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

Inn Room (8:00)

[spacetogrow]

You see a room, with two beds, a nightstand with a basin and another blue potted mushroom, and a table and chair. There is an actual window, but looking through it is almost painfully bright. The sounds and smells of a medieval city street come through it. On the wall opposite the beds is a second door, with a clock set to 9:00.

Scattered on the floor against the wall are ten different backpacks. In many cases, weapons or armor are resting near them. A black and white cat with yellow eyes slips past you into the room, and curls up on one bed, watching you. People who know Ilphyl might recognize the cat as a wildshape they use.

A dark-haired human man is sitting in the chair, looking at a piece of paper in his hands. On the table are a pen and ink, blank paper, a signet ring, wax, and a lit candle. He turns as you approach, and smiles. One of the backpacks is open next to the chair. “Can you help me with something?”

> You agree.
> You check the room first.
> Something else.

[hermit_crab]

[ MORE MUSHROOMS ... you know what Tolovir is touching first. After he responds, anyway. ]

... Ah. Perhaps. That depends on the request.

[ He eyes the cat too. ]

[spacetogrow]

"Well, I was going to ask Ilphyl for advice..."

[the cat eyes you back. Funny how Ilphyl's cat form is usually green-eyed, and this one's eyes are more gold]

[hermit_crab]

[ WEIRD. Does the dryad have gold eyes? ]

Mm, well. Ask me then. I may be able to substitute.

[spacetogrow]

[No, but the Shadow might have; the mask made it hard to tell.]

[hermit_crab]

[ hmm. Strange. ]

What do you need advice on?

[spacetogrow]

"My parents just sent me a letter, about wanting to see me. I'm not sure how I feel about that. And I've talked about them to Ilphyl, so..."

[hermit_crab]

... ah. Parents are ...

[ DIFFICULT, ]

What is your relationship like with them?

[spacetogrow]

"They refused to see the person I was, rather than the child they wanted. But we just rescued my brother, and he must have told them I was in town. Ilphyl doesn't talk much about their family, but I don't think they are too happy with them."

[hermit_crab]

From what I know of them, that seems accurate.

[ he thinks for a long moment. ]

... What will they do if they still think you are the child they wanted?

[spacetogrow]

"My parents? Probably go back to insisting I become a wizard and continue the arranged marriage they set up."

[hermit_crab]

Mm. Unpleasant, but not life threatening.

I would make contact in that case.

[spacetogrow]

"Wow. Is that usual for drow? Ilphyl makes jokes like that... I think they are jokes?"

[hermit_crab]

[ A flat look. ]

I'm dead serious.

[spacetogrow]

"Ah... Oh."

[hermit_crab]

One of my fathers would murder me if he saw me again. The other ... betrayed me. We're still working through that.

[spacetogrow]

"Why?"

[hermit_crab]

That's an entirely too complicated story, to be honest.

[spacetogrow]

"All right. Thank you for the advice."

[hermit_crab]

[ He nods. ]

Ah - Shadow?

[spacetogrow]

[the cat looks up, stretches...]

[and reforms as an elf]

Yes?

[hermit_crab]

Er. Is that all there is in this room?

[spacetogrow]

Yeah. Felix [gestured to the human] was probably the person we were closest to as a person. And it still worked out better for him than any family stuff had ever for us.

[hermit_crab]

Then you advised him the same?

[spacetogrow]

Yes. And, dealing with a few nobles for a rescue attempt if he was wrong was within our abilities. But they really just wanted him back, and were genuine about learning who he actually was. Lucky him.