Molag took one look behind him as he saw Lance get locked into his new cell, the manacles more than happy to trade one life for another as it would seem. He wasn't sure why...he'd researched this plane plenty knowing that one day he'd end up here, but the workings of Carceri's solitary confinement wasn't something one found at the local library. As soon as Lance was trapped in the brace his entire body fell limp, eyes closing as his head sagged forward. The fact that he didn't fall out immediately from death was, in fact, surprising...Lance survived the initial burst, which meant he'd only have to suffer more of it.

However, there was no saving him...his mentee had done what he'd wanted him to do, what he'd ultimately trained him to do - break him out. Before making his exit, Molag grabbed the one thing he'd need...he turned back to underneath the brace, grabbing his trusty Blink...it would serve him well in the minutes to come. With that matter taken care of, Molag turned to the stone slabs before him, walking as far forward as he could and banging his clawed fist on the stone.

"Stand on the fifth, and don't move!" The voice was incredibly muffled, little more than a whisper given the blockade that was in front of him. Still, he did as told, arms folded behind his back as he stood in place. The slabs began to move around him, eventually revealing a stone block barely a foot off the ground. "Alright...let's get out of here."

"Yes. Let's." Molag's voice was deep, almost impossibly so, as if spoken by a demon hidden amongst the shadows. The assassin strode forward, putting Blink on the ground as he kicked it forward, waiting until it hit the other side before teleporting to it, standing upright at the entrance to the doorway "The combination is two seven five one eight, in that order...or, you can simply trust in me to get you out of here."

Phyrra turned her head, the voice previously to her left now to her right in an instant...and it wasn't her companion's. "Is this…?"

"Molag? Yes, I am. I have asked you a question. Those usually invoke answers."

Shavvir responded first, her voice lined with anger. "Where is Lance?"

"Not a valid answer...but we can discuss that later. Since you seem fit to carry on to yourselves, perhaps I'll simply let myself out of here." In a flash Molag disappeared, reappearing on the other side of the doorway. He pulled on the door with all his might, a surge of strength coming from deep within him as his arm swelled in size and musculature, ripping the door open. As it did, the ceiling reset itself, rising up as he heard the slamming of the stone slabs beyond it. Inside the room were Phyrra and Shavvir - to him, two completely new faces.

Shavvir quickly drew Everlife as she watched the half-demon creature's arm twist and contort, changing from inhumanely large to average proportion. The blade slightly trembled in her hand, but she hoped not enough to notice. "Where is Lance..and how are you out there?"

Molag smiled, a row of shark-like teeth revealing themselves. "One simply doesn't leave solitary confinement for free. A body has to take its place in order to not set off every alarm, siren, and bell on this plane, let alone some of the adjacent ones. I didn't force Lance to do anything, couldn't actually...but he chose to, and I chose to honor that choice. Any questions thus far?"

Phyrra immediately bore a look of concern. "You mean...he's in there now?"

Molag nodded. "Yes, and his life is hanging on by a thread...which reminds me, he said one of you should find Wake...just what does that mean?"

"It means Wake is almost dead as well...and the other group doesn't have a way of fixing that."

Shavvir took a half-step forward, Everlife still drawn. "You didn't answer the other question."

Molag rolled his eyes, kneeling down to pick up Blink...the dagger looked notably larger in his hands than in Lance's. "Unlike you, whom I guess throws your trust into some otherworldly being, some facsimile of power...a "god", if you will...I trust myself. I do not possess magic, I possess evolution. My body is the home to experimentation the likes of which I don't believe you can even comprehend, traits that even the great and grand Carceri can't even hope to keep contained."

"And yet it clearly did, otherwise we wouldn't have had to rescue you."

Molag smirked. "Don't fool yourself, even your god couldn't escape from solitary confinement here. I'd show you what my mentee is trapped in, but I don't think you could stomach it. You can barely think, barely breath, barely concentrate on anything besides the pounding in your chest and the perpetual caving in of your skull. It's agony the likes of which most can't even bear to rationalize. I am built to escape this place, but it is clear I fell short. However, now, that's behind me - us, I suppose. How would you like to be the first ones to escape the Plane of Prisons?"

Phyrra shook her head. "Not without Lance."

Molag held out his hand, pointing towards the slabs. "I've told you the price. I've told you the combination. You can go see for yourself, or you can trust me. Unless you plan to kill him, there's no getting him out of this cell. And, should you truly be foolish enough to do that, you will have every automaton in this quadrant swarming you within the minute. Even I wouldn't risk it."

Shavvir looked towards the drow, sorrow creeping into her features. "It's not worth it, Phyrra. I owe him too...but we need to reconvene with the others."

"I know, but - "...but she still wanted to keep her promise, to keep him safe...and now, she couldn't. Somewhere within her mind she knew that but was actively pushing it away, trying to live the false hope that somehow, Lance could escape with them...notably, alive. "Okay. Molag, get us out of here."

"Good. Now you're thinking rationally. Make no mistake, I would save Lance if I could, but it's simply not feasible. What is this about 'others'?"

"Let's talk once we're out of this place. I'd feel a lot more comfortable if my magic wasn't so suppressed." The trio began walking out of the chamber, Molag eyeing the other nine cells in solitary confinement as well. He only recognized one name...they'd crossed paths many, many times, nearly killed each other dozens of times...it seemed only fitting that she be here too.

"Let me ask you something. I expected Lance to make his way here, eventually. But what business do you have in Carceri, because I know every face I've ever met, and neither of you are familiar.

"Are you aware of Empyria?"

"Of what?"

"Oh great." Shavvir shook her head. "This will take a while. Let's get outside first."

Molag nodded. "With pleasure." He moved to the door, finding the ripped-off warden's hand lodged in place. "We're going to have to find a new one, you know."

"Why?"

He laughed. "Because this is Carceri. It's built by its very foundation to keep people trapped within. You think the architect didn't anticipate ripping off a warden's hand? I'm surprised it even worked to get you this far. If you want to be truly safe around here, you have to subdue the entire creature. For now, we're outside, and we have the magic your "god" gave to you...so why don't you fill me in on this "Empyria."

"We will, but first…" Phyrra searched her belongings...Lance had the Sending Stone. They didn't have a way of contacting the others.

"Looking for this?" Molag unveiled it from...somewhere. How, the Drow didn't even want to know. "I told you. Whatever you think this divine being gave you, all of it can be replicated by gene experimentation. I can prove it." Molag handed over the stone, a confident smirk resting on his features.

Phyrra ripped it from his hands, holding the stone to her mouth...she didn't bother answering him. "Wake. Zaelynir. Are you there?"

"What happened to Lance? Wake can barely walk!" Zaelynir actually sounded frantic on the other end of the stone.

"We're coming to you, just stay safe in the meantime. I'll get him fixed up. We need to find a new key, but once we're there...just stay safe and stay put.

Another voice came through...it was Wake's. "No can do, Phyrra, we're in a bit of a bind. Protect the others."

Phyrra's voice grew frantic. "What is happening over there Wake. What do you mean?"

"I mean we're - " Wake was cut off by a fireball erupting just outside the edge of his vision, his ears ringing for several seconds by the pyre of flame.

As soon as they'd split from the group, they'd encountered nothing but trouble. Warden's had plagued them several times over, clusters of two or three assailing them at somewhat regular intervals. With only half their group to fight back, progress had been incredibly slow. Zaelynir was doing the bulk of the work, spells flying from his hands as eruptions battered the walls. He'd summoned his demon again, the one they'd used as a diversion back in Acheron...it fought alongside Maul, something the warforged was clearly apprehensive about. Wake had been staying towards the back of the group, a volley of arrows pelting everything that he could catch.

That was, until they got ambushed. Two had come from the front, Maul and the shadow demon instantly locking onto them and preventing further advances, but the two that came only seconds later from behind them had free reign on both Wake and Zaelynir. The two maneuvered as best as they could, up until Wake fell to the ground. It was like a knife had been lodged directly into his heart, searing pain melting his skin alive as he writhed on the ground in agony, barely able to concentrate on the simplest of tasks. The others had mobilized around him when the Sending Stone message came through...and Zaelynir turned up the heat.

"Maul, grab our friend here...and grab onto something."

"Orders received. Enacting preventative countermeasures." Maul shoved off the warden with his shield, taking a swipe to the back as he knelt down and picked up Wake before running towards the nearest wall, leaping to the air as he grasped one of the torches. It creaked under his weight but held fast, the metal sconce holding it sturdy enough for even one of his bulk.

"Good...now, kneel!" Zaelynir thrust his hands to the ground as the entire floor started shaking, fissures ripping open in the floors as the wardens were pulled inwards, falling dozens of feet before crashing into the new floor. The walls themselves even buckled under the assault, though the smooth metal did not break - only creak and bend.

"Now loves, let's make a quick escape while we can." Zaelynir unfurled his wings, taking to the air as Maul descended to the still-thunderous ground, placing his steps carefully. More fissures opened up but Zaelynir steered them away from the warforged, instead creating clear divides that made getting to Maul that much more difficult. After a minute or two of traversal the incubus stopped, setting to the ground as Maul offloaded Wake to the ground. He had recovered somewhat, his body still wracked by occasional fits of pain, but otherwise still and silent.

Maul grabbed the Sending Stone from the archer, holding it up to his mouth. "Status: unassailed. Requesting additional necessary details."

The response came almost instantly, a clear sound of relief in Phyrra's voice. "Good, you're safe. We have Molag, but in order to get him Lance had to lock himself up instead. The restraints did are highly debilitating. We're safe now, but we lost the warden's key entering Molag's cell. We can try to find one and make it to you, or you all can find us now."

Zaelynir moved towards the stone, responding. "Well darling, where exactly do you plan on doing now? You've done your task, and we've barely started ours. Seems someone's being rather...needy?"

Zaelynir smirked as he heard the sigh come through on the other end. "We'll be at your location as soon as we can."

"Much appreciated, darling. We'll be waiting." The incubus put down the stone, turning back to his two companions. "So...where exactly next? We haven't exactly had much success yet."

"River...Styx." Wake uttered the words through his limp form, still wheezing each and every strained breath. He reached into his pocket, finding the two Boatman's coins that he had left...he'd only said that he had one left back when they were in Acheron, a lie he hoped would prevent their wasteless expenditure...they were the most precious things he carried. After hesitation he pulled out only one coin, handing it to Maul. "Passage to the Abyss."

Maul took the coin and quickly stashed it, nodding. "Understood. Advance recommended." Maul hefted Wake up over his shoulder, Zaelynir starting to continue forward as he held out the Warden's key. Before they'd simply been looking for the exit...and that alone hadn't found them anything. Perhaps searching for the Styx itself might prove more beneficial...or perhaps Carceri wouldn't allow even its own wardens to escape.

However, Zaelynir was quickly proven wrong - the cells they walked past grew more and more infrequent, eventually fading away until only the smooth walls surrounded them. Up ahead, the incubus could see the end of the hallway - one that grew closer and closer, no exists to be seen on the way there.

The duo moved in silence, approaching the door. As they drew near a hole opened up to its side, and the key in Zaelynir's hand began to rearrange itself to fit the new lock. However, the incubus paused, holding up the Sending Stone once more.

"Darling Phyrra, do you have a moment?"

Seconds passed...no response.

Zaelynir sighed. "They must be searching for a new key. I can only hope we won't be as well." Zaelynir plunged the key into the lock, feeling it click in place...he held his breath, turning it as the hallway opened, revealing the outside.

Immediately, it felt like a breath of fresh air to the incubus...his magic was finally free. The harsh aura that had kept him subdued wasn't present from the outside and he took several quick jauntes out. They were still within the confines of the building, a towering wall rising in the distance, but the sky was overhead...and what an interesting one at that. A vibrant swirl of purples, greens, and oranges formed the sky overhead, not a single star in sight amidst the blend of color. The incubus wasn't sure where the light came from that it emitted, but it took only a cursory glance to see that his vision stretched much farther than it could within darkness. Zaelynir held up the Stone once more as Maul followed him outside.

"Phyrra? Zaelynir. Darlings, are you there?"

Even if Phyrra could use the Sending Stone, she was too busy in their current predicament to deal with it at the moment. Several wardens had found them, and their lack of magic made fighting against them...difficult. Their only saving grace was Molag, the assassin's bodily modifications not thwarted by the powers of the realm. He danced around the trio of wardens, no blade in sight...not that he needed one. He seemed to conjure them from the very air itself, daggers made of solid wind plunging into his enemies to great effect, visceral gouts of sparks erupting from the stabs as he pinpointed their clearest weakness. Whenever he found himself in the slightest bit of a bind, he vanished, appearing elsewhere to leave a surgically-accurate strike that debilitated one of wardens. Phyrra simply sat back and watched...she was of little use without her magic, and it seemed as if Molag did not need much help to handle them on his own.

It was only later that she realized that he'd left one of the three completely unharmed, quickly felling the two with two strikes, spines erupting from his back that sunk deep into the warden's thick mail, simultaneously sending both of them to the ground. With the third he turned his attention, a spine ejecting from his wrist that he grabbed, serving as a shiv as he lunged towards it. He ducked out of the way as it swung towards him, appearing behind the warden as he spun quickly, hurling the spine at one of its legs. The armament snapped its leg, the warden quickly putting one hand to the ground in a vain attempt to stay upright and serviceable. Several more spines erupted from along his arm and stayed lodged in place, turning the assassin's forearms into weapons built for shredding. He lunged in close, slashing his arms as he severed the other leg, sending the warden toppling to the ground. He turned his attention towards the arm that bore its key-dagger, spines sliding down his skin until they rested in his hand where he ripped them free. A quick boot to the warden's back wracked its body and he knelt down, the spines seeming to function as...lockpicks? Phyrra wasn't sure, but the movements he was making with his hands were ones she recognized from Lance. In a matter of seconds he stepped back, grabbing the arm at the elbow and pulling - the entire forearm popped loose, a clean separation at the elbow formed from Molag's handiwork. It was more unwieldy than it was heavy, Molag having no issue hefting it up over his shoulder. "This will take us wherever we wish to go. I presume your companions are next on our agenda?"

"You're taking us to them, or you're figuring out a way to get Lance out of his cell. Your choice." Phyrra's eyes narrowed - she didn't want to leave the rogue, but it seemed like she had no choice. Still, she didn't trust Molag...he was clearly hiding something, potentially several things. If anyone could circumvent the rules of Carceri it would be him, but it didn't seem like he was the type to go out of his way for another, even Lance.

"I've told you. His only way out is either to die, or to be exchanged. I'm going to assume you aren't volunteering for the latter, and the former doesn't exactly solve your problem, does it? Now about your companions. Where are we going?"

"They were searching for the way out, and we need to get there. Wake's injured."

"Yes, Lance mentioned that before hurling himself at me. What exactly has my trainee done this time?"

Phyrra looked to the ground, recalling the memory quite well. "He sacrificed himself to let all of us go free. It cost him his soul, however...it had to deal with his blade. To bring him back his brother, Wake, split his soul in half. Now, injuries one suffers are shared with the other. Sadly, it doesn't seem like healing works the same way."

"Noted. We can - "

Morag was interrupted by the Sending Stone going off once again. "Phyrra dear, are you there?"

The drow fumbled for the Sending Stone, holding it up. "We're here Zaelynir...we have our spare key now. What's your situation."

"Well darling, we found one of those doors that consumes its key. We've found the outside...the others have gone ahead, but I felt someone must keep you informed. I don't know if your fancy compass will find us outside, but if not search for the River Styx...it took us to here."

"The River Styx? Is that your plan out of here?" Molag interjected, moving closer to the Stone."

There was an audible purr on the other side from Zaelynir...Phyrra simply closed her eyes and shook her head, not wanting to imagine the expression the incubus must have made to warrant such a noise. "Oh dear...you must be Molag, how charming. Yes, we have a Boatman's Coin. Once everyone's reconvened, we'll be making it to the Abyss. Care to join?"

Molag furrowed his brow, not directly responding to the incubus. "I've been informed on your mission with Empyria, and I have no desire to play a part in it. I will accompany your lot to my departure, but that is the last that we will see of each other."

"Very well, darling...I'm sure we'll make the most of what little time we've got. Anyways yes, the River Styx is our way of making our leave. Follow that to escape here."

"And what of what lies beyond? Clearly you have not left yet, which means there is yet more in your journey. What more do you hide, demon?"

Zaelynir stuttered out a response. "I - well, the others will know, I'm simply keeping the rest informed. On that note...I do believe I hear a bit of a commotion. Find us."

"What happened?" Shavvir called out to the Stone, garnering no response...it seemed whatever had stirred the incubus was truly important. The shadar-kai turned to the others, a look of urgency in her eyes. "Let's go. We've already lost one...I'm not going to let any others go." She prodded Molag, earning a look of pure anger from the assassin's visage.

"Well then. Let us find the River Styx, yes?" He started walking, the warden's arm still slung over his shoulder as he went. Their travel was quiet, no wardens coming to disturb them as they began walking. Their journey didn't take long - within a minute, they found themselves at the end of a hallway very reminiscent of the one that led to solitary confinement, the only differentiation being that this one lacked the telltale silvered lettering above the door. Molag slung the warden's arm forward, the dagger reforming itself as it neared the keyhole that formed. The assassin pushed it forward, the key lodging firmly in place with a click as the door opened before them.

Much like the other group, a painted sky of oranges and purples sprawled out before them, a striking vibrance compared to the simple and harsh features of the interior of the prison. The externals of it were of much the same design, however, a towering outer wall stretching up towards the sky a good way's out before them. More walls lined the corridor that had opened up, a stone floor spilling out before them in contrast to the metal they'd previously been on. To Shavvir and Phyrra, the opening of the door also brought with it a flood of divine vigor, Lolth's power and energy returning to the two women now that they'd left the prison proper. For Molag...he simply remained quiet, still remaining inside the prison.

Shavvir turned towards him, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "And when you said this would be more useful to us...how exactly is that so?"

Molag gave a wry smile. "Observe." He took a half-step back, aligning his hand with the end of the warden's arm, grabbing hold of some of its internal mechanisms and ripping them free. He plunged his hand inside, repeating the process several times as he hollowed it out, eventually hilting himself at the shoulder as he reached inside. There, he fished around, finding the mechanisms he was searching for...he twisted his wrist, the warden's arm turning with it as the key changed shape, thinning out and returning to its original dagger form as he pulled it out. "Quickly now, lest it closes on us." The three moved forward and outside, the door closing behind them a few seconds later.

"How did you know about that?" Phyrra narrowed her eyes.

"I spent years of my life researching this place, knowing I would one day be sent here. I wished to be the first to escape Carceri - to etch my name into legend by doing so. There is little I don't know about this place."

"Where did you learn it? We have...a gift. A source of knowledge that answers all of our questions, and it told us none have ever escaped. If that's true, how can anyone know what is inside?"

"I'm afraid you won't be learning where I get my intel from - that's mine to keep. All you need to concern yourself with is that I've been right thus far." Molag looked around, seeing themselves in a sprawling courtyard. There was no sign of anyone besides the three of them in sight, but the towering walls close to them on either flank made it look like there was more to this place than what they could see. "Given that your friends didn't have a true key, I suspect we found a different exit than them. That, and there's no sign of them."

Phyrra nodded. "Right." She held up the Stone, speaking into it once more. "Zaelynir, we're outside. Where are you?"

"Oh dear, we're having a blast. I don't see you though...I guess that should stop surprising me anymore."

"Is Wake still holding on?"

The incubus chuckled. "Oh I think so. Maul's taking care of him, I'm finally letting these wings of mine loose. I take it you haven't found the defenses yet, no?"

There was a short pause on the Sending Stone before Shavvir responded. "Zaelynir we just got outside and haven't seen anything yet. What should we be expecting?"

"Oh hello darling, good to hear you're still with us. And oh...just the sentries." Zaelynir flew out of the way as a spear the size of a battering ram flew at him, swooping low as it sailed overhead. The next one he easily dodged as well, flying towards the two sentries perched atop the massive outer wall. They'd picked them up as Maul had stepped forward, the warforged much more vulnerable on the ground than Zaelynir was in the air. Now that he was finally free to wield his magic he did so with reckless intent, hurling arcs of fire through the air as he easily weaved around the projectiles launched his way. After a heavy barrage, the first of three sentries finally crumbled, a firebolt breaking its base as the entire thing plummeted the long, long journey to the ground.

Maul took it from there, slamming his weapon into the construct with thunderous force. It took several iterations before the warforged saw progress, dents and cracks forming in the wood and metal until it was busted beyond functionality. The entire time he was still wary, Zaelynir's antics drawing most, but not all, of the attention. Spears came his way, large enough to immobilize him should they strike through his chest. They needed to move quickly or else become surrounded - it was clear that they were not as free as they had initially thought upon reaching the outside.

Up above, Zaelynir continued swerving and soaring out of the way, sending another sentry crumbling to the ground. It was hard to tell just how many were left - the towering wall in the difference didn't seem to be getting any closer, and he could see them lined up along the walls at regular intervals. There wasn't a way out of here at their current pace...they needed a change of plans.

The incubus swooped down to Maul, dodging another spear on his way down. "I do think we're in a bit over our heads here, yes? I'm delighted at the prospect of throwing fire at everything and anything that comes our way, but at some point we're going to run out of fight."

Maul looked backwards, the door still open behind them from where they'd left the key trapped in its lock. "Retreat feasible, halting objective. Rendezvous greatest priority. Companion whereabouts unknown."

Zaelynir had only gotten slightly better at understanding Maul...but enough that he could piece it together. "Yes, the others seem to have found a different exit. I don't know how we'll go about finding just where they are though...for all we know, the outside is just as convoluted as the inside."

"Aerial reconnaissance advised. Defensive procedures enacted." Maul finished the statement by getting to one knee, holding his shield out as a spear came flying at him once more. He parried it as it collided with the shield, sending it burrowing into the ground next to him.

Zaelynir didn't wait for a second opinion, beating his wings as he took to the sky. Higher and higher he flew, soaring up to, and then passing, the walls. He hadn't had time to look around thus far, focused solely on the assaults that had been plaguing them. Still, higher he flew until he was out of reach of the projectiles, taking a moment to survey the area.

The prison behind them was huge...he wasn't going to go so far as to say "limitless", but the thought did cross his mind. There was an end to it, a distinction as it neared the horizon, but it was out there...it was miles long, at the very least. At its edges, he could see more lanes like the one that he was in right now - he could count at least five on this side of the prison, with equally as many on the other sides. At this height, it was impossible to see if there was movement in the other lanes. He could tell something was beyond the lanes, but from this height it was impossible to make out any details of it. They needed to reconvene, to get out of here as a unit.

"Phyrra darling...are you there?"

"We are. Are you okay?"

Zaelynir nodded out of reflex, knowing full well the drow couldn't see. "Maul is taking cover. I'm in the air trying to find you all...there's a couple dozen lanes like the one. It might be easier for you all to try to find our exit through the prison itself, this place is too large to navigate from the outside."

There was a pause on the other end for a good while, Shavvir eventually answering. "And what would we do differently than what we did before? We searched for what you told us to find, and it led us here."

"Dearie I don't know, this place is as unfamiliar to me as it is to you! You're the one with the convict with you."

As soon as Zaelynir finished speaking Molag responded, that deep voice swooning the incubus once more. "Every gate here is tagged. Go back to your exit and find it, that will help us navigate to you."

"Why hello again handsome...give me just a moment, I'll find what you're looking for." Zaelynir dropped into a dive, wings curling tight against his back as he began plummeting towards the ground...the rush of flying never got old, and a fall from this height wasn't something he got to do often. The ground raced closer and closer until he snapped and unfurled his wings, slowing to a dramatic halt as he gently landed on the ground by the still-ajar door. His eyes scanned the outer perimeter of it, noting all manner of sigils in the same silvery-illusory script as what was on the cells. Zaelynir immediately could read the language, a strange mix of Infernal and Abyssal...something he'd had practice reading from his days of intrigue. And yet, despite that training… "Molag darling, what am I looking for. This makes no sense." It was all random gibberish, as if a child had written it.

"What is the last word? The door names are changed every time there's an attempted escape and they make it this far...the old ones are still there."

"Oh wonderful...good to know fourteen people made it this far only to fail. The word you're looking for is "Endeavor."

"Excellent. We will arrive shortly. Make your advance in the meantime."

Molag turned away, looking back towards the door. It hadn't been long since they'd been outside...and yet, it seemed the path forward was to retreat once again. "Let us not waste any time. Yes?"

Shavvir nodded. "Agreed. Once we reconvene, we can formulate our escape."

With that Molag strode towards the door, hefting the warden's arm once more and inserting it into the keyhole that formed. He looked at his own door for reference, should they need it in the future…"Charity."

The door flung open...and immediately, Molag recoiled. No less than five wardens were barrelling down the hall towards them, each armed with weaponry that even he hadn't heard about during his preparations...perhaps he had been in here for too long. Molag stopped in his tracks, only to hear the sound of a sentry firing from behind them, Phyrra jumping out of the way in order to avoid being impaled.

"Correction. Defend yourselves first." Molag immediately unfurled a spine from his arm, ripping it out as the wound immediately sealed. From behind him, a blast of radiant energy arced forward - only to be stopped dead in its tracks at the doorway by the suppression effect of the jail.

"Molag let them filter out. We have better odds then."

The assassin nodded, taking a few defensive steps back...this was too many, even for him. Incomplete information about his adversaries was never a good sign...he needed to gather info and quickly, lest he fail to be the first to escape Carceri.

Shavvir took the first stand, donning her spectral armor as a suit formed around her, the spider's icy embrace wrapping around her. She charged forward as the first of the wardens crashed through the doorway, ducking out of the way as it swiped at her. It had something on its arm...it wasn't like the others that they'd seen. Whereas before they'd seemed fitted for their standard duties, these were armed with tools for suppression - one hit could be all it took. Lightning crackled up its wooden arm from a tool fitted to its wrist, Shavvir blocking its punch with Everlife before quickly countering, slashing at its chest before retreating.

Phyrra kept an eye out for their rear, knowing full well that losing track of the sentries on the walls behind them could prove fatal. She scooted closer to Shavvir, waiting for the wardens to all funnel through the door before exerting her will on one of them - it seemed equipped with the most armaments, one hand wreathed in lightning while it had javelins strapped to its back in holsters that the drow could only assume would shoot them, its other arm seemingly retrofitted with a sort of hammer...whatever it was equipped to do, Phyrra didn't want to find out. She focused on the monster, forcing her will over it...and in its moment of weakness, succeeded. Its movements went rigid as Phyrra began puppetting it, forcing it to run through the masses towards her.

"Defend." She issued the command telepathically, the warden instantly obeying. A javelin launched from its back towards a missile from one of the sentries, obliterating it from the air as it kept watch.

Molag actually looked impressed...while he could certainly replicate the maneuver himself, thanks in part to the mindflayer organs that he had been spliced with some time ago, he was willing to let the drow believe that she was…"gifted." He charged forward, throwing his spine towards one of the wardens, slipping past its defenses and striking near its core. He ran forward, falling to the ground and sliding underneath it as he took Blink and threw it behind him, forming another spine as he did. As soon as Blink impacted the warden he warped to it, leaping onto its back and wrenching the dagger free, hurling his spine into the small hole that he had made. As soon as the flurry of attacks was done it fell to the ground, twitching sporadically...it likely wasn't dead, but it wasn't a -

Molag completely missed the sixth warden, still a fair ways into the hallway of the jail proper. Its javelin slammed into his shoulder, catching him off guard for just long enough that the warden nearest to him could punch him, the electric shock running through its arm.

Molag fell to the floor, convulsing from the current running through him. Shavvir ran over, flailing Everlife furiously at the Warden closest to him. Phyrra held out her hand, a pillar of holy flames descending upon the swarm of wardens as it scorched the wood and charred the metals of their bodies, all in a desperate attempt to keep them at bay.

And yet, more kept coming. She could see two more coming from down the halls, a total of eight now against the two of them...it wasn't happening. Within only a few seconds Phyrra's armor shattered, pulverized by the wardens as she tried to deflect the multitude of heavy strikes coming at her. In a desperate attempt she banished one, shunting off to places untold as its absence opened a pocket for her to escape through, running back to Phyrra who stood fast, holding the line...or so she thought.

As soon as Shavvir retreated, one of the wardens grabbed Molag, throwing the assassin over its shoulder as if he was made of feathers. It turned around, retreating back towards the prison, the others quickly following behind. The door closed behind them, leaving Phyrra and Shavvir alone...mostly. They still had the one Phyrra had dominated, as well as the arm Molag had grabbed...perhaps, that just might be enough.

Begrudgingly, Phyrra reached for the Sending Stone. "Zaelyinr?"

"Yes darling?"

"We lost Molag."

There was a long pause on the other end of the Stone, until the incubus finally responded. "That's quite unfortunate. No Molag and no Lance?"

Shavvir responded quickly, interjecting Phyrra. "What's the plan? We can get them back...probably. Or we can come to you."

"We're having a bit of an issue over here, as it is. I think it might be wise to retrieve your assassin before rendezvousing with us."

Shavvir looked at Phyrra, pushing the Stone aside for the moment. "We have what we need. You control that warden. Hells, we can even masquerade as prisoners being taken in. It might be the first time we can get through this place without everything trying to murder us."

"Yes...but we're wasting so much time. Empyria...it might…"

Shavvir nodded. "I know...we might be out of time. But, as much as I don't trust him, I think we need Molag if we're to all get out of here."

Phyrra let out a drawn-out sigh...she didn't want to agree with Shavvir, but the shadar-kai was right. Molag clearly knew this plane. He would be invaluable in escaping.

"Phyrra? Shavvir?" It was Zaelynir coming in through the Stone.

"We're going to go silent for a bit, Zaelynir. We're going back inside."

"Alright dearies...do try not to take too long."

Phyrra put away the stone, turning towards the warden she still controlled. "Lead me to where they're taking him. Now."

Final chapter of the Carceri arc coming to you next time. Since it'll probably be long enough, have a safe holiday season and catch you readers again in 2021.