"Listen carefully, we have not much time..." Ludolf whispers in to the bearded man. "...tell us who you are and what you know of this place and we can perhaps help you out of this place."

Persuasion if needed: 12 Another roll if help action is provided: 28

The man looks up and actually smiles, "Not much time. I am very sure you are right about that stranger. M'names Cathbad and I know it is hot as hell here and there are far too many snakes walking around." He stands up gingerly and slowly walks slowly toward the door with his one and 2/3 arms in the air. You see the magebrand on his remaining palm, "If you let me outta here I'll help you however I can. M'first attempt didn't go very well." He titls his head toward the stump on his left arm.

Ludolf's gray piercing eyes studies the bearded man, trying to discern if he's trustworthy, if he's really going to help however he can.

Insight: 9

"Measuring me up are ya? Well I can't say I blame ya but don't be dallying in your decision. They make rounds from time to time and ya don't look like you'd fair to well in a scrape in that dress." Ludolf you have no idea what to make of the man. "Listen, the door ahead leads to their torture chamber.... that's where I lost m'hand tryin' to run out. I don't think they keep it locked and I don't think you usually find them in there unless they roundin' or torturin' and I ain't heard too many screams lately. If ya don't wanna trust me check it out it's about all I got to offer in present condition."

Dandelion quickly and quietly chimes in, "Leave him we don't have time for this we need to get you all out of here. Now."

"Aye, seems I lost my mind, ya know yer f***in cat is talkin'?"

Ludolf seems uncomfortable with the thought of leaving the one-handed man to rot but will submit to the will of the team.

"Cat's talking is far from what we need to focus on," Pardot says quietly. "Stay quiet and perhaps we can all get out together." He then gestures to Ludolf to open the door for the man, and if he seems trustworthy, will skip going into the door of the torture room and head the other direction instead. ((insight 18))

Daventry, meanwhile, has the opposite idea. As Ludolf and Pardot decide what to do with the prisoner, upon hearing "torture chamber" and the man's claims that said chamber is unoccupied, she carefully opens the door to the chamber... looking for any lightweight blade or other cutting implement that she could use to defend her friends with...

Perception: 20

"Glad ya have some sense in ya. I was traveling with a band of adventurers, eight or nine of use when the snakes attacked and that bastard Gehir betrayed us. Hopefully some of the others are still alive..." Cathbad leaves his cell closes and bolts the door behind him. Pardot feels like the man is desperate to get out of here and while he is outwardly jovial his eyes betray the true fear he is feeling.  Wandering back to investigate the other end of the hallway you find another set of double doors. Riding your last perception roll you can hear the sounds feet shuffling in the room and two snake like voices. You can not make out what they are saying or what direction they are walking in.

Daventry carefully opens the door to the north, thankfully your new friends words are true. This dank chamber reeks of blood and misery. Implements of torture attest to the dark deeds that have defiled this place: a wooden chair spiked with nails, a pillory, a stretching rack, and many other cruel devices, each one streaked with dark red stains. The walls are lined with chains and manacles, one of them locked around a severed human hand. In one corner, steam billows from a pit of hot coals where iron brands are heating up.

From the door Daventry also notes that there is a rather suspicious looking grate in the southwest corner of the wall. It appears to be a bit dislodge and maybe big enough for you to crawl through if you could get it off. You also note a whip coiled carefully on the wall. There are no blades or actual weapons other than the whip but you reckon there are plenty of objects that might function as one.

Cathbad strides into the room and pulls his hand free from the mancles. He considers it carefully, smirks and tosses it at Ludolf, "Told you I'd give ya a hand. There ya go." He winks and then heads over to the torture rack. He carefully pulls a long wooden rod from it. He twirls his makeshift quarterstaff as well as he can with his one hand, "Well it's better than nothing..."

Mysterious rolls

23

10

12

Daventry grabs the whip, wrapping it around her wrist. "It's a start..." She says. Looking at the gory grate's horrors, she blanches... "If we get this off we may be able to avoid a fight..." She grabs an unheated brand, and attempts to use it as a crowbar to quickly and quietly lift the grate off. 

Athletics: Nat 20 (23 total)

The grate easily falls to the ground revealing a narrow steam vent and tunnel. It is very, very hot with thick steam. You would all need to crawl but each of you would fit if you would choose to go in that direction. 

Just as you are about to drop the brand you look at it a bit closer. It appears this was the implement used to apply the Magebrand to your palms.

Quote from Culuril >>

Triäsa looks relieved when Dandelion removes the curse and the brands fade.  She looks over at Ludolf a bit worriedly, but doesn't say anything.  While waiting for Pardot to complete the ritual she will take the time to look about the place.  She looks to see if there might be anything useful lying about (such as possible spell material component items).  

 Sorry I missed this. There is nothing useful in terms of components or weapons in the cells. The torture chamber has all sorts of objects you could fashion into a weapon. Let me know what you would want want. No components though.

Triäsa follows Daventry into the torture room.  She looks about the room to see if she can spot anything that might be made of cured leather. (Perhaps a restraint?)  If so, she then tries to locate something sharp and cuts a tiny piece from it.  (And maybe the cutting thing could serve as dagger or something?)  She again will look about for any potential spell components. (soot from the hot coals, animal fur from lining of restraints, sand for putting implements into when hot, maybe a feather; Investigation if needed: 15)

Ludolf would nod at Pardot and let the bearded man out of his cell, quietly following the others into the torture chamber, not seeming particularly troubled about what he finds there. As Cathbad tosses the hand at him, Ludolf swiftly uses his telekinetic powers to deflect the hand, sending it floating back to the bearded one-handed man again. "You should keep that, it might become handy at some point. Not sure if you have a pocket on that to keep your hands in though." He says dryly, then quickly looking around the chamber for anything that might be used as a dagger and if there by any chance could be found a snake's tongue and either a bit of honeycomb or a drop of sweet oil. Who knows what is being left over after a good torture session.

Investigation: 17

He would then stand ready to follow the others down the steam vent, although his expression gives away he is somewhat reluctant about that. "Our gear, perhaps we could investigate this area a bit further first, making sure we don't miss it?" He suggests quietly.

Triäsa looks through the room for anything which might be useful in your escape. Quickly she is able to break sharp piece of metal off of the spiked chair (this can function as dagger). WIth makeshift weapon you cut the leather restraint free from the rack, there is plenty of soot and coal dust in the hot coals along with a heavy sand next to it that would typically be used for extinguishing the flames. On table next to the rack you are perhaps surprised to find a jar of feathers of various sizes and shapes. It appears tickle torture is part of the lizard culture. There is no fur lining the restraints however you see bits and pieces of blood stained fur on the ground. No doubt a piece of a prior victim.

Cathbad smiles again as the hand is redirected, "No I don't think there is much use for that anymore." He sighs and throws the hand in the coals. "If we are going to be crawling down the steam vent I'd like to go first. No offense but I'd rather not be behind any of you while you're wearing those pretty dresses...."

Ludolf seeing Triäsa break the metal off does the same obtaining a make shift dagger. There are a number of snake tongues strewn about, in fact, there are far more of these you might have initially expected. It seems there is a lot of snake on snake crime committed here as well. In one corner of the room there is a small end table and comfortable looking chair. You suspect this is a seat that one could watch and enjoy the torture. On the end table is a goblet with a bit of wine remaining at the bottom and plate with a bit of bread crust and a small piece of honeycomb. Cathbad sees you looking at the area and wanders over, "That f*** Gehir watched them rip my hand off from there." He spits on the chair

"OK you all look very fearsome now can we get moving. They will come through here eventually." Dandelion pokes her head back into the hallway anxiously keeping guard as you all gear up.

Triäsa quickly casts Mage Armor now that she has the bit of leather.  When done she tries to collect all her various items to bring them with her. 

"I do think we should see if we can find our equipment," she adds. "Which way should we go?"  She steps near to the doors leading west and tries to see if she can hear anything.  (Perception: 7)

Ludolf nods in agreement with Triäsa. "It seems we are going down that steam vent." Now armed with a sharp piece of metal, a couple of snake tongues and a small piece of honeycomb tucking it away in a pocket. (Does the pretty dress have a pocket?) Ludolf then joins the young half-elven bard at the door, listening for sounds at the other side.

Perception: 6

(Your nice silky white dresses are not meant for long term wearing or function. It seems you are mostly meant to die in them and as such, no pockets.) 

Ludolf's left ear and Triäsa's right ear pressed against the western door neither of you hear a single sound coming from the other side. Triäsa glows slightly as the comforting and protective pixelating light briefly surrounds her and fades.

You all look around and note that your halfling druid did not accompany you into the torture chamber. (Before you all open anymore doors let's wait and see what Pardot does. Based on his ooc question there might be other information you want to consider.)

Looking to the door near him, Pardot holds a hand out and a snake matching the type that they'd seen outside appears coiled around his arm. Looking to it he whispers some things in Druidic and places it on the ground. The snake then slithers towards and under the door, staying quiet, but not too worried about being detected. Pardot then pauses and looks through its eyes as it's tongue flics around, tasting the air in the room.

The room contains a small table and two chairs and a cabinet. A tin plate on the table holds a half-eaten chunk of tough, green-tinged meat. Two serpeantfolk sit at the table eating and talking in abyssal. Besides the door you are at there are three other entrances, north west and south. That's about all you can tell. The lizard folk do not seem to notice your snake from the door.