The Crises

We join the party the morning immediately after their harrowing escape from Tang-Te. Perhaps wanting to avoid thinking about all that has happened, Mantis Bugbattler and Dara Riswynn Proudstone head down to the bay to fish.   Merrli skins the bested Black Dragon and hangs out with Throwl and Loadlie. They help Merrli treat the skins to be able to fashion them into a piece for him to wear. They also make friendship bracelets.   Meanwile, Manny and Mithrowl start chatting. Mithrow wants pointers on how to be a Halfling and Manny is happy to mentor the new member of his race. There's a lot to get used to in the transformation from Tabaxi to Halfling, mainly the fact that Mithrow must now wear clothes. Manny gives "Mithy" some old overalls.   The head of the Lizard-folk Priests talks to Eles Raagha, asking how they were saved. Eles explains that she has no idea; she found the scroll of True Resurrection and used it to bring Manny back. It required some convincing on the part of the Raven Queen. But then, somehow, both Manny and the Lizard-folk were raised from the dead. The Head Priest explains that, when the Scaled Mother was felled by her sister, they brought as many healers, spells, and healing scrolls they had in the temple. They tried them all, to no avail. With enemies on the way, as a final desperate act, they left the scroll of True Resurrection so that, in the future, someone with more power might be able to bring her back. They were able to seal this and the remains of the Scaled Mother, along with the horrible weapon that killed her. Demon forces surrounded them and they were all killed before they were able to completely protect the Scaled Mother's tomb in the mausoleum.   The crew manages to reseal the tomb of the Scaled Mother within the mausoleum with a combination of natural, religious, and arcane power. Manny makes sure that Soul Slice is safely sealed away with Soul Scythe. The Tabaxi lead the party to their camp so that they all might set off to Taji after.    Merrli mentions that he doesn't have a last name. Eles knows that the Drow who do not have last names tried to distance themselves from their ancestor's pact with Asmodeus. Eles learns that everyone else thinks her magic is creepy. Eles and Merrli have a spat about the ethics of animating dead versus trying to bury them the way they desire. This leads to Merrli expressing his opposition to Eles's decision to resurrect Manny instead of the Scaled Mother. He expresses how he hopes Manny does a lot of good things, since Eles brought him back instead of a god (no pressure, Manny).   Suddenly, out of the bushes, Eles and Dara see another Marilith teleport in. She kills Krinrez , screaming "You killed my sister!" She then turns to Eles and Dara and says "Our mother will deal with you two," and throws an enchanted dagger at Eles. The Raven Queen sends a raven, and catches the dagger mid-air. Eles turns her attention to the dead Krinrez and brings her back. All of the Lizard-folk crowd around Eles and pry her with questions about her powers and how she keeps saving the Lizard-folk and Eles gets overwhelmed. Krinrez protects Eles from the information-hungry crowd of Lizard-folk.

Mantis continues to help Mithy get his "halfling legs." Dara and Merrli have a conversation. Merrli is trying to provoke Dara. Dara keeps her cool. Merrli brings up that Dara lost the drinking conversation to the Librarians. This time Merrli feels awkward and walks away.   The Gang beds down for the night. Around 1 a.m. two Bugbears and one Bugbear Chief appeared and attack. Between Eles' Ravens, Manny's Greatsword, Dara's Greataxe, and Merrli's force blasts, the bugbear scurge are easily dispatched. They go back to bed.   Dara has a dream about training with Dulin Bonetoe. Dara is aware of much Berranor Truesilver imagery and wakes up in a cold sweat.   Merrli continues making a coat with the Tabaxi while Dara angrily eats a turkey leg at lunch. Manny and Eles have a loud, frenzied heart to heart about Manny's survivor's guilt and Eles' guilt about bringing back her best friend instead of a goddess. Manny expresses his desire to kill Lolth to prove to Merrli that it wasn't a waste to bring him back. Eles more wants to bring back the Scaled Mother. More than anything, Manny just wants everyone to have an afterlife. Eles believes that the Nine Hells is the best place for those who are evil.   Overwhelmed, guilty, and generally emotional, Manny goes off to have quiet time at the bay, grabbing Mithy to teach him to fish like a Halfling. Eles has her own quiet time sitting crosslegged in a tree.   The second half of the day goes well. The Tabaxi meet another clan and have a quick chat about hunting grounds and trouble afoot-- trees that don't look like they should. Evil monsters crawling about. After bedding down for the night, Dara and Eles stay up for the first watch. They chat about what it was exactly that brought back all the people, and how Yondalla and the Raven Queen may have ganged up to get Manny back to life. Eles promises to keep the group safe from the Divine.   Dara and Eles head to bed/ trance. Manny and Merrli take over watch. Feeling awkward, Manny talks about enjoying dawn and the early morning time-- fish are always hopping and the world is still. Merrli talks about how Manny has taken to Mithy. Merrli recommends that Manny get him used to the idea that he might have to leave his clan. This makes Manny sad and even more guilty. Manny and Merrli debate about attempting to bring back to the Scaled Mother. Merrli doesn't have a lot of hope because of all the Lizard-folk priests who tried every healing and resurrection method sixteen hundred years ago. Manny tells Merrli that he hopes they can be friends again, reminiscing about being carried around on Merrli's spider legs. The rest of the group wakes up and they talk about how Merrli's way older than they think. He remembers bits and pieces of the Demon Wars. They all ponder what that might mean.