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

[princetheoden]

*gotten separated from Boromir and Nyel when he lost his torch and making his way as quietly as he can through the tunnels, feeling his way with his fingers*

[ecthelion_of_gondolin]

*has sent teams of guards down each of the tunnels; going down another with his torch in one hand and sword in the other*

[second_time_around]

*has joined the search party at Turgon's request; in the tunnels with his own sword, and the one he's made for Finrod; is concentrating on the bad feelings to lead him to his nephew*

[boromir_of_gondor]

*caught up to Nyel* Are you alright? *looks around* I don't see any more coming. *catches his breath* We should double-back and try to track them.

[finrod]

*hears the sound of voices ahead; thinks they sound human, but pauses, quiet and still, to be certain*

[second_time_around]

[He follows the feelings of bad magic, and takes a turn off a tunnel into ... a vacant room. But it has not been vacant for long - he shines his torch around the room and sees what remains of the chains that so recently bound Finrod.

He's crouched low, examining the chains - not happy to see the blood, but given hope by the way the chains have been broken. Finrod was not unchained by his captors and taken on to a worse fate, he has escaped.

He straightens and turns to leave the room, trying to decide whether to catch up to his nephew or to follow his feelings, and determine the source of the bad magic, when two cult members enter the room.

Luckily Fëanor has the element of surprise on his side, and makes short work of them, but in the fight, his torch is dropped, and goes out the wet floor. He steps over the bodies and back into the tunnel, hoping the noise hasn't alerted other cult members, and realizing he will have to find his way back with no light.]

[john_npcs]

Yeah, I'm fine, sir. Just bit off more than I could chew. Sorry. *rubs her arm where a much larger elf got a good hit in*

[ecthelion_of_gondolin]

[Ecthelion pauses to check his map, and realizes that this tunnel is in a straight line, bisecting the city - the same straight line that all the bodies were found along up above.

He turns and shines his torch on the walls, and stares at both the rose tile, and the symbol that was present at all the bodies.

Putting his map away, he continues down the tunnel, occasionally stopping to check the walls for the symbol and tile. He doesn't realize it, but he is approaching the altar room, where the cult members are planning their sacrifice. But the magic is strong down here, and the back of his neck prickles with the curses and spells that are heavy in the air.

He hears voices and footsteps approaching, and he quickly turns down another tunnel, hoping to find a hiding place.]

[finrod]

*yes, humans definitely; steps forward quietly*

[princetheoden]

*still making his way along, looking for an exit so he can get up and get a new torch or SOMETHING*

*quietly* one step, two step, don't step on a warg or in sewage, yes, this is going very well...

[second_time_around]

[Fëanor is making his way to the center of the city, the altar room, the source of all the bad magic, when he hears footsteps approaching from either side.

He pauses and steps back against the wall, sinking into the shadows, trying to discern if they are friends or foes, when he realizes it is Theoden approaching from his right, and cult members, carrying a torch and speaking with great urgency about the missing captive, from his left.

He steps in front Theoden, blocking him from the view of the cult members, and uses both the swords he is carrying to cut them down. Then he turns.]

Hello, Theo.

[princetheoden]

Oh. Hi. *tries to sound casual*

*grabs the torch before it goes out, trying not to touch a body*

[second_time_around]

*looks him over* Are you all right?

[princetheoden]

Oh yeah. I'm great. *holds it above his head to get a good look at the tunnel without blinding himself*

Why are you down here? I appreciate the rescue. *would touch Feanor, but there's cultist blood*

You didn't happen to see any of the guards, did you? I lost them at some point. *keeping with the casual voice and not the 'I'm stuck in a tunnel with corpses and I don't know the way out' panic note in his head*

[second_time_around]

*glancing around the tunnel with the light from the torch* I'm here because the King asked me to join in the search for Finderato. But no, I haven't seen any other guards, besides you.

*looks at Theo's face* You shall stay with me until with find them. But put out the torch. We will be safer if they are not aware of us.

[princetheoden]

*frowns, holding the torch tighter* but we'd be blind. *not arguing about staying with Feanor*

[second_time_around]

*nods* Yes, but they won't see us coming. *grins, but it's not particularly comforting, and more than a little like a shark*

[princetheoden]

Just don't get me while you're at it then. *reluctantly drops the torch into the water and presses back against the wall to re-orient himself when everything goes dark*

[second_time_around]

Put your hand on my shoulder as we walk. If we are attacked, we will fight, back to back, it will be the safest. *concentrates in the darkness, and starts walking forward, towards the source of the bad magic again*

[princetheoden]

*reaches up to touch Feanor's shoulder lightly and follows, other hand on the wall to make sure he stays as much on the path as he can. Doesn't want to end up in sewage*

[boromir_of_gondor]

*looks at her arm* That'll bruse up nicely. *points off to the right and whispers* I think I hear something. *withdraws his sword*

[john_npcs]

*gets into position beside Boromir, determined not to be caught off-guard again*

[finrod]

*hears the ring of a sword being drawn, whispers* It's only me.

[boromir_of_gondor]

*resheathes his sword and looks Finrod over* We need to get you back to the surface, quickly. *points at a guard* He can escort you in case of another attack. *looks back at the direction from where Finrod came* Nyel and I will backtrack and see if we can find their hideout.

[finrod]

*calmly* Wait. I can show it to you.