Begrudgingly, although diligent, Eddrikk did his part in scraping away the rust. With another wire secured he turns his attentin to the winch, looking for ways it could be used to help break the chains (like getting the restraints between gears or such.)
Once Eddrikk is able to catch Jorlan alone he slides over to the disfigured dark elf,
What about the rest of them? Galenus asks those with spores. Who all has breathed them in? Is it just us? Hey, orc? And you two, the gnomes, and you, Kua-tao? Can any of you hear me?
Gods, what must they think of us if they can't hear us talking like this. "Them all crazy f$~~ers, just standing around making funny faces at each other."
If none of them respond, Galenus will say, Hey, you four, and point to the orc, the twins, and the Kua-tao, Come over here.
The others don't respond but when Galenus calls out to them, the twin gnomes saunter over, as does the Kua-toa, wondering what you want. The female deep gnome smiles at the invitation to join in while the male mutters under his breath.
Jorlan turns to you with a sneer on his scarred face and prepares to backhand you. But his hand stops when you mention the tryst between Irdril and Shoor. He listens quietly without speaking. He replies in a deadly whisper
What is this of a joining between Shoor and a slave?
Galinndan quietly watches the others who have not come over, to gauge their reaction.
The gambling deep gnome looks somewhat put out at everyone else being called over to the pow-wow without him.
Galinndan beckons over Jimjar.
Jimjar comes over, seeming to have cheered up a bit.
Stool looks questioningly at Tiberius.
Galenus will think to the little myconid, Hey little guy, can you spare up the newcomers and let them in on our conversation?
To the newcomers, he'll whisper, When it happens, breathe deep. Galenus is being intentionally vague.
Tiberius gives a nod to stool after a small hesitation. Trust was hard, but at this point, it was needed.
Stool releases a cloud of spores 20 feet across. All three gnomes cough and yell in surprise. The Kua-Toa calmly inhales.
This is strange and wonderful. Thank you for including me in this experience, my new friends.
A Drow guard hears the exclaiming and coughing off the gnomes and comes to the gate of the slave pen.
What's this! Shut up!
Galinndan walks over to the gnomes and speaks in a quiet voice:
"Please calm down. We don't want the guards in here."
Tiberius looks to the guard and shrugs as if to say "dunno".
If he enters, we have to take him down. Can't risk them learning about our communication method.
Agreed. New people, please calm down.
The gnomes breath deeply and seem to calm down a bit. The female thinks
What is this!?!
The guard looks at the coughing gnomes and seems to assume it's some deep gnome-specific allergy. He spits and walks away.
Thank you. The spores let us hear each other's thoughts. Try to separate the thoughts you want to share from the ones you do not. It is helping us plot escape.
Escape... A fine idea. We will leave this place and head to Sloobludoop where we will rest and recuperate. I will teach my people what I have learned...
Sloopodoop is just as good as the next place, wherever that may be, but of more importance is actually escapng. Got any ideas for that?
Jorlan replies to Eddrikk.
Interesting, slave. Back to work now. I will not forget this.
I believe we will find a way to escape. These things tend to work themselves out. Whatever comes, violence will serve us ill.
After Eddrikk's shift, he and the others are taken back to the slave pen. Under the pretense of bringing all the slaves their food, Jorlan speaks through the gate.
You speak of interesitng things Dwarf. I will leave this gate unlocked and distract the other guards. You lot will slip out, jump into the webs, and then down into the pool to escape. First, give me a few of the female's hairs so I may plant them in Shoor's room. It will seem he did this.
Jorlan's hideous face twists in a self-satisfied smile.
Galinndan makes sure he turns away from the front. He cannot suppress a brief smile.
Kanzen's ears prick up as the drow officer murmurs to Eddrikk, but keeps his face expressionless, pretending not to hear. But he does push out his thoughts to the other prisoners. Jump into the webs? Not the preferred option. Maybe he's dealing in good faith, but... my kin usually don't! We must be wary. He may be trying to get rid of us, tie up loose ends, so that his plot will never be discovered. Something made those webs, either spiders, or worse, driders.
If we can, we must seek other routes. I have 100ft of silk rope, perhaps that offers another option.
Kanzen nods, although he feels a rush of pleasure at the lack of hate in the surface elf's response. At the least, the officer claims he will let us leave the cell. That is a welcome offer.
Wait. Jump into the webs? Who said anything about jumping? I saw that other drow prisoner fall into the webs, and he was wrapped up by giant spiders quick as a wit. I don't think we'll stand much of a chance in those webs without fire or something to cut through them.
A dumbfounded expression falls over his face.
Right. We have something to cut through them. Swords.
Irdril hears the guard and frowns.. Now they wanna cut my hair! Hmmff.. The things a woman has to do to survive.
Irdril pulls a razor sharp piece to flint from her hair, which no one has seen up until this point, and slices a sizable piece of her split ends out.. She saunters over to the guard and hands it through.. With a smile..
The Drow stares silently at Irdril for a moment then walks away.
[I]Ok everyone we 'ave a short window to make our escape. While that ebon-skinned a!&+@+#~ creates a distraction. Lets try and get out of these chains, if we can pick 'em let's break 'em, help eachother out best ye can. We 'ave so wire for make-shift lock picks so whoever can you 'em do so. Let's gather the weapons and make ready... Oh and remember if they catch you they will kill you, so if you're gonna die do it on your feet..."
Kanzen looks at Galenus, apprehension on his face. We can cut our way out of the webs of Lloth's creatures, but I'd rather not dive into them if I can help it. If there's another way, I'd prefer it, if not, then that's what we'll have to do.
Nodding at Eddrikk's words, Kanzen looks around expectantly, hoping for someone to pipe up about their lockpicking skills.
Ok, Let's do this! Wait! One second...
Galenus hustles to the back of the cage and taps on the spider hole, calling his little friend forth. Ready, buddy? he whispers. Stay with me now, he tells it as he puts it on his shoulder.
Ok, now let's do this!
Whether it works or not, he'll grab one of the daggers and line up next to the door ready to burst out.
Is there a good outcrop of stone to tie the rope to? Descend that way?
Galinndan will try again to slip his bonds.
Galenus breaks his manacles!
Just as the guard is being changed and the next work crew is about to be brought out, a horrible droning noise is heard, followed by insane screeching noises. Those at the gate to the slave pen see two hideous, vulture-like creatures soar rapidly into the cavern. They are followed quickly by four creatures that look like giant flies.
The Drow guards blow their horns in sharp blasts to alert the entire outpost. Soldiers rush to their stations, as do two females garbed as priestesses (you recognize the leader, Ilvara). The strange creatures seem to pay them no mind, slamming into each other in the air and emitting horrible noises. Several of the Drow in the guard tower fall unconscious, apparently from the noises.
Jorlan rushes to the slave pen and unlocks it. In a hushed whisper, he says
This is not my doing but there could be no better distraction. GO!
He returns hurriedly to the defense of the outpost, the gate unlocked.
You are the most aware of the ways down from this hanging outpost. They are jumping into the pool, taking the lift on the far side of the outpost, or trying to climb down the steep walls. It's far too high to jump directly down to the cavern floor.
Irdril provides up the three Bardic Inspiration die to people trying to get out of their chains.
Irdril herself attempts to slip her bonds.
Is there a good outcrop of stone to tie the rope to? Descend that way?
Galinndan will try again to slip his bonds.
[dice=Dex]1d20 + 5
Galinndan doesn't make it out of his bonds. There aren't any particularly prominent rock outcroppings but there are the structures of the outpost itself, such as the gate set in the rock. A rope tied to one of these could probably hold 4 people at a time.
Leave the keys! You might as well give us a fighting chance!
Galinndan refuses to give up so easily on the bonds, especially now the drow is clearly leaving the slaves to their fate.
Being near the gate, Galenus say those things fly by. His stomach tried to upturn itself at the sight. What the f~&~? he says to himself, as he tries to get his stomach to not vomit forth the all the gruell of the past week.
Hearing Eddrick, he thinks to the group, Might be some keys or something in that guard tower; may not get a better chance than while they're distracted with whatever the hell those things are. Steal what we can, right?
Hearing Galenus's suggestion of hitting the guard tower, Eddrikk grabs a short sword and ventures forth through the unlocked gate.
Eddrikk attempts to hit his manacles with his shortsword (best bet) but can't manage to get his blade to connect solidly with the iron (AC 19). He grabs a short sword and heads through the gate.
The swaying catwalk heading to the guard tower lies in front of him (difficult terrain for non-Drow) while the walkway to the right leads to the Quaggoth den. The strange creatures are shrieking and droning everywhere while the Drow are shouting to each other in Undercommon. Off the edge of the walkway, the pool lies glistening below the giant spider webs.
If he's going, I'm following with my Dagger. Dwarves unite!
Galinndan loses patience with the manacles, given the noise from outside, and tries to smash them.
He plans to get moving with his shortsword if - *when* - he gets free.