Nodding his head, Ancian responds,"Tika that sounds perfect, but if you are unable to, don't fret. There are other ways to escape a cell."
Ancian hops back up on the cot, lies down with his hands crossed behind his head and calls to Distan, "That was an interesting trick, and a good plan. I certainly don't want us fighting more then we have to; there is no need for unnecessary bloodshed."
Tika waits for either Vorik or his manservant to answer her question
Vorik looks to his companion, clearly deferring to him "Its your call if we tell them, and just how much. It would probably be much easier if we did, but I still don't know if we can trust them"
During all this, Distan finishes his breakfast and stands up off the bench, brushing a few crumbs from his tunic as he does so. He then peers out the bars of the door, craning his neck, to see if the guard is anywhere up or down the hallway.
Distan does not see any guards.
Ancian, still laying down, softly says, "Tika, although I am just as interested in our new companions' plans I don't think we have too much time. We can discuss them later, but I know Thrane, and although we are innocent, we might not ever get out of these prisons unless we make our move now."
Ancian trails off unintelligibly back into silence, although a keen ear would have heard him say something about getting the keys himself.
"Fine just give me a sec." Tika pulls out a set of lockpicks and gets to work on the door
Disable device
"Fine just give me a sec." Tika pulls out a set of lockpicks and gets to work on the door
Disable device
1d20 + 13
Fiddling with the mundane lock for only a matter of seconds, Tika smiles as she hears a clean "pop" from the mechanism being opened properly. Tike slides the padlock off the chain and sets it on the floor. The door is now unlocked. No guards are in sight. What do you want to do?
Tika opens the door before turning back to the others and making a sweeping gesture "After you."
Ancian jumps off the bed suddenly as he hears the pop of the unlocking door."Nice work", he says toward Tika.
He turns his attention to the rest of the group. "Distan, I think your initial plan is perfect for what we need here. Although I would feel more comfortable if we knew where that guard was; unconscious and locked in this cell would be preferable."
He chuckles as he checks his equipment. His hammers flash a pale silvery blue, for a moment, as he rests them in their places on his belt, but his long auburn cloak conceals them soon after. He looks to his companions and assures them he is ready. His eyes move toward the unfamiliar paladin and his cohort. "Vorik, Klaus, you ready?"
Distan lets out a slow breath and reactivates his act, flickering back into the semblance of a guard again. "Make it or break it time...", he mutters, in a timbre of voice deeper than his natural one. "Yeah, be real nice to know where the actual guy was. Or have a layout of this place set up. What I'd give for one of those wizardy pets right now. Well, keep your eyes peeled as we head out, people in back try and keep an ear out for guards coming down the hall behind us..." He continues on like this for the next quarter minute or so.
The gate swings outward with an echoing squeal. You all instinctively tense for a second, but it appears as though no one heard the noise. The hallway is dimly lit by evenly spaced everburing torches that flicker in a cool silver color. The marble floors make your footsteps echo. To the left the hallway goes further into the keep, and to the right about 50 feet down there is the stairway up to the main floor.
Outside you hear the ringing of the church bells, it appears to be early morning from the sound - before high noon.
What do you do?
"Wait here and keep quite" Tika quietly pads ahead a little bit to look for any guards
Perception
Stealth
Vorik sliently dons his armor and shield, the shadowy darkness of the cell making him look even more menacing and sinister. He also straps on his sword, but draws the blade as soon as the door opens. He motions for everybody to wait, and exits the cell first. Once he is sure there is no immediate threat, he waves the group forward.
As Tika goes to check for guards he stands poised, waiting for any conflict.
Bastion's hand spins a few times, although it makes little sound. He moves up beside Vorik, waiting for the sign to go forward.
Ancian exits the cell last and remains behind the group, keep an eye out down the hall. He is poised rather nonchalantly; one hand on the head of his hammer and the other resting on his belt, as he waits for Tika to return.
"One moment..." Distan say before Tika departs. He pulls a small piece of wire out of his pouch, points it at the shifter girl, and mumbles the words to the message cantrip. "If you see something, just whisper and I'll hear you. Any trouble and we'll come running," he says, whispering it to demonstrate the point. "Otherwise, just let us know if there are any guards between here and the stairs we came down last night and then we can try this con."
Tika pads ahead, first going down the hall away from the stairs - seeing nothing - and then to the stairwell. She silently slips up the stairs to the main room of the guardhouse. No guards are present. Then she notices movement - the inner wall of the keep (that facing the city streets) in thronging with people! Through the blue tinted stained glass Tika can make out the forms of many people as the bustle through the streets. Off in the distance she hears bells and cheers!
Tika begins to whisper a message back to the others "Route to the stairs is clear. Something big is going on outside a parade or something and it looks like half the city is watching whatever it is."
Tika goes for a slightly closer look to find out what all the cheering is about.
Perception
Stealth
Distan relays Tika's message to the group, then adds: "Let's move out. Looks like whatever this is is the best chance we're going to get. We'll go with the fake guard plan just in case something pops up, until we're outside. Then if there's a parade we can slip into it and be half a city away before anyone notices we're gone." He then stands up straight, reaching the copied guard's full height and begins marching down the corridor in front of 'his' group of prisoners.
"Sounds good. Lead on."
Ancian hears Tika mention parade and his mind starts to turn. First the locked down city, the groups unwarranted arrest and now a celebration in the streets; Ancian is very curious as to what might be going on.
He wracks his brain trying hard to remember anything he knows or has heard.
Knowledge (Local):
Ancian shifts through his knowledge of Thrane and Flamekeep, trying to conjure up what the cause of this celebration. He knows that it is the wrong time of the year for any High Holy Days of the Flame, and cannot figure out why the crowds are celebrating.
Tika is the first to see the cause of celebration - a military parade. Columns of paladins of the Flame riding horses of celestial stock followed by foot soldiers in polished chainmail march through the streets, shields gleaming on their backs, swords held high as if saluting the sun high overhead. Every so often silver and blue robed priests and acolytes drift by. A classic Thrane military march sounds as an imaculately garbed band marches by. You appear to have come out in the middle of the parade as you can see end of it - a massive Aereni elephant painted silver and lapis, carrying a white silk draped howdah on its back.
"Well there's something you dont see every day." Tika mumbles to herself before remembering that the other can hear her due to the spell and begins to relay what she can see"Some sort of Military parade going on lots of people in uniform, marching bands and if I had to guess some important person riding an elephant."
Distan heads down the corridor and up the stairs, looking as 'official' as he can. Assuming no previously unnoticed guards appear, he emerges into the main guard room, looking around cautiously as though unable to believe the good luck falling on the group here. "Elephant, huh?" he says, as much to himself as to Tika or the others. "Saw some of those once. Traveling circus in Sharn. One of the upper towers. Always wondered how they got those things that high up..." He shakes his head, as though dispelling his mental digression. "Anyway, we should be able to just slip into the crowd. Maybe go in twos or threes instead of all bustling out at once, in case there's someone watching."
Vorik nods his agreement "One thing, if we happen to get separated, which is likely, where should we meet up?"
"I do not know. I am not familiar with this place. Perhaps a church of some sort would be best? One with an immediately recognizable holy symbol?"
The parade continues to stream by, and the crowd cheers repeatedly. The elephant is now two blocks down.
"Im going to see if I can find out who the fella on the elephant is." she messages to the others before begining to discreetly get closer to the elephant
Percetion
Stealth
"Bastion, I don't think that would be such a good idea... there aren't any churches around here except those of the Flame, and they're the ones looking us. I hate knocking down a suggestion without giving one, but I am unfamiliar with this place as well. If it were up to me, we'd meet at the exit, but we have this business with the keeper."
Ancian pauses for a moment and then says, lightheartedly, "Maybe she's on the elephant." He chuckles at his joke, and then turns to Distan. "I think we should move soon, before our cover marches away."
"Well, the idea is sound, but since there's about a million flame churches in this city and none of us are local, let's pass that up as a meeting place. There's only one Lightning Rail station, so how about that? Plus, if things are going really south with the law, be nice to be somewhere we can get out of town right quick." Distan adjusts his cap once again and shimmers into the form of a jovial-looking fat man dressed in a slashed silver and white doublet, with matching pantaloons. While ridiculous, the outfit looks costly. "Of course," the guttural voice of this parade merrymaker booms, "That's only if we get separated. let's try not to have that happen, hm? Groups leave the guardhouse only a half a minute or so apart, try and keep the other groups in sight. Bastion, perhaps you should come with me? A rich fat fop looks even more convincing with a warforged manservant. Speaking of which, Tika's about to vanish, so, pardon me, I have an elephant to ogle. See you fellows soon. " Distan steps out into the street, feigning a look of joy and wonder like the rest of the paradegoers have, and begins ambling after the elephant in the direction Tika was last seen going.
Bastion gives a small salute to those remaining, and goes off after Distan.
DAs Tika trails the parade with Distan and Bastion shortly behind her, she weaves in and out of the citizens who don't give her a second look. As she approaches the end of the parade and the ceremonially painted elephant she can spy who is inside the howdah - a small child with deep chocolate colored skin. From this vantage point Tika cannot tell if the child is male of female, but the elaborate gown would point to the later.
Her curiosity sated and not wanting to risk drawing attention Tika heads back to the others sparing a brief glance to get an idea where the parade is headed.
Vorik strides confindently into the crowd just after Distan and Bastion. He knows he's out of place, but hopes the people are paying too much attention elsewhere to really notice him.
"The Lightning Rail would be perfect; I can't believe I didn't think of that first." Ancian says half-laughing to himself.
He follows the group through the crowd, weaving through the throng of those celebrating. He keeps an eye on Bastion, as he is easy to see, and Vorik, of course, who out of all the members of this ragtag group stands out the most.
Klaus clings tightly to Vorik's side. The parade continues on, slowly moving past you with a zealous military precision that even Klaus eyes with appreciation. The street you are following comes to an abrupt end ahead, merging with two other streets into a sprawling mall covered with greenery and floating glass lanterns. Pews are set out into the space, and a large silver and blue carpet leads to a steep set of stairs, which in turn lead up to the largest cathedral in the capitol city - of course, the Cathedral of the Flame. How could you have missed it?
What do you do?!
"Follow the parade?" Tika suggests as she arrives back with the others "It seems to be heading where you two want to go anyway."
"Works for me. If this is some sort of official celebration, or diplomatic ceremony, the one we seek will most likely be taking part. We might want to take a seat and see what this is all about"
Distan continues to stroll along in the crowd. Once the entire group is out of the guardhouse and has put a reasonable amount of distance between themselves and it, he pauses to regroup with everyone else. "Well, I assume we're not going to be barging into the middle of the ceremony to grab an audience with the Keeper, assuming she's part of all this, but I agree, seeing what happens can't hurt. Plus dispersing with the crowds instead of splitting off now could only be a good idea as far as keeping a low profile." He peers up at the elephant and its rider, his eyes narrowing. "Since it's a kid on the elephant, wonder if that's the Keeper? Or if not... Huh. Think Thrane's the kinda nation that would be arranging marriages for its religious leaders?"
Bastion shrugs, knowing very little of Thrane.
The parade makes its way into the courtyard lined with pews, and the crowd falls in line, taking to the perfectly arranged pews.
Looking very enthusistic Tika attempts to get a seat
As you take your seats (presumably near each other) the parade parts and the citizens and military men and women take seats besides you. The elephant and an escort of 12 white horses with shining paladins on their backs make their way up to the stairs. Here, the paladins form a circle around the elephant, which kneels down and allows the small figure to descend from the howdah. From your vantage point it is clear that the child has dark chocolate colored skin, and is dressed in ceremonial robes which lay heavy on her small frame with pearls and other precious stones. A delicate silver tiara sits atop her braided black hair. She makes her way to a pulpit, which now you see has been positioned at the very top of the stairs.
A finely dressed gnome appears from the side of the stair way and touches a wand to the girl's throat. She bows to the gnome, then turns herself to face the gathered audience.
"Fellow devotees and citizens: I stand before you with the worst kind of news," the girl begins, her voice crystal clear and strong above the din of the anxious crowd, "Our nation prepares itself for war. The undead menace to the east has awaken, and threatens to bring its sinful shadow over all of our land."
With those words uttered, the crowd breaks into shocked gasps and weeping, sounds which drown out the girl's next words...
The Last War has begun anew.
"........." Tika looks around hoping she hadn't heard what she thought she had heard unfortunately the looks on every one's faces only confirmed what she feared another thought occurred to her and she makes her way over to the others. "I think it may be time to leave since I dont think there is a chance in Khyber of them letting us see her now."
Vorik shakes his helmeted head. "Wrong. Now we have to see her, no matter what. However we need to wait till she's no longer in front of this crowd. Trust me, what I have to tell her could very well prevent that war she just proclaimed from breaking out."
Bastion's countenance doesn't change, as he says:"Well then, do you know where she will be after this? If so, we can find a safe place to be, preferably away from guards, and come to her after this event is completed."
Ancian leans into his companions and whispers,"I hate to be the one say this, but... If what she says is true then not only do we need to get out of here, soon, but there is no chance we'll be able to speak with her. She'll be surrounded by guards around the clock; she's like a god to these people."
Vorik shakes his helmeted head. "Wrong. Now we have to see her, no matter what. However we need to wait till she's no longer in front of this crowd. Trust me, what I have to tell her could very well prevent that war she just proclaimed from breaking out."
"Well you see thats the thing why should we trust you when you wont even tell us why you want to see her or how you can be sure it will prevent this war?"
"At this point, telling you could cause more harm than good, considering where we are. I am not asking you to trust me or even come with me. I can attempt to see Jaela on my own, if you will not accompany me, but I promise you it is imperative I see her."