Sunny grins happily at Zed's praise.
"I yam pact-tick-able!" (^_^)
Once the other prisoners are free Sunny looks about getting them something useful to hit people with.
To use any furniture and hence render it down into clubs. Also to make more 'Wushu darts'.
Lyrralt looks at the knick knacks he has picked up.
"Anyone know how to use these things? Seems a shame to waste such useful items."
"If ye think ye can swing 'em? Keep 'em handy. If ye don't rilly know? Keep 'em any ways. Since Ferd won't have 'em ta' use agin us should he wriggle free." Sunny states even as she continues to work at trying to get some passable clubs and such together from the now ruins of the rooms furnishings.
The clubs she hands out to any of the freed prisoners who wish to take them.
"Ok our first plan of action should be to free these prisoners and get them "to the top of the world". And quite frankly, I would like to get out of here and take a bath. Captivity is horrible for my hair!" Lyrralt says this with a grin, which makes you think he is joking....almost.
"I can't provide you with a bath, but I can do the next best thing. Not sure how you like your hair though, but I can make it clean and you can fashion it how you like."
Varian casts a quick prestidigitation and Lyrralt is clean as if he'd just bathed, and his hair is clean as well... He turns his attentions to himself and cleans himself as well.
"Ah, my good man Varian, you are full of surprises! Thank you my friend. Now, let us get these poor unfortunate out of here, and by poor unfortunates I mean us as well. Although, I saw many die at the hands of these people and their slack faced thralls. I guess we are more fortunate than we might think."
Lyrralt waves his hand and dismisses his Grease spell.
"Ooooh!" Sunny exclaims seeing the magic being done. She skips over and bounces up and down expectantly in front of Varian, still grinning happily. (^_^)
"Ah... you're most welcome. A simple cantrip. And getting out is a good idea... let's get out of here... I like the little fellow's plan of just following the main path up and out and avoiding side passages. I hope he's not leading us astray but it does seem most expedient."
Sunny tilts her head, even as she giggles as Varian's spell tickles over her skin.
"Here. How can we trust tha' lil' dickens?" She looks intently at 'Ferd' the captured Derro before continuing.
"Also, whut's ta' say there in't more folks in more cells scattered about. All awaitin' this...Crone person ta' come an' do somat nasty to 'em?" She absently adjusts the threads about her arms and legs,
"I say we go poke our noses about. See if we ken see more folks in cages an' get 'em free. Give 'em more things ta' fight back with." She turns to the foresters emerging from their cells.
"Whut say ye? D'ye want some pay-back fer the strife an' misery these lot have put ye through?" She lowers her voice,
"Maybe earn some extra shine from whut ever t'is we might find down here?" She gives a meaningful pause at the end of her words.
"Maybe tha' lil' feller an' his mates been nickin' peoples fer a while? Maybe theys all sorts of things left over from when ever this 'Crone' do get through with 'em?"
The most vocal of the humans starts looking nervous... "Don't get me wrong... real grateful for you folk bustin us out, but as for revenge... I'd rather just get outta here. If you all'r doin that we'll just make a run for it." He looks at the other prisoners who nod with varying enthusiasm.
2 onyx-tipped rods... iron setting makes it usable as mace for small size
2 two-foot long tuning forks
2 dart bandoliers with a total of 6 small darts and 2 small vials
20 gold
"Well, I DO have some valuable items here that I would like to get back. One being my father's rapier that has been in our family for quite some time. Perhaps we could lead these people to safety then come back for some exploration."
Sunny looks a little pensive, but doesn't say yes or no to leading the freed fellows out.
One of the humans lends a shoulder to the weakest of them... then as they exit into the hallway, the other two offer to help with the dwarf.
You see the dwarf roll his head a little, as if moving in his sleep while the two bearded humans each take a side to carry him.
The groggy and weak human being helped by the "vocal" human looks over at the dwarf being carried "I've seen this dwarf b'fore... months ago in the Belching Badger in Doyle's Run... askin bout an underground ruins... He looks bout how I feel right now."
The vocal human then asks with stern urgency... "Which way is out?"
"Guys, let me attempt to lighten your burden."
Lyrralt approaches the unconscious dwarf and casts Cure Light Wounds, hoping that brings him back to the waking world and relieves these guys of a burden that would slow them down.
"Well that was my last spell for the day. We need to make a decision on what our next plan of action is going to be. This dwarf here might have some answers for us if we can get him awake. I was sent in the area to recover a powerful item. I know not what it does, or any of its history as I do not pursue cerebral aspects of life, but I know there were many that were, and I think the people responsible for all of THIS," Lyrralt waves his hand, "know exactly where it might be."
"Apparently the way out is up. I gather we're underground"
"THen up we should go... Let's get to it then... " Varian heads out of the room and back into the main corridor, and back in the direction they'd been heading when they arrived here. He makes note of side doors if any but makes no attempt to open them, and keeps his pace slow both in case of danger, and to ease the burden of travel on those who are either wounded, or bearing a heavy burden.
"Mmmf mmyes... up" The dwarf's eyes flutter open. He rolls his head to either side to see who is carrying him. "Duergar prisons...are near surface." He tests his stability before letting go of his human crutches. "Names Bimnil. I'm from Magnimar. But I'm guessin we're in a rush... I'll try ta keep up." as he sees Varian leading.
You come to the "T" intersection. To the left you see wide stone stairs going down.
To the right is another long corridor. This corridor is about 5 feet wider , and the torches are on both sides... staggered every 30 feet. You see five torches going down the wide hallway.
Varian looks both directions at the T, sees the stairs going down to the left, and turns right, looking down the long corridor, glad for the regular lighting, since he's only human after all, and has no special vision in dim or absent light. He waits for everyone to catch up, then heads off to the right.
Suny pads along, keeping an eye out on the corridors behind the group. Watching in case any one or any thing comes sneaking up on the group.
Zed pats Bimnil on the shoulder "Good to see you up, and your darkvision should be quite the aid it seems" Zed follows silently as Varian leads away from the stairs heading down
Lyrralt takes up the rear guard.
After looking around and seeing no other equals in the appropriate visual ability Bimnil replies, "Mmmhmm... eyes burned out from a lifetime of blasted books, but can see well enough."
As you make it halfway down the hall, you can see it turns right in another 70-80 feet. You hear a reverberating murmur from the wall to the right... like the sound of dozens of people talking and moving around, but muffled to the level of an unintelligible whisper.
Zed motions to the party, then puts a finger over his lips in the universal 'hush' sign. Then he motions forward
Stealth
Lyrralt will also hunker down and try to hide.
Taking the hint Sunny steps carefully as well.
You turn the corner, and see an 80-foot hallway which ends in an archway. Past the archway, you see stone spiral stairs winding around a stone pillar... going up in the center of what appears to be a large room . The smell of fresh-cut lumber and bitter ale reaches you.
Halfway down the hall there is a wooden door to your right. The sounds get a little louder and more clear... it sounds like carousing in a tavern full of people with deep gruff voices.
Zed points towards the door, and again makes the hush sign. He then motions everybody towards the spiraling stairs.
Varian gladly lets Zed take the lead here and does his best to walk stealthily, but it obviously is not his forte.
You come to the door, and start to pass it. You see that there is a 1 foot barred window... a little low on the door (dwarf/duergar eye-level).
One could attempt to peek, though it would certainly increase your chances of being spotted.
This also brings you closer to the room with the spiral stair... you can now see faint beams of dusty light coming from above, but your view of where it is originating, is still blocked by the archway.
You see Bimnil the dwarf touch the stone wall of the hallway, and quietly "hmmph" to himself.
Zed gets next to Bimnil and raises an inquisitive eye
Bimnil leans in to Zed and whispers... "Wizard's stone. Looks natural if you aren't really looking."
The two humans... (the weakest, and the one assisting him) stumble a bit trying to duck under the window of the door.
Another of the humans "shushes" a little too loudly.
You do not immediately hear any reaction from beyond the door to the sounds.
Sunny will wait her turn and have a look-see into the room, if possible.
Upon hearing the other escaped prisoners make so much noise, Lyrralt waits until everyone is past the door before going himself. He readies his sword it anyone comes through the door.
not me
Sunny cautiously peers through the small window on the door. You hear a clang from deep within the room, followed by raucous laughter. Sunny moves from the door without any noticeable reaction from beyond.
It looks like something between a dwarven greathall, and a tavern. Four large 20-30 seat tables, and several small 4-6 seat tables. The seats are a little more than half full with Duergar. They are eating and drinking. Just as you are looking, one duergar throws a tankard out of the range of your view... many of the other duergar laugh after it clangs against something.
You then notice one of the serving girls in rags helping the closest duergar at a small table (Two duergar wearing heavy stone-colored armor... and they aren't laughing) is about to turn to face the door. She is close enough that you must move to avoid being spotted.
Sunny frowns as she moves away from the door.
"Certain folks has some unfinished business with places here abouts..." She mutters quietly as the group moves along.
You pass through the archway into the large room with the spiral stair in the center. The stair is exposed... no wall or even rail, which allows you to see the full 3-story height.
At the top of the stair, you see gears and belts on either side of the steps which appear to attached to an ajar 15' by 15' trap door. Daylight shines in through the opening.
Varian enters the room and looks up the stairs to the open door and smiles slightly at the light. "Freedom, perhaps? he whispers to the others... "Shall we go?... is anyone good with traps and such? before we set foot on the stairs, might as well check if possible."
Zed shakes his head "Never had the mind for it"
Sunny stands still and looks up.
"I be thinkin' ♫ ♪ trraapp ♪ ♫ ." She voices.
"Though, I must amdit, I in't tha' one fer sortin' such things out..." And she blushes, embarrassed.
"Nor am I, my friends. I will try to locate the trap the only way I know how."
With that, Lyrralt starts toward the steps and begins to ascend.