Session 37: The Quiet Game

## Key Plot Developments

Finn is removed from Vizeran's bag of holding and cured of his petrification. Vizeran orders him to scout ahead; he finds a pack of gnolls en route to Blingdenstone. The party is cautious until Pix hears them chanting about ripping and killing both gnome and slimes in Yeenoghu's name. They STOMP the gnolls (a strong contrast to how much they struggled at first), though one (who gets shot through the eye with one of Tremble's arrows) escapes.

They head to Blingdenstone, where they see a city in the process of being repaired. They're not as hospitable as they were before, though they still appreciate the heroes of Blingdenstone; they're preparing to defend the city.

The party goes to Tappy's inn, where Misu sees Morista Malkin, a member of the Harper's Guild! She called for help from the Harpers before going to Gracklstugh and completely forgot about the request. Morista, a dwarf from Gauntlgrym, has a shield guardian for Misu's use. She's been waiting for a week. Misu reports to her.

Stool Team Five recognizes and hugs Glyn. They hear the original Stool crying out in pain; his cries echo through the spores, even from a distance. He is growing.

Tappy speaks to Pix; she's eager to tell more stories. When she tries to perform in front of the bar, her newest tale falls flat; Vizeran joins in after pedantically explaining the art of improv to her (a strong contrast to Ilvara's disdain towards the art form). When she improvises a scene about a goblin who put on a play, Trix is triggered by the memory of being forced to do a play in front of Ilvara. VIzeran enjoys the bar's adulation while Pix, stunned, returns to Tappy (who also preferred Vizeran).

Tremble and Glyn go out to find Jimjar. They see Nomi, who finally got a full night's rest (with Priest Gunrik's magical help); she's become much stronger and more capable. She explains the situation: the city is rebuilding and working together, but small demons are popping up on the outskirts and fighting with each other. She worries that, without the assistance of more earth elementals (which can be acquired at Entemoch's Boon), the city won't stand against a more organized assault. She won't go there, though; she's learned the importance of staying to protect what she cares about from the goblins, and since her mentor (Yantha Coaxrock) never returned from Mantol Derith, she doesn't want to leave the city without a druid. She's told about the returned goblins and goes to Tappy's as she directs Tremble and Glyn to Gunrik's.

Trix and Pix share a drink; Billie-Geo (the earth elemental) has been conscripted to help Tappy run the bar. Pix is sad about her critical failure of a performance, while Trix is sad about the subject matter. He shares his feelings. Pix realizes why Vizeran's addition was so effective; he used prestidigitation to supplement his part of the show. She tries it and the bar loves it.

Tremble reaches Priest Gunrik, who leads him to a thin, frail, hollow-looking gnome: Jimjar. Tremble is overcome with joy. He hugs his mentor and feels how weak he is. Jimjar, who can only mouth words and doesn't have great command of his feeble prosthetics, plays a game of cards with Tremble. Tremble has grown much better at the game. Glyn makes pleasant conversation with Gunrik, who is surprised to see someone aside from Tremble; while his prognostications have been typically correct, things have been happening beyond his expectations. Glyn introduces Lemon to the priest, who is shocked to see a talking ooze. The priest, worried Lemon is connected to the oozes who attacked him, asks Glyn to wait outside and keep Lemon hidden. Lemon is understanding.

Nomi updates the others on what's happened. When Misu hears about her missing mentor at Mantol Derith, she determines that Mantol Derith is a nightmare town, and anyone who DOES come back from it can't be trusted. Nomi, remembering how Trix felt as a plant, gives him a potted mushroom to care for.

Nomi leads the group to Jimjar, who's too weak to do much. Trix talks to Gunrik, who confesses his confusion about the number of unexpected guests; Trix offers to help Jimjar with his superior clerical power, and Gunrik offers to teach Trix about the gnomish pantheon. Trix fails to heal Jimjar, but they share a nice moment where Jimjar non-verbally chides Trix because Tremble will soon be taller than him. Tremble and Trix understand Jimjar's plight: a man who strove his whole life to fight for justice has now lost his felicity of expression and physical prowess. He's hopeful something can change, because he doesn't know what he'd be for without achieving his goals.

Misu visits with Quartermaster Senni to get supplies and fix Jimjar. Senni has been to Gauntlgrym, where Dorbo is gathering reinforcements from King Bruenor Stormbringer to help defend a bastion of civilization in the Underdark; she's already returned with some supplies. She's noted more demonic activity throughout the area; Misu understands faerzress is spreading. (Then, Senni tells Misu the seldom-told story about how the gnomes were betrayed a generation ago.)

Misu goes to Kazook Pickshine's to get raw materials and a longsword (inadvertently inventing DIY sword kits).

Finally, the whole group convenes at Gunrik's place. Tremble wants nothing more than to restore his mentor's limbs and tongue. Trix calls on his god for divine intervention and gets no response. Glyn, alone with Lemon, commiserates about feeling separate from the group; Lemon plays the quiet game. Misu tries to offer Glyn some kindness before entering. After surveying the situation, she knows she can fix Jimjar's limbs. Jimjar, greatly struggling, manages to stand and mouths: **"Whatever it takes."**

## Memorable Quotations

* **Bogtooth:** BOG BOG BOG BOG BOG.
* **Pix**: Eh, Bogtooth does this sometimes at the most inopportune moments. I dunno...wizards' magic, ya know?

**Vizeran**: Yes...we shall see what seeds sprout from the fruit of our efforts.”

* **Pix:** The sliiimes are coming! The slimes are coming! Juiblex! Juiblex!
* **Gnoll:** Juiblex? (Pauses, looks at Pix.) NO JUIBLEX!

**Vizeran:** My brother would have bantered about who deserved credit for that kill. But I say to you...good shot.

**Tremble:** Mr. Y isn’t so much crazy as he is wacky and endearing.

**Tappy:** You know, I was going in that direction first, but we just don’t vibe.

**Tremble:** Yeah...he was staring at those eggs pretty intensely.

**Vizeran:** I surmise that you wish to have a private conversation. I am attuned to such social interactions.

**Stool Team Five:** Once, we were Stool Team Twelve. Now, we are stool team 5. We have lost much. But we have also gained much. We were friends, after a fashion. Your kind appreciates warmth. (Hug.)

**Stool:** The podmate that you call Stool lives still. He is everywhere. He spreads. His core is many, many miles away.

* **Pix:** Oh, Tappy i have so many stories I can share now!
* **Tappy:** Hey, everyone, do we have an audience?
* **Vizeran:** Very well! if you insist, I shall perform.

**Pix:** And so, the little goblin proved that an exciting narrative far outweighs the drudgery of a legal document bin who went to hell! The fine print was too fine. The APR score was OUT of this world! If there’s anything worse than death is BUREAUCRACY!

**Tappy:** I dunno, but that guy kinda upstaged you.

**Nomi:** When I came back to Blingdenstone with your Mind Flayer friend, I was tired and not thinking straight. I took one step and collapsed upon the earth… Priest Gunrik was there and insisted on taking me home, and I said no...no…. I cannot go back, I have work to do… so he cast a sleeping spell on me. And I woke up 12 hours later feeling very strong!

**Nomi:** Trix, I remember when you told me about how much you liked being a plant. I know how you felt. I turned invisible once on accident and I had to keep chasing that feeling until I was able to do it myself. This isn’t the same thing, but hopefully it can grant you a little bit of joy. Something to care for when you don’t feel like taking care of yourself.

**Gunrik:** If I may offer you some old gnomish wisdom: there is a time when our martial endeavors may come to an end. When we have based our whole lives trying to do good deeds and fighting for our ideals, we may find ourselves greatly disappointed.

* **Gunrik:** Okay...you are a talking ooze? This is unlike anything I have ever seen in my entire life.
* **Lemon:** Oh, okay. That’s because I’m built different. I'’m kindly! But I do have hatred in my heart.

**Lemon**: I’m a liability. OH! I lost the quiet game.

**Kazook:** Think of the MONEY you'd make if you sold do-it-yourself sword kits!”

**Jimjar** (mouthing, to Tremble): Play a game?

* **Jimar** (mouthing); Getting taller than you!
* **Trix:** Never gonna happen.
* **Jimjar** (mouthing): Yes, it will.