Game Summary #1 (10/17/715)
Each of the young Drow Males began their journey with a private audience, summoned by their House’s appointed male representative, speaking on behalf of their Matron Mother. Expectations were laid out with the cold precision of a dagger's edge and each knows failure of this task is not acceptable. Xar’Zin, Szordin, and Jevan emerged from their meetings with confidence and composure. Only Nin’Tzar was humbled—his pride bruised by a sharp lesson and a taste of nonlethal punishment.
The task that they were given was to work together and retrieve a mysterious item. Their destination is a huge body of water known as the Dark Lake. Once there, they are to find a vessel, believed to be long-abandoned, drifting in the shadows of the cavernous lake. Within the vessel is the item that they seek, a staff known only as The Tempest—its name alone promising danger, power, and prestige. They are then to return with the staff to the Xarxes Pub. Their reward for this task is their freedom from their Houses.
The party met up at the infamous Xarxes Pub in the shadows of Menzoberranzan. Amid the hiss of whispers and clink of goblets, introductions were made and plans set in motion. Escape from the city would not be easy, but Xar’Zin revealed knowledge of two lesser-used tunnels with notably lax patrols. One appeared unguarded. The group seized the opportunity to leave without notice.
Though the tunnel seemed deserted, two guards eventually emerged from the gloom. Rather than fight, the group paid their way in coin, slipping past the city’s grasp into the wild dark of the Underdark, while easily avoiding a potential situation.
The journey had barely begun when a swarm of glowing insects descended upon them. Quick thinking and even quicker feet allowed the party to evade the worst of it, sustaining little more than scratches, the group pressed on. After a while, the waves of exhaustion were beginning to mount, and they dared not rest so close to the city in a main corridor used for travel. They pushed deeper, seeking refuge away from prying eyes.
Then the group stumbled upon some holes and out came the rats.
Not ordinary vermin—these were death-touched scavengers, drawn to the scent of warmth and blood. The ambush was swift. Jevan and Xar’Zin, caught off-guard, fell quickly under the rats’ vicious and surprising assault. Szordin and Nin’Tzar rallied together in the darkness. Through grit and guile, they dispatched the creatures.
Breathless, bloodied, but alive, Nin’Tzar called upon his magic, healing their fallen allies, Jevan and Xar’Zin. The Underdark offers no kindness to the unprepared, and a clear lesson was learned
Weary and wounded, the party group decided that they would not be able to push on and needed to rest, unfortunately, it would have to be the tunnel they were traveling in, hoping this was a tunnel not frequented. There, with Szordin keeping watch in the silence of the deep, they took their first uneasy rest as a team—survivors of their first trial, and aware that far worse lies ahead.
Game Summary #4 (10/27/715)
Our tale continues deep within the shadowy heart of the Underdark, where four young drow males, each from a different noble house of Menzoberranzan, have been bound together by the iron will of their Matron Mothers. It is a rare and uneasy alliance. From House Srune’lett, the silver-tongued bard Nin’Tzar. From House Faen Tlabbar, the razor-sharp wizard Jevan. From House Fey-Branche, the shadowy rogue Vesz’zt. And from House Mizzrym, the cunning and elusive Xar’Zin.
Their mission is as strange as their union: retrieve an item known only as the Tempest, rumored to lie aboard a derelict ship adrift in the pitch-black waters of the Black Lake, a vessel known as the Grendel. But questions gnaw at them. Why unite Drow from different houses of such uneven standing; two from the mighty Ruling Eight and the other two from lower houses, for what? For a single item? What item could possibly be worth this risk, especially for something that cannot be shared? Their journey brings them to the Dark Lake’s eerie edge, where two fishing boats rock gently beside the slime-covered hull of the Grendel. There are no ladders, no gangplank, only slick and rotting timbers daring them to climb aboard. Xar’Zin rises to the challenge, calling upon his innate Drow Noble powers to silently levitate onto the deck. With precise movements, he secures a rope for the others but the moment his boots touch wood, danger emerges. Two duergar zombies stagger from the shadows their intent deadly. Xar’Zin finds high ground and fires the first shot, his arrow flying true. Jevan scrambles up the rope to aid him, slashing with his dagger. Below, Nin’Tzar and Vesz’zt struggle to climb, falling hard and bloodied.
Nin’Tzar quickly switches tactics. He moves to the second skiff and begins an inspiring bardic performance, lifting the spirits of his allies. On deck, the undead turn their fury on Jevan, landing brutal blows. But Xar’Zin and the wizard fight in tandem, bringing down one zombie. Together, they cut down the second. Vesz’zt finally climbs aboard, just in time to see the last zombie fall.
Moments later, scratching and scraping sounds echo from within the Grendel’s hull. Nin’Tzar, altered the others to the scratching sounds and was finally helped aboard. As the group started to investigate the deck, and knocking and banging from below deck was heard. A high-pitched voice calls out in a language none of them understood. They try tongue after tongue until Xar’Zin speaks in Goblin, and the voice responds.
The voice belongs to Lin’li, a surface gnome druid who claims ownership of the Grendel. She’s cautious of the drow males on her ship, understandably so, but agrees to speak with them. After some back and forth, Lin'li cast a spell for communication and comprehension, for all followed.
Lin'li learned that the drow intent was to retrieve a staff, and that other drow would keep coming until the matron mothers got their prize. A bargain was proposed of completing a task for Lin'li in exchange for searching the Grendel for the staff they seek. Lin’li stated she wanted a mate for her basalisk companion, Bilsbi. She knows of another basilisk no more than a day's journey from here. Capture it, or bring back eggs, and she’ll grant them access. An agreement was struck.
Grateful for their cooperation, Lin’li armed the group with valuable information. Basilisks have a deadly petrifying gaze, are tough and strong-willed, and surprisingly stealthy. Lin’li and Bilsbi lead the way but remain behind as the drow move ahead, heads lowered, eyes averted.
The group enters a dark tunnel, guided by Lin’li. From within the shadows, the basilisk roars. The drow press forward. It lunges at Jevan but misses. Nin’Tzar’s voice rises in song, his performance echoing through the caverns. Xar’Zin shot an arrow, striking true. Jevan casts a protective spell as Vesz’zt slips behind the beast to flank. It retaliates, gashing Vesz’zt, but the drow doesn't falter. Nin’Tzar lands a glancing, non-lethal blow, and Vesz’zt follows up with a devastating critical strike, also non-lethal. Xar'Zin moves into position, striking the Basillisk from behind and landing a damaging sneak attack from his shortbow. With Jevan unleashing his magic to lull the basilisk into a deep magical sleep ending the battle.
The group, along with Lin’li, quickly covered the Basilisk's head with a sack, and tied the beast up with rope that Lin’li had. The group also searched and found treasure, and three unhatched Basilisk eggs. Lin’li acknowledges the success of the group and the finding of the three unhatched Basilisk eggs. After some discussion Lin’li took only one of the unhatched eggs.The group agreed to meet up with her back on the Grendel. The journey back was easier; however, the climb aboard, as always, was not.
Though they had the rope from before, The Grendel remained as unforgiving as ever. Xar’Zin levitated once more with style and grace. Jevan struggled but eventually climbed aboard. Vesz’zt, again plagued by bad luck and bruises, stumbled up after much effort. Nin’Tzar, worst of all, required the help of his allies, who did so only after some light-hearted jests at his expense.
With the full party aboard, bruised but triumphant, the session ended as they prepared to speak with Lin’li once more and begin their search for The Tempest on the Grendel.