Vincent didn't bother to look away from his work at trying to either break free from his manacles or at the very lest break the locking mechanism to force them to have to free him if only momentarily. " My name is Vincent, Vincent Fleming...though I suppose the last bit doesn't matter much anymore now that the name has been extinguished" he said moving his tongue about in varying states on concentration.
Jaq just shrugged it off, "Can't be friends with everyone. Have to keep the world interesting somehow." He let out a small chuckle.
The drow straightens up a little, and despite his horrid appearance, and his imprisonment, manages to look bit regal "I am Veldrin, of House Shraen, great nephew of Mihtuth, and servant of Lady Zura, Vampire Queen"
As his cellmates make their introductions, The Cloaked One seems lost in thought - as if attempting to remember something long forgotten. "My name... I did have a name once... It means nothing now. Only Fear remains. Call me what you will..."
'It is not often one meets another worshiper of a demon lord. Though Lady Zura is not the most obscure. Though his title is a mouthful.'
The others speak, and Vritra glances at each of them as they do, mumbling their names to himself in an attempt to remember them. After all, it might be important at some point?
"Your lady does little here." The Suli growls out at the pretentious Drow. The green one had told him that the black pointy-ears were trouble. they... mm...
He couldn't remember what exactly the Drow did that was trouble, but he knew they were!
After thinking a moment, Jaq looked at The Cloaked One, "Oscar. I think I'll call you Oscar. Seems like a good name for you. Better than just pointing and saying 'Hey, you!'"
Gurwen bursts out in laughter once again from Jaq's comments. "He does look like an Oscar, doesn't he!?" Ahahahaha!!" Her long beautiful laugh floats through the room. After she quiets down, she looks at the two Aasimars and raises her eyebrows. "Why do you think they put us in here with a Drow? Dirty creatures..." She glances over at the Drow. "Look at it, trying to be all proud and noble. Its disgusting!"
"You aren't that schakri yourself."
Vritra growled out the words at the elven woman. Drow might be trouble, but the elf lady seemed to be more. The Suli glanced over to the Drow, then back at the lady. His vicious green stare said everything he needed to. You could go ahead and call the davofi ugly and dirty, but this was one of their companions! (annoying though the concept was to Vritra). Besides, she would only have to put up with him until her head was gone.
"We're all dead later on. Vel will still look nice when your head is on the floor."
She laughs at the Suli. "You know nothing of me, silly man. Im sure you dont know much at all." She smiles a wicked smile at him.
Vritra continued the vengeful stare for a few more moments; then closed his eyes and relaxed, however little comfort it gave, into his chains. No point in trying to convince her of anything, she seemed even more pretentious than the Drow was.
Slowly he pulled on the chains, again testing their strength. Hopefully something else would happen soon, the ego of the two elves was starting to drive him up the wall. (up the wall? funny saying.)
Jaq let out a chuckle. He thought about giving a his first suggestion for escape, but with the noise they were making he decided against it. Who knew how long they had till the guards came to check on them, likely not long. So with Plan A temporarily on hold, he started focusing on more of the details of Plan B. Now, all he needed was a nice gullible guard dog to come check on all the racket.
Veldrin fixes Vritra a cold stare. "So one might think. Yet, here I am, three days from death, and I find myself in a cell with several other who also have no desire to make their scheduled appointment. Sounds like a blessing from Mistress Zura to me" He says in Draconic.
Then the elven lass speaks up, letting her feelings known. Of course she felt that way, and Veldrin chuckles, which sounds like a spider's laugh. "Ahh. The infamous arrogance of a surface elf. I am here because of the vile, heinous acts I've committed, which are seen as blasphemous to the mighty church of Mitra. Yet, you find yourself here as well, which means you have also be branded a forsaken outcast, likely to be put to death, same as me. Do not try to make it seem like you are better than me or any of the others here, just because you are an elf"
All talk ceases as the door down the hall is opened and the sound of boots resounds through the corridor. A group of six guards walk up to the cell led by a fat, well-dressed sergeant. You all remember this man well, Sergeant Tomas Blackerly. This was the man who branded each of you, laughing as the mark burned into your flesh. You remember his taunts and mocking japes. He unlocks the door and points to Jaq, "There, that's the scum! Get 'im unshackled boys. Today's your lucky day, you worthless filth. You've got a visitor. How you ever warranted such a fine lady is beyond me. Seems she wants to say goodbye. Now step lively, we wouldn't want to keep her waiting! The rest of you stay put. If any of you makes any trouble, you'll get such a thrashing as you can scarcely imagine!" Blackerly says gruffly.
Vritra smiled at the Drow's comment. He seemed to be somewhat alright as far as getting out went. Vritra opened his mouth to reply when the door down the hall slid open with a violent thud. The Suli didn't care about the davofi that were no doubt coming, and quickly replied. "Apzen usv usjalil, thric selgtarn."
Then the loerchik lotoc davof stomped up to the cell door. A growl escaped the Suli's throat as the vutha kornari spoke. Vritra smiled, starting to question how serious the man was about hurting him.
"Imagine you loex" Green eyes stared directly at his sadistic eyes, clicking his teeth together as he studies the evil man.
Luck or lady, no matter.
Pain happy male
Black heart
Dead
Jaq kept his smile to himself as the guards came for him. 'A visitor? Seems my Lady is looking out for me.' Roughly escorted into the room, he made himself comfortable in the chair. "It's good to see you, Love."
When he noticed Tomas blank out, he made a mental note. As he left Jaq turned back to this lady that had come to see him. "You don't have to keep crying. I'm not dead yet." He gave her a smile and a wink.
She laughs heartily at the Drow's comment. "Vile and heinous are your races trademarks, aren't they. Couldn't hurt to class it up a bit."
She quiets down as the guard approaches and takes Jaq away. "Aww. I liked him."
The Cloaked One say nothing as the others bicker. He glances up when the cell door opens, but makes no other reaction when the annoying one is ushered out. Good. Maybe he'll have some peace and quiet now.
Vincent while he could see he was in no way gonna make any progress or even remotely succeed, it was something to do and to help tidy up his appearance some. When he heard the guard's approach, his tail went instantly limp and fell to the floor. He felt it best to keep as many tricks up his sleeve as he could. He hissed angrily at them when they opened the door and snapped at them with his maw in an attempt to possibly scare them into not bothering him. His eyes flicked towards Jaq as he was taken away and a horned ridge raised in curiosity. Someone like us getting a guest and it being allowed...someone must have some rather high friends...well it seemed even good connections can't keep you out of here. he thought.
"Friends in high places." Green eyes turned away from the guards, and Vritra's forest green eyes closed as his head lolled back. As the Suli finished relaxing, he curled up rapidly, yanking the chain down to its full length with an attempt to crack the cold iron that held his wrists together.
The one known as Vritra attempted to threaten Blackerly, earning a glare and a few words spoken in a low tone, Listen here, you slab of meat, I don't want to hear another word out of you. There is a lady just down the hallway, so I'm going to let this slide for now, but if you test my patience again, we'll take a trip to the dungeon and I'll make you beg for your execution. The Warden may frown on this, soft-hearted old man he is, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him after all. Best keep that in mind green-eyes.
Vincent's savage snapping and hissing seems to unnerve the guards, one of which backs away and speaks to the rest, Yeah, if Tomas wants to fetch that one he can do it 'imself. I'm not gettin' near that thing! The other guards mutter in agreement.
Vincent kept up the 'assault' until the guards had all backed out and closed the door. He stopped rather abruptly when they had left and could only grin as his tail snaked up to wipe away the spittle from his maw. He chuckled a bit " They don't seem to have the stomach for the job here do they?" he said to the others chuckling. "Sounds like we'll have less 'visitors' to come to our cells" he said hoping that they might be able to use that fear to their advantage in the days to come.
Veldrin flashes a bit of an evil smile at Vincent "Nicely done Demon-Spawn. Couldn't have done that better myself"
Slab of meat?
Was that all that the other thought he was? Vritra growled and cracked his neck. No doubt the unintelligent davof knew nothing of the language, and had no idea just how the pathetic one would end up. Vritra shivered as he stared down at the ground, the chains still holding him tight.
It seemed that the fiend-born had better luck with his attempt, the guards muttering in fear as the scaled creature hissed at the other. The davofi fled quickly, bringing a smile to Vritra's face. "What your ominak?"
Perhaps the serpent could befriend the Suli?
"You, my dear, are one to never be forgotten. Why would I be dour, it sounds quite fun. Our friend just wishes the best." He took the Veil, gently. "A treasured remembrance. Till we meet again, lovely Lady Tiadora." He gave her a charming but slightly mischievous smile.
The serpentine Tiefling continued snapping his toothy maw in the air, saliva dribbling from his mouth. The guards, already cowed by the display a few moments ago, walk down the hall to distance themselves from Vincent.
The doorknob turns and Tiadora rises as the guards enter. Immediately, her demeanor once more a perfect picture of grief. "No, I can't bear to leave you, my love!" She leans over and gives you a deep kiss. Her lips are ice-cold and feels somehow alien and inhuman.
Tomas shakes his head, "I'm afraid it's time, miss."
Tiadora looks deep in Tomas' eyes, false tears rolling from her own, and says, "Thank you for letting me say good-bye. There's no need to search my dearest. You are such a good friend for letting me see my dearest one more time, Tomas."
"Such a good friend," Tomas repeats, his voice almost mechanical. Then the watch sergeant seems to snap out of it and bows politely, "A pleasure, madam." She leaves unveiled, turning to look you in the eyes and briefly sport a wicked smile.
"Three days," her voice echoes in your mind, "Don't disappoint me, dearest. The visitation concluded, the guards roughly pick you up from your seat and drag you back towards your cell.
The door opens and Jaq appears once again, dragged by the guards. He is thrown into the cell and reshackled by the guards, a white handkerchief in his hand. A guard turns to Blackerly, "Uh, sir, the prisoner has some contraband here, looks like a hankerchief." Blackerly's face creases in irritation, "Do I look blind to you, Jack? I believe I can see a bloody white handkerchief. Now, if you're done stating the obvious in such an idiotic fashion, I believe you have a job to get back to."
"But sir..."
"But sir, nothing, shut your mouth and report back to your post, boy! It's a HANDKERCHIEF, it's not like he can do anything with it! Get a move on!
The guard nods his head at Blackerly before walking off. Blackerly motions with his hands and the guards dim the lights and walk back out of the room with him. Two guards remain stationed by cell door, their backs to the criminals.
Jaq had kissed back, playing his part of a lover. He found it quite fun actually. He didnt fight being carted back to his cell. Back in shackles, the less they could suspect him. Once it was just the two guards, he chuckled quietly to himself as he started examining the handkerchief.
The Cloaked One has remained silent the entire time the other Aasimar's been gone. When he's returned, he continues his silence but watches out of the corner of his eye.
Vincent could finally drop the act of a raving mad beast of a man when their fellow captive was deposited back in the room and the other guards had turned their backs on them. He raised a horned brow at the chuckling Aasimar. He licked his maw before speaking in his native tongue. "Ich hoffe, Ihre kleinen Besuch ging gut, vielleicht haben Sie für Ihr Leben mit Ihrer Herrin verhandelt haben?" he said somewhat mockingly. He turned his head to the strong dragon tongued one and chuckled " I do my best...it is Vincent" he said with a smile of perhaps too many sharp teeth.
"यह शानदार ढंग से चला गया. प्यारे भी मुझे उसकी याद करने की है जिसके द्वारा कुछ छोड़ दिया है. तो क्यों सौदा जब यह अनावश्यक है?" He smiled, but kept his voice low.
The other returned, the fancy one. Jaq. "Zyak wux tafiaf dout haurach tenamalo?" He speaks in a mocking tone, knowing that the Aasimar would be unable to understand his speech. The serpent beside him also spoke, but the words were foreign to him.
The serpent revealed its name, and Vritra smiled in response. It was only slightly comforting to know that he had an ally that he could perhaps trust in this group. The other Aasimar could also be an ally, but Jaq and Gurwen would be extremely annoying to work with. But why was he still thinking about allies when they were all still chained? Growling as his eyes retrained themselves towards the unnamed Aasimar, the Suli waited for some response from the silent unknown. Perhaps he had been planning?
"Plan?" His voice was quiet as he spoke to the Aasimar, hoping that he had perhaps made progress where Vritra had not.
The Cloaked One looks first at Vritra, then at Jaq but remains silent.
Looked up from his inspection of the veil. "Because she wanted me to have it. Something for my end of days." He gave Oscar a smile and a wink, hinting at the fact there was more to this than he was saying. There were still guards in hearing range after all.
He turning his attention once more at the veil, he began examining it agian though his thoughts wandered some. 'Perhaps I could summon something... A snake to poison the guards... or something small and stealthy to steal the keys... Possibilities.'
The silver-eyed Aasimar, Jaq, looks over the white gossamer handkerchief Tiadora wore as a veil. He notices several embroidered patterns: daggers, unholy symbols belonging to fiendish entities, rope, a window, lockpicks, a money pouch, and a few others. As he runs his finger across the stitching of a lockpick, the image shimmers and a brass lockpick materializes on top of where the stitching was!
Jaq looks to Vincent, since he had been attempting to pick his way out earlier with a scale. "यहाँ, पकड़. आप ताले उठा पर काम करते हैं, मैं ध्यान भंग पर काम करेंगे." Jaq gently tossed him the pick.
Vritra watched the entire thing. A small piece of metal had appeared out of nowhere! He wanted to say something, but he bit his tongue. No sense in alerting the guards to their apparent treasure.
"Svabol ui batobot?"
Perhaps there was some way to help? Not through actually picking the lock himself, he had no talent in doing so. But could he distract the guards? Make them come in and then brutalize them? Maybe even kill? A dark smile creeps across the Suli's face, staring at the two guards and studying them.
The Cloaked One watches with interest as Jaq produces a set of lockpicks from the hankerchief. He then closes his eyes and begins to concentrate.
Level cryptic 0 (see note), dread 0, psion/wilder 0
MANIFESTING
Display: Mental
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
EFFECT
Range: 30 ft.
Area: 30-ft.-radius spread centered on you
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: None; Power Resistance: No
Power Points: psionic focus or 1
DESCRIPTION
You detect the surface emotions of any creature you can see that is in the power’s area. You can sense basic needs, drives, and emotions. Thirst, hunger, fear, fatigue, pain, rage, hatred, uncertainty, curiosity, friendliness, and many other kinds of sensations and moods can all be perceived. You gain a +2 insight bonus on any Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, or Sense Motive checks that you make in the round when you cease concentrating on this power.
Vincent watched with curiosity at the Aasimar, the handkerchief was rather intriguing looking and there certainly wasn't really anything else to enjoy watching in the room. His eyes went wide though as a lovely lockpick appeared out of thin air causing him to lick his maw. He eagerly snacked up the the pick that was tossed his way. A quick glance at the guards was all he was willing to waste, trusting his fellow cell mates to warn him if needed before he went to work at his manacles.
Vritra looks over the guards stationed at the door. In their hands are steel shield and leather clubs, likely filled with sand like a sap. A single longsword is held in a sheath at their waists and a longbow accompanied by a quiver of arrows are slung across their backs. The glint of chain mail shirts shine out from under their blue and white tabards emblazoned with the solar holy symbol of Mitra.
Vincent set to work quickly attempting to pick the lock on his manacles. His zeal causes the lock pick to nearly break, causing a slight metallic screeching noise. One of the guards looks at the other and asks, "Oi Bill, was that a rat? Bleeding place is full o' the little buggers!"
Undaunted, the Tiefling sets back to work, just barely managing to open the last tumbler before the pressure would cause the lockpick to snap. He quietly sets down the manacles and moves to unlock another prisoners manacles.
Emboldened, he moves to another prisoner and swiftly unlocks the manacles as well.
He works at another lockpick, but fails. "You'd think the Warden Mathias would buy a mouser to take care of all these sun-d@mned rats!"
Undeterred, Vincent makes another attempt and manages to successfully unlock the manacles of another prisoner.
While Vincent works his magic with the locks, Veldrin decides to work some of his own. He targets the guard on the right of the door, attempting to befuddle the man's thinking, and turning him into an ally.
Jaq moved the veil out of sight of the guards if they turned around, and prepared to summon something at a moments notice. If the guards realized, and found out, they would have to act quickly. Best to be prepared. 'Maybe a Dog... if they attack us... Still like the thought of a snake... Hm... Though the puppies being taken out by a rat could be fun too...'
Vincent could of cackled with glee when he felt his own manacles are unlocked after only his second attempt, a quick catch with his tail and they are lightly slipped onto the floor before he flicks his attention over to the rather angry dragon-tongued one. He flashes him a grin, while the Aasimar was the one who provided such a useful tool to him, he defiantly had to admit that without gear he seemed to be the most lethal. A quick bit of work and he freed Vritra with only a single try. He held his tail tip up to his lips and whispered softly. "هادئ في الوقت الحالي" he said before moving on to the one who provided their freedom.
He was perhaps a bit too full of himself after so easily freeing one of the others but he opened Jaq's quickly enough and again a tail tip came up to his lips to warn for quiet. He then looked at the room as a whole and decided to free Gurwen, then the nameless one, and then the drow. He set to work quickly in such attempts.
Veldrin's mind insinuated itself into the guard's, placing the man in thrall to the ebon elf's will. With but a reasonable suggestion, the guard will dance like a puppet on strings.
Quietly in Draconic, Veldrin informs his fellow prisoners of his success "Do not attack the guard on the right, he is my ally now, as I have charmed his mind"
He then calls out to the guard he's enchanted "Excuse me sir, but I am in a lot of pain here. Do you think you could unlock my restraints? I can't go anywhere, and I am clearly unarmed. Please?"
Vincent attempts to pick the manacles twice more, failing both attempts. The guard on the left turns towards you all and yells, "Oi, what are you lot doing?!
Wade Willhelm