Walking the Way of the Wicked

Game Master divineshadow

Lauren shook her head. "A shame, and all the more since I'm sure he'd hardly have missed it. I can't promise much following the breakout with any confidence. I'm sure they'll be far more concerned about hunting me down than you lot. Some of us earned our stay here," she said, her face twisting into a wry smile. "But that works out to your benefit. There are eight of you. Make that promise to one another. While all and sundry are embroiled in a witch-hunt, any who make it take whatever spoils they gain here to aid one another's families. Disappear. I'm sure the guards are paid more than enough, and take bribes for still more. That's a far better guarantee than the word of a condemned prisoner, and your families deserve no less."

Remember Lauren you promised no one would like execpt those who you recruited. Sure you want to let them go like that?

Ah. From your comment in discussion earlier, I'd kind of taken it to include recruiting for the killy-stabby-escape part. New-and-improved version following.

Lauren shook her head. "A shame, and all the more since I'm sure he'd hardly have missed it. Obviously, any personal involvement would put your families in more danger than it would be worth, but we can provide aid through intermediaries. Keep any valuables you collect off the guards- it will be added to that aid. It's certainly no more than they owe you."

The bandits nod and wait to be freed.

From the other side of the wall, you hear, "I am called Fitz."

"Hold your water, Fitz. We are trying to come up with a way to get you out. Now you, it seems, pissed someone off in a major way. I can respect that."

Did my method of getting Fitz out work? My goal was to smash through a single brick to create an opening using one of the iron brands, and then to tie a rope to one of the brands which we would push through the hole with a rope tied to it. Then have Thok and perhaps some of the other prisoners help to pull a large hole in the wall. This way we are pulling away from the iron bars of the cell rather than pushing/smashing into them.

Sorry thought that was up for discussion not that you were doing it..... hmmmm. Roll me a d20

So did I, although since it has been posted for almost a day and everyone has posted except Nemenia in that time, I do not know whether it is agreement or objection. However, since there do not seem to be any objections, I think we should give a brand to Thok and let him poke a hole in the wall. Then it is pull down time.

Roll of unknown purpose: 1d20 ⇒ 3 <-- guess that idea failed

No low was good. When I ask for random rolls I tend to do them 2e style lol. Anyone heard from Nemenia?

You manage to use the iron brands to pull the brother from in front of the cell. Nkw you are looking at a iron cell with Rather rusted bars. The lock Howeever on the door is shot.

I assume you mean border or wall, not brother. At least I do not think someone's brother was in front of the cell.

Yzera looks at the bars beyond the hole in the bricks.

Can someone stoke the brands? Perhaps we can heat the lock and break it. Or we can try to pull it down, I do not know if the rope is strong enough though.

Bricks. My auto correct is going nuts.

Thok walks up to the bars and pulls hard. Straining every muscle in his body he heaves the iron squeeze but doesn't give. If Thok not sick and have good arm Thok could break.

Yzera looks to the others.

Unless someone has an idea, perhaps we need to search the main level of the prison for his arm. Also, isn't there a warden? Perhaps the arm is there.

Fitz smiles as the wall comes crashing down.... and for the only the second time in decades, his eyes adjust to light other than the single continual flame burning from the iron chandelier. He pulls on his jacket, the fabric only tearing further and says, "Thank you. I apologize for my appearance, but it would seem that I am a mite better preserved than my clothing."

He steps forward as the ninja and catfolk approach the lock, and then feels his heart drop out as they make their pronouncement. "It would seem that the universe has a rather perverse sense of humour. I believe they filled in the mechanism with mortar and capped it before they built the wall. I imagine we'd need to saw through the lock-bar...."

He watches as the one-armed creature pulls on the door, throwing his own legs and back into pushing, and smiles as he feels the door start to give... and then sighs as it shifts back into position as Thok admits defeat. Fitz grimaces, but then composes himself, saying, I suppose I can wait for Thok to pull the door open with the return of his arm.... What's another half hour after... well, however long it's been..?"

He looks at his once-fine clothing with a sigh and says, "Though if you wouldn't mind, I'd be delighted to take one of those longswords and whatever other gear Thok has in that bundle. While the uniforms here haven't improved over the century, at least I won't have to worry about tearing through every time I move."

Ilan says, "This seems to be a normal cell, other than the spoiled lock. If we can't get the lock to yield, it may be worth looking at the hinges. Oiling them might let us dismantle them and open the door the other way. Alternately, since these swords have narrow tips, we could hammer one or two in as if they were wedges, to bring the mechanism and bar apart."

Yzera takes a look at the hinges:
Worth a try. There were many barrels in the storeroom, perhaps one of them contains oil.

However, we need to move fast. There are supposedly over 50 guards. We killed eleven in the barracks, the catman and his friend killed two. We slew four guards in our cells, two more on the main level and another and a healer. That is twenty two I believe. Thus, there remain thirty or more including commanders and the worthless sergeant Blackerly and the warden. If they find what has happened, then we shall face all at once and be defeated. Lets search and scout to free this man. Then, we finish our work here and leave.

Yzera heads back to the storeroom and examines the barrels more closely to see what they contain.

Breeze heads out with Yzera, not waning any member of the group alone in case a guard patrol comes back unexpectedly. "If we can't find anything here, I think we need to go find that Thok's arm and try that way. I haven't found a worthwhile tool anywhere on this floor.

While Yzera went to investigate their potential resources, Lauren took the keys and unlocked the cell holding the new recruits.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she said, turning to the other cells, "I'm sure these men aren't the only ones willing to throw their lot in against their captors. What we have here is a rare opportunity- the first and final breakout of Branderscar. Those of you who would take life serving in our company over life rotting in here are welcome."

Okay contents of the barrels

18 100 gal Barrels 6 of which are marked emergency rations. Two have taps in them and rest sideways on x shaped legs. Water food and wine. Mostly spoilt. One of who is some really high proof dwarven spirits. How it go here you havent a clue. Has not been tapped.

10 50 gallon barrels. Oil.....

10 20 gallon barrels. Some other soet of oil you dont recognize off hand. (Know religion)

Lauren roll me a diplomacy please.

Alleria waits to see how the prisoners react to Lauren before throwing her two cents in.

Lauren's Diplomacy roll will likely need to be followed up by somebody else's instead, or Lauren's Intimidate.
1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Yep - wizards are usually right up there with monks and druids when it come so stellar diplomatic skills.

Alleria chuckles and steps forward. "You should really listen to this lady, she knows what she is talking about!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Alleria blinks twice when looking at the prisoners. "Hmmm, I think our cause might be lost here." She says to Lauren out of the side of her mouth.

Fitz shakes his head and then pulls himself up to his full height, somehow gaining a regal air despite of the tattered, faded and torn state of his finery. He turns to his fellow prisoners and says, "It is true. This is a historic day... but not because of a prison break, even if it be the first. No, this is the day that everything begins. The day that Talingarde began to throw off the yoke of the Mitrans, the day that they began to seek true justice rather than self-righteousness... The day that those who seek to better themselves and their place in society began their stand. Today, Branderscar falls.... And, in falling, releases the forgotten secret walled away in its heart... The one they feared enough to build a prison around.

He pauses for a moment, giving time for the weight if his words to sink in, watching his audience to ensure they are ready before continuing, "The day that Branderscar fell will be known as the start of the fall of Darius... The day that men, noble of spirit, took up the fight. Now, ask yourselves, are you one of those men? If so, take up arms and join us... If not, stay in the safety of your cell... We wish you no ill will, but will be no part of liberating those who will not fight for themselves."

Diplo: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Five more volunteer to help you the rest well they may be crazy but they aren't forsaken.

"If they agree to help us, let them out. The more the merrier, I suppose!"

Yzera returns from the storeroom.

I don't see anything that will help us get him out. I am heading up to search the first floor. We should set the volunteers to guard the main door while we finish sweeping the first floor. Lets get some of the unused guard uniforms from the barracks and then the new guys can stand upstairs like they are guards.

Assuming that the volunteers go to the first floor to guard the main door, and that the others accompany her, she will begin to search the first floor. First door is into room 14.

Lauren didn't hesitate to let them out. It was certainly tempting to threaten the others, but no- that wasn't going to be any sort of loyalty. They could just die.

They quickly take weapons and uniforms and armor from Thok then they head up stairs quickly dragging all the bodies back down.

The room is an office with two desks. At one sits a do man prominently wearing a holy symbol of Mitra. The other desk is covered covered layers of paperwork.

Lauren crept along, peering into the room with Yzera. The man inside was clearly a priest of Mitra. Hmm. Worth searching his stuff once they finished him off- there might be some way of getting around the magic suppressant. She mimed slitting his throat to Yzera, shrugging inquisitively to see if she was going to.

Alleria creeps up next to Lauren and takes a look.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Perception. 1d20 ⇒ 19

Well as far as I know Yzera wasn't sneaking. Not and opening a door. So he will see all of you. But Yzera gets a surprise round action.

Breeze follows behind the other two ladies, all the while watching their backs. She was unawares of the Mitran priest with her position in the group. Once she is made aware, she knows the only possible action is to end him quickly as possible.

Yzera curses under her breath:
Damn Mitrans. Why can't they be at home.

With that she charges forward hoping to end this priest before he has a chance to cause any problems or raise an alarm.

Charge (30' max in surprise round)

Attack-longsword: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 = 19 <-- +2 charge
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Unless he has very nice armor, that hopefully will get him. I assume he was not sitting in his office in the middle of night with his shield readied.

Ilan watches the group head off to explore, a confused look on his face as he turns away from the hinges, muttering,"I thought you found oil?"

He shrugs at Fitz then follows after the group, daggers in his hand, and drops into a fighting stance as Yzera charges.

We did find oil, but I thought we had tried that without success. If it looked like we could get the bars open, I would have continued on that. It just seemed like we were going to spent several days of RL time fawning over the mortared lock without any chance of opening it. I am also looking for some acid that might dissolve the mortar.

Earlier

Nemenia tries to recover from Lauren's missed attempt at diplomacy, addressing the prisoners. "We are all on the same side here, and have a good chance to escape and have a real future away from the authority that has kept you down all your lives. We want to help you all, but can only do so if we can trust you to work with us to escape and make a new life of wealth and privilege. We have friends beyond this wall that are ready to take us in and make something real, away from this prison and the bastards who have stolen your lives locking you away here. I beseech you. Join us and earn your freedom, do not side with your oppressors as that way is only imprisonment and death."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

As she finds them unmoved she shrugs, turns her back and leaves them to burn when the oil is used to reduce this prison to rubble.

Current
As the group begins to charge the priest, Nemenia begins a chant speaking to the follies of the worship of Mitra and the need to zealously destroy all who oppress the masses through the false teachings of Mitra.

Sermonic Performance for one round +1/+1 inspire courage.

No one actually tried it or made any rolls that would let them know if it would work. Also it was a bit more involved that just oiling the hinges. You would have had to chip away stone around the top of the door on the hinge side. Not hard but rather noisy. Though I was just going to have it locked. But someone in his first post decided to have them pour mortar in it..... I just rolled with it lol.

The priest takes a nasty cut to his neck severing his windpipe and his jugular. He falls bleeding out rapidly.

Yzera looks down at the priest, her eyes once more glazing over at the sight of so much blood. After a few moments, she looks at her companions.

Lets keep moving. Room to the north, probably a closed between this and the stairs down. Then the next room to the west.

Yzera moves to the north door and listens. If she hears nothing, she will open it and proceed in.

Current Map

Alleria follows along, resisting the urge to whistle a happy tune as the group moves along murdering Mitrans.

Roll me disable device please. Both doors out of here are locked. And anyone searching the room?

Perception(search room): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 - desk or any other place that might hide something

DD(north door): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

You fail to unlock the door. However after looking at the papers you find a few interesting things. One is all of the paperwork of your groups transfer to the prison. Two is that Blackerly has been embezzling from the prison since the current warden took over.

Were the lockpicks masterwork? If so, my DD should be 2 higher I believe. Not sure if that will help, but worth a mention.

Ilan loots the dead priest since someone else is working on the locks.

Lauren checked the priest's corpse for anything that might allow him to cast without interference.