The small cadre of guardsmen gathered up the numerous, bony figures of the prisoners who by and large huddled sheepishly in their cells until summoned by their "masters". A few, more resilient figures amongst them filed in behind, adding more chain and shackle to the ever growing parade of dusty, pale bodies. On a positive note, there was an overwhelming number of sentenced others - which reasonably made blending in less an issue, even for such a pronounced man as himself - but the state's servants further tightened their grasp upon hope as they all bore witness to the collection of well armored, armed and fed men beside the door.

It took not long, some discussion between them both taking place, all of which mattered not to their situation, and soon the grim march began again; some still whimpered, others groaned as they were nearly dragged along, but the beast of a man kept on, no closer than a few intentional paces behind the scaled giant... or at least as much as he could muster with the shackles.

The chasm's depth was impressive, but it begged the obvious question as to why the king and whoever he appointed here deemed this a worthwhile endeavor; there was little reason to assume it was natural, as Branor was familiar enough that wild stone, exposed to the elements, seldom shaped itself like this, even in the depths of the earth. No dwarf was he, but he wasn't a fool either. No matter the reason, they trudged further yet until the guards escorting them were relieved and a new set roused, producing worn, once rough pickaxes and mattocks. Distributing these tools, they seemed to motion the prisoners to begin their work.

Taking the tool's grip into his sizable hands, it reminded him that he was still devoid of his favored weapon, but if things were to turn bloody, at least now he had something. Even a stone would have sufficed before, but this did that far better; at worse it was a crude axe, at best it was the sort of weapon he could imagine a raging orc swinging about with wild but deadly abandon. Certainly not as elegant as sword or bow, but it would get both forms of work done - that they intended it for, and that which was likely about to follow...

The golden dragon's form marched over to the largest stone it could set its stony, vengeful eyes on and let loose a triumphant blow. Not content, it straightened itself and heaved the stone to a rolling halt at the edge of their table, and the men, having just prepared to return to their idle banter, immediately set to conflict and readied their weapons.

[i]"You humans have great sense of safety within your walls."[/i] The gruff voice taunted while Branor hefted the tool and looked on in observance, having been approaching where the other miners had set to work at first; the elf nearby seeming to be scrounging through loose stone while he became still.

[hider=Rolls]
Rolled a [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/215]17[/url] for Initiative. Readying an action to move in and shove the nearest guard back and prone if any of them injure Norixius.

Rolled a [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/219]12[/url] for Strength (Athletics) to shove if the readied action is triggered.

Rolled a [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/220]26[/url] for Strength (Athletics) to knock prone if the readied action is triggered.
[/hider]
"[i]Some[/i] - I would prefer the outdoors to this." The man uttered under his breath, golden eyes narrowing as his brow fell low over them. Looking to the elf and the dwarf after, he made his stance clear that if his life came on the line, he was ready to strike back; he could only hope they were so brave or foolish as well to do so too. 

[@darkandstar][@EruditeAssassin][@Hekazu][@VKAllen]