MAL Ep. 40

This may be a little vaguer than usual, due to my forgetting to write it the day after the game. :-o

In this session, Aler was manipulated from beyond the grave into becoming initiated as a drow, and the party set off to see the sibyl.

1) Aler and the party dispatched the ultra-black eel and found three items in the vault: a scroll tube with a magical combination lock, a diamond ring inscribed "Mylathi Do'Ratha," and a potion with a note that said "Give Aler to drink as soon as he turns 24. EVS." The party surmised this note was written by Aler's mother, Elarra Vel'sharren.

2) The party engaged in some discussion about whether to mess with the scroll case and whether to return to Ellenun to learn more about these items. Their eventual consensus was to go to see the sibyl first.

3) Before setting off into the wilderness, however, Aler decided to drink the potion, which caused him wracking pain and a feeling like something was trying to burst out of his body. Aler passed a few FORT checks, declined a neutralize poison or break enchantment, and the party continued into the wilderness with Khirg carrying Aler, whose convulsions did not subside.

4) The party encountered an elderly drow witch named Hana Sar'talo, who saw through Aler's disguise but assumed him to be a runaway drow trying to do an under-the-table rite of passage. After healing Aler, she scolded him a bit but assured him she wasn't going to call a priestess on him, and wished him luck on the rest of his initiation, which she said would take place soon. The party asked how they could repay her, and she requested they ask a question of the sibyl for her, informing her whether her granddaughter should take the aggressive or passive route in a crossroad she faces, to which the PCs agreed.

5) The party continued into the wilderness and camped for the night, where they were rejoined by Tanya. Jon finished explaining Piper's situation and the other PCs affirmed their commitment to helping her. Zadkiel cast a bunch of buffing spells on Aler, worried that his initiation ritual might happen overnight, and Red set some shambling mounds as guards.

6) Aler's initiation ritual did happen overnight: He was attacked in his dreams by a drider, who fought his dream projection on the Ethereal Plane. Although Aler's body remained behind in the camp, Jon noticed a dimensional anomaly and woke the other PCs, who attacked and drove off the phase spider that had delivered the dream challenge ("You're cheating! Bunch of cheaters!") Jon used his planeblazing powers to shift Angara and Bay to the Ethereal plane where they helped Aler finish off the drider. Having succeeded at his rite of passage, Aler gained the innate spell resistance that noble drow are entitled to from his ordeal.

7) After finishing the night's sleep, the party set off again to find the sibyl.

See you Monday night!