fragment of 'The Travelogue of Varis Liadon'
Ziggy, I popped back into Sabine's world just in time to take a punch from DAINA in the yeast bowl. I swear, this world is the worst, except for all the others. At least I don't hear nonsense about someone called 'Katniss' here...
It got slightly better from there. DAINA and several other Scarlet Tunic Brigade had captured a nobleman, LORD JERREFOR, and were hauling him to face DOLF's justice. I'm always ready to see some fancy-pants nobleman get a taste of the real world outside their pretty manicured manor houses.
The scene with DOLF was a lot less clear to me. Someone new to me (even for this world) cast a Zone of Truth to get reliable (ish) testimony from the lordling. He talked circles around us as much as possible. I really should have just stabbed him in the carriage. In the end, we did get JERREFOR to admit to assaulting NYX (but not controlling shadow demons). He demanded equal questioning of our own NOCTURNUS WAYNE though, because it turns out one of our Brigade members is both the newly-elected Mayor and suspected of ballot stuffing. I still don't get these people, I really don't. Seriously, rigging a mayoral election? I could maybe understand conniving your way into a noble title since it lasts, but a short-term elected office just doesn't seem worth the trouble.
We also found plans for some seriously deep tunnels. SPROCKET also tried to talk circles around the Zone of Truth to keep from spilling this find in front of DOLF, for some reason. I thought DOLF was pretty solid, since he helped us out when we fought the revenant. No idea why SPROCKET wouldn't trust him. In the end, we decided that exploring dangerous tunnels was a good idea. Better than dealing with noblemen and politicians and a Zone of Truth any day.
To get into the tunnels, we went through a 'public works project'. It looked really suspicious when we arrived, so I made sure to sneak past the guards once the fighting started to take a look inside. Turned out that there weren't any additional nasty surprises, just the 4 strange guards. These guards had glowing eyes that reminded me of the revenant I got to dispatch in this world during my last jump here. We never figured out exactly what caused that, but they weren't truly undead. I would have known.
After disabling the guards, we found weapons hidden within barrels of preserved foodstuffs. Seems like someone (probably the smarmy noble bastard) was smuggling weapons. We also found the tunnel entrance thanks to SPROCKET's map. I even found a talking shrub. It seems alive somehow, but oddly scared. It seemed to accept me though, and turned into a little trinket, so I took it along.
Tunnels are boring. This tunnel was especially long and boring. It took us far too long to get through it. It met the other tunnel on SPROCKET's map eventually, in a large cavern with another just-started tunnel. We also found a door, with suspicious sounds on the other side of it. I helped everyone stay quiet so we could listen at the door until that oaf TIBERIUS (old people should just stay home) tripped. We heard just enough to uncover a Drow plot to attack the city. Upon hearing another Drow, NOCTURNUS burst into the room to confront the enemy. Most of us stayed back and let the two idiots stumble into things. They actually found a fight worth having though, so the rest of the Brigade stepped in to help them eventually. We had a Drow prince with a personal bone to pick with NOCTURNUS to fight, along with a hag, a human, and a pair of monstrous armor suit construct things. No big deal for this many of the Brigade. Everyone pulled their weight (more or less) and we killed all but the hag. No clue where she disappeared to.
At this point, the rest of the Brigade had to stop for rest. Like I said, that tunnel was far too long. Just as we all made a make-shift camp in this room, I jumped again. I hope I don't end up in that weird world where someone called me 'Legolas' again. Ziggy, this is still the most confusing experience I've ever had - even worse than being lost that one time in the Endless Forest. I hope that eventually I can make the jump home. In the mean time, all honor to you, revered ancestor, and may you look with favor upon your humble descendant Varis.