"I'd bring the brand just in case. If we run into Blackerly, I'd still be inclined to turn him over to Kalethe. The paperwork is just a safety net to ensure he doesn't go unrewarded...besides, I am not one hundred percent sure it is his paperwork. He is just my best guess..." thinking for a moment, "As for out equipment, I guess keep looking. There are two more rooms...although they may have kept it in the locations where we were originally captured.
Seeing Ashmoniel walk into the room with one hostage, Ami is alarmed for a moment. "Where is..." she starts to asks, her voice getting a little higher than she wanted. However, assessing the situation, she relaxes a little. The elf is no fool. She would have ask for help if a prisoner was escaping and would not be so calm... "The others took one of them? she asks Ashmoniel. Hopefully they are putting him to good use, instead of just giving Kalethe a new toy. Good hostages are hard to come by...
Seeing an opportunity to return to the office, away from the prying eyes of the servant, Ami moves back to the desk. Finding some spare parchment, she spends a few moments practicing the handwriting in the documents. She then proceeds to carefully add a two entries. One entry shows a large payment, received right before they arrived in the prison. The other shows an outgoing payment for a boat passage for six passengers to the nearest port in Varisia.
Taking 20 means you are trying until you get it right, and it assumes that you fail many times before succeeding.
The Linguistics check is made secretly, so that you're not sure how good your forgery is.
Kalethe looks at Iana and nods. Let's go then. He opens the door, moving in and grabbing for the weapon of the nearest man.
Dog Tooth sets to on the lock of the other door, but finds it unlocked. This appears to be a slovenly kept bed chamber. There is a bed, a small table and wardrobe.
Kalethe enters into the room and charges towards the nearest guard, his weapons sitting on his bed next to him. Grumblejack charges in behind him, moving to stand over the other two guards.
Blackerly sure is a gambling man... He says as he rubs his hands. Now if I were that fat slob...where would I keep the thing? He walks to the wardrobe and searches for anything valuable, then moves to the table and finally the bed. He overturns the room, in hopes of finding anything of value-- gold, weapons, magic items, a golden apple.
As soon as Kalethe opens the door Iana speaks in a commanding voice: "Stop! Move and this guy dies." She allows her claws to puncture flesh a little drawing a small trickle of blood from the hostage neck.
Kalethe grabs the weapon and glares at the man, We have you dead, so give up now.
As Ami finishes up her forgery, she turns her attention back to the prison map. Remembering Dog Tooth's comment about their equipment, she notices that the last unexplored room looks like it might contain supplies. She heads to the room and tests the door to see if it's unlocked.
As Ami tries the door, she finds it firmly locked.
The guards with Iana, Grumblejack and Kalethe start reaching for their weapons, but pause. The two by Grumblejack do not appear very steady on their feet. Finally, in a slurred voice they say, What are you gonna do with us?
Kalethe's eyes sparkle as if he were laughing. I believe we'll take a trip upstairs, but first strip off your gear. He brandishes the guard's weapon.
The guards remove their things, then follow Kalethe up the stairs to the prison.
Dog Tooth rummages around Blackerly's room, unset the bed he finds a locked strong box. And in his wardrobe a flask filled with some foul smelling liquid.
Ami pulls on the door a couple times, hoping its just stuck, sighing as she realizes it is locked. Just my luck...
Backtracking to Dog Tooth, she sees that he has ransacked the bedroom as badly as she ransacked the kitchen. "Find anything useful?" she inquires.
"By the way, the last room on this floor seems to be locked. Looking at the map, I think it may be another supply room. Think you could open it when you get the chance?"
After that Ami goes to the remaining servant and asks "Can you show me on this map where Blackerly and the guards go to gamble?"
He picks up the flask and gives it a good sniff. He pours a tiny bit out into the palm of his hand and inspects it.
As he discovers the lock box, Dog Tooths eyes grow large. His typically small mouth turns into a wide, toothy grin. He licks his lips with excitement. He plants his feet and pulls hard to remove the box, and then begins to unlock it.
He moves onto Ami's locked room and gives the lock a try .
"If there's a group of them gambling, I still have a sleep spell that could quieten the situation swiftly." I break in. The prisoners shift, uncomfortably. "Quiet, or I'll silence you," I snap.
Inside the lockbox, Dog Tooth finds a dozen bottles of rotgut whiskey and about 1235 gp--a staggering sum for a simple Sargeant of prison to have made. As you examine the flask, you find that a large portion of it is rotgut whiskey, but mixed in are several herbs that--by themselves--would put a man to sleep. Mixed together like they are, you suspect that this concoction is somewhat dangerous.
Dog Tooth unlocks the final door and pushes it open, revealing a dark room. Inside are six spare sets of gear for guards: chain shirt, heavy steel shield, long sword and longbow. There is also a rack holding a dozen more leather-wrapped clubs. Further, there is also a stock pile of 240 arrows in twelve quivers. These items all bear the mark of Talingarde. There is also an assortment of weaponry that the guards have confiscated over the years. These weapons are jumbled together and obviously little cared for.
The jumbled pile of weaponry includes a shiv made from a women’s metal comb (treat as a dagger), a heavy mace, spear, quarterstaff, battle axe, rapier, great sword, trident a glaive, and a crossbow with 20 bolts.
Kalethe grabs some of the remaining manacles, shackling the three guards. He leads them into a cell and chains them to the wall, as he himself had been chained only hours before. Once they are chained and the cell shut, his eyes widen and he leans to the bars, speaking conspiratorially, I should let you know, that I intend to kill everyone here. It may be days before you are found and set free. I almost wish I could stay and see your faces as you starve. He turns on his heel and continues back down the stairs. Returning to the room where the off-duty guards were stationed, he begins to search.
Ami smiles as the door to the armory opens. Not sure how much of this will help me, but perhaps it will everyone else... She turns to Dog Tooth and says, "I am going to find the others...I think they'll want to see this."
Ami proceeds to track down the others and tell them about the armory and confiscated weapons.
The servant looks startled, Blackerly holds a card game? He pauses, horror on his face as he connects something, Burning body of Mitra! Is that how- he cuts off, suddenly realizing who he's talking to. No. No I didn't even know it was happening.
The guards struggle uselessly against the bonds, No. No. Don't leave us here! Their struggles can still be heard until Kalethe is halfway down the stairs. Searching the room, you find several locked boxes, though you discover quickly that the keys the guards carry open these locks. You are able to open 8 open eight of these strongboxes easily. Between them you are able to gather:
2 Whetstones
Cleaning supplies for a chain shirt
A few extra bowstrings
2 books of military regulations
A traveling outfit
A finely made pipe
1 lb of high quality shag tobacco
A masterwork lute
A surprisingly well written love letter
A sapphire ring
A bottle with no label
Ink
A quill
A personal journal
5 more chests remain unopened.
"Oooh, romance," I murmur, perusing the love-letter.
Ami chuckles at the servant's shock. "What was that now? Come on you can tell me. What harm could it possibly do at this point...?"
Perusing the armory, Ami considers the crossbow, but reconsiders when she sees Dog Tooth eyeing it. She settles on taking the comb shiv. I don't think anyone will miss this. Besides, whoever mades this...well I appreciate their creativity and their legacy deserves to live on... she thinks to herself, as she studies the craftsmanship.
Following Ashmoniel to the guardroom, she snickers a little as she sees it's occupants removed. Well, thats one way to solve that problem...
"Anyone mind if I take these?" Ami asks, gesturing to the ink, quill and journal. She proceeds to rip the used pages out of the journal. After that, she waits until the others have laid claim to any items they want, then puts anything left she guesses might have value into the sack of things that they can sell.
She laughs out loud at Ashmoniel's comment. "Oh yes, very romantic. Is the author a corpse or his widow?"
Dog Tooth excitedly grabs for the crossbow, dusting it off and giving it a once over. He cocks it back, gives it a shot to make sure it's in working order. Hm...yeah, this'll do Before stringing it on his back, he cocks it again, just in case. He then picks up the rapier and inspects it's blade before giving it a few thrusts. Oh yeah, back in the saddle
He falls in line behind Ami and Ashmoniel as they head to the guardroom, with an extra pep in his step.
Ugh, where are all the good books?
Before we leave, I'll scoop up the bowstrings, the books, the torn-out pages, and writing supplies, and the un-labeled bottle. "It's dangerous not to label your potions," I mutter in disapproval.
Kalethe chuckles. Well, I'd imagine the warden might have some. I wouldn't mind thanking the old man for his generous hospitality here. He muses for a moment. I'd imagine, if we take the man by surprise we could get a surrender out of him as well. Maybe give him a brand. His eyes flash with hatred. When I was outside before, I didn't see anyone on the walls except for the man at the guardhouse. I think our men are either gambling, or we've taken out those who are supposed to be there tonight. He reaches up, rubbing the top of his head thoughtfully. I think we could go out through the kitchen door and make it to his tower without being seen. Dog Tooth and I should go first just to make sure it's clear. He looks at Dog Tooth questioningly. As he waits, he then snaps his fingers, Oh yes, and before we leave, Dog Tooth, would you mind opening these last 5 chests?
Ami looks at the servants for a moment. I think they have told us all they are willing to share, they have no hope of fighting against all six of us...and this whole non-violence act is exhausting. Time to drop the nice guy charade.
"In theory, the easiest escape would be to just defeat the two remaining guards standing between us and the exit. However, if we make a mistake and than horn gets blown we could easily end up fighting Blackerly, the Warden and the remaining guards all at once."
Ami contemplates for a moment. "Yes, I think I agree with what you are saying, Kalethe. Capture the king, while his pawns are at the other side of the board." Looking around the guardroom, she chuckles, "Anyway, it seems that the former occupants of this room were unwilling to sacrifice him," she says pointing to the one Iana had dragged away. "Let's see if the warden is willing to watch them both die..."
Ami looks at Ishtak for a moment, then turns back the the group, "It seems we have a good grasp on the prison's layout...and I don't forsee any immediate need to split up. I think I will dismiss Ishtak for now. Maintaining him on this plane takes a lot of concentration that I could be giving towards more combat oriented summons..." she explains as she dismisses him.
The servant stammers in Ami's direction, refusing to look her in the eye, I just want thinking. The man trembles and hold his hands clutched tightly together.
Dog Tooth shuffles about, unlocking the rest of the chests. .
The Warden, the Wizard? Sounds like a lot more trouble than we need by now, but he's probably got all the good books and then some. He pauses a moment to ponder, shakes his head and gets back to work It doesn't seem worth it. Too much of a risk. He m-might not have a horn, but he's got magic and that could be used in, uh he turns his head up words, counting all the possibilities, a bunch of different ways. Now, uh, imagine taking out the Warden and having to fight our way down that tower with guards piling in....ugh, I'd rather not. B-but if you guys insist, I will back you up.
Opening the remaining chests you find:
2 bags of dog treats
1 small pouch with 13 cp, 19 sp, 1 gp
A map of the surrounding area including the Old Moore Road.
Iana follows after Ami into the room with supplies, the only thing she takes is the map of the surrounding area. "We will need this."
Then she turns towards the others entering the discussion: "There are only 5 guards, at this point our best plan is to simply kill everyone dangerous. Since 4 of these guards are on the walls. Unless the warden has a horn which I very much doubt, we won't have to worry about these." She smiles then: "And even if he has one, we can take him out before the rest of the guards arrive, because face it, we aren't sneaking past the guards, with this group."
Kalethe nods. He looks at Dog Tooth, Shall we scout the way then? And without waiting for a response, Kalethe heads off to the rear door, and quietly pushes it open. He walks quietly along, hiding himself in the shadows and keeping his eyes to the wall for any guards. Moving around back of the keep, he makes his way to the tower in the southwest corner of the grounds.
Responding to Iana, Ami says, "We shouldn't rely too much on our guard count. We have already been wrong. By our earlier math there shouldn't have been more that one or two off duty guards. Unless Blackerly is only playing cards with one person, either there are more guards than we think...or less people on the walls."
Turning to Dog Tooth, she remarks, "...but otherwise, I think they are right. I'm not to happy to be fighting a wizard...but I would rather fight him now, when it is six against one and he doesn't expect us. Even if he sounds the alarm, we can create a chokepoint in the tower. If the guard on the gate sounds the alarm we will be in the wide open, with our enemies above us and a wizard still in play..."
Turning to the doorway, Ami watches Kalethe for any kind of signal that the coast is clear. She then attempts to slip around the back of the building towards the warden's tower.
"I agree," I say. "Wizard's likely take precautions against spells, and we're strongwilled against them anyway. The best approach is to charge in closely and cut him down brutally," I half-smirk, "sounds right up your alley, doesn't it?"
Kalethe moves out around the backside of the keep. Looking at the walls, he sees there are no guards visible from this side of the keep. As the others follow, the strange amalgamation of creatures moves across the backside of the keep, making their way to the tower.
When the door is opened and all have entered, they see that this room contains a series of mostly uninteresting plaques that tell of nobles and deeds hardly anyone remembers anymore.
There are a number of banners and flags hanging throughout the hall. One of the wall hangings is an old brocade tapestry that depicts Castle Branding being turned into a prison with the motto “His Judgment Cometh and that Right Soon.” In the center of the room, a tight spiral of stairs leads up to the second level.
Kalethe, looks through the room quickly. He stops at the tapestry and gives it a small, discontented frown, then motions up the stairs. He takes the lead moving quietly up.
Appraise
"Worthless trash," I mutter...
Readying his crossbow, Dog Tooth falls in line behind Kalethe and tiptoes up the staircase.
it can't be that bad...I mean, there's 6 of us, one of him... And he's a measly warden of this garbage place... If he's too blind to see how Blackerly is running this prison, he can't be that big of a deal
Iana follows after the scouts keeping her distance as not to make any noise and enters the tower followed by Grumblejack whom she had told to follow. "We're going to kill the leader of littl'uns, you want to join don't you?"
Arriving in the chamber she looks with disdain at the tapestry she has no inkling of it's value, but it's subject is enough to irritate Iana, which is why she pauses a moment to slash at it's center with her claws.
Ami eyes the tapestry as she walks up the stairs. His Judgment Cometh and that Right Soon. She thinks about what they are going to do to the warden and chuckles. Oh, judgement is definitely coming to him...soon. She gives Iana a little nod as she slashes it. Seems like an appropriate response.
Before the they get to close to the top of the tower, Ami signals for everyone to pause for a few seconds. With a few gestures and incantations she brings forth two more infernal eagles, allowing one to rest on each arm.
With a smiles she says, "Just want to stack the deck a little..."
Small infernal animal
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +9
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +2
SR 5
Infernal - Resist Cold and Fire 5
OFFENSE
Speed 10ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
Melee 2 talons +3 (1d4), bite +3 (1d4)
Special Attacks Smite good
STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 7
Base Atk +0; CMB -1; CMD 11
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Fly +8, Perception +10; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Smite good 1/day as a swift action (adds CHA bonus (+0) to attack rolls and damage bonus equal to HD (+1) against good foes; smite persists until target is dead or the infernal creature rests).
Grumblejack agrees readily, following Iana.
The stairs open up to a large collection of books and scrolls across a wide range of subjects. The most common items in the library are the “penny dreadfuls”. These poorly printed compilations of lurid tales range across the whole gamut of adventure genres. However, the one genre over-represented is bawdy tales featuring amply endowed young maidens in grave peril. In the more scholarly section, there are fifty five books on subjects ranging from magical theory, history and astronomy. Ahead, the stairs continue to spiral upward to a third floor.
After the scouting party gives a clear signal, Iana moves upstairs, she spends a moment looking around at the library, noticing the types of books present, waiting for Kalethe and Dog Tooth to scout the next floor. "I wonder if the warden feels lonely? Pity we don't have the time, considering how trusting he is in the Sargeant case. He might have proved malleable enough. Appeal to his like of heroics..."
Paul waits with Iana and whoever else stays behind as Dog Tooth and Kalethe scout ahead. "Interesting selection of books for sure. I doubt there is any need to appeal to the man. With his tastes, he will probably think he is 'vanquishing the evil that has risen up'."
Dog Tooth's ears perk up at the sight of the library. F-f-finally he sets down the crossbow and starts perusing the collection excitedly. He scampers around from one section to another, looking for something he might like
He plucks "The Travels of Titus the Mendicant" off the shelf and stores it under his arm. this book is horrible, but I'm sure there's some Vellor-nut who would shell out a nice chunk of gold to add this to his collection He then grabs the two other books that grabbed his interest. Meh, never heard of these but I might as well. I'm sure Ami will like one of them.
The three books get stashed by the stairs, and he picks his crossbow back up and falls back in line.
Dog Tooth's ears stay perked up as he scouts the floor
Ami sighs a little as they stop in the library, anxious to deal with the nearby wizard before her summons expire. However, as she waits the copy of Astra Mysterii does catch her eye. Hmm, this is quite rare...I wonder if Clivarus gets into planar knowledge at all? Regardless, it is probably worth a read. Anyone these narrow-minded Talireans lable as mad, is my kind of author.
She points the book out to Ashmoniel, figuring her to be the most interested in this kind of material. "Look what the warden has stashed away here. Might be an intesting read. Not to mention, I bet we could get about 75 gold from a collector, in a pinch."
Kalethe glances at the books but continues up to scout. By the time Dog Tooth had finished, Kalethe was back to report.
Appraise...
"This is valuable," I murmur, pulling it from the shelf, securing it with our other purloined treasures. Nobles who I'd dealt slaves too would pay a fine price for such a piece - maybe more, given the risque cachet of its provenance...
Kalethe walks up and sees a small landing. This chamber is lit by a single torch on a sconce. To the north is a door bearing a plaque that reads “Office." The southern door has a similar plaque that reads “Private: Keep Out!” It is otherwise empty.
Ami tucks Astra Mysterii away in the sack as soon as she sees Kalethe return. Listening to his report, she inquires, "Were you able to hear noises from either room?"
Pausing to think for a moment, she adds, "Based on his apparant disinterest in performing his duties, I would guess he is not in the office at this late hour..."
Turning to the others, she asks, "How do we want to handle this? Charge in? Lure him out with disguises? Threaten him with the hostages?"
Kalethe shakes his head quickly. I didn't pay attention to it. He hands the prison map and points, It looks like we're here and that makes this his room. That's enough room to fight in, and I'd rather fight him unprepared. Unless, he looks around at the gathered faces, any of you can think of a way to bring him down here without being prepared to fight?
Iana was amusing herself with impossible schemes when Kalethe returned and made his report, she then smiles at Kalethe's words. "Let's test how trusting this warden is."
"A knock on the door, a little, lie..." Iana changes her voice turning serious and apologetic. "Sir, I'm sorry for disturbing you sir, but the sergeant said he needs you sir, some unexpected prisoner has arrived, sir the sergeant says he is sorry but he needs you sir, the soldiers outside are making a ruckus sir." Yet as she doesn't stop smiling the whole act takes a mocking undertone.
Then as suddenly as she began she finishes. "And if I fail it doesn't change much, I'll run downstairs and he most likely follow in pursuit."
"Can any of you forge a request asking for the warden to personally receive the new prisoner? It doesn't need to be that good, just enough for a few moments."
Iana takes sometime to thoroughly clean herself, fixing her disguise, while she awaits for an answer.
Ami shrugs, "It sounds a little risky, but if you think you can pull it off I can give you a fake note..."
She pulls the stolen journal and writing supplies out of the sack and scribbles a quick note describing a captured wizard and a request for the warden to personally oversee that he is restrained in such a way that prohibits spellcasting. She then carefully tears out the page and hands it to Iana.
"Not sure how convincing it will be...but, if we decide to use it, hopefully he won't examine it closely..."