-----Right across from Sol, an imprisoned human with a strong musculature and full beard grips the bars squinting into the torchlight. With a demanding tone which hints at hope, the man asks, "By the Great Hunter, who are you?"
-----"Sol Herron." He answers before glancing around at the cells with something akin to relief. Having done so, he speaks further, "I assume yer from Lord Howrun's troop. Th' 'eye tyrant' has been dealt with . . . "
-----Sol then begins looking carefully around the chamber, " . . . An' my friends an' I are goin' t'find a way t'uncage ye."
-----A cheer and a few murmurs of disbelief are heard as many of the prisoners stand close to the bars of their cages. By this time, Sarah has entered behind Sol. At this point, it is unsure if the uplifting spirits are due to the prospect of freedom or the appearance of the young mage.
-----As Sol looks around, one of the elven warriors speaks as if to answer his unspoken question. "There are keys that one of the orcs carry that unlocks our cells," he says.
-----"Aye," says another of the prisoners as he bangs at the crude device situated on his cell door, "these locks may be old, but work too damn good to try to break."
-----Just then Raven and Rinda arrive and the added torchlight helps to illuminate more of the chamber. Many of the prisoners shield their eyes almost as much as the hunter blearily looks from the glare.
-----"Last time the orcs were down here, they left torches in the sconces on the wall," another elf states. "You could light those and aid those of us who can't see as well in the dark."
-----Rinda sets about looking for more torches to light as Raven begins to test the bars on the closest cell.
-----Suddenly, a distant cry for help is heard back down the corridor followed by an agonized yell.
-----"I'll see about those keys after I've checked this out." Sol throws an urgent look at Sarah, and dashes back the way he came, following the sound of the pained call.
-----Sarah dashes up to the bars and clasps the man who spoke's hand tightly. "Stay brave, we'll come back for you as soon as we can." She shoots them all a dazzling smile, hopes it took, and rushes off after Sol as fast as she can.
-----Raven curses as he grasps two of the bars on one of the cells and pulls. Frustrated in his attempt to bend the bars, the hunter sighs as he watches the hasty departure of the Gorian and the young mage. With a few of the mounted torches lit, Raven stumbles toward the corridor urging Rinda to follow.
-----On down the corridor, the young warrior charges again. He slows and pauses momentarily at the foot of the steps unsure of where the cry for help originated. Quickly though, he heads off again as a groan filters up from the opposite end of the corridor.
-----A few yards behind, Sarah sees Sol with his torch still in his hand pass the stairs and continue on into the darkness. They continue to travel in the same direction until Sarah sees Sol enter what looks to be a chamber at the end of the corridor. Just as the young warrior crosses the threshold, a metal door slams behind him. A slight clicking sound may indicate the door has been locked.
-----In a few moments, Sarah can hear Raven and Rinda approaching behind her.
-----"Dammit!" Sarah yells, pounding her fist against the door. She kicks the metal in frustration and yells, "Sol, can you open the door from that side?" As she starts looking for a way to get through.
-----Nothing answers her until Rinda and Raven draw within range of the door. With a grimace, Raven grabs hold of the handle on the right side of the door and tugs. Bracing his foot across the wall on his right, the hunter continues to pull until finally it obvious he is not making any progress with it.
-----"You don't have any spells to help open this, do you?" Rinda asks Sarah.
-----In frustration, Raven pounds his own fist against the door, yelling, "Sol, . . . Sol!"