[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180401/60b7c742fe1ceaede77815d6a7fe4c26.png[/img]
[sub][b]Featuring Sword Guy [@Sloth], Elf Girl [@Sola], and Tiny Angry Man [@Xiro Zean][/b][/sub]

[hider=Mechanics]
Sleight of Hand: 5+2=7 (Fail)
Perception: 15+3=18 (Pass)[/hider][/center][hr][hr]

Traveling alone was rarely a good idea.

This was a lesson that Arius of House Badal would keep close to heart once the splitting headache left him.

Finally coming to, the young man's senses were flooded with information. First came the scent, that of smoke and dank earth, which tinged the air. Next was the sound of many useless things -- torches crackling, moisture dripping, metal creaking -- and more important things -- the words of people, and the pattering of footsteps in the distance. It was relief and worry in the same breath. The voices seemed not to be a threat, but the sound of the latter was definitely a cause for worry. Were they coming closer? Arius wasn't completely sure, but he wouldn't take the chance either way. 

But before he could do anything about that, he had to first get out. 

Arius' eyes snapped open, and he sat himself up right, leaning back against the bars of his cage to survey the situation at hand. Dim-light, boxes, cages, and people, both within those cages and without. One of them had the key, and had just let another out -- an ally? No, not yet. It would be stupid to assume that just because he'd let one out, he'd let everyone else.

Now then, what could Arius do in this situation by himself?

Bypass the lock? No tools on hand. All he had was a signet ring which he promptly took off and pocketed, the leather armor that he was wearing, two cantrips, and three spells at his disposal. None of them would help. 

Blast the lock open with arcane might? No, that was pointlessly threatening; moreover, it was [i]loud[/i], and if he could hear their captors, they could hear him.

So that left...

Asking nicely.

Fortunately, the two seemed like reasonable people from what he could tell. While Arius would rather not be relying on the kindness of strangers to get by, this was his best option for the time being. At any rate, the elf and the human were likely not the ruffians from before who'd incapacitated him so rudely, but he'd be keeping his wits about himself regardless. 

[color=ed1c24][b]"Ahem. I will say I must agree with the elf and the halfling on this one; of course I am a tad biased as you can see,"[/b][/color] the noble cut in. He raised both hands in a show of peace. [color=ed1c24][b]"I assure you that I am no threat; I'd very much enjoy escaping just as much as you all would, and the gods know many raindrops are what make the storm."[/b][/color] 

His right hand inclined and cast its index finger towards the corridor leading out of their makeshift cell room. 

[b][color=ed1c24]"Just as well, I would advise you to make haste. I can hear footsteps, and who knows when [i]they [/i]will arrive."[/color][/b]