Tanis grabs the keys and uses them to unlock Vrah's manacles.  (Looks like Eldeth beat him to it).  He speaks urgently to the bugbear, but really to everyone:

"We will never be able to kill enough of the dark elves in the few seconds we have right now.  They are legion down here and will soon replace any we kill in any case.  And if Ilvara or Shoor get involved right now, maybe even Jorlan, our chances of survival and escape go way down.  Not to mention if those flying things attack us.  We must use the distraction to get away by any means possible, fighting only when we have to.  I think it has to be a jump by the waterfall.  Sooner the better." (He sees that Phodoxia has already made a start and holds his breath, hoping that one of the flying abominations does not attack the little goblin as she dashes out onto the southern bridge).

"REMEMBER:  The western (middle) passageway.  Kisiki - put out the light for now once you have what you will take - I will help guide you to the jumping point and will jump with you.  Please trust me."

Tanis shoves as much equipment as he can into his own pack and helps others do the same into theirs.  He makes ready to run out to the southern bridge himself (with the lizardfolk in tow) and jump.  Trying to make sure that everyone is coming along (though again, it would be nice if Buppido stayed behind, but that's not going to happen).  He looks for someone that looks willing and capable of holding Stool if necessary for the jump down ((OOC someone with a strength better than Tanis' 10)).  ((OOC - posted before Psyborg's last post so nevermind, Derendil is carrying Stool)).

Vethna grabs her pack. She straps on her studded leather, attaches a rapier to her hip, and places a hand crossbow at her opposite hip. She then pulls the pack over her shoulders and climbs back down to join the others.

"Let's go." She says, heading for the jump point.

Phodoxia glances back, seeing the others coming to join her. She grits her teeth. She can't wait for a rope. Probably, none of them can. That fight is too close and none of them are going to be able to hide as well as a little goblin.

She tightens the straps of her pack close against her body and, before Vethna even reaches her, takes a deep breath and dives into the darkness below the pounding falls. Terror screams in her veins as she joins the rushing water. She twists so that she can see, watching desperately for a glimpse of the pool below her, trying to angle herself for minimal impact.

Acrobatics: 14

  He doesn’t try to think about potentially dying it would be better than staying here.  He follows after Phodoxia (dashing) and takes a deep breath before jumping to the water. 

(Back in time) : The instant Petmailer’s manacles come off he starts moving very quickly, grabbing the leftover jerky on the table and the two water skins filled with water hanging in the room as well as the small knapsack.  He stuffs the jerky and water into his backpack and grabs his equipment (which he is alarmed to see his rapier missing), including his longbow, arrows, and a short sword and shield.  He straps on some studded leather armor quickly and grabs a 100 ft length of rope, stuffs another one in his pack.

(Current time) :  As everyone makes plans to move, he shouts out “Follow me.  Grab something to protect your hands, a cloth, or something.”  He holds up the knapsack (nothing is in it) and folds it over.  He crouches and moves to the southwest along the rope bridge, over the waterfall, and bends down, tying one end of the 100 foot rope to one of the supports.  Then he wraps his legs (now protected with the leather) around the rope, folds the knapsack around the rope and grips it with his hands to protect from friction, and slides down the rope, 100 feet closer to jump in to the deep portion of the water.  Freedom!  

Kisiki tsks and covers his glowing skull in a closed fist, then allows Tanis to lead him down the ladder, where he is once again blind. He prepares himself to leap into the water when everyone is ready.

[OOC: Alright everyone. Getting down has gotten complicated. Please see a long post I made in the group message about options I'm proposing for getting down to the bottom. Like I say in the message, I'm open to discussion. If you like one of the options given, you can go ahead with your rolls and attempts in here.]

Shoowaa will not plunge to his death and instead will wrap his hands before he slides down the rope. dex 21

Petmailer pulls out the second rope as he considers, as it may help with his descent.  He takes a few deep breaths and then grabs on, using the knapsack to protect his hands and slides down, jumping into the water at the end.

Unfortunately his hands get caught up with the knapsack (I wish I had gloves! he thinks to himself), his hands start to burn and he has to let go, dropping the rest of the way into the water, taking 2 damage as he goes into the water.

Kisiki allows himself to be led through the dark to the jumping point ((option 1)). He pauses before Tanis leaps in and says, "Wait. Have faith and Semuanya will guide your leap." He grabs Tanis' arm and speaks a word of power - one of the rhythmic chants from his religion. Casts guidance

Draconic:

 He looks at Tanis's direction and says, "Go quickly. I will follow last, for I am a river to my people." Since he can't be everyone at once, he stays at the jumping point for ((option 1)) and recites the chants for anyone leaping into the pool below. ((they'll need to go 1 at a time, since it's a concentration spell)). Finally, Kisiki will bless himself and jump

((anyone jumping from option 1 can add a 1d4 to their check))

Athletics: 15 + 4

(Back in time) Tanis will put as much extra in his pack as he can.  Some things he will NOT want to leave behind are:
- Any left over rope
- Any left over ammunition or cases of crossbow bolts - he will try to put some of the extras in other people's packs if they are willing as they make for the jumping point.  Taking as many cases as possible to do quickly.
- Any left over hammers and spikes
- Any left over bags of caltrops

Tanis carefully but with no wasted time guides Kisiki to what he thinks is the best jumping point on the bridge and orients him correctly, putting the lizardfolk cleric's hands on the ropes so he can jump over when the time comes.  "May your Semuanya be with us today."  I should have learned draconic at some point he thinks, incongruously.

Tanis will go second to last so that Kisiki knows when to jump (right after Tanis).  Waiting to make sure everyone else, other than the lizardfolk gets off the bridge and down before jumping himself.  Though he doesn't really care about Buppido.  "Jump in 2 seconds" he says to Kisiki as he leaps

Acrobatics check with Guidance:  10 + 1

Damage if failed:  6

Vrah hears the words of the others and grudgingly agrees with their assessment, "Fine we jump then, but I will come back and rid the world of this place." With that he grabs what loose clothes he cans or towels or bedding or what ever is easily flammable and will toss them onto whatever fire might be burning in the barracks, hoping to set everything on fire.

Then will move to Kisiki and jump for the water.

Acrobatics: 16 Guidance: 1

[OOC: If I'm tracking properly, here's how I have people descending:

Sliding down ropes: Shoowaa and Petmailer wrapped their hands and slid down. Shoowaa passed, Petmailer failed and took minor damage

Jumping: Phodoxia, Kisiki, Tanis and Vrah (these all passed and took no damage)

I think I still need an option and a roll from Vethna (take your time)

Vrah: You guys were in the guard tower up north (#10) before coming down the southern rope bridge toward the waterfall. (The barracks are in the caves further south #2 and some of the other towers #4). There isn't bedding or clothes or anything in the guard tower (and I don't think they have a fire going either) Also, it's a room that has been carved into the interior of a huge stone stalactite. Not much there to burn. To get to the main parts of the outpost (areas 2, 3 and 4) you'd have to go right through the middle of where the drow are fighting these flying creatures. 

Since I have the method of descent for almost everyone, I'm going to roll some perception checks to see if anyone gets spotted while heading to the cavern floor (there will be multiple).

Drow: 11

? 14

?? 19

And then the NPCs have to descend.

Buppido (jumping): 15

Derendil (jumping with Stool cannonball style): 19

Eldeth: (Sliding down the ropes): 13

Jimjar (jumping): 22

Sarith (sliding): 6

Shuushar (swan dive): 21

Topsy and Turvey (sliding down): 6

Buppido, Derendil, and Eldeth splash into the pool, taking no damage.

Sarith starts to burn his hands and lets go, hitting the pool awkwardly. 2

Topsy and Turvey slide together and hang on in fear the whole way down, but suffer some rope burns: 3

Anyone who catches sight of Jimjar, he does a triple reverse back flip with a half-twist and hardly makes a splash as he enters the water. Shuushar's dive is simpler, but a long graceful arc out from the bridge. He actually enters the flow of the waterfall as he descends. You worry about him, then he pops his head up above the surface of the pool and calmly swims toward shore.

Vethna rushes to the area above the pool and, without really pausing, simply dives over the edge towards the pool...

Acrobatics: 24

You're good (obviously)

You all get to the water one way or the other and wade out of the pool and pull yourselves up on shore. You're free! There's a big crowd of you, but you all made it out of the cell and down to the floor of the cavern. Looking up, those of you with darkvision catch glimpses from time to time of creatures swooping around in the air. You can hear cries and shouting from the drow. Your eyes are drawn up when you hear a desperate cry from someone who sounds like he is plunging down from the levels up above. You see one of the drow guard just as he slams into the rock below. It is a gruesome sight. That's when you notice at least two other bodies lying broken on the cavern floor. 

There are occasional buzzes and screeches and a horrible droning sound that seems to be getting closer. It gets louder and louder and feels as if it is boring into your brain. Coming down out of the darkness, you see a nasty creature that looks like a cross between a giant fly and a humanoid. It appears to be curious about this little crowd down here and hovers over you about 30 feet above the cavern floor. 

I'll need everyone to make a CON save. (I'll roll for the NPCs)

Buppido: 6

Derendil: 17

Eldeth: 8

Jimjar: 8

Sarith: 9

Shuushar: 1

Stool: 3

Topsy & Turvey: 19

Petmailer con save :  22