Quote from Aaggie >>

 Melee Weapon Attack:  to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7  bludgeoning damage, or 8  bludgeoning damage if used with two hands, plus 14  psychic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of the drow for 1 minute. The frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Tentacle Rod. Melee Weapon Attack:  to hit, reach 15 ft., one creature. Hit: 3  bludgeoning damage. If the target is hit three times by the rod on one turn, the target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or suffer the following effects for 1 minute: the target’s speed is halved, it has disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws, and it can’t use reactions. Moreover, on each of its turns, it can take either an action or a bonus action, but not both. At the end of each of its turns, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Khessa explains in detail to her adventure companions the potential of the two recovered magical weapons. If anyone thinks they can put them to good use, she willingly hands them over. However, if no one finds them useful, she keeps the Staff for herself (against weak-willed targets, she can be very effective at scaring them away - limiting their fighting abilities) and places the Tentacle Rod in the Bag of Holding.

"Perhaps the Staff's innate ability to scare will also help us in interrogations" the blonde arcane warrior muses aloud.

"Yes, you're right Master Akkron," the tall adventuress agrees with her mentor "with such a powerful and combative enemy you can never be too sure" and she proceeds, with Alfred's help, to remove the prisoner's armor.

After that, if no one has any better ideas, Khessa quickly leads the group back out, to tie the captive to a plant, as they had done already for the other prisoner. She then goes back inside to resume exploring... perhaps in the direction from which the powerful drow female came. Maybe there is her room... and maybe with useful notes or plans.

Meanwhile, since 10 minutes have passed to cast the ritual, Khessa regenerates 5 HP thanks to her Ring of Regeneration

Having finished checking the idol for magic, Akkron addresses his companions...

"This may sound strange coming from an undead, as we are known for being tireless...  but do the rest of you think we can afford to take an hour to rest? I have used a lot of spells, and we don't know what else we may encounter as we venture further into this place."

He pauses, remembering the prisoner. He turns his empty eye sockets towards her.

"Though I still have more than enough magic to break you in ways you cannot even imagine if I have to. So I strongly recommend against getting any 'brilliant' ideas."

(If everyone else is okay with it, Akkron would like to take a short rest and use the Arcane Recovery class feature + bonus from his arcane grimoire to get back a bunch of spell slots).

[[ OOC: Why not? Khessa could also welcome an Arcane Recovery... although certainly not as effective as Master Akkron's ]]

"Why not?" Khessa agrees "I could try to recover some magical energy too... Shall we rest after we bring this" she points to the new prisoner "with the other one? So while we rest we keep an eye on them both... And out in the open it will be less likely for someone to come and disturb us".

Quote from Painted_Beyond>>

Meanwhile, since 10 minutes have passed to cast the ritual, Khessa regenerates 5 HP thanks to her Ring of Regeneration

 ooo I should get one of them~ a bit tough to track time, but definitely useful~

Tyekanik chuckles at the thought of the lich needing to rest, but says, "Let us sit then friend. There is much more we will likely need to deal with here, so we should all be as fresh as possible."

Akkron notes Tyekanik's chuckle and immediately knows what the giant is thinking.

"Yes, I do need to rest and recover at times, believe it or not," he says with a chuckle. "Anyway, yes, let's get her outside and secure her the same as the other prisoner. I suppose we might as well stop and grab the human we left upstairs on our way out. We could leave the zombie to guard them while we continue exploring, but I'm not sure it's the best idea to leave the task of guarding two powerful prisoners in the hands of a single zombie... perhaps after we take some time to recover, either Brother Maynard or Sir Sparhawk should stay with them while the rest of us finish searching the caverns?"

“Bound and gagged, they should not be able to free themselves…” Khessa is more optimistic “Their powers, great as they are, seem to be inherent in combat, magic or unholyness, not contortionism... But of course I respect your wisdom, Master Akkron; I might leave Anator to watch over them, if you think that's a good idea! If my brother sees that they're breaking free somehow, he'll alert me telepathically. Then we can try to come back quickly (with teleportation, if really in a hurry) and stop them. No need to deny Maynard or Sparhawk their share of fun!" she winks at them.

Where do you decide to do your short rest? 

Mal speaks up, "We should have brought a couple of those knights with us to guard our stuff and the occasional prisoner we capture for just this reason. Also, if we have to travel magically, we can use them to take our horses somewhere we can meet them at a later date. Until then, do we have some more rope we can tie them up to a pillar or something away from each other so they can't decide to help each other escape the bonds?"

"As for our resting option, do we want to rest up top? Less chance of anyone else stumbling upon us and we can also check the surrounding area first to make sure no other reinforcements have arrived." She suggests to the group.

"Ok, let's rest on top" Khessa agrees. "As for trying up prisoners, plenty of plants... they will not be able to help each other and I'll leave Anator on watch. They aren't going anywhere".

Akkron agrees with the plan to rest topside. He'll go ahead and leave his brand-new zombie with orders to smack the prisoners if they try to escape (and, importantly, to stop smacking them if they stop resisting so that it doesn't just beat them to death the instant they start squirming). The lich will go ahead and point out that it's probably a good idea to relieve the ashen rider of his armor as well now that we have a moment.

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

... The lich will go ahead and point out that it's probably a good idea to relieve the ashen rider of his armor as well now that we have a moment.

"Oh, silly me!" Khessa laughs "You're right Master Akkron!" and she promptly provides.

You begin to back track through the old temple that you had passed, following the trail of bodies. You return to the large storage room, and as you head to the corridor that came from the first temple, a set of double doors to the northwest corner bursts open. A female with two heavily armed guards strode in. The female is practically sparkling with electrical energy around her, wearing purple half-plate armor. The two heavily armored warriors are in black plate with drawn longswords.

She stops and points a finger at you. "You there, halt! My mistress warned me of defilers, that must be you. Surrender and beg for my forgiveness or I shall tear your souls and feed them to my mistress!"

"Just how many of you do we have to kill?" Akkron mutters.

He then proceeds to cast hold person at 4th-level to paralyze all three of them (Wis save, DC 24). If anyone succeeds on the Wis save (with priority to the female if multiple enemies make the save), he'll cast silvery barbs to make her re-roll it and take the lower result, granting Khessa advantage on her next attack roll, saving throw, or ability check.

(Relying on Khessa to counterspell any attempts to counterspell him).

"Frankly, you don't strike me as the forgiving type..." Khessa steps forward, with the Death Lance in hand and Alfred immediately behind her "But I fear you have misunderstood your goddess's intentions..." she smiles "If she sent you against us, I'm afraid the main course of her dinner tonight will be you!"

After that, if the enemies have not all been paralyzed by Master Akkron's magic, with a short series of harmonious esoteric syllables the blonde arcane warrior becomes Blurry and prepares to fight.

[[ OOC: Since Khessa is Blurry, attacks against her are made with Disadvantage. And yes, if someone tries to Counterspell Lord MAtic Akkron, Khessa will use her reaction to Counterspell such attempt, effectively nullifying it. ]]

As the others being to sling their spells, Tyekanik simply grows in size, grinning, and steps in front of his companions, between them and this new sparkling woman.

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

"Just how many of you do we have to kill?" Akkron mutters.

He then proceeds to cast hold person at 4th-level to paralyze all three of them (Wis save, DC 24). If anyone succeeds on the Wis save (with priority to the female if multiple enemies make the save), he'll cast silvery barbs to make he it and take the lower result, granting Khessa advantage on her next attack roll, saving throw, or ability check.

(Relying on Khessa to counterspell any attempts to counterspell him).

  Warrior 1 Save: 23

Warrior 2 Save:19

Your hold spell has no effect on the female who is striding forward, though you detect that when you cast your spell, there appeared to be a shimmering around the female. One of the warriors is held, and the other suffered from the barbs. 

The female stops, and with a very angry look upon her face, speaks so you can understand her (should have stated you understand her, as she is speaking your language).

"You will pay for killing my followers!" She begins to weave an intricate pattern with her fingers, mouthing words you can't hear. 

Tyekanik rushes forward, hoping to grab the woman’s arms to stop whatever spell she is casting.

So... did the second guard fail on his re-roll from Silvery Barbs?