Donovan passes Sion, approaching the southernmost door and muttering to himself.
If I am where I think I am, the fireplace with the cooking pot should be somewhere beyond. Which means a kitchen... and perhaps a window? Regardless, there shouldn't be any guards, but just in case...
Donovan draws his club, and cautiously pushes open the door.
As Dane throws open the door Mordesel quickly looks around at what lays beyond. He stands, ready to fall back if necessary.
If that's the kitchen and guards were in there then they would have come at us already. It's probly empty. If this is the dining room...
He runs to follow Donovan and hopes his guess of empty kitchen is correct.
Blood or success? Yes, pain is fleeting but it is all there is in the end. Does the promise of more later outweigh that which is at hand? Choices.
Nikita follows Donovan and Sion without a word, unconcerned whether her abandonment of the others will work out for good or ill.
Mordesel looks back to see most of the group going the other way. He looks longingly out the door. Finally he turns to Dane. I believe this to be the best option, but I do not believe we could do it on our own. We ought to stick with the group for the best chance of success. He turns back. But if we have to hang around, let's not leave any clues. He grabs one of the downed soldier and begins to drag him into the room, motioning for Grumblejack to grab the other and follow.
Grumblejack shrugs, hefts up the other dead guard, and stuffs him under a table in the mess hall.
Outside the building you begin to hear shouts and calls. The alarm has been well and truly raised.
Besides, the usual collection of plates, bowls and other cooking paraphernalia, there are six large knives here (equivalent to a dagger) and a long meat cleaver (equivalent to a short sword). There is also a fair amount of rations stored.
There are no windows but there is a side door.
Deciding that it would be unwise indeed to challenge the guards single-handedly, much more when he doesn't even have his favored weapon, Dane follows after the others.
Mordesel closes the door to the hall now that the group is together in the kitchen. He then follows Donovan into the room to the south, looking around it.
Mordesel glances about, but there isn't much to see. A pot is simmering on the fireplace and various cooking implements are stacked awaiting use.
Anton is listening at the door in the eastern wall.
Anton hears the shouts of distant (but not too distant) guards, although specifics are difficult to make out. He can feel cool air from the narrow cracks around the door. This door leads to outside.
Dane pushes his way past Mordesel and Donovan, throwing the door open. "No matter how cautious you are doesn't change the fact that the guards are closing in on us. We can't tarry because you're too afraid to act!" Barging in on Anton, the near giant man looks confused for a moment before smiling derisively. "Well now, look what we have here." Gesturing to the sooty noble in front of him to the companions behind, Dane snorts. "What's the matter boy? Too addled to realize you just ran up stairs to dive down a chimney and end up almost where you began?" Advancing into the room, Dane asks, "Regardless, find anything useful?"
Sion follows Dane and looks outside when the door is opened.
Mordesel walks into the room eyeing Sion disdainfully. I see you've chosen a door. I hope it does not take us too much time to get off the grounds this way.
As the door opens, the muscles in Mordesel's legs tighten as he prepares to go. If we go. We should go quickly.
Outside is a large grassed area, certainly a courtyard, surrounded by 20ft high walls with towers set up at strategic points. Directly in front of you is a sizable garden, various herbs and vegetables set up in neat rows.
It appears to be mid to late afternoon.
Sion carefully looks out the door. Garden, bush, wall. Turning back to his new comrades he says, "It seems this back entrance is clear for now. There are several towers outside. Perhaps we can get inside one and up onto the walls, gaining the height advantage and perhaps make our way towards any gate. Or even climb over the other side of the walls with the rope provided."
Sion looks around.
Although he can hear some shouts from elsewhere, this particular area of the prison has no guards in sight.
Anton moves his hands along his arms and any minor sooting from his brief moment through the fire disappeared. A flash of annoyance flits across his face at Dane's words. "I didn't bother coming down the stairs at all," fool. "I took the shorter route rather than follow you on your circular jaunt." I had hoped that your continued bumbling had brought more guards upon yourself after you caused the alarm, but it seems my hopes were dashed, and I'm back in the thick of it...
"In any case, we have food and utensils here. Take your fill on the way out, who knows when we'll get a chance at a proper meal," he says pointing at the rations and large knives.
Donovan snatches the largest knife he can find, abandoning his club on the kitchen counter.
Aye friend, he says in response to Anton, Don't mind if I do! This looks properly man-sized don't you think? Why pay a butcher when you can chop off your own pound of flesh?
Now to find the butcher. Or perhaps a stray guard? By the gods am I .
Dane smirks at the noble, takes a large bite out of a loaf of bread, retrieves Donovan's abandoned club and follows the new leader, Sion in an ever changing order of leaders.
Nikita, smirks at the intra-group jostling. Moving up beside Sion, she joins the shadows behind the door.
"Well well dark one. It appears all wait for you. I believe it is now your move."
Suddenly, the door to the north bursts open revealing three armoured guards. One kicks open the door while the other two run out into the mess hall.
They notice Mordesel.
"Kill 'em! Kill 'em all!" they yell, confident that they have the drop on you.
The ogre moves with surprising speed, hurling himself at the guards in an attempt to crush some new guards.
There is a crunch as Grumblejack lays into the first guard, the thick chain smashing into the guard's helm. Terror crosses the face of the prison guards, they had not been expecting the sudden swiftness of the ogre.
Sion is too busy staring outside wondering what may be the best course of action when a sound of crashing doors alerts him to a new fight. His soldier instincts kicking in. Three guards, this time armoured. Seeing the ogre go in first with a mighty blow made him smile. He brought his longsword and shield to bear. "Stay her shadow girl. I would hate for you to be killed and unable to berate me later on how things could have been done better." he smiled before charging towards the guards. "Fools. You are outnumbered. Mitra is not shining here!"
Dane draws his sword with an angry shout. "More cowards seeking to finally die? Come and face us then!" darting around Grumblejack, Dane places himself between both escape and Grumblejack.
The wounded guard flees to the door to the west, crying out in pain.
The other two grit their teeth and reluctantly approach Grumblejack and Dane.
The first assails Dane.
The other foolishly lunges at Grumblejack. The ogre grins and takes a swing on the guard.
Grumblejack catches the guard on the arm, inflicting a minor injury.
The guard then strikes the ogre.
A surprisingly skillful slash on the ogre's neck brings Grumblejack to his knees. Blood spurting from the serious injury, the ogre crumples to the floor.
Mordesel dances over the table toward the fleeing guard. As he drops, he pulls back his fist, swinging for the guards head.
Mordesel hits the guard in the face, breaking the man's nose. The guard fall backwards, hitting the wall and falling unconscious.
Donovan runs through the door, unleashing another chilling ray at the guard in front of him.
Donovan unleashes a spell at the injured guard, hitting him with a small blast of ice. He remains standing, but the attack has clearly taken a toll on him.
Nikita moves up and focuses her hex at the uninjured prison guard.
With a gasp, the guard slumps to the ground, snoring loudly.
Anton rushes forward and throws a kitchen knife at the surviving guard.
The guard looks around nervously, his nervousness turning to terror as Sion intimidates him.
Grumblejack groans in pain from his injuries, but thankfully the hardy ogre is no longer bleeding.
Dane swings his sword at the guard in front of him in a multitude of strikes, Attempting to break his guard, but not getting much power behind his strokes as such.
Then, feeling his flank threatened, Dane falls back a few paces to put both guards in front of him again.
Nikita smiles, having put another guard to sleep. If only she had the time to play with them further...
Dane assails the fear-filled guard, but the man manages to deflect the attack with his shield.
The guardsman backs off and gives his sleeping companion a swift kick in the ribs.
"Wake up damn it!"
The other man stirs, grabs his longsword and staggers to his feet.
Dane continues the assault on the prone man, putting all his strength into it, Dane thrusts his stolen blade down, aiming towards the weak section in the armor near the neck.
(Power Attack)
The thrust struck true as the blade sunk in past the ribcage and into the protected organs within. Feeling the weight of the corpse, Dane pulls the blade out, and turns to the other guard with a smile. "I'm afraid you miscalculated, little Talingardean." Dane shifts himself into a ready stance facing the remaining guard. "But the biggest monster in the room, was not in fact, the biggest monster in the room." His smile widens as the man proclaims. "I am Dane Grahn of the Iraens! You're fighting your probable first, and certainly last battle."
Horrified at seeing his companion slain, the final guard throws his sword to the ground and falls to his knees.
"Mercy! Please master Dane, no more! I submit!"
Already injured and terrified, he has no fight left in him.
Rather liking his new title of "Master Dane" he smirks, but then raises his sword... and flicks it down to shake the blood off of it. Repeating this process a few times, Dane sheathes his sword afterwards, and kicks the guard's wayward sword away from him. "Well now, there's a smart lad."
Walking around the guard so he's just uncomfortably enough in his peripheral vision, "But why would I really want you alive, little Talingardean? Seems like just leaving you here gives the other guards a new means with which to follow us. Perhaps coin could be offered? But no, I'm sure your meager salary doesn't leave much room for bribery. Maybe your service? Ah but that's just a knife in my back waiting to happen." Dane rattles off inane ideas, seeming to enjoy stretching the matter out, but then gets to the point, not forgetting the need for haste. "But to business, I want your assistance until we escape the prison, you will lead us to the exit, by the pathways that will help ensure we don't run afoul any more of your lot."
Seeming to think aloud, Dane once more shifts gears, "Ah, but you'll probably be executed for being a traitorous dog if you were to do this, wouldn't you? Well then, in that case you're more than welcome to try and elude the guards by yourself once we take our leave of you, but you'll probably not make it far on your own. No provisions, no weapon, just you versus the unknown in the woods..."
Circling behind the guard, Dane claps him on the shoulders heavily with both hands, looking over his shoulder to maintain eye contact. "Well, tell you what lad, you lead us out of here, and I think I may well trust you enough to give that blade back to you, and I'm not such a cruel man as to send you into the wilds alone, so let's say you come with us, eh? The Iraens are not so cold hearted to turn our backs to a man in need. So, die here and now in a last pathetic attempt at futile resistance, or stand with us, alive and well, free to make something new of your life?"
After listening to Dane's speech, Donovan crouches down in front of the cowering guard, carelessly flicking his kitchen knife back and forth. Come now Dane? You can't be so heartless as to suggest we kill the poor man? Are we savages now?
As he begins speaking to the guard, Donovan playfully prods the man with the tip of the knife, being sure to be as gentle as possible. Take it from your pal Mr. Gance dearest friend, us poor prisoners harbor no sorts of petty vendettas against yourself. Unless, of course, you decided not to take advantage of our generosity...
Standing, Donovan looks back towards the kitchen for a moment before continuing even more jovially than before. In which case we'd simply have no choice but to fill your throat with flour (stifles the screams, eh?) and cut out both your eyes! So what say you friend, care to help us?
While the others taunt the remaining guard Sion explores the room they had burst from. Perhaps the guard could be used as a bargaining chip, or at least a body shield from any arrows they might try to stick the prisoners with. Free men (and a girl) now. Prisoner no longer and never again. I will not make the same mistake as before.
Anton raises an eyebrow as Dane circles and threatens the remaining guard with Donovan. "I don't know about you fellows, but I'd like to get out of here before more of the guards show up. The alarm has sounded after all, and I'm not sure that there is really time to chat," he says as he moves to the kitchen's side door to peek out and see if any guards were coming towards that opening rather than hopefully using the main entrance.
"We're negotiating a better chance out of here than blindly stumbling along and hoping for the best, chimney boy. These things shan't be rushed now can they?"
Your new prisoner blubbers and sobs in terror.
"Err... Yes, yes I'll help! The warden should be in the tower to the south-west! He's a wizard and... I'll bet he has all sorts of valuable things in there!
But... Err... If you want a way out of Branderscar you'll need to get through the gatehouse, to the north through the main doors. The alarm's been raised though, it'll be in lockdown now."
Good, this one will remain alive. Such a waste to kill them when they can be turned instead.