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.

Spoiler: Roll

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Sleight of Hand: (1d20+5)[8]

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.

Spoiler

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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.

Spoiler: For all

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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:
(1d20+4)[13]

Spoiler: OOC

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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.

Spoiler: Medicine Check

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I'm trying to get that bolt out of my new friend :).
(1d20+4)[18]

Stealth check to hide it.

(1d20+4)[8]

[Irish Musician]

Spoiler: Kevton

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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.

Spoiler: OOC

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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.

Spoiler: OOC

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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]

Spoiler: Zeth

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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.

Spoiler: Phynn

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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."

Spoiler: OOC

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

For Kev and Than, you already know some stuff

Spoiler: Kev and Than

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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]

Spoiler: Buppido

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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?"

Spoiler: Shuushar

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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]

Spoiler: Buppido

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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."

Spoiler

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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."

Spoiler

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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?"

Spoiler

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"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."

Spoiler: Shuushar

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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.

Spoiler

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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]

Spoiler: Buppido

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"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."

Spoiler: Shuushar

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OOC: Not really going to continue the line of questioning with him right now but just in case you want it for below: Persuasion (1d20+6)[18]

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]

Spoiler: Buppido

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"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."

Spoiler

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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...."

Spoiler: Shuushar

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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?

Spoiler

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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?"

Spoiler: OOC

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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]

Spoiler: Responses

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[QUOTE=Irish Musician;21163778]

Spoiler: Buppido

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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]

Spoiler: Sarith

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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.

Spoiler: Roll

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Dex Check to slip out of shackles: (1d20+3)[5] +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?"

Spoiler: OOC

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

[Irish Musician]

Spoiler: Kevton

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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.

Spoiler: Luna

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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."

Spoiler: Phynn

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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."

Spoiler: Thangardt

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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.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Perception check for general eavesdropping.
(1d20+1)[17]

[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.

Spoiler: OOC

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Perception: (d20+2)[7]

[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.