Continuing to concentrate on the creature, Rau takes another step back and keeps letting the arrows fly.
Thorek felt his blood running down his side. His wounds felt they were on fire...but he had to believe that the creature was similarly feeling it. His hammer lashed out, and with it his hope that the creature would fall before he did.
Volkar frowned. None of his spells was particularly useful with Thorek engaged in melee, and the slug was surprisingly agile for a creature of such size. Instead, he knelt and shook Tomas to try and wake him. "Tomas, wake up. We need you. Come on."
Azorius did some quick calculations and called upon Pharasma to heal them... he knew it may stabilize the dark skinned elf on the ground near them and even heal the slug creature but several of his allies were injured. As long as they kept up the damage to the creature at this rate it they would prevail.
The attacks by Rau and Thorek are enough to drop the creature as it screams in frustration and rage, feebly clawing at Thorek as the light fades from its eyes. It collapses on itself and slowly rolls over on its side.
As this happens, Azorius calls upon the healing powers of Pharasma, and a muted flash momentarily brightens the area. A twitch of the slug-creature's body proves to be nothing more than a dying spasm - it appears that the healing was not enough to resuscitate the monster or its drow ally.
The area of sticky slime dissipates after another 30 seconds, and Tomas awakens soon after. The slime covering the slug-creature also dries out, resulting in a cloying musty odor coming from the thing's body.
A cursory search of the area reveals a bag containing a dozen small vials of brown liquid.
Retrieving his arrows and poking the drow to make sure they aren't just pretending to be unconscious, Rau glances off to the other entrance to the northwest. "There's some noises coming from over there. It sounds like it might be prisoners shifting around in chains, but we can't be sure in a place like this."
Thorek let his bloody hammer go, causing it to vanish. A moment later a greataxe materialized. He could hear the squabbling and the cursing in his mind. His people had long been the enemies of the Drow, and his ancestors were incensed.
”...at the silver depths...”[/b]
[i]”...such a claim lost. Do ye have any idea how much gold...”
”...his beard! They are cruel beyond imagination. Only a boy he was...”
”...their ears to Durlap Ironspike of the Gray Hill. He pays good coin for...”
Curses, grudges, ‘helpful’ advice, all of it filled his mind. On the outside though, he remained stoically silent. Yelling at the spirits would just make him look crazy. But still, he felt stronger. Whether he was gaining a better connection with the spirit world, or just becoming more skilled, he couldn’t say. But regardless, he felt ready for more.
”If there are more Drow to kill, then our work isn’t done. And thanks, Var.” He pointed at his still open wounds, which had stopped actively bleeding. ”Not pleasant.” He elaborated.
"Drow, is that the name of the slug thing or the dark skinned elves? I've never seen elves like them before... or that slug." Azorious shakes his head. "Before anyone else shows up lets gather together away from them and heal those wounds."
You take some time to heal and prepare, then slowly move forward to investigate the noise. Rau and Tomas take the lead, quietly sneaking up until they can see their quarry. They return and share the following:
There are 5 creatures ahead in a wider part of the cave. There are no drow, these appear to be slaves and/or servants.
1. A minotaur. Both of its horns have been cut off near its head. It wears a large pack on its back that is full of bags (similar to the bag you found in the main cave containing the vials of brown liquid). It sits on the ground, its hands resting on its knees.
2. A large beetle with an ornate saddle that appears to be made of leather. The beetle's shell has been decorated with brilliant designs in a multitude of colors. The beetle does not appear to be wearing a chain, but it does have something akin to reins.
3. A male elf. Wearing almost nothing, the scars on his body are plain to see. He stands hunched over and silent, eyes unfocused and staring into the distance. He holds a staff that supports a furled pennant.
4. A strange humanoid creature you cannot identify. It is very bulky, and appears to have a head that resembles a rhinoceros without the horn.
5. An old dwarf man. His hair is white, but he has no beard. All of the other slave's chains run to the dwarf's belt. He also wears large metal boots.
Thorek walked over towards the group of slaves, holding up a handful of keys. ”Oi! We killed a drow bastard back there. Got these here keys. Give me a moment and I’ll...” He paused, a look of shock and then anger crossed his face.
”Did they do this to you, cousin? Here, let me find the right key.”
Volkar held up a hand to stop Thorek, but instead sighed and shook his head. He waited towards the back, keeping an eye on things.
Rau hesitates as Thorek walks forward with the keys, but realizes that he probably won't be able to stop the dwarf. Seeing Volkar's sigh, he shoots a grin at the sorcerer and takes up a position across the room, bow at the ready in case Thorek's action doesn't work as planned.
Tomas moves to where he can cover the 'slaves' for any treachery. Not sure if where the chains lead mean that the old dwarf is one of them?
As Thorek fumbles with the keys, the old dwarf stares at him, his face unchanging. For a long moment, it almost seems as if he has died in place, his form is so still. That illusion is broken, however, as tears begin freely running down his cheeks. His face remains impassive as he softly speaks, "Aye, they did this to me. And my father, and his father. I am Caylonn Shieldbearer, last of the line of Khadon's clan, and you are the first free dwarf I have ever laid eyes upon."
All of the slaves are looking at you expectantly - except for the elf. He continues to stare off in the distance.
Of the voices in his head, one spoke out the loudest. It was a pained voice, full of grief and longing. ”Bow! Bow! Ye stand before a king! I died in fire and flame. We all did. The greatest empire this benighted world has ever known. Jernashall was my home, before the wrath of the gods fell upon us. This dwarf is a descendent of Khadon the Mighty!”
Thorek heard this, and his eyes widened. He didn’t know any of this personally, but he trusted his ancestors. He walked forward, shaking with anger. ”Last of the line...but are there any more trapped? Those thrice damned knife eared...” Such was his burning anger that he fumbled as he freed the long lost noble. ”...will spill an ocean of their blood and even then it won’t satisfy the grudge...” He mumbled furiously.
Volkar didn't know who Khadon was, but the way Thorek was grumbling, it must have been someone important. Still, he looked for signs of deception, in case this was a trick.
Not quite getting the reference Azorious focused on the details that were immediately important. "How many of the drow are in this area? Is this place their base of operations or are they here to deal with something?"
"Aye, I am truly the last. Believe me, these silver-haired monsters provided me enough proof throughout the years. Took special care to make sure I was the last - increased my value to them." He shakes his head as if clearing it. The chain belt falls to the ground, and his iron shoes are opened, revealing gnarled and stunted bare feet.
"They made me wear those for over a hundred years. Enchanted so I could not run away from them. The belt, well, what better way to keep rein on other slaves than to chain them up to one who couldn't escape?"
He spits on the boots, his face a mask of red rage. With effort, Caylonn calms himself.
He looks at Azorius, "There are no more here, but there will be soon, maybe a day or two. This group was one of the House's favored sons. He was sent here to buy vials of something they called "Essence of Madness". It's sort of a drug, but it's not addictive. They just picked up a shipment." he says while pointing at the large pack on the minotaur's back. "Apparently there was a fey who could harvest the ingredients to make the Essence.
"I'm not sure what they paid for it, but I know that other Houses will be following along trying to find their source. We should get out while we can, and collapse the tunnel behind us if that's possible.
"There's a monster here that tricks the villagers above and rules them as a god. We need to put an end to it's schemes here. It must be abroad in the town. As for this "Essence of Madness" I think it would be wise to smash the batch before it can be put towards any ill intent. We can collapse the tunnels once we deal with the monster to cut off the aspirations of these drow."
”Aye...we do have a task to do here. Bloody hell...but this lot has suffered enough.” Thorek ran his fingers through his beard. ”And we need to get ye to safety. What happened is enough of an affront to rally the clans. After the disaster our people lost heart, fell into despair. It’s high time that turned to anger.” He said to the lost king. ”So, all of ye. We’re not done here yet. Got a monster to kill, and any fool Drow who get in our way. Ye’re free to come if ye want, or take yer freedom. Can also wait for us topside. Yer path is yer own.”