You seem to be wasting your breath sir...and I thought I was a tad lazy but these fools are standing around in the middle of their jail break...not very prudent at all...They dont seem inclined to release us. Or at least they surely are in no hurry to do so. Perhaps they are waiting for more guards to come before making a decision? That woudl be a shame but alas, I digress.
Malak sat back down and tried to get comfortable.
Finishing his dress up Jack goeas over to Kyruls' corpse and takes the lockpicks off it and tosses them to the bodies manacled in the cell.
"Here. You know how to use this?" He asks, raising an eyebrow before turning to Mordred's corpse. Taking the veil off his hands Jack inspects the images on it, two daggers and a set of lockpicks had been produced from it and an embroidered window and a pair of vials remained. Puzzling over it a bit her picks at an embroidery of a vial. "Let's hope this is useful."
"Do I ever! I was practically born with a set in my hands."
Todin gracefully bends, grasps the lockpicks and immediately begins to work on the locks around him.
"Hm. That one around your wrist seems to be a bit tougher than the others."
"Well d*mn."
Todin's brow begins to sweat. His determination is almost palpable.
Failing yet again, Todin grimaces and begins gritting his teeth.
Come on you stupid son of a-
At this point, Todin begins obsessing over the lock. If anyone tries to talk to him or otherwise engage him, he'll tell them to shush unless he's in immediate present danger.
"AH-HAAAAAA! Take that you stupid piece of metal! You shall forever rue the day that you challenged the house of Lael to feats of underhanded deftness!"
A moment passes.
Todin realizes he's been yelling at an an inanimate object. Everyone is most likely staring at him.
He brushes himself off, takes a few awkard steps outside the cell, and begins looking for whatever weapons and other objects have not yet been taken after all the time he's spent.
"Anyone have a dagger or some mail I could use?"
Still a little delirious from pain, Shalastar looks up at the guard. "I don't suppose you have a healing potion or something? And what's your name, by the way? We haven't been properly introduced."
Shalastar's voice is naturally seductive and difficult to resist.
"What about the sleeper?" Jack asks Todin, eyeing him work as he himself fiddles with the veil.
...sleeper...Malak looked around the cell to see who had been able to sleep through the obscene amount of noise these jailbreakers had been making...mostly out of jealousy...seems Ive been cursed as a light sleeper myself...
Do you mean me sir? My name is Malak Jaedoom adn I can assure you that I am quite awake.
Sotha watched Todin with something like contempt mixed with incredulity. When he was finished, Sotha said, "After seeing that performance, I'm not sure you need a weapon." As he spoke, Sotha grabbed a sword off the corpse of a fallen guard. He swung the weapon a few times, apparently satisfied by it, and said to himself "Now I just need to find my spellbook."
"I say we pay a visit to the warden, or the library, if these louts have one. Whichever is most likely to hold my spellbook, if they haven't burned it."
Targi eyes the other prisoners with suspicion. More with whom I shall have to share the spoils of this place... She shuffles over to Tragen and glances first at his body then at her own wound.
Then she looks back at his body.
My cloths were already in terrible shape. I spare myself no indignity by healing this one. Mustering her minimal skill with positive energy, she channels it into the fallen aasimar.
Malak was starting to get annoyed at having been ignored quite blatantly several times now but was in no position to make his feelings known. He did what he did best and waited to see what happened next.
Todin walks over the room, seemingly ignoring Sotha's comment noting his incompetence.
Pay him no mind Todin. No mind at all. It doesn't matter that he's ungrateful for being freed. You went through those other locks in record time, it was just... that... one... GRRRRAH WHY DID THAT STUPID LOCK RESIST SO!?!
The former lawyer comes across Trieze's corpse, a dagger still clutched in the elf's hands. Todin wordlessly takes it. He then goes to the other dead guard and searches for armor.
After that, he turns to the bearded priest. "Malak, you say? Would you care for some assistance with those shackles?
The devout servant of the Dark Prince hid his surprise well and replied the prowling man...who is quite adept at those picks...
Indeed, indeed...uh, sir?
Malak waved his hand as much as the shackles would allow.
Yes, I could very much use such gifted help with this cursed chains. Shouldnt be much of a problem with one as talented as you and I would be in your debt...not that I dont have skills that might come in usefull...Dark and Empty I cant believe that we are actually going to attempt this...
Something seemed to occur to Sotha as he thought of how the fool had struggled so ineptly with the shackle. "I was searched rather extensively when they brought me here, how did you acquire the lock picks, an why did you wait until now to use them?"
Starting at the bellow Jack abruptly forgets all retorts and comebacks aimed at the arrogant elf and the bald human.
Jumping into action Jack hastes over to Tragen and, swirling the vials contents, forces the potion down his throat.
"From what I can remember, there aren't too many ways out of this place. It's either over the walls and into the water, or out the front gate. I'm a decent swimmer, but from what I've heard about the conditions of the water below us, skill at swimming ceases to be relevant." At the sound of the bellow, Sotha stepped back, he was surprised by the noise, and made no effort to hide it.
Sotha knelt and began searching the pockets of the body at his feet. He was looking for something small, a coin or button, even a pebble would do. When he found one, he approached the large, reinforced cell, but stayed several feet back from it. He cast light on the object in his hand, and tossed it into the cell, hoping it would illuminate the source of the noise. "Who is in there?" He called, tightening his grip on the sword as he did so.
Tragen awakens, blinking and taking a deep breath. He then quickly looks around to determine his surroundings. Sitting up he says, "My thanks for whatever healing was performed upon me. Who is making that noise?" He picks up the shield and sword he had dropped in his unconsciousness and notices the fallen guards and their armor. "It's not very protective, but I clearly need some form of protection. Also," he continues quietly, "I can, for a short time, take on the visage of one of these idiots, if we need to play a ruse of some sort."
JAck steps up carefully with his newly acquired sword in hand and looks into the cell. Seeing the ogre he gives a toothy grin, revealing his canines, and a glimmer of hope reaches his eyes.
"Hey big guy. We're gettin' out, feel like taking a breath of fresh air? We can let you out the cell, buddy." he offers the ogre, hoping it will lead the way, sowing enough chaos and destruction in it's wake for them to be able to walk out with minimal effort.
Sotha smiled at the possibilities. True, he didn't much care for the thought of making nice with this brute, but having a walking battering ram lead the way would certainly help, besides, he'd done it with goblins before, surely this creature couldn't be as bad as they had, right?
He offered a regal bow, still keeping his distance from the bars. "I am Sotha Zyn, heir of the Zyn noble house. I was sentenced to die for attempting to slay the king at a ceremony honoring my regiment. Who are you, if I might ask?"
Ignoring the chatter with the ogre, Tragen looks down at the body of the nearby guard, his sword having slashed a deep wound. He bends over and begins to remove the man's armor and underpadding, in order to don it for himself.
Shalastar leans heavily against the guard. "I was injured by one of your overzealous friends. I hoped you might have something that can heal me." Shalastar is concerned about his new friend. "I hope that you are alright. I know things seem very chaotic right now, but in the end I think you will have a better understanding of what's going on. It will make sense, I assure you."
"This armor of yours is very uncomfortable to lean on. Do you think you could take it off and give it to one of my companions? It would be so much more comfortable for me."
"A score to settle you say? I think that is about all I need to hear. Todin, if you would be so kind as to unlock the door for this fine individual?"
Shalastar smiles at his friend. "Yes, but be careful. If you have more friends waiting in the barracks, they might not understand."
Malak sighed to himself at the elf's suggestion to Todin...I hope he frees me before this hulking brute they've found...not that he wont make great fodder during our endeavor...he will, but still...me first... The priest addressed whoever would listen.
None of these guards have keys for these chains?
Sotha looked at the guard with a combination of confusion and contempt. He didn't know what the odd looking man had done to the guard, but it was all he could do to keep from killing the now defenseless guard. Having a pet was all well and good, but this one would likely become a nuisence before long. And what about keys for the rest of this place? The warden's room, the front gate, are they in the guardroom as well? It irritated Sotha that he was the one asking for questions. Shalastar had at his command a valuable font of information, and yet he was wasting it with babytalk.
"Keys or anything else you think will be useful would be good. Don't let my friends intimidate you, though. They just don't understand our special connection." Shalastar sends a blank stare momentarily at Sotha.
Keys? Excellent. Now I won't have to lower myself to unlock those chains like before. No antics like last time. Now that I'm armed and armored, it's time to show this motley crew that I am no one's fool.
"Fear not, good priest, it seems that you shall be free soon. Those seem to be some rather powerful magicks that this... I'm sorry, I never caught your name..." Todin says, addressing Shalastar.
Malak railed at the man for denying his skills to his freedom...well we can all hold out when push comes to shove now cant we...
And what if yon guard does not return? What if his mates figure out that he isnt acting right? They probably are not the smarest of chaps but the fact that he is no longer wearing his armor or carry his weapon will speak volumes. A leap of reason indeed but worthy of note none the less...
Malak was now desperate to get out of these chains and he did not want to trust in the devil spawn's charmed pet for his freedom.
Damn this... he may be right. I'd hate to lose an ally in this fight when I needed him, and this one seems important.
"Very well. Your point is well-taken. Far be it me to leave another man in a compromising situation when we can be of use to one-another."
Todin re-enters the cell and produces the lock-picks once more. He begins his work upon Malak's bonds.
"Hm. I'll come back to that one."
"Now back to the hand."
"This one may take some doing..."
Don't lose your cool, Todin. Stay calm...
In a little under a minute, Todin successfully removes Malak's chains.
"Yes, bring them and the potion too." Shalastar attempts to see if there are any other guards within the room as he leans on the cell's railings.
Despite being distracted by the handsome guard (who still hasn't told him his name), he hopes he can make out some of what is at least remotely obvious in the room beyond.
As the last manacle clicked open and the chains fell the floor; Malak smiled with genuine happiness...although you're not out of the fire yet my boy...but much closer than you were... The priest was a bit chagrined when the ensorcelled guard came doting back with the keys. He spread his hands wide and told Todin Many thanks my friend. A favor for a favor and I am in your debt and dont take such things lightly. Now I must gird myself for what will most assuredly be a violent endeavor.
Malak will peruse the dead guards for a chain shirt as well a pair of boots that will fit. He'll change into their breeches and shirt also with no account for modesty.
I couldnt get out of those rags fast enough... he could be heard mumbling...this sword wont do though...where would one find a stout mace or some such...Dark Lord, if you would be so kind as to provide your faithful servant with a symbol of his faith; he would be most grateful and would do great and horrid things in your name...those shiny bastards of Mitra will pay...
Tragen dons the guards' armor and outfit. He staggers a bit, still suffering from his wounds. This outfit might delfect questions at a distance, and might get me close enough to destroy them before they realize their mistake. He then looks around a the other fallen guards.
Turning to Shalastar, he says, "Find out from your.. friend.. if his commaning officer is in this mess. And if he's not here, where is he? What are the standard procedures in cases like these?"
"This is all very nice, but we need collect ourselves and get moving. I seem to recall that a guard managed to escape with his miserable life during the battle, so it is only a matter of time before this room is swarming with every guard in the prison." Turing to the guard, and then to Shalastar, because he wasn't sure which to address, Now, get that door opened so we can release our new friend and get out of here, if you please.
Sotha had concerns of his own, like for example, the fact that he was without armor, but that was second to the needs of the group as a whole. Apparently, what they needed was someone to command, and lead them, because they were all milling about, apparently unaware of what they had already accomplished. Sotha believed it was the perfect opportunity to take up that responsibility, as a way to prove to his family, and to the voice in his head that he was worthy.
Shalastar hands Sotha the keys. "Here, use them well."
In response to the guard's confusion, Shalastar continues his mysterious benefactor role. "When this is all done, there will be a great many truths unveiled about this 'empire'."
"And so it goes," Sotha said, in response to the horn blowing. There was a bitter edge in his voice, likely at the thought of how obnoxiously happenstance it had been for the alarm to be raised just after he mentioned that the alarm would surely be raised. As he worked to open the heavy lock on Grumblejack's cell, he added, "No matter. They would have learned of our escape soon enough anyhow." When the heavy door creaked open, he offered a nod to the ogre, "So Grumblejack, do you wish to join us, or perhaps make your own way? Either way, we should make plans to regroup somewhere outside the prison, off of the road, in case we should be separated." Sotha hoped the ogre would choose the second option, and unconsciously offered emphasis to it when he spoke. Aside from the fact that an ogre was a dangerous creature to be in a fight with, friend or foe, there was also the fact that two groups would split the guards as they determined whether they preferred to face a group of highly motivated (well, most were highly motivated) escaped prisoners or a rampaging ogre. There was, of course, the added bonus that Grumblejack fighting alone would allow Sotha to gauge his capabilities, and determine his usefulness as a pawn. Sotha had a vision of himself on the throne, with the ogre as a bodyguard by his side, he dismissed the thought, knowing it was far too early in the game to start deciding what to spend the kingdom's riches on.
Deciding it unwise to continue unarmoured now that the guards knew they were free, Sotha stripped one of the remaining corpses and donned his armor .
Still leaning heavily on the bars, Shalastar sends his admirer back to retrieve the healing potion he said he had.
Targi takes a quick look at the arms and armor lying unclaimed and fishes around for something stout and respectable. She claims any remaining suit of armor for herself and grabs the club.
It's rubbish, but at least this will be "my rubbish equipment. I'll get something better for myself once we're out of here. Something chased in silver, perhaps, I do like silver," she muses aloud without entirely realizing that her thoughts have begun spilling out as mumbling. She harumphs loudly in a vain attempt to cover for her embarrassment, gives a stern look at the ogre as if daring him to comment, then joins the others to move on.