Session 21-A: Insights and Deceptions

## Key Plot Developments

Misu, Glyn, and a newly cursed Trix rejoin Shuushar and Lemon at the inn. Misu is overwhelmed by the enormity of her task; she fears Gracklstugh is already doomed. Glyn wants the others' help in saving Miss Anna's grove. Trix, cursed as he is, can't articulate his desires. Shuushar, who previously cried on their journey around the Darklake, is distant.

The group tries to piece together a plan of action. The derro slave Trix purchased under his guise as Durr the duergar fidgets and speaks incomprehensibly. They debate simply leaving the city. It's clear they have grown apart in their goals and values. Throughout the interaction, they attempt to lie to each other 33 times. Lemon also has some news the others find disturbing; in his conversations with Extra-Dimensional Spacey, he's learned to harness innate magic. He can't understand how he can do special things (like calming the derro's emotions or giving his friends inspiration), but he can. Trix tries to surreptitiously test if Glyn is actually undead, but the results are inconclusive.

Finally, Shuushar voices his discontent with the whole situation. He blames Misu for being a bad influence on Trix and leading him down a path of deception and slavery. He discloses his realization: if sacrifice is sacred in the eyes of the Sea Mother, he must sacrifice his friendship with Trix in order for Trix to thrive. He intends to leave the party.

Trix, maddened, can't articulate his desire to stay. For the first time, he tries to intuit why Shuushar acts the way he does. He realizes something he could have known from the start: Shuushar is cursed. Trix removes Shuushar's curse.

Immediately, Shuushar wretches, recoils, and screams as his true, long-buried persona emerges. He is still Trix's friend, but he was a general in a kuo-toan army. He was not a pacifist. He saw a swirl of white, sugary substances after he touched a gem of some sort back in Mantol-Derith decades ago. It drove him to madness. Now, he has regained his will to fight. He will fight for Trix and against the demons.

The party immediately begins to interrogate Glyn about the gem he received from Miss Anna and the crystal necklaces he's now able to create. They don't register as having any magical aura. They feed some to Lemon and ask how they taste (like nothing in particular, apparently). Misu tries to compare the taste of the necklaces to the taste of her blood (much to Glyn's dismay); Lemon strongly prefers blood. Trix knows he can remove his own curse tomorrow, so casts Sleep on himself. The others also rest.

Misu, again, dreams of her father; since she strongly aspires to join her mother as a devil, a heavenly image is a nightmare. Glyn has a vision of the Dark Prince, who shows him endless islands of crystals in a dark sea and encourages him to conquer Gracklstugh in his name. Trix, maddened, dreams of Gracklstugh. A pleasant melody lingers in the air as he strolls down the streets. Vultures cry overhead as he makes his way to Themberchaud, who affably greets him. This dragon appears to be made of the same sugary confection Trix experienced when he tried to remove Glyn's curse.

The curses, the crystals, and this odd white cream--what does it all mean?

## Memorable Quotations

**Glyn:** Yeah, Larry gave me his tentacle. It was cool.

**Glyn**: You're giving Lemon-Glyn a taste for blood?!

* **Misu:** What's the cheapest thing you've got?
* **Bartender:** Piss water.
* **Misu:** Is...that...alcohol?
* **Bartender:** No. It's the cheapest thing we've got.

**Trix**: I know exactly where my soul is, yup. I have complete access. To my soul.

* **Glyn:** Do you want a necklace, Trix?
* **Trix:** Yeah, uh, sorry. My neck hurts. Thanks, though. It really means a lot.
* **Glyn:** I mean, you could just keep it instead of wearing it.
* **Trix:** I COULD do that, huh?

**Shuushar**: Why did I do that for so long? Why did I just sit back and let myself be beaten? I was on the verge of death! No more. I will fight with you. Together, we will rip out the Demogorgon's tongue--both of them. I am awakened.

**Lemon:** Okay! I want more blood later, but I'll earn it! Bye!

* **Fior-Ghlan the Pure:** I do not mean to traumatize you with the sights of eternal peace, my daughter!
* **Misu** (chucking apples at him): Then send me to hell!