Chapter Forty: The Underdark Pt. 5
Entering the Drow city was easy enough. We were told to speak to a dark elf named Solaufein, who could be found by the male fighter's society house. Inside, I stole some magic items then asked for directions to any place of interest in Ust Natha. The Drow certainly know how to make beautiful, if cold, architecture. From what little I witnessed of slaves being killed at the gates, I knew I wouldn't want to live there!
After getting the directions, we made our way to the society building. The group encountered a human mage-girl who was running from someone. That someone soon passed us and asked which way she went. We lied
Then we found Solaufein. He's kind of cute for a skinny guy
He would be cuter if he were fatter though...
He gave us instructions to meet him and a "Matron Mother" at the gate. When we got there, we were to accompany him to save someone important from some Ilithid. He told us to meet him in no more than an hour.
Outside, on the way there, we got ambushed by a group of adventurers! It's too bad we had no choice but to kill them. Though, good loot was to be had from one of them!
Before Solaufein talked to us, we set some traps. He informed us he would summon the Ilithid. Unfortunately, he didn't inform us he'd be summoning them one at a time! All of the traps killed one but the other two attacked right away!
Thank Brandobaris for Aerie not getting parylyzed! She freed us all with one spell and tthe slaughter of squid-faces commenced!
This woman we rescued, a dark elf by the name of Phaere, ordered us to meet her at the city.
Solaufein had a few choice words to give about her. We asked what his problem was, and here's what he said:
"Oh, I boffed her in Menzoberanzan once!" (20 points to whoever says the real quote and what movie it comes from!)
At the city, Phaere instructed us to meet her at the Tavern in a day. With nothing else to do, we went to the tavern where I entered a dueling contest and systematically beat every monster they threw at us! Then, the others entered a dueling contest against other drow. However, Imoen kept annoying the drow mages by backstabbing them
After that, we met Phaere who had another job for us. Kill a beholder. Twas easy enough, and again she ordered us to meet her in three days.
Then a gnome informs us some fish wants to talk to us. The fish informed us he knew we were surfacers! Then blackmailed us: get Quilue's brain or be revealed. With no choice, we went and killed Quilue, a priestess of Llolth. Minsc used a spoon to spoon out her brains
After that, we needed to waste some time.
We whiled away the time by talking to some Githyanki about the latest rumors:
Pictured left from right in Drow Illusion: Aerie, Imoen, Minsc, Jaheira, Jerr
Then we saw a Djinn being tortured by Drow! I recognized him as the Djinn from Irenicus's Chateau! He was so nice...we couldn't just let them continue torturing him, so Aerie and Imoen returned him to his plain with a few magic missiles. The head torturer got mad and demanded 4000 gold for recompensation! Normally I'd refuse to pay and a fight would ensue. However, Jaheira reminded us why we were there so I gave the woman 4000 gold! Thanks alot Jaheira!
We decided to see Phaere early. Our next job was to kill some underground gnomes. Aerie objected to killing them, which Phaere questioned until I interrupted and said that they'd probably make much better slaves. Phew! The lady bought it. However, she said we needed to make an example of them. Solaufein said he'd be waiting for us outside of the city.
I didn't like the prospect of killing the cute gnomes, so I convinced Sola that I could kill some "measly" gnomes on my own. He decided to go back to the city after that. Then I told the gnome captain I needed his helmet for a bet I made, or I'd be made to dress up as Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon. The captain, not wanting to die by a drow hand, gave me the helm. I made sure to tell him to tell his superiors to organize a bigger tribute before the next time the Drow come a-callin''.
We met Phaere and Sola at the tavern. Sola mentioned her nose job, which got us all snickering! Then she ordered to talk to us alone.
At her house, we were to kill Sola. Jaheira suggested I strike a deal with the elf.
At Sola's house, I spared his life, on one condition: Show us your dance of Joy!
Then we gave his cloak to Phaere. Sola told us he was her ex before he left and she kept demanding what we were laughing about. I covered up by saying Sola had soiled himself when he died, to which she laughed. Then she demands to see me in her room! I reluctantly go in there.
It turns out she has one thing, and one thing only on her mind...
Minsc. She wanted Minsc. I sighed in relief and called Minsc in.
Two hours later, and the happiest we've seen Phaere since we met her, she ordered us to meet her at the temple of Llolth. Minsc wasn't too happy, though. When pressed for details, poor Minsc broke down and cried, "No, not the clamps! NOT THE CLAMPS!"
At the temple, we met Matron Ardulence. She had a job for us, find the blood of an elder orb, an elder brain, and a Kua-Toa prince. Luckily I had these things already
Phaere ordered us to her house. Minsc flinched at the idea and went fetal position! Aerie had to cast "Remove Fear" on him to get him cooperating. On the way to Phaere's place, we met a wizard named Visaj who boasted of a magical rope that would get me into the foreboding tower just south of us. I arched my eyebrow and smiled wide. Imoen and I looked at each other and began giggling, much to the rest of the group's dismay.
We still had at least half and hour to stage a robbery
At the house, the rope nullified the wards. As soon as we entered, though, a Lich attacked us! His name was Dierex and twas his house! Immediately we all attacked. Unfortunately, just before I landed a killing blow he cast Imprisonment on me! I called him a few expletives as the lich hit the ground and the whole party was transported away.
We found ourselves in a nicely furnished room with an interestingly dressed Dark Elf. His name was Jarlaxle. His rope had saved us. This was the mercenary that Visaj had mentioned! He offered us a deal, steal the soul gems holding his captured men or be revealed to the city and be tortured with tentacle rods and Neeber until we were sacrificed to Llolth. We chose the former.
After looting everything on the first floor of Dierex's tower, we were teleported away again! It turns out they weren't trapped souls of his men, just very very very valuable gems. Jarlaxle said we could go. He also mentioned that since we had the Jae'Lat Wardstone, we could rob their house now. Imoen and I couldn't resist big smiles after he mentioned that. This Jarlaxle is one man worthy of great respect!
We quickly hurried to Phaere's house, but some stupid priestess demanded we kill some cult southeast or Dierex's Tower! We couldn't disobey, or our cover would be blown. So we hurriedly killed the cultists.
Then Phaere offered us a deal. We would be powerful if we helped her betray the Matron. She told us we could replace the dragon eggs with fake ones she had made. Since this would lead us to the eggs, we took the deal.
Before going to the temple, Imoen and I really wanted to rob the Jae'Lat house! So we all quickly cast some spells and entered the house!
The plan was simple, cast insect plague, chain lightining, and chain lightining. The plan worked! Though the Drow guards didn't panic like most people do when Insect Plague is cast on them, they all went down fast enough! Then we faced the matron of the family and her entourage! They weren't as easy as the guards, but they were certainly easier than Demodorkan.
We ignored the magical adamantine weapons and armor, as they don't sell for much either way. The haul was good though. I so love robbing houses, especially when they're inhabited by evil evil bastards
After our daring robbery, we quickly went to the slave pens to try and free the slaves. They cost me little gold to free, and arm. I quickly explained they should get to the surface. Then Sola appears out of nowhere and offers us some fake eggs to give to Phaere. He gives Minsc a knowing nod, and Minsc nods back with tears brimming his eyes.
Then at the Temple, in the room where the eggs were stored, we had to fight 8 FRIGGIN' CLAY GOLEMS! EIGHT!
Good thing I stole that Rod of Smiting, or we'd have died. We quickly headed to Phaere's house to give her the fake eggs Sola gave us. Then she orders us to go back to the temple.