Henry reaches the gate the rest of the group just behind him, your captors are just exiting the stone house you just came from. Unless you find some way to lose them they will be about a round behind you until further notice.
The gate is unlocked and opens onto winding dirt road that goes downhill. There are scattered trees on both sides.
You notice at this point that it is the middle of the night.
"Where in the hell are we?" Billy asks. "Maybe head off into the trees? We might stand a better chance of losing the bastards in there."
Henry looks back at the men and then over at Billy, "Certainly why not. I would rather be lost in the woods than hacked by knife wielding maniacs! We should stick together though until we figure out where we are gentlemen."
Henry follows Billy's suggestion and heads for the trees on the right.
The party heads into the woods and runs for what seems like hours before stopping, you are fairly sure that you have lost your pursuers. Strangely none of you are out of breath, and as you pause to consider that it dawns on you that you aren't breathing at all.
You also have no clue where you are except that you are in a field and can see a corpse of trees that what you think is the south.
He didn't notice before, but in the aftermath of fleeing the strange prison where they were experimented on, Miles comes to a realization.
I should be exhausted. I'm not. I'm not even winded. I'm...
Wait. Why am I not breathing?!
"What in God's holy name happened down there? I got stabbed, I almost lost my mind, and I'm not breathing. What is this?" The Cambridge student gasps, anxiety setting in.
"I knew I felt weird too. Perhaps some sort of, magic? Maybe we are... I haven't the slightest explanation for what just took place.
Bloody hell, now I feel like going back and demanding answers!"
"Now that you mention it, yeah, I do feel a bit off...just chalked it up all the excitement it guess."
"Once we know where we are and can find some food and shelter then we should consider going back there".
Henry pauses for a moment more thoughtful,"Though it may make more sense to go to the local Lords and inform them of these wretched criminals who nearly killed us! Once we understand how and why we were attacked we can go back to our daily lives without looking over our shoulders. Unless we are connected in some way we do not know of"...
If you guys want to figure out where you are make a survival + wits roll, it is +1 difficulty if you aren't familiar with the general area.
Wits+Survival
You are fairly certain that a reasonably major road is on the other side of the corpse of trees.
"I'd just as soon get back to Birmingham and forget this whole damned mess."
Henry gives Billy a incredulous look, "You can't be serious old chap. These men know who we are! If we return to our lives as if nothing happened what is to stop them from snatching us up all over again!
No, we need to get across this copse of trees and to a main road and then to the Local Lord or Baron and send the Sheriff to arrest these hooligans. Then we can return to our normal lives".
Henry sighs and thinks back on the body in the house, "They already killed one man, so these men, whoever they are, are dangerous".
Miles shakes his head. "No, I haven't a clue."
"...I've probably missed Grandma's birthday by now..."
[dice=Wits + Survival]2d10
"I'd just as soon get back to Birmingham and forget this whole damned mess."
The going west on the road on the other side of the trees should take you to Birmingham eventually but it will be a long walk.
"Well, we had best start walking if we want to arrive anywhere".
Henry passes through the trees to the road and looks to and fro hoping for a wagon or carriage to pass by and perhaps aid them.
With no real other options that he can think of, Miles follows Henry.
You start walking the direct of Birmingham and quickly reach a T intersection, you can either continue straight towards Birmingham or turn left up a dirt path to a farmhouse. It is still the middle of the night, you aren't sure the exact time.
"Sounds like out best option. Yeah, we'll be out in open, but so will anyone trying to follow us. As long as we stay close to the edge of the road, we should be able to dart back into the trees should we need to."
"A sound plan Billy. Is it worth stopping at the Farmhouse gentlemen? I don't wish to be rude and wake anyone sleeping but these ruffians are dangerous and these people just based on proximity could be a danger to whoever dwells therein!"
No
"Well, if nothing else, we could perhaps ask whoever lives there where we are." Miles shrugs. Sorry if you're sleeping, chaps, but we REALLY need to know...
Henry hears no objections and does just that approaching the front door of the farmhouse and rapping on it three times.
It takes several minutes for someone to answer the door, when it opens there is a man holding an incredibly bright candle. He is older, and looks to have lived a hard life. You can see a large vein in his neck visibly pulsing. He holds the candle up towards Henry's face.
Henry recoils away from the flame.
"Do you know what ungodly hour it is?"
Henry takes a step back, "Good God man careful with that flame!"
He collects himself, "My apologies sir. I know that the hour is quite late but my... acquaintances and I were beset upon by brigands and we only just escaped their clutches.
Is there a local Sheriff whom we could contact to bring these men to justice? Also, I wished to warn you in case said ruffians should come to threaten you or yours!"
" Should have warned me if you are scared of fire. Brigands you say, here, preposterous. Still I am sure that the constables in Birmingham will be happy to listen to your wild tales, should give them a good story to tell later. Say you look mighty pale son, what did you said these brigands did to you?"
Henry cocks his head, "I am not afraid of fire likely just jittery from my harrowing journey.
They kidnapped us and tortured us with some sort of strange ritual. Perhaps lack of food and sun has made me pale. What is the date good sir?
The Constables of Birmingham, right. How far a walk is that from here?"
Billy waits behind, letting Henry do the talking.
I'm pretty sure he's gonna be better at this bit than I would...I wonder if they have anything of worth in there... he thinks to himself.
Miles fidgets nervously and looks behind him to make sure they're not being followed.
"It would take you at least two hours to walk to Birmingham, but no one should be out this time of night. Tis the time for the Devil's work tis. Look I can let you lot sleep in the stable and take you into town in the wagon in the morning if you want. Doesn't seem very Christianlike to do otherwise."
Henry smiles at the man, "I thank you for that generous offer. Let me run it by my comrades".
Henry heads back to his new acquaintances, "The man has told me that Birmingham is indeed a two hour walk away. He will allow us a free stay in the stable and a ride to the city tomorrow in the morning. Should we take him up on this offer?"
Billy shrugs. "I've certainly had worse offers in the past."
Miles looks rather downcast at the thought. "Well... sorry, Mum, I couldn't make it."
"That'd be very kind of you, sir."
Rory had followed the others, he didnt say much and he didn't know what to say. He was somewhat lost in thought as he followed the boys thinking of what he had all seen. The man strapped to the wall, the men attacking them. He lifted his shirt a little to check for any signs of injury.
Perc + Awareness 5d10 [To check on his own body]
He looked over to the farmhouse and the man within "We thank you" he answered as well to the man's offer.
Rory's skin feels cold and clammy. He can't really see anything in the current light.
The old man takes you to his barn, pointing out where you can get a few hours sleep before sunrise.
Once he leaves you realize that you aren't at all tired despite it being the middle of the night.
"Egads, I am wide awake, perhaps the excitement of this night is preventing me from falling asleep. I just know I'll fall asleep once that man gets here to retrieve us in the morning!
At least we are safe."
"Yeah with all the grief we've dealt with tonight, I'm pretty damned sure that I won't be getting any sleep."
Strangely as it starts to get light out, even before the sun rises you find yourselves getting weary.
Curiously, Miles' lids start getting heavy when the sun starts to rise.
Henry's eyelids begin to droop, "I suppose we are all weary from this night's events".
He is tired but doe snot yawn, odd.
The sunrise affects each of you differently, Miles isn't really impacted and Henry is tired but still awake. Rory manages to crawl into a dark corner before he passes out. Billy on the other hand basically collapses in a pool on the floor, unconscious. As the sun rises and starts shining through gaps between the boards in the walls, one of those lines of sunlight pans across Billy's legs. Billy starts screaming and smoke begins to rise off his legs, you all smell burning flesh. Billy takes 2 points of aggravated damage.
"What in the 9 circles of hell in going on in my barn."
"Ahhhg! What the f$^% is this! My f(*&ing legs are burning! What in the hell did you people do to me!"
Henry grabs Bill and pulls him out of the sun.
"Good God man! How hot out is it today!"
Henry calls out to the farmer, "Sir, can you bring us a bucket of water, my friend appears to have injured himself somehow! Assuming you are alright that is, the sun appears to be.... I I just don't know!"