Steading of the Hill Giant Chief

Dwendylin will attempt the thaumaturgy cantrip to make the torches burn more brightly for a brief moment, again testing to see if magic still flows through her. She steps out into the corridor and speaks a divine word.

Edit - The one on the far end, farthest away from the entrance, if I might amend.

Fernal goes to a defensive posture when Dwendylin steps out and casts. Appear Fernal wasn't expecting such. She holds her attack as she see no harm. She asks Checking other cells?

"Forgive me. I did not mean to startle you. I suspected the restraints used on me might have been suppressing my command over magic. The torch was but a small test to see if I am still able to control it. It seems I am."

With what she said, Fernal fully relax her stance and puts her rapier back in its holder, Your Caster. Others Cells? She motions to the next cell.

As he looked outside past the flying horse and listened, Ælfric wanted to smile at gaining another magic wielder after the foolish and/or selfless loss of the bard.

"Have you been deeper down in this place, Ashar?"

"I serve the Sunfather - Pelor, but without a symbol of my faith, I am unable to work his wonders to the fullest of my ability. That along with many of my other dear possessions, was stripped away from me, but I shall do what I can." She takes stock of the many wounds inflicted upon her arms and legs and then she inspects her new found allies for any signs of injuries. "I can only imagine what perils you have had to overcome to get here. Are you hurt?" She seems to be addressing the entire party with her question.

Dwendylin replies, addressing the elf directly. "I am afraid I have seen nothing of this Steading, but the torture chamber. I was ambushed and captured on my way here to gather information on the giants' activities."

"Take this map then. Memorize it well, while I finish this ritual." Julian procured the map he'd drawn as he divined the layout of the steading, placing it where Dwendylin could easily read it.

Dwendylin holds up the map for a few moments, taking it in as best as she can. "Impressive. How did you possibly come by such information?"

Julian noted the prisoner to be more conversational than Fernal, Korgazhar, and Ælfric. He himself wasn't usually one who enjoyed answering question after question, particularly when in the midst of trying to contact an extraplanar entity that may or may not attempt to invade his mind and use him as a meat puppet; however, he would entertain the newcomer's curiosity for the time being. "You'll find that information gathering is my specialty. There are those among The Rhennee who call me Dreemseer, for the portents that have come to me in my sleep from the first day I was able to dream. In my youth, I was made to study fortune telling and divination under the matriarchs of many clans. When I learned all they had to teach, I toured the Flanaess seeking to expand my arcane knowledge. Now I am here, to keep the balance of this world intact. Giants of all types gathering in such numbers is more than just a threat to Sterich."

"I see." The priestess states flatly. Noting that the Dream Seer was about to commence a ritual of some sort, she gives him room. Perhaps confinement and despair have made her more talkative than normal now that she can finally bask in the company of civilized folk.

"I was almost hit by a bugbear that should have been dead," Ælfric said while glancing back at Fernal, "but I used my limited arcane pool to create a protective magic shield."

Fernal takes out her rapier and bangs the hilt against the cell door. Yes or No. appears she has lost patience and want to know about the other cells.

"If we find you suitable equipment, and you are able to, you may join us. No sense releasing you from your captivity only to waste the effort with you getting killed or recaptured finding your way out by yourself. One of our party already disappeared." Korgazhar sized up the woman. "I am Korgazhar."

In the midst of the conversation he looked up again in annoyance at Fernal. It appeared that the barbarian suffered from some sort of attention disorder. To Fernal, "Fernal, do you intend to cross each one of us in turn?" referring to the altercation the barbarian had with Julian, and her failure to pick up the sarcasm in Aelfric's remark.

"If we are all ready, we can investigate the next cell." The half-orc steadied himself, but let Fernal stand at the door of the next cell.

With the second cell opened, Korgazhar waited for Aelfric to repeat the command word he had discovered to dispel the magical darkness and silence, and also let Fernal take point in investigating the cell, eager as she was to do so.

Ælfric moved back to the cells from his position at the door.

"We must hurry. Less than half an hour remains of my cloaking spell... and I can't cast it again until I rest."

Once the next cell is opened, he will say the magic word, "Asfaroth."