Recaps

Renato and Tristana dealt with the Drow who had attacked them and prepared to enter Samoriel City, where Tristana warned him that her family might still be dangerous. As they approached the gates, Renato detected a powerful, malicious figure and ordered Klauthsura to prepare for battle.

• Renato killed the male Drow swordsman, claimed his enchanted Dark Elf Guard Sword, and stored it in his Space Ring.
• Klauthsura fed on a hypnotized Drow warrior while Tristana tortured Fyvree to learn that she had stolen Tristana's holdings and plotted to kill her.
• Tristana slit Fyvree's throat and stabbed her exposed heart, then warned Renato to stay close and avoid food or drink in Samoriel City.
• Renato noticed a nearly invisible figure near the city gates, sensed its immense malice, pulled Tristana behind him, and ordered Klauthsura to prepare for battle.

Renato met Matron Mother Delina, who tried to lure him to her estate before Matron Mother Quelyn intervened. Quelyn drove Delina away and ordered Tristana to return with her, leaving Renato under the watch of the newly arrived Matron Mother.

• Matron Mother Delina confronted Tristana and Renato, silenced Tristana, and questioned Renato about his name and origins.
• Delina touched Renato and invited him to dine at her estate and visit her bedroom, while Renato restrained himself from attacking her.
• When Tristana protested that Renato was her guard, Delina threatened to punish her.
• Matron Mother Quelyn arrived with armed Drow warriors and accused Delina of murdering one daughter and trying to steal another's guard.
• Quelyn attacked Delina with her nine-headed whip, but Delina blocked the strike and escaped with Word of Recall.
• Tristana explained Fyvree's death to Quelyn, who ordered her to bring Fyvree's corpse back as material for necromantic experiments.

Renato entered the Nightwind Family’s heavily fortified compound with Tristana and waited in her room while she reported to her mother. When Tristana failed to return, a sharp-eyed Drow questioned Renato about how he had met her.

• Renato saw a Nightwind Family guard lash a Half-Drow commoner for not moving aside quickly enough as he traveled through Samoriel City.
• Renato crossed the Nightwind Family’s guarded fortress and watched Klauthsura be taken for a twenty-four-hour quarantine.
• Tristana brought Renato to her bare stone room, told him to wait, and warned him to keep quiet about who he was.
• A female guard entered and scrutinized Renato, then asked whether he was mute when he refused to speak.
• Renato recognized the woman’s resemblance to Matron Mother Quelyn and suspected she had come to question him.
• The Female Drow demanded that Renato recount exactly how he had met Tristana.

Renato passed the Nightwind Family’s test, and Brichidi tried to recruit him away from Tristana with promises of wealth, power, and her favor. Tristana drove her sister off and took Renato to see the fortress, while Renato remained bound to the little cleric by their shared secrets and experiences.

• Renato gave his prepared testimony, concealed his identity, and passed the Nightwind Family’s magical examination.
• Brichidi introduced herself as Tristana’s eldest sister and praised Renato’s swordsmanship before offering him wealth, authority, and her favor if he joined her.
• Tristana rushed in, pulled Renato behind her, and insulted Brichidi for trying to seduce him.
• Brichidi left Renato in the Military Encampment and told Tristana to show him around the Family Fortress.
• Tristana warned Renato not to trust Brichidi, said she had only been tested on scripture by Matron Mother Quelyn, and led him outside the chapel.

Renato followed Tristana through the Nightwind Family fortress, where she explained the low status of half-elves and showed him the family’s magical treasure room. She offered him a magic trinket and arranged a private place for him to stay, leaving him to choose from a chest.

• Renato asked Tristana why the half-elf servants were afraid of her, and she said they were slaves rather than commoners.
• Tristana led Renato through a small armory and told him that she would not replace his weapons or armor.
• Tristana opened a magically sealed door with Lolth’s holy symbol and offered Renato a trinket from a treasure chest.
• Tristana explained that Narbondel’s rising flames kept time for the city and urged Renato to choose quickly.
• Tristana said Renato would stay in Fyvree’s vacant courtyard without servants and warned him not to act without consulting her.

Renato settled into the Nightwind Family’s fortified courtyard in Sammoril and tested the magical Gish Cloak, gaining access to Misty Step and Blur. He remained wary of the Drow city and ended the chapter meditating on guard.

• Renato examined his cleaned armor and new spider-silk clothing, then learned that the Nightwind crest marked him as enjoying Tristana’s favor.
• Renato inspected the Gish Cloak, which Quelyn had crafted from a Githyanki Gish, and read about its Misty Step and Blur spells.
• Renato used Misty Step to move from the mirror to the bed and considered how the spell could help him in battle.
• Renato dismissed Blur as less useful than his existing defenses and reflected on the dangers of Sammoril and the Drow.
• Renato closed his eyes and entered meditation while remaining on guard.

Renato went to meet Klauthsura at the workshop where the mind flayer was staying, but a young drow warrior barred his way. The warrior challenged Renato to prove his strength before allowing him inside.

• Renato questioned the servants and learned where Klauthsura was staying, then headed to the workshop.
• A young drow warrior recognized Renato as the one who killed Captain Loken and stopped him from entering.
• Klauthsura explained that Matron Mother Quelyn had only ordered the warrior to keep others safe, not to prevent Renato from visiting.
• The young warrior insisted Renato prove he could protect himself by fighting him, and Renato asked what the rules were.
• The young warrior agreed that Renato could knock him down and said he would try not to hit Renato's face to avoid Priest Tristana's anger.

Renato entered the Nightwind Family’s alchemy workshop and learned that Klauthsura had arranged a one-year potion-supply contract with Quelyn. Klauthsura gave Renato a successful Oil of Speed and asked him to gather local information, leaving them to cooperate in Sammoriel City.

• Renato knocked the young Drow warrior down with a kick and entered the workshop without drawing his sword.
• Klauthsura explained that Quelyn had provided a laboratory in exchange for a set supply of magical potions under a conventional one-year contract.
• Renato learned that Klauthsura was less than a year old and had little knowledge of Samoriel City; Klauthsura suggested eating Drow brains to acquire local memories.
• Renato rejected Klauthsura’s suggestion and agreed to seek information from locals instead.
• Klauthsura gave Renato a successful bottle of Oil of Speed and asked him to share information, and Renato agreed.

Renato questioned Tristana about returning to the Surface and learned how the Nightwind Family managed its peripheral holdings. He planned to use the family to build his strength and wealth while seeking a way back, as Tristana explained that priestesses had to retain their own holdings without relying on family support.

• Renato returned to his residence and found Tristana waiting angrily for him.
• Renato asked whether Tristana’s mother could arrange a Teleportation Circle, but Tristana said she needed to reclaim her seized holdings and raise gold first.
• Renato decided to use the Nightwind Family to learn about the city, grow stronger, and eventually seek help from drow archmages.
• Tristana explained that peripheral holdings belonged to individual priestesses, who managed them and paid tribute to the Nightwind Family.
• Tristana said commoner clerics served the family in exchange for access to its holdings, and that priestesses who lost their properties received no support.

Renato accompanied Tristana through Samoriel City as she reclaimed businesses that had shifted their allegiance to her dead sister Fyvree, while explaining the city’s rule that murder went unpunished if no one witnessed it. At the Breath of Tonnigat tavern, its owner tried to drug Renato with bloodwine and revealed hostile intent, leaving Tristana to confront her.

• Tristana explained to Renato that Samoriel City punished public murder but treated unwitnessed assassination as if it had never happened.
• Tristana suspected her eldest sister Brichidi had bribed a warrior to alert their mother when Fyvree died, and Renato agreed Brichidi had tried to divide them.
• Renato accompanied Tristana as businesses in the Commoners’ District renewed their allegiance, and Tristana punished one cook by cutting off her finger and raising her tribute.
• At the Breath of Tonnigat, Tristana checked the tavern’s accounts while its Half-Drow owner offered Renato a cup of bloodwine.
• Renato refused the wine, and Tristana called the owner a mongrel as the woman bared her teeth and threatened to kill him.

Renato killed a half-drow cleric of Ghaunadaur after she transformed into an ooze-like monster. When her armed followers rushed into the private room, he cut them down as well.

• Renato attacked the half-drow, who transformed into an ooze-like monster and prayed to Ghaunadaur.
• Renato and Tristana struck the monster with shadow and divine fire, and Renato cut her into pieces, killing her.
• Renato asked Tristana whether Ghaunadaur was an evil god.
• Half-drow warriors charged into the room, shouting in the name of the Ancient Eye.
• Renato swept his longsword through the warriors and the doorway, cutting them to pieces.

Renato and Tristana fought their way out of a Ghaunadaur cult stronghold and faced a massive ooze blocking their escape. They killed the aberration, but remained trapped underground amid the ruined stairwell.

• Renato cut down the half-drow mercenaries in the private room, then used Oil of Speed as Tristana prepared to follow him.
• Renato evaded crossbow bolts with a spell and killed the crossbow wielders waiting on the stairs.
• A huge ooze forced its way through the doorway and pursued Renato, clinging to the wall after the stone stairwell collapsed.
• Tristana struck the ooze with a sonic spell, knocking it from the ceiling and leaving it vulnerable.
• Renato cleaved the ooze while Tristana attacked it with her snake whip, and their combined assault destroyed the monster.

After a cult summoned a large ooze at the Breath of Tonnigat, Tristana warned Renato that the forbidden worship of Ghaunadaur had drawn the attention of Sammoril’s rulers. She gave Renato a magical mask to conceal his appearance as the Ruling Guard approached.

• Renato collected silver coins from the ruined tavern while Tristana condemned the cultists who had summoned the ooze.
• Renato asked Tristana why the cultists had targeted them, and she panicked when he named Ghaunadaur.
• Tristana explained that Sammoril forbade worship of the Hidden One and feared the ruling Matron Mothers would learn about the cult’s hideout.
• Tristana told Renato to let her handle the arriving Ruling Guard and gave him a mithral mask called the Consort’s Mask.
• Renato read the mask’s guide entry and learned it could cast Darkness using its charges.

Renato wore Tristana’s enchanted consort mask before the Lolth authorities moved to suppress a Ghaunadaur uprising in Sammoril. Later, he questioned Klauthsura about Ghaunadaur and learned that the Nightwind Family supplied the mind flayer with half-drow servants as food.

• Tristana gave Renato a consort mask enchanted with darkness, then warned him not to interrupt her in front of outsiders.
• Renato heard an army approaching the tavern, and Tristana pulled him behind her as Lolth’s forces and academy executioners surrounded the area.
• Renato returned to Klauthsura’s workshop while Tristana stayed to help Quelyn investigate the uprising.
• Klauthsura explained competing accounts of Ghaunadaur’s origins and said Zephros believed Ghaunadaur’s hostility with Lolth began when she usurped part of his authority.
• Klauthsura suggested that low-status half-drow might worship Ghaunadaur in hopes of gaining power, then revealed that the Nightwind Family regularly supplied him with half-drow servants.

Renato accepted and ate a skewer of Deep Dragon meat that Klauthsura had roasted, after confirming it was safe. The meal left him unusually full but caused no immediate harm, while Klauthsura considered whether dragon materials could inspire new potions.

• Klauthsura offered Renato a skewer made from uncontaminated Deep Dragon flesh, and Renato initially worried it came from an intelligent being.
• Klauthsura clarified the meat came from the Deep Dragon and offered Renato a staff enchanted with Detect Poison.
• Renato used the staff to confirm the dragon meat was nonpoisonous, then decided to taste it.
• Renato praised Klauthsura's cooking and asked whether eating the meat would change his body or enhance his abilities.
• Klauthsura explained that dragon meat might affect appetite and discussed exploring dragon-related potions.
• Renato felt a brief burning sensation and unusual fullness, while Klauthsura offered to pump his stomach if he became ill.

Renato left Klauthsura’s workshop and was confronted by Quelyn, who ordered him to help Tristana investigate a cult of Ghaunadaur after Lolth chose her for the task. Renato accepted the quest and went to seek potions before meeting Tristana.

• Renato gave Klauthsura Deep Dragon organs and tendons to process, and she said she would prepare potions for him.
• Quelyn appeared alone in Renato’s courtyard, identified him as Tristana’s guard, and ordered him to help her.
• Quelyn explained that Tristana had received an oracle from Lolth and promised the Nightwind Family’s support if Renato proved his worth.
• Renato read the quest to investigate the cult of Ghaunadaur and destroy its altar, then accepted it.
• Renato decided to ask Klauthsura for Oil of Speed and Healing Potions before heading to Tristana.

Renato met Tristana at the Breath of Tonnigat and learned that Lolth had ordered her to purge a cult in Sammoril. With other Priestesses forbidden from intervening and Tristana lacking loyal soldiers, the two were left to carry out the task themselves.

• Klauthsura gave Renato potions and reminded him to assess risks and plan a retreat.
• Renato reached the damaged Breath of Tonnigat and found Tristana murmuring scripture amid the lingering stench of necromantic magic.
• Tristana told Renato that Lolth had chosen her to purge the cult and sacrifice its followers, but her oracle revealed no useful details.
• Renato learned that Lolth’s custom forbade other Priestesses from helping or hindering the chosen person, leaving Tristana without support from her mother or family soldiers.
• Tristana admitted that she would not recruit commoner warriors and said Renato was enough.

Tristana took Renato to the Nightwind Family’s beast pens so they could ride to the Gray Zone and investigate the Half-Drow Mercenaries recruited into Ghaunadaur’s cult. Renato mounted a large Subterranean Lizard with ease, and they prepared to set off.

• Tristana explained that the Half-Drow Mercenaries had been recruited in the Gray Zone, Samoriel City’s largest marketplace.
• Tristana led Renato to the Nightwind Family’s beast pens near Lake Tonnigat and pointed out the family’s ranch on an island.
• Tristana brought out two Subterranean Lizards and explained how their adhesive feet and locking saddles let them travel through tunnels.
• Tristana warned Renato to feed his lizard fresh meat before mounting, but he had already climbed onto its back and secured the saddle clasp.
• Renato stroked the obedient lizard and told it to take him to the Gray Zone, promising to feed it fresh meat afterward.

Renato and Tristana entered the Gray Zone to investigate Ghaunadaur’s cult, and Renato decided to seek information from the Iron Price mercenary company. Tristana reluctantly agreed to his plan, while the pair arrived at the company’s battered tower.

• Renato surveyed the Gray Zone and learned from Tristana that mercenary companies controlled much of the area.
• Tristana identified the Iron Price mercenary company’s base, and Renato rode toward its tower to seek information.
• Renato and Tristana dismounted and left their Subterranean Lizards to rest on a stalactite, with Renato taking the Bone Whistle to call them down.
• Renato rejected relying solely on Tristana’s plan to seek divine revelation and persuaded her to follow his approach at the Iron Price tower.

Renato and Tristana met Raven the Shield-Smasher, commander of the Iron Price mercenary company, to seek help investigating a heretical sect. The chapter ended with Raven and Tristana reacting in alarm when Renato revealed that the sect worshipped Ghaunadaur.

• A guard announced Tristana and Renato’s arrival at the Iron Price tower, and Raven the Shield-Smasher greeted Tristana by name.
• Raven showed them the company’s price board and defended its reputation, while Tristana accused the mercenaries of abandoning a dangerous contract.
• Raven questioned Tristana about the purpose of her visit, and Renato took over the conversation and said he was acting on Matron Mother Quelyn’s orders.
• Renato revealed that a heretical sect worshipping Ghaunadaur was hiding in the neighborhood, causing Raven to leap onto the sofa and Tristana to grab his arm in alarm.

Renato and Tristana questioned Raven about the Gray Zone and the cult of Ghaunadaur, but Raven initially denied knowing anything. As Raven sized up Renato and concluded he was the Nightwind Matron Mother’s new patron, she considered using the encounter to secure official standing for Iron Price.

• Renato sensed Raven’s fear when he mentioned Ghaunadaur and realized she did not seem eager to kill him.
• Renato, Tristana, and Raven resumed their negotiations in a secret chamber, where Raven demanded payment for information about the Gray Zone.
• Renato stopped Tristana from insulting Raven and argued that Raven’s reaction to Ghaunadaur’s name showed she knew something about the cult.
• Raven tried to deflect their questions with rumors about ordinary troubles in the Gray Zone while studying Renato’s presence and equipment.
• Raven concluded that Renato was the Nightwind Matron Mother’s new patron and considered whether she could use his influence to protect Iron Price and gain it official standing.

Raven told Renato about the Mud Swamp Sisterhood, a powerful mercenary company whose rise and battlefield success seemed inexplicable. She said its core fighters, the Swamp Sisters, kept fighting through wounds, and rumors claimed they bled yellow pus instead of blood.

• Raven revealed that the Mud Swamp Sisterhood had risen to prominence in the Gray Zone six years earlier and controlled nearly an eighth of it.
• Tristana condemned the Sisterhood’s name as blasphemous, but Raven explained that names involving mud were common in the Gray Zone.
• Raven described how the Sisterhood recruited hundreds of unskilled drifters despite lacking noble patrons, money, or notable fighters.
• Raven said established mercenary companies had lost fighters and territory after clashing with the Sisterhood, despite easily routing its ordinary recruits.
• Raven explained that the Sisterhood’s core fighters, the Swamp Sisters, continued charging after being struck by bolts and blades, and reportedly bled yellow pus.

Renato and Tristana suspected the Iron Price mercenaries were trying to use them, but planned to investigate the Mud Swamp Sisterhood while watching for cultists. After two half-drow followers of Ghaunadaur ambushed them, Renato and Tristana captured one and prepared to return to the Nightwind Family Fortress.

• Tristana suspected Raven wanted to use them against the Iron Price mercenaries’ rivals, while Renato said he had demanded support to investigate the Mud Swamp Sisterhood.
• Renato and Tristana discussed whether the Sisterhood was a heretical base and planned to cooperate with the Gray Zone mercenaries if it was.
• Two hooded half-drow rushed from an alley shouting prayers to Ghaunadaur, but Renato killed one with a dart and Tristana subdued the other with her Serpent Whip.
• Tristana bound the captive and proposed taking her to the Nightwind Family Fortress for interrogation.
• Renato judged the ambushers to be minor cultists, fed the dead attacker to a lizard, and planned to withdraw while watching how the Ghaunadaur cultists responded.

Tristana tortured a half-drow attacker but learned only that a supposed Black Crossbow Mercenary Company member had hired the attackers to frame the company. Renato stopped Tristana from rushing after the suspected cultists and brought her to rest, leaving her to wonder about Raven before she fell asleep.

• Tristana emerged from the interrogation room and told Renato that a mercenary claiming to represent the Black Crossbow Mercenary Company had hired the attackers.
• Tristana suspected the cultists were among the Gray Zone mercenaries and proposed attacking the Mud Swamp Sisterhood, but Renato stopped her and urged her to rest.
• Renato took Tristana to his courtyard, where she washed and he dried her hair.
• Tristana worried that the heretics might flee, and Renato reassured her before telling her to go to bed.
• Tristana began asking Renato about Raven, but he teased her about her age, and she decided to sleep.

Renato learned that Tristana was sixty-five and would undergo her coming-of-age ceremony in half a month, while she asked him to help defeat Ghaunadaur's followers. As they discussed her rank and the drow priesthood, their conversation turned intimate, and Tristana insisted Renato keep his affection exclusive to her.

• Tristana confronted Renato about learning her age, and he revealed that Brichidi had told him she was sixty-five.
• Tristana explained that her coming-of-age ceremony was in half a month and that she needed to defeat Ghaunadaur's followers as an offering to Lolth.
• Tristana asked Renato to help her and promised to negotiate with the Academy about building a portal after she advanced to Superior.
• Renato asked about the drow priesthood's ranks and learned that snake-whip heads signified a priestess's status.
• Renato touched Tristana's hand, and she admitted she permitted him to take the initiative when they were alone but forbade him from being intimate with anyone else.