Session 38: Don't Scream

Key Plot Developments
Glyn, outside of Priest Gunrik's cavern, speaks with Lemon. Lemon is learning; he demonstrates a relatively robust understanding of why the gnomes dislike him. Bogtooth emerges from his stupor and climbs off Pix's back. Jimjar is amazed to see Bogtooth still standing; Bogtooth is sad that Jimjar has been so thoroughly tortured, since Jimjar expressed confidence in him when they first met. Misu and Tremble prepare to build and graft a suitable tongue to help Jimjar express himself.

Trix reaches into himself and prays for guidance and understanding. For the first time, he steps into Bogtooth's vision--the dream he just awakened from! He sees Bogtooth in a beautiful, glittering field. Impossibly sleek fish jump in impeccably clean water. Bogtooth speaks to Peter the Pear, who happily announces Dulcinea's arrival.

Bogtooth is self-deprecating, but Dulcinea praises his growth. She's comfortable answering some of his questions. He asks why she cares about a small grove in the Sword Coast; she clarifies that the child she raised (as she told him during his vision of winter) turned down an offer to join her in the Feywild, so she created a grove for them on the material. That grove has sustained them and their family members for generations. While she considered erasing them after the refusal, she's grown attached to their bloodline.

Bogtooth explains his understanding of the goblin prophecy--there is no one goblin of destruction, but the power to destroy demons flows through his family's bloodline. Dulcinea considers erasing the goblins to avoid the destruction they might bring (her Feywild grove shudders with the feelings of multiple seasons as she considers her move). Trix, who had been silently observing, tries to sneakily move through the dream-space to support Bogtooth, but accidentally bumps into the central tree. Dulcinea is shocked to see him in this realm, but Bogtooth is honest and persuasive about Trix's good intentions and budding clerical powers. Dulcinea is stressed, but not violent. She considered killing ALL goblins but sees the value in keeping Bogtooth around. Then, the archfey pleasantly offers the goblins a chance to go swimming.

Trix agrees. He tries to catch a rainbow fish, but only gets a glittery scale; he basks in the wonder of this alternative world as Peter the Pear, Paul the Pecan, the Cloud Twins, and more natural entities sing. Finally, they awaken.

Trix and Bogtooth, back in the cave, have a tense moment about the possibility of being killed by a powerful fey. Jimjar, after hearing about a vengeful female, remembers Ilvara's torture and becomes deeply disturbed. Tremble calms and comforts him, promising him help and support. Misu urges Tremble to continue his work; as the artificers work together, they know it could be days before the basic work is done, and weeks more before Jimjar is able to consistently move.

Trix goes outside, disturbed by his vision of Bogtooth. He wants to buy diamonds to easily revive deceased party members. He sees Glyn and Lemon. Lemon, practicing music, spontaneously composes poetry about his situation. Trix approves of his freestyling.

Misu and Tremble spend over eight hours trying to perfect a silver tongue--they think about the weight, texture, attachment, and more. In mechanical terms, they succeed on a series of checks, including a natural 20 for the medical attachment plus a natural 10 for bardic inspiration (a total of 35). Jimjar's tongue is perfectly attached without any complications. While he's very unaccustomed to having the object in his mouth, he's able to express his gratitude.

Trix goes to the Rockblight (now Min Gweth) to fish. Mev Flintknapper shows him the way. As he sits down to fish in a cave, a big, surly gnome joins him: Chipgrin. Chipgrin, now a co-chief of the village, expresses his admiration for the goblins. He also helps ease Trix's jealousy about Tremble, Pix, and Bogtooth having an easy time by clarifying the hardships they endured at the hands of the oozes.

Bogtooth runs into Glyn and Lemon. He wants the people of Blingdenstone to like Lemon. Glyn drums as Lemon raps about being accepted. Then, Finn Dubh Cata rushes towards the heroes; he wants to fetch them for Vizeran De'Vir. Vizeran wants to leave now; if they want to stay, Finn will help lead them to Vizeran's. Bogtooth says they'll be done with their errands in two hours (definitely untrue, given the length of time it takes for the artificers to work).

Everyone, aside from the artificers, meet at the Rockblight. Bogtooth clarifies how he and Pix are NOT an item; Chipgrin decides to shoot his shot. Trix clarifies how long the journey to Entemoch's Boon will take, so they decide to meet with Vizeran directly. Bogtooth summons a goat while Glyn summons Longears, who is now empowered by Glyn's oath of vengeance. The worg looks different: red and black, sleek muscles, a scar on his chest that looks like the crystals Glyn used to have. The dog, Glyn on his back, rushes blindly towards the west--and as he runs out of the front gate, encounters Vizeran, who is studying the flora around the town.

As Bogtooth explains how they'll need to spend more time in the town, Vizeran tries to get the goblins to see the seriousness of leaving now. Glyn reveals he's been given a piece of the real Graz'zt's horn. Vizeran really wants to take and study it. The group leaves the drow, promising to go as soon as they handle Entemoch's Boon.

Bogtooth introduces the group to Quartermaster Senni and tries to explain how Lemon is good. The Quartermaster isn't hostile, but is suspicious. The group asks for more elementals, but only Yantha Coaxrock (who isn't back from Mantol Derith) can summon them easily. They need Entemoch's Boon to be reclaimed to get more elementals.

The non-artificers go to Kazook's to get a diamond and repair a glaive. Kazook haggles over the items, but eventually sells the diamond for half-price; he got it for quarter-price from a surface gnome named Fiddleplitz. This means there's a slime-possessed servant of Juiblex around the area. He sold the diamond around a week ago. They decide not to frighten Kazook with the information. They invent recycling together.

Everyone returns to Gunrik's cave. Tremble and Misu are exhausted, but refuse to rest. Jimjar is sleeping. Gunrik, very tired, agrees to help Trix by giving him some of the gnomish pantheon's teachings. He notably describes Garl Glittergold's philosophy: while life may sometimes be hard, we must keep our sense of humor and build our communities through laughter. Trix is very taken with this. Gunrik also expresses his understanding of the afterlife, which Trix also appreciates.

Finally, everyone is inside the cavern--except Longears, who is guarding. Then, a huge, monstrous, baboon-like head peers in from the front of the cavern. It speaks directly to Trix. A head of the Demogorgon gives Trix, the only person who can see it, an explicit threat: if Trix doesn't stop the ritual, Shuushar will meet a horrific death.

Memorable Quotations

 * Lemon: You know, sometimes, I feel like a burden. Everything was going swimmingly for you until I revealed myself to be kindly but with hatred in my heart.
 * Glyn: Oh, it’s not your fault, Lemon.
 * Lemon: Do you think if I gave it the old college try, they would be more accommodating?
 * Glyn: Lemon, what’s college?
 * Lemon: I dunno. It’s something i heard when talking to Extra-Dimensional Spacey. Some of it went in one slime hole and out the other. But some of it stuck, 'cause I’m a sticky guy.

Peter the Pear: I’m just fruit, I don’t really know that much.

Lady Dulcinea: You’re speaking with fruit again, aren’t you, Bogtooth?


 * Bogtooth: I’m trying to be as honest a goblin--as honest a BOGTOOTH as possible.
 * Dulcinea: When first I met Bogtooth, he was a miserable, sad, vengeful little cretin.
 * Bogtooth: Still a little cretin in size!

Dulcinea: Bogtooth, Trix, I was deeply considering wiping out every goblin after hearing that you all were goblins of destruction, but after speaking with you...I’ve decided not to do that.


 * Bogtooth: So you know when I messed up with the names and with Pix and everything? That’s Dulcinea!
 * Trix: That’s your patron? That’s maybe the worst person possible to mess up with.

Lemon: Hey, my name is Lemon and I’m here to say that all of your troubles 're gonna go away. I’m here with my buddies Glyn and Trix, my other friends are inside, like Pix!

Jimjar: I have been dealt….another hand.

Sark Axebarrel: So, you are going to the most frightening place in the world, eh? I must warn you, goblins that go in there only return multiple times!


 * Chipgrin: I know a goblin when I sees one! And you, sir, are a goblin. And not just ANY goblin--you look like a firecracker of a dame that I once met.
 * Trix: Yeah...uh, I’m her sister.
 * Chipgrin: Sister?! Well then, I don’t know goblins that much, do I?
 * Trix: No! No, I’m a guy. I’m her brother.

Chipgrin: I hear good things about Tremble the Destroyer too, but I never seen him do nothin'. I hear he went in and out of the Rockblight so many times, it was like a revolving door!

Lemon: I'm an ooze, no doubt about it, but a lot of the gnomes aren't about it! I wanna get in front of them and shout it, but the gnomes aren't about it. My name is Lemon, your name is Glyn, and if Bogtooth has something good, then we’re in! It’s Blingdenstone! It isn't bad, it isn’t sad. It's Blingdenstone...OH NO. I can’t work under these conditions! I’m gonna go talk to Bag the Bat or something!


 * Trix: You’re MARRIED to my SISTER!?
 * Bogtooth: I’m not married to ANYONE!
 * Glyn: Lemon! Is this the marriage your were trying to break up?
 * Lemon (trying to fit in): Yes, it was me all along.

Bogtooth: Wait, I know what to do! Every time I can’t find someone, I reach into my pants and throw out some fluff balls!

Longears: My master! I am called upon once again to wreak vengeance upon the unworthy. Shall I begin with this goat?

Longears: AWOOOOOOO! I am invincible when I am under your command! Wizard, know that you are in the presence of the mighty Glyn, the Conqueror!


 * Vizeran: You..you..you...WHAT? You have the horn of a...demon lord?
 * Glyn: Uh, yeah…
 * Vizeran: ...May I have it?
 * Glyn: Uh, I need it to do the ritual.
 * Vizeran: Uh, yes, we will need many things to--you have the horn of a DEMON LORD?

Misu: You know, I really did a lot, but you really aren't an apprentice artificer. You're an artificer.


 * Bogtooth: Kazook, remember, it’s because of us that you and your wife have a place to live!
 * Kazook: Ah yes, I am familiar with your threats!
 * Glyn: Wait, if we threaten you, you’ll lower your prices?

Gunrik: Our faith is the clearest lens through which we perceive the beauties and complexities of creation. It is through that which we find a sense of order, a sense of purpose in the chaos.


 * Lemon: Leader, thank you so much for getting me inside here. It’s nice to be with Glyn-Lemon, but it's nicer to be with Glyn-Lemon and everybody else.
 * Bogtooth: Hey, it’s no problem. You’re part of the clan. And also, I think I get it. I know what it's like for people to not like you. It takes time.
 * Lemon: Wow. You know what? I think I might like you even MORE than Roomie! Not Ceiling, though.

Demogorgon: Hey, buddy! Hi. Don't scream, or I'll kill Shuushar, okay?