As it turns out, the Sergeant doesn't handle being in a position of weakness very well. In fact, one could even say that he acts like a sniveling coward. "The ... the ... the keys are in my desk. Please don't hurt me!"
There are three keys on Blackerly's ring, and it's only a matter of moments to figure out which one opens the strongbox. Inside, you find a dozen bottles of rotgut whiskey , a flask labeled 'Medicine' that smells of alcohol, and 1235gp. For a common watch Sergeant, that's a ludicrously-huge amount of money.
Celestine wasted no time gathering the money, although she took it out into the hall (where the Sergeant couldn't see) before sliding it into her portal. She'd divvy it up later so they wouldn't whine at her - for now, though, storage was the best way to transport it without the coins weighing anyone down.
Sholano's eyes widened at the sight of all the cash, and he chuckled maliciously. "Well well. Someone's been on the take, haven't they?"
Part of him longed to go with Celestine as she moved off with all the money, but instead he leaned down, near the Sergeant's blubbering face as Erick kept the man pinned down. "Still, haven't been very helpful, have you? You have anything left to offer? A map of the place, maybe, or the guard rotation schedule, perchance? I'd hurry and tell me, if I were you - my new friend here doesn't look terribly patient."
Got to get moving...give something up quick, you fat bastard. Your throat's already cut, you just don't know it yet.
Being surrounded by murderous criminals is not good for the Sergeant's state of mind. His blubbering and whining is unhelpful and annoying, and it's likely a relief when Erick puts him out of his misery.
Loot
Chainmail x1
MW Longsword x1
Sergeant's Uniform x1
Key Ring (key to the strongbox, key to this bedroom, and two keys to unknown locks)
Linus lifts the key to the strongbox and goes to open it. "Maybe there is a rapier in here..."
After Erik is done, Zyxtyvia steps up drawing her dagger and removes some of sgt's teeth, and then pockets them...looking at the others she asks...
"Where to next?"
Sholano grimaces down at the sergeant's soiled uniform.
Officer's stripes or no, I'm not wearing that.
"Nothing for it but to move onward, I suppose. If we'd been quiet so far, I would say we should head for a different floor, but as we've been a tad unsubtle, I think we should try some of the rooms we haven't raided yet and look for something useful."
"Just don't take too much time robbing the place blind." Celestine said. She didn't care if they took things that weren't theirs (as long as the things weren't hers, anyway), but she didn't want to get so sidetracked that more guards could hit them when they weren't ready for it.
Sholano flashed Celestine a roguish smile as he slipped out of the sergeant's chamber. "No such thing."
One of Blackerly's other keys unlocks the door to this room. You've found the armory. Inside are the following items:
Chain Shirt x6
Heavy Steel Shield x6
Longsword x6
Longbow x6
Leather Club x12
Arrows x240
Shiv made from a woman's metal comb
S Heavy Mace x1
Spear x1
Quarterstaff x1
Battleaxe x1
Rapier x1
Greatsword x1
Trident x1
Glaive x1
L Greatclub x1
Studded Leather Armor x2
S Hide Shirt x1
Armored Coat x1
L Hide Armor x1
Linus cheers triumphantly. "Aha! A rapier! Nice!" Quickly she scoops it up and does a few strikes in the air.
"Grab whatever weapons and gear you feel you need... let us move on" Zyxtyvia says grabbing the shiv and staff...
Sholano rakes an appraising eye across the equipment, then back down along his already-stolen gear, and shrugs, taking up one of the longbows and a few arrows. "Not exactly my weapon of choice, but beggars can't be choosers, I suppose."
He sighed inwardly as he turned away. It was a shame to leave so much decent gear behind, as he was fairly certain his nest egg had been found and taken by the Talingarde watch by now and he could use a new emergency fund. Still, best to travel light for the moment; as much as he appreciated the irony of stealing from a prison, it wasn't worth risking getting caught again just to be cheeky.
"If you plan to imitate one of the prison guards you would do well to acquire dress and arms in their manner. I have not seen female guards and I do not have the grace or skill to pretend to be a male, but some of you others may." Zyxtyvia says to the others and moves towards the door to stand watch...
Sholano slips a sidelong glance Zyxtyvia's way while moving down the hall.
Ech. She's not kidding. That one isn't going to pass for much of anything without some very thorough assistance. Is it worth tipping a few cards to them...? Ah, well. In for a copper, in for a gold.
Out loud, he says nonchalantly, "Well, it might be a little tricky to hide your particular charms, I'll grant you. Still, we're not entirely without options. Here."
With a few quick flicks of his wrist, he dislodged one of his knives and cut a thin strip of fabric from the edge of his tunic. He held it out to Zyxtvia, and started to speak in a quick, low tone.
"See if you can tie your hair back with that. A mane like that is...distinctive. Try and keep your head down when you can - it'll keep your face hidden some from a cursory glance, and if they do catch a glimpse, we might have a shot at convincing someone you're being transported to be interrogated or some such. Also, hold your wrists together, or behind your back. It's not much, but if we're in dim light or dealing with someone dim, they could mistake it for manacles."
He turns to give the witch woman a full look up and down, then gives her a very small nod and an amused smile. "It may not be much and I wish we had the time to be a little more thorough, but it couldn't hurt. You definitely have a point, though, and a bit of good insight it is - let those of us with a little practice take the lead if we get the chance to talk our way out of here."
Celestine watched, looking faintly amused. Well, if they were having fun and it didn't take too long, it was fine, but they really did need to keep moving...
Sholano shrugs, not wanting to belabor the point with Erick.
I've met more than one burly prison guard with a bit of muck and blood on him, but I'm certainly not contradicting that one. He might try twisting my head off for the suggestion.
"One way or another, I think it's about time we got moving again." Tapping a finger against his lips, he padded softly back south to try one of the few remaining doors they'd passed before.
The final key on Blackerly's ring unlocks the door, revealing a storeroom. There's a couple hundred torches, ten lanterns, a pair of large kegs of oil, six spare guard uniforms, a dozen signal horns, many many coils of rope, and two barrels labeled "Emergency Rations". There are also six familiar-looking brands and an iron brazier.
However, any looting will need to be quick, as you hear the sounds of barking dogs and booted feet. As it turns out, leaving a pair of civilians unsupervised right next to an exit might not have been the smartest idea....
Sholano spun on his heel towards the sound of boots, cursing under his breath. "Black Lady's eyes, can't a man get a moment to himself around here?"
He dashes into the storeroom and tips one of the kegs of oil, rolling it toward the hallway. "Marvin, you have another bout of fire in you? Hey, 'Jack!"
Yelling to the ogre who still cowered in the corner, Sholano continued, "If you can throw one of these kegs at the guards coming down here, we'll make sure they stay away from you!"
Well, this ought to be interesting. Celestine chuckled slightly as she made her way to the back of the group. "I think they're underestimating us." she said as she listened. "Let's... show them the error of their beliefs." In both of the main senses of the phrase.
"Target whoever is barking out orders first... drop that person and the minions may buckle... especially if you toughs intimidate them after their leader falls. Kill them quickly, no time for prisoners or mercy." Zyxtyvia reminds the others.
"I certain I can work up another flame. Just tell me when you want it."
Sholano, never ceasing his work, replies to Marvin in a brisk confident tone. "You're the expert, pick your moment. Erick and I..." he tosses his head at the burly prisoner, indicating he could use the larger man's help with his task. "Are going to get as much of the hall coated in oil as we can, and with a little help from 'Jack I think we can set a goodly number of them alight soon as they get all the way down those stairs. With any luck, it'll make their lives a lot harder and make any more of them think twice about coming after us so fast. It's been my experience that people on fire get out some damned awful screams."
Rubbing his wounds, she looks around. "I think its time to go guys. I dont think Ill survive much more."
"Where do you intend to place the oil?" Zyxtyvia looks at Sholano as she asks.
"Once we find healing supplies I shall tend to the wounds of the weaker members, have no fear."
"I find this plan of yours in poor form as the only exit we have to the outside will soon be blocked with a roaring fire and angry men on fire. I also note the lack of ventilation here in the hallway which will no doubt inhibit our breathing as the smoke and stench builds up. A better plan would have been to lure them to the stairs with one of you silver tongued devils and then ambush them in that location with the oil and fire thus closing the door and forcing them to flee upstairs and away from impeding our escape. But carry on this plan you have set in motion will be good to watch. Grumblejack would you please be a dear and come over to stand by me here next to this doorway by the barracks eating room." Zyxtyvia says and then moves next to the door leading to room 10.
Celestine carefully moved into position, looking slightly amused as she joined most of the others and summoned up her aura of assistance to help them. A barrier would've been possible, but probably not practical at this point in time - not if people were planning to launch anything towards the stupid guards, anyway...
Sholano raises an eyebrow at Zyxtyvia's diatribe. He finished his task as quickly as he could, narrating back at her and everyone else all the while. "Now who in the Abyss said anything about not luring them in? If we play this right, we can get a few of them down here and vulnerable in our midst while the rest are either on fire or wary of it. Keep on as you are; 'Jack, go with her, if you would. Pitch the keg when I give you the signal, big guy - we'll get you out of here yet. Marvin, you're with me; everyone else, get out of sight or play dead if you can. If they come from a different direction, start the violence quick and hard - we can't afford to get sandwiched in here, trickery or no."
He swiftly and artfully musses his uniform, untucking and emphasizing the blood and wounds. He gestures to Marvin and the doorframe. "Quick as you like, now - slump up against the door, behave like you're wounded. We're the lucky survivors, the horrible prisoners went off through the kitchen. Leave the talking to me, and hopefully they won't look too close."
And the curtain goes up...
"What do you mean pretend like I'm wounded? I am wounded..." Marvin grumbled as he leaned on the door for support. Gathering his wits, he carefully altered his form, maintaining the appearance of a wounded kitchen worker, but trading his enhanced vision for that familiar warmth in his belly that would soon flower into glorious roaring flames against his enemies.
Both the hallway and kitchen doors burst open, and a trio of guards charges in through each. They're fully alert, and their swords are already drawn.
Celestine carefully focused, maintaining the aura of blessings she'd called up. There was no reason to run around and split themselves up, not when they could keep their forces concentrated and break the guards against their power. That... was going to be fun.
Sholano sighs resignedly. Moving quickly nonetheless, he stands up and offers a hand to Marvin, yelling down the hall, "'Jack! Toss it!"
The best laid plans...
Linus moves up to the side of the door and readies an action to attack the first guard who enters through the door.
Zyxtyvia will hold her action to see who escapes the fire before focusing on someone to hex...
As the first guard stepped forward into the oil, Marvin shuddered and let loose a blast of fire that roiled down the hallway.
As the guards begin to enter through the north hall, Grumblejack hurls his oil barrel, filling the entire doorway with slippery, highly flammable liquid. Seconds later, Marvin unleashes a burst of flame that ignites the batch, catching two soldiers in the inferno. They scream in pain and scramble to leave the danger zone. You've bought yourselves a little time, as the guards will be hesitant to brave the flames. The squad approaching from the east continues to close with the rear of your group but aren't quite in range to attack.
Guard (red): 3pts damage
Guard (blue): 3pts damage
Zyxtyvia will move back away from the approaching guards...
"More are coming... prepare yourselves!"
Sholano readies his blade and steps up to the southern side of the doorway, prepared to skewer the first guard who attempts to come through.
Celestine was more than happy to have the flesh bags others between herself and the guards approaching from the side, even as she continued to maintain the aura of blessings that would make everything they did a little better. "How many guards are here, anyway?" she pondered. It was doubtful anyone knew, but if they could find out, they could estimate how many of the enemy were still likely to be around.
Out of fire for the moment, Marvin stumbled back from the door and kept a wary eye for any of the guards that got through.
Zyxtyvia will have a readied action for the first guard that comes through the door to Hex his AC and his attack ability..