Ebzer stiffens as the drow addresses him. He starts to bark a reply, and then stifles it, choosing instead to give the elf a smoldering death-glare while thinking, I have seven notches on my axe-handle, drow. Careful, or you will be the eighth.
It takes some cajoling and pressing, but Sarith eventually mentions that there is a supply patrol from Menzoberranzan that is a few days overdue, which is very unusual. He's also found out that there is a gray ooze living in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. It seems harmless, feeding off the waste the outpost dumps down there. He would aid your understanding of Jorlan that he seems rather discontent but isn't sure he would stoop to helping prisoners escape.
Well, since we have switched to determine who we have befriended in the previous days: Khessa has been here one single day only, so she can't have had that many interactions... Let's just say she could have had conversation with Buppido, the Derro, since he is very talkative. She could have tried, during their conversations, to learn something about him (how he get captured, what was his life like before...) and about this prison (how it is organized, an idea of how many drow there are, of what the various building are - for example which ones are the barracks, which one is the kitchen, witch one is the armory... if Buppido knows it, that is).
(@DM: does Khessa learn something from her quick interaction with Buppido?)
You are being held in the larger cavern just above the "N". On the side view it's the gated entrance on the left end, right next to the stalactite room.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Traydark seethes with anger over the tremendously demeaning task he is given, and realizing who his coworkers are does nothing temper him. After going about the Quaggoth den in silence, clenching his teeth for some time, now using his magic to tidy the place up, he decides to use rest of the the time in a productive way by getting to know his coworkers, discreetly conversing them as their guards isn't paying attention.
Shuushar he would ask the reason he is here and what he would do if he was set free again. Persuasion: 18 Insight: 19 If allowed to communicate with Stool he would ask him the same questions. Persuasion: 21 Insight: 3 Ront he would give a wide berth at first but assuming the orc would allow him to speak he would try to find out what he too would do if he was set free. Persuasion: 19 Insight: 22 With all three Traydark would try to determine if they would only be a liability during the escape.
Khessa continues to keep her expression utterly discouraged with the guards; she keeps her eyes down and resignedly obeys their every order or request.
But out of the corner of her eye she carefully studies every detail!
(@DM: From what I see in the image you posted, Khessa will try to assess many things... as you'll soon read; feel free to ask rolls to me, when you feel appropriate)
First of all, noticing the large body of water below, the blonde warrior tries to estimate if it is feasible, in order to escape, simply to dive below. Is the water supposed to cushion the fall... or is there something that can prevent this strategy? The cobwebs underneath, perhaps? How dense are they? Would it be difficult to dive without touching them (i.e. so as to fall into the gaps between the strands)? Or are the strands of web too dense? And how thick do they look? A person in free fall... is more likely to break them or to get entangled?
Secondly, to reach the barracks and kitchen the tall adventurer has to go through the nearest stalactite room. What do she notices in this room? She must also pass by at least two of the other stalactite rooms (if not all three); at least some of the doors are open? Can she see anything of what's inside (some furniture, some people)? Last but not least, that kind of rudimentary freight elevator... can she figure out how it is put into operation and estimate how many people it could carry at a time?
Once Khessa reaches barracks and kitchen, while she cleans, she tries to spot where food, water, weapons and especially drow poison are kept. Is there some drow constantly watching her and others at work? Or are there also times when they are left alone (or, at the very least, when the drow present, bored, get distracted)?
If in fact there is at least a moment during the kitchen cleaning when no drow is present (or at least no one is looking at her), the blue eyed woman hands Jimjar a fork, whispering to him: "I understand you made a bet with Traydark... Secretly take this back to the cell and you'll have a good chance of winning it" and she winks at him.
Also, while throwing away the leftovers of the drow meal from the kitchen, the blonde warrior keeps some spoiled food and some bones for herself, without hiding them, openly gnawing on one of the bones at the end of her shift, as if desperate for some tiny particle of extra food. When a drow sees her, she looks at him shyly and pleading: "Please my master, let me keep this... I'm so hungry". This while she thinks to herself: 'They should have more fun by watching me humiliate myself like this, rather than by denying me permission to keep... some of their garbage for myself!'
Traydark seethes with anger over the tremendously demeaning task he is given, and realizing who his coworkers are does nothing temper him. After going about the Quaggoth den in silence, clenching his teeth for some time, now using his magic to tidy the place up, he decides to use rest of the the time in a productive way by getting to know his coworkers, discreetly conversing them as their guards isn't paying attention.
Shuushar he would ask the reason he is here and what he would do if he was set free again. Persuasion: 23 Insight: 6 If allowed to communicate with Stool he would ask him the same questions. Persuasion: 13 Insight: 20 Ront he would give a wide berth at first but assuming the orc would allow him to speak he would try to find out what he too would do if he was set free. Persuasion: 19 Insight: 6 With all three Traydark would try to determine if they would only be a liability during the escape.
Shuushar and Stool were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and were caught by a Drow patrol. Shuushar and Stool have become something of friends though and the two of them might explore more of the Underdark and visit each other's homes at some point maybe. Stool is particularly excited about bringing anyone to his home. Ront grumbles a lot but mentions returning to his tribe or simply ransacking the dwarven settlements on the surface.
They all seem willing to help in escaping for the most part, although Shuushar is the least likely to engage in combat as he maintains being a pacifist of sorts. But he also believes they are not that far from his home, so if they escape he might be able to help you in that way.
(@Khessa: Make a perception check --and you don't have to pass through the stalactites, they are all reached via rope bridges-- make a sleight of hand check, and a persuasion check)
(@Khessa: Make a perception check --and you don't have to pass through the stalactites, they are all reached via rope bridges-- make a sleight of hand check, and a persuasion check)
Sorry, from the map I was pretty sure that the route from our cell to K & B could not avoid to pass through the nearest stalactite. But of course i trust you, I must have been mistaken.
Silas, casually cleaning next to Katryl, says, quietly out the side of his mouth, "If you can cause a distraction, I might be able to slip away and scout the area or sneak a couple small weapons. I've heard you all scheming to leave. I'd like to help."
(@Khessa: Make a perception check --and you don't have to pass through the stalactites, they are all reached via rope bridges-- make a sleight of hand check, and a persuasion check)
Sorry, from the map I was pretty sure that the route from our cell to K & B could not avoid to pass through the nearest stalactite. But of course i trust you, I must have been mistaken.
The checks:
Perception: 7
Sleight of Hand: 18
Persuasion: 8
You have no idea where the Drow keep their poison, but you do manage to surmise that the webs from giant spiders create a near-solid sticky floor partway down, and the lift at the end are typically run by two hulking quaggoths, with a simple winch and pulley system and are typically alerted by a torch from someone down below. It can probably hold about 4 people at a time and takes quite a while to actually reach the floor of the immense cavern. Lastly, the outer stalactites seem to just be guard posts, each with 2 levels each, while the larger middle one has 3 levels and seems to be much nicer and fancier than the other two. It is probably where the priestess and her consorts stay.
The passing of a fork to Jimjar appears to be a success.
One guard sees you eating and knocks it out of your hands and threatens to feed you to the spiders if you attempt that again.
(And I apologize, I thought you were referring to a different spot. You would walk through the guard post on the northern end, though by just passing through there isn't much on the main floor, table and chairs is about it)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Ebzer goes about the mindless tasks, he looks for patterns in the movements of guards, in their shift rotations, possible gaps in their sightlines. Any small chink in their defenses that might be exploited, either for escape or for a strike at an undefended vital point.
As Ebzer goes about the mindless tasks, he looks for patterns in the movements of guards, in their shift rotations, possible gaps in their sightlines. Any small chink in their defenses that might be exploited, either for escape or for a strike at an undefended vital point.
Perception 7
Insight 11
The guards work tight shifts, a well trained group used to keeping prisoners in check. Seems to you like they have this place pretty well locked down.
...You have no idea where the Drow keep their poison, but you do manage to surmise that the webs from giant spiders create a near-solid sticky floor partway down, and the lift at the end are typically run by two hulking quaggoths, with a simple winch and pulley system and are typically alerted by a torch from someone down below. It can probably hold about 4 people at a time and takes quite a while to actually reach the floor of the immense cavern. Lastly, the outer stalactites seem to just be guard posts, each with 2 levels each, while the larger middle one has 3 levels and seems to be much nicer and fancier than the other two. It is probably where the priestess and her consorts stay.
The passing of a fork to Jimjar appears to be a success.
One guard sees you eating and knocks it out of your hands and threatens to feed you to the spiders if you attempt that again.
...
When the drow guard prevents her from holding the waste, Khessa immediately obeys and apologizes by dropping to her knees at the guard's feet: "Forgive me, my master, I was so stupid to aspire to so much... I will never do that again. I live only to serve you".
At the end of the shift, when he is back in the cell with Katryl, the blonde warrior retrieves the fork from Jimjar, thanking him with a radiant smile, and hands it to the genasi: "I was able to retrieve this as an improvised tool... I can also bend the teeth of the fork for you the way you want. It won't be a perfect tool, I know... but with this you could try to pick the lock of our chains, right?"
(@DM: How many guards came, at the start of the shift, to assign us to daily labor? What they did? Did they enter the cell or did they simply call us out? Did you say before that some guard stayed at range with a crossbow? How many at range? And what distance? A few yards? The other guards kept all near us prisoners?)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Katryl initially focuses on doing the work expected but keeps an eye out for anything that might possibly be of use that she could grab. (Perception: 7, Slight of Hand: 16 to grab something if she sees anything.) She would stay close to Eldath, whispering to her to help shield her from view if she were trying to grab something. (If this might give advantage on the Slight of Hand, 2nd roll for that: 12)
When Silas speaks to her, Katryl studies the tabaxi for a moment. "You slink off and I get punished?" she responds a bit tersely in a whisper. Figuring though he must have a solid plan in mind, she sighs and adds, "Fine. Let me know when."
Anyway, as soon as everybody is back from his shift and the guards are away, Khessa tries to gather all the prisoners to share the escape plan she came up with.
As he eventually is finished with the days demeaning tasks, Traydark would return to the prison cave and let himself be shackled again, waiting for the others to return before discussing their escape plans.
(@DM: How many guards came, at the start of the shift, to assign us to daily labor? What they did? Did they enter the cell or did they simply call us out? Did you say before that some guard stayed at range with a crossbow? How many at range? And what distance? A few yards? The other guards kept all near us prisoners?)
A handful of guards are present at shift assignments, sometimes Ilvara et al are there too, though not this time. The ranged weapons are always within 30ft or so, with a few other guards up closer. Once you're in the cell though, only 2 or 3 guards stay in the post across from you to keep watch, the rest go to other parts of the outpost.
Katryl initially focuses on doing the work expected but keeps an eye out for anything that might possibly be of use that she could grab. (Perception: 20, Slight of Hand: 26 to grab something if she sees anything.) She would stay close to Eldath, whispering to her to help shield her from view if she were trying to grab something. (If this might give advantage on the Slight of Hand, 2nd roll for that: 11)
When Silas speaks to her, Katryl studies the tabaxi for a moment. "You slink off and I get punished?" she responds a bit tersely in a whisper. Figuring though he must have a solid plan in mind, she sighs and adds, "Fine. Let me know when."
While cleaning around the guard posts you find a stray crossbow bolt, though it doesn't seem to be poison tipped yet. It also sounds like everyone's things are being kept in the tower across from the cell, upstairs.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Ebzer stiffens as the drow addresses him. He starts to bark a reply, and then stifles it, choosing instead to give the elf a smoldering death-glare while thinking, I have seven notches on my axe-handle, drow. Careful, or you will be the eighth.
Traydark:
It takes some cajoling and pressing, but Sarith eventually mentions that there is a supply patrol from Menzoberranzan that is a few days overdue, which is very unusual. He's also found out that there is a gray ooze living in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. It seems harmless, feeding off the waste the outpost dumps down there. He would aid your understanding of Jorlan that he seems rather discontent but isn't sure he would stoop to helping prisoners escape.
(@DM: does Khessa learn something from her quick interaction with Buppido?)
(He knows what the rest of the prisoners know, and otherwise seems very willing and eager to help everyone escape, a fearless attitude)
You are being held in the larger cavern just above the "N". On the side view it's the gated entrance on the left end, right next to the stalactite room.
Your conversations are interrupted by the guards coming by to begin assigning you to daily labor:
Traydark, Shuushar, Stool and Ront are tasked with cleaning the Quaggoth den (the chamber on the far left of the side view)
Khessa, Jimjar and the Twins are tasked with cleaning the barracks and kitchen (the gated entrance on the right side)
Katryl, Silas, Buppido and Eldeth are tasked with cleaning each of the guard towers, going from south to north (or right to left on the side view)
Ebzer, Prince Derendil, and Sarith are tasked with absurdly mundane jobs, piling pebbles and rocks, coiling and uncoiling rope, etc.
(Feel free to rp out your shift with your fellow prisoners, but you may not interact with those you are not tasked with currently.)
Traydark seethes with anger over the tremendously demeaning task he is given, and realizing who his coworkers are does nothing temper him. After going about the Quaggoth den in silence, clenching his teeth for some time, now using his magic to tidy the place up, he decides to use rest of the the time in a productive way by getting to know his coworkers, discreetly conversing them as their guards isn't paying attention.
Shuushar he would ask the reason he is here and what he would do if he was set free again.
Persuasion: 18 Insight: 19
If allowed to communicate with Stool he would ask him the same questions.
Persuasion: 21 Insight: 3
Ront he would give a wide berth at first but assuming the orc would allow him to speak he would try to find out what he too would do if he was set free.
Persuasion: 19 Insight: 22
With all three Traydark would try to determine if they would only be a liability during the escape.
Khessa continues to keep her expression utterly discouraged with the guards; she keeps her eyes down and resignedly obeys their every order or request.
But out of the corner of her eye she carefully studies every detail!
(@DM: From what I see in the image you posted, Khessa will try to assess many things... as you'll soon read; feel free to ask rolls to me, when you feel appropriate)
First of all, noticing the large body of water below, the blonde warrior tries to estimate if it is feasible, in order to escape, simply to dive below. Is the water supposed to cushion the fall... or is there something that can prevent this strategy? The cobwebs underneath, perhaps? How dense are they? Would it be difficult to dive without touching them (i.e. so as to fall into the gaps between the strands)? Or are the strands of web too dense? And how thick do they look? A person in free fall... is more likely to break them or to get entangled?
Secondly, to reach the barracks and kitchen the tall adventurer has to go through the nearest stalactite room. What do she notices in this room? She must also pass by at least two of the other stalactite rooms (if not all three); at least some of the doors are open? Can she see anything of what's inside (some furniture, some people)? Last but not least, that kind of rudimentary freight elevator... can she figure out how it is put into operation and estimate how many people it could carry at a time?
Once Khessa reaches barracks and kitchen, while she cleans, she tries to spot where food, water, weapons and especially drow poison are kept. Is there some drow constantly watching her and others at work? Or are there also times when they are left alone (or, at the very least, when the drow present, bored, get distracted)?
If in fact there is at least a moment during the kitchen cleaning when no drow is present (or at least no one is looking at her), the blue eyed woman hands Jimjar a fork, whispering to him: "I understand you made a bet with Traydark... Secretly take this back to the cell and you'll have a good chance of winning it" and she winks at him.
Also, while throwing away the leftovers of the drow meal from the kitchen, the blonde warrior keeps some spoiled food and some bones for herself, without hiding them, openly gnawing on one of the bones at the end of her shift, as if desperate for some tiny particle of extra food. When a drow sees her, she looks at him shyly and pleading: "Please my master, let me keep this... I'm so hungry".
This while she thinks to herself: 'They should have more fun by watching me humiliate myself like this, rather than by denying me permission to keep... some of their garbage for myself!'
Shuushar and Stool were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and were caught by a Drow patrol. Shuushar and Stool have become something of friends though and the two of them might explore more of the Underdark and visit each other's homes at some point maybe. Stool is particularly excited about bringing anyone to his home. Ront grumbles a lot but mentions returning to his tribe or simply ransacking the dwarven settlements on the surface.
They all seem willing to help in escaping for the most part, although Shuushar is the least likely to engage in combat as he maintains being a pacifist of sorts. But he also believes they are not that far from his home, so if they escape he might be able to help you in that way.
(@Khessa: Make a perception check --and you don't have to pass through the stalactites, they are all reached via rope bridges-- make a sleight of hand check, and a persuasion check)
Sorry, from the map I was pretty sure that the route from our cell to K & B could not avoid to pass through the nearest stalactite. But of course i trust you, I must have been mistaken.
The checks:
Perception: 1
Sleight of Hand: 17
Persuasion: 3
Silas, casually cleaning next to Katryl, says, quietly out the side of his mouth, "If you can cause a distraction, I might be able to slip away and scout the area or sneak a couple small weapons. I've heard you all scheming to leave. I'd like to help."
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
You have no idea where the Drow keep their poison, but you do manage to surmise that the webs from giant spiders create a near-solid sticky floor partway down, and the lift at the end are typically run by two hulking quaggoths, with a simple winch and pulley system and are typically alerted by a torch from someone down below. It can probably hold about 4 people at a time and takes quite a while to actually reach the floor of the immense cavern. Lastly, the outer stalactites seem to just be guard posts, each with 2 levels each, while the larger middle one has 3 levels and seems to be much nicer and fancier than the other two. It is probably where the priestess and her consorts stay.
The passing of a fork to Jimjar appears to be a success.
One guard sees you eating and knocks it out of your hands and threatens to feed you to the spiders if you attempt that again.
(And I apologize, I thought you were referring to a different spot. You would walk through the guard post on the northern end, though by just passing through there isn't much on the main floor, table and chairs is about it)
As Ebzer goes about the mindless tasks, he looks for patterns in the movements of guards, in their shift rotations, possible gaps in their sightlines. Any small chink in their defenses that might be exploited, either for escape or for a strike at an undefended vital point.
Perception 9
Insight 2
The guards work tight shifts, a well trained group used to keeping prisoners in check. Seems to you like they have this place pretty well locked down.
When the drow guard prevents her from holding the waste, Khessa immediately obeys and apologizes by dropping to her knees at the guard's feet: "Forgive me, my master, I was so stupid to aspire to so much... I will never do that again. I live only to serve you".
At the end of the shift, when he is back in the cell with Katryl, the blonde warrior retrieves the fork from Jimjar, thanking him with a radiant smile, and hands it to the genasi: "I was able to retrieve this as an improvised tool... I can also bend the teeth of the fork for you the way you want. It won't be a perfect tool, I know... but with this you could try to pick the lock of our chains, right?"
(@DM: How many guards came, at the start of the shift, to assign us to daily labor? What they did? Did they enter the cell or did they simply call us out? Did you say before that some guard stayed at range with a crossbow? How many at range? And what distance? A few yards? The other guards kept all near us prisoners?)
Katryl initially focuses on doing the work expected but keeps an eye out for anything that might possibly be of use that she could grab. (Perception: 7, Slight of Hand: 16 to grab something if she sees anything.) She would stay close to Eldath, whispering to her to help shield her from view if she were trying to grab something. (If this might give advantage on the Slight of Hand, 2nd roll for that: 12)
When Silas speaks to her, Katryl studies the tabaxi for a moment. "You slink off and I get punished?" she responds a bit tersely in a whisper. Figuring though he must have a solid plan in mind, she sighs and adds, "Fine. Let me know when."
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Lokilia Vaelphin | Sabina Featherwound | Liivi Orav | Vanizi | Dirtbrain | Elielle Hillwind | Britari/Halila Talgeta/Jesa Gumovi
Anyway, as soon as everybody is back from his shift and the guards are away, Khessa tries to gather all the prisoners to share the escape plan she came up with.
As he eventually is finished with the days demeaning tasks, Traydark would return to the prison cave and let himself be shackled again, waiting for the others to return before discussing their escape plans.
A handful of guards are present at shift assignments, sometimes Ilvara et al are there too, though not this time. The ranged weapons are always within 30ft or so, with a few other guards up closer. Once you're in the cell though, only 2 or 3 guards stay in the post across from you to keep watch, the rest go to other parts of the outpost.
While cleaning around the guard posts you find a stray crossbow bolt, though it doesn't seem to be poison tipped yet. It also sounds like everyone's things are being kept in the tower across from the cell, upstairs.