Captured by the drow! You wouldn’t wish this fate upon anyone, yet here you are — locked in a dark cave, the cold, heavy weight of metal tight around your throat and wrists. You are not alone. Other prisoners are trapped in here with you, in an underground outpost far from the light of the sun. Your captors include a cruel drow priestess who calls herself Mistress Ilvara of House Mizzrym. Over the past several days, you’ve met her several times, robed in silken garments and flanked by two male drow, one of whom has a mass of scars along one side of his face and neck. Mistress Ilvara likes to impress her will with scourge in hand and remind you that your life now belongs to her. “Accept your fate, learn to obey, and you may survive.” Her words echo in your memory, even as you plot your escape.
Some of you have been here for several days, some of you have been here just a couple. You each wear iron slave colors and manacles all connected to an iron belt by a short chain. This leaves you a small range of movement to complete tasks but you are otherwise considered restrained. Something is keeping you from casting magic in and around the pen. All of your equipment has been taken from you, including any money, trinkets, or magical items you might have had.
Spellcasters: you can only cast the spells you came prepared with and can’t change them out without your focus or spellbook, and you can’t cast anything that requires material components (or your focus or spellbook). Spells can only be cast outside the slave pen, and if any of the guards catch you doing so you are beaten and starved for the rest of the day.
But some of you have managed to collect things throughout your captivity and hide it away from the guards.
Several other prisoners are trapped in the hard stone pen with you that you’ve gotten to know a little over time. They are as follows.
Buppido is a derro who seems to be friendly enough despite the circumstances. He’s easy to talk to, and fairly talkative himself. He also comes off as incredibly intelligent.
Derendil is a large, hulking quaggoth (who you have all seen as drow slaves around the prison camp). He looks menacing, but speaks fluent, eloquent elvish. And in fact, says he is an Elvish prince polymorphed by an evil wizard trying to take over his kingdom. He seems every bit the princely type except when he gets stressed. You won’t like him when he’s stressed.
Eldeth is a shield dwarf that retains a stubborn sense of optimism and pride. She insists she will get out and return to her home in Gauntlgrym. She also isn’t afraid to stand up to the guards if they get too violent in their torture. She also tends to avoid the other “dark dwellers” and suggests that anyone from the surface do the same less they corrupt you with their evil ways.
Jimjar seems to care little for his circumstances making light of everything. The deep gnome's devil-may-care attitude can be a little grating at times, but he also tends to keep spirits up with a good wager every now and then. And boy does he like to wager. He’ll bet you the pants right off you if you’re not careful.
Ront is one bully of an orc, living up to most stereotypes of his people. He’s quick to throw insults of those who show weakness, but as soon as the guards come around looking for a bit of “fun” he’s quick to back off and kiss ass.
Sarith, like your captors, is a drow. He keeps to himself and usually doesn’t interact with anyone unless spoken to first and even then he’d rather not. Supposedly he’s in here for murder, but he has his doubts about that.
Shuushar is a kuo-toa but unlike the rest of his people he abhors violence with the fiber of his being, considering himself an awakened pacifist. He spends most of his days in quiet contemplation and meditation, but is always willing to offer comfort if people need it, or words of wisdom.
By far the strangest of your fellow prisoners, Stool is a myconidsprout who wishes only to return to the safety of its grove. Despite its obvious fright, it does manage to prove useful by establishing a link with its spores amongst all the prisoners allowing you all to communicate despite language barriers.
Topsyand Turvyare a pair of svirfneblin twins who, for the most part, keep to themselves. Though Topsy is willing to talk to others, where her brother just mutters things to her that she’ll repeat for him if he needs to communicate. Despite being the same race the twins avoid Jimjar giving him weird looks.
These are the people you have spent the past several days with and will spend the forseeable future with. You know that a contingent from Menzoberranzan is on its way to take you back to the drow city and sell you into slavery. In the meantime Ilvara and her guards force you to do menial labor, pointless chores, and disgusting tasks.
Just like every day for however long you’ve been here (it’s hard to tell the passage of days here underground, and you can only count it by when you are rudely awoken by the drow guards), a loud call rings out,
"Awake you useless scum. Time to eat."
The gate to your pen is opened and a sneering drow guard slides a tray of bowls filled with thin, tasteless mushroom soup your direction. There are only 11 bowls on it, and there are 15 of you.
(If you would like to try for a bowl of food roll initiative (no actual combat, just the order of who got there first.) If you choose not to eat you will suffer a level of exhaustion later.
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
stop fighting like animals. We can share or something. Just stop and use your manners. Having been there for 7 days ], he has been trying to get the prisoners to fight back, and convince stool to communicate to some army or something. He pets Mug, his spider, on the head, then sits in the corner.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
17
Arno, having lived through hardship before, heads out to get a bowl. "Gimme that!" he spats watching and observing in the race to see if others are hiding weapons or tools. he was getting sick of manacles and rations, he thought 'What the hell death might be better then this hell, Helm willing I might even live!'
With the sounds of the guards, Gorp would awaken and slowly rise to his feet. The shuffling and scurrying of the other prisoners wasn't the most enticing, choosing to abstain from eating this morning. The tortle having been here for five days didn't know how things worked around here compared to those that had been here longer, but he was figuring it out. Having talked to or tried talking to everyone that was willing. Gorp was making his friends. Moving over toward Shuushar, "What do you think they'll have us do today?"
Arno: Perception check to see if anyone is concealing any sort of weapon
Gorp: Shuushar hums, opening his eyes for the first time since the guard rudely awoke those that may have been sleeping. "More of the same I imagine, my friend. Perhaps today is the day I am on laundry duty. One can only hope, I suppose."His gargled voice ends in a tired sigh. "I must say agree with the dwarven fellow, I do. All this would go much better if we could all work together and share, wouldn't it."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Delrana, Elf Ranger
Food grabby grab (a) roll: 14 (forget to add initiative modifier first time, 6 (+ 5 mod) = 11)
Delrana skulks in the shadows at the fringes of the pens, watching as the others punch on the meagre offerings put before them. She has been here the longest of the surface folk, barring Eldeth and Ront, but the Underdark is not a new place for her - she had hunted here before. Though being the other end of the hunt was definitely prefereble.
The tussles for food that normally arise, are a repetitive sight for Delrana and today seeing Sarith move sluggishly towards the food, she tries to sneak a bowl from the ruckus, hoping for some extra sweetness by denying the devil any food. She knows that any contact with the drow scum is going to end badly for him, but she is sensible enough to realise that her value is insignificant, and a slave that kills another slave has only one fate. The scraps they are given are barely edible anyway, and saving her energy for when she needs it has been her way for many a winter.
Gorp watches the other prisoners scramble for food while he simply waits for the days newest tasks from the guards. Leaning closer to Shuushar, "Remind me again how long you've been here, Shuushar. Surely you've seen someway out. Some ray of hope.
Arno:You don't notice any weapons on any of the prisoners while trying to get your food.
Gorp: Shuushar lets out another gurgly sigh. "Such a fluid concept time is, but if I had to give it a guess, I believe I've been here for just over 10 mushroom soups. Escape is a matter of much complexity, but one could safely assume that it would involve some form of violence."
Jimjar having quickly gotten his meal for the day plops down near them, making a slight face as he swallows a mouthful of the tasteless drivel. "That's a safe bet, I'd say. 19 guards, our benevolent priestess, and her new trainee. I'd bet if we were to take them head on, we'd be fed to the spiders."
With Gorpabstaining from eating as well almost everyone else manages to get food. Ront tries to shove Eldethout of the way and succeeds, but she still manages to pick up a bowl before him cursing at him in dwarvish. Derendil is almost surprisingly quick at getting there, blocking the twins with his enormous size, but Turvy ducks between his legs grabbing him and his sister a bowl. Sarith, however, barely seems to hear the call for food, rubbing his temples as the guards have rudely awoken him. It isn't until everyone else makes a rush that he even realizes something is happening, and he starts to head for the food, then stops, and leans back against the stone with a sigh.
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
Arno sits and begins to eat his drivel and chuckles." Why would that be bad. I am pretty sure some of us could get away. The key is to try and pool resources together to do it. Though I am pretty sure with the right tools I could at least free us from the manacles. These things chase something awful"
While Brew watches the rest fight for food, and (if he got any) he eats his, he moves over to Stool and decides to speak. so stool. Do you think there’s any way of getting out of here?
brew then tries to recall what exactly a myconoid can do.
Shuushar glances Arno's direction, "Perhaps others may be willing to fight their way out, but I will not resort to violence. Violence has consumed my people for far too long. Continue to have faith in an opportunity presenting itself, I will. My people will need me returned to them to show them the ways of peace and tranquility.
Brew: Stool paces the back end of the pen, not unusual behavior for the myconid. Usually every morning upon the guards waking everyone up it releases it's rapport spores so everyone can communicate before you're dragged off for chores for the day.
"Oh, I hope so. I hope so." It's quivering voice is in your head.
Go ahead and make a nature check to see what you now about myconids.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
"So when your opportunity comes, does that not mean that violence won't happen. I mean its sorry to hear and all but not sure its gonna come to you just waltzing out there all free? Weirdo?" Arno says not afraid in the slightest at his words. Not because he didn't know they could possibly hurt, but he often lacked tact, I mean when you grow up stealing for food you kinda just forgo a lot of pleasantries.
Arno:Shuushar seems unbothered by your words, just continues looking rather serenely ahead. He's been called worse by people closer to him, and he's willing to take all the verbal abuse thrown at him. His is a hard path, but it is his to walk.
Buppido speaks up though, "Often times violence can be unavoidable. Only the strong survive, especially in places like this. Your people understand that."
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
There was no advantage. But you're probably aware of the basics. Myconids are generally an intelligent fungi species. They're usually peaceful. You've probably learned from Stool since being here that they live in grove's and commune in circles sharing their lives and feelings. They're unlike almost any surface creature.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
Brew: You don't hear the sigh so much as feel the disappointment and sadness behind the action in your head. "Stool wishes. There's so much here. More than Stool's ever seen before."
Looking around there isn't much in the pit you're kept in when not working. There's the chamber pot in a back corner, and the iron gates keeping you locked in. Outside the gates, you know at least 3 guards are usually on duty. You know that something in the pen prevents you from using any magic.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
(An intelligence check if you're recalling something you've learned in your time here. A nature check if you're trying to figure out if you know something about what they are. Most of them are creatures native to the Underdark. What are you trying to learn? Alternatively you can ask them specifics about themselves.)
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Captured by the drow! You wouldn’t wish this fate upon anyone, yet here you are — locked in a dark cave, the cold, heavy weight of metal tight around your throat and wrists. You are not alone. Other prisoners are trapped in here with you, in an underground outpost far from the light of the sun. Your captors include a cruel drow priestess who calls herself Mistress Ilvara of House Mizzrym. Over the past several days, you’ve met her several times, robed in silken garments and flanked by two male drow, one of whom has a mass of scars along one side of his face and neck. Mistress Ilvara likes to impress her will with scourge in hand and remind you that your life now belongs to her. “Accept your fate, learn to obey, and you may survive.” Her words echo in your memory, even as you plot your escape.
Some of you have been here for several days, some of you have been here just a couple. You each wear iron slave colors and manacles all connected to an iron belt by a short chain. This leaves you a small range of movement to complete tasks but you are otherwise considered restrained. Something is keeping you from casting magic in and around the pen. All of your equipment has been taken from you, including any money, trinkets, or magical items you might have had.
Spellcasters: you can only cast the spells you came prepared with and can’t change them out without your focus or spellbook, and you can’t cast anything that requires material components (or your focus or spellbook). Spells can only be cast outside the slave pen, and if any of the guards catch you doing so you are beaten and starved for the rest of the day.
But some of you have managed to collect things throughout your captivity and hide it away from the guards.
Several other prisoners are trapped in the hard stone pen with you that you’ve gotten to know a little over time. They are as follows.
Buppido is a derro who seems to be friendly enough despite the circumstances. He’s easy to talk to, and fairly talkative himself. He also comes off as incredibly intelligent.
Derendil is a large, hulking quaggoth (who you have all seen as drow slaves around the prison camp). He looks menacing, but speaks fluent, eloquent elvish. And in fact, says he is an Elvish prince polymorphed by an evil wizard trying to take over his kingdom. He seems every bit the princely type except when he gets stressed. You won’t like him when he’s stressed.
Eldeth is a shield dwarf that retains a stubborn sense of optimism and pride. She insists she will get out and return to her home in Gauntlgrym. She also isn’t afraid to stand up to the guards if they get too violent in their torture. She also tends to avoid the other “dark dwellers” and suggests that anyone from the surface do the same less they corrupt you with their evil ways.
Jimjar seems to care little for his circumstances making light of everything. The deep gnome's devil-may-care attitude can be a little grating at times, but he also tends to keep spirits up with a good wager every now and then. And boy does he like to wager. He’ll bet you the pants right off you if you’re not careful.
Ront is one bully of an orc, living up to most stereotypes of his people. He’s quick to throw insults of those who show weakness, but as soon as the guards come around looking for a bit of “fun” he’s quick to back off and kiss ass.
Sarith, like your captors, is a drow. He keeps to himself and usually doesn’t interact with anyone unless spoken to first and even then he’d rather not. Supposedly he’s in here for murder, but he has his doubts about that.
Shuushar is a kuo-toa but unlike the rest of his people he abhors violence with the fiber of his being, considering himself an awakened pacifist. He spends most of his days in quiet contemplation and meditation, but is always willing to offer comfort if people need it, or words of wisdom.
By far the strangest of your fellow prisoners, Stool is a myconid sprout who wishes only to return to the safety of its grove. Despite its obvious fright, it does manage to prove useful by establishing a link with its spores amongst all the prisoners allowing you all to communicate despite language barriers.
Topsy and Turvy are a pair of svirfneblin twins who, for the most part, keep to themselves. Though Topsy is willing to talk to others, where her brother just mutters things to her that she’ll repeat for him if he needs to communicate. Despite being the same race the twins avoid Jimjar giving him weird looks.
These are the people you have spent the past several days with and will spend the forseeable future with. You know that a contingent from Menzoberranzan is on its way to take you back to the drow city and sell you into slavery. In the meantime Ilvara and her guards force you to do menial labor, pointless chores, and disgusting tasks.
Just like every day for however long you’ve been here (it’s hard to tell the passage of days here underground, and you can only count it by when you are rudely awoken by the drow guards), a loud call rings out,
"Awake you useless scum. Time to eat."
The gate to your pen is opened and a sneering drow guard slides a tray of bowls filled with thin, tasteless mushroom soup your direction. There are only 11 bowls on it, and there are 15 of you.
(If you would like to try for a bowl of food roll initiative (no actual combat, just the order of who got there first.) If you choose not to eat you will suffer a level of exhaustion later.
Buppido: 13
Derendil: 18
Eldeth: 4
Jimjar: 10
Ront: 12
Sarith: 16
Topsy: 10
Turvy: 9
Shuushar abstains from eating for the day and Stool doesn't’ need it.
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
7
stop fighting like animals. We can share or something. Just stop and use your manners. Having been there for 7 days ], he has been trying to get the prisoners to fight back, and convince stool to communicate to some army or something. He pets Mug, his spider, on the head, then sits in the corner.
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
17
Arno, having lived through hardship before, heads out to get a bowl. "Gimme that!" he spats watching and observing in the race to see if others are hiding weapons or tools. he was getting sick of manacles and rations, he thought 'What the hell death might be better then this hell, Helm willing I might even live!'
With the sounds of the guards, Gorp would awaken and slowly rise to his feet. The shuffling and scurrying of the other prisoners wasn't the most enticing, choosing to abstain from eating this morning. The tortle having been here for five days didn't know how things worked around here compared to those that had been here longer, but he was figuring it out. Having talked to or tried talking to everyone that was willing. Gorp was making his friends. Moving over toward Shuushar, "What do you think they'll have us do today?"
Arno: Perception check to see if anyone is concealing any sort of weapon
Gorp: Shuushar hums, opening his eyes for the first time since the guard rudely awoke those that may have been sleeping. "More of the same I imagine, my friend. Perhaps today is the day I am on laundry duty. One can only hope, I suppose." His gargled voice ends in a tired sigh. "I must say agree with the dwarven fellow, I do. All this would go much better if we could all work together and share, wouldn't it."
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
Delrana, Elf Ranger
Food grabby grab (a) roll:
14(forget to add initiative modifier first time, 6 (+ 5 mod) = 11)Delrana skulks in the shadows at the fringes of the pens, watching as the others punch on the meagre offerings put before them. She has been here the longest of the surface folk, barring Eldeth and Ront, but the Underdark is not a new place for her - she had hunted here before. Though being the other end of the hunt was definitely prefereble.
The tussles for food that normally arise, are a repetitive sight for Delrana and today seeing Sarith move sluggishly towards the food, she tries to sneak a bowl from the ruckus, hoping for some extra sweetness by denying the devil any food. She knows that any contact with the drow scum is going to end badly for him, but she is sensible enough to realise that her value is insignificant, and a slave that kills another slave has only one fate. The scraps they are given are barely edible anyway, and saving her energy for when she needs it has been her way for many a winter.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Gorp watches the other prisoners scramble for food while he simply waits for the days newest tasks from the guards. Leaning closer to Shuushar, "Remind me again how long you've been here, Shuushar. Surely you've seen someway out. Some ray of hope.
Perception25
Arno: You don't notice any weapons on any of the prisoners while trying to get your food.
Gorp: Shuushar lets out another gurgly sigh. "Such a fluid concept time is, but if I had to give it a guess, I believe I've been here for just over 10 mushroom soups. Escape is a matter of much complexity, but one could safely assume that it would involve some form of violence."
Jimjar having quickly gotten his meal for the day plops down near them, making a slight face as he swallows a mouthful of the tasteless drivel. "That's a safe bet, I'd say. 19 guards, our benevolent priestess, and her new trainee. I'd bet if we were to take them head on, we'd be fed to the spiders."
With Gorp abstaining from eating as well almost everyone else manages to get food. Ront tries to shove Eldeth out of the way and succeeds, but she still manages to pick up a bowl before him cursing at him in dwarvish. Derendil is almost surprisingly quick at getting there, blocking the twins with his enormous size, but Turvy ducks between his legs grabbing him and his sister a bowl. Sarith, however, barely seems to hear the call for food, rubbing his temples as the guards have rudely awoken him. It isn't until everyone else makes a rush that he even realizes something is happening, and he starts to head for the food, then stops, and leans back against the stone with a sigh.
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
Arno sits and begins to eat his drivel and chuckles." Why would that be bad. I am pretty sure some of us could get away. The key is to try and pool resources together to do it. Though I am pretty sure with the right tools I could at least free us from the manacles. These things chase something awful"
While Brew watches the rest fight for food, and (if he got any) he eats his, he moves over to Stool and decides to speak. so stool. Do you think there’s any way of getting out of here?
brew then tries to recall what exactly a myconoid can do.
Nature or History?
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Shuushar glances Arno's direction, "Perhaps others may be willing to fight their way out, but I will not resort to violence. Violence has consumed my people for far too long. Continue to have faith in an opportunity presenting itself, I will. My people will need me returned to them to show them the ways of peace and tranquility.
Brew: Stool paces the back end of the pen, not unusual behavior for the myconid. Usually every morning upon the guards waking everyone up it releases it's rapport spores so everyone can communicate before you're dragged off for chores for the day.
"Oh, I hope so. I hope so." It's quivering voice is in your head.
Go ahead and make a nature check to see what you now about myconids.
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
"So when your opportunity comes, does that not mean that violence won't happen. I mean its sorry to hear and all but not sure its gonna come to you just waltzing out there all free? Weirdo?" Arno says not afraid in the slightest at his words. Not because he didn't know they could possibly hurt, but he often lacked tact, I mean when you grow up stealing for food you kinda just forgo a lot of pleasantries.
(Eh, they have the same modifier anyway.)
21
any chance I could try again?
15
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Arno: Shuushar seems unbothered by your words, just continues looking rather serenely ahead. He's been called worse by people closer to him, and he's willing to take all the verbal abuse thrown at him. His is a hard path, but it is his to walk.
Buppido speaks up though, "Often times violence can be unavoidable. Only the strong survive, especially in places like this. Your people understand that."
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
There was no advantage. But you're probably aware of the basics. Myconids are generally an intelligent fungi species. They're usually peaceful. You've probably learned from Stool since being here that they live in grove's and commune in circles sharing their lives and feelings. They're unlike almost any surface creature.
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
Stool, have you had any genius plans to get out? I haven’t, but I want to know if you have.
Brew decides to look around for any possible escapes that won’t lead to violence.
3
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Brew: You don't hear the sigh so much as feel the disappointment and sadness behind the action in your head. "Stool wishes. There's so much here. More than Stool's ever seen before."
Looking around there isn't much in the pit you're kept in when not working. There's the chamber pot in a back corner, and the iron gates keeping you locked in. Outside the gates, you know at least 3 guards are usually on duty. You know that something in the pen prevents you from using any magic.
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
(What checks would I make to recall information about all other prisoners in case of speacial features?)
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
(An intelligence check if you're recalling something you've learned in your time here. A nature check if you're trying to figure out if you know something about what they are. Most of them are creatures native to the Underdark. What are you trying to learn? Alternatively you can ask them specifics about themselves.)
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"