The cultist in black sees Griswald who starts eating right away and waits silently for the others to start eating as well.
Kyra hesitates for a second, then she takes a sip of the wine. Realizing that it is just plain wine she then takes a bigger gulp and raises the cup to the cultists. She then beings to eat the food.
Nivel begins to eat the meat that was provided, seemingly confident that it has not been tainted in any way. Hmm, not bad. Might as well enjoy it while we can.
Firyin bows his head for a moment, and once the others begin to eat he joins them, eating a little of everything.
The man in black robe loudly proclaims: "Enjoy! Enjoy your new life which is about to start soon!" He then sits down again with the other cultists.
After about 5 minutes however, suddenly in a matter of seconds, all except Nivel and the cultists slump over on the table. Nivel starts feeling weak and his vision blurs, but he still manages to stay conscious. As his companions fall, he sees the cultists getting up and move towards the group. Struggling to defend himself, he hears a whistle and notices a door at the back of the room opening with more robed figures entering the place.. then all goes dark..
One by one you wake up in seperate cells without armor, weapons or further possessions except for your ordinary clothing. The elvish guy is in one cell together with Morg.
There are 6 cells, all next to each other in one line, each containing a simple straw mat thick with fleas. Each cell has iron bars at its front that swing out on a hinge, making a simple door. Common locks hold these doors shut.
After some time, a masked, black-robed priest paces down the narrow stone hallway, accompanied by a particularly large cultist in gray robe, looking in each of the cells. They carry bowls of water and white robes. He speaks: “Do not worry. What you have experienced now, is the transition to your new life. Out of the darkness will come new light. Today you shall fast and meditate on the glory of Razmir. On the morrow you shall be sworn in and given your masks, made one with the body of Razmir; one piece of the greater whole. You shall become acolytes, and be allowed upon the first step of enlightenment. Rejoice! The path of glory and fortune shall be open to you.”
"Your possessions shall be returned later. But for now, you have to shed your past and learn to embrace life in the presence of the Living God!"
You are each given a bowl of water and a white robe. The cells remain locked.
When Griswald realizes what happens he runs up to the bars in fury and grips the bars in rage.
Try to stay calm... you knew you'd have to undergo some kind of trial. I don't like when the prey tries to act like the predator, the beast is imprisoned inside you it does not need another cage!
Griswald closes his eyes and begins to breath like he practiced before Kassen to keep the Beast inside. He sits on the floor and begins to meditate.
Anger will not help us. We must be calm, I wish for the grass to be under my feet, not stuck in this box. You will get your vengeance once we are accepted. They don't realize I DO NOT NEED WEAPONS I will rip open their throats and drink their blood
Griswald starts to gently rock himself back and forth.
Here's a map of your situation. I will keep the latest map link also on top of the page
There are two doors as indicated. There's one torch attached to the wall, illuminating the area (b2).
Is everyone alright? Ow. Nivel rubs his head where the cultists must have hit him to knock him out. I guess we're on the path.
Nivel checks himself to be sure he hasn't been marked or branded and that he is otherwise in good health.
Firyin wakes up, brows lowering at their surroundings. He gets calmer when told this is part of the initiation process, although he's still royally ticked off. He listens to the other cells, seeing that others aren't controlling their anger quite as well. Firyin smells the water, taking just a sip to see if anything is in it.
Firyin doesn't notice anything special about the water.
Nivel discovers no marks or anything that seems to be different than before, aside from the already mentioned bump on the head.
Nivel will take a look at the cage he is in, examining the bars and the door. He will also take note of his surroundings.
Morg wakes, remaining calm. He examines his cell, testing the door gently.
He remembers being in a similar, but much more harsh situation as a prisoner of the Drow. Twenty years, without freedom. At least this time, he had a robe.
Sipping at the water sparingly, he washes up. He dons the robes provided.
The doors of all cells are locked but Nivel thinks that with at least some kind of a tool, like a short piece of metal wire, he could unlock it.
The door to the right just outside the cells looks like an ordinary wooden door. It is closed.
Aside from that, there's nothing special to see.
The elvish guy sits quietly in his corner of the cell.
Are you alright there, friend? Nivel says to the elf stranger in Common. If he gets no response he'll try it again in Elvish.
The elvish guy doesn't seem to realize at first that he's the one being adressed. When Nivel repeats in Elvish, he looks up and says (also in Elvish): "Yeah.." Apparently he's not very talkative yet.
What's your name? Where you from?
He looks at Nivel and says: "Evlar.. I am from Tamran". It doesn't look like he's going to ask any questions himself. His facial expression remains neutral. He doesn't show any sign either that he wants to start 'meditating', as had been instructed.
They put him in here to listen in, in case any of us are spies... The true god will deliver me, even if people doubt.
I smell drow filth... You soil yourself?
Perhaps I can make use of this 'journey' to crack that dwarf's head.
Evlar looks up at Morg and says with an irritated tone: "What's your problem, dwarf?"
Kyra looks around the cell for any such tool to help her escape. When her search reveals nothing then she says to the others, "OK calm down. We will be out of here is a short while."
Then she says, "My trust in these folks diminishes. They drugged us to get us in here. I wonder what other trickery they will use to convert us over."
Kyra finds a spot and sits down where she begins to meditate. She looks at her left index finger and calls forth one of her minor spells, the ability to create light. She casts the light spell on the tip of her finger.
After searching for a while, Kyra finds a short piece of metal wire stuck inside the straw mat in her cell.
Kyra picks up the metal wire and immediately goes to the door. She whispers to herself, "oh great. Now how am I suppose to do this?"
Before any attempt Kyra casts Guidance on herself then she takes the wire and starts to "play" with the lock hoping that Lady Luck can be at her side.
Kyra starts to turn inside the lock with the wire, but after a few minutes she gets the impression that it's quite hopeless to keep on trying.
Give me that before you break it! Nivel hisses as he sees the cleric fiddle with the lock. Assuming she does Nivel will take 20 to try and get his door open.
It still doesn't go very easy, but after a minute or two Nivel manages to unlock his cell.
Starting with Kyra's, Nivel will open all the locks and release everyone, take 20 on all checks (unless the keys are on a hook here somewhere).
"Nice going Nivel. I'll stand guard while you help the others."
You a Drow-lover? No problem here, merely waiting to serve...
Once Nivel slips out of his cell Firyin watches the door, knowing he has the best view.
The cultists went down the hallway to the left (a1).
Evlar more or less ignores Morg, just saying: "Whatever.."
Nivel manages to open all the cells.
Evlar remains in his cell and says, with a tone of slight unbelief: "What are you doing?"
I believe this could be a test of our resourcefulness. Why else would they leave no guard to watch us?
Nivel will look to his friends for further council. So, this way or that way first? As they decide Nivel will check over the door to the east.
Griswald takes a step outside the bars and releases a sigh of relief.
"Nice going Nivel." the large half-Orc says with the first smile he has had since entering he city. He then takes a sniff in both directions to see if he can smell anyone in the nearby vicinity.
Evlar replies to Nivel: "Really?", but remains in his cell.
Nivel checks the door on the east, which doesn't appear locked.
Griswald steps out of view from the peering cultist and waves his hand to get Nivel's attention and signs that someone is over here.
Firyin lets his unlocked door stay closed, holding onto the bars. Me motions for everybody else to get inside their cells and close their doors.
Morg sits quietly in his new robe, almost a meditative posture. Decades of helplessness have taught patience.
The cultist stands there for just two seconds and then, appearing to be in a hurry, he retreats back out of sight into the corridor (a1).
Griswald whispers, "He's gone in a hurry. We either follow and subdue him now or wait to see how this charade plays out..."
Get him, get him... bah!
Nivel will listen to the door he is at and if it seems quiet, he'll open it. I think its time to leave, friends. And now.
So far, there's no sound coming from behind the east door.
Griswald smiles "I don't like being drugged." he immediately turns and quickly moves after the cultist.
it is nice having that turtle she'll off my back so I can move quickly...
The cultists moves towards a door and unlocks it with a key, but then turns around to face Griswald. It looks like he's going to pull out a weapon from under his robe.
Nivel will "guard" the door he is at, hopeful that the others can take care of the cultist. I'm really happy we have a couple of beasts among us, seeing that we have no weapons.
Knowing the narrow cooridoor won't let him help, Firyin moves to the other door and waits by it.