Galinndan steps up and holds Eddrikk's manacles taut.
Looking at Tiberius, he simply says:
"Do it."
Galenus helps whoever needs to get out.
Tiberius lines up several strikes at the manacles with the pipe, hitting the same spot in the chain before it snaps. When Kanzen walks up he stiffens, and turns to regard him with cold eyes. He doesn't move immediately.
speaking of being honest with each other. Tell us, drow, why you ended up a slave among your own people. And I will tell my tale.
First manacles
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Tiberius destroys Eddrikk's manacles with three resounding blows.
The process takes some time and creates quite a racket. During a lull in the noise, however, you hear a the skitter of a few pebbles. You glance across the depression in the middle of the cavern and see a cloaked figure moving in the shadows cast by the glowing fungi. Under his hood you see dark skin and finely-chiseled features. A Drow!
Tiberius destroys Eddrikk's manacles with three resounding blows.
The process takes some time and creates quite a racket. During a lull in the noise, however, you hear a the skitter of a few pebbles. You glance across the depression in the middle of the cavern and see a cloaked figure moving in the shadows cast by the glowing fungi. Under his hood you see dark skin and finely-chiseled features. A Drow!
Kanzen opens his mouth to reply to Tiberius's enquiry, but the sudden appearance of another drow cuts him short. He scrambles to ready his dagger.
On seeing the drow, Galinndan springs into action. He runs to the left of the depression, aiming to run through the first patch of fungi and around the second - to arrive behind the drow and strike them down. With the side benefit of cutting off easy routes of escape for them.
"Another one of those selfish bullies.. When will they leave us alone!"
Casting Vicious Mockery..
DC 13 Wisdom or take and have disadvantage on next attack.
That's right! These damn drow never leave us alone! Galenus whispers to Kanzen with a half smile on his face.
Kanzen gives a weary smile, appreciating the dwarf's humour even in the face of danger, but his limbs seem to refuse to respond to his wishes.
The force of Irdril's frustration cuts into the Drow's psyche.
The two rangers rush around the depression to close off the Drow's retreat. Fear flashes across his eyes and he dances around Galinndan on the edge of the shallow pit.
Seeing Eddrikk cut off one tunnel, the dark elf heads for the other exit while keeping a wary eye on Cyrus and Galinndan.
With hate showing in his eyes and face, Galinndan rushes at the drow.
DO NOT LET HIM ESCAPE!, he calls to the others mentally.
Reaching the drow, Galinndan throws everything he has into the attack.
Eddrikk dashes in an attempt to get around the drow and corral the drow.
Wouldn't it be funny if he was trying to flee from those other drow, too? Galenus ponders.
Seeing the look of fear on the drow's face, Kanzen calls out, "Wait! You don't know he's a foe! He could be like us!" He rushes as quickly as his heavy legs will carry him towards Galinndan, arms held up to signal Hold! To the drow he calls out:
The Drow's eyes flick back and forth between you.
The hateful look on the Drow's face is only thinly concealed as he greedily siezes the opportunity to buy himself time.
The Drow's eyes flick back and forth between you. He spits out "Cease your attacks and I am sure we could find ourselves close allies."
The hateful look on the Drow's face is only thinly concealed as he greedily siezes the opportunity to buy himself time.
Kanzen's arms drop to his sides as he recognises the usual conniving look on the drow's face, and his face falls in dismay. Though still restrained by the manacles, and with arms that feel like they're made of lead, he charges forward to attack, his expression sad but resolute.
He lies to save his own skin!, Galinndan thinks loudly, as he presses his assault.
Galenus keeps an eye out for other attacks from other exits of the cave.
Galinndan tries to swing at the Drow but his muscles can't move as fast as his mind and the Drow hasn't left an opening to Galinndan's blades, yet.
Idril frowns and continues her magical assault.
"He lies! End him!"
Casting Dissonant Whispers, DC 13 Wisdom save.
psychic and must move away from her provoking attacks. If save half damage and doesn't have to move..
Bonus action give Gal Bardic Inspiration, 1d6 to next attack.
Blood trickles out of the Drow's nose and he slumps to the ground, dead from Irdril's psychic assault. On him you find
1 chain shirt
1 hand crossbow with 20 bolts coated in Drow poison
1 shortsword
1 set of clothing suited for someone approximately 6' tall and 170 pounds. Could be re-fitted.
By examining his clothing and the dirt on his boots, you determine that this Drow scout came from another outpost, not Velkynvelve. Hidden in a false compartment in his left boot's heel, you find warrants signed by an official in Menzoberranzan. Apparently, this Drow was authorized and ordered to find escaped slaves. Some specific slaves are described: A female elf, a large male human, and a male halfling.
"Well what do we have here? A secret compartment! And a note in undercommon.."
She hands the note to someone that can read it. She over shoulder looks though to try and pick up some of the words.
Galinndan immediately drives his dagger through the drow's throat and tongue, turning it so that both are left ruined.
"Just in case. And it will be hard for drow clerics to speak with this dead."
Searching the drow, he pulls off the chain shirt and says:
"I would take the short sword and give a dagger to someone else. If no one else wanted the chain shirt, I would take it, but I imagine a number of you do.", he adds with a slight grin.
He reads the note and speaks:
"This Drow scout came from another outpost, not Velkynvelve. He has warrants signed by an official in Menzoberranzan. This Drow was authorised and ordered to find escaped slaves. Some specific slaves are described: A female elf, a large male human, and a male halfling. Perhaps we'll run into them. Regardless, we've done them a small favour, even if by accident."
After the equipment is sorted, he wipes drow blood off his weapons and clothing and walks up to Kanzen.
"You tried. I understand. But from the looks of it, you are a strange exception. And I believe that you still have a question to answer.", he adds, glancing towards Tiberius.
Galenus blanches at the brutality the wood elf performed on the drow body. And this is why I can't see much of a difference, he says to himself.
But once the note is read, it makes sense why Gallindan did it.
Has he got anything that can serve as a writing utensil in there? Galenus inquires.
"I did not see anything. You are welcome to look. There is a hidden compartment in his left boot."
I guess that'll work, I were just gonna chop 'em up with the axe and feed 'em ta da Rocktopus Eddrikk shrugs at Galenus. But we ought ta get movin' we've made plenty o' noise 'ere an I'm sure he' weren't the only one ta 'ear it. Eddrikk pauses surveying the area.
Tiberius lowers his weapon as the dark elf is taken care of. I'd take the armor if it would fit me, I am not as deft as many of you in your movements, and I do have this to give in return. He motions to his half ruined leather armor. He doesn't even grimace as the elf destroys the drows mouth.
Best to keep moving probably as well. The noise will likely draw more than just the drow to this spot.
"What are we gonna do with the bodies?" Cyrus asks.
After the equipment is sorted, he wipes drow blood off his weapons and clothing and walks up to Kanzen.
"You tried. I understand. But from the looks of it, you are a strange exception. And I believe that you still have a question to answer.", he adds, glancing towards Tiberius.
Kanzen looks away as Galinndan disfigures the drow's corpse, then snaps his head back to the elf as he approaches. "It was foolish, and a mistake," he admits quietly. "As for my story," he continues, raising his voice so that Tiberius can hear him, "there is not much to it. I am a noble who was deluded enough to think I could get away with worshipping a goddess other than Lloth. I was exposed, and fortunately my Matron Mother valued the coin she could get from selling me into slavery more than the satisfaction of stabbing me through the heart with a spider dagger. So here I am, hated by my people for being an apostate, and hated by everyone else for being drow. And," his voice becomes a frustrated growl, "I still have these god-forsaken manacles on!" With that, he turns and makes busy with some minor task or another in preparation to leave.
And,"[/b] his voice becomes a frustrated growl, "I still have these god-forsaken manacles on!" [/ooc]
Bah. Come here.
The burly wizard rips the chains apart with his thick hairy fingers...
The group resumes winding through the dark passages of this land.
Anyone mind if I take one of those bolts? Galenus inquires.
If no one objects, He'll take the fletching off the bolt to use as a quill for writing in his spellbook.
Kanzen breaks into a grin as Galenus drops the ruined manacle chain. "Thank you, dwarf. I never knew it felt so good to be free." He stretches his limber arms high and wide. "Now all I need is a bit of rest and I'll be useful again."
He heads over to the dead drow and considers his clothing, but in the end curls his lip and stays in his rags. He turns to Tiberius. "This may help you somewhat." With a murmured word and a gesture, he conjures four glowing balls of light into existence.
Eddrikk stops in stunned disbelief at Galenus once again snapping the chains. What da hell is goin on 'ere, he quietly whispers to himself staring at his hands.
Snapping out of his brief shocked state Eddrikk once again sets out to forage.