Ilphyl Palace Run

[spacetogrow]

Content Warning

Parts of Ilphyl’s past deal with religiously motivated child abuse, sexism (albeit fantasy sexism as it is against male drow), transphobia and fantasy racism. If you want to engage with Ilphyl’s Palace, but not this content, let me know and I can make sure you stay on an alternate route. I’ll also put warnings on particular rooms if it seems likely to come up, and use the subject lines of threads to add in warnings if it comes up unexpectedly.

Goal
Find and return Ilphyl's consciousness to prominence. You know it will take the form of a small bat, but aren't sure how you know this.

Comments

[hermit_crab]

... Ah. Yes, I think I understand that concept.

What do you represent, then?

[spacetogrow]

Ironically, what the masks always hide.

[hermit_crab]

Which is what?

[spacetogrow]

The ugly bits. The things they think people would hate us for, or that they just want to make go away. Don't tell me you don't have secrets. Even ones you keep from yourself.

[hermit_crab]

[ A faint twitch. ]

Of - of course I have those. Everyone does, as you said.

[spacetogrow]

[a half bow, and a grin]

Well, that's me. A pleasure to meet you.

[hermit_crab]

What should I call you, then?

[spacetogrow]

Shadow works. I could say it in Elven, but you'd get the basics down.

[hermit_crab]

[ He snorts faintly. ]

It comes out to the same, doesn't it?

[spacetogrow]

For you. Or even for everyone here.

[hermit_crab]

Ah, the translator. It is odd about what it chooses sometimes.

[ ANYWAY UH, ]

I'm looking for a ... bat? Do you have any idea where that would be?

[spacetogrow]

Yep. Everything is behind that door.

[you know, the locked one for staff only.]

What are your intentions? Besides hunting for a bat?

[hermit_crab]

The purpose of finding the bat is to retrieve Ilphyl's consciousness.

... but I admit to some curiosity as well? Their experience in the Underdark is different from mine.

[spacetogrow]

You really want to know?

[they are skeptical]

[hermit_crab]

Of course. The others, well. They don't understand.

[ He gestures to the two of them. ]

But we are drow.

[spacetogrow]

But will you really understand?

I suppose there is only one way to find out.

[They unlock the door and open it]

Follow me. You'll want the right side, with the earlier numbers above the doors.

[hermit_crab]

Right, right ...

[ He heads in. ]