Once the initial shock of the cave and it's guardians passes, Justin returns to his previous Musings. With a capital 'M'.
Finally he sighs and mutters "I think,... I have really been off my game lately." He admits quietly to Karrin, Mel, Martin and whomever else is standing nearby.
"I'm a wizard fer cryin' out loud. My greatest power isn't being able to cast the biggest fireball. Although that part IS really cool. It's reading. Knowing the unknowable. Solving the unsolvable. Finding the unfindable. So I know What spell to cast, and When, Where and How it will do the most good. No offense to you strong-sword-arm types, but lately I've been been doing a lot more Post-Reacting than PRO-active planning. Take that whole Tour-The-Planescape-Jaunt to find Murphy. That should have gone,... well, smoother. At the very least. But I was too busy worrying instead of,... of,..." Justin fades off, and notices the odd looks the others are giving him.
"What?!? It's the ABYSS fer cryin' out loud! Three days here would make a Saint melancholy! Sheesh."
"ANYway" Justin continues pointedly, "The point is, I've been re-reading my notes and thinking, I should have done a lot more research. About that floating fortress we found. About Erelhi Cinlu, Erehe the wizard, who this 'Tenebrous' is, the 'Great Wand' the vamp mentioned. And probably a lot more."
Justin pinches the brige of his nose.
"I just hope that this Erehe can fill in the blanks we're missing. I can't help but feel that this would be a lot easier if I had just done a little more research."
The caravan begins to move into the webbed tunnel. There is a moment of portal sickness as they ride on, then the caravan is riding on an enormous silver-grey road. Upon further examination, it is not a road - rather, it is an immense strand of spiderweb, so vast that it’s curvature can barely be perceived. The ‘sky’ is black, but crisscrossed with hundreds of other strands, all glowing faintly in the Stygian darkness of this realm. The caravan drives on, and seems to for hours. Those looking at the strands around them note a form moving along them. A spider skitters along the strands in the distance, moving purposefully. It isn’t unexpected to see a spider here, but as the party looks longer the scale of the creature becomes apparent. The spider is enormous. Mel shudders as he spots it
“The citadel of Lolth. I never thought I would see it in person.”
The crawling citadel seems not to notice them and the caravan rolls on unperturbed.
The are spiders within this trackless realm, but they seem to give the caravan a wide berth. The party can see webbed figures cached along the strands as well, some easily five meters long. Whatever these unfortunate creatures are, the spiders that caught them must be much worse.
Eventually the caravan approaches a cyclopean cliff face. The cliff is sheer and ebon. Multiple strands of the huge web they traverse are attached to this surface. The strand they travel ends at the cliff and another webbed tunnel greets them at its terminus. At the entrance of the tunnel a grotesque creature awaits them. It is a yellowish column of shifting matter, with an immense red eye. The Drow Declava alights from her perch on Quavious’ wagon and goes to confer with it. The creature quivers and suddenly another darkly radiant beautiful Drow stands next to Declava, so similar to her in looks as to be her sister. The two confer a bit, and the new Drow steps back as the caravan advances. Declava seems not to be going further with the caravan. As the party’s wagon passes, the two Drow women shimmer yet again and two huge black widow spiders appear where they were. The two spiders skitter off along the webbing that drapes the cliff face.
The webbed tunnel stretches to engulf the caravan and there is another feeling of portal transmission. Suddenly, the caravan is in a large courtyard in a dark place. It is a cavern, but a large one. The walls are covered in various phosphorescent fungi, which glow in sickly shades of ochre, violet, and green. An immense fortress rears up behind the courtyard, its alien architecture reaching odd thin minarets towards the cave ceiling. The fortress is made of black and red marble, and those with darkvision can see spider motif carvings all along its walls. Those without darkvision can barely see anything at all, aside from a bit of murky lighting from fungis which really doesn’t help anything. The courtyard seems to be floored in a shiny black stone like onyx, with a white spiderweb detailed within it. At the far side of the courtyard an amber glowing column six meters wide and twenty tall pierces the gloom. Within its depths like a giant amber-preserved bug is a black spider statue with a beautiful Drow female face. The eyes of this statue seem to follow the party.
There are many Drow in the courtyard, and many humanoids as well. Orcs seem to be the most prominent, all of them shaven clean and tattooed head to toe with various siguls. These approach the caravan under the command of the Drow and begin to unload the wagons. Quavious trots up to the group
“This is where we part. I will be returning to Sigil as soon as my cargo is discharged. I’m willing to take anyone back who has had second thoughts”
She looks about the vast cave and its sinister fortress
“I certainly wouldn’t blame you”
Alerra and Chadra have been looking about, and they speak to the party
“This is a dangerous point. Stay quiet. Remember that you are our servants. We see no allies here, this is a bad sign. Should anyone ask do not mention House Tormtor as we said previously, just play dumb and say you follow the will of your mistresses.”
The party, led by the two Drow, exit the caravan and walk into the throng of Drow. They head towards a large tunnel in the side of the cave. This tunnel seems to be a main thoroughfare, and they walk for close to a mile though it. The walls are completely carven with scenes from Drow history, those with darkvision can see they are exquisite, yet highly disturbing images.
.
Hamar claps Justin on the back, "As long as you can figure out how to kill something and tell me, you will always be useful".
---
As they enter this horrible place the pit in the Barbarian's stomach is perhaps deeper than this spider pit. He knows that his worst visions of the drow back in his homeland pale compared to this. The Barbarian does not fear death, after all, he died once before, though he has no memory of that brief time period. But to die with little to no fighting chance to survive with so many enemies about? That is a terrible fate indeed.
Hamar hunches in what he believes servitude must look like, trying to mimic the hopes looks of the slaves about them, "Yes Mistresses". Though his voice sounds a bit more lust filled than groveling... but then, this isn't the first time that Hamar has uttered those words to these two!
Hamar claps Justin on the back, "As long as you can figure out how to kill something and tell me, you will always be useful".
Justin looks at the barbarian with a hint of bemusement.
"Thanks Hamar. I appreciate that." He says dryly.
- - -
Justin's response to traversing 'The Great Web' is pretty much the same as everyone else's. Except his nervous touristy-gawking is punctuated by much scribbling and brief sketches in his leather-bound notebook. Justin doesn't ask Mel to clarify when he points to the ginormous spider on a distant web-line. One doesn't HAVE to be a research scholar to have heard of 'Lloth's Citadel'. At least not when you live in Sigil. He does stop trying to calculate the actual size of the distant behemoth when he realizes that the answer is even more frightening than he had thought.
When the caravan reaches the exit portal, the wizard watches the interactions between the two shapeshifters with an undisguised mix of curiosity, fascination and a dash of revulsion. He racks his brain trying to identify the powerful shapeshifters. Eventually asking Mel to confirm if his answer is even close.
- - -
When they their destination, Justin looks about as best he can in the darkened cave. He immediately quashes the instinct to conjure a light. A creeping feeling down his spine tells him that would only paint him as a target here.
Justin's eyes slowly adjust, (As well as his human eyes ever will) to the darkness as he listens to their guides. The tenseness in their voices as they reiterate the instructions for his group to play the part of slaves is not lost on him. The mage bites his tongue to prevent his usual smart-arse quip from emerging unbidden.
"Yes Mistress." Justin softly echoes Hamar, giving the barbarian a sideways glance at the tone in his voice.
'It seems that not all 'slaves' are treated equal,...' Justin chortles to himself.
Justin quietly adds his thanks to the caravan master before dutifully falling into place behind their Drow guides. He quietly buttons up his coat so that it covers his bandolier and quiver from casual notice.
Justin has indeed read several accounts of the Demonweb and Lolth. The Spinner in Darkness has many many tomes dedicated to her- she is a popular subject of study in planar circles. Judging from the appearance of the two females and their shape changing abilities, Justin is confident that they are Yochlols, or handmaidens of Lolth, a specialized type of demonic entity that serves the Spider Queen
Justin's eyes widen. A Lot. He grabs both Mel and Karrin by their respective armored shoulders.
"Shards and shells. Yochlols. They have to be. The Demonic 'Handmaidens of Lolth'." The wizard whispers in a tiny voice.
Justin regains his composure and releases his companions shoulders. He straightens his clothing self-consciously. He smirks at Mel.
"Well. THAT answers that question. Whether they are using a higher power, or they are a higher power. The answer is, 'YES'."
Hamar turns to Justin with a raised eyebrow, "You find shapeshifters to be the most shocking things in this place Wizard? You are right, it is time for you to read more books".
Finally he sighs and mutters "I think,... I have really been off my game lately." He admits quietly to Karrin, Mel, Martin and whomever else is standing nearby.
"So you quite done having your breakdown..midlife crisis or whatever that was?"
“This is a dangerous point. Stay quiet. Remember that you are our servants. We see no allies here, this is a bad sign. Should anyone ask do not mention House Tormtor as we said previously, just play dumb and say you follow the will of your mistresses.
"S-sure thing mistress." Merle following there guides advice keeps her mouth shut and keeps Seph hidden from sight her fur somehow standing more and more on end as they head through the place her eyes squinting as they attempt to see in the darkness. She shoots a glare at Justin whenever it seems like he is about to open his mouth
Finally he sighs and mutters "I think,... I have really been off my game lately." He admits quietly to Karrin, Mel, Martin and whomever else is standing nearby.
"So you quite done having your breakdown..midlife crisis or whatever that was?"
Justin nods at Merle, his eyes narrowed a little and his mouth twisted up as if he tasted something sour.
"Yep. I'm good." He says cheerfully. He winks at Seph.
Hamar turns to Justin with a raised eyebrow, "You find shapeshifters to be the most shocking things in this place Wizard? You are right, it is time for you to read more books".
Justin's mouth gapes open. Once or twice. Then he sighs, chuckles, shrugs and nods.
"Well. Your not wrong."
“This is a dangerous point. Stay quiet. Remember that you are our servants. We see no allies here, this is a bad sign. Should anyone ask do not mention House Tormtor as we said previously, just play dumb and say you follow the will of your mistresses."S-sure thing mistress." Merle following there guides advice keeps her mouth shut and keeps Seph hidden from sight her fur somehow standing more and more on end as they head through the place her eyes squinting as they attempt to see in the darkness. She shoots a glare at Justin whenever it seems like he is about to open his mouth
Justin looks back at Merle when he sees her looking at him as they follow their drow guides.
'What?!? I didn't say anything!' he mouths silently. Then quickly restores his features into what he hopes passes as a subservient slave look hereabouts.
After a mile walk through the tunnel, the party emerges into another cave. Although ‘cave’ is such a paltry word to describe it. It is a cave as Sigil is a ‘town’. The space they enter is immense. The ceiling is at least a half-mile up. The far side of the cavern is miles away. They are following a well-constructed road of large cobbles that is leading them through a ‘forest’ of giant fungi. The fungi glow with muted phosphorescence. Those with darkvision can see the spaces between the caps are laced with spiderwebs, which coat every upper surface. There is a cricket song in the air and the occasional flutter of unseen bat like things.
“Welcome to the Vault of the Drow” Chadra says with apparent pride in her voice
The party heads out, staying as clear as possible from other groups. The road seems fairly busy, and there are groups of armed drow and humanoids traveling either way. There are also wagons of produce, and what look to be merchants on the road. The forest thins out as they move past the cave wall, becoming ‘farmland’. Herds of odd pale quadruped animals are herded by goblins, rows of fan mushrooms sprout from the earth , tall white giant asparagus plants cluster in thickets.
There are fortresses in this part of the Vault. They are set far back from the road, alien constructions surrounded by walls painted with phosphorescent colors in spider-related themes. One such fortress seems to be under attack. The fighting is more than a mile away, but the party can hear the roar of the troops, and see the flash and flicker of spell and counter spell along the outer wall
“We have arrived at a bad time “ Alerra says with a note of concern in her voice
“The Houses are embroiled in a Kwizatch D’Umare*”
Drow
“I do not know the cause or the players. That fortress is House Noquar.”
A company of 200 Githyanki pass them, silent and unsmiling. They are arrayed for battle, flying their own standards as well as a banner featuring three golden spiders arrayed in a triangular pattern on a field of purple and red stripes . They turn down the side road that leads to the fortress under conflict. Chadra and Alerra seem surprised by their appearance
“What the children of Gith are doing here in such numbers I do not know. They fly the triple spider banner of House Everhate. This might be more than a Kwizatch D’Umare”
They continue on, the two Drow looking increasingly paranoid
.
After about a three-hour walk they come to the edge of a plateau in the Vault’s floor. The land drops away, and the party can see a large city arrayed before them, its buildings linked in subtle shades of violet and oche light. Those with darkvision can see these lights much brighter and get a much better view of the city.
The road winds down the plateau’s steep slope, and leads to a large river which flows past the walls of the city. A bridge of strange dimensions stretches over the river and leads to a gate in the wall
“Behold, Erelhei-Cinlu “ Alerra says
The party makes its way down the road and to the bridge. There are signs that a battle was fought recently here. The surrounding land is churned to mud and clusters of buildings stand burnt and ruined. There is a lingering stench of death, but any corpses have been hauled off. They approach the bridge.
The bridge is made of stone, but the stone looks as if it was magically shaped. The stone is a silver white color, and is shaped into the form of a giant spiderweb tunnel, complete with stone spider gargoyles placed within the stony web. At its entry is a military checkpoint. A large squad of Drow, some with fearsome-looking tarantulas on leashes, interrogate travelers looking to cross the bridge. A banner featuring a black eight-pointed star on a red field stands planted in the ground
“House Kilsek “ Alerra mutters “The most fanatical house”
A female Drow approaches them. She is arrayed in dark chainmail, so fine it looks as if it is made of silk. Although it covers her head to toe it gives her an aura of almost aggressive femininity. In one hand she clutches a whip. Disturbingly, the braids of the whip seem to be moving of their own volition
“State your allegiance, and your business” Surprisingly, the guard speaks in common
Alerra speaks up
“We are planar merchants of House Sigil. We travel with our servants to conduct business within the city”
The mailed Drow quirks a silver eyebrow, her violet countenance skeptical.
“Be warned, the city is under siege by the Tormtor heretics. They camp in the Lower Vault. The city is under curfew. Do not let your servants wander far”
The Drow female allows the party to cross the bridge and head to the city
.
Hamar keeps his eyes downcast as the Drow female approaches.
When the group passes through the Barbarian considers asking what a Tomtor is but figures the Wizard will either tell them all or ask himself. Either way, the Barbarian will get what he wants.
Justin takes in the sights as they follow their guides during the long hike. He is, surprisingly silent most of the way. Although at times you can see him muttering silently to himself. Possibly committing things to memory long enough to write them in his worn journal.
he does mutter aloud occasionaly too. Something about 'KNEW I should have done more research. Prepared a dozen darkvision scrolls at least. Or something,...'
Justin controls his surprise when the next obstacle, erm, drow warrior-woman with a whip, speaks common. He keeps his face looking at the ground as they pass. Once he thinks they are out of earshot he risks a slightly higher glance up.
"Um, 'Tormtor Heretics'? What's going on? There seems to be more than 'to-be-expected' fighting going on than normal for here?" He quietly asks, just loud enough for Alerra to hear him.
Alerra mutters back
“Not now. Wait until we get to the Ghetto of Foreigners “
"Yes. Mistress." Justin murmurs. He lowers his head and slowly steps back til he is in the middle of his companions again.
The group heads along the spider-themed bridge. The river rushes below, making a dull echoing sound. The spider gargoyles stare down at them, and the paranoid seem to feel as if they slightly twitch and move. In the darkness it is hard to tell. Those without darkvision stay close to those that do, as the darkness is very absolute, and even with eyes adjusted there is little to see.
A large gate rears up before them in the city wall. A large contingent of Drow warriors under the eight-pointed star banner are encamped in the narrow strip of land between the city walls and the river. The party goes through another inspection with much the same result. They are given access to the city.
The city is much as any other they have visited, except dark. There are phosphorescent fungi, caged giant fireflies, glowing paints on business signs, and the occasional dim violet light globe though, so those without darkvision can see a bit better. It is still a jumble of confused shapes, spider motifs everywhere, and alien-looking architecture.
The group heads along the street, and come to a wide plaza. In the center of this plaza is an immense colosseum of black marble, with a pattern of stylized mushrooms painted along its bottom third. Chadra sniffs
“The arena temple of Keptolo. Pray you are never invited there”
After a bit of walking, they come to a district that is lit up much more. They pass through a smaller wall, which seems to contain this section. The crowd becomes more polyglot, with humans, odd-looking dwarves, even odder gnomes, and a motley of other races present. Karrin notes that the humans are dressed in garb very similar to what she remembers from her childhood on Oerth. Alerra stops by a quiet corner a gestures for the group to gather
“This is the Ghetto of the Foreigners. You will be relatively safe here. However, there seems to be a conflict of unusual size and openness occurring. Most conflicts might involve a house, or several. I have never seen the city under siege. House Tormtor is the house of my kin, but somehow they have become branded as heretics. That is a grevious charge in Drow society. We must needs leave you for a while and try to gather information.
“Go to the Black Widow Inn. It is run by Szethmare, a male kinsman of mine. He will give you rooms. It lies on The Street of Exotic Pleasures. “
She looks at those members without darkvision
“There is a shop on The Street of Foreign Merchants called The Bric a Brac Nest. The proprietor has many darkvision items, and potions and poisons if you need them. I suggest you avail yourself of them or your stay in Erelhei-Cinlu will be much more dangerous “
After giving the party directions the two Drow depart, heading back towards the wall.
"Wizard, I will accompany you to this trading post. Your constant stepping on my feet is distracting. We should do this for those that need it while the rest find us lodgings in this spider inn".
Justin chuckles softly, Nodding as their drow guides depart.
"It's OK Hamar. Your not my idea of the perfect dance partner either. You DO make an excellent safety barrier though. Thanks." The wizard jests, tapping one of the barbarians brawny biceps for emphasis.
"I don't know if we should split up though. I say we go to this 'Bric A Brac Nest' and use some of the gold the Khashtaa were kind enough to leave us to pick up items and make sure we can all at least see where we're going. Stocking up on potions is probably a good idea too. And with all the spider-motifs around, A vial or five of anti-toxin. If we get caught up in one of these 'street-brawls' poor Mel's gonna have to put in for healing overtime pay!"
"Then we can go to the inn. Stay together. Start working out where to go next. What do you think?" Justin asks, looking (perhaps a little pointedly) at Karrin.
"Eh, humans, am I right Mistress?" Karrin asks their drow guides with a shrug, "But what are ya gonna do?"
Karrin turns to Justin and Hamar, "You know if I were planning to rob someone I think I'd probably try robbing someone that couldn't see and was clearly flush with cash on their way to buy some expensive magic items. You think it wise to split the party?"
Justin's brow furrows.
"Yeah, That's what I,... But,.. I was,... Didn't I just?,... Urrrrm,..."
The wizard sighs and hangs his head. You can almost hear the mental counting to 'Ten'.
"Your absolutely right. We shouldn't split up. Which way was it to the magic knick-knack shop oh-fearless-leader-who-can-see-in-the-dark?" Justin asks brightly with a tight-lipped smile.
"You're absolutely right. We shouldn't split up. Which way was it to the magic knick-knack shop oh-fearless-leader-who-can-see-in-the-dark?" Justin asks brightly with a tight-lipped smile.
Alessia lets out a dusty sigh, making her presence known as she taps Justin on the shoulder, then points in the direction indicated by their guides.
"I believe it is in this direction. Follow closely."
"We're right behind you." Justin says cheerfully.
The party makes its way to a three-story brick building. The exterior of the building is flanked with shelves of potted fungi of many different sizes, shapes, and phosphorescence. The sign swinging by the door reads
Potions, plants, and magical oddments
Inside seems like a typical magic shop. Various items are on the floor, mostly components for spells, dried herbs, crystals, and scroll-scribing supplies. Behind a large glass counter that spans the entire length of the building is a display cabinet of pigeon holes filled with wooden cases and glass bottles. Under the glass of the counter are small items like rings, pendants, and assorted trinkets and crystals. There seems to be about a dozen types of glasses as well.
From a room in the back there’s a rustling sound. A strange being comes into view. It is a ratatosk, the squirrel folk of Yggdrasil that the party have not seen since their sojourn on the Big Bark. This one is an albino. It’s fur looks mangy, and it’s skin is visible in places. It wears an odd vest covered in numerous small pockets. A bandolier crisscrosses its fur under the vest, with numerous slender vials secured within its loops A belt with half-a-dozen pouches girds its middle, but it wears no pants. It’s pinche nose id surmounted with a large set of glasses, which also have several smaller lenses hinged to the side of them. The glasses make the ratatosk’s pink eyes enormous. It starts as it sees the party and the chitters in a high register
“Hello hello! Welcome to my shop! What can Pyllzee do for you gentlefolk?”
The ratatosk Pyllzee scratches his cheek briskly, then pulls something from his pouch and pops it in his mouth.
Justin grins at seeing the proprietor is a ratatosk. His smile dims faintly when he can finally see the poor shape the fellow seems to be in. The wizard presumes the ratatosk misses the open sky and air of the Big Bark.
Justin's smile returns, and he gives Pyllzee a small bow, wondering idly if his being an albino has something to do with with choosing to be in this underground city instead of under the open sky?
"Greetings Pyllzee! Pleasure to meet you. Well what we have here is a group of topsiders that chance has favored with an opportunity to visit this, fascinating city. Sadly, most of us don't see that great in the dark. And we're having trouble walking down the street without tripping over our own feet. And the big guy there is really tired of me treading on his heels. We need to be able to see in the dark, preferably without having to cast a spell every hour or two to do it. Can you help us out?" Justin rambles cheerfully, shamelessly looking at the ratatosk's curious spectacles as he does so.
The albino squirrel nods
“Oh, yes yes. Very popular magic here, very popular. Pyllzee has goggles of night, yes “
He points to the counter glass top. Underneath are several goggles with violet crystal lenses
“Also, I have wands of darkvision in stock”
He pulls down a wooden case from a pigeon hole behind him. He opens it to reveal a dark wand
“Cheaper, and will give 150 hours of darkvision for 1/3 the price of goggles “
Alessia looks around for a moment, at a bit of a loss. Finally, she turns to Karrin, tilting her head to one side--her porcelain mask expressionless as always.
"I am... is that a talking squirrel? Why is that here?"
Her posture straightens, addressing the shopkeeper.
"The goggles will suffice, creature. I do not trust my companions to use the wand's charges efficiently. Nor do I trust talking animals attempting to sell me consumable items. Give them a fair price. Then, let us leave this place."
The albino squirrel stiffens when Alessia talks. His tail puffs out to twice it’s size
“The goggles are 12,000 Spiders. And I am not an animal any more than you are a corpse, Krrrr-grzzt-ulu”
Ratatosk
"Oh dont mind her she's just naturally cheery like that I'll take a set of the goggles please."
Hamar's eyebrows raise at the price, "12,000 spiders? The spiders are even trade here? Where does one keep 12,000 live spiders to trade?"
"I am... is that a talking squirrel? Why is that here?"
"To run the shop obviously."
"Oh, that's right. You weren't with us when we had our little travel-fun-time on the 'Big Bark' were you? Oh THAT was a good trip. Ratatosk villages, That's ' humanoid-sized talking squirrels' to the uninitiated, Rot on the world tree, rescuing people from a dream/nightmare world, and demon-ghosts. OR ghost-demons. I'm still working that one out. After that, the only thing that surprises me is finding a ratatosk underground instead of above." Justin smiles.
"Ah, sorry master Pyllzee. No offense. Once my mouth gets rolling it's impossible to stop." Justin apologizes sincerely to the shopkeeper. Even though his mouth shows NO signs of slowing down now,...
"Well, I don't think that we have enough from the 'Khassta donation' for all of us to buy a set of goggles. I say we get as many goggles as we can afford, and buy a wand or two to cover the rest of us. The good news is some of us can at least see halfway decently in low light, so we only need to cover the rest of us poor night-blind human,... oids." Justin reasons.
Hamar's eyebrows raise at the price, "12,000 spiders? The spiders are even trade here? Where does one keep 12,000 live spiders to trade?"
Justin chuckles.
"I'm PRETTY sure, no telling in this place, that's just what they stamp on their Gold coins. Like how in Sigil the Gold pieces are called 'Ladies' and the coppers are 'Greens'.""I don't,... THINK, that even Drow like spiders enough to keep them as actual currency?" Justin throws a frightened, questioning glance at the shopkeeper.
"...After that, the only thing that surprises me is finding a ratatosk underground instead of above." Justin smiles.
The albino swivels to Justin. His eyes narrow and he pops another something from his pouch to his mouth
“Yes, Pyllzee is strange animal “ He casts a side eye to Alessia as he hisses
“Pyllzee doesn’t caper on the Mother, chewing nuts and laying about. Pyllzee was not normal. Pyllzee looked different. Pyllzee WAS different. Ratatosk don’t like different. Pyllzee grew tired of the chattering gossips and went in search of knowledge. He became much wiser and more powerful than his normal kin, oh yessss”
The squirrel man shakes his head briskly and looks at Justin. He drags a claw briskly against one of his mangy patches, leaving red marks
“Apologies, talk of the Mother brings back bad things. Let us make deal, yes? Buy three goggles, and Pyllzee will give 3,000 spider discount”
He chitter laughs, brandishing a large golden coin with an octagonal shape. One side has an eight-pointed star, the other a large stylized spider.
“This is only spiders Pyllzee likes, oh yes “.
Justin nods politely to the suddenly disturbing ratatosk. When he speaks it is just as cheerfully,... 'Justin', as before.
"Sincere apologies Pyllzee. I didn't mean to pry or bring up bad memories. And I approve of your choice of spiders! Give us a moment to see what we have in our packs to trade, yes?"
Justin collects the gems, jewelry and coins, triple checks his math, and looks at Pyllzee.
"Do you accepts gems and jewelry?" Justin asks with a smile.
Justin inquires if the shop has scrolls of Darkvison and Darkvision: Mass as well.
Pyllzee nods
“Pyllzee has scrolls, yes”
He pulls scroll tubes from the pigeon holes behind him
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Increasingly silent throughout the trip as she attunes to the oppressively corrupt environment, Balyze hangs back, simply taking in the shop's wares as her companions shop for items that would aid their vision in the perpetual dark of the city.
Pyllzee nods
“Pyllzee has scrolls, yes”
He pulls scroll tubes from the pigeon holes behind him
Justin takes 1 scroll of each, and hands Pyllzee another 175GP for them. He tucks them into his haversack to scribe later.
(IE= As soon as he gets a chance!)
Pyllzee takes the proffered gold and gems and disappears briefly. He returns, and looks at the party.
"Do you gentlefolk need anything else? Pyllzee has many beneficial elixirs and herbs, oh yes."
"I saw, a lot of spiders on the way through. How are you on Antivenom?"
Pyllzee beckons Justin closer
“Antivenin is not permitted in Erelhei-Cinlu. The Drow don’t like it. But Pyllzee has some for the right price, yesss ...”
Justin nods slowly.
"Ah, yes. That makes sense."
Hamar remains silent as the transaction takes place, the Barbarian has little in the way of coin, little need for it where he is from. All the coin he gets he spends to buy magic to keep him alive. Though the idea of anti-venom here does make sense...
Justin thanks Pyllzee for the tip, but declines the offer for the moment. He DOES make sure to complement the Ratatosk on his excellent business acumen. And he assures the albino that when they have the funds available, they will remember and take advantage of 'his excellently stocked shop'.
The albino squirrel waves goodbye as the group departs
“Yes yes. Come back any time. Pyllzee has much to sell, much to barter”
The party steps out onto the dark street and heads to the Street of Exotic Pleasures
After a few minutes walk they arrive at a large stone building with a front mosaic of a black widow surrounding its entrance. A sign in Drow, common, and several other tongues says The Black Widow Inn
Inside is a very large common room. The ceiling is two stories up, with a landing at the second floor. The common room has about a dozen various gaming tables with several different races busy gambling. Booths with privacy curtains line the walls. A group of scantily leather-clad men and women circulate through the crowd dispensing drinks. There is a large bar area with a compact Drow male pouring drinks