sticky fingys: 16 + 8

Gwendoline hears the word focus, and it is as if she had just been powered on. "Hi. Oh my aren't you impressive." She says to DUKE.

"Sorry, I've been um kind of reading over my research... in my head. There are quite a few of us now... isn't there? I'm Gwendoline, Gwen if you'd like. Sorry, did you guys say something..." she switches to a hushed tone "... about trying to escape? I'm in whatever I can do to help."

Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 1 | AC 13 | HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 3 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 1 | Innate spells 1

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Making noise as he moves with the chains and manacles, Ree'lyn manages a gracious now, as possible as his restraint and his garments and short boots looking like leaves and vine webbed and entwined may allow him to. - "Pray do tell, what kind of research is it you work on? " - the Drow says, choosing not to use the telepathic link at this moment.

"Declaration: A diversion is necessary, either to draw the guards away from their watchtowers, or away from Area 10. Secondary Declaration: This unit has already assisted the one known as Svana in breaking out, it can provide further assistance. Observation: While the humanoids known as Jezzika and Ree'lyn are similar to the guards, they are unlike them in manner of behavior. Secondary Observation: They are outnumbered 11 to 2 and it is unlikely that in the event of violence the guards would arrive in time before their lives are lost. They are unlikely to take hostile actions towards this group at this time."

While it's speaking telepathically, it slides it's soup bowl over towards Ash.

OOC: Is Ront still alive and with us in the cave?  If so, Huey can fight Ront, to serve as our distraction.  A cage match, if you wish.  Everyone could encircle us, cheering, and when the guards come inside the cave to break up the fight, kablaamo!

Step Step Thud backs away from the orc, wary and mildly fearful. When the others are called from the pen to work, he sits down in a corner, aimlessly scratching at the wall. He gives a slightly vicious grin when he realizes Ront is nowhere to be found, and listens in on the others' conversation with interest.

He speaks slowly and quietly, every word seeming to come from a difference voice, "I can create diversion for violence. The guards will die. Get the manacles off. We flee."

Step Step Thud looks at Ree'lyn, then Ash, then back to Ree'lyn, before speaking in his school teacher voice, "Be friendly now, kids. Otherwise, I'm going to violence you both."

He then steps towards Duke, raising his shackles towards the machine, "Help."

(Assuming robot help): 19

Phineas nods along with the planning, ignoring the arguments. “A big group will be hard if all together. A diversion is necessary then a coordinated effort to flee. I’d like my items back as well, but if it is well guarded, I’d prefer to be alive than have my possessions.”

“The fighting may work...” Svana thinks, but frowns at the thought of leaving behind her items, mainly her spell book. “However, I need my spellbook to be of any use to you all.” She looks down disdainfully at her bowl, swishing around the remaining liquid. “If I die trying then so be it. I would rather die trying to retrieve what is rightfully mine than be dead weight to the group.”

Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 1 | AC 13 | HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 3 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 1 | Innate spells 1

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Looking at Svana and her effort to taste her grub, Ree'lyn chooses to speak up instead of using the telepathic link again - "It definitely is not a rothé stew with luminous spices, mushroom and cooked in deep dark wheat beer; but it will keep you alive." - then he pauses for a moment assuming a more serene tone adding - "We don't need to die. We need to find the breaches in security and mapping out the areas we are given access to. We seem to have a escape route. But that is the end. I suppose our mechanic companion may register the surrounding areas better than any of us. We need a route to each step we are going to take until we reach the escape point." - Looking at Talike, Ree'lyn smiles and winks - "A bruised body is a low price to pay for good information."

Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 1 | AC 13 | HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 3 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 1 | Innate spells 1

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Looking at Duke then down at his manacles, Ree'lyn considers how good would the automaton be at delicate tasks. Choosing to use the telepathic link once again, Ree'lyn addresses himself to the warforged - "Duke, if you would be so kind, do you think you could open the manacles and my collar in a way that I may snap them back looking like they are still locked? Here, I will give you the directions to press and pull in a way you don't twist and break them."

Phineas turns to Svana, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "I understand. My focus and components are in there is well. If your items are necessary, then perhaps these elite guards can be drawn away so that a few of us can stealthily retrieve items," he suggests, adding quickly, "Though if the numbers are too great, we should err on the side of caution."

Amara stands from where she was seated by the wall, silently meditating, and speaks telepathically to the others.

"I would recommend the distraction be from someone tough enough to handle a beating, as that is what would likely ensue before we could actually carry out the attempt. I also doubt we'd be able to get the guards away from the pen long enough for us to actually sneak out and get our things. I would rather suggest that we wait until we're already out of the pen, such as for tasks, to retrieve anything if we need it-although I think it would still be difficult to distract the guards sufficiently. In addition, if you drow prisoners have any tips on the best ways to divert the guards or get our things, we're all ears. Any advantage is useful."

Svana gives Ree’lyn a weak chuckle at his remark, “It certainly is not.” With that, she drinks the remaining broth and sets the bowl beside her, dabbing at the corners of her mouth with her hand as Phineas spoke. “I do agree, we do have quite the few people but perhaps we have one group stay on the look out for us while we retrieve our items?” Then Amara piped in, Svana’s eyebrows knitting together in thought. “Duke looks like he could take a few hits—“ She glances over to the automaton. “Apologies, Duke. If they dent you and I get my hands on my spell book I can fix you back up... Possibly. This anti-magic field is an issue.”

Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 1 | AC 13 | HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 3 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 1 | Innate spells 1

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Deep sigh. "If only someone could go disguised as one of them, Sarith, Jezzika and I could act as part of a whole group of theirs. Considering we first get some other garments for ourselves. I can clean us to make we look presentable. Only the three of us might work as well. "

Talike, who has been silently contemplating if she should kick Ree'lyn, decides against it. Instead, she speaks.

"I don't know if splitting up is a good idea, Svana. That would leave six people to be beaten by drow and would only give the other six a slight head start. If we were able to cause a distraction that could occupy almost all of the drow (perhaps one person could sneak out and release the quaggoths?) then we would have a much higher chance of survival. But even if we do manage to leave the slave pen and find our possessions, how are we going to get back to the surface? To my knowledge, only three people here have experience in these caves."

Duke will follow Ree'lyn's instructions and assist him in getting out of his shackles. It will also provide Help to any other party member in their attempts to do so. 

"Declaration: This unit was equipped with a greataxe that would triple its effectiveness in combat. Hypothesis: Multiple members of this party also possess weapons, spell components, or armor that would increase their effectiveness in combat and other situations. Secondary hypothesis: Even in the event of a successful escape, the Underdark has enough dangers where items would be needed for continued survival. Declaration: Retrieving items is paramount in any escape attempt."

Duke turns back to Svana. "Declaration: This unit is made out of reinforced Dwarven steel and does not feel pain. It would be able to take multiple blows from the guard units." 

Then Duke turns to Jezzika. "Observation: You were conversing with the Drow guard known as Jorlan. Secondary Observation: You appeared to have some form of familiarity with this Drow. Inquisition: What were you conversing about?"

Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 1 | AC 13 | HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 3 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 1 | Innate spells 1

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Nodding at Talike, Ree'lyn reinforces the argument - "Infiltration is the key to distraction. Then escape route. Then success. "

Aside from rolling over in apparent sleep Enkindle either continues to ignore or genuinely miss part of the conversation. Though anyone paying close enough attention to her may overhear her mutter something in dwarvish. But with her back to the group, its hard to say how intentional it was.

Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 1 | AC 13 | HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 3 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 1 | Innate spells 1

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Looking at Duke and understanding his initial handling of the matter, Ree'lyn considers - "The other way around, Duke." - smiling at the automaton and considering he must be more careful with his words allowing for no ambiguities - "This task seems to rely on strength. Let's use yours, with my adjustments and directions."

PROLOGUE SIXTEEN - GWENDOLINE GEARBRIGHT

Gwedoline Gearbright is a researcher and inventor. She has fair skin and red hair with faint freckles. When she is not studying and reading books she is either in the lab tinkering or out exploring the worlds many wonders. She spent her early life reading books and schooling learning everything she could. She is well versed in several languages and hopes to learn more. As soon as she finished as many books as she could -- she knew it was time to get out there and make her own history. Before setting out on her own to explore the world and research the people and places in  it, she was a simic scientist. While having a job in science was few and far between and was certainly a dream of hers... Her ideals didn't match up with the Simic Combine. When Gwen set out on her own she decided she wanted to study the people and places of the world from as close as possible with out disturbing any lives like they do at the Combine. She finds herself now in an underdark cell all because her thirst for knowledge and her inherent wonder led her a bit too far. Of course she hadn’t thought that far along. She just was too curious about the underdark she heard is much about. She wanted to know more about the Drow and Duergar that adventurers speak of. She wanted to know everything about them. How did they see, what could they see? What did they eat? Were they as ill intended as people made them out to be? How advanced were their societies? She started by taking samples of earth near their tunnels but got too excited... a little deeper, a little further... until she startled one with one of her inventions now she is locked up without any good way to see. She just listens now. As she takes mental notes of the things she hears around her awaiting her fate.

Jezzika turns from looking at the guard tower to the group, mainly DUKE.

"Jorlan was once the lover of Ilvara, the outpost commander." she explains openly, telepathically. "He was injured in a battle and his face was disfigured. The drow value beauty, thus she cast him aside and took Shoor as her new boy toy. Naturally, this left Jorlan angered, bitter, and jealous. I understand my people, I can sense it like ripples in a pond. This is something we might be able to use to our advantage, however, we must be careful. He likes me about as much as he likes the rest of you."

It is now evening, and the outpost is thinner in guards, and much quieter.

"If we have an opportunity to retrieve our belongings, I would appreciate the attempt to do so. I have..something personal..I would hate to leave behind."