The Shining Hosts - Way of the Wicked Gameplay (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Harry

Nathanial nods numbly. "Yes, a friend taken with me. He's very angry at being captured." The man winces, as if he can feel the anger. In fact, his entire demeanor seems odd for somebody sent to Branderscar. Doesn't seem like much of a villain.

"We will go to him, then. That is, assuming you can promise his cooperation." Soren moves towards the doctor, lightly grabbing his collar and helping him to his feet. "We will take excellent care of your "patient", doctor. As a favor to him, I will do you know harm. I expect you to repay this kindness in turn, and be... too hysterical to recall much about us, yes?" Without waiting for an answer, she turns to the others, specifically Nathaniel.

"If the gate is open as you say, I suggest we make our escape with great haste. Is this ally of yours near the gates, or will this require a detour?"

"Oh yes, he is very excited about getting out." He nods encouragingly. He seems to be acting like a victim in a hostage situation. He turns to the doctor and gives him a sad smile. "I know it's a bad situation doc, but let me repay all of the kindness you've showed me by coopering so you can live to see another day. Even if this means I won't get better, at least you'll be able to help others down the road...and I think that's worth something."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Unless there is something impeding my class ability, I can sense the direction of my companion (who I'm sure you will love to learn in character soon that he is is a dragon!). Just waiting on DM response to tell me the direction.

Aurex is still outside near the wagons and likely still chained up.

Grumblejack speaks up, "If that door is wide open then I say we run out! I have been here long enough".

Dr Sulta looks forlorn, "I will say nothing to anyone, please remember what we spoke about Nathaniel. I advise caution, if they capture you again they will treat you like a criminal and not a sick man do you understand?"

Damien takes a set of keys from one of the dead guards and begins unlocking the manacles of those who were still chained up. "Time to go, after we get out of here we can exchange pleasantries".

He begins to head down the stairs speedwalking to the wide open double doors with Grumblejack close behind.

Xoruk heads down the stairs as well but pauses he leans into Shalewigg and Soren's ears whispering, "Do we let them go and take the fall and sneak out another way or is a wide open gate too tempting for us to refuse as well my dears?"

What do the rest of you do?

Rubbing his wrists where the manacles had just been, Vaundour shook his head as he watched the idiots just waltz out the front door. "They'll be riddled with arrows within seconds," he scoffed. He walked over to the women, who were obviously smarter than their companions, and said, "Ladies, not to seem too forward, but I believe this place is far from suitable for someone of your beauty. What say we find ourselves better accomodations?"

Nate gives a sad smile. "I understand the situation. But for some time now I feared I am beyond help. Perhaps this path can give me new opportunities. I promise to try. Please take care of yourself." He turns back to the escaping convicts, sighing deeply and closing his eyes. "My friend is near the wagons up front. We will need something to break the chains he is in."

"Break? Why break chains when you may slacken them instead?" Soren waves the set of thieves' tools towards Nathanial, a grim smirk on her face. "If we can get to his cell, I can release him without incident."

Vaundour gained a thoughtful look on his face. "Tell me," he said, looking over at Nathaniel, "Is your friend the rather large creature that was making all that ruckus while we were being brought in?"

Nathanial nods sadly. "Yes. He hates being caged up."

Shalewigg motions to Damien running toward the door.

"This fool and that damnable Ogre will have every guard in this place on us within minutes. Is there another way out of this prison besides that way?"

Xoruk shrugs, "Does it matter? We should follow their lead and overwhelm whoever is out there. Freedom is within our grasp, there is no reward without risk dear sweet Shalewigg!" He begins to trot forward towards the open door.

You will all have about 3 rounds of dialogue back and forth until Damien and Grumblejack hit daylight and all hell breaks loose out there...

Shalewigg looks down the stairs as Damien descends, then nods at Xoruk's comment.

"It's never risk I fear, but hope. Hope is a sin. If we leave this place alive, we'll talk more. If that man gets us captured, help me kill him before we are taken."

Xoruk smiles wickedly at Shalewigg, "With pleasure".

"Then we make for this Aurex, and then for the gate." Soren looks to the veil gifted to her, once again examining the items. "Is the courtyard where your companion kept close by? I may have an idea... I have a feeling this veil may have a way to give us an alternate route of escape. This window... I know not what it does, but considering the circumstances, I have a feeling it may provide us with an alternate route."

"From what I remember, I believe that the entrance yard is fairly close by," Vaundour said, closing his eyes in thought. "Don't think we took any turns before we encountered your escape, so it should be...right where the idiots are heading."

You are correct Vaundour. Straight ahead is an open set of double doors which leads to the mid-day sun. Its rays are quite bright and it is hard to see much out there between your position on the stairs and the glare.

Oh, should mention that I inherited my father's light sensitivity. What lighting condition am I currently in?

The stairs and the hall are dark and dank. Once outside the light will effect you as it is a bright sunny day.

"Hmm... no, we'll save this in case we need to beat a hasty retreat." Soren draws another arrow from her quiver, placing it on the bowstring as she walks forward slowly. "We'll have to be quick. Let that damnable fool distract the guards while we free your friend. That stupid fool might manage to take a few of them out before we make a break for it ourselves."

With that, Soren motions for Nathanial and Vaundour to follow her. "Lead me to your friend, I will free him of his chains."

"Yes, of course...he's this way, I don't think it's much further..."

Nathanial will follow his link.

Some Fresh Air

Soren, Shalewigg, Vaundor, and Nathaniel move with hesitation into the bright sunlight of the courtyard. Lothhryin, Pyotr, and Xoruk trail only slightly behind.

Perhaps more jarring that the sunlight is the clash of steel upon steel as Damien and Grumblejack take the fight to the surprised guards.

Your eyes, despite the brightness of the day, widen in shock as the gates before you remain wide open with a clear vision of the bridge that leads from Branderscar Prison to freedom looming before you.

Two wagons sit in the courtyard as well, near one Damien presses the attack on a Guard while that man's companion lies bleeding in a pool of blood. To the right, Grumblejack is menaced by two guards.

The sound of arrows hiss through the air as two more guards from the parapets take aim at the Half-Ogre

The second wagon rocks back and forth as a screech of a great rage emanates from a caged beast, it would seem you have already fund Aurex.

Round 1 - Initiative

Nathaniel - 22
Pyotr - 22
Xoruk - 21
Aurex - 20
Lothhryin - 19
Soren - 17
Shalewigg - 16
Vaundor - 14
Guards on Parapet - 14
Damien - 9
Guards in Courtyard - 7
Grumblejack - 5

"Aurex!" Nathanial cries, mentally reaching out to the dragon. He looks around to see the massive fight and closes his eyes. "Teir le druim neiy mor, shey bahn bwah leagh tu riase..." A calming song comes from his lips as he keeps the malevolent voices at bay.

Inspire courage for everybody!

The dark-haired prisoner cannot contain her glee at the sight of the fountain and the bleeding guard. She steps out of the prison before looking up at the archers behind the parapets. She fumbles inside her worn clothes to produce a single cricket trapped there for days, she rubs the crickets legs together and her eyes roll back into her head.

"We are so tired, and it's a long way South we must head. Let us catch our rest."

She mumbles quiet words in an irregular tongue, and snaps off the cricket's legs. The insect falls to the courtyard helplessly.

Shalewigg casts sleep on the two guards in the parapets, assuming they are within about 20 feet of one another. If it's clear they are not, she casts it on the guards fighting Grumblejack. Will DC 15 negates.

Has my eagle desummoned or not, lasts 1 minute

The Eagle is gone the back and forth conversation was longer than 1 minute. I will give Soren another day then move the thread along.

As the cricket falls so too do the guards on the parapets, sleep claims them as they slump downwards.

Only the three guards left on the ground are targets, at least for now.

Seeing the wagon they were brought in, Vaundour got a smile on his face, one that would terrify the guards. 'Time to put on my working clothes,' he thought to himself. Checking to make sure the guards were otherwise occupied, and noticing that the archers were already taken care of thanks to one of his new companions, he ran towards the wagon and dived inside, searching for his confiscated gear.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Pyotr charges forward seeking to stun one of the Guards fighting the Half-Ogre

but the Guard steps to his left just out of the way of the Dwarves strike.

Xoruk heads to the Guard fighting Damien and lends a hand, literally striking with an open palm

Damien's sword sweeps in from the other side

together the two villains make short work of the Guard.

Soren fires an arrow at the Guard that Pyotr aimed for

but the arrow only glances the desperate Fighter.

Vaundour you easily locate your gear as well as the gear of Nathaniel and Pyotr in the back of the wagon.

Lothryin its your action, then the Guards and Grumblejack and we are back at the top of the Initiative order.

Lothyrin mentally steels himself as he whispers a few words under his breath, and releases the magical energy penny up inside, hoping to stun one of the two guards on Grumblejack. Daze spell DC 15

The guard stumbles in his footwork, it seems the Summoner's spell has worked!

The last guard impeding your progress attacks the Half-Ogre who strikes back at him

both combatants exchange gusts of wind and nothing more.

Round 2 Begins!

The din of battle may surround her, but the young, raven-haired woman ignores the fighting and grins sadistically. She moves over to the unconscious guard as the pool of blood grows under his body. As she does so, her hair magically grows and writhes, knotting in places and tangling into a thick rope. The last tendrils of her dire braid slip under the unconscious man's neck and curl tightly around his throat.

"Guards," she says calmly, without raising her voice. Her braid lifts the guard's body into the air with inhuman Strength, dragging him over to the fountain at the courtyard's center. "Lay down your weapons or watch this man die before we kill you in turn."

Note

Ignoring his armor for the moment, as it would take too long to put on, he grabbed his sword cane and his alchemical gear before popping out of the wagon. It was time to end this!

And then one of the women responsible for his escape dragged a guard with her hair - her hair! - to the fountain. "Yup, this is a good group to escape with," he said to himself and he decided to wait and see how that went down.

Round 2

Of the last two guards standing, only one seems coherent (at least for the moment), "Surrender? You think I am the last one here? Reinforcements shall be here in seconds. Lay down your weapons and we shall make your executions painless" he retorts.

Everyone make Perception checks.

Pyotr snorts and throws a flurry of flying kicks at the Guard

the first misses but the second finds its mark.

Xoruk charges at the Guards other flank, enemies now surround him

with that hit to the Temple, the Guard slams into the ground in a heap.

The cage just behind the remaining stunned guard begins to shake violently as Aurex shrieks in rage.

Nathaniel, the guard that just went down likely has the keys to the bonds holding Aurex.

Nathaniel, Aurex, Lothhryin, Soren, Shalewigg, and Vaundor all go before the last Guard who will get an action this turn, if he lives that long.
Sorry big guy, you are last this round!

The dragon rumbles as his chest starts glowing a molten red. Nathanial freezes up, slowly walking forward to the guard that he thinks has the keys. Then Aurex releases a jet of fire at the last guard, burning the lawkeeper.

Fire Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

DC 14 reflex for half damage.

"Suit yourself, love."

The witch's hair lifts the dying guard high overhead like a kraken's tentacle, then plunges him to the bottom of the fountain.

He might actually outlive you."

Shalewigg drowns one of the Guards knocked unconscious by Xoruk and Damien.

The guard manages to evade being singed too terribly by Aurex's breath.

Nathaniel, Lothhryin, Soren, and Vaundor all go before the last Guard who will get an action this turn whose ass is a bit toasty right now.

"THAT is your friend? I... we should speak of this later. But for now, it seems our flight may be more literal than anticipated." Soren, bow still in hand, moves to Aurex's cage, whipping the tools from her prisoner's shift. "Keep them from me! I'll release the beast, given time." Not waiting for a response, Soren gets to work on the cage's lock, trying to ignore the fight raging around her as she works.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Nate looks at the devil-woman in confusion, then gives a nervous chuckle and shakes his head. "I suppose we could, but he can only carry so many people at once."

The dragon licks the flame from its lips, looking down at the horned two-leg in front of him. With a rumbling growl it gives a twisted sort of grin to her. "Perhaps I will not kill everybody here after all..."

'Dragons and tieflings and ogres oh my,' Vaundour thought to himself as he went over his options. To bomb or not to bomb...

Giving a slightly manic grin, Vaundour grabbed one of his vials, concentrated briefly, and lobbed it at the surrounded guard! Though the harsh Sun did hurt his eyes...

Attack: 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 1 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Adjacent characters take 5 damage.

All characters make a Wisdom check.

Soren frees the Dragon who stalks out of the cage on the back of the wagon. Still a steel muzzle and a set of steel bands prevent him from opening his wings or really opening his mouth very far at all.

The vial explodes at the feet of the Guard causing him to cry out in agony. Pyotr snarls in rage as he too are caught in the blast radius. Xoruk and Grumblejack does not even flinch as the flames lick their skin.

The Guard is a stubborn one though, he still stands!

Lothhryin this Guard still stands, have anything that can bring him down? :-)

Nate shuffles over to to the deceased guard to retrieve the keys, closing his eyes and shaking his head as he does so.

Wisdom: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Aurex growls from within his muzzle, staring at the horned two-leg who freed him. Then he gouges the earth as he leaps forward, coming down on the guard who dared to put him into a cage.

Claw: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

The guard's injuries prevent his from becoming conscious as his lungs fill with bloody water. He sputters and coughs up bubbles of air while the witch's braid holds his head under. Several seconds later, the sputtering stops and the guard dies.

Wisdom check 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

I have been watching and will act if the dragons claw does not fell the guard, but I suspect it will.

Aurex eviscerates the remaining guard and turns to Nathaniel who uses the keys he retrieved from the slain guard to free the Dragon from his remaining bindings.

As the Dragon unfurls his wings Guards from the Prison rush outside. They stop dead in their tracks and flee as the Dragon, although much younger and smaller than a full grown member of the species, strikes fear in their hearts.

Combat Over - For Now

The open gate beckons but before you can all respond to the call Pyotr and Xoruk exclaim together - "the Wagons - let's take the Wagons!"

What do you all do?

[b]"Where are the guards running? Through the main gate and across the bridge?[/ooc]

Nate puts a soft hand on the dragon's muzzle, as if greeting a docile horse. The dragon exhales a puff of smoke, then lifts the large blonde man like a kitten onto his back. It turns and growls deeply at those present. "Two-legs, I owe you a debt for keeping this one alive. I will aid in your escape, but we are not allies."

"Where are the guards running? Through the main gate and across the bridge?

No. They were coming out of the main building complex through the double doors behind you. They turned around and fled back into the building. Literally, the gates are open and nothing - for now - stands in the way of freedom. The only question is do you go on foot or leave with the wagons.