"Just promoted huh? Who did he replace?"
Jimjar does his best to leap to his feet in excitement. He shuffles over by the group speaking.
I will bet 20 gold against that gem that I can get Shoor to lash out at a fellow Drow the next time he is on my work shift! the deep gnome proclaims confidently.
The dwarf maiden rolls her eyes at the deep gnome.
You ever earned a gem in your entire life? I mean dug it outta the ground wit' yer own hands? Now that's a treasure. She turns to the more serious conversationalists. Jorlan used to be Ilvara's favorite. Now it's Shoor.
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So ya could say she showed em the Shoor...
Cyrus stashes his new treasure quickly and continues his work as directed.
Kanzen moves towards the derro. "I have encountered your kind before, and I know what power you speak of. What are you thinking specifically? Can you make yourself invisible? If so, we just need the pen door open and clear for a moment for you to escape." He pauses. "My name is Kanzen."
Galinndan turns to the deep gnome.
"Hold a moment. I might well take you up on that offer."
He turns to the others.
"Whether invisibility or something else, we need a way to exploit an opening. Rush the guards?"
"All betting aside if we can get the drow to fight one another that surely has to be in our benifit."
What if we can get Shoor to lash out at Jorlan? Galenus offers.
"I like it."
Eldeth chuckles at Eddrikk.
Aye, ye could say that.
She nods at talk of turning the Drow against each other.
That sounds mighty good to me. I don't tink we could deal wit' 'em even if we had all our weapons and armor.
Whatever this egg belongs to, you haven't seen it before. The golden streaks on the outside of the egg remind you of a legend you heard about some strange fey creature but you can't quite remember the details. You're quite confident, however, that you know how to get the egg to hatch if you provide the right 16 hours warm, 8 hours cool, cycle for three days.
The slaves finish cleaning the quaggoth den. The Drow guards order them to sweep the floor with their hands, even in the absence of visible dirt. They sweep and sweep until their hands are bleeding somewhat. Finally, the guards lead them back to the slave pen and thrust Tiberius, Cyrus, Stool, the Quaggoth, and the twin deep gnomes inside. Stool hugs close to Tiberius.
The guards then order Galenus, Irdril, Galnndan, Kanzen, Jimjar, and the kua-toa to follow them. They lead you across a treacherous spider-silk rope bridge below which a waterfall gushes smoothly into a deep pool. Between the water and the bridge, huge spider webs span great areas of the cavern. Kanzen and the guards navigate the bridge with apparent ease but the rest of the slaves have to move slowly across the bridge, which sways much too easily for their tastes. The guards lead the slaves into the lower chamber of their hanging guard tower where they leave them under the charge of three Drow standing there. One has a silver spider on the front of his armor. The guards here pay little attention to the prisoners, entertaining themselves with dice games, but occasionally "encourage" the prisoners to continue their task of picking up rubbish and straightening the chairs, tables, and equipment hanging from the spider-silk webbing on the wall.
As the prisoners go about their tasks, Kanzen shoots a meaningful look at Jimjar, then at the officer, thinking, Now's the time to incite strife between the officer and his men, gnome!
Galinndan's eyes look at Jimjar, then at the officer.
Hopefully he'll get the hint.
The gnome holds up his fingers toward Galinndan, making a small o. The look on his face seems to be asking if Galinndan will bet his gem.
Gallindan nods subtly to the gnome.
Cyrus finds a place to sit and tend to his hands. Tearing strips of cloth to wrap his blisters. "Ah' this rate I'll be dead of infection afore they be through with their fun."
As they walk over the bridge, Galenus looks down. How far does that waterfall go? How thick are the webs? Is there anything beyond the webs?
Once set on his tasks cleaning up, Galenus takes a mental inventory of valuables, weapons, and other useful equipment around the room and tries to see if there are other rooms.
He's not going to do anything about it, he's just taking a mental inventory to report back.
Looking at the large red scaled figure and the squat mushroom hanging close to him, Looks like ya made a friend.
The deep gnome immediately begins cleaning diligently, sweeping the floor with a broom that is much too large for him. When the guards are deeply in their game of dice, he manages to keep making a sweeping sound with his broom with one hand while the other reaches up under his shift about as far as he can with his chains. Sweat beads out on his gray forehead as he keeps a nervous eye on the guards. Then he pulls something small down out of his shift and keeps it hidden in his small hand. He continues sweeping casually for a while, getting closer and closer to the zurkhwood table the guards are seated around. He waits until the one of the guards cheers loudly while raking in a few gold coins and his hand flashes toward the table and back to his side almost too fast for you to see. The celebrating guard covers the noise of the slight, sudden jangle of Jimjar’s chain. He keeps his head down the entire time and continues sweeping, slowly moving away from the table. For a few minutes, the guards continue playing uneventfully. Then one who had his elbow on the table leans back for a moment, revealing a small brass pin on the table. Shoor’s laughter immediately ceases upon seeing the pin, replaced with a deadly silence. With a flash of movement, he backhands the guard across the cheek and begins shouting rapidly. The guard, holding his face, jumps to his feet and shuffles backwards, replying with desperation.
Shoor: What does this mean! What have you been doing!
Guard: Master! I know not how it came to be there! Perhaps the lady Ilvara left it by mishap? I have done nothing!
Shoor: Do you think me a fool! I will teach you to keep to your station.
Their argument continues. Shoor strikes the guard several more times.
The outpost is built hanging from the cave ceiling 100 feet above the floor of the cave. The waterfall descends from a crack in the ceiling all the way down to a pool in the cave floor (such that you can hear some noise from the waterfall but it is not too loud at this distance). The webs are quite thick such that you are very confident you could fall into them and be caught instead of crashing through. Below the webs are the cave floor and the pool the waterfall descends into.
There is a ladder through a hole in the ceiling of this guard tower to another room higher up in this stalactite.
Stool says
Is that goblin our friend? If he is, you can show him to use this!
Stool draws your attention to a vein of a dark gray, powdery mineral in the cave wall. It can help with infections.
Eldeth shrugs and replies to Eddrikk.
That's a bit of a mystery to me. I've never gone near the big fella. Scares me.
Tiberius looks to Eddrikk giving a slight nod. Yes, so it would seem. He was having trouble, and was,is, afraid. I helped him, as anyone would. We have to look out for each other here. Eddrikk you said right?
He turns to the goblin. Unsure as Stool whether he was a friend, but would help him all the same. All being slaves.
Cyrus, my little friend here tells me that this. he gestures to the dark gray powder on the wall. Can be useful for fighting infections. I am unsure myself, but I have no reason not to trust his word.
he would then try to tend his hands, as they were a bit raw.
while doing so, he things to Stool
Eddrikk strides over to the quaggoth and asks, How'd ya come ta be captive like the rest of us?
The quaggoth stands up straight when Eddrikk addresses him and bows deeply at the waist. He replies in a language that Eddrikk (nor any of the other PCs in the pen) does not recognize.
Typically, quaggoths do not make formal bows. Additionally, they usually speak Undercommon.
Perplexed and taken aback Eddrikk repeats himself in Undercommon...
The Quaggoth responds to Eddrikk again but he is not speaking Undercommon.
Galenus smiles to himself at the in-fighting, and then looks to Galinndan as if to say, "Now what?"
Tiberius grunts at the going ons
Bowing isn't typical for Quaggoths. I've seen my fair share of them in my long time enslavement.
He walks over the the Quaggoth and gestures for Stool to follow.
Cyrus examines the grey powder.
He shrugs and says. "I'll 'av to take ye word on that." He follows the Dragonborns advice and uses the grey powder on his hands.
Afterwords he slumps down for a hushed chat with the others. "How be the plan to spring us free coming along?"
Galenus smiles to himself, amused that the drow have gotten themselves distracted. Their insecurities and pride make for a bad combination - easy to manipulate.
He takes a look around, careful to keep an eye on each of his fellow Slaves: the strange woman, the elf, the drow, the gnome, and the kua-toa.
What the other slaves doing while the drow are fighting? He hopes they're taking advantage of it and palming something of use.
Oh! Right! He has to do that, too. He takes a look around to see if there's anything for himself he can grab.
Galinndan's eyes flick to the cooking utensils.
He looks for a knife, preferably two, to hide on his person for now.
Irdril watches the exchange with a bit of amusement. She too glances for something that can be weaponized.
On the walls hang some large serving spoons, frying pans, pots, forks, and brooms. There are other things as well but those are the most dangerous-looking ones.
Stool shuffles toward the Quaggoth and puffs out a small cloud of spores. Soon, you hear a new, deeper voice in your mind. This language barrier is most unfortunate but I am glad to meet you. I am Prince Derendil.
Buppido turns around and shuffles close to Cyrus, hearing Cyrus' words.
Back to business, I say! Now that the rude elf is gone! I can't believe he doubted my powers! Yes, let's escape!
"Is fine by me, but this old dogs 'bout atta tricks emself. What be yer plan O' magical one?" The goblin asks.
Buppido stands tall and gesticulates wildly while speaking in a somewhat loud whisper.
I shall lead my people forth to glory, demonstrating my power!
He sits back down.
THAT... is my plan. He grins broadly at the demonstration of his brilliance.
The Drow in the back of the slave pen shakes his head at Buppido in disdain.
This... is a plan.
He draws out a poisoned crossbow bolt he had hidden in a crack in the floor and covered in earth and a small piece of metal wire he had hidden in his hair. He moves up quietly to the gate and works at the lock for a moment before it opens with a click. He then holds still for a moment, as if he heard something, then leaps forward and thrusts his crossbow bolt at a guard passing by at just that moment.
But his chains hamper his attack to greatly and his arrow scrapes off the warriors shield. The warrior grunts and whirls his shortsword at the Drow slave.
The would-be escapee drops his weapon, falls and slips off the edge of the walkway, under the guard rail. He lands in the webbing underneath the walkway and shakes his head, attempting to clear it from the shock. The guard laughs and spits down at the Drow while turning to close and re-lock the gate.
The Drow in the webbing struggles weakly but his struggles draw the attention of the denizens of the web. With shocking speed, large, dark forms dash forward on far too many legs and converge around the Drow, blocking him from sight. A single scream is heard then silence as the dark, arachnid forms do their work. After a minute or so, you manage to catch a glimpse of a humanoid form wrapped up in webbing. The large creatures now take their time, chewing on and digesting various parts of their victim.
The Derro, very offended at the Drow's words, falls silent for a moment. After the action is over, he stands up and sticks a thumb in his own chest.
That is what happens to those who doubt the mighty Buppido!
"Bastard went an got me hopes up there for a bit. Tsk. Could ah least taken one with em'." Cyrus says with a sigh.
Galenus surreptitiously moves to the door to see what's going on.
If that's possible, any rolls I have to make?
During the commotion searches the area near the gate for the wire the drow just used
Eddrikk snatches up the wire right before the torch on the wall, lit by phosphorescent fungi, falls into the spider webs. Eddrikk can still see but not quite as well.