Buppido appears genuine in his desire for escape, although Kastix can tell that he has deep motives for doing so beyond self-preservation, and an unusual confidence that they will succeed. Also, his compliments to Kastix appear a little contrived and patronising.

Sarith replies to Sekkar: There is no future for me here. I had resigned myself to my fate, but seeing the determination of these others to escape - well, I'd be foolish to overlook the opportunity. Sacrifice to Lolth is not a quick and painless death. Sarith pauses here, and Sekkar can hear him shudder before he continues. Murder is not beneath Jorlan, but he would prefer to prolong his revenge - he will first seek to embarrass Ilvara and Shoor. He could be convinced to aid us, as our escape would be a great dishonor to our Lady and her lieutenant. Later, as Sarith sees Sekkar talking with Kaylyn and drawing maps in the dust, he warns them about traveling north, as Menzoberrenzan lies that way, and the patrol to collect the slaves is overdue.

By the time Rhayna returns to Stool the myconid is slumbering. Topsy and Turvy were both curled up together soon after returning to the cage, and even the hardy dwarf Eldeth seemed weary and retired early, and before long all the prisoners take the opportunity to rest from the day's labour.

After a length of time (that most would agree was about eight hours) the guards return to collect the prisoners for work duty. As before, each team of slaves is led out of the pen by the same high-ranking drow as yesterday, as well as several drow and quaggoth guards. Sekkar and Kaylyn's team is assigned to the mess hall to prepare the day's meals, and benefit from Sarith's experience of knowing just how the drow like their food prepared, and Buppido and Jimjar prove capable cooks. Kastix and Joetaro find Derendil and Eldeth more than capable of making up for Topsy and Turvy's lack of strength carting water barrels. And on wash duty, Rhayna and Zeno notice that Shuushar and Stool are unbothered by the fact that Ront himself does the least of the washing, prefering to travel up and down the lift with the dirty and clean items.

Despite the heavy work, Kastix is able to take advantage of his travels through the outpost to observe the drow further. At any time one drow is in a resting trance in each of the two barracks caves (#2), two are on duty at each of the three watch posts (#1,10,13), and the other four are supervising the slave work, with these duties rotating every four hours. The northern watch tower appears to be the least-favoured post, due to its proximity to the quaggoth den. In addition, one of the elite warriors is trancing in either of the two barracks towers (#4), one is commanding the central watch post (#10) while the other three are supervising the slaves. Despite the constant presence of a single drow, the barracks seem to be the easiest place to obtain a single weapon, while the more heavily-guarded central guard tower probably contains a larger concentration of weapons. No slaves are permitted in the largest tower, but it is common knowledge this holds the quarters of Ilvara and Shoor, as well as the shrine to Lolth, and is probably where the prisoners' possessions are held.

Shoor spends the whole time following Kastix around with a fresh batch of insults, while intentionally interrupting his work with petty demands, criticism of the quality of his work and orders to repeat the tasks, and juvenile attempts to hinder him in general. The other prisoners endure similar but much less intense or individualised abuse from the rest of the guards, who seem to enjoy drawing attention to every perceived deficiency in their slaves, and comparing this to their own superiority, particularly against the three 'blood-tainted' half-elves. Other than this constant harrassment, the work proceeds normally until a disturbance breaks out near the top of the lift. Joetaro is the first to hear the commotion, and follows Derendil and several drow as they run toward the lift where she finds Ront in a brawl with Eldeth, who had been carting a barrel from the barracks. Ront appears to have the upper hand, when suddenly Derendil releases a primal roar and charges at the orc. With shocking savagery, the typically regal elf-in-quaggoth-form leaps on the orc, knocking him to the ground, and starts ripping into him with both tooth and claw. As the orc struggles to rise, and as the drow attempt to separate them, Derendil grabs one of Ront's arms and rips it clear away from his shoulder, leaving the orc roaring in agony and thrashing in a bloody fit.

It takes four more quaggoths to restrain Derendil, who is dragged back to the slave pen. The high priestess Ilvara arrives herself to question Eldeth, who claims Ront attacked her in retaliation for a battle that her people won against his tribe, which has been the reason for his hatred against her. Ilvara takes one look at the mutilated orc, declares him unfit for further use as a slave, and he is promptly rolled off the edge of the platform into the spider webs below. Lost from view, his screams momentarily intensify as shuddering movements can be seen from the surrounding webs, but the noise is soon silenced. All the slaves are then ordered to cease their work and are returned to their cage.

Once back in the cage, Eldeth confides in the others the true reason for the altercation. She had been nearby with a barrel, and had seen Ront ascend the lift and approach one of the drow guards. Eldeth says that although Ront attempted to speak furtively, she could hear him tell the guard that he had something to reveal about the prisoners, and perceived that he intended to expose their planned escape attempt, probably in an attempt to gain favoured standing. Before he had a chance to spill the beans, she had interrupted him and started the fight, making it seem like Ront was the instigator. Sarith quietly remarks to Sekkar that the loss of a slave under Jorlan's watch will likely further his dishonour and fuel his desire for revenge, and that they can certainly expect him to be bringing the food again tonight. Derendil quietly apologises for his outburst and laments his apparent decline into savagery, but otherwise sits silently in the corner.

(OOC: Sorry if these posts are long, but I'm trying to make a lot of connections in a short time, so please bear with me)

(OCC: Please do keep them coming. Me, on the other hand, do apologize for my long posts.)

Rhayna will stay close to Stool. “Hey my little friend. Do you know how where you home is?”

Joetaro is going to approach Sekkar, "I have something that may be able to help with our escape. I can put to sleep some of the guards but I don't know how much effect it will have on them."

Eyeballing the drow as they move around beyond the pen before turning to Joetaro, "Elves can't be forcefully put to sleep by magic. Even if they're dark ones, I doubt that differs,"

Kastix will try to work where Jorlan is managing the prisoners to get the chance to talk. This is over time before when Kastix thinks he's more willing to get the bait.

"I can see the amount of respect you get around from those big shots. You know what could knock them down a peg or two? If suddenly the pen meant for the great city were emptied. Don't need much, just some tools for locks and while Shoor is on duty and you're off duty. An outbreak under his watch would be very embarrassing at the least,"

Persuasion: 23 (fingers crossed) (Dont know if this is good or bad)

(I guess Rhayna is no where near Kastix right? If she is, she will pray to The Goddess to help him with Guidance.)

Guidance: 2 What language would Kastix be speaking to Jorlan in? So far Stool has only used the telepathy spores amongst the prisoners, and may be reluctant to expose the ability to the drow.

I would have to say Common, i doubt Jorlan can speak Infernal or Abyssal. 

Sure enough, Jorlan arrives as before and unlocks the cage to admit the accompanying quaggoths to deliver the prisoners' food. Kastix approaches the bars and delivers his first line, at which Jorlan sharply turns a condescending and malevolent sneer at the tiefling, but Kastix pushes on with his proposal and the drow doesn't interrupt him. Jorlan continues his stare for a few moments, glances around, then turns back and strikes Kastix in the stomach through the bars with the butt of his shortsword. With a loud voice (but without looking at Kastix) he says: Isiltasuna, deabrua! Ez hitz egin zure nagusiekin edo minaren esanahi berria dastatuko duzu. At this he locks the cage again, glances at Kastix once more, and departs.

Translation from Undercommon:

As the idea of escape continues to gain traction, more of the prisoners contribute suggestions. Joetaro nods in approval at Kastix's knowledge of elven biology, but points out that the quaggoths and spiders would be susceptible to his spell. The three svirfneblin claim to have some arcane abilities native to their race, including the power to cause temporary blindness or deafness in others. Sarith is willing to lend aid by creating various kinds of magical light and darkness.

The discussion also turns to which route to flee Velkynvelve by. Stool doesn't know the location of the Neverlight Grove, but assures Rhayna that its people would offer them shelter and aid, and that its sovereign is wise in the ways of the Underdark. Buppido points out that Gracklstugh the duergar city, about 30 days travel to the south, is on the way to the Grove, and encourages the group to travel there. He says the duergar often trade with surface-dwellers, and the group can acquire the equipment they need and perhaps meet traders heading for the surface. Sarith and Eldeth seems to favour the myconid's offer of sanctuary in Neverlight Grove, but both are reluctant to travel through the duergar city, knowing the duergar's hatred of the drow and the surface dwarves. Jimjar would prefer to return to Bligdenstone, the svirfneblin city, also 30 days travel, from which access can also be gained to the surface, but only knows the way via the north passage, and fears traveling too close to the drow capital of Menzoberrenzan. Shuushar says that the kuo-toa town of Sloobludop is the closest settlement, only 8 days away, and from there the group can obtain equipment and water craft to travel elsewhere via the Darklake. Topsy and Turvy have no preference and just want to escape as soon as possible, and Derendil favours any option that allows him to return to the surface. Finally, all admit that the drow will certainly pursue the fugitives, and that evading recapture will be easiest if traveling in smaller groups.

OOC: Basque makes very convincing Undercommon for me :)

"Let'sss uss see what we have," chimed in Sekkar. "Firsst, do not talk to that drow - he is our chance, yes, but with all his hatred to ssuperiors, he despises us - the "lower" races more. Sarith is the only one he would listen."

"Now, if the way to the north is the way to Menzoberrenzan, we are not going there. Too many patrols, too much traffic. I say we go to Shuushar'a town. Kuo-toa would not kill us on sight, duergars - can. We would need to stop sooner than later too - to eat, to sleep safely, heal. But wherever we are going, first we need to escape."

"If Jorlan helps - it's good. But for his goals our death works too, the loss of all slaves is bad enough, whether they die or run away. He can help to open the cage, he might not help to escape. What we need is for all of us to reach the bottom of the cavern, then run. They will shoot from towers, send spiders and if nothing done for diversion - drows too. We need to be invisible, or we need a great diversion. Can someone shoot fire, may be?" Sekkar licked his lips at the thought of the burning webs and spiders. "Revolt of quaggoths would be nice too if we can make them mad... Wish we could send both - spiders and quaggoths on drows."

@Shodai_Kishi: roll Insight check on your next post please.

Insight: 20 (I have not rolled over 10 in ages I think in this campgain)

As the others are discussing plans to escape. “Listen Stool. No matter what happens, stay close to me. Hopefully we will be out of here soon.” Rhayna thinks to the little myconid.

Rhayna telepathically tells Sekkar. “Well. I could try to Command up to four quaggoths...”

Kaylyn ponders the information regarding the locations given.

"I agree with Sekkar.  Sloobludop is the closest settlement, and our best bet for now.  From there we can get a better idea of what to do and where to go.  Do we want to just make a run for it or try and collect our gear first?   I'd like to just go."

Kastix spends some moments in a corner catching his breath again before adding his two coins, "Any town would be good, sooner we can find a safe spot, the better. I can do without my wand but it's would be great if we could get some of our items back. They would prove very useful as some of us would be more limited without our stuff. I assume food and water would still be usable at the least," 

Zeno ponders telepathically, “I agree with Slooblah...whatever.  I had had a similar thought about the quaggoths uprising. It seems the drow don’t care much for them, not sure if they mistreat them enough that we could encourage them to attack, but that may be worth a shot.  They certainly have some capacity for violence.” He gives a meaningful look to Derendil.  “What about the thought of splitting up after we get out of here? To try to make it harder for the drow to track us down.”

“I follow Kaylyn and Kastix... If we are to split in groups.” Rhayna says at the thought of separating when attempting to escape.

Joetaro nods. "I'll follow the others if we decide to split up."