(So without her pendant, Rhayna cannot cast spells correct? Is it only inside the slave pen?)

(Without your pendant, you can not cast any spells that has Material Components. Spells like Guiding Bolt or Healing word doesn't require material so can be cast)

"We should escape sooner than later it seems," Kastix whispers to himself mostly and anyone who would listen, "Probably can't use raw strength our way out and magic is sealed within this jail. Probably need to figure out where our stuff are but escape is most important. Do they have one key for all our cuff? Need to get the key or keys i guess,"

(Sorry, I got it now.)

Kaylyn, upon hearing the guards return to the cell to collect them for the days work, quickly dismisses Pensive to a pocket dimension where it awaits her summons.  She is a little saddened that he is gone, but knows its safer that he stay hidden for the moment.

Throughout the day she concentrates on her work, but also paying as much attention to where they go, what rooms she sees, how many guards there are, etc...  She also keeps an eye out for anything she might need for her spells to work.  Having lost the rod and her pendant she hopes to find the components needed to work the magic within her.

 She quietly pockets the bolt head during the day, pleased that she has found something, anything, that might aid them in escaping.

(OCC: I apologize beforehand for the long read.)

Rhayna stretches and rubs her back. She never had to do any kind of hard labor in her life, and that really broke her back. She goes to Stool, and sits next to it, crossing her legs on the hard floor. “I hope you don’t mind me sitting next to you Stool.” Says Rhayna telepathically, though she is still getting used to it. When Rhayna heard Stool tell her that it misses its parent, some memories comes back surging like a tidal wave.

After Rhayna lost her mother, she became self-destructive, and locked herself in her house. Blaming herself for the death of her parents, and everything that happened to her. Whether it was true or not, it did not matter. One day, a distant uncle came to town and into Rhayna’s life. She barely remembered who this person was, for she only met him once, and that he was some sort of famous scholar in Candlekeep. He didn’t say anything, but he did not have the disapproving look that everyone gave her. He was calm and collected, and he just smiled at Rhayna. He looked at the deplorable state of the house, and started to work. Rhayna could not believe that this older gentlemen just came into the house, and started cleaning it up. “What are you doing old man?” At first she just ignored the person, then she started to help. When the house was cleaned, the uncle, clearly tired, just went to the guest room and retired for the night. In the morning, the uncle finally spoke. “My dear Rhayna, let me ask you this. What do you want to do with your life?” Like the snap of a finger, Rhayna realized that her hatred would not get her anywhere. “It is a difficult question, my dear, I shall be in the living room.” The uncle grabbed a random book, found a comfortable place to sit, and started to read it. Rhayna went to sit in the living room as well, and started to think about her life, about her father. After thinking for the whole morning. “I would like to study about demons, so that I can find out what happened to father!!” Rhayna exclaimed suddenly. The Uncle smiled, for he knew that his words had the expected effect. “Well, unfortunately, I am not going to be much of a help on that respect, my dear Rhayna. However, I may know just the right person that can help you. Would you be interested in moving to Candlekeep?” From that day forth, Rhayna would devote her life to the acquisition of knowledge.

Uncle Tienlun, that was his name, was a very kind person, but he was also very eccentric in some regards. He would not eat any prepared meal that had beef, but he would gladly eat beef jerky. Rhayna never inquired. Then there was his love for peanuts, his house had peanut shells everywhere. Rhayna would call the maid of the house, the peanut shell cleaning lady. Rhayna feels bad now, but her younger self thought it was pretty funny. Now, one thing that Rhayna will never forget is when she entered Uncle Tienlun’s house for the first time. All the walls of his house was covered by book shelves, and all those book shelves were stuffed with books, scrolls, manuscripts, and anything that had writing on it. She was greeted by the uncle’s wife, which was also a famous scholar herself. They were both followers of Oghma, the Lord of Knowledge. She tried to follow Oghma at first, but it did not feel that was her calling, so she became frustrated. “Dear Rhayna, it seems that our Wise God might not be a good fit for you. Perhaps, you may consider following the Goddess Selune, the She Who Guides and also The Night White Lady.” Rhayna had reached another milestone in her life. (OCC: Please forgive me if I butchered it all wrong about deities.) Uncle Tienlun has long passed away now, but she always wondered what prompted his visit.

Rhayna is sitting next to Stool and looks at it. She believes that she may have found a kindred spirit in the little myconid. For she thinks of her younger self, yearning for her parents that would never come back to her. She wipes away some tears. “Hey Stool. I just wanted to tell you that I like you too. I know that you are scared, and to tell you the truth, I am too. I am pretty bad at showing emotions so it may not seem that way, but believe me, I am pretty scared right now. I am used to be surrounded by books, not this...” She looks around the pen. “You see, I was also lost when I was younger. Well, not exactly lost like you, but the point is that I was scared when I lost my parents. Fate showed me that we have to make the best of the situation we are dealt with. I must thank the Goddess Selune for giving a purpose to my life.” She turns to the young myconid. “What about we make a deal? You will be brave for us, and help us get out of this place as best as you can. I promise that I will try my best to get you back to your folks. Even if it mean giving up my life, I will get you home. How does that sound?” Rhayna thought this would be the best way for her to pay it forward to what her uncle did for her.

Rhayna tries to recollect any knowledge of Neverlight Grove. (History: 26).

(Question: Can Rhayna Help Zeno with swiping they keys for the manacles? If they end up on the same group, and if one of the drow has a key that is. Rhayna has been itching to use her Knowledge of the Ages.)

All that day Kaylyn had a feeling Sekkar was watching her. He was "at command" true, but there was more. Sekkar was silent during telepathic communications but closer to the end of the shift, when drow guards were tired enough too to play less attention casually (and quietly) finally talked out loud, in words: "You do seem determined and still fresh and strong. May be that cage is indeed too small for our new numbers and we can escape indeed. I have been here long, know many things about that outpost and tunnels beyond that too. Still, alone or with just a few - we would not make it. Beware of orc - he thinks he can be the "favourite slave", untouchable pet. As if dark ones would keep pets. And do not even think to stop the work or show weakness - weak here are sacrificed first, the stronger you are - the longer you live. And if you are taken to Menzoberranzan - consider yourself dead. If we run - we run from here."  The rest of the speech sounded close enough to "drilling the newbies" for drow to worry about it.

Joetaro nods. "I am in favor of running we can. I would prefer not to fight, but if we need to crack some skulls to get away, I am all for it."

"Pick and choose our battled is the best we can hope for," Kastix speaks as he looks around at the guard to see if i can see a pattern in patrols, "Anyone capable of feather fall the spell?"

Investigation: 8

Zeno will keep an eye out for where keys come from and and go to when they are taken to their work areas, as well as how high the fortress is above the pool.

Perception: 19

Kaylyn finds phosphorescent moss in abundance while moving rocks by the pool, and there are spiders aplenty crawling through the slave pen. Derendil notices Kaylyn collecting these things, and recognises her as one familiar with the ways of nature on the surface. He questions her at length about her home country, and shares stories of his own about his rides through the High Forest, speaking in fluent Elvish. Ah, how I yearn for the taste of flowing air and the touch of rain, he muses.

The slaves have not long been back in the cage when the maimed drow that supervised Rhayna and Zeno arrives with eight quaggoths. With a disinterested and somewhat distant expression, he unlocks the cage to allow the quaggoths to place sixteen bowls of the smelly stewed mushrooms on the floor, after which he locks the cage and they all depart. As several of the prisoners move to collect their scanty meal, Sekkar hears Sarith speak softly to him in Undercommon from his dark corner of the cage. Unusual for a high-ranking warrior to be feeding slaves, no? Sekkar is somewhat taken aback as it is so rare to hear anything from Sarith, and he turns to the gloomy drow. Jorlan was once Ilvara's lieutenant and consort - the most honoured of all the males. But an altercation with a black ooze marred his comeliness, and the Lady chose a new lover. All now taste of Shoor's new authority, but none more than Jorlan, and thus he receives the least honoured tasks. After a sigh and a pause, Sarith continues: At first it broke him. Now he is filled with hatred - for Shoor and for our Lady.

Rhayna has not heard of the Neverlight Grove, but she has read about myconids and their sprouts, and recalls a great deal. She can tell that Stool lacks the pacifying spores common to the adults.

Kastix quickly finds that Buppido responds enthusiastically to all Kastix's ideas for escape, and stands close beside him as Kastix makes his study of the drow's movement patterns, asking him his opinions and complimenting him on his perceptiveness. You're a smart one, ain't ya? he remarks whenever Kastix states a new fact. Kastix doesn't observe any regular patrols, just the occasional drow wandering past at irregular intervals. But there is a guard tower in the stalactite directly opposite the slave pen, connected by a rope bridge. Three drow are always stationed in this tower, from which they watch the slave pen, the cavern and the western passage. With their priorities divided, and their confidence in the security of the cage, they only pay minimal attention to the slave pen.

Zeno observes that whenever the cage is locked and unlocked, the keys are retained in the guard tower opposite, and not carried around the outpost. He estimates that the spider webs hang about 20-30 feet below the walkways, and the cavern floor is about 80-100 below the webs. It might be possible to escape by dropping into the webs and then dropping from there into the pool.

Joetaro feels inspired to go and speak with Shuushar. The kuo-toa sits in his corner with his eyes closed, grinding two stones together in a slow circle between his knees while chanting softly to himself, and the paladin sits opposite him with quiet respect, admiring his tranquility. After a minute or two, without opening his eyes, Shuushar speaks to Joetaro through the telepathic spores: Peaceful you are. Shun violence do you. Good this is. Aid you I would. He pauses and the stone grinding continues. If leave this place we do, to my town guide you I can. The Darklake well I know. He then stops his grinding, opens his eyes and holds out his hand, and Joetaro sees the purpose for the stone-grinding: in his hand is a small pinch of fine sand.

Joetaro bows to Shuushar and stares at the sand. "I would like to see your town. With any luck, we will be leaving soon."

"Luckless only is he who casts not his net"

Shuushar holds out his hand, as if expecting Joetaro to take the sand ...

“I will be right back Stool.” Rhayna thinks to the little myconid, and pats it on its top (head?). She then gets up and walks to Kaylyn. “Hello Kaylyn, it seems that thinking about our other friends is a little pointless now, for we have bigger problems. It gives me reasons to distract my mind though.” Rhayna fidgets a little as she speaks. “At any rate. I would like to apologize for not being more helpful. I have never been in this situation, and I feel like a fish out of the water.” Rhayna realizes what she just said. “Err... No offense Shuushar.” She looks at the kuo-toa, still not used to how alien he is, she then looks back to Kaylyn. “Well, actually I did find myself locked in one of the libraries... Once... It was my fault really. I totally lost track of time... Oh sorry, I am wandering again.” She fidgets a little more. “Well, the reason I came to you is that I would like to inform you that I made a promise to the little fellow over there.” She nods to Stool. “That I would do my best to take it home to its people. I have no idea how we are going to get ourselves out of this bind, let alone what will happen afterwards, but I just wanted to let you know that you can count on me to help us get out of this creepy place. It’s just that if the way out of the Underdark does not go through little Stool’s home, we may have to go separate ways.” Rhayna lets out a sigh. “There, I said it. I guess it wasn’t that hard after all.” She looks Kaylyn in the eyes, and pats her shoulder. “May Selune light our way, always.” Rhayna turns and goes back to sit next to Stool.

"Curioussss indeed," hissing in Sekkar's voice was a bit stronger than usual due to excitement, "But tell me, Sarith, does it mean you are with usss in it? If sso ... What would a drow, full of hatred to his betters do? Betray them by turning into ... you and helping us, or just neglect his duty, sulking in the corner? Can we approach him or the push should be more subtle?" 

"Oh, I'm sorry," Joetaro says before taking the sand. "Thank you kindly. Now we just have to wait for the right time."

"This is quite a situation," Kastix states, "They rely on that spot to keep an eye on this section of the place so if we can take it out, we may be able to remain undetected longer," Kastix will fully aware he proably has little attention for his raving and whispers beside Buppido. 

Kastix will try to get insight into Buppido, who really creeping the paranoid Kastix out. 

Insight: 12

Kaylyn smiles at Rhayna and her statements on helping Stool return home. 

"Well I hope then that is the way we go.  But I also hope you don't regret making such a promise to one you do not know.  We shall see."

As she listens to the stories of Derendil she keeps the details of her home vague and unspecific.  Not that she really had a home anymore to return to but she didn't trust all these new people.  She knew Kastix and Rhayana and knew she could count on them.  But not any of the others, not yet.

Eventually she also ends up in conversation with Sekkar.  For some reason she feels that this one she can probably trust.  When would need his knowledge to escape. 

To help forge a bond with him she answers him in Draconic,

"Which way does the river flow, north or south?  That would be the quickest way out of here. But the spiderwebs below are large so I suspect so are the spiders.  To the south I thought it looked like if we could cross the river the passageway continued.  But I have no idea if we are going deeper into the underworld or not.  Should we try and secure weapons or see if we can find Kastix, Rhayana's and my gear that they took out just flee and take our chances?  At the moment I have most of my abilities.  If I could find some bitumen I could walk on ceilings and walls.  But right now I could move a short distance into mist if needed to get past these bars. Have they stopped all magic everywhere?  I can summon a small pseudodragon, perhaps up near the ceiling out over the cavern?  He could send be images of what is happening and act as a scout to gather intel.  We just need to find the right opportunity or hope to luck escape."

"Sssmart on," gladly answered Sekkar in draconic where his under-hissing sounded more natural, "but did not see all, no, not yet. You will learn. Here," he traced a crude map on the floor, "see? No river, only the pool. Can be a crack at the bottom, water might come out, but ... who knows, how deep it is? And what lives in the pool? And can any of you dive deep? No, this is not the way out - those are: north, sought, west passages. All down there - while we are 100 feet above the floor. We need to be down too if we are to run. But the Northern and Southern passages are watched. Western one... That can be the chance. Unless you think we can fight all the drows."    

"We can't fight all of the drow.  As much as I'd like my stuff back I don't think it is worth the risk in trying to get it back but Rhayna was pretty attached to her books.  The western passage sounds best to me.  Perhaps those spiderwebs will catch us if we jump.  Then climb the rest of the way down."