Price drives a knife-hand strike at the sitting guard's throat. It's difficult to scream with a paralyzed larynx.
Morthos= Attack
Inelukii= RTA
Asturu= Attack
Timo= Attack
Affyria= Demoralize Guard #2 is Shaken for 1 round.
Price= Attack
Daedalus= ???
The villains press their attack but the success they enjoyed in their initial round seems to have faded entirely. Every single attack misses or bounces off the guard's armor! Despite this, Affyria's threats manage to rattle the guard next to Price.
Grumblejack comes into the room and smashes the guard between him and Timo. His fist slams into the guard's shoulder and clangs against armor.
For their parts, the guards draw their swords , two of them take 5' steps, and then they counterattack.
The guards attacking Timo both miss badly, rattled by Grumblejack's assault, while the guard in the corner fights madly for his life, managing a savage strike against Morthos!
Guard 1 (top-right corner)= -6 hp
Guard 2 (flanked by Timo and Price)= Shaken (will wear off at beginning of his turn)
Guard 3 (closest to the fireplace)= -4 hp
Guard 4= Dead
INeluki aims a sonic scream at the guard flanked by Timo and Price...
[doce=to hit, rta]1d20+2-4[/dice]
ack... too hard to format on phone... will reroll when i get home
When he first enters, Daidalos spends a few seconds analyzing the room, observing the conflict unfold. However, he soon spies a potential downfall, and, stretching out his hand, mutters a phrase (lost in the sound of the room) and pulls the alarm horn to himself, moving around the edge of the room to get close enough.
Price curses her incompetence and presses the attack on the guard between her and Timo, firing a fast kick at the man's groin.
Taking a wicked cut from the guard, Morthos attempts to return the favor.
Morthos and Timo's strike--initially looking like missed blows--manage to find a gap in the guards' armor! Morthos's blow drops the first guard by the door, while Timo's brings his foe to within an inch of his life.
Guard 1 (top-right corner)= DEAD
Guard 2 (flanked by Timo and Price)= Shaken (will wear off at beginning of his turn)
Guard 3 (closest to the fireplace)= -12 hp
Guard 4= Dead
Dodging sword swings sends adrenaline surging through his veins, as Timo's eyes take on a distinct red color. "You'll have to do better than that. Let me show you," Timo says as he attempt to strike the killing blow on the wounded guard.
Affyria continues to torment the remaining guard. "Your friends are all dead, surrender and we might let you keep your worthless life, human."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Whereas his feeble attempts to strike the guard failed, hampered by manacle-and-chain induced muscle aches, the ogre's massive fist had little trouble finding soft flesh and breakable bone. With the guard out of the way, Asturu quickly rushed forward to help out Timo.
Morthos= Attack
Inelukii= RTA
Asturu= Attack
Timo= Attack
Affyria= Demoralize
Price= Attack
Daedalus= Make Hand to secure the horn
Morthos, perhaps confused by some strange time warping deja vu, misses in his strike as do Inelukii and Asturu. Timo, however, seems like a creature possessed. Armed solely with a dagger, he swipes at the injured guard in a feint then brings the dagger up from below, through the guard's jaw and drives to point deep into the man's brain. The guard's eyes go wide in shock--then freeze there in death as he crumples to the ground.
Price delivers a nasty strike the remaining guard while Affyria makes sure he knows exactly what fate is about to befall him.
Grumblejack takes a step away from the last of the guards, picks up one of the fallen guards' longswords, then uses it to attack.
The sword comes down smashing into the stone floor. Sparks and chips of stone fly, but the guard is unharmed by the strike.
Still, the cumulative slaughter and might arrayed against him has an effect. He drops his sword and falls to his knees. "By Mitra's grace, spare me! Please! I have a wife and kids! I'm just doing a job!"
"Good to see at least one of you has some sense rattling around in their skull. Now tell me, how many guards are in the prison? What other defenses can we expect? Do you have an armory somewhere?" Affyria questions the guard.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Timo pulls the dagger from the man's head and turns to find his next victim only to see the fighting was over. "That was easy..." he mutters with a hint of disappointment as his battle lust drains and his eyes return to their normal color. Timo then hears Affyria asking the remaining guard some sound questions and gives her a nod of approval, "Excellent, we have some tactical thinkers in this group. We may just make it out of here."
Leaving the questioning to her, Timo proceeds to strip the fallen guards of anything that might be of use in their escape.
The guard is practically blubbering, tears streaming down his face and you think... yes, he's pissed himself, a puddle slowing growing around his feet.
"How many... I don't... I'm not... Um, I guess, maybe twenty? On the walls, gatehouse, barracks, bridge. And dogs! We've got dogs patrolling the courtyard. And the warden. There is an armory, of course, but the sergeant has the keys. You can't get in without the keys. Oh please, please, spare me! Tie me up, I won't talk, I promise!"
Price helps with stripping the guards of weapons, armor, tabards, and anything else of use and then creeps down the stairs quietly on all fours to set the watch. She makes a point of snuffing any light sources on the stairs to give her more of an edge.
Grumblejack surveys the carnage in the room and seems pleased. When Timo is done with one of the bodies, the ogre takes a step -- practically crossing half the room with just a single stride -- and nudges the corpse this way and that. Finally making a decision, he presses one foot against the dead guard's chest to hold it in place, then with one hand he extends one of the corpse's arms and with a swipe any butcher would be envious of chops the arm off with the longsword.
Lifting up the arm, he peels off any remnants of clothing, then begins to eat. After a couple of bites, he lets out a satisfied sigh, then continues chomping at it while watching Affyria interrogate the survivor.
Price positions herself near the stairs and a quick inspection reveals they lead down into a small room. A door, presently closed, is on the north wall.
Affyria groans as she grabs the guard by his collar. "Oh please, stop your blubbering. Where is the warden? Where is the sergeant? Where is the armory?"
Timo picks up one of the longswords, testing its heft, "Not bad, would prefer something bigger but this will do. He then dons one of the chain shirts.
The survivor's eyes go wide as he watches the ogre casually begin eating the dismembered arm of a man he'd just moments ago been talking to. His jaw flaps uselessly for a moment with hardly a sound coming out before his attention is physically snapped back to Affyria as she shakes him by the collar.
"I... Oh Mitra... The armory is downstairs. End of the hall. Left. Tomas is first door on left. I... oh don't eat me, don't let him eat me... Warden is in his tower, south side of the courtyard."
Affyria smiles sweetly. "Thanks for the information, you've been ever so helpful." She then grabs one of the clubs and without a moment's thought, smashes the guard in the side of the face hard.
After donning one of the chain shirts and picking up a shield, Affyria says, "I say we pay this sergeant Tomas a visit first. Leaderless, these guards will be much easier prey. I think, after that, a visit to the armory might be helpful."
"Well, it's nice to know somebody has some common sense. I'll vouch for you, help you get out alive. Unlike these bloodthirsty brutes," he indicates the others, "I respect your common sense, and recognize your value to society. You help us get out of here, you live. You double-cross us, and Grumblejack gets you. While you're still alive. Got it?" when Affyria moves to bash the guard into unconsciousness, Daidalos attempts to grab her wrist to stop the movement. While his grip isn't strong enough to actually stop her, he hopes she takes the cue.
Once that's done, he enters the next-door room and searches it for anything valuable, pocketing one of the keys.
"Perhaps we should take this 'prisoner' with us... he might prove useful getting us past checkpoints for example... and if he ever becomes a liability, by treachery for example, Grumblejack here can eat him alive."
Ineluki will take that offered dagger with a nod of thanks, and a guard's tabard as well as some decent clothing if they were wearing anything under their armor...
...as well as some decent clothing if they were wearing anything under their armor...
Daidalos likewise puts on better clothes.
As he looks to the guard through narrowed eyes, "Very good, Inelukii, we will take him with us to aid us in our cause. And Daidalos has it right, you WILL help us as long as necessary and if you betray us in any way, well, then I believe you have had more than enough warnings about your fate." He cuts his eyes over toward the hungry ogre and back to the guard. "Now that you clearly understand the position you are in, we have an armory to find." Morthos will proceed to take armor, a weapon and a shield and ready himself. "If any of you prefer such a pathetic weapon," he says, offering up the dagger, "it is yours." If no one decides to take it, he throws it on the ground.
Once he's managed to get his newly acquired armor on, "Much better." He then pulls the guard up from the floor and prods him with the edge of his blade. "Now, this 'Tomas' fellow, will he be alone or does he have guards with him? If so, how many?" he asks just before he heads down stairs right behind Price.
Asturu mutters something about sizes while putting on some new clothes and a chainshirt. The belt he straps on last before presenting himself to the others. "How do I look?" he asks his fellow escapees. "Could I pass along as a guard like this?"
Affyria swings the club into the guards face, sending him crashing to the ground. He stays there, mewling and crying and uttering mumbled prayers to Mitra. It seems like he barely hears what any of you are saying.
Ineluki will pick up the second dagger as well if no one else does.... can't hurt to have a backup weapon in case he's disarmed... "You look just like one of them... except smarter."
The ogre watches all of this with a bit of blood dribbling down his chin. He wipes it away before swinging the severed arm in the direction of the guard and says, "Tie mouth shut so it not make noise, then Grumblejack carry dinner to go."
Morthos turns his attention to Asturu, examining him a moment. "Clever. I shall take one as well." He then takes a tabard for his own and puts it on. Nodding in agreement, "This may well buy us some time. Well done, Asturu," he says positively, yet, with his steely demeanor it may be difficult to tell.
"Damn you people. Can somebody revive him? I wasn't done with him, and he's going into shock. He can be quite useful, but we need him conscious." He looks at Inelukii, "Mind if I claim that? I'm low on spells, and you already have a dagger. Mind, I'm not good with a blade, but it's better than nothing." He also takes a tabard as part of his clothing, "Well, it's not the worst guise I've adopted, even if it does associate me with Mitra."
"SUre thing.. just didn't want it left behind, it could be useful." He hands the second dagger over to Daidalos. He scratches idly... "I think this guard had fleas dammit... I'm itchy all over now... of course it could just be the stink of all that MItran goodness. Yuck."
The ogre watches all of this with a bit of blood dribbling down his chin. He wipes it away before swinging the severed arm in the direction of the guard and says, "Tie mouth shut so it not make noise, then Grumblejack carry dinner to go."
Rolling his eyes, Morthos glares over at Affyria before turning to Grumblejack. "Grumblejack, eat those two over there," he motions to the dead ones. "We have given our word that this one lives as long as he does not betray us."
Looking back toward the trembling guard on the ground, Morthos can only shake his head. Bending down, "Shut up! NOW! Or our deal is no longer in place and you will be the beasts' next meal!" As he waits for the guard to finally calm, he helps/forces him back to his feet. Speaking to the others a moment, he mainly looks to Affyria as he speaks. "This one is not to be harmed unless he crosses us. Period. The deal has been made and we shall honor it. Besides, one day he will be a subject of mine and if we continue to kill them all off then I will have no subjects. And where is the fun in ruling no one?" he asks plainly and rhetorically. He then returns his attention back to the guard, "Okay, now answer my question. Does 'Tomas' have guards with him and if so, how many?"
"I doubt he will be of any further use to us. In fact, he might be a liability if we bring him along. I say we lock him in one of the cells, and move swiftly, before anyone else has heard our skirmish or comes to check on this guard post," Affyria proposes.
Adressing Morthos, she adds, "If you want to drag him along, he'll be your responsibility."
"I will take responsibility for this one. Now, if you would be kind enough to help me rouse him, I would be greatly obliged. Otherwise, I shall do so myself. However, doing so would be a great strain on my resources, and you will want my help before long."
Daidalos goes down on one knee next to the guard, getting on the level of the guard, "I'm sorry, I think we got off on the wrong track. What's your name, friend? You know us, but I don't know you. All I want is to get out of here. Regardless of what you might have heard about me, I do not wish to see anyone merely doing their job killed. However, I can't say the same about my companions, but if you stick with me, I can keep you safe. If you calm down," his voice is calm and soothing, "You might just make it out of here alive. Back to your family, you understand? Now, you're going into shock, so you need to take a few deep breaths, okay? Now, count to ten slowly with me. One... Two... Three... Four... Five... Six... Seven... Eight... Nine... and ten. Do you feel better now? Remember your family. What's their names? Your wife, how long have you known her? Remember them, can you do that for me?"
Grumblejack shrugs dismissively, tosses the gory dismembered arm into the fireplace, then leans up against the wall while the rest of you decide how to proceed.
The guard's incoherent mutterings begin to slow as his attention comes back to focus on the present. Daidalos's words seem to be helping. "Teresa... Jasper, Antony... I..." He sits up but keeps looking down at the ground. Afraid to see the ogre. To see the men he'd guarded the prison with. "What do you want?" When Morthos asks about the guards with Tomas, he says, "It's a card game in his office, first door on the left. Probably three or four of us with him." His voice is a monotone as a trickle of blood rolls down from the wound where Affyria cracked him with the club.
"I doubt he will be of any further use to us. In fact, he might be a liability if we bring him along. I say we lock him in one of the cells, and move swiftly, before anyone else has heard our skirmish or comes to check on this guard post," Affyria proposes.
Adressing Morthos, she adds, "If you want to drag him along, he'll be your responsibility."
"And we will do exactly that once we are done with him. He will only be a liability if we keep him longer than necessary. Once we have secured the armory and managed all the information we can from him, we shall lock him away. That is agreed."
Observing Diadalos as he attempts to calm the man, he studies the wizard's methods. Interesting. Quite convincing that one. He relates to the fools of this land quite well. A powerful ally he could turn out to be ... we shall see.
Thinking about it, Morthos moves to the weapons cache and takes one of the longbows and some arrows just for good measure.
Daidalos makes a glancing glare at Morthos and his dismissive comments, The fool. I'm trying to calm him down. His comments will only make this harder. He needs practice playing a role if he wants assistance.
Daidalos continues soothing the man, trying to calm the man as he wipes the blood from his wound. He then cuts a bandage from a scrap of spare cloth to bandage the wound, "You're doing just fine, friend. What's your name?" When he answers, Daidalos nods, "Nice to meet you. You know who I am. I just want to let you know, I do not hold anything against you for doing your job. I've been in your position, trying to hold your own in this crazy world, trapped in an endless cycle. Right now, all we want to do is escape." he glances at the ogre, "Except Grumblejack. I think he's hungry. I'm sorry about your friends. If it were up to me, they would also still be alive, but I'm glad I can save you. So, how you can help is simply by focusing on staying awake and remembering your family while you answer our questions. Are there any mages here? Who are the most dangerous people at the prison? What kind of schedule is there for the guards? What way to the armory would result in the least amount of guards? I'm trying to protect your friends, remember. You saw how easily we overpowered you when we were all but unarmed. Imagine us now that we have your swords. Is there anybody here that you could honestly say would stand up against us? Remember, my promise that you live is still conditional on you not betraying us, so be sure you don't lie."
Price returns up the stairs, glad to have only come in on the tail end of whatever conversation was happening. She quickly shoulders a bow, a quiver full of arrows, and a club. She sets about taking off the leather bindings to make the weapon more lethal as she moves to the chimney and looks up it - seeing if it is a practical path of escape. She says quietly to the others, "Nothing stirring downstairs yet. Did you get a map of the place from him?" She asks, indicating the prisoner.
Price returns as the wizard is coaxing information from the survivor. The guard is sitting on the floor, hunched over, and seems to be staring at his feet.
"The warden is a wizard. Mathias Richter. All he cares about are his spells. Things have gone to shyte since he took over and left Blackerly running everything. This used to be a real prison. We had pride. No gambling. We prayed everyday. We... The most powerful are the warden and Blackerly. Maybe the dogs, if you don't like dogs. Jasper, my oldest, loves them. More heart than.... Shift will change in two hours but sometime there are delays if the sergeant's game goes long. There are two of us in the main hall downstairs. You have to go through there when you leave the stairwell and to reach the armory, but... Oh, Mitra, I'm sorry... Nobody else. But it's locked, and Blackerlys office is right off the same guarded hallway. They'll hear a fight in the hall. And guards on the walls will shoot as soon as they see you, and the gates are closed at night. Please, I just.. You have to knock me out or they'll know I told you things and then I'll be locked up... My family... Please." He looks up at Daedalus, pleading.
In the corner, Grumblejack yawns and starts picking his teeth, sucking at them to get rid of stuck bits of meat.
"Why, I don't think he believes you, Daed... but he seems to be telling the truth anyway..."
"Of course. I appreciate your help so much. I give you my word as a wizard and an adventurer, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. Thank you so much for all your help. If you ever need something, find me. I will not forget the help you have given us tonight. Talingarde thanks you for your service. Rest well, friend. Dream of your family. Remember Jasper, friend, and remember the fear that you feel from the servants of so-called 'good,' and know that you will always find safety with me if you need it." As he talks to the guard (never did catch his name), Daidalos' hand snakes around to the back of his belt, draws his dagger, and strikes the man as hard as he can with the hilt,
knocking him out(? He'll repeat if needed)
As the man slumps to the ground, Daidalos catches him in one hand, easing him to the ground. He stands up, and his behavior changes suddenly from a comforting presence to an imposing commander, "He may not have believed me, but I meant what I said. No one, and I mean no one, is to bother this man. He is under my protection. Now, we've learned a lot from him, plenty to get us out. Now, if you want to get out, listen to me. Warden Richter is the real threat here. We take him out, Branderscar falls
And I get a shiny new spellbook as well.
"And we get out to meet our benefactor. Now, we currently have two options- let the game play out, the shift change come up, and we take them out and go after the rest. Or, we go after them now, while they're distracted and gambling. Either way, our first priority is the armory. We get that, we're unstoppable. I will try to hold my power in reserve, to keep our hand from being tipped too soon, so if any of you miscreants get any ideas about challenging me because I'm 'weak,' remember I dodged nearly every soldier in Talingarde for a month through my arcane might alone, and I do not take kindly to those that fail me.
I am so happy that I got a reputation of a powerful wizard... the staff did all the work, and I get the benefits.
"Now, if any of you have any issues with this so far, speak up now, rather than waiting until we're sneaking past the guard room to challenge me."
Morthos moves up to the wizard and looks directly at him with what may be perceived as an amused look. "I do not care what you've done, boy, and I know nor care nothing for this Richter. Blackerly is the one to pay for what he's done and he will be the one we put an end to. And if this Richter fellow gets in the way, then he shall be taken care of as well." Just as he's about to turn and respond to Price, he stops a moment and looks back to the wizard. "And ware your words, boy, or they may just be your last," he warns before turning to Price. "No map but a good deal of information."