Hildigrim sidles up to Drusk and asks out of the side of his mouth, "Are we really only going to free the one and leave the rest?"

Drusk points out that he used the plural (cages)... unless there is a reason to only unlock 1 cage.

Quillary shrugs as Drusk intercepts the keys before she can grab them, but turns to the drow woman. "We are looking for a courier who knows something about a..." She blinks, and looks to the others for help. "A key? To a treasure?"

Jorin takes the hint and starts rifling through Sundeth's effects.

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Jorin takes the hint and starts rifling through Sundeth's effects.

(If you remember, the Bregan D’Aerthe, in addition to being a Drow criminal gang, are a rebellion group fighting against the Lolth worshippers who are in power.)

Some of the papers are information about the Bregan D’Aerthe, presumably tortured from Naris’yon, the male Drow who was ripped to pieces. There is also a copy of an invitation to Liriel of House Delco’sicet, to collect information and remaining prisoners, in exchange for resources (gold, weapons, etc.) for the Xanathar. From the replies, the Drow visitors are expected to arrive today... in fact almost any moment now.

Quote from Mingofaust >>

Quillary shrugs as Drusk intercepts the keys before she can grab them, but turns to the drow woman. "We are looking for a courier who knows something about a..." She blinks, and looks to the others for help. "A key? To a treasure?"

The female Drow in the cage (Drusk is trying various keys at the moment), looks at Quillary. "I be Cory’bant’ex. I dunno about a treasure, but I was told to take a key to the Zhents by a mind flayer. The key is gone."

She looks down at a huge, rugged gash in her torso, from neck to hip, which is barely held close by an earlier application of healing magic. “I thought it would buy me time if I swallowed it!”

Quillary raises her eyebrows, impressed. By the quick thinking, or by the ruthless extraction is unclear. "So it does not end here, either? Where did the key go, after it was... retrieved?"

Cory’bant’ex shrugs. They took it below. After that, she was in no shape to pay attention, or to know what happened outside the tower.

(Her cage is unlocked, and Drusk is working on the other prisoner's cages.)

Hildigrim has started fidgeting. He telepathically asks Volo to fly around the outside of the tower and report anyone watching the structure. He can feel they are being watched, but he doesn't know how.

"Well, that's unfortunate," Quillary says. Then she starts. "Here, let me help you out, Cory. Hildigrim, is it time to blow the whistle yet?" She works to assist the drow.

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

Hildigrim has started fidgeting. He telepathically asks Volo to fly around the outside of the tower and report anyone watching the structure. He can feel they are being watched, but he doesn't know how.

The Xanathar troops are more active now, especially around the docks next to the tower. If this is a changing of the guards, it would be best to wait a bit until things calm down.

(Jorin hasn't said anything yet.)

"Look sharp friends, we may have company soon.  Seems like these prisoners are being hunted by another group, they draw close."

Jorin pulls his weapons back out and looks to Hildi, "Does brave Volo see anything outside?"

Hildigrim holds up a finger to Jorin as he closes his eyes and ears to enter Volo's head.  "Something is going on," he voices. He pauses. "There appears to be increased activity centered on the docks." He returns to his own head. "But I can't really see what is going on. I would suggest we wait." He looks at the drow Quillary is helping. "Perhaps some medical attention?" He reaches into his pack and pulls out a medical kit.

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

Hildigrim holds up a finger to Jorin as he closes his eyes and ears to enter Volo's head.  "Something is going on," he voices. He pauses. "There appears to be increased activity centered on the docks." He returns to his own head. "But I can't really see what is going on. I would suggest we wait." He looks at the drow Quillary is helping. "Perhaps some medical attention?" He reaches into his pack and pulls out a medical kit.

 Pascal leans down, whispering, “Eeeh, remind me, Hildi-boy. Disembowelin’ with you softskins, that lethal or nonlethal?” Pascal gives a fairly obvious “subtle” point at the drow’s healing wound.

Quillary looks up at Pascal. "It is not an uncommon torture to inflict a lethal wound, then to heal it, in order to do so again. The pain can be withstood, but the approach of the Veil, again and again, can shake the strongest will. This one," she indicates the drow she is helping by unsubtly bouncing her, "Is stronger than most." She almost bats her eyes at the dark elf.

She will take Hildi's medical kit and sit the drow down, to administer aid. Medicine: 20

"What of these others?" she asks, not noticing that Drusk is unlocking all the cages he can. "Do we free them, too?"

"Of course!" Hildigrim says forcefully, but not with anger, and not too loudly. He looks at the prisoners and gives them a big smile. "You are all enemies of the Xanathar, correct?" Turning back to Quillary, he says, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Quillary smiles at Hildigrim. "This is something I understand," she says, glancing up at the drow as she bandages her wounds. She glances about for any equipment or weapons that might have belonged to the captives.

Drusk has opened all the cages. "We were asked to free all the prisoners we might find with the courier, so that is probably the best course." (post 4046) The prisoners (including the courier) are moving a little slower due to their exhaustion, but are ready to escape if given the opportunity.

(Does Jorin leave all the papers on Sundeth's desk, for the Xanathar to find later?)

Hildi continues looking through Volo's eyes. At the nearest harbor, 3 Drow of noble bearing (and heavily armed) have stepped off a boat, and are being escorted by a dozen Xanathar guards. From what Jorin said, seems like they will head straight for this tower.

Hildigrim relays this information to the others.

Quillary looks puzzled. "Why are the drow working with the Xanathar? Is it time to blow the whistle yet?"

Jorin will take the papers that bear the fruits or torture, but not the invitation.  He stuffs them into his pack and says, "Is there another way out or so i need to start moving the bodies away from the door?"