we need. We have very little to offer in return."
Shivering under his shirt as another bead of cold moisture drips from the seeping cave and trickles down his back, Armalis tries not to be hopeful. All of this had seemed like a bad dream to begin, and it had taken several days of heartbreak to accept that he had become a slave to the drow. Now, a similar battle wages within him to rebuild that heart, to imagine returning home to Neverwinter and seeing his brothers and friends again. To share with them the stories of this harrowing escape from the underdark. He thinks of Nataly, too, his lover and companion, and of her unexplained disappearance last year. She would have wanted him to hold on to hope, for both of them.
And just like that, a determination, a desperation, surges through his bones, shooting up his legs and down his arms. Every muscle and bit of sinew in his body, and every hair on his head, yearns to see the surface again. He can even feel it in his teeth--yes, he can taste the want of freedom. He picks up his step, actually brightening. "So, Stool, tell us about Neverlight Grove. How did you end up in that prison?"
Xunhar is still a bit on edge even after a good run into the Underdark, looking over his shoulder from time to time to see if he catches a glimpse of drow guards skulking behind them. He eventually turns to the others and says "So, what foolish kind of thing did you do to end up locked up in that place?" he pauses for a moment, touching his own chest "Because my foolish thing was exactly the one we're doing right now, roaming about the wilderness of the Underdark... Except I was alone." he shakes his head briefly, and states bluntly to the others "Be on your guard. Don't trust anyone."
To Sarith, he adds "You're from these parts, right? Not completely familiar with your house's name or business." he looks over to Stool while talking to the drow and whispers, "It's as good a hiding place as any, but what do you expect to find there?"
To the Vandree priestess, "So tell me, priestess, I wouldn't expect one of your sort to abandon your spidery friends in such haste." he pauses analyzing her reaction, "What really made you change your mind about all of that?"
Sarith doesn't seem to speak to anybody. The priestess (you might want to ask her name) says:
"I've been growing disillusioned with Lolth's evil ways for a while now. I suppose it was you, proof tha someone could reject Lolth, that finally won me."
Xunhar widens his eyes in genuine surprise at the openness and humbleness of the priestess, "I- uh... I never thought I'd ever hear that sort of thing come out of a priestess' lips." he cracks a smile, ready for a mocking comment, but bites back and switches the tone to one of empathy at the last moment, "I bet... Well, House Vandree might not be very happy with that when they hear about it. You are in danger, just like we all are." he sighs, "For my say in this, you are welcome in this band while we search for safety, for as long as you will. I'm Xunhar, what is your name, priestess?"
After a while he approaches the others, looking at each—Armalis, Vanros, Maximillian, Mozo, Zenga, Fred, and Kozvul—in turn, "I guess Neverlight Grove it is. Tell me, after a tenday in that hole I'm somewhat familiar with the others." he points to the other prisoners,"But you're new. What do each of you have to contribute in our journey? Wouldn't mind a proper presentation now that we're in a bit less of a rush, and also your names. I'm Xunhar'dro Jorharen De'Loruggareth Draa, from Phaundakulzan, born gifted in the sorcerous line of my father, Xunhar."
((@nschrock, I'll go with what I remember to see if it helps: a House Vandree priestess (recently renounced Lolth), Sarith Kzekarit (another drow), Buppido (?), Stool (small sentient mushroom that invited us to Neverlight Grove), Derrideth (?), Shuushar (a not crazy kuo-toa it seems), Topsy (?), Turvy (?), Eldeth (redhead dwarf girl), Ront (bully orc). Thinking of making a Google Sheets document to keep track of all that @.@ ... and here it is, feel free to comment if I've messed up anything.))
Varnus remained rather silent for the moment as they walked, drawing his sword & holding it in a back hand style. He looked along the blade a couple of times as they walked before looking up & following after them. "Why do they have so many of us captured...? Did we all wander into their territory, or was it something more..." He doesn't seem to speak to anyone in particular about it. He just seems to be talking to himself.*
"Allies! Yes! You, us allies! We're good!" Moxo says, startled at first but quickly accepting what he thinks to be the offer. "Us allies, we'll win through!"
"Fred. Zenga! We're saved... We got an ally now! A big one!"
"Yes. Yes. We are all in this together," Zenga agrees.
"We all need to escape and get back to our lives," Fred adds.
"Death to all dro..." Moxo starts before Fred and Zenga tackle him and pinch his snout shut.
"Shut it you fool," Zenga hisses. "They may actually be on our side..."
"We have to wait and see," Fred agrees.
They two struggle with Moxo for a while, giving hissing little laughs and their best approximation of smiles whenever anyone looks at them, before hurriedly going back to keeping Moxo in line, talking to him in hushed Draconic spoken so quickly it sounded almost like gibberish.
Eventually, Moxo subsides. "Ok, ok... No killing the spies until we know for sure," he says in whispered Draconic. "But once we know for sure then you'll know who the brains of the operations is!"
"I am," Zenga and Fred both says in unison, quickly looking to stare at the other.
"That's right," Moxo says. "I am... Heyyyyyyy...."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ok. You venture on into the tunnel. A few hours in, as the party traverses a long and winding corridor, a tremor opens up a lava-filled fissure behind you. Each character must make a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw to avoid the lava swell, taking 17 fire damage on a failed save. You also notice some humans in the corridor as it erupts. Only one man survives, and he is not the leader, whose charred corpse has a leather pouch that has partially burned away to reveal several gems.
Xunhar ponders as he looks at the others, "A few days laying low somewhere might be enough to shake these spider-kissers off our trail." he nods at the kuo-toa as he speaks, "Surely don't mean to offend you, Shuushar, but haven't had great experiences with your people back in the east. Don't know if most of them are like that." he points to Stool, "Even if their ways may seem outlandish to us, I'd say we'd be a bit safer with them." then he seems as if he just remembered something and raises one eyebrow, "You won't mind if we eat a few of the mushrooms, though, will you? The non-sentient ones, I mean."
Art Portfolio
"Of course not, silly!"
Max nods. “Then that sounds like a decision. Let’s head for it.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Armalis considers. "Very well. Neverlight Grove it is. Let's hope that your sovereign is willing to give us the protection we need. We have very little to offer in return."
You set off into the dark tunnel. The silence is unnerving as you walk down the stony passage, everyone except the 3 drow out of place.
(OOC: You gain 150 xp, If anyone would like to rp, especially with NPCs, now's the time.)
The Kobolds mutter and bicker and scheme and such, but do so at a very hushed volume, mainly trying to stay small and unnoticed...
((Under the weather a bit, not up to trying to be too amusing atm.))
Shivering under his shirt as another bead of cold moisture drips from the seeping cave and trickles down his back, Armalis tries not to be hopeful. All of this had seemed like a bad dream to begin, and it had taken several days of heartbreak to accept that he had become a slave to the drow. Now, a similar battle wages within him to rebuild that heart, to imagine returning home to Neverwinter and seeing his brothers and friends again. To share with them the stories of this harrowing escape from the underdark. He thinks of Nataly, too, his lover and companion, and of her unexplained disappearance last year. She would have wanted him to hold on to hope, for both of them.
And just like that, a determination, a desperation, surges through his bones, shooting up his legs and down his arms. Every muscle and bit of sinew in his body, and every hair on his head, yearns to see the surface again. He can even feel it in his teeth--yes, he can taste the want of freedom. He picks up his step, actually brightening. "So, Stool, tell us about Neverlight Grove. How did you end up in that prison?"
(Can we get a quick reminder of who all is here?)
Paladin - warforged - orange
Xunhar is still a bit on edge even after a good run into the Underdark, looking over his shoulder from time to time to see if he catches a glimpse of drow guards skulking behind them. He eventually turns to the others and says "So, what foolish kind of thing did you do to end up locked up in that place?" he pauses for a moment, touching his own chest "Because my foolish thing was exactly the one we're doing right now, roaming about the wilderness of the Underdark... Except I was alone." he shakes his head briefly, and states bluntly to the others "Be on your guard. Don't trust anyone."
To Sarith, he adds "You're from these parts, right? Not completely familiar with your house's name or business." he looks over to Stool while talking to the drow and whispers, "It's as good a hiding place as any, but what do you expect to find there?"
To the Vandree priestess, "So tell me, priestess, I wouldn't expect one of your sort to abandon your spidery friends in such haste." he pauses analyzing her reaction, "What really made you change your mind about all of that?"
Art Portfolio
Sarith doesn't seem to speak to anybody. The priestess (you might want to ask her name) says:
"I've been growing disillusioned with Lolth's evil ways for a while now. I suppose it was you, proof tha someone could reject Lolth, that finally won me."
Xunhar widens his eyes in genuine surprise at the openness and humbleness of the priestess, "I- uh... I never thought I'd ever hear that sort of thing come out of a priestess' lips." he cracks a smile, ready for a mocking comment, but bites back and switches the tone to one of empathy at the last moment, "I bet... Well, House Vandree might not be very happy with that when they hear about it. You are in danger, just like we all are." he sighs, "For my say in this, you are welcome in this band while we search for safety, for as long as you will. I'm Xunhar, what is your name, priestess?"
After a while he approaches the others, looking at each—Armalis, Vanros, Maximillian, Mozo, Zenga, Fred, and Kozvul—in turn, "I guess Neverlight Grove it is. Tell me, after a tenday in that hole I'm somewhat familiar with the others." he points to the other prisoners, "But you're new. What do each of you have to contribute in our journey? Wouldn't mind a proper presentation now that we're in a bit less of a rush, and also your names. I'm Xunhar'dro Jorharen De'Loruggareth Draa, from Phaundakulzan, born gifted in the sorcerous line of my father, Xunhar."
((@nschrock, I'll go with what I remember to see if it helps: a House Vandree priestess (recently renounced Lolth), Sarith Kzekarit (another drow), Buppido (?), Stool (small sentient mushroom that invited us to Neverlight Grove), Derrideth (?), Shuushar (a not crazy kuo-toa it seems), Topsy (?), Turvy (?), Eldeth (redhead dwarf girl), Ront (bully orc). Thinking of making a Google Sheets document to keep track of all that @.@ ... and here it is, feel free to comment if I've messed up anything.))
Art Portfolio
Xunhar:
She replies "Asha. You, I, and him," she indicates Sarith, "Are in the most danger if we are recaptured. So we must not be captured."
"The talk amongst themselves," Moxo points out.
"So they talk," Fred says with a shrug.
"And plan," Moxo answers.
"We need a plan," Fred points out.
"And scheme. They're schemers. They scheme..." Moxo insists.
"And what should we do about it?" Fred asks, wonderingly.
"Come up with a way to contract them!" Moxo insists.
"So we need to plan?" Fred asks.
"Yes."
"To come up with a scheme?"
"Exactly!"
Zenga silently wonders if he could quietly sacrifice those two to some dark god or other in return for a nice warm plate of meal worms and mushrooms.
Varnus remained rather silent for the moment as they walked, drawing his sword & holding it in a back hand style. He looked along the blade a couple of times as they walked before looking up & following after them. "Why do they have so many of us captured...? Did we all wander into their territory, or was it something more..." He doesn't seem to speak to anyone in particular about it. He just seems to be talking to himself.*
Maximilian looks at Moxo
“Scheming without a plan is dangerous. You could be subjected to a plot. You’ll want allies to help you against the plot.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Allies! Yes! You, us allies! We're good!" Moxo says, startled at first but quickly accepting what he thinks to be the offer. "Us allies, we'll win through!"
"Fred. Zenga! We're saved... We got an ally now! A big one!"
"We're all your allies, too," Armalis says, unable to help smiling at the crazy kobolds. "unbelievable..." he mutters under his breath.
"Yes. Yes. We are all in this together," Zenga agrees.
"We all need to escape and get back to our lives," Fred adds.
"Death to all dro..." Moxo starts before Fred and Zenga tackle him and pinch his snout shut.
"Shut it you fool," Zenga hisses. "They may actually be on our side..."
"We have to wait and see," Fred agrees.
They two struggle with Moxo for a while, giving hissing little laughs and their best approximation of smiles whenever anyone looks at them, before hurriedly going back to keeping Moxo in line, talking to him in hushed Draconic spoken so quickly it sounded almost like gibberish.
Eventually, Moxo subsides. "Ok, ok... No killing the spies until we know for sure," he says in whispered Draconic. "But once we know for sure then you'll know who the brains of the operations is!"
"I am," Zenga and Fred both says in unison, quickly looking to stare at the other.
"That's right," Moxo says. "I am... Heyyyyyyy...."
Ok. You venture on into the tunnel. A few hours in, as the party traverses a long and winding corridor, a tremor opens up a lava-filled fissure behind you. Each character must make a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw to avoid the lava swell, taking 17 fire damage on a failed save. You also notice some humans in the corridor as it erupts. Only one man survives, and he is not the leader, whose charred corpse has a leather pouch that has partially burned away to reveal several gems.
Dex: 11 (Using Relentless Endurance to drop to 1hp).
Armalis screams in pain as the fires burn him. He finds purchase on the wall to avoid being swallowed by the burning river.