13 - 07/26/23 : Silence Be Promised

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  With the strange Hilda in tow, the party ventured further into the Sargauth level, crossing into the territory of House Arkhenneld. As they made their way, they came across an abandoned section of the level, full of hollowed-out tenements long since deserted. As they crept along, they encountered a sleeping chimera resting atop a pile of coins. Although the beast soundly slumbered, Hilda could not resist her curiosity and meandered over to pet the 'kitty'.   The creature quickly awoke and lashed out, resulting in a fight. The creature fought ferociously, but the team's advanced combat training coupled with Hilda's ability to morph into different animals resulted in a quickly concluded encounter. However, the noise of the confrontation had attracted the attention of nearby drow, who came to investigate alongside some of their giant guard scorpions. The party was able to successfully hide themselves in the chimera's lair and subsequently easily ambushed the patrol. In the ensuing fight, however, a drow guardsman was able to escape and raise the alarm in the camp.   As Sin, Hilda, and Edea fortified the tunnel they had won by defeating the drow patrol, Ozwik charged forward to chase down a drow that had been given the order to 'secure the prisoner'. The party fought through a split horde of drow soldiers and guard scorpions, defeating them handily despite their inferior numbers. Between Hilda's giant elk form, Sin's impenetrable defense, Edea's unerring aim, and Ozwik's ferocious advance, the party quickly decimated the drow numbers. Making matters worse for the occupants was a poorly timed slave uprising, with a group of enslaved troglodytes breaking free of their hold and escaping, crushing any drow in their way.   As Ozwik pushed forward, he noted one of the drow defenders- the one who had been given the prisoner secure order - was not fighting with all of his heart, and seemed to have given into despair. Ozwik urged the drow to not fight him if his heart was not in it, and managed to convince him to show Ozwik to the prisoner's cell. The young drow man, named Xebyl, led Ozwik to the prison and opened the door.   Within was a pearl-skinned drow woman Ozwik recognized; Vesper, the knight-in-training and one of the two individuals they were to seek in the Undermountain. Embarrassed by her situation but otherwise unharmed, Vesper stood after Ozwik freed her from her shackles. She took up her blade that was held nearby - a beautiful ebon greatsword - and joined the fight that was already beginning to wind down.   With the last defenders of the drow camp dismissed, Vesper introduced herself to Hilda and Sin, whom she had yet to meet. The group inquired about her familiarity with drow society and her newfound faith in Desna; to the former she coldly stated that she was quite familiar, and to the latter she sheepishly admitted she still had a good deal to learn, but was eager to do so.   Ozwik made a point to ensure that Vesper and Hilda did not know Aezora's name; he was relived to know that they did not, and therefore were immune to being telepathically spoken to by the succubus. The party made a note to keep things that way, for simplicity's sake if nothing else.   Their quarry still eluded them, however; Vesper stated that Zegrod likely resided in a newly established shrine of Lolth further into the drow holdings, where he would have been summoned in the first place. Together, they ventured further, slaying a pack of gricks and engaging a squad of guard quaggoths near the entrance to the shrine. Their foe was sure to await within...