Way of the Wicked (Inactive)

Game Master Aku Warashi

Though Zerik appears to be completely human he is actually aasimar. "That's because I'm not completely human. Don't worry, stay close and just follow me or Grumblejack. This will be a little difficult for you but the guards will be equally helpless when we strike."

Zerik keeps an eye on the guards and the bulls eye lantern which makes their location easy to spot, as he wait for the others to cross over, not realising Marsella has gone missing.

Lysa will spend a minute or two cleaning up the dead guard's armor for Seren with Prestidigitation, then follow everyone else back up the chimney.

Turning to Zerik, Lysa says, "I understand your eagerness to be free of this place, but you do realize that once they notice our escape the guards will be on our heels in full force, right? We need to neutralize their numbers, and slipping belladonna into the prison's food supply might just be the way to do that. Our flight will go far easier if the guards are all dead or ill. Have a little patience."

Adanna smiles at Grumblejack and pats him on the shoulder, "Thank you for carrying him for us. I'll be sure to get you something special in return."

Then, responding to Lysa, she says "I'm not sure how much Belladonna is down there, but I doubt there is enough to poison everyone. By the looks of this place it probably stations, what thirty to fifty soldiers? That being said, I do wish there was some way to take care of the dogs..."

"Either way, if we take out the wall patrol, we can get down to the courtyard from a turret, get to the plants, and maybe into the kitchen? Or at least into the main tower or hallway from an unexpected direction." she adds before looking at the rope and gulping.

Looking to Eric, Adanna will ask, "Can I see those keys for a minute? I'd like to make an assurance that I'm not going to fall to my death."

"Very well, we shall use the poison as best we can and let our blades do the rest. We can take these guards out two at a time if we are smart and we shall deal with the dogs before we leave, that is wise. Let us be rid of this wall patrol first so that we may move about the courtyard freely."

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"Thank you Lysa, Feels nice to be back in some armor." Though it's heavier then I remember.
Seren climbs to the roof and cautiously attempts to climb across.
Can I just take 10 on the climb check, so 10+2-2=10?
else
Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 14

You can take 10

Assuming Eric gives Adanna the keys.

Adanna uses the keys to remove the shackles from Kennie. She then mutters her mantra to herself, approaches the rope, looks down with more than just a bit of worry, and slings the shackles around it. She then locks them around her wrists and starts to shimmy across the rope.

Adanna would be worried about the fall. She is using the shackles so that if she should fall, the chains of the shackles would catch her.

Casting guidance and taking ten on the climb check.
Climb: 10 + 1 - 1 = 10

After getting to the other side Adanna uses the keys to remove the shackles, backs away from the ledge, and wipes a bit of sweat from her brow before turning to Zerik and whispering, "There, that wasn't bad at all..."

Zerik smiles at the mix of sarcasm and relief in Adanna's voice.

"Do you possess any magic that might aid us in dealing with the guard with the signal horn silently?" he asks his female companions.

Once the others are across safely Zerik slowly and silently draws his sword, pondering the best way to take out the guards.

"The shadows are our ally and the humans' weakness, but silence is the key. Deal with them, two by two. In small groups and with the aid of surprise we can dwindle their numbers, leaving behind almost nothing for a pursuit. Let them be too terrified to pursue us for fear of sharing the same fate as these, their companions of the guard."

Adanna turns to Zerik to whisper, "I can keep convincing them they need sleep, but one of them is eventually going to have enough will to not listen to me. And while I can be light on my feet, I spent more time learning to draw attention to myself than to not be noticed..."

The map makes it look like there are turrets at each of the locations marked 6, so I'm going to assume they're walled and doored. If they're not, ignore this second half.

After surveying for a bit she whispers, "What about hiding in a turret until they pass through? We can ambush them as they come through the door, maybe even close it so that the sound of the horn might be muffled?"

Looking at the substantial drop between the rooftop and the prison walls, Lysa spends a few moments weighing the benefits of crossing in her mind.

Before Adanna crosses, she stops her and says,"I'm going to stay here and see if I can be of help to Marsella. You five are more than enough to handle a guard patrol. Just keep it quiet."

Lysa then turns and carefully descends into the cell block once more.

Zerik unties the rope from the wall end so that Lysa can use it to climb back inside.

Adanna nods at Lysa before whispering back, "Good luck and stay safe."

"Adanna by herself may not have the ability to deal with the guards but the both of us might. If you were to attempt to put to sleep the guard with the horn, and I were to attempt to convince his companion that his compatriot deserves a sword in the back.... Should give us enough time to close on them. the 4 of us in melee, with Adanna supporting should be sufficient to stop them from getting off a signal. Always some risk, but it should work." Seren whispers to the group.

"Adanna's idea of the turrets is a good one. The quicker we can engage the guards the less likely it is that a strong willed guard can ruin our plans."

Whispering to the others, "I'm ready whenever you are. If we should find other prisoners, take note of them. Should this plan fail, we can go about freeing the others and maybe escape in the chaos that follows."

Eric pulls the sword back out, leaving the shield on his back so as to make less noise while fumbling around in the darkness.

"We stay hidden in the dark, Adanna and Seren use their magic and then Eric, Grumblejack and I attack. A sensible plan, may whatever god has led us so far, if there is a god behind this, aid us in this fight."

Is it possible that we allow Seren and Adanna to act before the rest of us in the surprise round (if we get one) regardless of the initiative?

I'd say that even if we are "first" since we only get a standard action or move action anyways, we could just use that action to ready an action for after Seren and Adanna act. Just my thoughts on that.

Adanna nods to the rest of them, whispering "Yes, then lets go get into position and lay in wait for them."

Will we have any trouble getting into a turret? Do they have doors?

You guys have no trouble getting into the watchtower. Inside, there are several holes from where one can shoot using a bow. In the middle there's a stairs leading down into the wall. You guys have no problem at all in hiding there, but Grumblejack cannot do it very well, so he stay on the other side of the turrent with Kennie.

Adanna and Seren can act first if you guys want to. I will assume you guys are not to keen to explore the stairs and are waiting for the guards.

You hide and make no noise while the guards are getting closer.

I can't think of what would be worth saying that would worth possibly giving away the element of surprise. And assuming a take 20 on a stealth check, we should be able to lure them into the watchtower before starting our assault on them. My post below is assuming no one else wants to do anything before we let them come in.

Waiting for the guards to enter the watchtower a bit, Adanna will start whispering at them from the shadows "Isn't this watchtower nice and warm? And no prisoners can escape. Just rest... just for a moment..."

You know the drill, Slumber hex, DC 14, at the one closest to the door they came in.

Eric anxiously awaits the guards from the shadows. As soon as he hears Adanna's whispers, he gives a moment for Seren to do her magic as well before rushing in to 'subdue' one of the guards.

coup de grace one if both are asleep/whatever otherwise attack closest awake guard.

Hearing Adanna's voice, Seren adds her spell to the witch's hex. "Except we just did, and he helped."

Cast Murderous Command (DC 16) on the other guard (the one not targeted by Adanna).

Okay once Zerik post his surprise action, I'll movo to round one.

Oh I was waiting for the spells to be cast.

As his companions works their magic Zerik moves forward towards the guards. In a flash he raises his blade and brings it down overhead with immense force on the unsuspecting guard.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 2 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 2 = 12

If the guard falls asleep Zerik attacks the awake guard. If only murderous command works Zerik attacks the guard that is being attacked (the one the sleep spell failed on). If both spells fail he attacks the guard that Eric doesn't attack.

The first guard falls asleep while the other look that his partner with murder in his eyes.

Eric Charges from his hinding place the guard that is awake and with one powerful and sure strike nearly cut in half the hapless guard. Zerik use this oportunity to coup of grace the sleeping one, ending in less than 10 seconds the battle.

Once the guards are incapacitated, Eric drags the bodies to a corner of the room and grabs the weapons off one of the dead guards.

"Let's keep going. No sense taking too much more gear, it'll only way us down," he whispers as he puts the weapons on his person.

Adanna will smile and the downfall of the guards and say "Good job everyone, very good job..."

Adanna will then stretch her arms and shoulders while speaking "Hmm, so this place has gone to hell and the Sergent is running a poker game during watch... and the guards are drinking on duty... Well, this might be easier than we thought. So, do we head to the main gate and see who is guarding there, go back into the keep and try the main hall, or go to the tower where I guess the wizard of a warden is petting his owl?"

"Anything is fine with me. I'd prefer to leave this place as soon as possible; however, we can't leave without the others.

"That is interesting. We should find the others, and seeing that this place isn't much of a threat it would be wiser to disable them further so that they avail any competent aid. Let us descend this tower and take what we need from the poison plant. The kitchens are accessible from the grounds as well. We can add it to some of the food or drink since they seem to enjoy it so." says Zerik as he strips the guards of the their chainshirts.

Zerik then proceeds to descend the tower sword in hand, ready for any guards that may be within. Unless anyone objects.

"I worry the most about the wizard and those dogs the other 2 women are dealing with. I prefer to hold the magical cards, especially when a well timed spell could seriously hinder our escape. Plus these guards are inept. The only thing they've done that I consider even remotely intelligent is drugging the ogre before torturing it." Seren responds.

"I agree with Zerik, lets go help the others deal with those dogs and then we can deal with this wizard. Never know when a spellbook could come in handy."

Seren follows behind Zerik after grabbing a longbow and arrows off one of the guards.

Might as well at this point get a range weapon...

"Sounds like a plan to me." says Adanna, ignoring the possessions of the dead guards.

You descend a spiral staircase until the bottom of this tower that has been converted into the castle privy, dumping its contents into the sea.(6a)
There is a door leading to the yard, near the Kitchen entrance and the Garden (5).

Zerik peers out the door leading to the gardens to perceive any activity and carefully listening for movement.

"A privy, wonderful. Possibly a way out, but I think we aren't that desperate yet. Something to keep in mind though."

As you look down into the garderobe you can see how dangerous a drop this would be.

There's no one near you in the yard.

"Oh great, as if this place doesn't smell bad enough..." Adanna says as they approach the garderobe.

We only saw one set of guards on the walls, an none in the yard, right? The lanterns would have been pretty obvious in the dark. So assuming that is true, I'll go ahead and gather our poison, using a quiver as a make-shift case.

Peering out the door and seeing the Belladonna plants still whole, Adanna also mentions, "Well, the others haven't gotten here yet, but we haven't heard an alarm either... Well, anyway, time to go pick some tea." as she carefully approaches the bush and starts picking choice leaves.

Also, where is Grumblejack?

Lil'Jack is just behind your group.

Eric does his best to keep an eye out for any guards; despite the darkness.

"Eric, come with me. Grumblejack, stay with Adanna." he says as he leads Eric in the darkness to the kitchen door.

Zerik puts his ear to the door, listening for the servants that may be within.

If Eric chooses not to follow Zerik goes to the kitchen door anyway.

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Eric cautiously follows Zerik; blade held at the ready.

"Just make sure you go slowly, I can't hardly see what I'm doing right now," whispers Eric.

I don't know how long it will take, but after I am done gathering the poison I (and I assume Grumblejack) will rejoin Zerik, Eric, and Seren.

As Adanna moves towards the bush, Seren lays a hand on Grumblejack. "Best for us to stay here for the moment. That bush is wide out in the open. We'll know when we're needed."

Seren will stay beside Grumblejack for the moment. and then reconvene with Zerik and Eric with Adanna as mentioned above.

"Earlier there were two servants during the day. It is likely they will have a similar or smaller number during the day."

"Two servants inside probably. Question them first. They will see guard uniforms. It will be too late for them to realize who we are. Agreed?" Zerik whispers to Eric.

"Agreed. You can be the 'good guard' and I'll play the 'bad guard', if it comes down to it," Eric whispers back.

"I like bad guard, worse guard better, but Eric has the right of it, these peasants will probably do anything to escape with their skins."

Zerik continues to listen for any chatter between the servants from within.

As Adanna was collecting the plant and Zerik listening to the sounds. Lyza and the other woman climb again to the Roof.

"Seens they already are doing what we wanted to do. Better if we join then. Let's use this rope to climb down this wall."

Climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

"Sounds like two servants. That should be easy. There are two other doors inside. I'll take the one that probably leads to the passage, you block the other door. Grubmlejack can cover this one." he whispers while signaling the ogre to join them. He then proceeds to repeat the same thing to the Ogre.

"Adanna should be done with the plant. Lets go. You should command the situation, Eric."

Zerik opens the door and moves across the room blocking the doorway to the main passage, his sword drawn but held by his side.