Which way?

Heading down another tunnel, the party found a staircase leading up to the prison. Upon stepping off the staircase, the polymorph ritual was dispelled and they all reverted to their normal appearance.

Carefully searching the storeroom they ascended into, they found little of interest and moved on, passing into an access hallway that also had a door opening into the unused kitchen. Another door, at the end of the hall opened into the main hallway of the first floor of the prison.

As the party debated tactics, Ekeraath grew impatient and opened the door. Fortunately for everyone, the corridor was empty. From the sound coming from across the way, it sounded like most of them were engaged in a loud party. The party quietly crept to the left, toward the stairs up, hopefully to the cells holding Rard. Halfway up the stairs, they heard grunting and hissing coming from above...the guard station was manned!

Quickly retracing their steps, they headed to the far end of the hallway, intent on exploring the main level. Here too, they encountered a manned guard station, but with some basic tactics and surprise, the guards were quickly dispatched and their bodies were hidden away.