Session 7-C: The Silken Paths

Key Plot Developments
Pyrite and Glyn escape from Sloobludop in hot pursuit of Trix. They sail across the Darklake. Pyrite, afflicted with the madness of the Demogorgon, is convinced that Pix is secretly intent on killing her family members, so she privately resolves to kill Pix first. Pyrite lashes out at Glyn. Glyn expresses vulnerability and discontent with having to serve as a shield for the the others; he is happy to help his family, but wants to be treated with respect and consideration. Pyrite ignores him.

The pair, sailing to the Southwest, tracks Trix and Shuushar to a Darklake alcove. They see Trix's boat (which has been planted in the opposite direction Trix and Shuushar went) and are misled by Trix's ruse. As they unintentionally lose Trix's trail, they encounter a giant floating brain with tentacles, which emerges from the dark to feed on its prone prey. They, with some difficulty, subdue it. They note goblin tracks in the cavern and immediately follow them.

Stumbling through a network of Underdark caverns, the pair finally emerges at a thousands-foot-wide chasm populated by crisscrossing spider webs. They see the goblins who left the tracks: a pair of thrill-seeking goblins named Yuk Yuk and Spiderbait. Yuk Yuk, the negotiator, offers to lead them through the chasm (which he calls "The Silken Paths") for a price. They agree and are taken on a journey through the webs. Spiderbait teaches Glyn and Pyrite how small creatures like them can surf through the webs by applying a gourd of grease to their bare feet.

Glyn strikes up a conversation with the duo and learns that they encountered an older Goblin who also claimed to be Cragmaw-affiliated; Glyn concludes that the Web Runners must have encountered their uncle, Rotgut, who descended into the Underdark from the Sunless Citadel months before the Cragmaw children. Pyrite obsessively carves makeshift maps into scrpas of mushroom.

As they near their destination, the four disturb a floating, many-eyed, tentacled head. The being telepathically screams about the advent of demons and faerzress, warning the goblins about the end times. Though Glyn tries to parley with it, Pyrite quickly loses patience and attacks it. The being uses supernatural gaze abilities to confuse, paralyze, and disorient the goblins. Despite seeing that it can reflect and redirect magical attacks, Pyrite attempts to kill it with fire. It sends Pyrite's flames directly at Spiderbait, who is decapitated.

Yuk Yuk, grieving for his partner, urges the pair to rush away from the monster. The trio escapes, leaving Spiderbait's body behind.

New NPCs

 * 1) Yuk Yuk, web-surfing goblin
 * 2) Spiderbait, web-surfing goblin