DM Speaks:
I had a lot of fun with tonight's game. It was great having a full house but also your role playing and interest in events. You finally defeated all the remaining duergar zombies aboard the Grendol. You also recognized how to deal with the large earth elemental on the below deck. That was excellent reasoning and figuring out what to do. Great job as the elemental could have been a dangerous opponent.
After retrieving the Tempest Staff, the group moved off to meet Linli a female gnome. She was very friendly and open. She was quite charismatic and wanted the group to return to Menzoberranzan to eliminate an individual. Basically, kill; them. The group was very hesitant to accept this as they had recently left Menzoberranzan and do not want to return of fear of being captured and brought back to their houses.
Linli, however, said she knows a way in and out where none would see. She assures the group that this job can be done seamlessly and if done she would love to join and lead the group. The group already decided she would be leader, and she is now looking for you to gain trust in her.
Her words to the group are "Trust me as best you can. I am not here to guide you in a poor direction. I am here to make us the best and gain power and prestige. Work with me on this and you will have my undying favor. Well, mine and Bilsbi as well. Please let us do this as it is so important to me".
Xar'Zin Speaks: How is anything in Menzoberranzan important to a surface gnome?? Why does she want this individual eliminated? The entire conversation about our goal of reaching the surface or City of Sshalmath, Linli only communicated that she could do that. Now, out of left field, this task is important to her. She also mentioned gaining power and prestige. I have to ask, where?? in Menzoberranzan or Sshalmath?? Just something for us to think about.
Sean Speaks:
I don't think that I realized how close to impossible it would be to leave our Drow houses, especially since it is so common for one Drow to kill another, so disappearances would be commonplace, and death would almost certainly be assumed. In some ways, it is the Captain Bluebeard situation, but worse. If our characters were aware of all of this. I am sure we would have had a different discussion about where to go and what to do, as well as who would be a potential group leader. I know from my character's perspective, he voted and was okay with Linli leadership of the group because he was getting what he wanted, to go to Shalmath, for freedom. Xar'Zin Speaks: I said this before, and it is a truth that is worth repeating: Trust is like smoke, you think you’ve got it, and then it slips through your fingers. It’s rare, fragile, and often fleeting. This is what we all know, no drow leaves their house without allowance, and that leaving without allowance is a criminal act which will be seriously addressed, which means absolute death by their house by any means necessary. So let us just return to Menzoberranzan, give the staff get our reward, and hope that we can "trust" that the deal will be honored. IF this is the course of action, being Linli is a surface would only put her in danger of being killed or captured and sold into slavery, something I would not want to see.
DM Speaks Again:
I created a complete character sheet for Linli and Bilsbi. Both are fully ready for combat and other situations. They will advance just as you with normal xp's (without any bonuses for role playing).
DM Speaks Again:
I want you to understand how your decision may have on your characters with regards to leaving or staying with your houses. Here are a couple of points from the mind of the HOUSE'S:
Nobody willingly leaves a HOUSE without allowance.
Any leave without allowance is a criminal act which will be seriously addressed.
Drow House Abandoners are always dealt with.
Very, very few drow leave a house without allowance and survive afterwards.
Some drow leave a house with allowance.
Some drow remain house members working outside the house.
Some drow have been gifted with house membership and allowance to do many things outside the house. Even independently.
No drow leaves a house without allowance!
Leaving a house without allowance means absolute death by their house which is customary and understood by every drow.
Once a member of Menzoberranzan you are always!