<span style="font-style: italic">Drow... why did it have to be Drow?</span>The question runs through Lorelei's mind in an endless loop as she stares through the bars of her cage, idly fingering the bracelet at her wrist. That it was Drow who put her in here is certain - while the exact circumstances of her capture are still a mystery, she clearly recalls the bright light that struck her unconscious. Drow magic, without a doubt. Hardly sporting of them to do such a thing, though after chasing her for five months around the continent... More to the point though, it raises the question:  if they'd had the means all along, why not simply seize her from the very beginning, before she'd suspected? What are they<span style="font-style: italic">really</span>after? The entire situation is curious, and with no answers forthcoming, Lorelei has had little to do but brood on her captivity for the past three days.<br/><br/>Well, that and cheering her fellow captives. After all, dismal prisoners will be no use when it's time to thwart the Drow.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Tiss wrote:</cite>"How in the hell did they ever get me...I don't understand. Just the light, and then, suddenly, here....this sucks..."</div></blockquote><br/>"Oh, don't be in such a tizzy, Miss Tissy!" Lorelei says, giggling as though her pun were fresh and clever, rather than the same line she's repeated<span style="font-style: italic">ad nauseam</span>since it occurred to her just after her arrival. "If worst comes to worst, I can always share my emergency rations." She gives the white-furred ball in her lab a prod, met with a small<span style="font-size: 85%; line-height: 116%;">'dook?'</span>as Niketu uncurls himself from his nap. The cheerful query becomes a chirp of alarm as Lorelei scoops him up by his scruff, presenting him to Tiss for inspection."Such a plump little fellow, isn't he?" she suggests as she turns to show off Niketu's profile. "I think he could be at least two meals, maybe three at a stretch."<br/><br/>Despite his coloration, Niketu does a good approximation of blanching in terror at his mistress's declaration. With a tiny squeal, he begins kicking frantically against Lorelei's bare arm. Lorelei simply chuckles, pulling her familiar/pet/ration into a breathless hug. "Oh, silly woozums!" she coos. "Mommy was just making fun. Mommy wouldn't dream of hurting her Nikki unless it was a<span style="font-style: italic">very</span>serious  emergency. I won't be<span style="font-style: italic">that</span>hungry for... oh, two days, at least."<br/><br/>"<span style="font-size: 85%; line-height: 116%;">Eeee...</span>" Niketu whines.<br/><br/>"Besides," Lorelei announces to her companions, "I'm sure Mab will come to help us when the time is right. Why, any day now, one of these Drow will slip up, and we'll have our escape and dinner at once!" The young elf nods with determination, cheerfully ignoring the dozen or so times the same prediction has failed to come true since her arrival. And, if it were up to her, that would be that - back to waiting, watching and brooding, with another sunny prediction for her comrades in twelve hours or so.<br/><br/>But, to her surprise, someone answers. The bridled canine - Jellybaby, was it? - speaks, up, distracting Lorelei from her rumination. Quickly, she finds herself nodding in agreement with his assessment of the situation: powerful, magically inclined, well-funded, and deep in the slave trade... whoever this Jelly-fellow is, he certainly knows his Drow. Whether knowledge will translate into success, though, remains to be seen.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Jelani wrote:</cite>"So, what's everyone got? We need to pool what resources we can."</div></blockquote><br/>"I've got Nikki," Lorelei suggests, once again presenting her addled familiar. "He may not look it, but he's actually quite clever. If we can distract the guards long enough, he might be able to snatch a key. I'd simply hex them unconscious and take it, but this damnable manacle..." she puffs her cheeks, glaring at the tiny ring of metal sealing her off from her queen. Oh, if only she could reach Mab, this would all be so easy!