Whumpalicious

This whole thing stung extra hard for Nym (my drow) bc he'd suggested we try to get the drop on our captor and the bugbear we'd heard her talking too, before she took the NPC and map we'd come for, and, uh.... That really didn't work out. (And this was after he'd lectured our druid, Tia (moon elf), on her impatience and rushing after people multiple times!)

He and Allanann really got the worst of it on the way in (being men and all....) but poor Allanann (our ranger) really got the brunt of it- what with being a half-elf and all. He was already angsty about his heritage and feeling left out with some stuff we'd found, and now he was getting brushed off as trash! (Being incredibly earnest and good hearted did not help his case....) Nym, at least, is from a minor drow House and knows what's expected...

We barely had time to do more than work our gags off and try to come up with any kind of plan (And Nym picked one singular lock for Tia because she still had some spells left, where he could use Subtle metamagic on his cantrips, if anything) before our captor, Lady Vyerith, returned with another drow. And he was wearing the damn legendary stuff we'd found!

They rubbed it in our faces for a bit- big cat with cornered prey energy, and then.... It was time to start interrogations~ Just for ease of the game (and juicy drama), we just got dragged over towards a big brazier in the corner of the room, one by one, and questioned in front of the others~ To sow distrust? To see who was the weak link? To see who knew what?

Tia got pulled up first, and she was SO SCARED- stammering and deferential and willing to give whatever answers she could! (But.... as a pretty young noble on her first adventure, it wasn't too much off the bat...) They got her name and loyalties, and why was she here? Just looking to help a family friend, honest! She got some pushback, but not too much, and managed to plead her case with some decent persuasion rolls before getting dragged out of the room.

(This did not go over well with Allanann) He got pulled up next- same deal, but he only gave his first name, and said his only allegiance is to his Lady (Tia). But he was bullish and curt, did the whole "I'll never give in to you!" thing.... and that pissed Lady Vyerith and Nezznar off,,, Mannnnn he almost got burned for that one,,,, (maybe did get slapped, though) OOC we were SCARED for him but IC, Tia didn't know what he was saying, and Nym was mostly gritting his teeth and trying not to cringe bc WHAT are you DOING, idiot?? Allanann truly doesn't know much, though- he's a simple, young half elf who's served the same family all his life, but he's not privy to their secrets. So, fine. He was pulled from the room.

.....And then it was Nym's turn. He got pulled up last (our lil kobold bard's player wasn't there last week, so he couldn't be questioned, but he COULD be left in the corner to hear everything~) and ofc he's on edge. Out of spell slots with two other drow of unknown capabilities was not an ideal situation, like,,,, When asked, Nym gave them his actual name- "Nymhriir Arkhenneld", hoping the fact that he HAD a last name would tip them off to the fact that he belonged to a minor House. (It did not) When asked for his purpose in the area and allegiances, he told them that his allegiances are to magic and the study of the arcane- he was here seeking knowledge.

Dear reader, they did not like that answer. The fire ROARED to life and he got yanked towards it, while the other male drow snarled about underestimating surface drow which UHHHHHH (Everyone OOC was freaking out and IC, Nym was caught off-guard because that WAS true [it just wasn't the WHOLE truth]) Nym DID clarify before they could hurt him and admitted that FINE! Yes, there was more! He has allegiances to his family. ....And the cult! He came to the area seeking the Cult of the Dragon. But he hasn't made contact. He hasn't been active in quite some time. There- was that satisfactory? (Nezznar clearly thought he was seeking the dragon mask they'd confiscated after hearing that, but didn't say much)

They seemed satisfied with that, yes, but how long ago did he leave the Underdark? Was he even a century old? (Being surface drow seems to have given them a height advantage- Nym is on the short side for a drow, but he's still within the average range for a man! [4'10]) Nym deffo took a bit of offense to that and told them that he was 165 years old when he left the Underdark, thank you, and he left Sshamath in the 7th century. (It is, roughly, the 15th century right now)

That took them by surprise (and I fucked up my persuasion roll), but before they could try and burn him again, Nym revealed that he's undead. He left the Underdark to further his studies under Sammaster and was there when the Cult began. Some time after that.... The cult made him undead. He kinda forgot the 'surface' thing since Lady Vyerith still has a spider motif going on, and spat out (to Nezznar) that his Lady should ask her Goddess if they have doubts. It worked, though, and Lady Vyerith told him that Sammaster was dead- did he know? (he did not)

He got a few more questions, then.... They offered a deal. A longer leash, of sorts, as we had gotten rid of their 'security' in the nearby town. Nym was wary, but Lady Vyerith proposed he take over deterring people from Phandelver. His undying loyalty would be very valuable to her.... Would he like that? Nym was tempted (he REALLY wants to keep his freedom, but at this point...) and they offered the dragon mask as a way to keep the town from expanding too far. With a green dragon on his side- keeping one backwater town in line should be easy, no? (Nym has a bit of hesitation around the green dragon, but... It's better than being, what? Here? Dead?) So, he agreed, and told them that he could get the others to fall in line.

Lady Vyerith loved that answer, gave him a condescending pat on the cheek, and told him to "be a good boy and sit on the bed for now", and once Nym had obeyed, she told Nezznar to bring the others back in.

.....At which point Lady Vyerith revealed that there were two dragon cult members in the party- did they know that? A follower of Sammaster, AND a follower of Severin! Poor Allanann knew about NEITHER and just got so blindsided (after already recently getting blindsided by Tia being able to wildshape into a dragon wyrmling a few days prior....) but neither Nym, nor Tia, knew about the other- or even knew WHO the other followed sdfghjkl,,,, (Nym was a bit better prepared- he's seen a few schisms in the cult before over doctrine, but he doesn't know who this Severin is) Tia tried to protest- he's friends with her family, sure, but they're not, like SUUUPER involved! He helps them with research!

....And then Lady Vyerith grabbed her, and pulled off one of the gloves she's worn constantly since we all met up, revealing a twisting tattoo of a red dragon spiraling from her middle finger. (Something Allanann has seen on many a family member, but not something Nym recognises as practice from when he was active)

Allanann did NOT want to swear fealty to these drow, though- he's ONLY loyal to Tia! ...So, she needs to be persuaded, yes? Time to grab her and pull out a knife~! ....He wouldn't want his charge hurt, would he? Tensions SPIKED again! Allanann and Tia are FREAKING OUT while Nym stayed quiet, just sort of.... assessing the situation. (making himself SO suspicious) Eventually he told Allanann it would be in his best interest to accept the "generous offer" of work. (He also doesn't want to work for THEM, but... his loyalty overrode his desire to do good) (Eventually.)

Once he agreed, though, the drow went and grabbed "something" and stuck it in the fire.... Because we got branded, babey!!! Nym got to choose where his would be placed, because he "was a good boy" while Allanann did NOT (and really did not want to be branded, either) ...Not that it made a difference, because as soon as they'd branded Nym (right above his shoulder blades, where he politely asked for it), Nezznar grabbed Allanann and slammed him up against the wall and pressed that red hot spider brand into the back of his hand. Loud and proud! And to their credit, neither one passed out from it, but Tia was panicking bc she did NOT want to get BRANDED! She's a noble! (even though Nym is too lmao) She got backed into a corner, blathering and begging and trying to talk her way out of it under Lady Vyerith grabbed her by the jaw lmaooooo~ She teased Tia a few times about placement, insisting she needed to brand her, and Tia pleaded and pleaded, until she finally gave up and agreed to the branding. But Lady Vyerith kept hold of her chin, and said she could never "ruin" an elf whose beauty is her social credit! But.... How long can she can be a dragon? An hour or two? ....Would she be Lady Vyerith's dragon? Ask for the privilege.

....And, voice still wavering, Tia did. ....Lady Vyerith won't get the others killed, right? If they go and recruit the green dragon... They could trade! And then Tia could go back out with the others! (Her instinct told her that the others were going to keep getting increasingly taxing orders until they outlived their usefulness, though...)

With that, the others were bundled up, blindfolded, and dropped off with MOST of our stuff a little bit outside of town. Dirty, exhausted, and incredibly sore after spending a damn TENDAYS (week) in chains!! Nym had to talk down Allanann from trying to turn right back around and told him he needed to learn how to kiss more ass before we went to lick our wounds in town,,, (Leading to "....But I've only ever kissed one ass my whole life!" "...Well, diversify.")