The prison opening, the chain that snaps.

[finrod]

Finrod tries every spell that might corrode the metal into rust, and every spell of strength he can remember to break the chain binding him. It's only when these fail that he thinks of the basic principles of metalwork. The links and bands of steel will have seams for all their outward smoothness. He focuses on the centre chain link first, but though it grows hot enough that he can burn his fingertips if he stretches to touch the chain, the solder does not fail.

He sighs and jerks on the chain in frustration. The cuts on his neck itch. He recalls the girl's - Rae's - words.

"Strong blood makes good magic."

A shiver runs through him even as he finds the joint in the band on his left wrist. It grows red-hot, but he concentrates hard enough to ignore the worst of the pain, even as blood begins to trickle over the metal. He can feel the metal give, bends it on the rung of the chair just enough to work his hand free...

From there it's easy enough to snap the length of chain that had linked his wrists together, and he throws the broken band into the water as soon as he gets out of the room. He can't ignore his wounds indefinitely, and a hot, sick feeling courses through him. Still, he keeps his footsteps silent.

---

_{So, from here we'll play in comments for the rescue party arriving and ensuing chaos!}

Comments

[second_time_around]

*blocks him easily; hopes the others will be all right, but goes right to enjoying this fight*

[gondocase1]

*fast and dodging Feanor's attacks, making a point of going for his throat*

[second_time_around]

Well, now you're just making me mad. *slashes Cristaer's arm*

[gondocase1]

*hesitates for half a moment before deciding it's better to live and build a new cult and bolts*

[second_time_around]

*would give chase, but is busy with other attacking elves; gleefully goes back to fighting*

[princetheoden]

*yelps as he gets a knife to the shoulder, but manages to kick that elf away from him*

[ecthelion_of_gondolin]

*joins the fight with Dred and the other guards; takes out the elf that was after Theo and pauses to survey the fighting*

[finrod]

*slashes at the cult elves, careful not to hit Theo*

[ecthelion_of_gondolin]

*sees an cultist moving in from behind Finrod, yells out a warning, and steps between Finrod and the cultist's knife, and is um, stabbed. Pretty hard*

Oh crap... *kind of slides to his knees*

[finrod]

*turns sharply, sword sliding across the cult follower's throat; is getting disturbingly good at this*

Ecthelion?

[gondocase1]

[The sewers are gonna stink from all the dead elf up in it]

[ecthelion_of_gondolin]

*on his knees, gasping and holding his hand to his side; wow that is a lot of blood; oh well, Turgon gave him an order to find Finrod and at least he did that; now seems like a good time to pass out anyway*

[princetheoden]

*crouches down beside Lio, trying to ignore his shoulder* captain? *glad to be down below the fighting for a bit, although the cult is definitely thinning out*

[boromir_of_gondor]

*hears Theo and battles his way up to him* What happened...? *sees Lio and pales* We need to get him out of here. *looks at Finrod, thinking it's a good time to get him out, too* You, too, Finrod.

[finrod]

*nods* Yes, let's get him out of here.

[boromir_of_gondor]

*bends down and tries to hoise Lio over his shoulder, but can't due to BIG ELF* Theo, a little help? If you can get the other side of him, we can manage it together.