Consciousness returns and it is painful. Xune winces, sensing an ache on the back of her head. She commands her hand to feel for the source of this pain, then realizes she is bound and worse, gagged by a rag and a cinched leather strap.  What the...!?  Her eyes fly open.  She sees a small wooden room with straw on the hard clay floor. The floor is damp, especially around the bottom edge of the walls. There are what appear to shelves with straw on them on the three walls. The air smells of old wet straw and .... what?  Chicken dung!  The door is wooden and there are no windows.  The roof is thatch with a thick supporting network of poles and limbs.  A prone figure, a woman judging by her hair, is lying on the floor at the opposite wall.  She has a bloodied face, is gagged and blindfolded, and is also subsequently bound by hand and foot. She is apparently sleeping or unconscious.  Not dead, because Xune notes regular movement of breathing. You do not recognize her.

The last memory Xune has is exiting The Rouge Lady after a few drinks, then nothing.

The night was young. Xune had just finished a job for Vamros Harg, the local magistrate. Nothing illegal, per-se. He had received several threats that he couldn't go forward to with his employer, but needed the blackmailer to know he wasn't the Hin the cross. Xune did what she does best, without the usual bloodshed, and made the magistrate's message abundantly clear. Her payment was sufficient for the task, and she intended on applying it to make the end of the evening memorable: a few drinks, a few rolls of the dice, and some pleasurable company, possibly some fisticuffs with one of the local slushes, maybe Geoff.

Her head rang as she checked her body for signs of damage, as well as to be sure she still had all of her belongings. Of course she'd been kidnapped after a night of binge-drinking. Xune glowered at the figure across from her, wondering who she could be as she tried to reach for one of her hidden daggers. Hopefully they hadn't all been taken. Barring that, she'd begun attempting to get the other woman's attention. Perhaps she could undo her bindings.
This message was last updated by the GM at 13:36, Tue 13 Dec 2022.

Xune spends several moments of agony in positioning herself so that she can check for her hidden daggers with her hands bound behind her.  The effort is made even more agonizing when she discovers they are not there and that there is a rope, the one that binds her hands, that extends out a small hole in the wall. Something weighted is attached there.  As far as damages go, she could "feel" no other pain elsewhere.  Only on the back of her head.  She hears something, and cranes her head around to look across the coup.  The prone woman there groans.  This is followed quickly by twitching movements, then violent shaking of the head and muffled groans. Her breathing increases until the air hisses from her nose in and out. Clearly, she is panicking.

Xune lets out a brief, silent, but aggravated grunt as she realizes her daggers have been taken. Rolling her eyes she begins to focus on her training. Sixty years ago, she was taught ropeplay in a brothel for one purpose, but never thought she would have to use the skills in reverse. Grinding one hand against another, she attempted to loosen the bindings on her wrists, incorporating the counterweight she was tied against. Watching as the woman across from her began to panic, Xune took a deep breath, slowing her motions but never stopping, observing what her co-captive had to express of their situation. The dark elf knew she had to give herself a Fighting chance to escape, but closed her eyes for a moment to make herself appear incapacitated as she worked on her restraints. Whoever held her here would surely pay in kind
This message was last updated by the GM at 13:37, Tue 13 Dec 2022.

As Xune works at the ties that bind her, she watches the other woman.  Her quick, panic filled movements soon abate and she lies still for a long while.  Then she manages to get upright, leaning against the wall between shelves.  Slowly and methodically, she moves her head up and down against the edging of the shelf until the blindfold is removed.  Steel grey eyes glare like daggers across the room.  Her eyes shift quickly, taking in everything. Minutes pass, then an hour.  Xune continues working at the bonds.  Thirst becomes an issue.  Dehydration begins draining the body of energy. [Private to Xune Vvedryx: CON reduced to 11][Private to Myshra Knowles: CON reduced to 15 ]

A rattling of chains at the door brings eyes front.  A shadow can be seen between the small cracks in the wooden door.  A heavy bar slides from the door and lands heavily on the ground outside, then the door opens.  A robed man with a thin stature enters.  The robe is black dyed wool and dusty.  The bottom coated in mud.  He wears wire framed spectacles, has thinning hair at the top, and long black locks elsewhere.  His nose seems oversized for his small framed face.

"Aaaahhhhh.  Heh heh heee. You wake at last", he wheezes at the human woman.  Then he looks over at the dark skinned elf.  "Both of you. Brutto was sure he had accidently killed you my friend.  No, I said. She will live, I said."  The man comes closer, and closer still with a smile revealing broken, yellowed teeth. "You don't see... but you will. You'll see... I see Her in you."  His voice is grating and reedy; his breath rancid with an odor of fermentation.  He stands and spreads his arms.  "OH JUBILANT JOYOUS SOULS. The time is nigh."

He turns, giving the human woman a thoughtful glance, then walks out.  The bar is replaced and chains rattle again before the clicking of a lock is heard.  A few seconds later, the reedy voice is overheard saying, "Get the pyre finished, then throw some food and a waterskin to the elf."

[Private to Xune Vvedryx: Please make a DEX check at +10 to the roll]

Xune worked at her knots, struggling as she feels the pain in her head throb harder, and her mouth began to fill with the taste of cotton as she realized just how thirsty she was. Her fingers began to go numb and clumsy, and the sound of footsteps approaching caused her eyes to jerk to the direction of the noise. Her eyes narrowed and brow furrowed at the sight of the robed man, and the way he gestured at her and the human woman. Xune tried to stand in protest, but could feel the ropes digging at her flesh. A futile effort.

As the robed man shuffles away, Xune turns her attention to the woman with silvery eyes, attempting to tap out a message to her with a knock of her head against the wall. Help. Untie. Binds. She couldn't be sure this would work. The woman seems to be just as perplexed as Xune, but also recognizes the foul-smelling man. All the while, Xune continues to work at her bindings. She tries to think back on his words. Some kind of cultist?
This message was last updated by the GM at 13:37, Tue 13 Dec 2022.

Some time later, an hour, maybe two... telling time seems to be a problem.  In fact, Xune is not sure how long she has been locked up.  One day? Two? The light that streams through the small cracks in the wood walls indicate the sun is low on the horizon.  She is tired.  She is beyond simple thirst [Private to Xune Vvedryx: -1 CON]  and hunger.  Her wrists are rubbed raw, yet she continues to work at her bonds. [Private to Xune Vvedryx: Make another skill check at +10]  The other woman fares no better.

The door is opened and the largest man Xune has ever seen walks in.  [Private to Xune Vvedryx: Make an INT check]

[Private to GM: Secret Roll: Xune Vvedryx rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  INT Check.]
[Private to GM: Secret Roll: Xune Vvedryx rolled 27 using 1d20+10.  Dex Check @ +10.]

Xune continues to fight against the bindings despite the pangs of hunger and thirst that have beset her. As light of day begins to fill through the cracks of the coup, the dark elf huffs and pulls, attempting to coax her palms through the bindings on her wrists, keeping an eye on her compatriot. When the door opens, Xune lays back, continuing to work against her bindings, without making it obvious that she is picking at the ropes and knots. Her violet eyes stare up at the figure that approaches, her brow furrowing as she attempts recognition.
This message was last updated by the GM at 13:37, Tue 13 Dec 2022.

[Private to Xune Vvedryx: Successful intellectual recognition]
An ogre! Or... more likely, an ogre-kin.  It looks like an orc, but the purple eyes and oversized muscles, give away its true heritage. No wonder the rope knot is so tight.

"Heh heh hehhhh", it laughs, approaching Xune with a wooden pail.  "No food!  Water only!"

The brute pulls Xune's head back with one large hand and with the other slowly pours the water onto the gag stuck in her mouth.  She finds it difficult to breath.  Water is pulled into her lungs by trying to breath and she coughs, but the brute easily holds her head in place as she writhes in panic.  The water continues to flow and Xune is certain she is going to die of drowning, but then he stops pouring.

He lets her cough, gagging on the thing strapped into her mouth.  It soaked up a little of the water.  The rest found her lungs or the straw beneath her.

"Heh heh hehhhh", it laughs, standing back up.  "Me no kill you.  Me no kill yet."

The ogre-kin leaves, closing and locking the door in place.  The silvery eyed woman is making noises muffled by her gag.  She moves her head downward, with eyes locked on Xune, then looks at the floor.  This she repeats several times.

[Private to Xune Vvedryx: Please make another INT check]
This message was last updated by the GM at 13:36, Tue 13 Dec 2022.

[Private to GM: Xune Vvedryx rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  INT Check]

An ogre, as if things couldn't get worse. She'd dealt with them before, but this was many years ago, when Xune was younger and more agile...and had the use of her limbs. The water is a godsend. Xune tries to lap down as much as she can before the ogrekin begins to waterboard the dark elf, her legs kicking and striking out wherever she can in protestation. She tries to shake her head, but he's grabbed her by the base of her scalp, and Xune can do nothing but struggle to survive. Thankfully he stops, and the dark elf is able to catch her breath through chokes and sputters. His parting words almost fall on deaf ears as she composes herself, dripping and soaking wet. Her Violet eyes are like the tips of daggers, trained on him as he takes his leave. In time...enjoy your breath. I will be there to take your last. the dark elf pants through her gag, before noticing the other woman's coded messages. Through winced eyes, she attempts to discern the human's message as she shudders, the elf taking time to continue to struggle against her bindings, with renewed vigor.
This message was last updated by the GM at 13:38, Tue 13 Dec 2022.

The other woman nods when she realizes Xune is paying attention.  She twists her body until her back is facing Xune, then begins moving her bound hands around in the dirt.  She even picks some up and sort of throws it across her bindings...

[Private to Xune Vvedryx: Successful INT check - water, or very wet dirt can act as a lubricant]
[Private to Xune Vvedryx: Make another DEX roll to escape at +5]
This message was last updated by the GM at 13:35, Tue 13 Dec 2022.

[Private to GM: 21:35, Today: Secret Roll: Xune Vvedryx rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  Escape Check +5]

Xune observes the silver-eyed human's motions and nods curtly, rinsing her wrists among the straw as quickly as she can. The dark elf attempts to pull herself free with the added lubrication, straining herself as she tents the tips of her fingers. Going back, she attempts to muddy her hands further to dislodge herself from the bindings.

[Private to Xune Vvedryx: Failed attempt at escape. ]

Hours pass, and exhaustion sets in as Xune finds no give in her bindings.  The little water she was able to extract through the gag did little to slake her thirst or subdue her dehydration. The small room is now dark... well, for humans.  How many hours has passed?  Unknown, but the air has chilled with the coming of night and flashes of lightning in the dark come more frequent by the minute.  The peal of thunder gets closer and the minutes pass until finally the storm hits with a fury.  Wind lashes the small coup and it shudders with the gale.  Then the rain comes.  It is a hard downpour and the rain seeps into the straw.  Rain is blown against the walls and drip with droplets of water.  Both women eagerly press their faces against the small rivulets of water that cascade down the wood.  Their gags are soon soaked with water that can be suckled in.  Both women renew their efforts in escaping with water to lubricate their wrists and to soak the rope bindings, perhaps loosening them just enough. The storm front abates and the winds die down.  A steady rainfall keeps the water seeping into the coup.

[Private to Xune Vvedryx:  Please make a DEX check at +5]
[Private to Myshra Knowles: Please make a DEX check at +5]
This message was last updated by the GM at 13:35, Tue 13 Dec 2022.

"Iomedae's grace", Myshra utters; the words muffled by the gag.  The water feels so good against her face.  She suckles the gag, draining it of its water content as fast as it can soak the liquid off the walls of the coup.  She can feel her body recovering from the dehydration, her mind becoming clearer by the minute.  She looks over to where the other is; a woman who must have been suffering as much as she.  She was a strange sight to Myshra, a dark skinned elf with violet eyes.  She has only ever seen a few elves, and only two up close.  Durwe and Tynia, close friends of her mother.  But they were fair skinned with exaggerated almond shaped eyes.  The elven features of this woman were not nearly so exaggerated.  But still, they were almond shaped.  Fascinating...

Now... only darkness.  But, she can hear her moving over there.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:52, Sat 10 Dec 2022.