You start to come out of a hard sleep... you feel drugged. Sore from lying on your back on the hard surface you wake upon, and from the damp chill.
There is arguing... you can't make out words yet? No. It is another language. A pounding on a table and the resulting rattle of metal bits.
It is dark, but there is the pulsing glow of multiple torches on the ceiling.
The memory of your capture starts to come back to you. As well as being placed in a cell... maybe the same cell. It seems like there was something else. Dark dwarves... Duergar haggling, badgering, and pulling rank claiming your possessions as the derro and dead-eyed humans stripped you of them. You remember feeling drugged in much the same way as what you feel leaving your system now.
You try to move... at least your eyes.
Two orcs and a duergar appear to gambling with dice at a table in the middle of a stone room full of cells.
Varian wakes slowly and listens, trying to make sense of what he hears, but nothing seems to make sense right now... He tries to look around at his surroundings, but even that effort seems to fail and he clenches his eyes tight in the darkness of the cell.
As Zed begins reclaiming the function of his mind, the throbbing in his head tells him to recapture his body later. He glances over to see the two orcs and the duergar. Zed shifts slightly to see others also in the cell, of various origins. He heart jumps and he brings a hand up to his face, feeling bare skin And they took my mask, well s%^! running down the left half of his face from temple to his chest is a large scare that travels over his eye, and tracing it up there is a line of blatantly white hair that follows the same pattern. Suppose I can't do much about it he glances around for anything that could be used as a makeshift weapon, then sits up and looks to see what the orcs and duergar are doing. He makes no attempts to hide he's awake after that point
Sunny remains still. Her breathing slow and shallow. With no seeming immediate physical threat she knows she has time...All the time in the world.
The voices continue... then turn to common. One of the more bestial voices snarls "I said open your hand! ... you carry cheater's dice!"
A deep and gravelly but less feral voice replies sternly "You don't talk to me with that tone, orc. There may be two of you here... but past that door, you are weeellll outnumbered. One word from me, and you are derro playthings like these surface rats."
The bestial voice laughs "Ha ha. Crippled dirt dwarf think he is big chief here?!"
There is a moment of just heavy breathing.
The same bestial voice continues; all derisive tone now gone. "Keep gold. Dice fine.... Look. One awake."
The three guards sit on barrels. A lantern turned down low is on the table. The duergar (with his back to you) is arguing with the two orcs. He points to the south door when he mentions the orcs being outnumbered.
When the heavy breathing starts, you see the duergar tremble with rage, and start to grow in size before the orc submits. The same orc (on the far side of the table) is first to notice you awake.
map(with torches and lantern)
In the cell, at first glance you see only a latrine hole and the table-like wooden bed you were lying upon.
Zed stands slowly and moves towards them, putting his hands on the bars and peering through. He looks at the dice as hard as he can, then laughs merrily "Oh that's a good trick! I bet you've swindeled many with that"
Bluff
Surreptitiously Sunny slowly, quietly and carefully reaches about. Her hand seeking anything that might give her a slight edge in any violence that may occur in the coming moments.
You hear, and feel as though the effects are weakening.
As the drugs in his system start to fade, Varian lifts his head and looks about at the surroundings, assessing his situation. He listens to the guards and realizes the dwarf may wield some power over the others. Good to know. In time he raises his head and looks about.
The bestial voice snarls "You think we let you make us fools with your tricks! We leave... and we take our gold. Watch prisoners yourself." You hear the sound of coins being gathered on the table.
The voice referred to as a dirt dwarf speaks with a simmering intensity, "You think you will leave your post, and make it out of here alive? Do you?" He pauses for effect " stay here. I will let Horth know they are coming to, and to have the Crone begin the ritual."
His tone turns stern again. "The gold on this table is pot ash compared to what we will be paid by our employer... so act with some sense before we replace you with a trained goblin dog." You hear footsteps and a pounding, then a heavy mechanical click and door creak. The door shuts again, and you hear the sound of a bar clanking into place.
The duergar whips his head around to face you with a glare. Your bluff appears to stoke the orcs' flame. The duergar is the one to pound on the door and be let out by someone unseen outside.
Zed starts leaning casually against the bars and watches the duergar exit "Well he's a delightful one. Cheats you at a game and then makes you hold the post on your own. Doesn't seem fair" Zed shrugs "Although I suppose that's not my business, even if I can fix it" he goes back to his bed and lays down, whistleing
*At least the fellow on our side of the bars needn't give up his day job of singing for their supper...* Are the rueful thoughts that flit through Sunny's mind even as she slowly works out her exact predicament...
Zed stops his whistleing for a moment "Doesn't seem to treat either of you fairly in general. Compared you to a goblin dog" he sucks in air as if it was his friend that insulted somebody "That's just mean. I bet you're both too good for this job, there's far more important things for you to be doing"
Something brief is said in presumably orc. Then in common...
"None of your concern. The Crone will come... your life will be over. You are meat for the cauldron. By tomorrow you will be a skin suit for the Voices, nothing can save you."
They both return to the barrels they were sitting on, and begin dividing the gold.
The orc that had been arguing with the duergar looks like he is about to bite. The other looks more skeptical.
The ataxia has passed. You feel your strength and ability to focus returning.
You do feel a splinter in the rough wood several inches long. Snapping it free might make a slight noise, but probably not loud enough for the orcs to notice.
Varian sits up shakily on the hard board that served him as a bed while he was unconscious. He listens carefully to Zed and nods to himself.
This one is surely gifted with a golden tongue. Perhaps he can even get the two remaining guards to free him. If he gets free, perhaps he will free the rest of us.
He forebears to stand just yet, feeling a little too weak and shaky to get onto his feet yet. He looks out of the cage at the others near him, nods to Sunny in the next cell .
Varian slowly rotates his head, taking stock of the fact that there are four other prisoners besides himself. Surely enough for a small prison break against two guards, should the chance arrive.
Sense Motive
Zed smirks to himself slightly Got 'em he looks at the one that just spoke to him "You know where I came from orc's were strong and fearsome beings. They were feared and respected, and those that ran across them gave them gifts or did favors" he cocks his head as if confused "Yet here you seem to be the servants, despite the fact that you are clearly superior to those who treat you like this. It just confuses me"
The orc jailer remains still, but you see his tension increase... clenched jaw and curling his fingers repeatedly into fists. The other orc who had words with the duergar, has a curious expression on his face as he looks back and forth between you and his fellow orc.
You snap off the large splinter without a noticeable sound. You don't immediately feel any other suitable splinters in the wooden bench.
Looking around...
All the prisoners are unarmored, unadorned, and shoeless.
Other than the prisoner riling the guards, everyone is still unmoving. The cells are cast iron bars from floor to a few feet from the 12' high ceiling. The top is barred as well. Halfway up the vertical bars on the sides, are horizontal supports. The locks are strong keyhole padlocks.
Zed starts circling his cell while running his hand accross the bars "Or maybe only one one you deserves this while the other is far superior too. That happens, one dragging another down to their level. You know there's a rather easy way to find out"
There is a normal oil burning portable lantern on the table. There are unlit torches on the pillars which look like they slide into place. The torches on either side of the doors look like the same torches, but more securely mounted to the sconces.
The northernmost orc carries a heavy mace, and wears leather scale armor. The other carries no weapon, but has one unequipped mailed fist hanging from his piecemeal leather.
At the end of the table is a large footlocker. On top of that is a small chest, and a couple pieces of folded cloth. On top of the folded cloth is a full pouch.
If the orcs remain silent Zed continues "You know I actually have a way to tell someone's fortune. I can easily divine what you were supposed to do in life"
The veteran orc in leather scale - now appearing to feel in control of his temper again, asks with a bit of a patronizing tone without looking...
"Is that so? And how do you do that?" He starts recounting the already divided gold before continuing to split it with the more gullible looking orc on the far side of the table.
The veteran orc is trying to hide both irritation and mild curiosity.
Sunny continues with her subtle and secret endeavors.
Sense Motive
Zed smiles, then says something quietly as he raises his upturned fist. As he opens it there's a small light, and after a moment the light starts fluctuating and water runs out of it. Just as quickly as the effect starts it stops, leaving nothing but a few drops of water running off of Zed's hands "It is all about reading the hand. The swirling pattern on your palms are an etching given at birth that tell your life story, devined by the stars. However, it is possible to go astray of the etchings, most of the time it is due to trickery from a jealous peer"
Varian slips off the bench he was lying on and tests his legs... making sure he can stand, but trying not to make too much noise or attract attention from the orcs... He keeps an eye on them as he tests his strength, hoping they keep their attention on the talkative prisoner for now.
The veteran orc knocks his barrel over standing quickly as Zed works his minor magic "Ah no.. caster of spells..." He fishes a ring of keys out from his vest and hands it to the other orc. "Get the gag and manacles." He juts his jaw toward the north door to direct him, then steps toward Zed while drawing his mace.
The veteran orc jailer growls at Zed while he waits for the other - now slowly looking for the right key, to retrieve the items. "You think me that much a fool to touch one who casts spells?" He rounds the pillar approaching Zed.
He glances over at the other orc jailer, before continuing... "Face back wall... hands up!" He mutters some complaint below the range of normal hearing.
The other orc looks reluctant to follow orders.
From the darkness of his own cell, Varian carefully watches the two orcs, notes where the one took the keys from and smiles to himself... Not exactly unattended in his vest, but perhaps he will be forgetful putting them away.
Sunny opens one eye a crack to survey the developments as the Orcs suddenly take an interest in some other person's space.
Zed smiles and upturns his empty hands "That was nothing but a paltry trick, give me a few minutes and I could teach you two to do that. Yes, I will admit I am a spellcaster; but there are several kinds of us. What you fear is me being an enchanter, who can bend your mind, or an evoker, who can burn and freeze things. No, I am a diviner. Although my magic has little use in the way of combat..." he stops, and stares at the far orc as if shocked "There, now that your hand is in the light I can see it!" his eyes flick back and forth and he mutters as if remembering something "Two crossed lashes that bind at the base...or is it three lashes? Oh come over here, I think I have seen the foundation of greatness in your palm!" Zed looks excited, as if a smith was one day brought a legendary weapon
Just a thought...
The orc with the keys starts to inch over taking a couple glances at his palm. The veteran orc sees this "What!? are you..."
Orc with keys responds "Want to see poultry trick."
The veteran orc storms over to him, takes the keys from him, and unlocks the north door. He steps inside, and barks at the gullible orc again from within the north room.
The gullible orc inches closer to Zed holding out his palm, and whispers "Can you see now?"
Moving under the bench, you think if you were to hold yourself tight against the bottom of the boards, you would be well-hidden. Or if you could "lock" you ankles into where the supports attach to the boards, you could hold the position longer.
Lyrralt's first sign of his returning consiousness is the conversation in the room. Still not opening his eyes he runs his hands along his body to see if any weapons were left and if all digits and appendages still remain. Finally, after determining he will live (at least for the moment) and not horribly maimed, he opens his eyes and take in the situation and surroundings.
Zed smiles at him, then takes his hand in his own and begins tracing the lines across it "Yes, see this here? This is the basic sign for greatness. Of what greatness I'm not sure...ahh the oak tree, it appears you will be the leader of a mighty tribe. And there, the bolt, you shall have the power to strike down those that once opposed you. Ahh but there is something blocking it!" he finds a spot on the orcs fingerprints where it appears a line is cut off "See! Somewhere your fate has been interrupted. Oh this is serious" Zed frowns "Can you sit for a moment? I need you to close your eyes and lean against the cell, as if resting. The hand is easier to divine when the body is at peace" he gives the orc a friendly smile "Thank you, this is probably the last divination I will ever make...in this lifetime"
There is the clink of the set of keys turning in another lock... out of view past the door to the north. You hear the light creak of metal hinges in the adjoining room, as Zed inspects the gullible orc's palm. You then hear it creak and slam shut as Zed thanks the orc. "Crawmik?" You hear the veteran orc call out, and the jingle of his keys. "...any trouble?"
You feel like you may have overstepped his willingness to suspend proper jailer behavior... he is about to pull away. Risk of punishment now outweighs his curiosity.
Zed begins giving up on the ruse and goes into action mode. He quickly grabs the orcs hand and casts Hold Person on him, followed by Invisibility on him, then Zed uses Disguise Self to make himself appear as the orc
Lyrralt seeing that the "fortuen teller" has something in mind, but not quite sure what it is, he gets up and slowly starts walking toward the orc whose palm he is reading.
"Crawmilk, have you heard the exciting story of Drunge, the Orc Alchemist? Drunge was the son of the warlord of the largest force of Orcs this land has seen, however, Drunge was smart, even smarter than most elves, and his mind caused him to......"
I attempt to weave the story further and use my fascinate ability (DC 13) to cause the Orc to just sit calmly.
The gullible orc starts to turn away when he suddenly freezes in place. The newly risen fellow in the northeast cell begins weaving an unnaturally compelling tale just as the veteran orc steps into the room.
He stands entranced by the tale, not yet noticing that his fellow orc has disappeared, and the next spell the manipulative human begins to cast upon himself does not seem to register to the veteran orc. In one hand he holds manacles and a gag, the other a ring of keys.
Suddenly, the human is gone, and the gullible orc is inside the cell. The orc yells out while gripping the bars desperately "Ahh he tricked me, he is escaping! Hurry, we can still catch him!"
Any chance I had a success here before the veteran orc returned???
For some reason I cant view the map
Once "Orc" Zed starts calling for the entranced guardsman I will cease the fascinate and back away from the door.
Disguise
Bluff
As Zed coughs and stutters over the orc accent he completely fails to mimic, he cries out in anger and slams his fist on the bars "Curses you were right about his magic, I don't even feel myself anymore!"
Bluff