"Everyone, look for a key or something while Bytor and I try this."
"I do not know if there is a key around, but I do have a crowbar if you think it might be useful."
Gozrek and Bytor take the better part of an hour to working through the door's several locks, trying progressively larger and larger tension wrenches. They are about to give up when the last lock finally yields.
The room beyond is lined with stone, with a set of wooden shelves standing close to the door. A few scattered chests remain in the room, although it looks like it used to house much more. The chests that remain are filled with specie of varied metals: platinum, gold, silver, and copper. One chest contains some 30 silver ingots stamped with Baron Drelev's personal seal .
Bytor investigates the ingots, the seal and attempts to determine how much they are worth.
"There is something very satisfying about stealing from Baron Drelev!"
Bytor estimates each ingot to be worth 25 gold pieces.
Gozrek enters the room to give a thorough search. "Locks and secret doors aren't to be trusted."
Bytor searches as well, looking for anything that Gozrek may have missed.
Gozrek is reasonably certain there are no secret doors in this room. It takes longer to tally the inventory. The various chests include 200 platinum coins, 986 gold coins, 2,460 silver coins, and 815 copper coins.
Shoveling the coins into different pouches and extra-dimensional spaces, Gozrek opines, "This will definitely help."
Once done he checks the next door
Not trapped, but locked like the others. Gozrek occasionally hears the clink of metal on the other side.
"Arm yourselves. Once we get this one open, there will be a fight."
Taranis gives Gozrek the nod and bit of magical guidance.
Gozrek gets lucky with the pick this time, and the tumbler turns on the first try.
The hidden door swings open... to reveal the inside of a locked prison cell. Other cells stand across the room on the other side of the bars.
After a cursory search of the cell he goes back to the normal door and listens before attempting to open it.
Finally, an unlocked door. This cellar is filled with foodstuffs of all sorts. A stairwell leads up on the eastern side of the room, and a door stands along the north wall.
"Let's finish this floor before going anywhere."
The door opens onto the cellblock, this time on the right side of the bars. With this improved vantage, Gozrek can see an old man seemingly asleep in the northernmost cell.
Does the old prisoner fit our description of Terrion Numesti?
"Hello sir. Are you hungry?" John offers the man some food from his own rations.
Does the old prisoner fit our description of Terrion Numesti?
Roused by John's inquiry, the man grumbles. "You damn well know the answer to that!"
"Oh. You must be new. Another rat from Pitax, are you?"
Unrak steps forward, with a look of respect.
Tell us your name, please, Father. <--insert appropriate respectful title for an elder stranger here if "father" is too weird
"Quite the contrary. We're likely allies. Kisandra sent us. Are you Terrion? Speak openly as it's only a matter of time before we lose our element of surprise. Are you Terrion? I am the Duke of the Marchlands, Taranis Redleaf. These are the Huntsmen."
"Kisandra?!" The old man hurries to his feet and grips the bars, knuckles showing white. "Did you say Kisandra? Have you seen her? Is she safe?"
"What is your name?" Taranis tilts his head to Augrym to look into this man.
"I am Terrion Numesti, yes! Tell me, is my daughter safe?"
"She is. She is the one bade us rescue you. We can get you out of here and directions to her."
"Thank the gods! And my daughter Tamary? What news have you of her? Is she with Kisandra also? I---"
The old man pauses, leaning back slightly from the bars. He points at Jon. "Is that... is that my armor you are wearing?"
Augrym focuses on the man for the Duke. Once he looks into the man's eyes he concludes...
"Aye. It may well be your armor. We suited him up after an unfortunate encounter on our way here. We'll give you your gear back along with directions for what should be a safe way out and to your loved ones. Update them with our reiterated promise to see this through."
"Indeed, it is!" Numesti exclaims, pointing to the crest embossed in the metal. He takes a long while to don his armor and weapons, moving slowly and gingerly; one of his arms appears to be dislocated, and scabbed wounds and dark bruises show where he has been beaten during his imprisonment. When finished, he unstoppers one of the potions immediately and downs it; you notice his skin begin to clear a bit, and his arm hangs straighter.
"Infinite thanks to you, my lords. I go now to my daughter; perhaps she knows of her sibling. Here: keep these," he hands you two potions. "You may need them. Until we meet again, farewell!"
"Go then sir. Just know that Tamary is likely still in the enemy's clutches and we intend to rescue her. A resistance will need to grow. If you'd help us, you'd increase the chances we save her. Begin work sir. Know that the Marchlands will lend aid."
"I am grateful, sirs. If you discover where Tamary is being held, send a message to me and I will aid you how I can. I still have a few friends in town. Or at least I hope. I will make certain they know who freed me."
Unrak nods in satisfaction. So now the question is, do we move into the Fort from below and cause Our Brand of mayhem, or do we retreat and regroup? I mean, we're here, in the dungeon, and have the element of surprise, so I say we MOVE.
"Agreed." Taranis moves towards the next door.
"I am curious as to what our branch of mayhem is. I did not realize this was something we had done branding on... but onward seems the direction!"
Gozrek gives it a look over
This door is not locked, and Gozrek opens it to find a privy and a large tub for washing.
Gozrek looks to see if anyone left anything after a bath and then returns to the stairs to scout upwards. "Are we doing this?"
The company ascends the stairs into a foyer decorated with banners of golden silk bearing the Baron's black-castle crest. Two guards standing by an impressive set of doors opposite the stairs are startled by the appearance of several armed strangers emerging from the prison where only one old man had been kept, and immediately reach for their weapons in alarm.
+2 if Surprise
+2 if Surprise
Augrym's hands are quicker.
Round I
1. Augrym
2. Guards
3. Gozrek, John, Unrak, Taranis, Bytor
"Augrym, take them alive if we can!"
With an earnest, but quiet voice, Unrak growls and don't let them raise the alarm!
Augrym listens to the instructions and studies the targets in front of him. He then looks back at the brothers and cocks his head...
"The brothers Redleaf are really boxing good Augrym into a corner."
Augrym not really sure what to do to accommodate the brothers, so he just charges at one of the guards and attempts to tackle him.
Augrym lunges towards the second guard and just manages to get his arms around him. Both guards begin shouting at the top of their lungs, and both unsuccessfully try to stab Augrym in the ribs.
MISS
MISS
Round I
1. Augrym (grappled)
2. Guards (yellow grappled)
3. Gozrek, John, Unrak, Taranis, Bytor
Unrak growls deeply, flying into his customary rage. He rushes forward to grab the other guard.
MISS
The guard tries and fails to stab Unrak on his way in; Unrak fails to get a hold of the guard.
Round I
1. Augrym (grappled)
2. Guards (yellow grappled)
3. Gozrek, John, Unrak, Taranis, Bytor
Gozrek summons a slick of grease to coat the entryway. One guard slips to the ground, and the other keeps his feet.
FAIL
SUCCESS
Round I
1. Augrym (grappled)
2. Guards (black prone, yellow grappled)
3. Gozrek, John, Unrak, Taranis, Bytor
Taranis taps his brother from behind, "Get'em brother."
He whistles to Toth to guard the double doors to the South.
Taranis pokes Unrak and Toth growls at the southern doors.
Round I
1. Augrym (grappled)
2. Guards (black prone, yellow grappled)
3. Gozrek, John, Unrak, Taranis, Bytor
Bytor rallies his allies with inspire courage.
"Ready for action, Brothers! Time we take these guards down!"
Bytor proceeds to draw out his bow and notch and arrow.