Sojourn - Chapter Eleven
Aug. 7th, 2023 01:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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i_read_whatSo last time, we had an interlude that wasn't that bad. It seemed to imply this next part will involve some religious matters. Should be interesting!
So anyway, we rejoin Drizzt, who's in a bit of a state. Everything with Maldobar and being hunted and all that has kind of gotten to the poor guy, and he's basically running for his life. Salvatore, as always, is a bit on the nose with his writing, specifically telling us that if Drizzt weren't so out of sorts, he might have realized that Kellindil's gifts were "a possible lead to a future relationship."
Salvatore likely didn't mean a romantic relationship here, but I could ship it. It's considerably less off-putting than most of Drizzt's canon romances.
(It does remind me a bit of Castle of Deception, which was Mercedes Lackey's Bard's Tale novel. In that book, I think there was a pretty close, though not explicitly romantic relationship between initially antagonistic elf and renegade dark elf. But to be fair, I'm not sure how much of that was just teenaged slash goggles vs. actual recollection. I ought to revisit that sometime.)
Anyway, Drizzt is in a bit of a state:
But the memories of Maldobar and the guilt that bowed the drow’s shoulders would not be so easily dismissed. The farming village had become simply one more stopover on the search to find a home, a search that he increasingly believed was futile. Drizzt wondered how he could even go down to the next village that he came upon. The potential for tragedy had been played out all too clearly for him. He didn’t stop to consider that the presence of the barghests might have been an unusual circumstance, and that, perhaps, in the absence of such fiends, his encounter might have turned out differently.
At this low point in his life, Drizzt’s entire thoughts focused around a single word that echoed interminably in his head and pierced him to his heart: “drizzit.”
Aw. And to be fair to Drizzt, it's not really clear how much of the context he actually understood about the barghest attack. Dove and company seem to have a pretty good idea of what happened at this point, but they have a lot more general knowledge than he does.
Drizzt is going to have another problem soon. The air is getting cold. He's enjoying the moist vapor, but doesn't understand the implications. I don't think they have much by way of seasonal shifts in the Underdark.
He also finds a big ass river and masters the art of fishing by hand. Of course he does. But trout is tasty. And this is the first time since he fled Maldobar that he's really getting a decent meal.
The viewpoint in this chapter is a little tricky, but in an interesting way. It's MOSTLY third person limited, but with some omniscient narrator bits to explain the context that Drizzt doesn't know. It's not exactly smooth, though, and we get some tonal inconsistencies:
This place was called Dead Orc Pass by those who knew the region. The title was somewhat of a misnomer, however, for while hundreds of orcs had indeed died in this rocky valley in numerous battles against human legions, thousands more lived here still, lurking in the many mountain caves, poised to strike against intruders. Few people came here, and none of them wisely.
This makes me chuckle a bit, but it doesn't really fit within Drizzt's more somber tone, even if I appreciate the irony that Drizzt finds this a perfect retreat.
The climate though is a bigger issue than any orc. Drizzt is living a nocturnal lifestyle at the moment. He'd tried for diurnal while watching the Thistledowns, but he has "no such illusions now". Aw. More practically, the night is easier on both eyes and drow-forged weapon.
That said, it's getting fucking cold, fucking fast. Especially at night. On one particularly bad night, Drizzt starts feeling severe pain in his extremities, and starts getting really worried that he won't survive.
He flexed his muscles and moved vigorously, trying to restore lost circulation. Then he mentally prepared himself, thinking of times past when he was warm, trying to defeat the despair and trick his own body into forgetting the cold. A single thought stood out clearly, a memory of the kitchens in Menzoberranzan’s Academy. In the ever-warm Underdark, Drizzt had never even considered fire as a source of warmth. Always before, Drizzt had seen fire as merely a method of cooking, a means of producing light, and an offensive weapon. Now it took on even greater importance for the drow. As the winds continued to blow colder and colder, Drizzt realized, to his horror, that a fire’s heat alone could keep him alive.
So this strikes me as an example of an author explaining something that doesn't need to be explained. At least not to this extent. I can imagine by now that Drizzt has encountered fire a few times: the Thistledowns would have used it, for one. He's also fought magic users, and fire conjuration is pretty standard for combat spells. I don't think we need a specific reference to the Academy's kitchen to explain why Drizzt has the knowledge that fire is a means to warm himself.
...especially since the next paragraph tells us that Drizzt had made fire himself using mushrooms.
Oh well. Drizzt needs kindling, and he's not really in any state to get them himself. Fortunately, Guen figures out what he needs and heads out. Actually...this is interesting: Guen immediately trips over a pile of branches and twigs - one that had been deliberately placed. Drizzt, whose saliva is literally freezing his mouth shut (eep!) doesn't ask questions.
He eventually does get the fire going, and we get a quick perspective shift to explain where the wood came from:
“The flames are up,” an elf said to his companion.
Kellindil nodded gravely, still not certain if he and his fellow elves had done right in aiding the drow. Kellindil had come right back out from Maldobar, white Dove and the others had set off for Sundabar, and had met with a small elven family, kinfolk of his, who lived in the mountains near Dead Ore Pass. With their expert aid, the elf had little trouble locating the drow, and together he and his kin had watched, curiously, over the last few weeks.
Drizzt’s innocuous lifestyle had not dispelled all of the wary elfs doubts, though. Drizzt was a drow, after all, dark-skinned to view and dark-hearted by reputation.
Still, Kellindil’s sigh was one of relief when he, too, noted the slight, distant glow. The drow would not freeze; Kellindil believed that this drow did not deserve such a fate.
Awww. You're a good egg, Kel.
Later, warm and cuddling with the panther girlfriend, Drizzt reminisces about how he and Guen met. He still angsts about killing Masoj, by the way, but does have some satisfaction in the fact that Menzoberranzan, and even Masoj, had taught him important lessons that he's able to use now. For example, his apprenticeship had involved lighting candles - which is why he now knows how to light a fire.
...I'm not sure that completely makes sense. The type of fire and needs of the fire and environmental challenges to keeping the fire going would be different. But we'll go with that anyway.
Drizzt is startled from contemplation by an owl hooting, but thinks nothing of it.
Of course, the owl actually IS significant, as we see, when we follow him home:
The bird rushed on through the night to a thick grove of evergreens on the side of a mountain, coming to rest on a wood-and-rope bridge constructed across the higher boughs of three of the trees. After a few moments preening itself, the bird rang a little silver bell, attached to the bridge for just such occasions.
A moment later, the bird rang the bell again.
And here is someone new:
An old man with a huge and bristling gray mustache and white eyes appeared on the bridge. He hopped and skipped his way toward the bird. Montolio was formerly a ranger of great renown, who now lived out his final years-by his own choice-secluded in the mountains and surrounded by the creatures he loved best (and he did not consider humans, elves, dwarves, or any of the other intelligent races among them). Despite his considerable age, Montolio remained tall and straight, though the years had taken their toll on the hermit, crinkling one hand up so that it resembled the claw of the bird he now approached.
That is the description of someone who will be Significant, I suspect.
Montolio, unlike Drizzt, does seem to be able to communicate with animals. Or at least Hooter. And he definitely seems to know what's going on:
You have seen the drow?” Montolio asked.
The owl responded with a whoo, then went off into a complicated series of chattering hoots and whoos. Montolio took it all in, weighing every detail. With the help of his friends, particularly this rather talkative owl, the ranger had monitored the drow for several days, curious as to why a dark elf had wandered into the valley. At first, Montolio had assumed that the drow was somehow connected to Graul, the chief ore of the region, but as time went on, the ranger began to suspect differently.
Indeed, Drizzt has had no contact with the orcs, or vice versa. Possibly this is because Drizzt had been very inconspicuous, never even setting a fire until tonight. Montolio is pretty interested in seeing what might happen. He does intend to eventually find out why Drizzt is hanging out here.
We go back to Drizzt. It's winter now. Drizzt's figured a few things out, but some stuff, like SNOW, is new to him. Drizzt realizes, watching it pile up, that he's going to need a better shelter and he'll need to stock up some wood for it too.
Drizzt finds a pretty decent cave, but it's not unoccupied:
Drizzt drew his scimitar, slipped to the boulder, and peered around it. With his infravision, the cave’s other inhabitant, a warm-glowing ball considerably larger than the drow, was not hard to spot. Drizzt knew at once what it was, though he had no name for it. He had seen this creature from afar several times, watching it as it deftly-and with amazing speed, considering its bulk-snatched fish from the river.
Whatever it might be called, Drizzt had no desire to fight with it over the cave; there were other holes in the area, more easily attainable.
The great brown bear, though, seemed to have different ideas. The creature stirred suddenly and came up to its rear legs, its avalanche growl echoing throughout the cave and its claws and teeth all too noticeable.
Oh dear.
Actually though, the bear is a friend of Montolio, so it's not automatically inclined to attack. It does intend to hold its position though. And for the first time, we actually see some glimmering of ranger ability in Drizzt as he feels a strange understanding with this new creature.
He ends up offering it some fish, that he'd been saving for supper, and the bear accepts. It goes back to sleep.
I really like this bit. I don't remember seeing Drizzt display any real ranger-specific abilities in the Icewind Dale Trilogy, which is a shame. I like that we're seeing it now. Even before Drizzt technically gets any real ranger training. (We could make the argument that his solo existence in the Underdark did lay the foundation for some ranger-specific skills, though.)
Anyway, Drizzt makes a point of putting some spare food near the sleeping bear whenever he can, and they seem to co-exist very well.
A fact that surprises the shit out of Montolio. He and "Bluster" are long time acquaintances, as mentioned, and he's not sure he'd want to cohabitate with the bear himself. It's intriguing though, since he knows Bluster wouldn't hesitate to kill a goblin or orc who invaded his territory.
Anyway, Drizzt is rather understandably miserable. He's got shelter, food, and companionship with Guen, but it's fucking cold and not very comfortable, and he doesn't really understand what's going on. Is this whole winter thing permanent, for example? Is it a curse? Should he "wait out the storm"? Or try to seek a warmer climate?
Also the days are getting shorter. Drizzt is getting sicker and weaker. But there's some hope when, after the winter solstice, he starts to observe the days getting longer again. Eventually, the bear starts waking up out of hibernation, and Drizzt, realizing that he might not be up for having roommates now, decides to go find a different cave.
The chapter ends here.
I really like this bit a lot, I have to say. MOST of Drizzt's stories tend to focus on the fighting part. And that makes sense, it's D&D after all. But well, Drizzt is like an uber-great fighter. There's very rarely any real suspense as to whether or not he'll win. It's not as interesting as seeing Drizzt deal with other challenges. Like environmental ones.
Obviously we know Drizzt will live, because this is a prequel, but I enjoy seeing how he manages in a completely alien environment, where his skills aren't as useful. It's novel and fun. And I'm looking forward to seeing the next part.
So anyway, we rejoin Drizzt, who's in a bit of a state. Everything with Maldobar and being hunted and all that has kind of gotten to the poor guy, and he's basically running for his life. Salvatore, as always, is a bit on the nose with his writing, specifically telling us that if Drizzt weren't so out of sorts, he might have realized that Kellindil's gifts were "a possible lead to a future relationship."
Salvatore likely didn't mean a romantic relationship here, but I could ship it. It's considerably less off-putting than most of Drizzt's canon romances.
(It does remind me a bit of Castle of Deception, which was Mercedes Lackey's Bard's Tale novel. In that book, I think there was a pretty close, though not explicitly romantic relationship between initially antagonistic elf and renegade dark elf. But to be fair, I'm not sure how much of that was just teenaged slash goggles vs. actual recollection. I ought to revisit that sometime.)
Anyway, Drizzt is in a bit of a state:
But the memories of Maldobar and the guilt that bowed the drow’s shoulders would not be so easily dismissed. The farming village had become simply one more stopover on the search to find a home, a search that he increasingly believed was futile. Drizzt wondered how he could even go down to the next village that he came upon. The potential for tragedy had been played out all too clearly for him. He didn’t stop to consider that the presence of the barghests might have been an unusual circumstance, and that, perhaps, in the absence of such fiends, his encounter might have turned out differently.
At this low point in his life, Drizzt’s entire thoughts focused around a single word that echoed interminably in his head and pierced him to his heart: “drizzit.”
Aw. And to be fair to Drizzt, it's not really clear how much of the context he actually understood about the barghest attack. Dove and company seem to have a pretty good idea of what happened at this point, but they have a lot more general knowledge than he does.
Drizzt is going to have another problem soon. The air is getting cold. He's enjoying the moist vapor, but doesn't understand the implications. I don't think they have much by way of seasonal shifts in the Underdark.
He also finds a big ass river and masters the art of fishing by hand. Of course he does. But trout is tasty. And this is the first time since he fled Maldobar that he's really getting a decent meal.
The viewpoint in this chapter is a little tricky, but in an interesting way. It's MOSTLY third person limited, but with some omniscient narrator bits to explain the context that Drizzt doesn't know. It's not exactly smooth, though, and we get some tonal inconsistencies:
This place was called Dead Orc Pass by those who knew the region. The title was somewhat of a misnomer, however, for while hundreds of orcs had indeed died in this rocky valley in numerous battles against human legions, thousands more lived here still, lurking in the many mountain caves, poised to strike against intruders. Few people came here, and none of them wisely.
This makes me chuckle a bit, but it doesn't really fit within Drizzt's more somber tone, even if I appreciate the irony that Drizzt finds this a perfect retreat.
The climate though is a bigger issue than any orc. Drizzt is living a nocturnal lifestyle at the moment. He'd tried for diurnal while watching the Thistledowns, but he has "no such illusions now". Aw. More practically, the night is easier on both eyes and drow-forged weapon.
That said, it's getting fucking cold, fucking fast. Especially at night. On one particularly bad night, Drizzt starts feeling severe pain in his extremities, and starts getting really worried that he won't survive.
He flexed his muscles and moved vigorously, trying to restore lost circulation. Then he mentally prepared himself, thinking of times past when he was warm, trying to defeat the despair and trick his own body into forgetting the cold. A single thought stood out clearly, a memory of the kitchens in Menzoberranzan’s Academy. In the ever-warm Underdark, Drizzt had never even considered fire as a source of warmth. Always before, Drizzt had seen fire as merely a method of cooking, a means of producing light, and an offensive weapon. Now it took on even greater importance for the drow. As the winds continued to blow colder and colder, Drizzt realized, to his horror, that a fire’s heat alone could keep him alive.
So this strikes me as an example of an author explaining something that doesn't need to be explained. At least not to this extent. I can imagine by now that Drizzt has encountered fire a few times: the Thistledowns would have used it, for one. He's also fought magic users, and fire conjuration is pretty standard for combat spells. I don't think we need a specific reference to the Academy's kitchen to explain why Drizzt has the knowledge that fire is a means to warm himself.
...especially since the next paragraph tells us that Drizzt had made fire himself using mushrooms.
Oh well. Drizzt needs kindling, and he's not really in any state to get them himself. Fortunately, Guen figures out what he needs and heads out. Actually...this is interesting: Guen immediately trips over a pile of branches and twigs - one that had been deliberately placed. Drizzt, whose saliva is literally freezing his mouth shut (eep!) doesn't ask questions.
He eventually does get the fire going, and we get a quick perspective shift to explain where the wood came from:
“The flames are up,” an elf said to his companion.
Kellindil nodded gravely, still not certain if he and his fellow elves had done right in aiding the drow. Kellindil had come right back out from Maldobar, white Dove and the others had set off for Sundabar, and had met with a small elven family, kinfolk of his, who lived in the mountains near Dead Ore Pass. With their expert aid, the elf had little trouble locating the drow, and together he and his kin had watched, curiously, over the last few weeks.
Drizzt’s innocuous lifestyle had not dispelled all of the wary elfs doubts, though. Drizzt was a drow, after all, dark-skinned to view and dark-hearted by reputation.
Still, Kellindil’s sigh was one of relief when he, too, noted the slight, distant glow. The drow would not freeze; Kellindil believed that this drow did not deserve such a fate.
Awww. You're a good egg, Kel.
Later, warm and cuddling with the panther girlfriend, Drizzt reminisces about how he and Guen met. He still angsts about killing Masoj, by the way, but does have some satisfaction in the fact that Menzoberranzan, and even Masoj, had taught him important lessons that he's able to use now. For example, his apprenticeship had involved lighting candles - which is why he now knows how to light a fire.
...I'm not sure that completely makes sense. The type of fire and needs of the fire and environmental challenges to keeping the fire going would be different. But we'll go with that anyway.
Drizzt is startled from contemplation by an owl hooting, but thinks nothing of it.
Of course, the owl actually IS significant, as we see, when we follow him home:
The bird rushed on through the night to a thick grove of evergreens on the side of a mountain, coming to rest on a wood-and-rope bridge constructed across the higher boughs of three of the trees. After a few moments preening itself, the bird rang a little silver bell, attached to the bridge for just such occasions.
A moment later, the bird rang the bell again.
And here is someone new:
An old man with a huge and bristling gray mustache and white eyes appeared on the bridge. He hopped and skipped his way toward the bird. Montolio was formerly a ranger of great renown, who now lived out his final years-by his own choice-secluded in the mountains and surrounded by the creatures he loved best (and he did not consider humans, elves, dwarves, or any of the other intelligent races among them). Despite his considerable age, Montolio remained tall and straight, though the years had taken their toll on the hermit, crinkling one hand up so that it resembled the claw of the bird he now approached.
That is the description of someone who will be Significant, I suspect.
Montolio, unlike Drizzt, does seem to be able to communicate with animals. Or at least Hooter. And he definitely seems to know what's going on:
You have seen the drow?” Montolio asked.
The owl responded with a whoo, then went off into a complicated series of chattering hoots and whoos. Montolio took it all in, weighing every detail. With the help of his friends, particularly this rather talkative owl, the ranger had monitored the drow for several days, curious as to why a dark elf had wandered into the valley. At first, Montolio had assumed that the drow was somehow connected to Graul, the chief ore of the region, but as time went on, the ranger began to suspect differently.
Indeed, Drizzt has had no contact with the orcs, or vice versa. Possibly this is because Drizzt had been very inconspicuous, never even setting a fire until tonight. Montolio is pretty interested in seeing what might happen. He does intend to eventually find out why Drizzt is hanging out here.
We go back to Drizzt. It's winter now. Drizzt's figured a few things out, but some stuff, like SNOW, is new to him. Drizzt realizes, watching it pile up, that he's going to need a better shelter and he'll need to stock up some wood for it too.
Drizzt finds a pretty decent cave, but it's not unoccupied:
Drizzt drew his scimitar, slipped to the boulder, and peered around it. With his infravision, the cave’s other inhabitant, a warm-glowing ball considerably larger than the drow, was not hard to spot. Drizzt knew at once what it was, though he had no name for it. He had seen this creature from afar several times, watching it as it deftly-and with amazing speed, considering its bulk-snatched fish from the river.
Whatever it might be called, Drizzt had no desire to fight with it over the cave; there were other holes in the area, more easily attainable.
The great brown bear, though, seemed to have different ideas. The creature stirred suddenly and came up to its rear legs, its avalanche growl echoing throughout the cave and its claws and teeth all too noticeable.
Oh dear.
Actually though, the bear is a friend of Montolio, so it's not automatically inclined to attack. It does intend to hold its position though. And for the first time, we actually see some glimmering of ranger ability in Drizzt as he feels a strange understanding with this new creature.
He ends up offering it some fish, that he'd been saving for supper, and the bear accepts. It goes back to sleep.
I really like this bit. I don't remember seeing Drizzt display any real ranger-specific abilities in the Icewind Dale Trilogy, which is a shame. I like that we're seeing it now. Even before Drizzt technically gets any real ranger training. (We could make the argument that his solo existence in the Underdark did lay the foundation for some ranger-specific skills, though.)
Anyway, Drizzt makes a point of putting some spare food near the sleeping bear whenever he can, and they seem to co-exist very well.
A fact that surprises the shit out of Montolio. He and "Bluster" are long time acquaintances, as mentioned, and he's not sure he'd want to cohabitate with the bear himself. It's intriguing though, since he knows Bluster wouldn't hesitate to kill a goblin or orc who invaded his territory.
Anyway, Drizzt is rather understandably miserable. He's got shelter, food, and companionship with Guen, but it's fucking cold and not very comfortable, and he doesn't really understand what's going on. Is this whole winter thing permanent, for example? Is it a curse? Should he "wait out the storm"? Or try to seek a warmer climate?
Also the days are getting shorter. Drizzt is getting sicker and weaker. But there's some hope when, after the winter solstice, he starts to observe the days getting longer again. Eventually, the bear starts waking up out of hibernation, and Drizzt, realizing that he might not be up for having roommates now, decides to go find a different cave.
The chapter ends here.
I really like this bit a lot, I have to say. MOST of Drizzt's stories tend to focus on the fighting part. And that makes sense, it's D&D after all. But well, Drizzt is like an uber-great fighter. There's very rarely any real suspense as to whether or not he'll win. It's not as interesting as seeing Drizzt deal with other challenges. Like environmental ones.
Obviously we know Drizzt will live, because this is a prequel, but I enjoy seeing how he manages in a completely alien environment, where his skills aren't as useful. It's novel and fun. And I'm looking forward to seeing the next part.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-07 12:07 pm (UTC)If a group of Drow escapes from the Underdark and encounters snow for the first time, would they mess around and end up with a snowball fight?
no subject
Date: 2023-08-07 01:00 pm (UTC)If we're talking about someone like Jarlaxle or Liriel Baenre, or even Drizzt in a more whimsical mood, then yes, I think a snowball fight is possible. :-D
no subject
Date: 2023-08-07 05:55 pm (UTC)Definitely virginity is much preferred to having been sexually assaulted (beyond the canonical attempt).
no subject
Date: 2023-08-07 06:16 pm (UTC)Thanks!
:-)
no subject
Date: 2025-06-06 11:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-06-06 10:03 pm (UTC)I think they probably hadn't thought about it. Dove's group is pretty much a standard adventuring party and they're known for moving from quest to quest. They're pretty sure Drizzt isn't guilty so they don't have much reason to stick around, and they don't really know much about his actual circumstances.
Kellindil, though, does seem to be inclined to keep an eye on things.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-06 10:20 pm (UTC)Though, since their original quest was "investigate the sightings of a drow near this village and figure out why he didn't attack when he had a chance" and only changed to "hunt down the drow suspected of massacring a family" after they arrived to find circumstances changed, I'd say they hadn't completed their original quest. They should not be getting full quest rewards. Except Kellindil.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-06 10:44 pm (UTC)