Nurthrak once again threw his full weight and strength against the steel chains that held him. There was a slight sound of groaning from the chains, a sense of metal twisting, but still the chains held fast.
He felt the danger of the situation acutely. Even though his captives were obviously dead or fled their intention had been obvious and their tortures pitiful. These Drow, however, he knew next to nothing about. What they intended was a mystery. He had dealt with Drow before, of course, and had seen their cruelty, though he'd never felt it first hand. The Children of Lolth were not nearly as brutal and crude as his own people. No, where a Troll would usually kill swiftly and gorge himself on the carcass a Drow would, if they had the time and inclination, play with their prey to maximize its pain and terror, taking pleasure from its pain. They knew a thousand ways of torture, and a thousand ways to kill. He had always admired those facets of Drow culture, but he had no desire to be at the recieving end. On the battlefield he knew no fear for any foe but caught in an iron web and held helpless like a fly before the spider...
Again he pitted his strength against the chains, first in a fury of rage than systematically, trying chain after chain, thinking feverously of stresses and fulcrums and metal tiredness, but knowing very little of such things failed again.
There had been Ferach insignia on the clothing of the Drow male. but what would be their reason for coming here? Ferach was a weakened house so why would they send such powerful warriors so far from their territory? The risk for the house would not be negligible and one does not take a risk without a potential reward of greater value. Other Drow had passed this way before, peacefully, likely searching for that same reward. That might give him the angle he needed... yes, that would help.
When he saw the Drow female, with the look of a priestess of Lolth, he smiled around his gag and inclined his head as a sign of respect. He then waited calmly, studing her carefully with his eyes of poisoned gold.