Two things happens after Randu speaks. One, the girl starts sobbing, she tries to quench the sound but a soft crying just won't go away. Two, the man very slowly and carefully puts his cleaver down on the table. As he speaks he moves to the girl and embraces her. "Please don't hurt us. We're just servants. We cook an clean nothing more. We're off in the morning, we simply walk over the bridge and the guards let us out. Sometimes I go for firewood during the night. They know my cloak and I just give them the password, Hesterfield." he gestures towards a large green cloak hanging on the wall.
Randu nods to the man, "I like a man who knows where he stands in the world, you've been of use. Do all of you have cloaks like that they recognize?" He glances to his elf companion for only a second to see what she might wish to add.
"No sir, just me. They joke that I might be an orc this big and green." he answers still comforting the girl.
Lyrysa lowers her bow, preferring to rely on words, "We do not want to inflict harm on either of you. That doesn't mean we will not if you choose to disobey. You, girl, prepare food enough for 6 men for 3 days. And your name while you're at it. Gregor, I want a list of everyone who works here, no matter how minor they may be. As well as all the entrances to the prison."
"It's Irena Ma'am," she sobs. "What would you like?" she asked clearly still scared. The man looks like he doesn't understand your question then answers: "There is only the bridge unless you want to swim." He ansers and begins counting on his finger: "Sam, and Myrtle are the other two servants, they'll be here tomorrow. Warden Richter and Sgt. Blackerly leads the prison. And there are 10 or 11 guards tonight I am not sure."
At the question of the sort of food they'll need, Randu is pragmatic, "Something that will last on the road and is easy to carry. Fruitcake, hard tack, something like that. It isn't the tastiest, but it's...prudent."
Drogan moves in with Tykk, giving each other the nod when in position the demon looking cleric sinks his toothy maw into the sleeping man.
With brutal efficiency Tykk and Drogan finishes two of the three sleeping guards. The sound is just enough to wake the third guard, who opens his eyes to the slaughter of his friends. One beheaded and the other with his throat torn out.
Initiative:
Tykk 18
Guard 15
Drogan 12
"Yes sir," she answers and begins the preparations.
The poor man still not fully awake is impaled by Tykk's stolen longsword. He looks to his chest seeing the sword piercing his chest.
Looking around in the room you see that the guards' equipment is store on a small chest at the end of each bed. Neatly folded and placed are longswords, chainshirts etc.
Very unsatisfied you notice Grumblejack isn't quite motivated, when you head towards the sergeants private quarters. To your surprise you find the door isn't locked and the door swings open inviting you in.
After the food and supplies are gathered, Lyrysa looks to the two. "You aid in this is appreciated, but I'm afraid we still plan to leave. You have been helpful though and we can be merciful. Tie Irena up, Gregor. Then we shall do the same to you. There is a good chance help will come for you before too long. Of course, there is another way to prevent you from calling for help, though I doubt you'd prefer it..."
Randu eyes the cloak Gregor uses, and takes it, "This maybe of use. At least one wolf in sheep's clothing, as it were." He glances at Gregor and Irena, "Eventually, I intend to reclaim what was taken from me, and more. You two seem to be good servants who know your limitations. When I succeed, and I will, should you need work, seek me out. I may have jobs for you."
He makes sure the ropes are tight enough on both.
Drogan will take a moment to create some water yet again to wash the blood away from himself before dressing in one of the guards attire. He will then gather the other two sets of things.
Well done Tykk, I guess we should go make sure the others are not in any trouble. We also need to make our plan for heading out of here.
"Why are you just standing there?" Orodreth sighs and goes to unlock the door himself, mumbling something about what you do when you want something done. He is surprised to find it already unlocked. I guess no one is meant to enter the office.
"Are you hungry Grumblejack? Why don't you go raid the kitchen with the others," feeling safe here he adds, "make sure they aren't in trouble either."
Once the two servants are bound firmly, Randu looks to Lyrysa , "Time to leave the kitchen, I think."
"Agreed. We can meet up with the others and plan our next move." Lyrysa helps to bring the goods, heading towards the armory.
Randu nods, and takes lead in front of her. He doesn't know the wizard's defensive capabilities, and until he does, best he run into any possible danger first.
"Grumblejack is hungry, where is kitchen?" the big ogre asks recognizing your suggestion. He leaves the sergeant's office and walks out on you.
As Randu and Lyrysa leave the kitchen with their new found goods and enter the mess hall leaving the barracks Tykk approaches them from the other end of the hall. When they want to exit the hall a huge creature blocks their way. "Grumblejack hungry, where is food?" the big ogre asks.
Finally alone Orodreth takes in the room of the man who branded him. The room is fairly simplistic a bed, a wardrobe and a small table. Nothing hands on the walls and no rugs cover the floor. A quick search reveals that most of the sergeant's personal belongings are worthless. A bottle with the smell of cheap whisky and a little something extra in the sergeant's wardrobe is the highpoint of your search until you pull an iron strong box out from under the bed. It's heavy and secured with a lock better than the ones who kept you secured here in Branderscar.
Lyrysa was happy she thought to ask for enough food for an extra, though it may not mean much to the ogre. "I've brought an extra portion for you, Grumblejack. Please stay here and stand watch while you eat." Lyrysa pulls out the extra food to leave with the ogre while she follows Randu to the armory.
Orodreth sets aside the whisky on the side table, it smelled horrible, not a fan of whisky. He preferred wine, the more expensive the better.
"Now we're talking," he says with a smile, "what secrets do you keep here."
He opens the toolkit and tries to open the chest.
"Hmm, don't have time for this. Perhaps Blackerly has the key on him." taking the chest out with him he left it on top of the desk in the office as the others returned.
"I gathered a few things here from the storage room," he points to the closed storage room door, "the armory is the next door down, plenty of armour and weaponry if you need."
Randu is glad Lyrysa saw fit to get food for the ogre. If the damn thing came in on the two servants tied down, he might eat them then and there.
Drogan approaches the now gathered groop.
Good, everyone make it without any trouble then? So how should we go about leaving this place. It would seem there are four guards out there on the walls. I'm not crazy about being shot full of arrows. No one else can see in the dark here can they? Well the Sergent and the other men are at a poker game, so maybe we can lay an ambush for them. Or we could make our way to the tower and try and take the Warden out, he may have some things to help in our escape.
"To include all our compatriots in this discourse, I could offer a spell to help keep our words hidden."
"I do believe setting the ogre on them is the best course of action available to us. It does beg the question of the Warden yet. If the words of the guards are true, it's possible we could leave, avoiding a confrontation with him entirely. Unless an alarm is raised. Of course he may also be the one best able to raise a search if we leave him behind us. Thoughts?"
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Infernal: "That's exactly my concern. I don't want a wizard behind me. I hear you lot have powers to discern location. With luck, the Ogre will be weakened or destroyed afterward, and we won't have to deal with it ourselves.
Besides, we'll need coin or something to trade for meals once we reach a town, and the Warden will surely have some. I will not beg, nor resort to common thievery. It's beneath a warrior of my stature."
"To include all our compatriots in this discourse, I could offer a spell to help keep our words hidden."
"Much appreciated," Randu says. Clearly he dislikes not being included in decision making. When the translations begin, nods, "We have the momentum. We have an ogre 'ally'. There's little reason not to use him to flush out our game, as it were. True, we could get caught, but we are doing more than escaping, we need to make a statement to this entire kingdom that however dangerous they thought we were, they have severely underestimated us."
"Such a message may delay their hunt long enough for us to escape, but when it does come it may well be in greater force. A gamble either way. But if we can eliminate one potentially difficult opponent, I say it's worth the risk."
infernal We should use the Ogre, I don't think he would be very stealthy. My only concern is that the Sergent get away. I could care less of the warden, but a wizard handled now is one less to deal with later. How about we use the beast to storm the wizards tower. He can take the brunt of the magic while we slide in for the kill. Then if there is anything left we handle the rest of them.
"I don't think we shall be resorting to begging. I may have found a secret stash of Blackerly's. It must hold some sort of valuables and he will have the key I am sure. The lock on it is quite secure." He pats the chest.
While listening to the plan he thinks to himself while the others discuss.
"We should deal with Blackerly first, he is our main obstacle to getting out of here and will possible not be so distracted by the cards for much longer. The wizard will stay put. But the soldiers may search for us while we go for the warden."
"Securing an escape makes sense, in case things do go poorly at some point. Blackerly first, then the warden. Randu and I came upon servants. One of them, a man named Gregor, often leaves while wearing a green cloak and giving the guards the password Hesterfield. Perhaps we could manage a distraction if need be to separate the guards, divide their forces."
"I was hoping it would be of some use in one plan or another," Randu nods.
Blackerly it is then. So if the map is correct... Drogan thinks looking at each person for a moment and sizing up the groups assest.
Maybe we go out the back door of the keek, skirt the tower, scale the wall. Assuming the gate house as north we scale the south western wall and advance on the gate house from the western wall. From there if we can scale the gatehouse and take out the two guards there, we should be able to drop in on Blackerly and his game from above. Even if the guards manage to call for aid we have the advantage of fighting them as the come up to the top of the gate house. That does leave the two guards on the east wall with their bows. I'm good going that way as well, but that gives those two a chance to raise the alarm before getting to the gatehouse. How does this sound?
"Yes, back door is a better idea. They are more likely to keep an eye on the courtyard, we can get up to the walls by one of the towers, and we ambush any guards on the walls. Then over to Blackerly." Orodreth draws his finger over the map as he speaks, "Send Grumblejack in first, he should be eager enough." Orodreth looks around for the ogre.
Randu nods , liking the plan so far.
After having armed yourself as you see fit you begin the next step of your glorious escape. Leaving all the heavy burdens behind you pass through the kitchen, where Gregor and Irena still sits tied. Both seem scared as all you walk past them, Irena more than Gregor. Especially Grumblejack makes her whimper. The great ogre looks at the restrained servants and asks: "We not kill the little ones? They make noice?"
As you open the servants' exit the night extends a welcoming cold towards you. A cloud partially obscures the waxing moon only to let it shine soon after. A weak wind blows across the court yard. Looking straight ahead you see a shrub standing by itself next to a vegetable garden. No guards or lights can be seen on the battlements. at your 3, 10 and 12 o'clock are towers leading to the battlements.
The shrub is a belladonna its leaves can be harvested for poison brewing.
"We don't kill them," Randu says, "I may have use for them later." And that's true, he did offer them jobs in the future.
Noting the shrug, he smiles, and harvests a bit of it quietly, explaining "Belladonna. Might be of use."
Orodreth silently creeps out into the night.
"No time for gardening..."
Lyrysa follows as well, keeping her eyes out. The talk of belladonna interests her, but she chooses to keep quiet herself for now.
Drogan follows the others out trying to remain quiet.
Wondering why everyone is just standing around, Orodreth heads towards the closest tower.