Link's Out of the Abyss!

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

Quote from LinkArcher >>

 *Sarith is definitely omitting something, but it’s not his fault. You get the sense that he has some kind of amnesia, something wrong with his memory.*

”They brought me here because they claimed I had gone mad. Lies, all lies!” 

When Sarith's answer turns into a kind of frenzied rant, Shade moves forward and pats the Drow on the shoulder.  But then he glances back at Mirelle and Soren and gives them a "look" that expresses (to Mirelle at least) "yikes!" or "what's up with that guy?"  He speaks bracingly to Sarith (in Elvish), like he's trying to support a friend who is down-on-his-luck:

(in Elvish)  "It sounds like you have been treated unfairly, Sarith.  But steel yourself against this trouble!  You can come with us if you help us escape.  But do you know this place?  How many Drow or other guards are there?  And what do they usually do with their prisoners?  Are we just to slave away here until we die?"

 “I know a little of this place. It’s called Velkynvelve. There are about a dozen other drow here, plus 4 elites. The commander Mistress Ilvara, the two elite warriors are Shoor and Jorlan, and the priestess-in-training is called Anya. Anya hates Mistress Ilvara. Or maybe not hates, but wishes for herself to be leader instead. Jorlan, now he hates her. Those two have formed a pact. Shoor is her new lover, and her second-in-command. As for their prisoners, we must do slave work until we die. If we misbehave, they throw us over the cliff.”

Finn shuffles out of the pen ready for a change of pace even it that is grueling work. 

Quote from Weathervision >>

Finn shuffles out of the pen ready for a change of pace even it that is grueling work. 

 The guard stares at you but makes no comment.

Nyskira plods along behind some of the other prisoners showing he would rather work than die.

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

Nyskira plods along behind some of the other prisoners showing he would rather work than die.

 The guard has begun moving towards the stationary deep gnome, glaring.

Quote from LinkArcher >>

 “I know a little of this place. It’s called Velkynvelve. There are about a dozen other drow here, plus 4 elites. The commander Mistress Ilvara, the two elite warriors are Shoor and Jorlan, and the priestess-in-training is called Anya. Anya hates Mistress Ilvara. Or maybe not hates, but wishes for herself to be leader instead. Jorlan, now he hates her. Those two have formed a pact. Shoor is her new lover, and her second-in-command. As for their prisoners, we must do slave work until we die. If we misbehave, they throw us over the cliff.”

*OOC: I'm going to assume that Stool did use his telepathic spores earlier and that the myconid sprout included all of the party members in the telepathic link, possibly even all of the prisoners in the pen.  Shade doesn't really know how the telepathic link works and whether it always broadcasts to everyone or whether he can direct a message to a subset of the people included in Stool's telepathic bond.* 

Shade is absorbed in talking Sarith and practically jumps when the gate to their pen opens.  Seeing the Drow and Quaggoths enter, he carefully slides the two rusted iron "clubs" into the belt that holds up his kilt and ruffles his tick fur along his sides to ensure that they're concealed.  When he walks, he tries to keep his arms at his sides so that he can ensure that the iron bars remain covered.

Shade probably doesn't realize that Soren doesn't actually speak Elvish and missed everything that Sarith was saying.  All of the other people of elven appearance whom he has met spoke Elvish: the "wild elves" of his homeland, the high elf (Finn), and the Drow (too many of them!).  But he knows that Finn and Nyskira were probably too far from Sarith to hear what the Drow said.  As the crowd of (14) prisoners starts to line up to leave the cell, Shade tries to use the "think-talking" to talk to Stool, Mirelle, Soren, Finn, and Nyskira, or if the message cannot be restricted, then to everyone in Stool's telepathic link.

(via telepathy): "The Drow prisoner is 'Sarith.'  The other Drow jailed him because they think he's going mad.  This place is called Velkynvelve, and Mistress Ilvara leads a garrison of about fifteen Drow here.  There is also a priestess-in-training, Anya, who would like to replace Ilvara.  Anya may have an alliance with Jorlan, the scarred one who is taking us out now.  Jorlan is the one who may be willing to help us: it sounds like he hates Mistress Ilvara and her new lover, Shoor.  Did that work?  Can you 'hear' me?"

Shade cocks his head to the side and gives Mirelle and the others a questioning look.

Finally, as he gets ready to leave the pen with the other prisoners, Shade tries to line up next to the Large-sized, white-furred prisoner.  Noticing that the prisoner looks like the 4 quaggoths who are with Jorlan, he nudges the white-furred prisoner and asks, "Why are you with us instead of with them?", pointing to a couple of the quaggoth guards.

TLDR; 

• Conceal the two iron "clubs."
• Relay Sarith's info to the other PCs.
• Start talking to the white-furred prisoner. 

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

Quote from LinkArcher >>

 “I know a little of this place. It’s called Velkynvelve. There are about a dozen other drow here, plus 4 elites. The commander Mistress Ilvara, the two elite warriors are Shoor and Jorlan, and the priestess-in-training is called Anya. Anya hates Mistress Ilvara. Or maybe not hates, but wishes for herself to be leader instead. Jorlan, now he hates her. Those two have formed a pact. Shoor is her new lover, and her second-in-command. As for their prisoners, we must do slave work until we die. If we misbehave, they throw us over the cliff.”

*OOC: I'm going to assume that Stool did use his telepathic spores earlier and that the myconid sprout included all of the party members in the telepathic link, possibly even all of the prisoners in the pen.  Shade doesn't really know how the telepathic link works and whether it always broadcasts to everyone or whether he can direct a message to a subset of the people included in Stool's telepathic bond.* 

Shade is absorbed in talking Sarith and practically jumps when the gate to their pen opens.  Seeing the Drow and Quaggoths enter, he carefully slides the two rusted iron "clubs" into the belt that holds up his kilt and ruffles his tick fur along his sides to ensure that they're concealed.  When he walks, he tries to keep his arms at his sides so that he can ensure that the iron bars remain covered.

Shade probably doesn't realize that Soren doesn't actually speak Elvish and missed everything that Sarith was saying.  All of the other people of elven appearance whom he has met spoke Elvish: the "wild elves" of his homeland, the high elf (Finn), and the Drow (too many of them!).  But he knows that Finn and Nyskira were probably too far from Sarith to hear what the Drow said.  As the crowd of (14) prisoners starts to line up to leave the cell, Shade tries to use the "think-talking" to talk to Stool, Mirelle, Soren, Finn, and Nyskira, or if the message cannot be restricted, then to everyone in Stool's telepathic link.

(via telepathy): "The Drow prisoner is 'Sarith.'  The other Drow jailed him because they think he's going mad.  This place is called Velkynvelve, and Mistress Ilvara leads a garrison of about fifteen Drow here.  There is also a priestess-in-training, Anya, who would like to replace Ilvara.  Anya may have an alliance with Jorlan, the scarred one who is taking us out now.  Jorlan is the one who may be willing to help us: it sounds like he hates Mistress Ilvara and her new lover, Shoor.  Did that work?  Can you 'hear' me?"

Shade cocks his head to the side and gives Mirelle and the others a questioning look.

Finally, as he gets ready to leave the pen with the other prisoners, Shade tries to line up next to the Large-sized, white-furred prisoner.  Noticing that the prisoner looks like the 4 quaggoths who are with Jorlan, he nudges the white-furred prisoner and asks, "Why are you with us instead of with them?", pointing to a couple of the quaggoth guards.

---

TLDR; 

• Conceal the two iron "clubs."
• Relay Sarith's info to the other PCs.
• Start talking to the white-furred prisoner. 

 *I’ll say Stool included the whole party and everyone you’ve talked to so far.*

”Oh. I’m not one of them.” His manner surprises you. Quaggoths are supposed to be a brutish, evil species, but he speaks in a posh British accent. “I’m really an elven prince named Derendil. I was polymorphed into this form, and I can’t get out. I need to return to my kingdom on the surface.”

Quote from LinkArcher >>

”Oh. I’m not one of them.” His manner surprises you. Quaggoths are supposed to be a brutish, evil species, but he speaks in a posh British accent. “I’m really an elven prince named Derendil. I was polymorphed into this form, and I can’t get out. I need to return to my kingdom on the surface.”

*Checking to see whether Shade has any previous knowledge of Quaggoths.  He has a -1 in all INT skills, so the result is the same no matter which skill is used.*
Nature: 2 (in game log)

Shade has never heard of these big white-furred creatures before the Drow captured him.  He hasn't heard the term "Quaggoth" unless someone else has said it, and he only knows what he's seen from the other Quaggoth who serve the Drow over the last few days since he was captured.  Shade expected this prisoner to be more violent and animalistic.  When Derendil responds in clear Common and claims to be an elven prince, Shade's mouth drops open in surprise.  He looks around to see whether any of this friends heard the polymorphed elf.  Shade finally shakes his head and laughs, saying, "Well, stick with us: we'll see what we can do, but we may need your strength later.  For now, we work at whatever menial task the Drow set for us."  With Jorlan taking the whole group out of the pen to work, Shade can't say much more now.

Quote from LinkArcher >>

The guard has begun moving towards the stationary deep gnome, glaring.

*I think that Shade is too involved -- and surprised! -- in his conversation with Derendil to notice what's going on with the other Svirfneblin yet.*

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

Quote from LinkArcher >>

”Oh. I’m not one of them.” His manner surprises you. Quaggoths are supposed to be a brutish, evil species, but he speaks in a posh British accent. “I’m really an elven prince named Derendil. I was polymorphed into this form, and I can’t get out. I need to return to my kingdom on the surface.”

*Checking to see whether Shade has any previous knowledge of Quaggoths.  He has a -1 in all INT skills, so the result is the same no matter which skill is used.*
Nature: 2 (in game log)

Shade has never heard of these big white-furred creatures before the Drow captured him.  He hasn't heard the term "Quaggoth" unless someone else has said it, and he only knows what he's seen from the other Quaggoth who serve the Drow over the last few days since he was captured.  Shade expected this prisoner to be more violent and animalistic.  When Derendil responds in clear Common and claims to be an elven prince, Shade's mouth drops open in surprise.  He looks around to see whether any of this friends heard the polymorphed elf.  Shade finally shakes his head and laughs, saying, "Well, stick with us: we'll see what we can do, but we may need your strength later.  For now, we work at whatever menial task the Drow set for us."  With Jorlan taking the whole group out of the pen to work, Shade can't say much more now.

Quote from LinkArcher >>

The guard has begun moving towards the stationary deep gnome, glaring.

*I think that Shade is too involved -- and surprised! -- in his conversation with Derendil to notice what's going on with the other Svirfneblin yet.*

 *That’s fair.*o

Soren waits patiently while the conversation is held in a language, he believes to be Elvish, that he doesn't understand.  And then, before he has time to find out what is being discussed, guards arrive to escort them out for slave labor.  

Well.  He thinks to himself as other captives begin to file out.  This certainly isn't ideal.

It isn't long before he noticed the scarred Drow and remembers Bupido's description.  And then, of course, there's Shade's (Shade's?) message.  

When he is asked 'can you hear me?', Soren tries to return a message through telepathic reply.  

-= I hear you.  Where is this Anya? =-

Quote from JFCapps >>

Soren waits patiently while the conversation is held in a language, he believes to be Elvish, that he doesn't understand.  And then, before he has time to find out what is being discussed, guards arrive to escort them out for slave labor.  

Well.  He thinks to himself as other captives begin to file out.  This certainly isn't ideal.

It isn't long before he noticed the scarred Drow and remembers Bupido's description.  And then, of course, there's Shade's (Shade's?) message.  

When he is asked 'can you hear me?', Soren tries to return a message through telepathic reply.  

-= I hear you.  Where is this Anya? =-

 Sarith replies. “Likely either patrolling slaves or in her chambers.”

Quote from LinkArcher >>

Quote from JFCapps >>

When he is asked 'can you hear me?', Soren tries to return a message through telepathic reply.  
-= I hear you.  Where is this Anya? =-

 Sarith replies. “Likely either patrolling slaves or in her chambers.”

*OOC: @LinkArcher - Since Sarith was speaking Elvish only, does that mean that Stool's telepathic bond is the type of telepathy that does not require a shared language to communicate?*

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

Quote from LinkArcher >>

Quote from JFCapps >>

When he is asked 'can you hear me?', Soren tries to return a message through telepathic reply.  
-= I hear you.  Where is this Anya? =-

 Sarith replies. “Likely either patrolling slaves or in her chambers.”

*OOC: @LinkArcher - Since Sarith was speaking Elvish only, does that mean that Stool's telepathic bond is the type of telepathy that does not require a shared language to communicate?*

 *Stool’s Telepathy is any languages!*

*Mirelle, are you going with the rest of the prisoners?*

*How many prisoners are usually taken at one time? Does it vary? Is this the first time they have wanted all of us for work?*

*Do we work nearby or does it take hours/days to get to the worksite? Have we witnessed any desperate attempts at escape or foolhardy acts of rebellion before? And if so, how did the guards respond, and how quickly?*

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

*How many prisoners are usually taken at one time? Does it vary? Is this the first time they have wanted all of us for work?*

*Do we work nearby or does it take hours/days to get to the worksite? Have we witnessed any desperate attempts at escape or foolhardy acts of rebellion before? And if so, how did the guards respond, and how quickly?*

 *Usually they take everyone out and split you into groups.*

*The labour is about a 30 minute walk from Velkynvelve. Actually, you are watching an act of rebellion right now play out…*

As you guys step out of the cell, along with 9 of the prisoners, you hear a commotion behind you. The remaining deep gnome and Jorlan are yelling at each other in some kind of deep, guttural tongue. 

*Does anyone speak Undercommon?*

Quote from LinkArcher >>

*Does anyone speak Undercommon?*

*OOC: Soren speaks Undercommon.*

*Here’s what Soren hears:*

”You! Get out of there! It’s time for work!”

”Never! I’m done with your cruel antics!”

The other deep gnome, who was arguing with him earlier, squeaks, “Turvy! No!”

Suddenly the door creaks open. A slick, handsome drow slips in. He has a glowing wand at his side. “Jorlan, let me handle this.”

”Shoor, this is my job. Don’t tell me you’re taking this as well.”

”Ah, but prisoners who resist are mine.” He pulls out the wand and aims it at Turvy. “Work, or you won’t like what comes next.”

”Never! I’ll never succumb to your cruelty!”

Shoor clicks a button, and a bit of black slime launches. It hits Turvy and begins rapidly expanding until only his head sticks out. The slime then hardens. “Jorlan, take him to the pits. And toss him over!”

Jorlan takes him and begins walking away. Turvy yells to the other deep gnome, “Topsy! Remember me! Find a way out of this cursed place!” But then Jordan’s throws him over the cliff, and his screams fade and eventually go silent. Topsy breaks down sobbing. 

Everyone else hears the argument, and sees the gnome get hit and carried away.

Quote from LinkArcher >>

Everyone else hears the argument, and sees the gnome get hit and carried away.

Unless Soren is translating in real time, Shade doesn't know what the argument is about.  Shade hates their Drow captors, but since the garrison at Velkynvelve outnumbers the prisoners, he is not inclined to intervene even if he did have his weapons.  He feels that the only viable way out of here requires the Expedition to sneak out, get their gear, and then try to escape the Drow before they're caught.  He's sure that he'll get the chance to kill a few Drow on their way out of Velkynvelve, but starting a fight here in the prison cell would be suicide. 

But the futility of Turvy's protest / argument with the Drow makes Shade wonder whether the Svirfneblin has really reached a breaking point and chosen death rather than continuing to obey their captors.  Or could this protest be part of an escape plan that the pair of Svirfneblin have hatched on their own?  As he watches the argument play out, Shade looks between Topsy and Turvy for any sign that this whole scene was staged as a means of escape.
Insight: 19 (in game log)

When the second Drow enters and uses a wand to subdue and restrain Turvy, Shade begins to growl quietly, seething with barely-contained rage.  He feels that attacking a defenseless and unarmed prisoner is cowardly and unjust, and he glares at the Drow with the wand. 

Shade expected Turvy to be whipped or punished in some way for his disobedience, so he's shocked when Jorlan drags the restrained Turvy away and throws him into the chasm below!

*OOC: Apparently the Shoor's wand is not affected our chamber's anti-magic wards?  I wonder whether the all Drow magic works in the chamber or whether all magic items work in the chamber.*