Thodek shifts over near the gate to the cage and begins to examine the lock itself, seeing if it could possibly be picked or broken, idly fidgeting with a length of rope wrapped around his waist, "Even if the numbers were on our side, which they seem not to be, we're in a poor position for a straight up fight. They're armed and well placed, we are not. Seems like our best option would be to find our own way out and away quietly. And perhaps return when we're armed as some of you seem inclined to do." Glancing over at Sarith, he speaks quietly in undercommon, "You're not the only one placed who was sent here by their own people, it does not mean that they were right in doing so, help us prove them wrong." (Trying for a help action on the persuasion, not that it seems to be really needed.)

(If Help gives advantage: 22)

Sarith begins to chuckle before speaking in a low voice. “Hope is a naive notion. I have been condemned to death for the murder of a fellow drow, a future that I deserve and have accepted. I suggest you do the same. Though I myself have no memory of this act, it is disgraceful, and I deserve worse than death.” He abruptly stops, realizing he has over shared in his zealousness, and grunts once more “Now leave me alone!” before once again ignoring  the group.

At this point, a small group has gathered around this interaction including Eldeth, Stool, Jimjar, and Buppido.

”So yer plannin’ an escape?” asks Eldeth. 

“Aye, it seems that way,” replies Jimjar. “I’ll bet you 10 gold they don’t make it out alive. Nevertheless, you can count me in,” he says with a smile.

Thodek gives Jimjar a puzzled look, "I still don't get how you keep betting when you clearly have no coin? And Sarith, if you've no memory of it, how do you know you did anything?"

Curiosity and hope have started to flicker in Cailean's eyes, and he slowly uncurls and moves to be nearer to the gathering group. "It seems it's a bet in itself, betting he'll have the coin to wager in the future. Rather optimistic, no?"

He his eyes hold a small amount of warmth when looking at the gnome, but then they move to Sarith and take on a much more icy tone. "Should we find a means of escape, you would not be forced to flee with us if you truly desire this fate. However... can we trust you to not betray our flight?" His gaze searches the drow, gauging how he reacts to the query.

(Insight: 22 )

“I will not impede your pathetic attempt at an escape,” Sarith growls. “As for you,” he says, turning to Thodek. “I would trust the word of my brethren with my life, and you soil their names with your doubt, dwarf.”

Cailean, at this point, you can tell Sarith is beginning to get agitated, and seems to be seconds from snapping. 

Buppido begins to chuckle at the obvious anger of the drow, while Jimjar responds with a wink, “I always keep track of my debts.”

Stool begins to shudder in fear as he backs away, fearful of what may be about to happen. 

As the encounter begins to escalate, it catches the attention of some of the other prisoners like Topsy and Turvy or Ront who begin to wander over apprehensively. 

Cailean gives the drow a respectful tilt of his head and steps away, both hands raised in front of his chest to signal that he would push no more with that assurance. "That is all I ask from you."

Spotting the fearful myconid sprout, he moves to kneel down to not be looming so high above them. "There, there, little one. I did not intend to cause you such distress. Do not fear, I give you my word that I will keep you as safe as I am able," he murmurs, his gruff voice taking on an apologetic lilt.

Nicholas watches the exchange apprehensively. With only a day in the pen under his belt,  he still lacked understanding of his fellow cellmates, much less the relationships and dynamics of the place. Glancing around, he shakes his head and lets out a small sigh. I don't even know half of these fellas names. Heck I can't even make up most of their faces in this darkness.

Nicholas slowly makes his way over to Sylvis through the darkness, squinting as he tries to see her.. In a low voice he says, "You seem to be planning this escape am I right? Look, I can't see much in this dark and I know I'm new. But just let me know how I can help and I'll do it."

Voyage sounds slightly apart from the group, grimacing slightly. The plot was in the open now, and with the torture they were all enduring, it was only a matter of time before someone in this pen said something, either inadvertently or deliberately to save themselves. Cursing like the sailor she was, she made her own bet. Which of them would it be? The mushroom child? The gambler?

She  gives herself a minute to dwell on these harsh thoughts, then quickly brushes them aside. She was a first mate once, so planning &logistics, came like second nature to her. They'd need an escape plan of course, which required information, like where their personal effects were, or if there was some way to disable the anti-magic fields and obtain a key to these pens. They'd need a guide to get them out of drow nest.

Noticing that the kuo-tua hasn't joined the fray around Syvis and Sarith, she instead approaches him. "I was a sailor, a long time ago. We used to tell stories about your people to scare the greenhorns on their first voyages on the seas.. About how you're all mad as liches and almost as deadly. But...you seem to be different. You're very calm. You don't even seem to be too interested in that lot that's talking about escape." She leans in close. "What exactly is your story?" She whispers harshly, stepping back a bit in case the creature was putting on some sort of act.

“Hello, I am Shuushar,” says the old Kuo-Toa serenely. “Yes, I understand my people have a ‘reputation,’ but hopefully you will soon come to realize I am quite different. I have spent many years in contemplation and meditation to overcome that evil, and am now traveling the world searching for enlightenment. Who knows where fate will lead me; to freedom, to death? Whatever the answer is, I am ready to accept it.”

He slowly trails off realizing how long he had been talking. He sighs before saying, “Sorry for my insensitivity, I haven’t let you get a single word in. Tell me about yourself. What has your life been like, young one?”

Cailean, as you quietly address Stool, he seems to immediately being to calm down as for the moment, the conflict has passed. However, he still seems to look nervously from the group to Sarith, ready for anything. 

Syvis, still from the back corner of the cell (her preferred vantage point to observe as much as possible), looks to Nicholas and says in a voice barely above a whisper, "Rest assured you will play your part, newcomer. Each will have their roll. For now, at least, we must bide our time, observe, and plan."

She looks back to Sarith, "If you insist on perishing here, will you at least tell us what you know of this place and our captors to assist in our escape? I, for one, have yet to murder any of your brethren and would prefer to regain my freedom."

Voyage's golden eyes flash with surprise, as she hears the old Kuo-Tua's talk of searching for enlightenment. Whatever answer she was expecting, it wasn't that. Shuushar's question to her, then, finds her off-guard and she answers quickly, without thinking.

"Um...my life has been interesting? I've spent most of it at sea. Then, I fell in love with a creature with enormous power that...I don't know, treats me like some kind of plaything? It's kind of confusing right now."

She falls silent, then remembers exactly why she approached Shuushar in the first place. "So, you're just going to accept your fate? Don't you think the Gods or fate or whatever has something more in store for us all, putting us together here? You have no interest in escape?"

She will study Shuushar, amused but intrigued. She had never met someone so calm, and the fact that it was a Kuo-Tua was astounding to her. Captain Marek and her friends aboard the Cat's Paw were all anxious sorts, brought on by the uncertainty of their vocation. And Nayantara....well, she seemed so unknowable. But Shuushar was different.

Insight: 8

Shuushar think for a bit before thoughtfully saying, “If I had the chance to escape, I think I would take it, letting fate lead me.”

Unfortunately, you aren’t able to glean much with that roll. Shuushar in all his serenity, is disarmingly hard to read. 

(...sorry, forgot that you asked for a persuasion roll if Syvis wanted to push further.)

Persuasion: 4

Voyage nods, not still entirely sure what to make of this creature that seemed so different to the stories she had heard.

"And you know the Underdark, yes? Were I and the other newcomers here to somehow pull off a miracle and get out of here, you could guide us somewhere safe?"

She sighs. "And I don't suppose in all your watching you've noticed anything that can we can use to make our escape?"

Nicholas looks around helplessly then shrugs. Having very little to contribute to planning the escape at the moment, he instead decides to approach the twins. Cautiously he approaches Topsy, and tries to engage in conversation, saying in gnomish , "Hi. I'm Nicholas. Is your brother ok? He seems rather agitated."

“Don’t test me, surface elf,” Sarith says with a growl. His breath quickens and his fists begin to clench. “You will regret it.”

Thodek looks up at the mention of guiding the group out, "Oh, I should be able to help with some of that too. I have lived down here all my life. Though, come to think of it, I don't think guiding you back to where I came from would be such a good idea," as he says the last bit, his hand drifts up to his tattoos again.

Syvis smirks almost imperceptibly, hands still clasped in front of her. "I initially considered that escape could provide the opportunity to prove your innocence. However, your claims of not impeding our escape are at odds with the fact that you withhold information that could prove vital to or efforts. You may very well be innocent of your supposed crime, but sentencing other innocents to death through your inaction is crime enough. The test, such as it is, has already concluded. You have failed."