"Now, now, Dog Tooth. There will be no need for that...as long as they behave." Ami smiles sweetly at the servants and says, "You are going to behave, right?"
She continues going through the cabinets, while munching on her apple. "Hmm...no good...no good...no good", she mutters as she tosses food aside, not caring much where it lands. "Oh! This will keep!"
This continues for a few minutes until Ami has wrapped all the non-perishable food and thrown it into the sack. She also wraps a few steaks for the dogs and some food for Paul, Iana and Grumblejack. This is starting to get heavy... she thinks as she drags the sack along the ground.
"So, shall we all proceed to the dining room...?" Ami says cheerfully as she tosses an apple core over her shoulder and picks up a bread roll.
"Thish isn't bad," I mumble, around a mouthful as I seize some of the perishables and devour them on the spot. It's important to keep one's strength up, after all.
"After you," I tell Ami, quite happy to let someone else be first out into the dining hall.
Kalethe looks to Dog Tooth and Ami, So far, they've both behaved themselves perfectly. We'll see if one of them gives us a reason to eat his face later. Kalethe grabs some food then follows the others into the dining room. Ready to spring this trap when you are. Remember it's most important, he does not blow the horn.
While Dog Tooth searches around the kitchen for a more manageable weapon --a knife, mallet, rolling pin--anything that could be better used by a goblin.-- he notices a door towards the east. Completely ignoring Kalethe, he points at the door and asks one of the servants "That door, it leads outside, right? Can we escape Branderscar through that door?" in a near-whisper. Threatening the servants gives him an idea.... "Do you have a large cart or wagon? Can...c-can the two of you lead us out of Branderscar? I will see to it that you are greatly compensated..."
The servants, eyes practically rolling in their heads from fear look at the goblin uncomprehendingly at first. Yeah, that goes outside. N-- one of them starts but is cut off by the other. Yes there's a wagon. We can take you out. Come on. Follow us.
Ami laughs a little bit.
"Ishtak, looks like this is getting complicated. I think you should go fill in the rest of the group..."
As Ishtak slithers up the chimney, to relay information to the others, Ami walks over to the servant and hops up onto the counter next to him. She pats him on the shoulder and gives him a warm smile. "Hey buddy, I get it... We're the bad guys, right? ...and you're getting all these heroic thoughts in your head..." she pauses to put her hands in her lap, "...but here's the deal. We are leaving this prison one way or another. Your warden doesn't care...Blackerly is too caught up in his gambling...and honestly the guards here aren't really a match for us. Open conflict would be a hindrance for us..." her eyes narrow a little, "...it would be a disaster for you. That guard in the hallway would die. The guards on the gate would die...both of you, obviously, would die."
Ami shakes her head, "So much death...so much waste...Is that really what you want?" Ami strokes his head in a motherly way and speaks in a soothing tone, "I want us to work this out together...because I don't want to die, just like you. But if you keep lying to us...I am going to have to hand you over to the boys...and between you and me, that guy... Ami points to Kalethe, "...is pretty twisted. I don't want to do that...so I'll ask you again, is there really a way you can smuggle us out of here? If not, lets start brainstorming some more realistic solutions...so that no one esle has to die..."
We aren't the villains you think us to be. We come to you with reason and logic. We want to get out of here, you want to survive, so uh...this is mutually...mutually beneficial. If you assist us in our escape, and done properly, no one will know you are at fault. Again, you will be repaid for your troubles. We are willing to part with our gold pieces.
"It'll really be a lot better for everyone if you go along with us," I press lightly.
Diplomacy Assist
Kalethe seems reluctant as he begins unwrapping his scarf, but finally, he unwinds it and begins eating his food. As Ami speaks of his twisted nature, he shrugs, I think you are the twisted ones. How you can go through life without the extasy of pure pain. . . . he sighs contentedly, it seems like a waste. I may teach you some day. A wicked smile plays across his face as his gaze turns to the servants, But for now, can I please teach it to the lying one?
The servants look around from the monster Kalethe to the more civil Ami. Please don't let him kill me. I won't do it again. There is no way to smuggle you out. The only way out is through the gatehouse and there's a guard on top of it, then another one at the end of the bridge.
Well great, Dog Tooth thinks to himself, there goes that plan. We need to figure a thing out before we find ourselves at the chopping block... He begins to pace the kitchen, as Kalethe goes on with his "pain" routine, and he stops at the kitchen door. He quietly opens the door and peeks outside .
Ami shudders a little at Kalethe's remarks. Oh boy...this one might actually be a psychopath. Pain is meant for other people...not me.
She jumps off the counter in front of the servant and says to Kalethe, "I think we can afford to be forgiving...just this once..."
She turns to the servants and asks several questions:
"What is the procedure for getting through the gate? How is the gate opened?"
"Can the guards on the walls easily see what happens at the gatehouse? How do they see at night?"
"Besides the kitchen and the dining area, what else is on this floor? What kind of supplies are available?"
"How do you bring supplies into the prison, if not with a wagon?"
Turning to the others, "If we wanted to get rid of the guard in the hallway, perhaps Paul and Iana could convince him they don't mind covering while he goes to gamble with Blackerly...since they are fed up of losing money to him...otherwise we will probably have to take him out or convince him to put down his weapons. The side entrance is also intriguing...but we will have to convince the others to come down the chimney..."
Ami tells Ishtak to relay this message, as well as any other suggestions to the others.
As Iana waits Ishtak comes up the chimney and explain the whole situation to which Iana responds: "Tell them we can think a escape plan for the prison itself later. And push comes to shove me and Paul can pose as guards leading a prisoner, Grumblejack and the two of us should be enough to take care of two guards."
The servant looks bewildered for a moment. To get through the gate, you need the password, Hesterfield. But even then, I doubt they'd let you through unchallenged. The guards on the walls patrol with bullseye lanterns. I don't deal with anything but the kitchens and dining room. He stops, looking past the door into the dining room, But, he says reluctantly, the room on the other side of the dining hall has off duty soldiers. 3 of them. He looks down at his feet, seemingly ashamed. He does not soak for the last question, so the other man speaks up, I pick them up, rent a cart if needed, but most of the time just use a large basket. We don't need much as most supplies we need are transported in by the army.
He quietly shuts the door and relays the information. Ami, it seems clear out this way. Looks to be a garden. The perimeter seems free of guards, but I may be wrong... Dog Tooth then turns quickly and points towards the more honest of the two servants Hey, you! You said there are off-duty guards...where do they keep their weapons? There's gotta be an armory on the premise.
Sensing the others are getting impatient, from Itzal's most recent message, Ami turns to the rest of the group and asks, "Ok...so what is our plan of action here? It sound like the others are getting antsy and want to clear the hallway...that would clear up the rest of the floor for exploration, as long as we avoid the off duty guards..."
Kalethe looks around then nods, carefully winding the scarf back around his face. We need to do something. Tell them to approach him soon, but do not attack him until they are within reach, or until I slip in behind him. His eyes shine as he slips out the side door. Staying in the shadows, he slowly makes his way to the front of the building.
Upon Itzal's return Iana nods to Paul and then turns towards Grumblejack: "You have to wait here, for a few moments, while take care of the guard." Then she carefully opens the door just enough for someone to pass and not show the half-ogre. She nods for Paul to go first.
I-I don't know. They've always got them when I see the soldiers. I think somewhere across the hall? The servant looks questioning at his companion, then shrugs.
Iana and Paul make their way down the hall, and the guard pays little attention to them.
Kalethe makes his way around the side of the building. A single guard stands on top of the gatehouse and it's a simple matter to move when he moves to the other side. Kalethe easily makes it to the front door without being seen.
Paul walks briskly down the hallway. How exactly did these people keep us contained for so long. None of them seem particularly...attentive.
As he walks toward the guard, he tries to listen for any sounds coming from the doors in the hallways, trying to not raise suspicion. He whispers to his comnpanion, "Iana, my dear if you would. I am not quite as martially inclined as you are."
Itzal tries to follow behind Iana and Paul, using their legs as cover to hide.
Ami slowly starts to move towards the dining room. They should be able to handle it...but it doesn't hurt to be nearby if things go south. Otherwise she tries to stay out of the impending conflict.The longer I can keep my hands clean, the easier it will be to manipulate my little friends...
"I'll keep the two of you company, for a bit," I tell the servants. "Just keep quiet and we'll get along fine,"
Kalethe, looks around, then quickly steps through the door, closing it behind him. He turns, grinning at the surprised guard and grabs at the horn.
Itzal slithers out from behind Paul and moves next to the guard, hissing and bearing his fangs.
Iana was leisurely walking down the corridor until she saw the door moving then she picked up the pace arriving close to the guard leaving Paul some steps behind, she then charged at the guard claw raised.
Seeing Iana miss really did put a damper on the day, all things considered. He moves forward with his own club raised and tries to strike.
Iana charges at the guard, missing with her claw, but Paul manages to strike the man, scoring a mark across his chest. Kalethe grabs at the horn. The guard tries to move away instinctively, but Kalethe just manages to grab the horn away.
Itzal who had been coiling back, launches forward with his fangs, then attempt slap the guard with his tail.
Paul rears back another strike, aimed at the man's temple. "So sorry," he whispers to the man, "but we do need to get this over quickly and quietly."
Iana attacks using both of her claw like nails. "Die Already!"
Kalethe laughs, striking out at the man. He kicks at the guard's legs, then punches fir the exposed face.
The guard looks around surprised. He gives out a short cry as first Paul's dagger then Ieana's claws tear into him. He begins to fall, but it's caught by a kick and punch from Kalethe----then his face collapses and his breathing stops.
Dog Tooth scurries out of the dining hall, lock pick tools in hand. He said somewhere across the hall... he thinks to himself as he notices there are two possible doors. He looks back and forth between the door in front of him and the door down the hallway. Uhhh and he signals the others towards the door across from the dining hall door. pssst! Bring the body this way!
He goes for the door
The door clicks open and he gently leans into it enough to peek in and give the room a quick once over.
Ami peeks out into the hallway. She turns to the hostages and says, "Come along now. As long as you stay quiet and don't cause trouble, everything will be okay...."
With that Ami heads into the hallway, eager to explore the rest of the floor.
"Lets just be careful about the off duty guards in the room north of the dining hall, for now," she mutters to the others.
"I'm impressed with your facility with violence," I tell Ami, as she returns.
Dog Tooth opens the door easily, it does not seem to be locked. Inside, you find a plain room with a single cluttered desk and a few chairs. There are two doors from this room. One to the north and one to the west.
Ami looks a little confused by Ashmoniel's remark. I can't tell if she is being sarcastic...or if that was some kind of compliment. I guess I better give her the benefit of the doubt...last thing I want is trouble right now. "Um, Thank You...?" Ami says, like someone who is unsure she is giving the right answer.
Ami enters the new room. A scribe by profession, her eyes go straight to the desk. "I want to check this out...feel free to keep searching the other rooms, if I am slowing things down..." she says to Dog Tooth. "...but sometimes the devil is in the paperwork..." she mutters as her voice drifts off.
Dog Tooth cautiously steps into the room after Ami,smiling at her enthusiasm. By uh, all means, have at it. He scurries over towards the northern door, and begins to . He takes his time with the door, making sure to be as precise as possible. The sounds of Ami rustling the papers and the clicks of the lock takes him back a week, to the comforts of the lab. It almost felt like home, the two of them working diligently on their tasks. But, there was no home.
Dog Tooth shakes his head to clear his thoughts and calls out to Ami. Find anything worthwhile?
After the guard is killed Iana goes back to get Grumblejack, after that she will try to find food for both of them while guarding the servants. Iana will also make small talk with Grumblejack ask where he came from, what he did before being arrested...
Kalethe follows Iana. Once they join Grumblejack, he listens fire a minute as they talk, but before long he speaks up. Sooner or later, we're not going to get to the guards in time to stop them blowing the horn. He pauses, letting that sink in. There are three off duty guards here, but I doubt that will stop them if the horn is blown. Then they'll be ready for a fight. Now . . . Not so. The others are content to just pass them by, but I think you two would agree, we need to take them out. Even if we just manacle them and take away their weapons. Kalethe looks at the two, unspoken question in his eyes.
"If you move, or make a sound, believe that we will kill you," I tell our hostages - before joining my colleagues researching the documentation in the office.
Pure intelligence
Perception
not sure which of these it should be
Dog Tooth moves into a dark room. Inside, there is a barrel with 200 torches, ten lanterns on shelves, two 10 gallon kegs of lantern oil, six spare guard uniforms, a dozen signal horns, twenty 50’ lengths of rope and two barrels labeled ‘emergency rations. The emergency rations barrels contain maggoty old iron rations. Hanging in a special rack there are several brands with the runic F symbol and a specially made brazier for heating them.
As Ami searches through the desk, she finds a map of the prison. Otherwise, most of it is paperwork concerning the running of the prison and it sends there is very little of use in that regard.
Grumblejack turns to Iana, Grumblejack take toll from little'uns that travel his road. Little'uns not like to pay toll. When Kalethe joins them Grumblejack smiles, Grumblejack wants to kill them.
"Nothing too interesting..." Ami replies to Dog Tooth, "However, I did find a map of the whole prison. That should help. Anything good in there?" she asks to head towards him.
Leaving the prisoners in Ashmoniel care for a few moments, she whispers to Dog Tooth, "I was thinking, though. Since Blackerly's incompetence has been so helpful in our escape, I was thinking of making it official...I have some mild skill with quill and parchment. Perhaps I could add a few lines to the books...a large sum of money from a mysterious source...payment of a boat passage for six people to Varisia..." Ami examines the brand on her arm and frowns. "I'd hate to leave the prison without thanking him...and a brand for a brand seems fair, no?" she shrugs, "...and it won't hurt to have investigators think we are leaving the country..."
"Good, for I'm in agreement we should take care of them now we have this opportunity." Iana speaks while dragging one of the hostages by his hair, the claws of her other hand pointing to the man's neck.
"Could you do the honors Kalethe? If the guards decide to fight I'll join too, but I don't they will. she says while nodding towards the door.
The sounds of clinking and clattering pauses for a moment while Dog Tooth takes in Ami's idea. I really... rrreally wouldn't mind having her around. She's definitely my kind of thinker. He goes back to digging through the storeroom while he addresses Ami I like the way you think, Ami. He steps back into the office, with the metal brands in hand I guess we won't be needing these then? Dog Tooth returns to the storeroom where he sets aside 10 50' ropes and 4 filled lanterns next to the entrance of the office. After putting the last full lantern down, he scurries over to the other locked door in the room and begins to unlock that .
I find it hard to believe that our things were thrown out or destroyed within the last two days. They've gotta be around here somewhere.
Without any fuss, I select a guard uniform in approximately the right size, strip out of my prisoners-garb and begin to redress myself...