Out of the Abyss IC

[RandomWombat]

The Seventh Day - Cell

After the guard and his workers leave, there is a grinding sound from the orc's spot. He has withdrawn a carnelian gemstone from... somewhere, and has begun whittling one end into a point using the stones. Though his idea isn't bad, it's making noise that could draw a guard to investigate.

From the back of the cell, Buppido is looking out from under his shaggy bangs and eying the would-be shiv greedily.

The Seventh Day - Work Shift

Led by the guard Kronryn, the three of them file through the now-familiar (to some more than others) tunnels and stalactites of Velkynvelve. Out into the common area, where they find the curious sight of a drow feeding a giant spider a piece of fresh meat. Meat that could have been for them.

Not curious in the sens that a drow is feeding a spider before their prisoners - that is par for the course. No, the curious part is firstly the spider itself - not the pinks and purples of Lolth-touched giant spiders common in the underdark, but a darker, more natural coloration. And secondly is the drow's intense gaze, as if purposefully trying to blink as little as possible while watching the spider; he does not even spare the prisoners a derisive glance or comment, so firm is his concentration.

"Pay attention, this one is complicated," Kronryn snaps his fingers to draw the prisoners' attention, speaking as if complicated orders might be too much for their meager minds. "Step one. Get a bucket." He points to six iron buckets beside him. "Step two. Fill the bucket with water from the waterfall." He points back the way they came, towards the white noise that is the steady roar of the water, now a familiar and natural sound. "Step three, bring the bucket to the kitchen and warm the water over the fire." With a nod over his right shoulder, he indicates one of the rooms off the common area.

"And lastly," he crosses his arms and looks towards the central stalactite, "Deliver the heated bucket to the guards waiting at the doors of the the shrine." At the indicated spot, two male drow are standing at attention with a statue of Lolth visible behind them. "Do you understand your instructions, or do you need them repeated for you?" Kronryn asks, looking through spiteful eyes at the three men before him.

Within the kitchen, during their task, they spot a dog tied up and whimpering in the corner beside the table.

Spoiler: Borthan

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The spider and dog he recognizes as Nilvae's pets, from his travels with her. The spider has the curious trait of changing between the forms of a spider and a donkey whenever unobserved.

Spoiler: Sarith

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The task is likely gathering and heating bathwater for the head Priestess of the outpost.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Each character must make checks for each portion of the task. There are no bonuses for exertion, but there are six buckets, each of which must be filled and delivered by someone. So each person needs to take two... or take one and let someone stronger take three, for example.

Step 1:
DC 12 Dexterity or Strength checks not to lose balance and fall off the bridge while gathering water, as it requires stretching arms out over the gap. The penalties for falling off the bridge are probably obvious.

A character may accept 1 Exhaustion to ignore this check instead, by taking a more conservative but tiring approach and filling the bucket more slowly.

Step 2:
DC 12 Strength check for hauling the water; failure is 1 Exhaustion.

Step 3:
DC 12 Dexterity or Constitution check to avoid dropping the scalding hot metal bucket after it is heated. Failing this check means spilling the water and starting that bucket all over again.

These steps must be completed for each bucket.