Session 17-C: Glyn's Gift

Key Plot Developments
Glyn awakens from his pleasant dream. Y jolts the goblin up, saying that, as members of the Society of Brilliance, they must investigate disturbances in the ambient magic of the Underdark. Y claims that they are now called to handle such a problem; he's revealed a telepathic message. He tells it to Glyn: “Many lives are at stake; find me in Durhlong; come help."

Glyn, reliant on Y's teleportation to help find his friends, agrees to help. He forages for the same grease that Yuk Yuk and Spiderbait used to quickly surf on the webbing for a considerable amount of time before Y absentmindedly creates his own grease.

The unlikely pair teleports to a large cavern atop a cliff overlooking a lake. They ascend the cliff, discovering a small grouping of buildings surrounded by a wooden palisade. There, they meet a pair of guards, one a half-orc, the other a drow, sit out front of the gate playing cards on a stool. They are allowed in, though the guard claims that they are in the "holy hamlet of Lliar'riyathoss' chosen."

Y and Glyn investigate the town; there are around 120 people of mixed races, including 24 armed mercenaries. They are led to Rufus, a half-orc captain of the guard who sternly explains how he must maintain order and prepare the citizens for a potential invasion. Rufus is loyal to Jacqueline Pierce, the human mayor. However, Cirederill Quin has challenged the mayor's leadership; she is the spiritual leader of the city and has inducted many of its inhabitants into a cult of Lliar'riyathoss, the Lord of the Deep. Glyn intuits that she may be worshipping the Demogorgon. Trying to avoid her, he calls out to his patron, the Dark Prince, who suggests that this town might be in need of mediation and leadership--his leadership.

Glyn speaks with Mayor Pierce, who--while taciturn and blunt--decides to share a few lessons in leadership with the goblin, including the importance of delegating, avoiding open conflict unless it's necessary, and learning how to tell when you're being disrespected. Pierce does not appear to believe in the cult's god, but has strategically danced around the subject for the town's sake.

Glyn decides to confront Cirederill head-on at her temple. The priestess lives in the only lavish building in town. All over the sides are murals depicting a great tentacled creature, shining light down on a bunch of people below who pay fealty to it. The interior is not much better, covered in exquisite tapestries depicting a sad and broken group of people finding the tentacled god and being elevated by it to live happy prosperous lives. At the front of the building an altar stands in front of a large statue of an deep-sea monstrosity.

Cirederill insists that Glyn be initiated into her order--a process that requires his willing dive off Cliffwatch into the lake below. Glyn, embodying the ethos of a conqueror (as the Dark Prince suggested he should), accepts. He plunges into the lake.

As he sinks beneath the surface, large tentacles reach up and grasps him gently, pulling him deeper into the dark. He is lifted out of the water and safely deposited onto dry ground. He's in some sort of deeper cave, accessible only through an underwater tunnel beneath the lake. The moss provides dim illumination all around.

A large, tentacled, fish-like beast floats on top of the pool, staring at him with its three red eyes. The creature introduces itself as Larry. It expresses genuine concern for its past--it used to enslave countless beings, but has been "cured" of its previous immorality by an unknown force. Unfortunately, Cirederill has rejected all attempts to release Durhlong from its worship. Larry begs Glyn to help free the people of Durhlong from their self-imposed captivity, and to convince them that Larry is not a god.

Glyn, urged by the Dark Prince, accepts. Larry, grateful, gifts Glyn with a piece of a tentacle (which Glyn wears like a crown) and believes it can trust the goblin to convince the town. Larry sends Glyn back to the surface and departs.

When Glyn emerges back in Durhlong, Cirederill is shocked. Glyn, impressing the town with the cadence and appearance of a prophet, argues that their god was real, but will no longer answer their prayers. Stunned, some of the townsfolk ask what to put their faith in. Glyn, possessed by a will to conquer, demands that they put their faith in him. Cirederill accepts.

Glyn suddenly discovers a new ability. Just like Miss Anna created a necklace for him, he realizes that he can create duplicates of necklaces for others. Cultist after cultist comes up to him, accepting his necklace as a prophet's gift. One after another, they kneel in tribute: "Lord Glyn."

Glyn feels the Dark Prince's presence. The mysterious benefactor is beaming with pride.

New NPCs

 * 1) Rufus, half-orc captain of Durhlong's guard
 * 2) Jacqueline Pierce, Durhlong's mayor
 * 3) Cirederill Quin, Durhlong's priestess
 * 4) Larry, aboleth