Will unlocks Gromplejak's cell, and he ambles out, standing as tall as he can in the cramped space. The creature appears to be roughly double the size of the large men, and several times their weight. His skin looks like sandy white mud, and it is covered in mossy fur. He is also naked. The jotunn is quite ugly by human standards, but looks massively strong. There are what appear to be several sword wounds and deep bruises on his torso, and he moves gingerly. The giant grins from ear to ugly ear as it stretches its stiff body. After thanking them, he follows along as quietly as he can.
Will decides on stealth over protection. The chainmail would be noisy and he'd rather reduce the chance of detection as much as possible. He does relieve the guard of his belt and sword though. He also takes his boots and cuts strips of cloth from the non-bloody parts of the mans clothing. He puts on the boots so he has somewhere to put the dagger and wraps the cloth strips around his arms to hide the lockpicking tools for easy access.
Sonja slips the chain shirt over her head and onto her body, and takes up one of the heavy blades. She considers the shield, but decides against it, instead wielding the dagger in her left hand. "Let's go. We need to get moving before they realize what has happened."
Will decides on stealth over protection. The chainmail would be noisy and he'd rather reduce the chance of detection as much as possible. He does relieve the guard of his belt and sword though. He also takes his boots and cuts strips of cloth from the non-bloody parts of the mans clothing. He puts on the boots so he has somewhere to put the dagger and wraps the cloth strips around his arms to hide the lockpicking tools for easy access.
There are what appear to be several sword wounds and deep bruises on his torso, and he moves gingerly. The giant grins from ear to ugly ear as it stretches its stiff body. After thanking them, he follows along as quietly as he can.
"Pleasure to meet you Gromplejak, you're with us now." Hjalvar gently patted the giant on his arm, taking care not to aggravate any wounds or apparent bruising.
"Let's work together to get outta here. Once we we're in the clear I promise I'll help you with those wounds -- I am a fairly skilled healer."The white-haired man reached out his hand to the giant, and then to everyone else in the cell, one at a time. After shaking hands with anyone who'll accept the offer, he says "I am Hjalvar, Bard of the North. Let us work together and leave this foul dungeon behind."
There are what appear to be several sword wounds and deep bruises on his torso, and he moves gingerly. The giant grins from ear to ugly ear as it stretches its stiff body. After thanking them, he follows along as quietly as he can."Pleasure to meet you Gromplejak, you're with us now." Hjalvar gently patted the giant on his arm, taking care not to aggravate any wounds or apparent bruising.
"Let's work together to get outta here. Once we we're in the clear I promise I'll help you with those wounds -- I am a fairly skilled healer."
[dice=Heal check to assess Gromplejak's health]1d20
[dice=Diplomacy @ Gromplejak]1d20+3
The white-haired man reached out his hand to the giant, and then to everyone else in the cell, one at a time. After shaking hands with anyone who'll accept the offer, he says "I am Hjalvar, Bard of the North. Let us work together and leave this foul dungeon behind."
Gromplejak grunts and smiles. "That would be nice."
"Red cloth little 'uns like to hit me when I can't fight back," he growls.
Kellan tries as well determine what's wrong with the Giant, and if he can be of use.
"Pleasured to befriend you. I'm named Kellan." He says to
Hjalvar, and them follows Will, providing light for the keybearer.
Will doesn't look too pleased with the giant but says nothing. He gives it a suspicious look. They would need a distraction though. But he wasn't about to hand over a weapon. He quietly moves to the fireplace and looks down, gauging whether it was scalable without too much difficulty or noise. Or maybe jump.
"Gromplejak, how did you get here? Did you climb the stairs?"
"Gromplejak, how did you get here? Did you climb the stairs?"
"Well...I was raiding travelers through my moor like I always did. Then one day a squad of red 'uns came hunting me. There were too many of them for me to fight, they beat me up with clubs and everything went black. When I woke up I was in yonder cage. They been beating me ever since. Not sure why they didn't kill me yet..."
Will decides against the chimney, warmth might mean a fire and there was nothing to put it out. He opts for stealthing down the stairs, keeping Kellen and the light behind him. If they were lucky, anyone coming up would think it a guard. He keeps the sword out and an ear open for movement. "Can we go, While they suspect nothing?" he asks impatiently.
The bard knew that Will was correct. They had to act and do it fast.
"Gromplejak, you stay here. We need to find a way outta here then I'll come back for you."
Hjalvar waited at the top of the stairs, watching Will silently sneak down to assess their escape prospects.
Will decides against the chimney, warmth might mean a fire and there was nothing to put it out. He opts for stealthing down the stairs, keeping Kellen and the light behind him. If they were lucky, anyone coming up would think it a guard. He keeps the sword out and an ear open for movement. "Can we go, While they suspect nothing?" he asks impatiently.
The stairwell is lit by a sconce holding a torch. Otherwise there is nothing here of any interest. There is a wooden door to the north.
Sonja moves down the stairs behind Will, and waits for him to signal the ready to open the door and lead in, being the armored warrior of the group.
Will listens at the door first.
If he hears nothing he goes through. If he hears something he has Sonja try first. "Do not go quietly. Pretend you are a guard. Like you have every right to be here. It will give you a few seconds."
Sonja replies quietly, "I doubt they would even fall for it, the Roman women aren't warriors like us. They do not have any in their ranks, that I have ever seen."
"Not the point. Can't sound like something is different. Can't put them on guard before we are in there." If they were lucky they wouldn't even look at her if she sounded enough like a guard coming down the steps. She could slit a throat before they ever thought something was wrong.
Kellan is right behind, providing light and counsel for the younger. Not that he had anything to say right now.
"We could windowed the wall 'ere in this darklywise corner an' try leggin' 'way this place from there. Tried climbin' chimney? Gotta have some waysome other 'n down into fire. "
Will hears a slight shuffling, and informs Sonja that there's someone on the other side of the door. The group moves down into the stairwell as quietly as they can. Gromplejak waits at the top of the stairs.
Once everyone is in position, Sonja opens the door.
As discussed, Sonja walks boldly into the room, hoping to keep the guards off balance in her guard armor. She keeps her hands close to the weapons though, as she walks in and towards the farthest guard.
Despite her wearing a chain shirt, the guard is not so stupid as to not recognize a prisoner that he's had shifts watching over the past time. He looks at Sonja with alarm, and looks like he's about to shout for help.
The guard at the end of the hall reaches for his signal horn.
The air is suddenly filled with a rousing song, a popular tavern ditty from the old country called "When the war comes home". Hjalvar is singing the familiar tune but with undeniable skill and finesse. As each friend hears the song, they feel empowered... specifically they feel as if the weapon in their hand has become more honed for killing. The handle is suddenly better for gripping, the balance is more pronounced, and the swords/daggers/clubs seem to be eager to strike!
Will desperately wished he had his bow as he sees the guard reach for the horn. They were unusually responsive here. But at least Sonja managed to get close. He dashed forward behind her when he realized the jig was up.
”Ohh darkly ind'd!” Kellan mutters to himself. He would help if he could, but his magik tricks to work, needed some special materials, which he didn’t had any.
Even then, the old slaves stays alert for anything he might be able to do to help, and one of the things he can actually do is to invoke his ancestrals, granting Sonja a small boon in her next attack.
As discussed, Sonja walks boldly into the room, hoping to keep the guards off balance in her guard armor. She keeps her hands close to the weapons though, as she walks in and towards the farthest guard.
Despite her wearing a chain shirt, the guard is not so stupid as to not recognize a prisoner that he's had shifts watching over the past time. He looks at Sonja with alarm, and looks like he's about to shout for help.
The guard at the end of the hall reaches for his signal horn.
The air is suddenly filled with a rousing song, a popular tavern ditty from the old country called "When the war comes home". Hjalvar is singing the familiar tune but with undeniable skill and finesse. As each friend hears the song, they feel empowered... specifically they feel as if the weapon in their hand has become more honed for killing. The handle is suddenly better for gripping, the balance is more pronounced, and the swords/daggers/clubs seem to be eager to strike!
Will desperately wished he had his bow as he sees the guard reach for the horn. They were unusually responsive here. But at least Sonja managed to get close. He dashed forward behind her when he realized the jig was up.
"Ohh darkly ind'd!" Kellan mutters to himself. He would help if he could, but his magik tricks to work, needed some special materials, which he didn’t had any. Even then, the old slaves stays alert for anything he might be able to do to help, and one of the things he can actually do is to invoke his ancestrals, granting Sonja a small boon in her next attack.
Objarni raises his voice to join with Hjalvar's and the two men harmonize. Objarni's is a song of war, of rage at their captivity and mistreatment. It fills the hearts of his companions with burning fury.
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Party 10.8
Guards 6.5
Rushing into the next room to take advantage of surprise, Hjalvar continues his song while raising his club high. Staring down the first guard he sees directly in the eye, he brings his weapon down with hefty force, slamming heavily into the man's chest.
Now that he was upon the man, Will took a swing.
Active effects: Raging Song , +1 weapon, +2 Str/Con, +1 Will, current AC of 12.
Will and Hjalvar butcher the first guard, before he can unleash his breath. He falls with a wet gurgle.
Sonja slashes out at the man, but he is prepared for attack now, and is able to avoid her slashes.
Óbjarni follows his fellow released prisoners into the room and closes on the living guard. He continues his song of war, of rage at their captivity and mistreatment that fills the hearts of his companions with burning fury.
Kellan moves into the entrance hallway and stops just beside one of the doors, preparing to attack anyone that leaves it.
Rushing into the next room to take advantage of surprise, Hjalvar continues his song while raising his club high. Staring down the first guard he sees directly in the eye, he brings his weapon down with hefty force, slamming heavily into the man's head.
Will pops into the hall as well, spotting the wounded guard. He slams his sword into the man's heart with a brutal thrust under the ribs, right through the soldier's mail. The Frankish forged roman spatha was good steel. Will and Hjalvar butcher the first guard before he can unleash his breath. He falls with a wet gurgle.
Sonja slashes out at the remaining guard, but he is prepared for attack now, and is able to avoid her slashes.
Óbjarni follows his fellow released prisoners into the room and closes on the living guard. He continues his song of war, of rage at their captivity and mistreatment that fills the hearts of his companions with burning fury.
Kellan moves into the entrance hallway and stops just beside one of the doors, preparing to attack anyone that leaves it.
Gromplejak lumbers down the stairs, and then ducks down to peer into the hall. He chuckles - a deep earthy grinding noise, as he sees the dead guard. "Mmmm....dinner," he says, licking his lips.
The living guard grabs his horn and raises it to his lips, exposing himself to attack. Sonja slashes with her sword, but it grinds across the guard's mail. Objarni tries to brain the Romano-saxon with his stolen club, but the wooden bludgeon bounces harmlessly off the man's spangenhelm. The guard blows hard on the ram's horn, sounding the alarm!
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The howling of dogs can be heard from outside in response to the horn, as well as shouts of alarm from various surrounding parts of the fort. the guard roars at the top of his lungs.
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Sonja again lashes out, moving to give others a position to attack. The weight of the longsword continues to throw her off, however, and she misses again.