Out of the Abyss IC

[Irish Musician]

You've been imprisoned by the Drow, now, for at the least 3 days. All of your things have been taken, and you are with nothing more than rags for clothes, and manacles around your neck, hands, and waist, all connected with chains. The only reprieve is that the chains don't constrict your movement, but even that isn't much of a consolation prize. This allows your Drow captors to use you for slave labor, or whatever other menial and horrible tasks for which they use you. All your supplies, weapons, and even your holy symbols, focuses, and spell pouches have been taken from you. The times you have tried to cast while within the cages, the magic comes up to your fingertips, but nothing happens. It is like your magics are being pushed back into your body by some unseen force. The same with any innate magics you have, they just don't seem usable.

Along with the five "newbies" in the large prison cage, there are also 10 others that are stuck in that place with you. Buppido, a derro, who has a keen mind and disarming manner; Prince Derendil, a quaggoth that claims he is a Elf Prince, polymorphed by an evil wizard; Eldeth Feldrun, a shield dwarf scout from Gauntlgrym; Jimjar, a deep gnome with a very intense need for betting and love of gold; Ront, an orc from the Iceshield tribe who is mean, stupid, and hateful, and will bully anyone into doing what he wants; Sarith Kzekarit, a male drow who is imprisoned for murdering another drow, waiting to be taken to Menzoberranzen for sacrifice; Shuushar the Awakened, a kuo-toa who is a complete pacifist and is resigned to his imprisonment; Stool, a myconid sprout captured by Sarith who is lonely and frightened and just wants to go home; and last but not least, Topsy and her brother Turvy, deep gnome twins originally from Blingdenstone, both of whom act oddly at all times.

Apart from the hard labor, your sleep does not come easy. It is a fitful sleep that is filled with horrific images and awful nightmares. Nightmares full of oily tentacles reaching for you through darkened mazes throughout the Underdark. When the tentacles brush up against you, loud screams and noises ring out in the tunnels, and wounds sprout from your skin, spewing maggots and locusts, and sometimes spores instead. One or more of all of you wake up, drenched in sweat per night, feeling as though the drow are not the only thing in these depths. Something even worse than them.

You get visited by Ilvara Mizzrym, the commander of the drow in Velkynvelve, a priestess of lolth who loves to torture the prisoners and cause them as much pain as they can handle. Shoor is a warrior, and Ilvara's right hand male drow and consort. Asha is another priestess of Lolth, and Jorlan was once Ilvara's lover and warrior....but no longer.

You pass the days in hard labor, torture, with just enough food to keep you alive, but weakened. Jorlan is the one who brings you your meals, as Shoor loves to give the ex-warrior menial tasks, just to rub it in his face. While he hates the lot of you and doesn't care about you at all, he does seem extra talkative with you when he is on guard duty and it is just him and you all. You don't know what to make of this, but it is almost the only interaction with those outside of the slave pen that you have. This is your life now, until the patrol from Menzoberranzan comes to pick you up. At which time you will either be slaves sill, or sacrificed to Lolth by the drow.

Where we come into the pens
This day starts like many others. Hard labor, some torture and belittling after lunch (which you aren't given), and thrown into a pen with 14 other people. However this time a particularly nasty little derro is put into the cell with you. You notice that he stays away from Buppido, however he seems to instantly recognize Derendil. The little things starts to taunt him and give him a hard time about being a "prince". For a little while the Prince seems to ignore him, but the little derro keep on and you can tell that Derendil starts to grow irritated. He tries to calmly ask the little derro to stop it and be quite, but he just keeps on hounding the very large quaggoth. At one point he stops as a guard walks by the pens, and you think he will stay quiet. But then the little derro starts back in on Derendil.

There is a point in which you see the quaggaths temper break, and he is no longer calm and nice. In fact, he goes into a violent rage the like of which you have yet to see. Derendil launches over to the derro and before anyone can hardly react, the Prince seems much less like a Prince, and much more like a quaggath. Derendil smashes the little derro in the chest, sending him to the ground without air in his lungs. Then proceeds to smash the derro's face into the ground, and by the time the guards have run up to the cage, the derro's face is no longer there and Derendil is covered in blood. The guards shrug, as the violence is already over, pull the body out, and throw it in the same place they throw all their trash, the lake below.

After a moment, Derendil looks around at all of you. His eyes have rage behind them at first, but then they turn to regret and fear. "I.....I am sorry. The beast I have been turned into is slowly taking over, and I am losing more and more of myself. I......I......." He hangs his head in shame and goes into the corner of the room, splashing what little water seems to be running down a wall to try and wash the blood off of himself. He then creeps as far into a corner as his big mass will allow and turns his back to the group.

[miinstrel]

The exhaustion and pain during the "days" of his imprisonment were bad, but Zeth feared the nights more. At least he knew what the Drow offered. A lash. A boot. But the night was full of endless terrors as his mind was overrun with visions, each more terrible than the last. This place is cursed, Zeth found himself thinking on several occasions. Despite the events before his capture, it seemed he was not alone in his nightmares for the others woke shaking as well. Still, the cell offered some modicum of safety against what lies below, and he tried to take what little comfort that offered.

As much as Zeth enjoyed the distraction of Stool's presence, it was yet another voice inside his already crowded head and he began to grow weary of the intrusion after the first few days. The results were surprising and helpful though, as these strange spores allowed more conversation than he otherwise would have been able to enjoy. Talking kept his mind off their impending doom.

Over the last few days he made his way around, spending time with each of the inhabitants (except Sarith), asking questions, offering palm readings, doing some small sleigh of hand tricks, etc. Generally trying to build some small sense of camaraderie. Of family. To Buppido and Shuushar he carefully describes the events surrounding his premonitions and the lantern in which he met that dreadful eye to see if they know anything about such a creature or where it may reside. Buppido's a shifty creature, so Zeth also tries to ply whatever secrets he may be holding onto out of him. And why the now deceased derro was steering clear? There seems to be a lot to learn about this reclusive individual...

After the initial excitement and trepidation of getting to know the group of prisoners, things seemed to devolve into the dreary routine of a Drow prisoner until the derro arrived. At first Zeth was amused by his tormenting of Derendil, but his smile faded as things pressed on. Things have moved decidedly across the playful line to mockery which just seemed cruel, especially given Derendil's passive response. When things ended in violence, Zeth and Jimjar exchanged furtive looks, neither of them having guessed the situation would lead to this. Zeth cringed at the mess on the floor. It was filthy enough with this many people in an enclosed space, but blood and sinew? He rolled his neck in discomfort.

Despite the tragedy, opportunities like this were few. The Drow were on them in no time and dragging the body away. While they were distracted and most of the others incredulous, Zeth reached as quickly and quietly as he could for the belt of the nearer guard, hoping to lift a key, but really whatever looked to be most easily removed.
Sleight of Hand: [roll0]

After a few moments of embarrassed silence, Zeth moves quietly over to Derendil and sits against the wall near him, eager to move on from his lashing. He speaks quietly in a vain attempt at privacy.
"Old friend, huh?" No response.
"It might have been more of a response than I'd offer, look at these arms," he indicates his thin frame, "but the little rascal had it coming. You have to read the audience, and he obviously couldn't see you were not amused. Besides, how dare he speak to royalty that way!" Zeth raises the inner corner of his brows and offers a compassionate smile. He'd never taken a life but felt this was in his near future too and was grateful for the preview to help steady him for what was to come.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. I'm just sorry I wasted the opportunity you created. There will be more bloodshed before this is over. That temper could come in handy," he commented with a wink. If Derendil remains sullen, Zeth moves painfully back across the cell, rubbing his bruised skull.

[Irish Musician]

As Zeth moves to take something....anything....from the guards' belt, a strong crack doubles him over to the floor. The drow guard, clearly seeing him reach for his belt, smacks Zeth on the head with a metal club. The drow spits on him and closes the pen, walking with the other guard to dispose of the body.

Take 5 bludgeoning damage

[Fishybugs]

Phynn paced the enclosed area a bit after being returned to the cage. How many days has it been? Too many, that's for sure. He stopped pacing as he approached Buppido. He had spoken to the derro several times and found him quirky, but knowledgeable. <Common> "Keep your eyes open for the right time. We'll be free again. Do you know which way is the fastest out when we go?"

He looked around at the others. Over a dozen of them crammed into this tiny space. Everyone looks so tired. These drow know how to keep us down. It's amazing there haven't been more tempers flaring.

Of course, Rillifane teaches him another lesson in humility and keeping his thoughts controlled. Just as he thinks this to himself, Prince Derendil launches himself against the derro. Phynn is momentarily surprised, but by the time he can get to the other side of the cage, the quaggath...erm...elf...whatever he is...is so out of control Phynn cannot restrain or redirect him. <Elven> "Calm yourself Derendil! You'll be beaten again!" His yells are of no use as the prince smashes the derro's face in.

Once the derro is dead, Derendil seems to get control of himself, apologizes, and curls into the corner. Phynn watches as Zeth immediately goes right in to talk to him, and decides to leave the two alone, though heads back to speak to Buppido one more time. <Common>"That right there? Exactly the kind of distraction we're looking for."

He takes a step toward Sarith, looks the drow over and starts to step in another direction. Kindle the Light, he thinks to himself. Mercy, kindness, and forgiveness will beat back despair. He pauses for a few moments while the words of his Oath sink in. His face starts to turn in distaste, then he forces a smile on his face as he approaches Sarith. He gives a curt nod in greeting, then says, <Elven> "Let's assume for a minute you want to get out of here. You must know the area. Which way would you go? If we were to get out of the cage, where could we get weapons? Tools? Do the quaggoth serve willingly or are they coerced? Could they be loosed against their masters?"

He looks to his sister frequently as he makes his rounds to make sure she is away from danger, then eyeballs the area he stashed his two weapons, hoping for the opportunity to put them to use.

He approaches Eldeth. <Common>"If we break out of here, do you know the straightest way to safety?" It would be interesting to see what each of his fellow captives thought the best route out was. There were a few here with Underdark experience; they must know approximately where we were and which way to go. He, personally, could not wait to feel the warmth of the sun and the cool of the breeze as evidence of Rillifane's love.

At least there is still some fight in some of us if the opportunity arises. Will we use it on each other or on our captives is the question. Preserve you Light, Phynn. This is temporary. He smiles as he looks at the group. Nineteen drow here and fourteen captives. Not too bad of odds, no matter how starved we were. Phynn would always bet on the combatant with nothing to lose.

[ncpunkin]

Luna wouldn't take kindly to the poor treatment at first. She resisted the Drow outright and when Shoor got to close she gave the Drow a piece of their own medicine. Her spite and spit earned her quite a beating. She resisted the Drow until the beatings began to get worse and eventually stopped fighting them directly. She spent her time in the cell with Stool and was shocked to learn of his ability to establish telepathic links between indiviudals.

She happily questions him, "Where are you from? How big is your colony? How come you are so far away from home?" After that, she took on protecting Stool whenever possible. Luna was also very interested in talking with Shuushar when the workday allowed. He was a very interesting indiviudal. She would ask him much the same question she had Stool, but also asked him why he seemed to be utterly calm.

Luna was happy to introduce herself to Zeth over the course of their imprisonment together. She let him in on the fact nightmares had been plaguing her, but mentioned meditation as a good way to combat the negative thoughts. Kevton was a shifty one, but it was clear he didn't want to be here. Thangardt was an interesting specimen of a duergar if Luna had ever met one and she hadn't. She noted the sublte differences between Thangardt and Elderth, but also noting the striking similarties.


Opening:

Luna wouldn't say she was at ease, but by the seventh day she was getting used to the harsh treatment. The day the Derro entered the cell, Luna was sleeping near Stool in the back corner of the earthen cell. Her dreams were filled with horror. She felt the icy tendrils of darkness wrap around her legs and arms. The cold slimy tendrils stretch her extremities in opposite directions and only the feeling of being ripped apart is enough to cause her to thrash awake. "I felt something crawl on me.", she says playing it off to Phynn. At that moment the cell door opens and a small derro is pushed into the cell. The instant he opens his mouth Luna could tell the little idiot was going to cross a line at some point.

She pulls her knees up and sighs, He needs to stop. This isn't going to end well.. She watches as the little Derro speak his last sentence. "You shouldn't.." Luna says softly, but the derro doesn't hear her late warning. Luna screams, "Derendil, No!", just as Derendil gives into violence and jumps the small creature. She quickly regains herself and jumps up watching the horrorific sight. Once the deed was done Luna just shakes her head, "We need to get out of here." She moves to Stool when Derendil calms himself and begins to wash off the gore.

She notices the mushroom shaking from the outburst of violence. Luna kneels down and soothes the myconid, "The nightmare will end soon, shhh."

[Irish Musician]

Derendil doesn't respond to any question, and just sits in the corner, letting Zeth walk across to the other side of the pen.

[Irish Musician]

She happily questions him, "Where are you from? How big is your colony? How come you are so far away from home?" After that, she took on protecting Stool whenever possible.
Stool often mentions its home, Neverlight Grove, saying it will let them come stay with him if they ever get out of here. Saying his people would welcome them openly, and help protect them from the drow. And probably to the determent of Sarith, Stool confesses the only reason it is here is because Sarith captured it and brought it back here.

Luna was also very interested in talking with Shuushar when the workday allowed. He was a very interesting individual. She would ask him much the same question she had Stool, but also asked him why he seemed to be utterly calm.
Shuushar is very cordial and is nice enough, but doesn't seem too open with Luna, and she isn't sure why. He avoids questions, though he does answer the question about being calm. When he speaks, his speech is bubbly and gargley, "My people are mad and wild by nature. We tend towards violence, but I have spent years meditating to counteract that. It is a solitary life, but one I am quite content with."

She notices the mushroom shaking from the outburst of violence. Luna kneels down and soothes the myconid, "The nightmare will end soon, shhh."
The poor thing is shaking, but comfort from a friend helps it calm. And Luna gets the feeling it very much agrees with her.

If, in your postings, you want specific questions from specific characters, add those into your first posts to the IC and I will respond in kind based on your rolls from the OOC.

[tbergman92]

Crouched in the corner, Thangardt offered the last crumbs of food that he'd managed to save from their meal the day before to the spider that had crawled out of his "clothes" when he'd returned to the cage after a morning of torture and menial labor. He knew that spiders were sacred to Lolth and that the drow refused to kill them, but he couldn't hold that against the creature. He ignored the taunts of the new derro--it was one thing to push the drow, but he wouldn't have wanted a quaggoth seriously angry at him in his current condition.

He had just managed to get the spider to follow the trail of crumbs up to his hand--just a crumb away from crawling into his open palm--when he heard Derendil leap across the cage and begin to pummel the derro. Spinning around, ready for a fight, he watched as the quaggoth brutally beat the newcomer. It's his own fault. He shouldn't have started a fight he couldn't win. He maintained his readied stance until Derendil's eyes cleared of rage, and then turned back to where he'd been feeding the spider. It was gone, apparently scared off by his sudden movement. He muttered a string of colorful duergar curses under his breath, and settled in to rest as well as he could, keeping an eye out for the spider to return.

He watched with some interest as the others reacted to the actions in the cage, filing away their responses to form a better picture of how he could utilize them to escape from this captivity and continue his hunt for vengeance. Zeth's willingness to resist was evident, but Luna seemed to have lost her fight after the beatings stepped up in intensity. Phynn was hard to read, but didn't seem to be letting the captivity bring him down from his cursed optimism. For his part, he'd continue to rile the guards as much as possible, hopefully get them to expect his antics, and possibly create an opening from there. Speaking of...

"Humph. You drow have no finesse," Thangardt belched loudly, knuckling his squat, sturdy body as the guard reacted to Zeth's attempt to steal from him. "What happened to your famed grace, only stopping his attempt with a ham-handed swat of a club? Why, even the clumsiest duergar child could have simply dodged that!" He continued to emphasize his dwarven body's graceless form to attempt to hammer home the insult.

[Irish Musician]

The guards has, indeed, come to expect his antics. They used to beat him, but some of the guards had started using different methods. About halfway through his rant, a crossbow bolt came whizzing through the cage bars, hitting the duergar in the chest. The drow that fired the bolt smirked, and turned around walking away as he reloaded, as Thangardt drifted off into fitful dreams.

[miinstrel]

"If a child could dodge that club, what does that make me, huh?" Zeth posited weakly with a mirthful grimace belying the headache he'd likely have for the next day or two, though he was unsure if the Duergar heard him before collapsing to the floor.

[MintyNinja]

Kevton kept his head down during the Derro's tirade, his own mind plagued by shadowy nightmares and dreams. As prince Derendil proceeded to act decidedly un-princely, Kevton watched for ancillary victims to the quaggoth's rage. Stool was well protected, as always, and the others seemed to be holding their peace for the time being. Seated where he was, a few feet from the twins and with his back to the wall, Kevton got the full, gory view of the prince's wrath. All hail your royal highness... he thought to himself.

Three days. He'd been here only three days and he could feel the edges of his sanity fraying. "We need to get out of here," he muttered in gnomish. Before we kill each other, preferably. A shame my new spells don't seem to be working. I wonder if any spells work in here. Probably not... but that would mean...

Arcana Check to see if Kevton knows what Derendil's "curse" would do in this anti-magic cell:
[roll0]

Sorry I can't post more right now, away from computer and posting from phone. Will fix colors when home.

[tbergman92]

As Thangardt slowly collapsed to the ground from the crossbow bolt, he heard Zeth's response, turned his head slightly towards the human, and gave an uncharacteristic wink, before passing out on the ground.

[ncpunkin]

Luna walks over to the Thangardt and shakes her head as the guards leave, "You have to know they will do that every time." She kneels beside him and begins to assess how deep the bolt is, It barely went inside, good. She looks over the wound and begins to work the bolt out of her new ally. Her hands go to pocket the bolt as she makes a show of trying to staunch the wound.


I'm trying to get that bolt out of my new friend :).
[roll0]

Stealth check to hide it.

[roll1]

[Irish Musician]

Two things. One, you are sure that the "anti-magic field" wouldn't have an effect on the curse.

And two: You aren't sure there is anything magical about his condition. Problem is, given the field, you magical senses are all wonky right now.

Will post more tomorrow answering IC questions and the like.

[Irish Musician]

Luna starts to pull out the bolt. She is able to get it out of his chest well and without making it worse, however everyone sees her do it. Luckily for her, the guards are still taking care of the smushed derro, so the only ones that do are the ones in the pen.

[MintyNinja]

...It could mean nothing. Or everything. By the Gods, I need a good night of sleep. Kevton sidles over to Eldeth's side of the cave and eases himself down by the dwarf. He pulls out the gold coin that he'd found after he was captured and with a sharp rock begins scratching something into it's surface. "It seems keeping our large, royal friend in a good mood has suddenly become very important. Just what we needed, eh? Elven royalty in monstrous conditions," he says in dwarven. If she's amenable to chatting he'll continue, "You've been here a lot longer than I. Surely there's some sort of plan, or hope to escape, right? Slip these bonds while out on a work detail and scamper away? Something? Anything?" He finishes his scratch-work and shows the dwarf a rough symbol of Dumathoin, the Dwarven God of Buried Secrets.

I chose Dumathoin for Kevton's particular deity because he cares less about racial divides and more about the secrets that people keep buried. It also has a cool symbol of a gem under a mountain, which relates to his trade.

[Irish Musician]

Since you crit on Buppido, you get a wonderfully tasty morsel from him in your speakings with him.

You both talk about your "creature" and the voices in your head. His eyes perk up and your see this thirst in his eyes. "Ah, yes. For it was I in your head. This is all part of my divine plan, you see, to get out of this place....." The Buppido now talking is nothing like the one you've known thus far. There is a craze in his eyes and he starts talking about all manner of insane things, "Yes, yes....you are here because I willed it. Willed it to get me out of this prison. I am Diinkarazan, the god of derros, and your master. We shall get out of here soon, I just need to perform one more blood sacrifice to break the magics of this barrier, and we can flee this place. Will you help me?" He stares right into your eyes, unblinking.


When you talk to Shuushar about your voices, he nods his head as you describe them. When you are finished, he ponders for a moment (well longer than a moment) and finally then speaks up, "What you describe sounds much like an Old One. Long dead gods from the old times, at least that is what some believe. They are chaos and madness incarnate, some of the reason why my people's madness is there. If you have, indeed, been in contact, and are under the powers, of an Old One.....best of luck to you."

At random times, Jimjar comes over to you, "So.........got that gold you owe me yet?" With a smirk he looks to you for his gold.


Buppido - The derro nods his head and thinks, "Well, we could go through the North passage...but I would not suggest it. That leads to the drows' city of Menzoberranzan. Also the deep gnome city, but too much risk for little reward there. The West passage leads to Darklake and Shuushar's people, bunch of wacko land-fish. The South passage leads directly to Gracklstugh, the duergar city. That is where I am headed."

Sarith stares at you for a moment, sneering, "Were I you, and I had just escaped. I'd jump in the lake and be done with it. That is a far kinder fate than what the drow will do to you when they catch you."

After a while, the poison wears off and Thangardt is awake once again. Shuushar is sitting next to you, and seems to be looking over you and testing your vitals from time to time. As you wake up, he speaks to you, but where everyone can hear. "Ah, I see you are awake once again. Good thing you deep dwarves have a resistance to poisons....that was a large amount of theirs this time. You keep on like that and they might kill you with it eventually." Shuushar makes an odd gurgling noise you might mistaken for a chuckle as helps you back up to sitting. "If we find a way out of here, I can help you find your way through the Darklake. Some have tried to navigate it, but they always get lost....even some duergar who have been here all their lives. But it is a normal route for me and my people, and I know it well. Help me get out of here, and I will take you where ever you need to go in Darklake."

For those that want to know what darklake is, make a history roll.

For Kev and Than, you already know some stuff
You know Darklake is an underground maze of waterways. It expands hundreds and thousands of miles in the underdark and pretty much connects everything to everything else. With Shuushar guiding you, you'd be able to traverse the lake without getting lost, maybe losing any potential drow pursuers as well. If you ever get out........

[miinstrel]

Consternation plagues Zeth's face as Buppido reveals himself. "I... Yo--... How..." He pauses and composes himself for a moment. "Sorry, I'm just a little... surprised I guess. I mean, I will never forget the first things that voice, err, you, said to me. It, I mean you, explicitly said 'I am that which never sleeps'... and I'm pretty sure I've seen you sleeping in your corner over there."

Zeth waits and listens with rapt attention to his responses to each question before continuing on.
"How long have you been in this cell? I picked that lantern up months ago and thought we had all only been in here for a couple weeks at most."
"How did a god get captured by Drow in the first place? Shouldn't you have just smote them or something?"
"Okay, so they caught you and threw you in here. Isn't this whole cell warded so magic doesn't work? How did you contact me if magic doesn't work? Not to doubt you, your... godliness, but I just didn't think it would be so easy!"
Buppido's last comment finally sinks in. "Wait, one more sacrifice? How many have you done in here already?"

An audible gulp gurgles up from his throat. Zeth turns to ponder and then looks back at Shuushar and asks quietly, "Do they... Do these Old Ones ever take human form? Err, not necessarily human per se, but like the bipedal form of their followers? Like a dwarf or drow or... maybe a derro?" He glances around, casually inspecting Buppido.

Zeth looks blankly at Jimjar. "Seriously? When would I have picked up your gold?" he asks, opening his arms and gesturing to their current situation. "You find us a way out of here and we'll settle. 5 says I get out before you do."

[Irish Musician]

Consternation plagues Zeth's face as Buppido reveals himself. "I... Yo--... How..." He pauses and composes himself for a moment. "Sorry, I'm just a little... surprised I guess. I mean, I will never forget the first things that voice, err, you, said to me. It, I mean you, explicitly said 'I am that which never sleeps'... and I'm pretty sure I've seen you sleeping in your corner over there."

Buppido laughs this odd, malicious little laugh, "Of course to you it looks like I am sleeping, but I never truly slumber. I am always aware and I always know all. Such is the powers of a god."


Zeth waits and listens with rapt attention to his responses to each question before continuing on.
"How long have you been in this cell? I picked that lantern up months ago and thought we had all only been in here for a couple weeks at most."
"How did a god get captured by Drow in the first place? Shouldn't you have just smote them or something?"
"Okay, so they caught you and threw you in here. Isn't this whole cell warded so magic doesn't work? How did you contact me if magic doesn't work? Not to doubt you, your... godliness, but I just didn't think it would be so easy!"
Buppido's last comment finally sinks in. "Wait, one more sacrifice? How many have you done in here already?"

"I have not been in here long, but I first touched your mind all those months ago, picking you to come and help me, for I knew I would be thrown into here. It is all part of my divine plan, my servant. A god in meat-form has its disadvantages, as my powers aren't as powerful as they could be, so things such as this cell have more of an effect on me, but cannot surpress my powers completely. But with you here now, we can work together to escape."

Then you ask the question of sacrifices, and the derro grows a large, toothy smile on his face and his eyes seem to darken, "It is not in here I have sacrificed, but outside the walls. Killing, dismembering, and arranging their organs is how I grow my powers. If you can help me dispose of one of these fools, we can break free from these pens and chains. There have been many sacrifices to me, the god of Blood."


An audible gulp gurgles up from his throat. Zeth turns to ponder and then looks back at Shuushar and asks quietly, "Do they... Do these Old Ones ever take human form? Err, not necessarily human per se, but like the bipedal form of their followers? Like a dwarf or drow or... maybe a derro?" He glances around, casually inspecting Buppido.

Shuushar looks you over, noticing your gaze on Buppido. He raises what might be an eyebrow if he had them, "The Old Ones are monstrosities from other worlds. They do not take humanoid forms because a body such as ours cannot contain their madness. Our frail forms would, in all likelihood, go mad, or even explode because of the raw madness within them. Has.....has the derro over there been telling you something?"


Zeth looks blankly at Jimjar. "Seriously? When would I have picked up your gold?" he asks, opening his arms and gesturing to their current situation. "You find us a way out of here and we'll settle. 5 says I get out before you do."
Jimjar narrows his eyes and holds out a hand, "Deal, human."

[miinstrel]

"What about the Drow?" Zeth throws a discreet glance at Sarith. "How do you plan to do all of this though? It's not like we have knives lying around, and I've never been much of a warrior anyway. Besides, I doubt the others would allow any of this to happen."

OOC: Not really going to continue the line of questioning with him right now but just in case you want it for below: Persuasion [roll0]

Zeth shifts uncomfortably. "What? No, nothing really. It's just, like you said, they'd go mad and... well he seems a bit off, doesn't he? I mean hypothetically, if anyone in this cell were to be an Old One in Disguise, it would be him wouldn't it?" He let the question trail off, asking it as much of himself as the fish man. What if this really was why he was brought down here?

It all seemed plausible enough. Zeth had no formal study of the gods and their powers and certainly nothing related to the deities of the Underdark. If this Diinkarazan had orchestrated events with his capture, was it so far fetched this could be why? Zeth wasn't squeamish, weird stuff happens at a carnival when the crowds aren't looking, but murder? That seemed like a step too far. Unless it was Sarith... remove the spy and escape the cell all in one fell swoop. Even if it didn't work, at least the Drow informant would be gone.

Zeth sits against the wall and thinks for a time, picking at his finger nails.

[Irish Musician]

"What about the Drow?" Zeth throws a discreet glance at Sarith. "How do you plan to do all of this though? It's not like we have knives lying around, and I've never been much of a warrior anyway. Besides, I doubt the others would allow any of this to happen."
Buppido flashes a smile and looks down. When you look down, you see he produces a dagger from somewhere. He looks back up at you, and you see a much more intense look behind them. A calculating thought process, "That is why I need you. You can cause a distraction with them and the guards while I gut that one. Once he's down, I can cut him open and use his insides for my ritual. If he is alive while I do it, that would be better. Makes the magic more powerful if they're screaming for mercy...."


OOC: Not really going to continue the line of questioning with him right now but just in case you want it for below: Persuasion [roll0]

Zeth shifts uncomfortably. "What? No, nothing really. It's just, like you said, they'd go mad and... well he seems a bit off, doesn't he? I mean hypothetically, if anyone in this cell were to be an Old One in Disguise, it would be him wouldn't it?" He let the question trail off, asking it as much of himself as the fish man. What if this really was why he was brought down here?
Shuushar looks Buppido over, and looks back to Zeth. "If that little derro is an Old One in disguise, then I'm a Hook Horror. No, I think more likely that Buppido is just mad, with delusions of grandeur. An Old One would not be caught so easily by mere drow."

[ncpunkin]

Luna shifts uncomfortably as she tries to find some kind of serenity but there wasn't a lot to be found. When Phynn finishes talking to Buppido she gives him a look, "What did you learn from him?"

There wasn't a lot of options to get out. Luna played with the bolt out of eyeshot of the guards, If we could use this to pick that lock. Luna looks around at the group, Who here could fashion this to a point? Luna walks over to Elderth, "Elderth, Do you think you could fashion this into a lockpick?"




I figured she might have some past of working with metal and looks like the most trustworthy NPC. I'm basically looking for a rudimentary thieve's tools.

[Fishybugs]

[QUOTE=Irish Musician;21163778]
Buppido - The derro nods his head and thinks, "Well, we could go through the North passage...but I would not suggest it. That leads to the drows' city of Menzoberranzan. Also the deep gnome city, but too much risk for little reward there. The West passage leads to Darklake and Shuushar's people, bunch of wacko land-fish. The South passage leads directly to Gracklstugh, the duergar city. That is where I am headed."

"It would be good to avoid Menzoberranzan. Darklake? Never heard of it. Shuushar seems nice enough though. How far is to to Grachsthsh...Grackschl...the duergar city?"


[QUOTE=Irish Musician;21163778] Sarith stares at you for a moment, sneering, "Were I you, and I had just escaped. I'd jump in the lake and be done with it. That is a far kinder fate than what the drow will do to you when they catch you."

Phynn smiles at the Dark Elf. "Well, we'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen, won't we?" Phynn gets more serious for a moment and continues quietly. "You could come with us. You know how to fight. There are other drow welcomed on the surface. Not many, but it is possible. Come with us, cousin. The durgar city lies to the south, and from there we can reach freedom."



Phynn relates his conversations with Luna, and agrees the bolt may come in handy. He wonders if it is possible to use it as she suggests, but at the least it is one more tool to use against their captors. Phynn turns and addresses the rest of his fellow captives."Everyone sleep. Get as much rest as you can. You never know when our chance will come, and after we are free, it may be some time before we can rest again. Be wary. Be ready. Sarith has said the transport to Menzoberranzen is overdue. Maybe the drow are fighting their own battle and unable to collect us. At some point, their defense will falter and we'll take advantage of it."

It's been over a week, he thinks to himself. Borderline starved...weak... He looks to Derendil. Just plain nuts. Phynn wanders back over to Luna, his smile not faltering from his face. He would never let his sister see him despair. I'll get you out of here somehow, kitten.

[MintyNinja]

Still sitting next to Eldeth, waiting for a response, Kevton hears Luna's request. "A lockpick would be splendid. Do you know how to use one? I was afraid we'd need to have Ront break these shackles while they're still attached. Awfully risky, that. Of course, we might be able to just slip a hand out here or there..." As he says the idea out loud Kevton decides to give it a try.

Dex Check to slip out of shackles: [roll0] +2 if Acrobatics applies. Going to assume that doesn't do it.

"Well, maybe if I had some help it would be easier. We'll have to see in the morning, I suppose."

[tbergman92]

Thangardt scowled as he awoke to see the Kuo Toa next to him. As he realized what the creature had done, and heard his comments about the poison, he replied in a snarling voice, "Don't worry about me, fish face. I've taken worse." But quickly followed it (after a quick glance around to see if anyone was nearby) with a near silent, "Thank you, but I do what I must." Maintaining his scowl, attempting to appear to all the world as though he were cursing under his breath--as was his usual behavior--he followed it up with another quiet question, "Are you sure that you can protect and guide us in that place? Your people are known friends of the drow--why wouldn't they help them follow and find us?"


Not sure what rolls you might want for me to hide that conversation from the guards/rest of the prisoners..

[Irish Musician]

Eldeth does greet you well, "Aye, I've been thinkin' on that myself since I got in here. There's one drow that has been more chatty than the rest. That Jorlan has talked to me on quite a few occations. Seems odd ta me, dontcha think? Just from what he says, he definitely doesn't much like Ilvara or her new man. He seems to really want to shame them."
Kevton, you try as you might to wrangle out of the shackles, but you are just not able to.....at all.

Eldreth looks it over, "I'm thinking I could do something with this. Might take a bit with no tools, but these rock might'n work."


Buppido
He thinks for a moment, "Well, their city is some days away, and across Darklake. But I know my way around, so I am headed there. Shuushar could take you to his city. But I wouldn't trust a kuo-toa farther than I could throw them."

Sarith
The dark elf stares at you for a moment, and smirks, "I'd rather be executed than help a dirty surface-elf."

The kuo-toa smiles his warm smile, nodding his welcome to your thanks and winking at your "deception," "We are no more friends of the drow than the duergar are. Not many to trade with, down here in the dark, so we make do. But, yes, I would be able to grant you safe passage through my home city. Though it would help if, when we escape, we could steal something worthwhile to trade. That will definitely ease the passage through."

[MintyNinja]

"Jorlan, eh? The scarred one? Okay. Perhaps I'll be able to chat someone up during the working hours tomorrow. For now, seems like the sparkly elf has a point. Gonna make a grab for some shut-eye," Kevton replies in dwarven. He scoots along the wall a bit to an empty spot and curls up. However, instead of actually trying to go to sleep, he holds off for a while, choosing instead to listen to the other prisoners. Part of it is his insatiable curiosity, and part his fear of what nightmares may come.

Perception check for general eavesdropping.
[roll0]

[tbergman92]

Thangardt gave a quick nod and grumbled and cursed his way back over to where he'd been feeding the spider. He lay down to rest, looking about hopefully for the spider and preparing himself for another night of shallow sleep, ready to wake at the hint of a commotion.

[Fishybugs]

Phynn pauses a moment, surprised when the captives actually listen to him and start bedding down. It's true, though, that they needed rest. Yes, good. Let's keep our strength up.

He turns to Luna, "You too, little one. Make sure you're rested up and ready." Phynn then goes to the corner of the cage when his bolt and pipe are hidden and sits down next to them, ready to jump at a moment's notice. He stays awake, though, keeping watch for any unusual movements in the activity of the drow.

Perception: [roll0]

[ncpunkin]

Luna gives a nod and carols Stool near their sleeping spot. She had taken to keeping the small creature near when they tranced or slept. She closes her eyes and sighs, knowing tonight's dreams will be like last night's dreams and the night's dreams before that. It would only end once they were free of this cursed place. Her thoughts of escape soon turned to dreams of escape as she slipped into sleep.

[Irish Musician]

The night passes much like all the other nights have. Sleepless, fitful, and full of nightmarish dreams in which something seems to be coming from the depths, tentacles coming after you. Sometimes they find you, and sometimes they do not.
You notice that, after talking with some of the others, asking about their dreams and such.....you notice that they sometimes get caught and sometimes don't get caught by the tentacles. However, you always get caught and torn apart by them.
The morning comes sudden and early, and the day passes horribly just as always. Full of turture, belittlement, and it comes to "night" (or what might pass as night as best as you can tell still) and time for chow. Jorlan is on dinner duty once again and he brings you your food, oddly enough, at the passing of the guards. He throws down the food into the pen and watches you all either go for it or wait. He looks over you all and then motions of Phynn for him to come over to the cage, near the bars.
He holds his crossbow at the ready, as well as having a hand on his blade, but he doesn't seem to be ready to attack. More ready to defend himself or react to something. When you reach the bars he starts to whisper to you in elven. Now, the elven of the surface and the elven of the Underdark are fairly different dialects, but having been speaking to Sarith help hyou understand him for the most part. He leans in a little closer to you and whispers to you in his Underdark elven, "If I could give you the opportunity to leave this place.....would you take it?"

[Fishybugs]

Phynn's eyes narrow in suspicion at the dark elf's question. He silently looks at the guard.

Insight: [roll0]

[Irish Musician]

You think he is being truthful, and really does want to give you the opportunity to escape.

[Fishybugs]

Though he senses Jorlan speaks earnestly, he wonders what the elf is up to. His kind did nothing out of grace. "You know I would take the opportunity to escape if I could. What is the catch?"

[miinstrel]

His dreams flowed much as they usually do, the tentacles tearing off a limb here, flesh there, eventually leaving his dismembered torso and head begging for mercy, but tonight the writhing instruments of his pain lead back to the creepy face of the prison's resident Derro as he carefully arranged Zeth's limbs in a square around his body, flaying the skin off each in intricate patterns.
He looked warily over at Buppido upon waking, wondering if the little creature was truly sleeping or reaching out to him through his nightmares.

*******
Zeth stretches his aching back after the long work day. He wasn't built for manual labor and was grateful for receiving some of the less intense (though more disgusting) duties. Still... hunching over the floor for several hours cleaning up stink was no joy.

Phynn frequently monitored the evening feedings to keep folks, mainly Ront, from hoarding too much of the precious "nutrition," so Zeth was keenly aware of a narrow window of opportunity to eat as Jorlan beckoned him over to the bars. Ront seemed to notice this too as he made his way to the pile, so Zeth grabs what he can of the slop and steps back, keeping a keen ear to the bars and hushed conversation taking place as he eats greedily.

[roll0]

EDIT: I gain a permanent +10 to passive perception now, right? :smallbiggrin:

[Irish Musician]

The dark elf smirks, but looks around him from side to side, as if he is looking for something....or someone, "No catch. I will leave the pen unlocked and create a distraction for the guards on the shift change. That will leave the guard station without anyone in it. There is an armory in the guard tower at the top....most of your effects are inside there. You can then jump to the webs below the tower, and into the lake below. There is a grey ooze in there, but it is harmless. It just sits at the bottom and eats garbage, as well as any dead bodies or creatures that might sink down to it at the bottom. But it never moves, just waits for the garbage to come to it."

You overhear Jorlan making an offer to Phynn. An offer of escape.

(if you want, go ahead and read Phynn's spoiler in this same post.)

[MintyNinja]

Kevton's dreams of shadowy tentacles and gaping maws haunt him for the rest of the work day. He's unable to focus long enough to plot any escape, or even test his magics outside of the cell. Besides, the drow know to keep an eye on the deep gnomes and he was no exception. A moment's relaxation on the part of his captors and he could probably disappear right in front of their eyes. But he was back in the cell, daydreaming pleasant escape scenarios and eating the vile drek. Tempers short, he does his best to look out for the other "little guys" in the cell.

[Fishybugs]

Phynn continues looking into the drow's eyes, attempting to fathom what is going on. Was he sleeping? Had the nightmares stopped?"There is no way to tell time down here. How long do we have until shift change?"

Phynn makes mental note of the directions Jorlan gave.

Do Jorlan's description of where to go jive with Phynn's recollection of the geography?

[ncpunkin]

Luna shivers in fright as a series of tentacles roil above her in the tangled mess of briar and ivy. She wanted to scream but knew it would give away her position. Luna holds close to the wall of earth just as the swarming mass of black tentacles come down in front of her. Luna's eyes open slow and tired. Her mind was starting to cope with the constant nightmares now. She had tossed and turned in her sleep.

It didn't take long to realize Phynn was already up. She saw him talking to Jorlan, What!? She moves a bit closer to the food to make sure it is divided fairly, "Hold on, Ront." She says as she notices him going after the more than his portion, "You know that has to feed us all." She splits the portions equally as possible, but making sure to give a slightly bigger piece to Ront and Derendil to keep them sated.

[Irish Musician]

As Luna tries to divvy up the food as evenly as she is able, Ront starts to growl, and his hand flies at her face. He smacks her across the face,a nd she is pushed back a little from the hit. He takes her and his food and tries to start to eat it as quickly as he is able to, before anyone can do anything about it. Making low growling noises as if he is an animal, trying to scarf it all down.

Take 3 damage Luna.

Also, just though I'd point out, if you want to do little things (such as smack someone around, get a hit in on them and things of that nature) as it is cinematic, just assume it "hits." You are all in rags with fists and open hands. You will connect, but you won't do much damage. So feel free to make up little hits and stuff (and I'll let you know if you go too far), but as long as you keep it to little things, won't be a problem.

Just easier to do it this way for now.

[MintyNinja]

With Ront's outburst, Kevton keeps his hands to himself. He could tear the orc down, were he at his best, but as Ront left the smaller folks alone he decided to leave it be.

[tbergman92]

Thangardt stretched as he awoke, shaking off the dreams as best he could--there were more important things to worry about. He watched Phynn be called over to talk with Jorlan, and kept his usually sarcastic mouth shut--he wasn't going to throw away whatever work Phynn was doing to get in with one of their guards, and he tried to avoid antagonizing Jorlan anyway.

Turning his attention to the food, as meager as it was, Thangardt watched as Ront slapped Luna and took her food.

That's it. I'm done with his idiocy.

He charged over to Ront, and punched him in the gut, commenting in Undercommon, "Careful, friend, I wouldn't want you to get an upset stomach from eating too much." He settled into his usual defensive stance, ready to defend or press his advantage in the potential brawl, depending on the orc's reaction. He called softly over his shoulder to Luna, "Go ahead and take my share. Today was light work, I'm not hungry."

Just as a note, entering the Tunnel Fighter stance. OAs don't use reaction which isn't super relevant at the moment, but if Ront moves more than 5 ft I can choose to make a melee attack as a reaction. We're cinematic, so possibly unnecessary, just wanted to cover my bases.

[Fishybugs]

After Jorlan gives Phynn the last piece of information, a scuffle breaks out behind him. He is quite shocked to see his sister in the middle of it. Oh, Luna, he takes in the situation. you have a bigger heart than you're able to back up down here." He moves initially toward Luna, sees she isn't hurt too badly and moves to Ront. <Orcish>Do we need to do this again, Ront? Give the food over. If I have to take it from you, it will hurt."

How long did Jorlan say there is until the next shift change?

[Irish Musician]

Ront immediately goes down, somehow saving the food he has yet to consume from spilling everywhere, putting it down on the ground and grabbing his belly. After a few seconds, he actually turns about and throws up in the corner....all of the food he just tried to scarf down. He seems to stay where he is, especially once Phynn steps up against him as well.

However, Jorlan seems more than annoyed and spooked, and starts to walk away. As he leaves he says to Phynn, "If you are amenable to our arrangement, leave that gold coin of your sister's out in front of the pen tonight. I will know that you agree." He turns and goes, ignoring any words that may come beckoning to him afterwards.

He did not say.

[miinstrel]

Luna was perhaps too kind for her own good. He wondered if Phynn was regularly bailing her out of tense situations like this...

Zeth simply observes as the brawl unfolds, noticing a small grin on Sarith's face as the surface elf gets hit, obviously amused by the action. With all eyes on the 3 tightly muscled gentlemen in the center, he glanced next at Buppido who's hand was beneath his tunic, a crazed look in his eye. He turned his face to Zeth, not necessarily seeking approval but perhaps to say "it is time".

Zeth's heart raced. This couldn't be his destiny could it? There was another perfectly good, no - perfectly BETTER - way to get out of here. This crazy midget's scheme needn't come to fruition.

If Buppido makes a move toward Sarith during the scuffle, Zeth will intervene, try to wrest the knife from him, tackle him into the bars, etc. to stop the sacrifice.

If he doesn't make a move Zeth will remain where he is and finish his meal.

[tbergman92]

Thangardt grunted, leaving the food that Ront had set on the ground for the orc to eat after he recovered. He'd paid him back for his bullying, and hopefully taught him a lesson, but he had no desire for the orc to go completely without food. He turned towards Phynn, and asked him under his breath, "Thanks for backing me up there. What did the drow want from you, calling you out like that?"

[ncpunkin]

Luna takes the hit and instead of acting stunned or shocked, she acts calm. She closes her eyes stands up and dusts herself off, "Ront...that was uncalled for." She keeps her eyes on him as he eats the food, but shows no expression. Luna turns to look at Phynn and the others coming to her defense, "It was just a miscommunication but I'll try to explain more clearly next time...in a way he understands." She looks between them all into Ront's eyes as he finishes puking.

She gracefully accepts and thanks the other's offerings and their defense.

[roll0]

[Fishybugs]

Phynn stops when Luna starts talking, listening. He glances her way, but then maintains eye contact with Ront for a few minutes. After things calm down, Phynn calls the group together to the center of the cage.

Phynn looks around at the others in the cage. "I know it sounds strange, but our time has come. This is the moment I've been talking about for the past few days. Jorlan is going to give us a way out. He may be doing this for some drow political game, but I don't believe he plans to betray us.

He will leave the pen unlocked and create a distraction for the guards on the shift change. That will leave the guard station without anyone in it. There is an armory in the guard tower at the top....most of our stuff is inside there. He said we can jump to the webs below the tower, and into the lake below. That last part sounds a little risky, but maybe the drow won't expect it. Oh....there is a grey ooze in there, but he says it's harmless. It just sits at the bottom and eats garbage, as well as any dead bodies or creatures that might sink down to it at the bottom. It never moves, just waits for the garbage to come to it.

I'm going." He looks to Luna for support and her agreement with the plan. "We're going. Who is with us?"

[miinstrel]

"I'm in," Zeth volunteers quickly. "The longer we stay here the weaker we get and the less we can fight back at all. I've had enough Drow **** in my nose for a lifetime." He looks to Buppido adding, "This is probably the best shot we'll have."

[tbergman92]

"I don't trust drow. Not even a disgraced one. But I'll take the chance to get out of here. I wonder what's in it for Jorlan--there's no reason for them to be tricking us into this escape attempt as a whole, so I'd guess he has some other reason in mind." Thangardt trailed off as he set his mind to unraveling the drow's possible motives.

Quickly shaking himself out of those thoughts, he continued, "The question is, what happens after that? Shuusar offered to guide us through the darklake, but I'm wary to take that path. Going deeper seems like a mistake right now, for some reason, but the drow will be able to track us if we take any other path."

[MintyNinja]

"That's stupid," Kevton says after swallowing a bite. Pointing at Thangardt he says, "You just said what he has to gain from it: by us escaping he can capture or kill us until he earns his place back. It's a trap. It's the most obvious trap." He points at Zeth, "You've had enough of drow kicking our crap? You think we'll be any better off out there? Have you tried to explore the Underdark? I've been doing it most of my life and even I'm in here. Any plan that relies on our captors is bound to fail. Absolutely."

[tbergman92]

Thangardt instantly bristles at the insult. "No, idiot. Take it from someone who has lived his entire life in the Underdark--the drow here won't care if he captures us again, especially not after whichever of us that survives tells them he left the cave unlocked. The drow punish treachery against their own harshly."

[Fishybugs]

Phynn looks to Kevton. "I'll be happy to hear your idea. I'm leaving tomorrow." He looks to Luna, slightly abashed. I'll...uhh...need your coin to signal our agreement."

[MintyNinja]

Kevton, the Deep Gnome, gives Thangardt a baffled look but refuses to meet him on his level. Instead, he turns to Phynn and says, "If we can snag a key, build a lockpick, or slip these shackles then we can sneak out ourselves. We know where the armory is, allegedly, and we know not to jump into the webs. Once we're out of the cell, maybe out magical tricks come back to us and we can just disappear. I don't know, I'm just not relying on our captors suddenly turning us out for no reason. It could just be a sick game to them."

[miinstrel]

"These things are impossible to slip out of anyway..."
DEX: [roll0]

Turning to Kevton, he adds "So if the gate does open you won't come too? Destiny is subtle, but that's a pretty major tip off that fate's working in your favor don't you think?. We at least have a chance to do something unexpected if we take this opportunity. How long until we have a working lock pick if ever?"

He raises his eyebrows and shares an idea. "What if we let the quaggoths out too? That would give them twice the captives to deal with and a better chance that any one of us escapes. And judging by our resident prince's performance, they would be quite the handful..." he says giving a nod to Derendil.

[MintyNinja]

"They're impossible because no one's working together on them. I bet if both the dolt," he gestures to Thangardt, "and sparkles here-" a gesture to Phynn "-were to pull with all their might on each manacle at the same time they'd make some dent in the things. And if not, then any number of us could try and snag a key from a drow belt, they're carrying them around as they lead us to and from this cell." Kevton realizes he's standing and not exactly whispering as he rants in the spore-translated gnomish. He takes a moment and composes himself and quietly adds, "If that door opens and every single one of you run out there, I'll wait to see if you're caught or not before tossing myself into the same fire as all of you. Is no one else the least bit suspicious?!"

[ncpunkin]

Luna would nod almost instantly in agreement. When asked she would offer her Phynn her coin, "Of course, I think this is the best chance we have to escape." She looks between the men and moves off to Elderth, "How is that lockpick coming?" She asks in a whisper. She began to weigh all the points of those in her mind. She would suddenly intrude, "One of us will have to carry Stool when we run, he isn't very mobile."


She would look back to Elderth when she got an answer, "We are planning an escape soon. You'll know when it'll happen."

[Fishybugs]

Phynn looks at the deep gnome with a bit of surprise. He thinks for a moment, then nods his head. "Okay. Your choice. If you choose to come, you are welcome. If you choose to stay, be wise enough to stay out of the way. If you change your mind later we will not return for you, so choose wisely. Me? I would rather die attempting to be free than live a life of slavery."

Phynn nods to Zeth. "Freeing the quaggoth is a good idea. If they haven't been beaten into submission. I've been wondering how just 19 dark elves can control a dozen of those beasts," he says with a slight glance to the prince. "They are certainly dangerous. When we are out, we head for the guard station with our weapons first. If the opportunity presents to free the quaggoth, that will be the next stop. We'll have to make it up as we go."

He looks around to the others. "Pray to your gods tonight. Rest. Once we get out of this gods-forsaken magic void...well, our chances improve drastically."

[Irish Musician]

Eldreth takes out the bolt she has been working on and.....it doesn't look half bad. "This should help, at least a little bit, to get out of the chains." The female dwarf looks at all of you, "I am with you as well. I, too, don't want to waste my life away in this hell-hole. I'd rather die fighting that serve these bastards any longer."

You all get the emotions of Stool, and his odd voice echos through your heads, "I just want to get back to my people. It's been so lonely without them. Thank you for helping me....and you are all welcome with us." The twins seems to be in agreement, as well as Jimjar, Derendil, and Shuushar. Shuushar adds that his people are the closest from this place, noting that if they went through the Darklake, he could guide you all and that would help keep drow captors at bay. Ront is still in the corner upset, and Buppido seems to be in some sort of trance, just staring off into the distance towards the guards, unresponsive.

There is then a chuckle from the other side of the pen. Sarith sits and listens as you all talk about this escape, listening to both sides. He then speaks up. "You don't think Jorlan has motivation? You all know nothing about the drow. Help get me into the Underdark, and I will tell you what I know."

[miinstrel]

"So you can turn us around and lead us right back to them? I don't think so. Our freedom means yours too, but you can go your own way once we escape," Zeth says with venom to Sarith.

"We should decide where we go after we're out, so this spy cannot point them in our direction."

[Irish Musician]

Sarith lets out a laugh, "You are fooling yourself if you think I will be anywhere near you all when you escape. The more of you fools that are clumped together, the better it is for me."

[ncpunkin]

Luna takes the bolt and checks the tip, "Outstanding work Elderth, with any hope we can use this to get out of our shackles." Luna shifts uneasily as Sarith and Zeth fued. She looks over to Phynn and twirls the altered bolt between her fingers, "The Quaggoth seem quite mean and dim, but I don't think they particullary like the drow." She glances around, "If we're wrong we will be supplying the Drow with reinforcements to catch us or worse." She looks at the bloody spot in the middle of the cell and glances at Derendil.

Luna puts a hand on Stool as she crosses the cell, "We will help you, but you'll be in extreme danger while we are escaping. I'm going to see if I can carry you like this." Luna picks up Stool to test the Myconid's weight.



[roll0]

Come on how much can a Mushroom weigh?

[MintyNinja]

"Well, at least I'm not the only one properly suspicious," Kevton says quietly. Having Sarith agree with him is only a bit discouraging but he did promise to reveal what he knew if he was freed. He might even reveal what secret he was keeping. "Alright, fine. Let's take the bait, but on our own terms. Try to get as many of us free as possible before he even unlocks the cell. I want to be able to fight back against any surprises. We get our gear, we get down to the lake and meet up on the shore. We split up from there?" There's a current of resignation in his voice, but now that he was signed on with the stupid plan Kevton decided to make it as workable as possible. "What do we know about the quaggoths? Are they prisoners like us or are they willing slaves?"

[miinstrel]

"Derendil, have you spoken with any of them before? They may be more open to the idea of escape if you present it rather than any of us given your current form."

[Irish Musician]

The Prince nods, "I have spoke with drow quaggoths before. What you must understand about this race is that they are large, strong, and dangerous. But they can be quelled quickly and they can be beaten into submission. The drow have been doing it for centuries. Most likely these quaggoths have been here for generations. I would not call them willing.....but nor would I call them allies."

Luna tries to pick-up Stool, and she ends up toppling over with Stool just landing on top of her.

[ncpunkin]

Luna shifts, stumbles and pulls the huge myconid on top of her, "Oh okay, uggh..maybe I should wait until I can enhance my strength." She huffs, wiggles and pushes up, "Elderth, Can you help carry our heavy friend here?"



[roll0] - Acrobatics

[MintyNinja]

As Luna struggles with Stool Kevton says, "Why doesn't Shuushar do it? He's a pacifist, right? This way he won't break his vow and he'll still help. It also keeps Stool away from any fighting and lets Eldeth get whatever vengeance she wants."

[ncpunkin]

Luna struggles as Stool rolls around on her, "That is a good idea, maybe he could do that now to show he can?" She says and pushes on Stool, "I hope you are having fun."

[Irish Musician]

As Luna tries to get the large mushroom off, he does indeed seem to be having a good time, letting out some mental giggles into Luna's mind. Shuushar smiles and walks over, picking up Stool and placing him beside Luna, "I will be honored to help my friend, here, escape this horrid place."

[ncpunkin]

Luna sighs and just sits up rubbing Stool on the side, "I'm glad someone enjoyed that." She nods to Shuushar, "Thank you, my friend."

[Fishybugs]

"Okay." Phynn says to the group. "We have some planning to do. Is there anyone with any skill with locks? Eldreth has fashioned this little tool..." He nods to Eldreth to indicate she should show the group the bolt-turned-lockpick. "If there's anyone who can get these manacles unlocked, let's get working on that. Leave them in place so it doesn't look strange, and the cuffs are heavy and will make a good weapon until we can find better."

He looks around at the group. Well, this is it. This is where it starts. How do we make sure it's not where it ends as well?

Phynn digs up his stolen crossbow bolt, sequesters Luna and says, "Here, trade me. You take this bold as a weapon and I'll take your coin to signal we want out."

He offers Luna the bolt.

[Irish Musician]

Sarith laughs and looks at Phynn, "I know how to pick locks.....

[ncpunkin]

Luna offers Phynn her coin and leans against the cave wall looking over the bolt and the sheen it had. She carefully slips the poisoned bolt into her belt and made sure it is hidden. Luna hands over the coin and nods, "Sure, I'm going to finish getting ready."

Luna picks an unoccupied corner and sits cross-legged. She closes her eyes, clears her mind, centers her posture and slips into meditation; trying to calm her nerves and whirling emotions. Her mind slips into a semi-tranquil state. She reaches into that state of mind until she doesn't feel the claustrophobia of the cell, the fear of death, nor the constant dank of the Underdark. Luna's eyes open after only 30 minutes but she feels fully rested, cenetered, and ready to go.


Consider me ready :D.

[MintyNinja]

"Well it looks like we're leaving no one behind, then," Kevton says once Sarith reveals he can open their shackles. "How long until this great opportunity arises? Should we get unshackled now or wait till later?"

[Fishybugs]

Phynn thinks for a moment, then says. We should probably get unlocked under the cover of dark tonight. I'm to leave the gold coin out to signal our agreement, and he will cause a disruption during the change of the guard.

[MintyNinja]

"Phynn, I hate to break it to ya, but we're in the Underdark. It doesn't get any darker or lighter depending on the time," Kevton says with a shake of his head. "But yeah, let's unlock when they think we're sleeping, there's probably less of a guard on us at that time anyways."

[Irish Musician]

The "night" comes, and Jorlan bring you your food once again. Assuming you placed the gold coin, he sees it, picks it up, and places it in his pocket. He makes eye contact with Phynn and nods, turning on his heel and walking away.

The anticipation is excruciating, but most of you are able to at least get a few hours of sleep. Oddly enough, your dreams wake you up....those horrible nightmares....and you notice that the changing of the guard is happening right now. But more interesting than that, is you all hear a low buzzing sound. You aren't sure what to make of it, but it almost sounds as though a swarm of something is buzzing around in the cavern. Sarith starts working on getting everyone unlocked from their chains, and is actually doing a fairly fast job of it.

After about 15 minutes of work, Sarith gets most of everyones chains off. The only one who doesn't have everything off is Ront, but his hands seems to be free.

Just then 6 monstrous forms appear in the cavern, buzzing about. Two of the forms look as though they are some form of humanoid vulture with feathered wings. And the other four forms look like they are giant flies, with a mouth that juts out and comes to a point, like a giant spike. The flies seem to be chasing the vultures as they pass by the guard tower and your line of sight. The guards and some of the loose quaggaths starts running towards them, ready to defend the keep, running towards the elite guards' rooms on the other side of the encampment.

You notice that as the fly type creatures buzz by the tower, most of the guards drop, and those that didn't are running out and over to where the creatures seem to have congregated, to the far left of you.

There is a LOT of yelling, the loud buzzing, and who do you see turn the corner but Jorlan. He unlocks the cage and opens the door. "Go, now."

[miinstrel]

Zeth stares coolly at Sarith as he undoes his bonds and rubs the pinched skin once free, the stench of filth rolling up to his nostrils after so many days clamped in irons. This lake dive might end up being refreshing...

While a bit surprised this is actually happening, Zeth wastes no time and pushes the cage door open with Phynn making every effort to get out of the cage before Jimjar. "Alright folks, just like we discussed: Guard tower for our gear, release the quaggoths if there's time, then down to the lake and away from this hell hole!" The dust of desperation stirs in the air as he rushes forward with the mob of prisoners across the rough ground.

Still hustling, he turns to Thangardt, "Really glad bugs don't grow that big on the surface. What do you feed them down here?!"

[MintyNinja]

Kevton hangs back by the rear of the group. Now that his shackles are off he could provide some cover for those getting left behind. He also makes sure that Sarith gets out of the cell and that no one tries to hinder his escape.

[Fishybugs]

Phynn grabs his makeshift club as Jorlan unlocks the cage. He looks to Luna and reminds her to have the bolt ready. He walks to the edge of the cage and ushes everyone out of the cage. He looks around to ensure there are no immediate threats to the group, then heads toward the guard station. "Let's go, people. Just like Zeth says. Guard station first. Find something you know how to use."

Phynn will keep an eye out for approaching Drow as they as they make their way to the guard post.

Perception: [roll0]

[Irish Musician]

Right as Zeth starts to exit the cage, he sees a purple-blue flash pop out of the pens just before he crosses the threshold of the doorway. Jimjar runs in front of them, smiling the whole way to the armory and holds up 5 fingers to Zeth.

[ncpunkin]

Luna pushes stool towards Shuushar firmly and moves the bolt to her hand. She would have been right behind Phynn her blood pumping in excitement. But the obnoxious buzzing was already wearing her nerves and she was eager to get as far away as possible. She runs as fast as she can towards the guard tower.

To find our stuff:

[roll0]

[miinstrel]

That sneaky little monkey... Zeth thought as Jimjar zipped past him. Still, he enjoyed the competition and smirked at the tiny creature.

His eyes gloss over after asking Thangardt about the bugs, not hearing a thing he says in response, his question seemingly hijacked inside his mind. A look of fearful intrigue crosses his face as they continue across the cavern. He appears distracted to anyone watching, aside from a quick glance around to look at Buppido, as he tests out this stronger mental connection with a nearly uncontrollable barrage of questions... Are they... are those things yours?
Who are you? How do I find you? ...Are you really the Derro?

[Irish Musician]

As everyone gets close up to the guard tower, a "voice" inside of your heads that sounds very much like Zeth's echos through everyone's minds, asking these odd questions. No one quite knows what just happened, but Zeth hears the Derro speak up behind him. "I guess you figured me out, Zeth. But, your guts will make for a wonderful sacrifice for me, the god of derros."

As Zeth turns around, he sees Buppido pull out a block of a gum-type-substance. The derro smiles a wicked, malicious, and evil grin......then disappears.

[MintyNinja]

Following the group from the rear, Kevton watches as the Derro vanishes from sight and his interest is piqued, Might have my type of abilities... I should be careful. Instead of voicing his opinion, he keeps an eye on the twins and Sarith, the three he felt partially responsible for.

[Fishybugs]

Phynn had grown used to the voice in his head when he was sleeping, but this was the first time he had heard it like that when he was awake. Buppido suddenly disappears, and Phynn stops moving, looking around. "That little jerk. If he could get out at any time, why did he wait? What's his game? His wondering is cut short when he remembers where he is and continues moving the group toward the guardpost.

[tbergman92]

Thangardt crouched in the corner, attempting to coax his spider friend to join him, pausing only to hold up his manacles for Sarith to unlock them. He briefly was distracted by Buppido's antics as the cage was opened, and followed the rest out of the cage to get their gear.

[Irish Musician]

The group all makes it to the tower and oddly enough finds that the door is unlocked and slightly ajar, Thangardt's spider friend even coming along for the ride on his shoulder. As you all walk into the tower, you notice that there are drow in there....on the floor and unconscious. You don't know what gods have graced you with such luck at this particular moment, but you know that luck has a funny way of running out quickly.

You do find your things, or at least most of them. Once you have them, the choice is yours. You don't know how long these drow will remain unconscious, nor do you know how long it will take for their compatriots to defend their home and be done with the creatures. Time is ticking along quickly, and you aren't sure how much of a window you still have.


Kevton - 3 of your Black Onyx Gems are missing, as well as an ink bottle and pen.
Zeth - One of your healing potions is gone, one of your daggers, and one of your holy symbols
Phynn - Just one of your daggers is missing
Luna - One of your vials of acid is gone, as well as 50ft of your hempen rope
Thangardt - Some parts of your brewer's supplies are gone, your tinderbox, and 30g are missing. However, you did gain a spider friend

I would like to remind everyone of the donning armor rules, you better believe they are in effect :smallamused:
Category Don Doff
Light Armor 1 minute 1 minute
Medium Armor 5 minutes 1 minute
Heavy Armor 10 minutes 5 minutes
Shield 1 action 1 action

[miinstrel]

Moving carefully through the barracks, Zeth makes his way to his pick and rummages around for the holy symbols, placing them over his head and breathing a small sigh of relief. As he fingers through them he notices the one to Corellon is missing, which made sense considering where they were. A moment of panic crosses his face and he digs deeper and more frantically through the bag, eventually surfacing with a small leather satchel, inside of which is a deck of cards. Another sigh of relief. He places it in his pocket.

Whispering, he asks, "We don't all need to go release the quaggoths. Maybe Sarith, Derendil, and Kevton can go? The fewer of us out and about the less likely we'll be spotted. The rest of us could deal with umm... this," he gestures to the unconscious guards. "We tie them up right? That's what people do in this kind of situation?"

As he speaks he shuffles his cards and draws 3 of them, one at a time. His face gets less optimistic with each card.


http://images.facade.com/i/t/golden/r/r/r18.jpg http://images.facade.com/i/t/golden/r/r/r12.jpg http://images.facade.com/i/t/golden/r/r4.jpg


"Uhh... on second thought, maybe we should just get out of here. Quickly."

[ncpunkin]

Luna finds her mother's wands and praises Sylvanus. The 10 and half inch sliver of yew seemed to be more precious than she remembered. The lax moment in the action gave her time to center herself again, "Phynn, Are you ready?" She asks after she slips on her armor. Once the straps are tightened Luna flicks her wand in the air and encases herself in a second skin, "I'll second that." Luna peers out of the guard tower towards where the Drow were.



Perception Check:
[roll0]

She began to formulate a plan, but there was just too much going on, "Maybe we should jump into the web and water below?" She pauses to stare at the cards as Zeth fingers through them.


Do I understand what these cards mean?
[roll1]

[Irish Musician]

No notice that Sarith as has begin looting one of the unconscious drow, slicing the drow's throat and letting him bleed out, dressing himself and throwing a cloak around his shoulders. He gets weapons, some supplies, and is already out the door by the time that Zeth starts to talk to him about doing anything. "Good luck, surface dwellers. I'm sure you won't die soon......" With that he escapes out of the guard tower and out of sight, jumping down into the pool and swimming to the shore.

You notice as Sarith once he is on shore, seems to have his legs engulfed in a grey ooze-type substance, and pulled underwater.

You aren't 100% sure of their meaning, but you know it is definitely not good.

[MintyNinja]

Kevton throws his pack over his shoulders once checking that most of his things are there. He keeps his rags on for the moment, not actually accustomed to armor and too on edge to care about his current attire. As Sarith says farewell, Kevton calls out, "Wait! You owe me a secret!" He rushes to the doorway and scans the lake below for the rogue drow.
Perception: [roll0]
Seeing the drow's fate, Kevton tries to tell himself to let it go, but he was owed a secret! "I'll meet you at the bottom!" he calls to the others in the chamber before he leaps down to the webs below, intending to then jump to the lake. Part way through his drop he curls into a flip and starts falling slightly slower, but not nearly slow enough.

Slow fall at next level, but this is nice foreshadowing. Kevton intends to get to the water and rescue Sarith as quick as he can. I'll put an Athletics Check for Swimming in OOC.

[tbergman92]

Thangardt arrives in the room, and immediately begins to gather his things--clasping a very un-duergar necklace around his neck, attaching sheaths and sliding daggers and a large hammer into them, and cursing in colorful duergar about the loss of some of his brewing supplies. He begins to pick up his pack, but pauses as a thought occurs to him. He carefully coaxes his spider friend onto his hand, and then deposits it on top of his bald head, before shrugging the pack onto his back and looking about the room. "I'm all for getting out of here as soon as possible." He turned toward the exit as Sarith went running out but shook his head at Kevton's decision to follow, saying "Leave the drow to his own escape. Worry about yourself first."

Stepping out of the room himself, he looks about intently and listens for any sound of the drow's fight drawing to a close, or moving nearer to their location.

[roll0]

[Irish Musician]

You don't hear them getting closer, and you see a few drow taking on one of the fly-like creatures far down by the barracks. You also happen to notice that Ilvaram their leader, has now taken up the fight.

[Fishybugs]

Phynn bursts into the guard room, pipe at the ready to defend himself and the others. He is startled to find the drow unconscious. He is starting to become suspicious, but doesn't voice his concerns. This is turning out to be too easy. What's going on?

Once he sees they are sage in the room, he helps Luna into her armor, then grabs his equipment and armor. "Let's go. I'll strap this on when we have a few minutes." He sees movement out of the corner of his eye, and almost yells at Sarith, but controls himself at the last second. "Sarith...there's no reason to kill these men. We can tie them up and get out of here." He helps the others who want to don their armor and helps to get everyone equipped.

Perception: [roll0]

Phynn sees Sarith jump over the edge. "Okay. I guess that really is the way to safety. Everyone else want to go over the edge?"

[ncpunkin]

Luna helps Phynn and moves back to where she watches Kevton jump down into the web. Luna moves to where the others were jumping and stands near Phynn, "Yes I think we should go while we have the chance."

Luna glances over at Stool and Shuushar, "Jump...We'll be right behind you." Luna gives a short prayer to Sylvanus and checks with her brother one last time, 'Whatever made that web, let it be gone.' Luna jumps off the ledge and drops into the web.




With a passive perception of 16. do I see anything in the dark areas of the web?

[Fishybugs]

Phynn looks around a little frustrated. Things were moving too quick for him. He liked to have a plan. He had planned on not getting this far so quickly, so even though things were going well...it just didn't seem right. He watches Luna go over the edge and realizes he is now committed. He stuffs his armor into his large pack and holds on tight as he jumps into the web below. Once we're on the ground, I'll get that on.

[tbergman92]

Thangardt is about to follow the others in jumping off the edge, despite a mistrust of such things born out of a lifetime spent in the underdark, when he suddenly curses as he realizes that his new friend may not handle such a fall well. He trusted the spider's ability to hold on to him as he fell and landed on the web, but not its ability to breathe underwater. He searched through his recovered items quickly until he found some rations and the new flask that he had bought before leaving Gracklstugh. Crumbling a small part of the rations and dropping them into the clean flask, he coaxed his spider friend into the metal container and closed it, before downing the rest of the trail ration and jumping into the web.

[Irish Musician]

As you all jump, one behind the other in quick succession, and land on the webbing....Kevton quickly realizes what Sarith's secret must have been. As soon as you hit the webbing, it grabs onto you and you can't seem to move any farther, or much at all. While Luna doesn't see anything before you jump, she certainly catches a glimpse of two large, bug-like forms crawling out from the shadows.

Sorry there Luna, they were too stealthy for that passive :smallsmile: Or anyone's for that matter

Everyone in the webbing is now Restrained. You can make a strength check to get out of them. They are also attackable.

Everyone please, in the OOC, roll an initiative. To make it easier, I am going to have all the NPC's go at once.

[miinstrel]

"I immediately regret this decision!"

Strength to escape: [roll0]

If he breaks free, he moves toward the nearest other character and prepares to help them get free as well.

He pulls at the sinewy strands attempting to free himself when he hears the chittering moving toward them. "Umm... guys?" he points as best he can to the source of the sounds.

[Irish Musician]

Zeth easily tears out of the webbing, moving over to Shuushar and Stool, who have both fallen into the webbing as well. He also sees two very large spiders who are lowering onto the webbing nearest to the cliff side and down the way some.

Also, gain an inspiration because "I immeidately regret this decision" literally just made me laugh out loud and made my boss look at me funny :smallbiggrin:

Oh, and I am not going to make a map for this part (I usually do) since it will most likely be over pretty quickly. So just give me "I move off the webbing as soon as possible" or whatever, and I'll figure it all out. I promise I won't put you in harms way......maybe :xykon:

[Fishybugs]

Phynn lands in the webbing and is quite surprised to be stuck to it. Of course you're stuck, idiot, that's what webbing is for. He is able to pull himself free and makes his way over to his sister. He draws his sword to either defend his sister or cut her free.

[ncpunkin]

Luna's eyes glow green and her lips tighten into a line, before sprouting into a pair of black pincers. The rest of her transformation has her morphing into an eight-legged spider. Her senses are instantly assaulted with a new perspective that comes rushing in fast. But she regains her composure and skitters beside and away from Phynn.

Luna moves twenty feet along the web putting herself between the spiders and her allies. There she takes up a defensive posture against the other spiders. Her body arches forward, with her cephalothorax low, and she clashes defensively with her pincers.


Bonus Action: Beast Shape - Giant Spider :X
20 Feet Closer to the Spiders
Action: I'll ready to bite any spider that comes within range.

[MintyNinja]

"Webs! It had to be webs! Next there'll be giant sp- oh," Kevton shuts up as he watches Luna turn into a giant spider herself and charge at the others. "First demons, now shapeshifters. This place is going to the Nine Hells faster than a market during a fire." With some effort, he pulls his shortsword from his sheath and begins slicing at the webbing holding him bound.

Preparing a Conditional:
If his first attack does not free Kevton from his bonds, then Kevton will use a Ki Point for Flurry of Blows and make two additional attacks against the webbing.

First Attack: [roll0] for [roll1]. If crit add [roll2]

Second Attack: [roll3] for [roll4]. If crit add [roll5]
Third Attack: [roll6] for [roll7]. If crit add [roll8]

See OOC for Unarmed Damage.

[Irish Musician]

You all do your best to get out of the webbing, some better than others. Thangardt can't seem to struggle out of the webbing, and Kevton tries to use his martial arts training to break free, but the webbing seem to be impervious to his particular brand of attack. Phynn does break through the webbing, but as he starts to move to his sister, he notices that he isn't able to get quite as far as he is able to. Stool and Shuushar seem to fair well, as do the twins. Prince Derendil gets out, but Eldeth doesn't...however he does go over to help her get out. He, too, seems to have trouble getting over to her. The twins seem to have no problem even getting stuck in the webbing, bouncing around it and each other, like squirrels. Jimjar doesn't seem quite as nimble as his brethren, but he does get out of it and starting to the end of the webbing. Ront has major issues and is not only stuck int he webbing, but has started to freak out and is now thrashing around and getting himself more stuck.

You all then hear a wicked laugh coming from up above where you just jumped from. A little derro stands there, looking down at you... Buppido. "See you in the afterlife, Zeth." He closes his hands together in a little ball, and a red glow starts from them. He then tosses the ball in the middle of the webbing. The little ball explodes in fire, catching the web ablaze and sending fire in all directions of the webbing. He then disappears from sight, laughing.

Ok, so no one actually got hit by the fire, but since the webbing isn't the best at delaying fire, they fire will be moving along the webbing fairly quickly.

Kevton, you figure out that the bludgeoning damage of your martial arts unarmed hits do nothing to the webbing.

If you start your turn in the webbing, make a DC 12 Str or Dex check to be restrained by it again. If you are, then you have to make another str check to get free. All movement on the webbing counts as 1 foot extra, so effectively half movement.

As always, if there are any questions please ask. And I think I will make a map, since my decision dice made this a little more complicated. Be on the lookout for that, it will also be in my signature when done.

[MintyNinja]

From his position struggling in the webs, Kevton sees the twins are relatively safe and he breathes a sigh of relief. Pulling a deep breath to focus himself, he tries to wiggle free of his predicament in time to help save Sarith down below. The drow had to have more secrets.

Dex Roll
[roll0]
Nevermind that: Strength = 15 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=21219654&postcount=159)

Slipping a hand free, Kevton draws his short sword and heads for Jimjar. "I'll cut you loose. Everyone, get down into the lake!" If he can reach the other deep gnome before the fires he'll try to free him with his blade.

I do believe I fail: Botched Roll (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=21218934&postcount=155)

[Fishybugs]

Phynn gets part way to his sister, struggling to get there every step of the way. As he finally strains the last few steps, she transforms into a spider and scuttles away. "Uh huh. Sisters. Great." He looks around at the others and sees Kevton as the next closest. Phynn walks over to Kevton and uses his dagger to cut him loose.

I should be able to get to him. If Kevton is free already, then Jimjar should also be within range.

[miinstrel]

Zeth ripped his arms free of the webs just in time to see Buppido hurl the fireball down. He shielded his face from the impending flames and felt a ripple of heat warm his left flank. Thank god he has bad aim...

The situation didn't look good, and he could already feel the web giving way as the sinuous fibers melted and floated down to the water below. Thangardt was the nearest one still stuck, so Zeth hobbled over to him. He tripped several times, but lucky found some old bones to step on that didn't grip his feet quite as badly. He drew his dagger and began sawing at the webs around Thangardt as Ront screamed in rage and fear behind him.

Using a luck reroll for Dex to remain free: [roll0]

Dagger attack on Thangardt's webs: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2] (if crit: [roll3])

Alternatively... Dex to break free if my reroll failed: [roll4]

[tbergman92]

Thangardt once again struggled to free himself from the webbing as Zeth tried to cut him loose, echoing Kevton's admonition, "Get into the water. I'll hold off the second spider as best I can when I'm free.".

Strength Check: [roll0]

If I get free, I'll use my very limited movement to attempt to get into the spider's path, and edit this post to reflect it. Never mind.

[ncpunkin]

Luna shifts about back and forth to fend off the spider coming towards her. She keeps backing up with her friends and tries to be aware how well they were moving on the web. Her pincers are ready to latch onto the other spider.


Bite:
Attack: [roll0]
Hit: [roll1]
Crit: [roll2]
Effect: Target must make a DC 11 ([roll3])Constitution saving throw, taking [roll4] poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

[Irish Musician]

You all try to move forward and try to get out of the sticky webbing, not always successfully. Luna puts herself between one of the spiders and the group. Kevton breaks free, and goes to help Jimjar, as does Phynn. Between the two of you and his own strength, Jimjar is out and walking around the fire and towards the end. Zeth rips out of his webbing and cuts on Thangardt's. Luckily for the dark dwarf, that is enough for him to get out of the webbing and on his way over to block the other spider from the rest of the group. Topsy and Turvy seem to excel at webbing, and skip, hop, and jump off the side. Shuushar grabs stool and the two start to make their slow way to the side as well. Derendil helps Eldeth out of her webbing, and the both of them start to make their way around the fire and towards the side. Ront finally manages to break out of his webbing, but isn't able to go far because a bit is still stuck on him.

As you all are fighting the webbing, and trying to stay away from the spiders a gust of air blows past the fire in the center. Some of the webbing that is on fire blows over farther, and catches more of the webbing on fire. It spreads fairly quickly and doesn't look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. One of the spiders starts to go for Topsy and Turvy, but they jump out of its range. The other spiders lowers down and starts to move your way. However, both spiders seem to stop in their tracks once the fire rages outward, consuming more webbing. They seem to be stuck between trying to get a quick meal, and not getting burned.


You notice Sarith crawl out of the pool and crawls about 20ft from the shore.

[miinstrel]

The fire was gaining ground. As Thangardt ripped out of the webbing Zeth loses his balance falling forward onto Ront and bracing himself on the large orc's shoulders. The flames were licking at his feet, and he quickly scrambled to the other side of the orc. "Ront, calm down. I'll cut you loose, but first you promise me: no more bullying us. Period. Understood?" If he acquiesces, Zeth begins to cut him loose.

Dex to remain free: [roll0]

Perception: [roll1]
Attack Ront's webs: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]
Crit: [roll4]

Luck reroll on Dex to remain free if it fails: [roll5]

If it failed again, then Dex to break out of the webs: [roll6]

[Fishybugs]

Phynn takes a moment and looks down over the edge of the webbing. "Are we seriously considering jumping down there? Do we have any idea how deep that is?" He looks around for any other exits from this level...any form of tunnel which leads away at this level.

So....perception: [roll0]

[miinstrel]

"This wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I said we should 'get out of here now'... if you have a better idea now, I'm listening," Zeth shouts back over the crackle of flames and the screeching of the beasts above.

[MintyNinja]

Once Jimjar's free, Kevton takes a quick look around and sees that everyone else is helping each other and that it looked like they'd all make it. With that in mind he struggles to run towards the end of the webbing and leap into the lake below. If he's quick, he might be able to save Sarith and learn what his secrets are! He's so distracted by what he might learn that he doesn't realize he's stuck until a full six seconds go by.

[roll0] to remain unrestrained.
If free to move, Kevton will Move and Dash for his full 35ft movement north and leap to the waters below.

[ncpunkin]

Spideruna skitters sideways shifting her vision to the threat a of the fire starting to engulf the web. It was getting dangerously close to Phynn and the others, 'Oh No.' She moves to stand near Kevton offers her pincers as a handhold. With that she uses her front legs to pull him up and back, 'Stand up, Kevton, stand.'

Luna looks up at Phynn with all eight eyes looking at him at once as he talks. She scrambles between him and the others and begins to race for the edge, 'Okay...how do I make web?'



[roll0]

[Fishybugs]

Phynn looks around, disappointed there were such limited options to get out. Phynn makes his way to Kevton and uses his dagger on the web to cut him out. He looks down again at the water, so very far below him. "Luna! Spin some web. Lower yourself down to the water, and we'll use your web to climb down. He pauses for a moment, then continues, "See if you can make it...less sticky."

d20+4

Well, I scewed that up...rolled an 18 in OOC thread

[Irish Musician]

The flames swell up once again and start to make their way towards the other spider. A piece of flaming webbing even get flung towards it, as Thangardt rips out of the webbing and start to head to the edge of the webbing. The webbing lands on the spider, it rears up and hisses, skittering away while trying to flick the flaming webbing off if it. It eventually succeeds and the flaming webbing lands off tho the side, catching more webbing on fire. Meanwhile the other spider is starting to crawl farther into its corner away from the webbing.

The flames start to get much closer to everyone, especially Zeth and Ront. Zeth helps Ront a bit, who does finally get away from the webbing. He looks between the spiders, the end of the webbing, and and ledge behind him. He lets out a grunt of frustration and jump through the flames into the giant hole that has now formed in the middle of the webbing. Shuushar and Stool finally make it to the edge of the webbing, and Shuushar jumps off the side kind of letting go of Stool so that they won't hit each other when hitting the water. Jimjar does the same, as does Darendil. Eldeth looks to everyone, "Come on, then, everyone. Looks like these webs aren't going to stay not on fire forever." Eldeth runs for a moment, but then seems to get stuck in the webbing again about half way to the edge.

[Fishybugs]

Phynn moves over to Eldeth and helps to free her from the webbing.

Attack with dagger: [roll0] for [roll1]

"Keep moving, people! Find your way to the edge!"

[miinstrel]

With Ront free and the spiders at bay, Zeth bounces his way down the gap between the flames toward the edge of the webbing.

Dex for the round: [roll0]

If it fails, Dex to free myself as an action: [roll1]

otherwise, double moving

[MintyNinja]

Kevton pulls and struggles at the webs around his legs as the flames steadily get closer. His own ability to see in darkness goes unused as the bright, fiery light encompasses the scenes around him. It's like the books on the Nine Hells that he read so long ago: Fire and Futility. With smoke threatening to choke the deep gnome out, he covers his face and braces for the tendrils of flames to free him from the webs and the long drop below.

[ncpunkin]

Luna works her spinners quickly wheeling up a huge portion of webbing and then attaches it to the edge of the webbing. She walks off the edge and starts to produce a thick rope of sticky web. 'This feels weird', is all she can think as she drops fast as her spinners can produce a thick strand of webbing. Her eyes scan the ground from her elevated angle trying to watch out for her allies dropping into the water.

I'll do a perception check if I can't dash.

[roll0]

[Irish Musician]

As everyone falls towards the water, Eldeth surges out of the webbing and finally makes it to the edge, jumping down. Topsy and Turvy have made it to land, and Shuushar and Stool and slowly making their way to the edge. Thangardt makes it to the edge and stares over the side for a moment. Letting out a duergar curse, he jumps over the side towards the water, as Zeth moves up behind him, heading the same way. Phynn and Kevton don't seem to have a lot of luck in getting closer to the edge, Kevton getting stuck in the webbing again.

One of the spiders disappears, and the other is well on its way off of the webbing. Luna gets to the edge and starts to string a piece down that is connected to the overall webbing structure.

And low and behold, you see Sarith on the shore, coughing and sputtering and trying to compose himself.

Please let me know if I missed anything or anyone.

Phynn and Kevton will have advantage on getting unstuck from the webbing since the fire is on them. However, if they end their turn there, they will be taking fire damage.

Anyone not currently stuck on webbing, please make a save to stay unstuck. DC 12 for staying unstuck, as well as getting out of it.

You do not see the ooze, but neither can you see the bottom of the pond.

[MintyNinja]

Struggling against the webbing in a frantic fit of panic does Kevton no good as the flames encroach ever closer. For the first time since the armory just a minute ago, he's sincerely regretting his choice to chase Sarith down over the ledge.

[miinstrel]

While not entirely sure what Thangardt said as he dropped over the edge, Zeth was sure he mirrored the sentiment. He gives one last look up to the prison above, one to the spiders, and then down to see his fellow prisoners pulling themselves to shore. "I place myself in your hands," he mutters, letting gravity pull him down into the murky depths.

Dex to stay unstuck: [roll0]

Dex to free self if stuck: [roll1]

[ncpunkin]

Spider-Luna feels the web start to weaken from the fire. Luna heaves herself back and forth trying to gain momentum forward. She waits until she is at the height of her swing and cuts her ties with the strand. Her body heaves forward and she aims herself for the water nearest the shore.


[roll0]

[tbergman92]

Thangardt grimaced as he hit the water--You never could be sure what was in Underdark water, sometimes it was beautiful and clear, but more often it hid something disgusting or dangerous. He glanced up towards those still on the web, but pragmatically determined he couldn't help them, and struck out swiftly to shore, swimming as quickly as he was able in an attempt to get back on solid ground.

Dashing with my action, if possible.
Athletics Check if necessary: [roll0]

[Fishybugs]

Phynn, Paladin of Rillifane Rallathil (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=611214)

Strength check to remain free, then story to follow: [roll0]

Phynn looks at the approaching fire and hurriedly attempts to cut Kevton free with his dagger. "Come on, Kevton, pull free. Pull with everything you've got."

[Irish Musician]

Most everyone starts to crawl up on the shore, wet and scared, trying their best to get out of the water. Ront swims, doing his best to try and get out of the water as well. Zeth jumps off the side, hoping to be dashed on the rocks under the pool below, Luna continues to make webbing, and lucky for Phynn and Kevton the fire doesn't fan towards them any farther, though it is still close enough to burn them.

Thangardt makes it up and out of the water, and crawls up on shore. A splash follow him and Sarith cries out, "Careful, it's crazed!" Thangardt is then attacked by a grey ooze from the pool.

Phynn and Kevton take [roll0] fire damage

Thangardt - vs AC [roll1], dmg: [roll2] and 7 acid damage. Any metal armor you have on takes a -1 penalty to AC.

As the ooze comes out of the water, you sense, in your minds, a voice cry out "Flesh for the Faceless Lord!"

[miinstrel]

Zeth hit the water less gracefully than he would have liked. The sting of the impact knocked the air out of his lungs and left him gasping as he fought his way back to the surface. He kept his head down and swam for shore, grateful the water had no current. The voice entered his mind and he wondered if the Faceless Lord were his mysterious patron. A question for a less dire time perhaps.

Striking his hand upon the rocky ground signaled his arrival, and he pulled himself up, sputtering and spitting the foul-tasting water. Looking up expecting to see his fellow prisoners he was instead greeted by the shapeless gray mass and he recoiled, almost dropping back into the water.

Dash action.

[MintyNinja]

The searing heat and choking smoke all but blind him as Kevton continues to struggle against his bonds.
[roll0] or [roll1]
As he finally tears loose, he manages to slip his blade back in it's sheath before simply falling to the waters below, leaving Phynn behind.

Move to L16.

[tbergman92]

Thangardt nimbly dodges the tendril and settles into a reactive posture as he shakes as much water as he can free from his body. Taking a moment to grimace in disgust, he balls up his fists and jabs as close to the ooze's center of mass as he can determine. Looking to the side at Shuushar and Stool, he spits out a barking order, "Stay back," and turned to Zeth as he continued speaking, "Try to back away from it if you can--it'll be better if we can keep its focus on me."

BA to enter defensive stance (Tunnel Fighter fighting style): OAs no longer use my RXN, and can make a melee attack as a RXN if a target withing my reach moves more than 5 feet.
Fisticuffs: [roll0], if hits: 5 damage.

EDIT: Apologies, my to hit bonus is 6, not 5, so i'll be adding one to that result.

EDIT 2: For clarity, if the ooze moves more than 5 feet and triggers the RXN attack, Thangardt will attempt it.

[ncpunkin]

Spider-una hits the water with a giant splash and immediately regrets being a spider and not knowing how to swim as such. She manically eight-legged doggie paddles desperately for the edge in hopes to get out of the pool as soon as possible. She clambers out of the water dripping wet and turns to see the ooze lurch towards the others.


Dash (Swim) to shore.

[Fishybugs]

Phynn, Paladin of Rillifane Rallathil (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=611214)

Having seen everyone else off the web, Phynn regretfully looks at the web half-spun to the lake below. He closes his eyes tight and follows Kevton over the edge and starts making his way to the closest shore.

[Irish Musician]

Most every finally gets to the shore, wet and just a wee bit cold. Most everyone moves away from the ooze now that it is up on shore, letting the more experienced people take care of it. Eldeth runs, weapon in hand, to help the other defeat the ooze....as does the Prince.

Phynn and Kevton are finally rid of the webbing and jump over, impacting the water and starting to rise back up to the top.

The ooze continues its attack on Thangardt, seeming to leave the others alone. Though that same voice rings out through their heads.

Same thing for those within 30 ft of the ooze.

Tangardt - vs AC [roll0], dmg: [roll1] and 7 acid damage. Any metal armor you have on takes a -1 penalty to AC

The ooze reaches out and this time definitely makes contact with Tangardt. His skin sears and gets eaten away a bit by the acid within the ooze.

[miinstrel]

As Thangardt strikes the ooze, Zeth's eyes go blank for just a moment as a vision flashes before his eyes. He sees the ooze lash out and greedily devour the duergar's flesh. Confused he watches for a second and sees the same pattern of movement happen again though this time not just in his mind. "Thangardt, duck!" he shouts a few moments too late, pointing an angered finger at the viscous tentacle as it tears into its prey. To his surprise a dark beam of energy erupts from his hand lancing forward and striking the ooze. He looks incredulously at both sides of his hand before a grin forms on his chapped lips as he backs up to get a better aim.

Eldritch blast: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
crit: [roll2]

Move out of range.

[ncpunkin]

Luna, Druid of Sylvannus (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=919289)

Spider-una skitters along the shore and zips around Eldeth and Derendil to get herself into the melee. She rears up as she gets close to the ooze but it is already moving to attack by the time she gets there.


Dash to D18

[Irish Musician]

As Zeth moves away from the ooze, it lunges out, trying to attack him.

Moving away from the ooze, OA triggered

Zeth - vs AC [roll0], dmg: [roll1] and 7 acid damage. Any metal armor you have on takes a -1 penalty to AC

[MintyNinja]

Kevton swims gingerly towards the shore, cognizant of some struggle happening on the beach. His body aches with malnutrition, harsh conditions, and now stinging burns, but he keeps going.

Move + Dash to M9 (or is it H12? Which coordinates do you want us to be using?)

[tbergman92]

Thangardt broke his stance as the the ooze's acid ate away at his skin, recoiling away with a loud string of curses. Taking a moment to feel his anger and drawing strength from it, he pushed it down and took two quick, controlled swings at the mass in front of him.

BA: Second Wind: Heal [roll0]
Falcon Pawnch!: [roll1], on hit deals 5 damage.
Action Surge: Attack again: [roll2], on hit deals 5 damage.

As a note, no longer in Tunnel Fighter Stance.

[Irish Musician]

At Thangardt's second punch, he strikes the ooze and it seems to shudder for a moment, and then slightly explodes and melt away back into the pool.

As the ooze melts away, you all hear a snap and the webbing snaps in half and falls, hanging down and catching further on fire. And a little faster it seems.

Combat is technically over, so no more round by round stuff.

Please figure out which way you are going to escape into, the north, the west, or the south passage.

I also went ahead and moved Phynn and Kevton to the shore since combat is over. Assume you all are together now.

[MintyNinja]

As Kevton stumbles on shore he calls out to the others in Undercommon and again in Common, "Gather round! I can hide us from pursuit. Quickly!" Once everyone's within about thirty feet, Kevton calms his mind and begins to warp the shadows around them. Growing up like wispy vines and soft feathers underneath, each person becomes partly enshrouded in shadows.
Using 2 Ki points to cast Pass Without Trace. We cannot be tracked via normal means and everyone has a +10 to stealth checks. Concentration for an hour.
"Okay," he says once he's done. "Which way?"

[miinstrel]

Zeth's still a bit awed at his new power, but when Kevton asks which way the answer bubbles up in his mind and drops out of his mouth without a thought. "Darklake." He says plainly.
Why did I say Darklake? That sounds deeper, not closer to the surface. His head darts briefly around the cavern as if searching for something unseen.

[Irish Musician]

So.......anyone else care to chime in?

[Fishybugs]

Phynn, Paladin of Rillifane Rallathil (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=611214)

Phynn crowds in next to Kevton, standing next to his Spider-sister. "Darklake? Really? I'm not a big fan of caves. Isn't there someway we can go that will bring us back to the surface instead of deeper in?"

[ncpunkin]

Luna scuttles up beside Phynn and looks up to the outpost high above. She pushes against Phynn and indicates up; they were still close to some kind of danger either by the drow, spiders and/or demons flying around above, 'This place is clearly the least safe.'

[Fishybugs]

Phynn, Paladin of Rillifane Rallathil (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=611214)

Phynn feels something pushing against him and spins, ready to attack. He sees a giant spider, but quickly glances and sees the pattern Luna always includes in her markings regardless of her form. "You're going to get skewered that way someday, kitten, he says to her, not unkindly.

Though Luna couldn't speak in her animal form, Phynn and his sister had worked together for years, and she had mastered non-verbal communication to the point Phynn could usually tell what her meaning was. "You're not wrong though; we need to get moving."

Phynn looks around to the group, raises his voice just enough to be heard and says, "Come on, everyone gather around. We're free, and I intend to keep us that way."

[miinstrel]

"The drow trade with the other races don't they? So Glittergem will probably have patrols along the way. Shuushar said we can lose them in the lake and then maybe find a way out on the other side. I'm more interested in not getting caught again then getting out immediately," Zeth says matter of factly before starting to make his way toward the western passage. "Let's head out before they realize we're gone."

[tbergman92]

"I am also wary of Darklake--I would much prefer to go directly to Gracklstugh. However, the drow will likely not expect us to travel this way, and I trust Shuusar's word that he can guide us through. Let us follow him." Thangardt shook his head, glancing briefly towards the passage home. He thought he had a good chance to make it back on his own, but he had no pressing business in the city, and despite his outward disdain for others, leaving his former cellmates now didn't sit right with him.