Alicia's icy eyes shine with excitement as her knife plunges into the second guard, blood spraying over her rags as she retracts it. Her eyes widen as the dhampir falls upon the man, cheeks coloring at the savagery. The rogue finishing the man off has her fully flushed, the thrill of the kill coursing through her.
Alicia grins cynically at the grappled guard. Not having the time to 'play' with this one, she quickly makes an end of him, a second smile showing underneath the guard's chin. Such would be the fate of any guard they met, if she had her way. Payment for the treatment she had known at their rough hands.
She immediately begins to strip one of the guards, wanting the protection their chain mail provided. She holds the dagger in her teeth, the coppery taste of the guards' blood not unpleasant on her tongue as she works.
No roll needed, he has accepted his fate seconds before the knife plunges into him. His eyes lock onto yours for a second, all he needed to whisper a name and a short prayer before dying. "Josie, be strong." and he is no more.
As the guard goes limp in his hands, Alaric shrugs with a lack of concern and lets the dying man slump to the floor slowly so as to make as little noise as possible. He examines the keyring with a little grin. "These should make things easier... get what you want of their gear, and let's get out of here if we can."
The guards had the following:
All gear is medium sized unless otherwise noted:
Chain Shirt
Chain Shirt, very bloody, but still 100% functional.
2 Heavy Steel Shields
2 Longswords, with scabbards
2 leather clubs
2 Longbows
40 arrows
2 brass keys
There is also a ring of keys hanging from a post on the wall.
She looks to the half-elf Tenoch after outfitting herself, muscles rippling as she takes a few test swings of the guard's longsword.
"Anything else you want to pull out of that cloth?"
"Could I have that dagger?" The Half-Elf asked the Inquisitor.
"By the way, who has the veil?"
Alicia grins at the approaching half-elf woman, a small bit of the guards' blood smeared around her lips from the dagger. She flips it, then offers it hilt first to the witch. "I hope you get as much enjoyment out of it as I did." Her face still flushed from the exertion and excitement, she seems almost...eager.
In response to the second question, she nods in Tenoch's direction, then continues strapping the shield onto her left arm.
Alaric takes the key ring from the wall, making the assumption that these are keys to cells, rather than doors in the fortress, in case they should find someone else in one of the cells. He walks quickly around the area, looking into other cells to see if anyone else is imprisoned here at present.
Malendia took a closer look at the dagger, she responded, "I wish it was a finer quality, but it will do." Then she grinned, "Well, I certainly enjoyed slitting the throats of the orc tribe that held me as a slave. Not to mention the fools that hunted me."
Aramil briefly looks at his bloodied dagger, almost surprised, as if he did not expect to kill anyone else, ever again. Then he laughed, as he observed Alicia disposing of the second guard furiously.
And here I thought I was on the way of repentance for my horrible sins, only to be accompanied by murderous women and vampire spawn. Intriguing.
He looks at the bloodied bodies, searching for useful gear.
"I will take the bow and arrows. It will certainly be useful. Also, nicely done... gentlemen. And ladies. But I advise more prudence in the future, lest the whole prison comes down upon us."
"I rather like the idea of that in reverse... the idea of us coming down on the whole prison... If we are careful but not too overly cautious, we might yet get out of this one way ticket to oblivion. I, for one, want to live."
She eyes the half-elf woman as she waits for her erstwhile companions to gear up. "It isn't a weapon of lore, no, but it punched through that chain just fine and I felt hardly any resistance when I finished that one over there." She takes another practice swing, corded muscles standing out, before she backswings, deep furrows appearing around her shoulders and triceps as she fights inertia, spinning the blade the other way.
Alicia smirks at the elf. It had been quite some time since she had been called a lady. She could still doll up when she wanted to, but she usually shied away from such things, preferring a dagger to the eye than a sweet whisper in an ear. "Prudence demanded these two die, good sir. They shall not be the only blood on our hands this evening, if the Prince of Darkness shows favor on me."
Alaric takes the key ring from the wall, making the assumption that these are keys to cells, rather than doors in the fortress, in case they should find someone else in one of the cells. He walks quickly around the area, looking into other cells to see if anyone else is imprisoned here at present.
DM:
There is a reinforced cell that was out of sight of your cell area blocked by steel walls and doors. However a quick look inside revels it to be empty of any occupants. You assumed correctly that the keyring goes to each cell, as they test fit each in turn if tested.
DM:
As far as you can tell, no other guards have been alerted to your escape, as no one has come looking into the quick and deadly scuffle.
Alaric keeps the keyring in case more cells are found later and turns to the others with a little nod. "The other cells here are empty... If you've taken all the equipment you want off the guards, shall we move on?"
On impulse, Alicia sheathes her sword and reaches out to the veil that Tenoch holds, attempting to rub or pull at the pouch in the bottom left. It was time to go, and she would be damned if she would leave any resources behind.
On impulse, Alicia sheathes her sword and reaches out to the veil that Tenoch holds, attempting to rub or pull at the pouch in the bottom left. It was time to go, and she would be damned if she would leave any resources behind.
DM:
What is pulled from the pouch is a small bag of needed material components for spell casting.
"That probably wasn't necessary," Tenoch says as the lifesblood flows out of the captured guard. "At least not until after we got some information out of him about shift changes and numbers."
Tenoch sighs and then picks up one of the clubs and straps it on with a shrug. Seeing the component pouch, he raises an eyebrow. "Perhaps we can now attempt to discern exactly what the magic may be within this thing? I would hate to pull out something that we don't need immediately."
He then moves to the interrogation room. "While someone is doing that, perhaps the others could take a quick look around this level and visit the stairs to make sure the area is secure, or if there are any other hidden things of interest about. As it seems we'll not be talking our way out of our situation, I'll need about a minute to properly prepare and gird myself for battle."
He then enters the other room and clears a space on the floor so that he can begin his ritual.
"He was an enemy... though I must agree, he might have been useful with information before he died." Alaric shrugs with indifference and then stays on alert while Tenoch begins his ritual, not really understanding what he's doing, but knowing it's some kind of magic and needs to be undisturbed.
"You there," he says to Sykes, never really having done introductions, "If you're more comfortable being armored, why don't you let me scout and keep the armor on. I'd be perfectly happy ceding point to you if we run into any foes."
Alaric, guessing that they were probably secured deep underground... or high up, either one discouraging to escapes...looks for stairs.
Alicia glares at Tenoch, then tosses the spell component pouch to Malendia, who was likely more crippled without it than the inquisitor was. "If we pull out something that isn't needed, I can carry it, if your arms don't work well enough. Better to have too much equipment than miss out on something useful."
"Or he might have screamed for help, bringing the whole place down on us." She moves over to the guard she slew, opening his mouth with her hands, smirking. She moves the lips in time with her own speech. "There are other guards about, and there is a way out somewhere." She looks to the guard, eyes crinkled in amusement. "Why thank you, Mr. Guard."
She gets back to her feet, stationing herself at the bottom of the stairs as one or the other of the men scouts things out. In her mind, she replays the day she came, the hands holding her down as the brand was pressed firmly into her skin. Her brows furrow at the memory. There would be no mercy for these, beyond the mercy of a quick death.
"Point." is all Sykes muses before taking off the chain shirt and shield and begin lurking about the level complex, keeping an eye out for any prisoners or guards.
[dice=Stealth]1d20+6
[dice=Perception]1d20+7
Perception: The only prisoners Branderscar currently seems to have is you and your new found cohorts. No other guards are present in the room, nor seem to be nearby from which you can hear. You wouldn't be able to see any other guards down halls etc as you are in a small room with only a door on the east that is closed, and stairs leading up to another level of the jail.
Alaric peers up the stairs to see if he can tell where they go... to an open doorway perhaps?... or a closed door? Not that a closed door will be much impediment with these keys in hand.
He waits for Tenoch to complete his ritual before heading up the stairs. Once the ritual is complete and Tenoch seems satisfied, he moves toward the the base of the stairs, but then pauses... and turns back to the others. "It seems we are stuck with each others' company as I doubt any of us can break out of here on our own. We have to work together. I can't keep calling all of you, 'Hey you', so some introductions seem in order. I'm Alaric." He gives Sykes a nod to indicate he might as well go next.
"That probably wasn't necessary," Tenoch says as the lifesblood flows out of the captured guard. "At least not until after we got some information out of him about shift changes and numbers."
Tenoch sighs and then picks up one of the clubs and straps it on with a shrug. Seeing the component pouch, he raises an eyebrow. "Perhaps we can now attempt to discern exactly what the magic may be within this thing? I would hate to pull out something that we don't need immediately."
He then moves to the interrogation room. "While someone is doing that, perhaps the others could take a quick look around this level and visit the stairs to make sure the area is secure, or if there are any other hidden things of interest about. As it seems we'll not be talking our way out of our situation, I'll need about a minute to properly prepare and gird myself for battle."
He then enters the other room and clears a space on the floor so that he can begin his ritual.
DM:
Many terrible things have been done here, and not too long ago by the apparent blood stains in the corners. The smell of burned flesh is heavy, but there is still a faint hint of some exotic smelling perfume lingering from your earlier visit.
DM:
It looks to be a stairwell that leads up to the next level. It is lit by torch. Though you do not hear or see anything up there at the moment from your perspective.
Alicia grins at the unhealthy looking man's introduction. She could appreciate a sense of humor like that. She nods to the first man, Alaric. "Alicia." She licks her thumb and absently rubs at the blood stains on her lips. She unsheathes the longsword, ready to continue up the stairs once their short introductions are made.
Alicia grins at the unhealthy looking man's introduction. She could appreciate a sense of humor like that. She nods to the first man, Alaric. "Alicia." She licks her thumb and absently rubs at the blood stains on her lips. She unsheathes the longsword, ready to continue up the stairs once their short introductions are made.
DM Visual:
Sykes is bruised like a ripe plum where the guards beat him. Ashen and sullied. A truly horrific looking creature.
Aramil bows slightly towards the rest of the group.
"My name is Aramil... Quite an interesting group, imprisoned here unjustly like myself, I'm sure. I believe it would be in our common interest to work together, at least until we escape this stink hole."
Adria could not help but sigh at the death of the second guardsman, mourning the loss of the potentially useful information trapped in his head. Apparently her new allies were an eager sort.
She silently took note as introductions were being made - names could have power, if one knew how to use them - then calmly lied when her turn came about.
"My name is Lianna," she said. "And while I can certainly appreciate your...zeal in dealing with the guards, I suggest that we hold our mutual bloodlust in check from now on. One mistake could draw the entire prison down on us at once, and I'd rather take this place apart piecemeal, if we can."
She then edges over towards the room where the half-elf was "preparing" himself, observing his art as best she can.
"I have to agree with Lianna... bloodlust might be our undoing. Besides the guard might have been a source of information, which could have been useful in our escape. Something to consider if we have such an opportunity again."
The words of the others grow increasingly incoherent to her as blood rushes to her head. The bloodlust is there, true, but her anxiety grows by the second as she waits, another moment passing that the place could start filling with guards. She grows red, angry, furious even, at these others. "And what do you think I was doing, eh? Keeping him quiet, so we can get the hell out of here!" She talks quietly, but with intensity, her pale eyes flitting back and forth between Lianna and Alaric. She takes a moment, swallowing and trying to control herself.
"I am not going to try and sit here and play nanny with these men who guard us who have the misfortune of being in our way, and I will not sit idly by while you try to pry their secrets from them. Speed and silence are our allies now, and men find it hard to yell drowning on their own blood. So save your admonishments, as we are wasting time."
In the other room, Tenoch, having traced a circle in blood around himself and added in vrious esoteric symbols, sat, rocking in circles, mumbling something in a dark tongue under his breath. Occasionaly the word "... Malacoda..." slips out. It was subtle at first, but eventually the bloody circle and symbols had begun to glow and grow warm, until they burst into flames which spun around the circle, enveloping the half-elf.
When the flames subsided, a dark figure with a decidedly insectile appearance stood on four virmin-like appendages, a pair of arms ending in claws and sharp teeth sticking out from it's gaping maw. It's dark chitinous plates still somewhat translucent showing a shadowy humanoid form seemingly encased within it.
"Introductions, yes...," the hideous creature says exiting the interrogation room. "I was Tenoch before and you may still address me as such. As it seemed trickery and knowledge was not going to be the path for today, and although I have a few minor preparations to make, I have now girded myself for battle."
Alicia's face remained flushed for a few moments, her impatience causing her to grind her teeth as they wait for the Tenoch-thing. Once he makes an appearance, she nods absently. She looks to those around her. "Shall we?"
If no one objects, she will begin to ascend the stairs, longsword in hand.
"Now that's different," Alaric says with a grin, as he views the 'new' Tenoch. He turns and follows Alicia up the stairs.
DM:
The stone stairs that lead up to the next level reveal a small 20x40' sized room. The only fixture is a scone and lit torch that provides light. There is no one here currently.
There is a wooden door on the Northern wall that is closed.
Alicia quickly scans the room as they enter.
If she finds nothing, she stalks over to the next door, a fine line between his eyebrows, a focused look on her face.
Alicia quickly scans the room as they enter.
[dice=Perception]d20 + 6
If she finds nothing, she stalks over to the next door, a fine line between his eyebrows, a focused look on her face.
DM:
There is nothing except a lit torch and stairs leading back down.
"And I am Malendia, Witch in the service Asmodeus." The Half-Elf introduced herself.
Tenoch nods to Malendia, "I have a... connection with Malacoda, one of the Malebranche and ultimately subservient to the Lord of Hell. Well met."
Moving down the stairs with the others, he glances at the torch. "How well do you all see in the darkness? Thusfar the guards seem to be human and thus could suffer in such circumstance, particularly if their opponents had no such disability," he says quietly.
Alicia nods to Malendia, another servant of the Prince of Darkness. She turns to Tenoch. "I unfortunately am nothing but human, and would suffer greatly from a loss of light."
Pleased so far at the linear nature of the dungeon, she opens the Northern door, sword and shield at the ready.
Adria eyed Alicia wearily as the bloodied woman rejected her words of caution, but said nothing more on the subject. She turned her full attention to the thing that had been the half-elf Tenoch. His art was obviously a form of conjuration, but it was of a form she was inexperienced with and, consequently, exceedingly fascinated by. I will need to speak to that one at length, if we get out of here alive.
Following along with her companions, taking a position near the center of the main group, she says, "I fear darkness will be a hindrance to me as well. However, I would serve little use in a melee anyway and my options are rather limited without my familiar, so feel free to put out the torches if you think it tactically sound.
"As for myself, I will do my best to keep everyone alive. Disagreements over matters of strategy aside, our chances are still far better as a group."
Area: Hallway
Hallway Map
DM:
Opening the doorway You come to a long hallway, as seen in the above map.
There are two guards that see you brazenly open the door. They begin yelling almost immediately.
Guard 1: "The prisoners are loose! To Arms!"
Guard 2: "Wa-Wha-What?! By Mitra's blade! Sound the horns! They're free!"
DM:
Initiatives please. There is no surprise round this time. The red squares are guards, the PCs are somewhere near the teal square as that's the door that was just opened.
Alicia growls as the guards start to yell. She hates being wrong, and she is frightened of being locked back up, as well. The corded muscles on her legs bunch up furiously as she takes off, swiftly moving down the hall to engage the guard on the right. "Shut up, you!
Adria curses under her breath, and moves into the room.