"Let them come! This will be fun. Gordie, could you be a dear and tell the leader we wish to parley? He'd probably believe you best."
"It seems that the owl was something that could give a signal, even on it's master's death," Tragen says, looking up at the circling owl. "Is that something that you have been trained to look for Geordie, or would there be another reason for the horn? What are the numbers we have to deal with now? The sergeant and how many men and dogs?"
"Parley?" he growls at Shalastar. "We need to crush them now, before they have a chance to properly regroup."
"Just because we've killed the head of the evil cult here, that doesn't mean there aren't other powerful enemies. If we can get the leader separate from the others, it should be a telling victory. Easier to deal with their strongest if he's alone. And put this horrible cult down once and for all."
Shalastar's sensual voice of condemnation is seductive enough to convince most common folk.
Sotha nodded, accepting Shalastar's point, and said "That may well be true, but once we retrieve Grumblejack, I doubt that any of that will matter. I suspect he could handle all the guards in this place alone, if need be."
Sotha motioned the others on with his sword as he headed for the kitchen, the last place he'd seen the ogre.
Tragen curses under his breath. "Then why were they sounding the alarm? The lot are playing cards or dead, the fire's not visible yet... What are they playing at?" he asks before continuing, realizing there may not be an answer to those questions. "So how many are there off playing cards with Blackerly? I expect we'll be meeting the lot of them, all prepared for battle?"
Sotha slowly approached the ogre, wondering how he should speak to the brute. He should have sent Tragen to do this, both because the antipaladin seemed fearless, and because he might say the wrong thing and be killed, leaving Sotha unrivalled as the leader.
"Grumblejack,," Sotha said, as authoritatively and respectfully as he could muster, "The hour of our freedom draws near. All that remains is to take the gatehouse and leave. I thought you would like to join the attack."
Targi specifically avoids saying anything to the ogre, knowing that she would almost certainly say the wrong thing—probably on purpose—and be killed.
Malak wouldve rathered that they kept up their subterfuge and made a quiet and leisurely, albeit bloody way out but... such were the way of things...
Yes, I'd say that we are ready. Although if they would be so kind to allow us a moment to rest before hand then all the better.
Malak smiled at the sight of the hulking brute making his way towards what was sure to be a blood bath.
Yes, yes, lead on good friend Grumblejack. We are right behind you. Now hurry along. We have quite overstayed our welcome here I'd say.
Tragen taps Targi on the shoulder. "You and I will work better in the darkness. We can see, but the guards cannot. We can prepare an assault while they remain relatively unaware," he says and then moves off into the darkest areas, while remaining close enough to the group and to where the action may occur.
Tragen pauses upon hearing the news of the signal. "Ahh, so they will be prepared for fighting a fire, rather than a battle...," he says. "We can use this to our advantage... Come, let us all hide in the dark," he continues, pointing to the dark corner of the prison , "and let them prepare their fire brigade before we come down upon them like a plague of death."
He then notices the desparate guard. "Of course if they are going to continue to be this lax, it may be faster to take the fight to them now," he says ruefully.
Sotha's immediate thought was to lead the charge, well, not lead per se, but inspire them to greatness. That Tragen was advising that he and Targi should take to the shadows put an end to that plan, however. "They know about the fire then, but not us. Shall we set an ambush, or let them charge past and find a way to lock them in the tower?
Malak was absolutely delighted at the cruel and wicked nature of these other men... to baord up those men inside the tower while its on fire?.. oh wont the Dark Prince just get a kick out of that?..
He crept back into the shadows as much as his girth would allow.
Tragen looks at Sotha, eyebrow raised the corner of his mouth twitching into something akin to a small smile. "Indeed. The fire is on the higer levels so they would need to be inside to fight it. Let them get in and begin their work and we can take out the water bearing stragglers and hold the door until the place collapses... Excellent idea elf," he says. "Now let us conceal ourselves in the darkness until they are committed to the tower."
Sotha followed the others in taking cover, hopefully out of sight.
"Hiding in the darkness is all well and good for someone who doesn't stumble around the battlefield as I do," the dwarf remarks while trying to cram herself into a suitable alcove.
After a half-minute of breathless effort, Targi has knocked over a table, tripped over her own cloak, and propped herself up under a tablecloth. At least I have you, she silently whispers to the lovely sapphire ring on her finger as the "table" pants with exertion.
Tragen curses softly at the clumsiness of certain companions. I can only hope that we are far enough away, the fire too loud, and the guards are so preoccupied by it to notice us, he thinks as he settles in, gripping his glaive, prepared should they be noticed.
Tragen crouches silently, thanking the dark gods for the guards' inattention, and waiting for the time the last guard has entered the tower before rushing forwards to the doorway.
Holding his curses when Targi stumbled; Malak whispered a Thank you Dark Prince when the guards rushed past them.
He pulled away from the shadow confines of the wall and followed the Angelkin.
Now we need something to bar the door shut.
He cast his gaze around the courtyard for materials.
Realizing he could probably gram another one back in the armory, Tragen draws his longsword and slides it through the door handle so that it lay across the stone of the doorway, though the handle, and across much of the door, effectively barring it. "That should hold for a short time," Tragen says before turning and looking at the others, his eyes falling on the ogre. "Say, Grumblejack. How do you like bonfires and roasted humans? They should be beginning to warm up now, but we could use some things to block the door in case they break through. What say you go grab us some large tables and such from the kitchen that we can use to board the doorway up?" he asks him with a smile. "The longer they stay in, the more they're bound to pick up a nice smoky flavor."
Good thinking Sir Tragen. That should hold them quite nicely. Shall we now find the Warden and let him know how we found his accomadations?
Malak couldnt be more delighted at how things were going thus far and wished they had the time to watch the tower burn and listen to the screams.
After telling the infatuated Gordie to wait for him at a suitable location, Shalastar returns to the scene of Perpetual Torment to languish in the deaths of their imprisoners.
"The Warden has been taken care of, Malak. He is warming nicely in the flames from his libraries, and the growth on his head has been carefully removed."
Puzzled, Malak shot a glance at Shal now that he wasnt necking with Gordie in the shadows buthen elnlightenment dawned.
Ah, you are correct Shalastar. I meant dear Sergeant Blackerly of course. Once he's been dealt his last hand we can finally make our leave of this hole.
The priest pulled out the map and used the light from the tower's flames to make out their next destination the screams of the burning guards a nice backdrop.
On to the front gates then? Either around the main keep or through it.
Tragen looks at the blocked door, thinking. "How many guards did you see entering our little roaster? Blackerly isn't much of a sergent if he just sent them off without proper guidance. If we hurry, we may be able to catch him unawares before the fate of his guards is determined."
He nods at Malak, "Around... around the far side... any remaining guards on watch are likely paying attention to the tower side of things. With the dogs barking already, we shouldn't draw any notice, particularly if we keep to the shadows."
He then heads off around behind the prison.
Malak helps Tragen get out the tained meat and tosses it over the fence for the dogs.
Eat up pups and rest well.
Shalastar glides along with the rest of the group, calling Gordie from his hidden location. He is a vision of sensuality and physical beauty in the robe of purple silk, shadows undulating with every movement.
Tragen waits a moment to see how the dogs take to the tainted meat while keeping an eye out for other guards that may still be on watch. With the dogs munching on their doom, he then approaches the gatehouse door, glaive in hand.
Targi keeps her axe handy as the dogs begin barking. "In a few minutes I trust this Blackerly fellow will be as blackened as his subordinates."
Sotha stepped out into view, not that he wasn't visible before. He made his sword apparent, pointing it at the sergeant as he announced, "Come and face me, Blackerly! Let us see who is truly worthy of death!" He then looked to the others and indicated that they should feel free to join the fight.
Wasting time chattering when death is to be dealt. Tragen growls and charges the unaware sergeant before he can turn to respond to Sotha's taunt.
Malak waits patiently to see how the current events unfolf before committing himself to any action. The sergeant didnt look like he was in any condition to put up a fight and both Sotha and Tragen were fearful opponents... in their own right...