Hildigrim scurries up to have a look as well. If Drusk isn't still providing light, the halfling will cast dancing lights.

There are driftglobes in the middle of the floor that provide dim red light.

The upper floors of the Tower of Seven Woes are well maintained with strong cells, locked and packed with prisoners—those who opposed the Xanathar’s takeover of the Port of Shadow, attempted deserters, adventurers who didn’t pay tribute, smugglers, Zhent agents, and others. Two of the cells have Drow figures.

There is also a table with more of Sundeth's torture instruments, and a small stack of papers/parchments.

Ooo! Papers and parchments! Hildigrim heads for those.

On second thought, Hildi wouldn't put them ahead of those who have been imprisoned.

The halfling smiles at the cells and does a small bow. Speaking quietly, but excitedly, Hildigrim says in a loud whisper, "We're here to get you out. Does anyone know where the keys might be?"

Quillary will warily survey the cells, sniffing at those inside. She is looking for anything out of the ordinary, anyone too eager to escape, or not eager enough. Anyone that stands out, even amidst this likely motley crew.

Insight: 19

Jorin would like to test the cell doors of the Drow to see how strong they are, if he thinks he can pry them open.

...Athletics? 14  (Note, Jorin is not actually trying to rip them open, just give a pull to see if he could...)

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Jorin would like to test the cell doors of the Drow to see how strong they are, if he thinks he can pry them open.

...Athletics? 14  (Note, Jorin is not actually trying to rip them open, just give a pull to see if he could...)

Considerably more than 14 will be needed. (Jorin has a remote chance. Drusk and the others would have no chance.)

Quote from Mingofaust >>

Quillary will warily survey the cells, sniffing at those inside. She is looking for anything out of the ordinary, anyone too eager to escape, or not eager enough. Anyone that stands out, even amidst this likely motley crew.

Insight: 19

One of the two Drow does not seem eager enough to get out. Probably due to him being dead (but not undead) from torture. The other 10+1 prisoners are not that enthused either, since the party hasn't said anything to indicate you aren't part of the Xanathar gang.

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

The halfling smiles at the cells and does a small bow. Speaking quietly, but excitedly, Hildigrim says in a loud whisper, "We're here to get you out. Does anyone know where the keys might be?"

One of the generic prisoners looks at Hildigrim a little suspiciously (maybe this is a trick), then volunteers: "The Keeper of this Tower has unlocked and locked all these cell doors."

Hildigrim makes a face. "Of course!" He looks at the others. "I'll be right back." The halfling climbs down the stairs to search Sundeth's body.

Investigation: 11

Quillary looks at the dead drow through the bars, her spores reaching out to sniff at it, as it were. Long dead? Medicine: 22

(OOC > I am going to assume it has not quite been 10 minutes since Quillary Wild Shaped into her Symbiotic Entity, but Q, you might keep track, since at the end of that she'll drop to 1 hp again. She's not asking for help though, y'all. She's just going about her business, swirling with spores and ash that keep questing out towards the lifeforms in the room.)

Jorin smacks his forehead when Hildi mentions getting the keys from the Sundeth.  He says quietly, "We have cut the threads of your tormentors.  You will breath free air again soon."

Quote from Mingofaust >>

(OOC > I am going to assume it has not quite been 10 minutes since Quillary Wild Shaped into her Symbiotic Entity, but Q, you might keep track, since at the end of that she'll drop to 1 hp again.)

(Quillary is at 16 hp, from post 4226.)

Drusk suggests to Quillary and Pascal, "While we are waiting for the others to get the keys, maybe we should check the paperwork on Sundeth's desk?"

Quillary observes that both Drow were severely tortured (even compared to the other prisoners). He expired yesterday. She seems to have gotten a minimal of healing to keep her alive.

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

Hildigrim makes a face. "Of course!" He looks at the others. "I'll be right back." The halfling climbs down the stairs to search Sundeth's body.

Investigation: 11

Hildigrim calls out to Jorin from below. "You stacked the wyvern on top of Sundeth. You need to drag it aside, so I can get to the keys."

(No more checks need to be rolled. You will get a big iron ring with a score of keys on it. This is just a bit of story flavor.)

Quote from Quasimodal >>

(Quillary is at 16 hp, from post 4226.)

 I am dumb. :)

After Jorin hefts the tiny dragon off of the half-ogre, the little halfling dives in to check Sundeth's pockets. Unfortunately, the wyvern had oozed blood all over its former master, and Hildigrim — though not squeamish — has a difficult time searching the sticky pockets. Luckily, the big iron ring isn't hard to find. He pulls it out with a yank. Holding the keys out at arm's length, Hildi squints at the drops of blood slowly falling from his find. "I really wish I knew a cleaning spell," he says to the room in general. His eyes widen as he remembers. He pulls out his wand and gives it a flick, and a glowing hand appears nearby. He tossed the bloody ring of keys, and the magical hand catches them before they hit the floor. Climbing back up the stairs while wiping his dirty hand on the back of his pants, Hildi magics the ring of keys ahead of him, held aloft by the mage hand. Re-entering the room above, he sings, "Here they are."

Quillary looks up from her observation of the drow. "Here are the captives," she says, indicating the live and dead elves.

"Hildi, those keys are...floating..." Jorin says, a bit uneasy.

Quillary cocks her head. "Perhaps they are being carried by a ghost." She seems quite serious.

OOC: While Hildigrim can make his mage hand invisible, he actually isn't doing it right now.

Hildigrim waves his wand around, and the keys do circles in the air. "Well, not by themselves, of course," Hildi responds amused. "My mage hand is holding them. If you look closely, you'll see the semi-transparent hand clasping the ring. This is a little spell I've been working on, but it didn't quite click until very recently. I can perform certain tasks with the hand, but none too difficult. It'll actually be quite handy for performing tasks that might be dangerous or if there is a barrier hindering our progress." He pauses and then chuckles. "Handy," he repeats. "I made a little pun there." The halfling appears to have completely forgotten why the party is here.

Quillary will try to grab the keys from the magic hand, and if successful, goes to unlock the cage the drow are in.

Jorin looks quizzically at the hand, "Semti crans terent, yes.  Yes, I see that now." he says.

Hildi doesn't keep Quillary from grabbing the keys; in fact, he will hold them still when he sees she is going for them.

Drusk will intercept the keys. "As long as everyone agrees, I'll start opening the cages.

"Maybe someone wants to check Sundeth's desk for anything interesting. Or considering there is only one Drow prisoner, and she is female, maybe someone can check if it is the courier we've been looking for?"

(The other prisoners, as described in post 4249, are not Drow, but an assortment of humanoids that the Xanathar are in conflict with.)