Ep. 81 Blackbriar Awaits

## Watch

Blackbriar Awaits | Khyber Shards #81 | D&D 5e Actual Play

—Pog

The Stryke Force finishes their preparations for Daine's rescue: Esri makes a sleeping potion; Shade gets advice from Gaulronak; Ari and Pog get equipment from Solarca. Kara has an update about Gerald.

They meet up with the Moonspears and other drow and start their trek through the jungle. Near dawn, they come to the walls of Blackbriar. When they get about fifty feet from it, the vines start reaching out in their direction. They get closer and an entrance opens up, squeezing close after they walk through. Tyris's voice rings out, speaking of a test beginning.

## Synopsis

The crew is still preparing for their rescue of Daine. Esri makes a sleep bomb so good that he passes out in his greenhouse. Ari and Shade go to Gaulronak for advice about dealing with Blackbriar. She tells them about an ancient giant method of changing creatures to suit their purpose, which Blackbriar is copying. The briars themselves are its greatest abomination; something inside has created a living wall. There has to be something in the center acting as its heart, and if they kill that, they'll kill the briar.

On the second day, Kara comes back from her stakeout at Gerald's. She tells Esri that she's seen elves with the Mark of Shadow going in and out.

Ari and Pog go to Black Iron. Solarca gives them a drow longknife and a magical vambrace, and her and Pog share a moment. Afterward, they meet up with Esri and Shade, who have gone ahead to the Moonspears. Ilya looks very upset about something. Pog hands out the equipment, and they start their trek into the jungle. Zenaida makes a calling sound, and several other drow join them. They move stealthily throw the jungle, the other drow remaining hidden, but staying in communication with the Moonspears via what sounds like bird calls.

Near dawn they come to a clearing about fifty yards wide where it looks like the forest has been purposefully cut away, and there's a wall of thick vines. Esri hears rustling like wind moving through trees, except there's no wind. Shade climbs one and casts Identify on it. It seems that there's an awareness to the tree. Solei thinks maybe Rowa is waking them.

They get within about fifty feet, and some of the vines unwinds itself and reaches out in their direction, waves slightly, and withdraws back into the briar. Pog throws a rock at it.

About ten feet from the wall, the vines shift again and an entrance opens up. Once all of them have entered, it squeezes closed. They get to an archway that leads to an open space with a forest glade.

They hear Tyris speaking over everything, talking about a test starting.

## Locations

* Blackbriar
* Potions & Notions
* The Tents of Rusheme

## Spells

* **Esri**
	+ Chill Touch x2
	+ Find Traps
* **Shade**
	+ Identify
	+ Pass Without Trace

## Quotes

"Well I'm in the bath, so I'm gonna have to dry off."
"Please put your communicator down in the bathroom, Ari. It's weird. Please just listen and don't talk."
*—Ari and Pog*

"It doesn't really go with my aesthetic."
"Well, honestly, nothing does though so it's not that big of a deal."
*—Esri and Pog*

"This fool wearing his metal suit out in the jungle on a hunt!"
*—A drow in the hunting party*