D&D 5E [IC] Uller's Out of the Abyss

[Uller]

Ploop laughs. Shuushar translates but is uncomfortable doing it. "Ha! Do you think she cares? Look around you? She lives in the muck. In the dark. You came here looking for OUR help. You brought them to us. You need food and passage. Do you think I don't know what you run from? I know drow slaves when I see them. We agreed to give you food and passage and cure your friends but you bring betrayal. I do not know what but one among you did something to defile the deep law. She did not make the deep law. Your gods that you bring here with you did not make the deep law. But they are beholden to it. One of you broke it. You made it impossible to save both your friends. Blibdoolpoolp had no choice in the matter! Whatever it was the debt is paid and the deep law is set right. You can rage all you like but it changes nothing. "

He then motions for his underlings. They open a nearby tent and show several large packages. Ploop indicates it is enough food to get you and your friends your next destination, wherever that may be. It will be loaded onto two boats and will await you after you help him deal with his daughter.

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[DMAesh]

Ezraen gets up, almost refusing to wipe his tears, as if doing so would be further insult to Topsy and Turvy. He lays Turvy's head gently on the ground before saying, "One's bond to one's god is sacred, I forgot that. Perhaps if I had not interfered, then Turvy would have been spared. I accept the responsibility of this."

He gently places his hand on Surana's shoulder, pleading with his eyes... I'm sorry...

 

[SunGold]

Surana looks sternly back at Ezraen, all sorrow replaced by anger.

"This wasn't you. Don't you dare take the blame so easily. We know these fish sacrifice to their dark gods, and we know they go back on their word. His god wasn't even strong enough to keep her followers in power, so she must be desperate for sacrifices. He gave her Turvy because he thought he could get away with it, and you want to let him.

To the nine hells with that. Everything we need is right there--I say we kill them and take it."

 

[DMAesh]

Ezraen looks hard at Surana, "Lathander said, The enemy lies below... Cryptic, I know, but what if that means the fish-lady's god, Lemo-googon? The two gods, Lathander and their" the paladin gestures toward Ploop, "god seemed to be at an accord. I don't think they are our enemy in this. I made the mistake. I interfered. I thought only to ease their pain, not thinking of the consequences. We are in their home, with their rules. Sure we could go back on our word, but we have to be better than that. We are strong enough, and we will get strong for all of this, but we cannot break this now... I cannot break this now."

Ezraen takes a deep breath, "I will not blame you if you decide not to hold to the agreement, but I will fulfill our bargain. To fail to do so would shame Lathander, and I cannot do that again."

The half-drow looks on hopefully, but holds no illusions about the predicament, "Just promise to take care of Topsy for me."

 

[Uller]

Orsik is looking nervous. He picks up his weapons and conspicuously does not stow them. The Kuo-toa don't speak your language and Shuushar so far has had the good sense not to translate what Surana said but Ploop is talking to (edit) him and looking at Surana and Ezraen.

Orsik: "If we fight here, we're surrounded by these fish people. Topsy will die too and so will we. But I suppose we gotta die somewhere. IF we fight, let's make it a good one!"

Topsy is starting to wake.

 

[JustinCase]

Erevan was panicking.

This was his doing. It happened again, and once more he got someone killed. First his cousin Raevion, then YukYuk, and now...

No! Remember what Sarith said? The kuo toa invent their gods, the definition of madness.

The noble elf rises, and turns to his companions.

"Stop this," he says with the quiet confidence of someone who is used to being obeyed.

Becoming more certain with every moment, Erevan turns to Shuushar, asking, "Please translate my words, friend."

Erevan focuses on Ploop, but talks clearly enough for anyone to hear.

"My name is Erevan Aenovindë, son of Prince Aelias Aenovindë of Thornwood, and me and my friends have come to you for aid. This ritual we all just witnessed went terribly wrong, but don't you dare blame us for it. If anything, it displayed for all to see the impotence of your so-called goddess.

Because in your heart of hearts, you realize the truth. This Sea Mother is a fantasy, a fiction created by you in an attempt to feel powerful, to be powerful. So consuming this irrational dream is, you even drove off your own daughter! And you stubborn desires have even made you consider having your child murdered.

Isn't it time to stop this? You know what, you're going to do the right thing. You're going to get past your own ego, and make up with your daughter. Tell her you're sorry. And we're going to help you."

 

[Uller]

Shuushar begins translating. He seems to begiving it all he's got giving it inflection and emphasis. Clearly he is hoping beyond hope that you'll say something to defuse the situation.

But when Erevan gets to the part about 'so-called goddess' he starts to falter. "I can't say that. If I say that here in front of his most loyal servants, he'll kill us all. He nearly had me killed for even hinting at that years ago."

Ploop leans forward speaking to Shuushar, clearly demanding he translate what Erevan just said.

Orsik chimes in "He can't give up his own god right in front of these people. It'd be suicide."

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[JustinCase]

Erevan sighs. "Then whisper it so nobody else needs to hear.

I am trying to do right, by you and by your daughter," the elf says emphatically to Ploop.

 

[Uller]

OOC: check out my post in the Ooc thread before we go on

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[Uller]

Shuushar looks at Erevan and says "He won't change from his course to 'save' his daughter and he won't back away from his god. He already exiled me for saying similar things. He needs the power the Sea Mother grants him to protect his people, most of which are his children. If you can convince him that his way will bring disaster to them all you might have a shot. Look at what we just saw? What happened when there was a 'betrayal' during a ritual?"

Ploop is clearly beginning to become agitated both at Shuushar not answering his questions and the obvious bellicosity of the barbarian.

Topsy starts to sit up "Where...am I? What? What happened?"

Surana gets sense of extreme empathy for the gnome and the mental image of her seeing her brother's corpse. At that point she begins to remember Drum is still in her pack. Communicating through him has become such a habit she almost forgot he was there. The kuo-toa must frighten him because he's been laying low since you arrived.