The Chained Man

What is knowledge?

The Chained Man was a particularly gruesome portion of The Maze.

History

The party encountered him in a hallway that was completely dark until torches were extinguished. "As you snuff out this torch you hear the fire go out, and you hear the softest voice along with this. It almost sounds like the same little pff that you get when the fire is extinguished, and it happens simultaneously with the torch going out. A small amount of light returns to the hallway, and you have this word from a voice buried with the flame. “What…” “As another torch is extinguished more light returns to the hallway, and you hear another word with this torch’s departure, “Is…” “Another torch goes out, this time you didn’t even remember taking the time to extinguish it...and as it goes out you again here a very gentle voice though you also here a couple of soft clicks with the voice, “Knowledge…” “With this last torch going out the end of the hallway to your left is partially illuminated. There is still a great deal of darkness shrowding sections of hallway, though the end is illuminated to the point that a figure can be seen chained to the wall and hunched over"

The party was able to approach this man after this series of events and witnessed some more horrors. “As you approach him, the man shifts in place, straining and causing the chains to rattle and echo down the hall behind you. You can hear amongst these echoes more soft clicking similar to when the last torch was snuffed out though more rapid and intense. The man speaks, his words separated by cries of anguish, head still slouched over and face still unscene.” “What is knowledge?”

Behind this Chained Man was a hidden door which led to The King. Many theories have been presented about this positioning and the Chained Man in general:

The King is keeping him prisoner.
He's a sign from Ilmater.
He's related to the Chittering Spirit somehow.
He's connected to an ancient Elven expedition into the Spirit World, or perhaps even the L’huine.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

The Chained Man was, as the name suggests, chained to a wall and hunched over. His arms were pulled back while his torso was jutting forward, head slumped as though unable to be supported anymore, and his legs were bent as though straining for a more comfortable position, but was unable to make it fully to a seated or kneeling posture. Everything about him looked full of agony. When he looked up at the adventurers they did notice that his eyes were bloodshot, punctures in his forehead were oozing with blood and the rags that were once his clothes hung loosely from his emaciated frame. Strange, insect-like mandibles protruded from either side of his mouth. He was positioned just in front of a hidden door which was later discovered by Hysteria.

Special abilities

The Travelers, particularly Kaswink, attempted to relieve him of his agony. When she fired the bolt from her crossbow the rest of the group witnessed it vanish into the man's skull. Kaswink did not remember even loading the crossbow after this, let alone firing it at the man. She attempted to break his neck, however, the man's head and neck twisted around again to an even worse state as he continued to breathe and moan stating that "it won't let me die."