In the kingdom of Talingarde, many crimes may send you to Branderscar Prison, but the sentence has but one meaning. You are wicked and irredeemable. Each of you received the same greeting when you arrived. You were held down by rough hands and branded upon the arm with a runic F, the hand of Tomas Blackerly holding the iron. His face looked down on you and he laughed as your skin burned. The mark signifies ‘forsaken’ and the painful scar is indelible proof that each of you has betrayed the great and eternal love of Mitra and his chosen mortal vassals.
Condemned, you face at best a life of shackles and servitude in the nearby salt mines. Others might await the “gentle” ministrations of the inquisitors so that co-conspirators may be revealed and confessions extracted. Perhaps, some of you will be spared this ordeal. Perhaps instead you have come to Branderscar to face the final judgment. In three days, the executioner arrives and the axe falls or the pyre will be lit. Through fire or steel, your crimes will be answered.
You have all been chained together in the same communal cell dressed in nothing but filthy, tattered rags. Manhandled and mistreated, any finery you once possessed is either ruined or long lost. No special treatment has been given any prisoner--male or female, commoner or noble--all of the forsaken are bound and imprisoned together. Your feet are secured by iron cuffs tethered by one long chain. Your arms are secured to the wall above by manacles. A guard is posted right outside the cell day and night. The only other company is a large creature in the cell next to yours that hasn't moved since you first arrived. Little thought is given to long term accommodations. At Branderscar, justice comes swift and sure.
Escape seems hopeless. You have all been well searched and every attempt to conceal anything on your person has failed. And if you could somehow slip your bonds and fly out of this prison, where would you go? Who from your former life would want anything to do with the forsaken? Despised, alone and shackled--all that you can do now is await your doom.
For each of you, your old life is over. For each of you, hope is a fading memory. For each of you, justice will be fairly meted. And who can blame fair Talingarde after what each of you has done?
Kalethe looks around, pulling slightly on his chains. He grimaces, then looks around startled. He pulls his hands down as far as he can, but is unable to make them reach his mouth. After a few moments he sighs, his grimace deepening.
Kalethe settles in, letting his weight hang on his arms. He adjusts himself till he is able to press the fresh scar on his arm. He increases the pressure and his grimace changes to a smile. Finally, as he begins to scratch at the scar, breaking it open again, he begins to chuckle.
I'm staggering under the weight of the chains, the pain of the brand burned into my arm fading to a near-irresistible itch. I've lost... everything. Everything. But all the tears have been wrung from me already.
Next to me, another prisoner scratches at his scar, till it begins to bleed. "Haven't you been hurt enough?" I mutter under my breath. I can't bear the thought of my last hours passing alone, in silence.
Chained near the center of the cell is a frail looking gnome in her young adult years. While under normal circumstances she may have been described as attractive, currently her skin is ghostly pale and perspiration drips from her brow.
The chains that hold Ami to the wall weigh heavily on her weak arms and are placed a little too high for her small stature. As she shifts uncomfortably, she receives a sharp reminder of her new brand and her thoughts begin to run wild. That burn was nothing…soon I face the pyre…the pain will be everywhere…I will never see Ishtak again…I will never complete my mission…. The sudden flood of emotion is so overpowering, she has to choke back tears. No! Stop it! Don't you dare give them the satisfaction…and it isn't over until you are in the flames.
Re-composing herself, Ami looks up and down at the other occupants of her cell. "I guess I finally found out where the fine people of Talingarde hide away those who are different", she mutters sarcastically, as she lets out a bitter laugh.
After being left in the cells Iana quietly fumed, she wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her discomposure. Thus even while wearing filthy rags Iana maintained her regal poise. Though she didn't know she looked less like a prisioner going to execution and more like a captured princess.
Yet every instant was torture, she wanted to scratch her brand, she wanted to move her legs, to walk to take off these filthy rags and she wanted to kill, her captors, the guards, Sir Balin, always Sir Balin the sanctimonious bastard. Memories flooded her Gant drawing his weapon and challenging Sir Balin.
"The weak idiot! He should have done something useful! Creating an escape route! No the fool had to charge the most famous knight in the country! Damn! Yes definetly killing Sir Balin slowly! Of course nothing of that will happen if you are stuck here Iana! You only end up meeting your master in disgrace!"
Thinking that she returned her attention to her cellmates perhaps they could be useful, she needed to escape and she couldn't do it alone.
"An Elf, a gnome,is that a goblin? A tiefling. And what by the nine is that? No matter definely useful, maybe we can escape from here, maybe even get that bastard with the branding iron! Oh yes let's see who is laughing when there is no one to hold me. I fill his body with 'F's. Focus Iana!"
The woman drew a deep breath she had been out of sorts since the trial, it was no wonder. She had lost everything after all They had taken all of her belongings even her pentagram carved by herself. All the while pronouncing her evil. She had spat at them during the trial and laughed: "Condenm me! Brand me! You are all a buch of mediocre hypocrites! You have always envied my strength, my beauty! In truth you all fear me!" She was stuck then, many times until she passed out when she woke up they were speaking her sentence.
Another deep breath Iana was brought back to reality by her cellmates' speaking, turning to the gnome, she spoke smiling: "Indeed. They say the brand is to mean 'Forsaken', but to me it seems more like it should mean'Feared'!"
Kalethe laughs, No such thing as enough hurt. Perhaps you could use a little more, he asks, reaching one of his hands towards the woman--though she's much too far away.
The strange man titters at the tiefling's comment, Feared. Yes. They shall fear. Now if I can only. . . . he pulls at his chains to no avail.
I shudder drawing my knees up and hugging as the monk stretches out towards me. Yet what should I expect? This is Branderscar, home - briefly - to the worst of the worst of Talingarde. And I'm one of them.
A deep, scratchy voice responds to the overly chattery bunch.
"Can you numbskulls shut up, I'm trying to think of a thing here"
Realizing he's no longer among his own, locked within the safety of the lab, Dog Tooth takes a second to recall what he's read about common "manners" and "etiquette".
" Uhhh I mean can you numbskulls shut up, I'm trying to think of a thing here, please and uhhh...thank you?"
It had been a while since he was let out of the lab for such a long amount of time, especially without Master's supervision, but there was no master any more. It was hard for Dog Tooth to piece it together, but he had to get used to it. There is no more master. Master is no more. There is Milton Mordread, but he no longer is master. He is now the enemy and, since the betrayal, Dog Tooth hasn't stopped thinking of ways to bring him pain.
In order to bring said pain, he'd have to solve his current dilemma...
"Oh great.... Chained in here with the freak squad. I'm gonna have to think on this. I know I can come up with a thing I just need some....hmm"
Dog Tooth whispers "anyone intend on uh....actually staying here? I ask because I'm trying to figure a way out. I wanna get revenge"
Near the end of the chain gang sits another devilspawn. Even through the tatters of his clothing you can see a scar on the back of his hand, a scar in the shape of the 5 pointed star of Azmodeus. The symbol is slightly scared, as if someone had taken pains to cut and scar it. However, despite those efforts, it is obviously healing. He sits calmly, paying only a little attention to his cell mats.
Hearing the women yell out made him smile a little. A bit of a firebrand this one. Probably useful. The others seemed competent if a little...deviant. No matter, all in this horrible land will pay heed to my master.
"It matters little if we are feared, loved, or hated. As long as one is obeyed, unquestioningly, that is enough. So says the good book. We may be killed here. We may not. I would never put anything past my master's powers." Paul says, though he does think, At least, that's what I hope, my master does tend to believe more in 'Helping those who help themselves.' But he felt it better not to mention that.
"I could get out of these chains easily enough," I murmur, "maybe even out of the cell," I sigh, "but what would be the point? They'd just recapture me, or lop my head off on the spot. I may only have a few days of life left - I don't want to waste them." I half-laugh. "I wouldn't want to miss the pleasure of your company."
Ami raises an eyebrow in interest at this new conversation.
"Could you free us all from these chains, elf? Because they are the only thing stopping me from opening the portals of hell on these cowards...However, I am afraid with these manacles I have little to offer..."
Ami sighs deeply and mutters, "...But if I could call Itzal...it would be different"
"Who's Itzal?" I asked, curious. "And no. I could free myself, but I can't escape. You might be able to escape, but you can't free yourself" I snorted, "though it sounds more like you're just planning to die atop a pile of their corpses." I paused. "A large one, I'm sure. Not enough for me." I smiled, viciously. "I want them all dead. The whole damned pack of them."
Iana turns to the other tiefling interested "Could it be? Uhm... What was that? Can she truly break our bonds?" Turning to the elf Iana asks: "Obviously the little goblin is right we need a plan, no point in freeing ourselves only to die or get captured again." Iana points to her fingers mentioning the claw like nails. "I know how to fight and can do it even without weapons. What about the rest of you anything useful?"
A group of six guards, clubs in hand and longswords at their side, come into the cell led by a fat well-dressed man. He is easily recognized as Tomas Blackerly, the sergeant of the watch. The sergeant seems a little confused for a moment.
He lifts his hand and points to Iana, “You there! That’s the scum! Get ‘er unshackled. If any of you makes trouble, they’ll earn a thrashing! Today’s your lucky day, scum. You’ve got a visitor. How you ever warranted such a fine lady is beyond me. Seems she wants to say good-bye. Now step lively. We wouldn’t want to keep her waiting.”
One guard works at Iana's manacles and iron bands, while the others croud around, clubs ready. She is escorted out of the room. The door slams shut behind Iana, the last of the guards leaving with her.
The guards shove you into one of the chairs. There waiting for you is a hauntingly beautiful woman in an elegant black dress and soft silken veil. She looks as if she is headed to a funeral. Her hair is so platinum as to almost be white and her eyes are a vibrant almost unearthly green. She clearly has been weeping.
“Oh, dearest,” proclaims the unfamiliar woman. “I’m so relieved you’re alive!” She quickly turns to Tomas. “Could we please have a moment alone, good sir? For pity’s sake?”
Tomas goes blank for a bit and then quickly agrees. “Of course, my lady. For you,’ tis no problem.”
The guards leave. As soon as they are gone the woman’s demeanor immediately changes. She drops all pretense of grief or concern. She is immediately all business.
“Have you forgotten me, dearest?” the unexpected visitor says with a smirk, dropping her pretense of grief. “Call me Tiadora. We possess a mutual friend who would like to meet you and your fellow cell-mates. Unfortunately, our friend is unwilling to visit you in your present rather shabby accommodations so it seems you must escape. Don’t be so dour. Just because it’s never been done before is no reason you can’t be the first."
“If you manage that, cross the moors on the outskirts of town. On the old Moor Road you’ll see a manor house with a single lantern burning in the second story. There our mutual friend waits. That is all I know. He did want me to give you this.”
She takes off her silken veil and wipes away a few fake tears with it.
“Something to remember me by, dearest.”
Ami sighs, "Itzal is summoned serpent I bonded with as a child. He is quite small and and skilled at going unnoticed...He could slip through bars...steal keys...scout exits...but the ritual to call him requires more mobility than I currently possess."
The gnome tugs at her manacles in frustration and then turns to the tiefling woman. "I am no fighter, but I can summon quite a few...expendables...to keep the guards distracted from attacking a fine warrior such as yourself."
Ami smiles a little and says "My name is Ami Fyora, by the way...since we are all getting so chummy..."
Confused by Iana's terminology, Dog Tooth leans over towards Paul, and asks quietly "W-was she talking about me? W-what did she say? A goblin? Is that, like, some evil horn-head word or something?"
He fidgets around, attempting to scratch his head with his hands. Once he's exhausted himself, he let's out a "Oh!" As an idea crosses his mind. He leans his head back and scratches it against the wall "Oooohhhh yeah that's the spot." He continues to scratch, moving from the top of his head to the back.
"S-so d'you think she's gone for good?"
Kalethe's tittering cuts off as Blackerly enters. A strange expression crosses his face, then he smiles, a cold and deadly smile. You are the man I have to thank for this, he points to the bleeding scar, I think I may have to find a special way to thank you for this. It's pain is quite delicious. Kalethe licks his lips, No one has given me such in a long time.
After the group leaves he looks around, I am Kalethe. I fight, almost exclusively, with my bare hands, as well as whatever else seems to be lying around. In addition, I have studied quite a bit of the anatomy, including how to heal, and cause immense pain.
He looks at the goblin, Blackerly said "a visitor," to me that suggests she'll be back soon.
Shooting Kalethe a disbelieving sideways glance, he let's his mouth hang open for a few seconds before responding with " well, uh yeah I guess that's so. I wasn't really paying attention at whatever uh that guy was saying. Those guards sure looked bored though".
"But uh...yeah... My name is Dog Tooth. I... I...I know things? Maybe not He drops to a mocking tone "'how to heal and cause immense pain' but uh, I've read a few things about a few things. I also like to figure things out. And sneak around I guess... I don't know, can we come back to me?"
A visitor, a gruff voice speaks up from the side. The large body that has been lying, unmoving in the nearest cell, stands slowly, grasping the bars. A large ogre with dirty, matted hair sways slightly then looks at the new people in the prison, There not be visitors. Grumblejack been here long time and no little'uns get visitors
Dog Tooth's comment about goblins earns a chuckle from Ami. Someone should probably tell him...hehe...maybe if we survive...
Ami jumps a little upon hearing the gruff voice. "Oh my...you sure are quiet for one so large"
She turns to her cellmates and comments, "It does seem rather odd that our friend would be allowed a visitor..."
"How long have you been here?", she pauses for a moment, "Grumblejack, was it? I was under the impression this prison was merely a holding cell for the damned..."
When Ami says the large creature's name, a large smile splits his face. But them at her question he looks puzzled and shrugs, "Grumblejack kill two little'uns. They don't kill him. Stupid." Then his eyes focus on Ami, "You stupid, little'un?"
Iana allows the guards to escort deep in thought, she does smile at the sergeant's threat "Tempting... But not now... I leave you for later."
As soon as Iana entered the room she realized that the woman waiting was unknow to her, yet even so she responded to the visitor's acting. Making a saddened face Iana spoke: "Oh! Dear! It is so good to see you!" Which was not a lie, as anything was better than continuing shackled in that cell. After Blackerley leaves and Tiadora introduces herself Iana's mind began to work furiously.
"So she has the sergeant under control, but if so why the theater? Maybe he isn't completely under control? Maye it's her hobby? No I don't think so... Still "A mutual friend"! I wonder who it is, well its no matter he wants me out of here and I want to be out of here, so at least for now our goals are the same. Still let's see how she responds." Thus with a sarcastic smile Iana baited: "A mutual friend indeed! It seems our friend is quite the interesting person!"
After listening to Tiadora's answer Iana ask still filled with irony: "Seeing as you got the sergeant in such a comperative mood, I don't suppose you could order him to free us? Or failing that, suggesting he and his guards should take a break?"
After taking the Veil and looking at it the anti-paladin inquired: "What an intriguing design, quite the collection of useful items. Now how does it works?"
"Stupid? Hmm...I don't like to think so. Although, I did manage wind up here in Branderscar...", Ami says, amused by the Ogre's remarks, "I wish you no harm Grumblejack, if that is what you are asking."
Another oddball for our motley crew. Have I been sentenced to a prison or a madhouse? Yet I find their presence strangely calming...
"I'm a wizard," I explain, "bending reality to my will, and so forth." I smiled, bitterly. "Various arcane texts of significant import," my voice lowers to a whisper, "from before the Mitran revolution," I paused, "but the kind of nobles who hold those texts for cheap thrills," my voice turned scathing, "are into other kinds of thrills, and they're willing to pay well for them." I half-smirked. "Importing slaves for the spoiled allows a degree of access I wouldn't have been able to obtain otherwise... and afforded the lifestyle an elven mage is accustomed to. Which does not include remaining in Branderscar." I thought, for a moment, about Iana's visitor-
Sense motive
-but it didn't seem that unusual. I mean, people got visitors in prison, didn't they?
"A mutual friend indeed! It seems our friend is quite the interesting person!"
Tiadora smiles, "Come to the meeting and find out."
[b]"Seeing as you got the sergeant in such a comperative mood, I don't suppose you could order him to free us? Or failing that, suggesting he and his guards should take a break?"
Tiadora waves her hand, dismissing the idea. "He would never obey such commands. I have helped you you as much as I can."
"What an intriguing design, quite the collection of useful items. Now how does it work?"
Tiadora laughs lightly as if you had just said a joke, "You will find out." She pauses, tilting her head, "Or you'll die."
Tiadora rises and the guards return. Her demeanor once more changes and she is again a perfect picture of grief. “No, I can’t bear to leave you!” She gives you on the cheek. The kiss is ice-cold and feels somehow alien and inhuman.
Tomas shakes his head. “I’m afraid it’s time, miss.”
She looks deep in Tomas’ eyes and says, “Thank you for letting me say good-bye. There’s no need to search my dearest. You are such a good friend for letting me see my dearest one more time.”
“Such a good friend,” Tomas repeats his voice almost mechanical. Then the watch sergeant seems to snap out of it and bows politely. “A pleasure, madam,” She leaves unveiled. Her eyes meet yours one last time and she briefly gives a wicked smile.
“Three days.” The words echo in the your mind. “Don’t disappoint me, dearest.” You are taken back to your cell by a cadre of guards and shackled once more.
Iana is brought back through the doors, several gaurds surrounding her. Once more she is secured in tightly locked bands around her ankles and her hands are shackled above her head.
Lights are dimmed and the door to their block is locked once more. The guards leave though clearly two of them are stationed behind the door.
Kalethe watches all of this in silence. Once the guards leave he speaks up, What was that about? Our new friend here, he points to the ogre in the next cell, says that no one gets visitors. Do you have some powerful friend that might get us out?
Since his capture, Dog Tooth has been feeling uncharacteristically unobservant. The ogre one cell over, Iana's return, the fact that Kalethe has four arms... all things that have gone right over his head. He looked around the cell, first over at Iana... Oh looks like she's back and not dead..., then over at Grumblejack... I hope I don't end up smelling like that guy... and then over at Kalethe's four arms... I'm sure I could have four arms if I wanted to any way...Whatever! It's not how many you've got but how you use them...
All these interesting things popping up around him, yet his attention was elsewhere. He couldn't stop thinking about the night of his capture...the wide range of emotions. The determination, the longing to seek Master's approval.. the frustration when the others left him on his own...the confusion when the guards came to arrest him... Was that really illegal? Seriously?...then the shock that came when Mordread placed the blame on him. The smile that crept across Master's face as the guards pinned Dog Tooth down...
...He wanted revenge. He had a plan. He had a few plans. He had plans A through G solidly planned. These plans required lots of fun things like vats of acid, polymorphing, bisecting, and transmogrification... but...none felt appropriately satisfying. He's already decided to remove the alchemist's extremities. Mordread couldn't do his work without them, but then what? Lobotomize him? Turn him into Dog Tooth's puppet? Have him placed in prison? Maybe drop him into the depths of the ocean and watch him drown? Not satisfactory...not one bit.
So many interesting things happening around him, yet he couldn't pull himself from the past nor the far future. Not like him at all. He will have his revenge, but for now, how about paying a little attention, eh?
As Iana is escorted back to her cell she begins planning "There is no doubt that veil is magical, I wish that woman had taught me how to use it! Oh well, there is time to make some experiments and the elf is a wizard she should be able to find out more." Iana smiled while thinking on it, "Quite the peculiar group, but I suspect all have their abilities and thus their uses."
Iana remains silent until the guards are away then she smiles at the four armed being's question and whispers: "Yes this friend has given me some tools and an address in which to go after leaving this place. So now we have a decent chance at escape. Then Iana takes the veil she had hidden crumpled inside her hand and shows it to the wizard at her side: "Do you know how to use this wizard?"
Ami leans forward, eyes brimming with gnomish curiosity, as the veil passes from the tiefling to the elf. She wracks her brain trying to think if she has encountered any similar items.
But otherwise doesn't interfere. Surely the wizard is far more studied in such things. Just be patient and let her figure it out...
Curious as could be, Dog Tooth begins fidgeting, edging towards the veil, nearly climbing over the person next to him. He sees the shapes stitched in the veil, then furrows his brows and sits back down. He pats the person next to him on the lap and apologizes for invading their personal space, and continues to sulk pensively.
Kalethe reaches out, What is it? He watches as the veil is passed to the elf. He examines it from what he can see. How can that possibly help?
In a hushed sort of yelp for attention, Dog Tooth starts to whisper towards Iana
"Pssst! Pssssssssst! Y'gotta pull it out. The thing's got things in it that y'gotta pull out! I read a thing once. I just uh... I d-don't really r-rem...mem...ber...how. Hm. Sorry."
Knowledge (arcana)
Spellcraft (identify magic items)
"Oh, I've heard of these," I say, then cut my voice to a whisper. Wouldn't want the guards overhearing. "It's a-
It's a veil of useful items. These images stitched into the veil are actual items. Simply pull the stitching free and the item comes out in your hand.
Kalethe's eyes widened, You mean . . . Oh. Is there a key or . . . or . . . Kalethe strains looking at the veil, There, are those lockpicks? Can anyone use them? He stops for a moment, thinking, But don't do it yet. We need to plan first. One good attempt is worth ten haphazard attempts.
"If you pass me the tools, I can get myself out of here."
After a pause to rectify his sentence, Dog Tooth whispers again
"And uhhh y-you guys too, of course. I might be able to get myself out of here alone with the lock pick, but I've n-never uh... really been the kind to work uhm.... 'solo'". Kalethe is correct. A safe exit requires a solid, well calculated, plan. What else do we have there?
Ami's is stunned with excitement for a few moments, as the elf explains the veil. However, Kalethe and Dogtooth's conversation snaps her out of it.
Ami whispers, "I agree that we definitely need a plan. If we get caught and lose this item, we will have blown our best chance at getting out of here...I would recommend only removing the items as we need them", Ami pauses for a moment and shifts her aching arms , "...but I am hard pressed to think of a plan that doesn't require us freed of these chains. I think that would be a good first step. Beyond that...well, I'll have to think on it"
Ami leans back and rests her head against the wall. Ok, Ami. Focus. Everything you can remember about how you got into this cell. Everything you have noticed about the guards. Weapons? Signals? Patrol patterns? Anything...
Let's see...I remember coming upstairs. That's it. Why didn't you pay more attention, you idiot, instead of celebrating your one woman pity party....
Coming up blank, Ami turns towards Grumblejack's cell, "Psst...Grumblejack?", she whispers, "You've been here a while right? Surely you have given these stupid guards some trouble during your stay...right?...How do they act when you get out of hand?", she asks, putting extra emphasis on the word stupid and giving the ogre a friendly smile.
Grumblejack grunts. He shakes his head, Grumblejack not able to make trouble. Never open cage. But Grumblejack want to. You get Grumblejack out too?
Catching onto the idea, Dog Tooth pipes up
"I-I can get you out, Grumblejack. I'd l-love to get you out. I'm sure you've got q-quite a grudge against this establishment. I-I j-just need to know if uh....d'you know when they patrol around here? It'll help us get out of here sooner.
Grthatjack makes a rumbling sound in his throat, Yes. Grumblejack get out. Grumblejack kill little'uns. He stops, thinking about what Dog Tooth asked, When little'uns patrol? They do sometimes. It seems that to him, that was enough.
Kalethe shakes his head slowly, I think if we want to find out, we'll have to wait and see. In fact I think that's the next step. He pauses, thinking. I think we should watch and listen for at least eight hours to see if there's a pattern, if we can hear the guards coming, when they switch. He looks around, waiting to see the others thoughts on this.
Iana nods at Kalethe's words, but adds her own thoughts on the matter: "Yes we need to know how frequently they patrol, their schedules and how many guards are posted outside. Yet I doubt we'll be able to hear anything from this cell with this chamber's door closed." She turns to the goblin "One of us need to go listen near the door, should the guards show any intention of coming inside, said person must be able to return silently to make our captors think nothing is amiss. Can you do it?" - The last words are spoken with a challenging tone. "I'm pretty sure he can do it, he looks agile enough and with that size, his steps should be soft."
Then simply looking around she adds: "You should also free me and any of the others who feel confident they can play the hopeless prisoner." Iana smiled at the last sentence, it was a cold thing that smile, filled with a promises of painful revenge. Still smiling she turned to the goblin and continued: "After you wouldn't want to be alone if they did discover you." After she addresses everyone: "We do need to plan, but we need to be ready in case we are discovered, plans after all can go wrong for the simplest things. And if ours does then the best bet is to be simple as fast and as deadly as we can." Yes they certainly can... Still focus on what's happening.
After talking she motions for the elf to pass the veil to the goblin.
I feel... a little intimidated, amongst these hardened criminals. Still... a burning desire for survival and vengeance counts for a lot. "I don't want to stay any longer than I have to," I said, "but I won't make the mistake of compromising my long-term goals for a few immediate comforts." I paused. "I can still cast Mage Hand, Dancing Lights, Obscuring Mist, Hold Portal, and Sleep - twice." I paused. "I hope that helps."
Kalethe looks at the Iana, I think we ought to wait till at least after the first patrol before unlocking any cuffs. Just to see how well they check. He turns to the elf, Are those spells? I'm not sure what they do, but I'm sure you can use them effectively. . . .
Ami lets out a little groan. Eight more hours? I'm not sure I can stand eight more minutes in these cuffs. But he's right, we need to be patient and do this right.
"I agree we should scout the patrols, but eight hours may be a rather arbitrary time frame...I say we study their patterns until there is a change of shift, then aim to strike soon after that. That will give us a lot of time to act before anyone comes looking for missing guards."
Ami reflects for a moment on Iana's comments, "As far as our chains go I think we should wait, at least a little while, until we get a sense of how often they check on us. Once we have that time interval, we can afford to get a little more mischievous…", she says with a wicked grin.
She leans forward to address Dogtooth, "Once we are moving about, if at all possible, I would like to get out of my chains for at lease a minute so I can summon Itzal...he is an excellent scout and communicates telepathically with me. He could give us a lot of insight to our whereabouts and steal things for us. I would be very surprised if they managed to catch him and I could easily dismiss him if they did. At the very least, anyone who scouts should take him with them so they can be in full communication with the rest of us."
Ami then turns directly to Iana. "One last thing. I hate to look a gift horse in its mouth...but, while we wait, could you tell us a little more about this friend of yours? You mention they gave us an address? Was this really a friend of yours or was there something they want in return?"
Ami sighs a little, "Don't get me wrong, I will help either way...my alternative is a very painful death. I'd just like to know what I am getting into..."
"My Plan thus far:
1. We study the guards, learn the patrol pattern.
2. I free myself and two others, for back-up.
3. While Back-up is keeping watch, I sneak into Grumblejack's cell.
4. Dog Tooth whispers over to Grumblejack "This is where you come in, pal.
4. I release Grumblejack. If patrol comes, Grumblejack and the back-up team can create a distraction while I free the remaining group.
5. The seven of us find our way out as best we can.
Now, take no offense to the following. I used d-deductive reasoning and logic to lead me to my conclusion.
For my back up, I want Kalethe. His expertise will be invaluable to me if there is any uh danger. " A no-brainer "Though with four arms, it might take me a while.
Next " he takes a second to mull it over.
Iana has the claws, but can I trust her not to run and leave us here? Mr. Brooding over here... Don't know if I can trust him not to leave too...And Ami...do we even have a minute? The Elf may prove useful.
"Next, I want the Wizard. If we are spotted by a light patrol, I'd like to think you would be able to disable them quickly, quietly and discreetly.
I release the two of you, then Grumblejack, then the rest. Got it?
Does this sound like a plan?"