Igoroskandrallanotly considers Fiain. How intelligent. More clever than I thought. Out loud, the doppelganger says, "I'm inclined to agree with you. The woman who freed us did ask us to kill as many guards as possible, however." He gestures towards the double doors at the far end of the hall. "Those doors will most likely lead us out into the world. I imagine there will be more guards and a gate, perhaps with archers or something - guards we may not be able to kill immediately who could sound the signal horn. We will likely kill many guards, and there are enough of us we will surely succeed in escaping - although how many of us will die is more unknown. Should we take the time to slaughter every single person in this building, however, they will have fewer guards to call for reinforcements once we are outside. Still, I will not stay by myself if most wish to run for the exit."
"Eat-in-Shadow can hide and skulk, and from the outside we can block the doors and set the fire. Not as satisfying as crunching on a spine, but Eat-in-Shadow can compromise for the sake of simplicity."
"I'm not going to complain if we have to kill every last one of them."
Augier strips off a chain shirt and shoves himself into it as best he can. Front gate is no doubt a killing field and our luck can't last. We check these side rooms and kill anyone in them to guard our backs.
”if I can get myself some kind of makeshift weapon and to an open space I’ll be a lot more effective. It’s always entertaining to watch the looks on small humans faces when a giant uses an enlarge person spell, until I crush them anyway. And while I would glory in an open battle we may want to thin the herd a bit.”
Having been forgotten like a shadow, Tartarus slinks along the wall. A bit difficult to talk, and with not much to add, she waits silently to follow behind someone when everyone starts filtering through doors.
After donning his mail shirt, Augier will nod to the western door closest to the stairs they came down and push it open.[/b]
quite frankly, I would prefer to cleanse this place, though I'm of a far larger intellect than my kin, I do have quite the taste for vengeance. I do not fear the people in this place, nor, should any of you I believe. Or was all that bluster about killing all the guards that beat and mocked you nothing but hot air like other small folk? Indeed, I say we arm those that need weapons, and proceed to make a statement about what happens to bigots and pretentious bastards like these people here. Let them come tomorrow to find nothing but blood, death, and humiliation! Though, if you are frightened, then u suppose we can head directly away. Though I doubt we would get far before the rest of this garrison are fast to our trail.
The ogre tosses the remainder of a munched leg to the ground as he finishes his statement.
"Well, as much as I would enjoy the organized murder of all the Mitran scum here, I feel like that is more of our secondary objective. It sounded to me like our mysterious patron is more interested in embarrassing the King than in ritual slaughter, and I feel like a successful escape that leaves half the guards dead would be more embarrassing than all of us going out in a blaze of glory." Kahmunash stops, eyeing the many doors in the hallway. "I think one of our greatest assets right now is that they still haven't figured out we're free yet. That advantage will eventually be fleeting, but I say we push it as far as it can go". He turns towards the Southwestern-most (I think?) door that Aggghhh is approaching and gets ready to cast Daze on anyone behind the door targeting anyone with a horn if there are multiple present.
The first door on the right seems to waft fresh food and likely a kitchen or mess hall behind it while the second door on the right has a stale smell.
The first door on the left has a tinge of alcohol and the second door smells of sweat and bodies.
Aggghhh opens the first to to what looks to be the Sergeant's office. It is empty save for a chair and desk filled with papers and a red cushioned chaise. Along the opposite wall to the hallway door is another door.
Dahlia will do a quick search of the papers for anything interesting and will search the desk for traps.
Shrugging, he joins the others in searching the Sergeant’s office, helping Dahlia look through the papers.
Eat-in-Shadow raises his head, sniffing the air and pointing at the doors, first to the right and then to the left. "Something cooking, something spoiled, something drunk and something oiled. Eat-in-Shadow smells sweat and bodies in the last one, either it's a gym or something more flavorful."
Augier goes to the other door in the sergeant's office and opens it.
If there are any more swords and chain shirts Captain Kruegar will grab one.
"A contract is a contract, even if this is the loosest one I have had to the best of my recollection. We should cleanse the place. Also they tried to kill us. I dislike that. Also I want my blade back. It has been with me longer than I can remember. That's three reasons, and good enough for me."
"With any luck, it'll be the quarters of the Captain. Either we get to slit his throat, or we get to pilfer everything he's got on hand. Including, hopefully, some better-fitting clothes."
Dahlia finds no traps or locked drawers and with the help of Igor is able to piece some clues together from correspondences and purchase orders and records.
The previous inmates were 'processed' as quickly as possible or moved elsewhere if a trial was pending to clear Branderscar for the Crown's requisition. Extra guards were hired for a total of 60 onsite at all times(40 on duty) and a weekly rotation from the nearest barracks. Special magical collars and wards were commissioned. The magical side of things was overseen by a new warden. Mathias Richter, a skilled abjurationist. Arcane Locks were to be placed on all cell doors and collars with the attuned keys only possessed by the Warden and the Sergeant. The collars themselves were specially crafted cursed items that temporarily reduce the mental and physical capacities of those wearing them and inhibit magical ability. Some correspondence between the Warden and Sergeant reveal more collars than necessary were approved in the budget but the money never showing up as being used to create the extra collars. The two men seem to be siphoning off money, hoping the crown would never notice. The amount is in the thousands of gold pieces. They organised for Blackerly to keep it safe with the Warden securing it with an arcane lock. Such incriminating documents being kept can only mean Blackerly is protecting his share of the money if the Warden tried to cut him out. If these came to the wrong hands both men would be found guilty of fraud and high theft, a serious crime that will land them in the salt mines for life.
Aggghhh opens the other door to find the sergeants luxurious bedroom. A king-sized bed and a wardrobe filled with fine clothing are in here.
Looking over the papers on the desk with Dahlia, Igoroskandrallanotly immediately goes to the most incriminating information. ”Those collars they had us in were specially made to dull our minds and sap our strength. Most importantly, the Warden, a wizard named Mathias Richter, and the Sergeant requisitioned funds for more than they purchased, and appear to be splitting the excess coin. Blackerly has arranged to keep it safe, and the Warden has put an arcane lock on it. Theft from the crown and fraud - these documents would prove quite embarrassing, as well.”
”Of more immediate concern, there are 60 guards here, with 40 on duty at any time.”
That many? Far more than we can deal with I say. We should find a way to get out before we rampage. Auggh spits on the fine clothes.
”if we really want to hit them where it hurts, we should take the money, kill some guards, and take those papers with us. We can post those papers around to undermine the warden and hopefully they’ll kill him for us.”
Hah! Make him slave in the salt mines! Perfect
Dahlia smiles. "I like the idea. Leave just enough guards to take them into custody. And keep in mind, 40 sounds like a lot, but that's down to 32. We've already killed 20% of the on-duty guards and I don't think anyone's even broken a sweat yet. If our mysterious benefactor wants a charnel house, we can deliver one. We just need to be careful to control the circumstances of our engagements."
So let us check out the door with cooking smell.s Auggh heads over.
"The odds are better than I'd thought. Barely more than 2 to 1 in their favor."
Re: Documents: "Keep those. Mortals love their documents."
Dahlia hands half of the most incriminating documents to Igor and keeps half for herself, slipping them into the belt of her chain shirt.
Reginald grunts at Agggghhh's statement Afeared are you? Hah! Never knew an Orc to be afraid, then again, I've only ever known one orc I suppose. All we need to is remove the leadership, let us start with This Blackerly, then we can possibly catch this Mathais unaware. Hehe, not to mention, I wouldn't mind taking his spellbook, or any other items he may have "commissioned" Indeed, I believe slaughtering them and their guard, as a punishment for the crimes to the crown would be rather Ironic. Reginald chuckles
The ogre scratches his chin again as the others talk of leaving them to be discovered.
I doubt that it would end so simply for the warden and his Sargent, Likely they would come up with some way to incriminate us, unless we leave all of the valuables behind as evidence, which I am loathe to do. If they would even find them. Or they could spin it as them commissioning more for private betterment of the prison. No, I'd rather kill them myself, so they couldn't weasel out of their punishment. Death, being that punishment of course. Quite, as before, I still say we cleanse this place, attempting to keep the alarm from sounding. It has been quite easy so far, though I am loathe to let pride get the better of me I say we have more than it takes to kill them all. Personally, I believe that slaughtering the entire garrison, and showing just how weak their prized guards are would send a far better message than us merely killing a few and sneaking out.
an afterthought occurs to Reginald. Were there perhaps, any layouts or maps of this place? That would prove quite useful.
Kahmunash's eyes widen when reaching the Sergeant's room. "Oh, yes, yes indeed. I do hope our dear sergeant's not going to mind missing a few pieces of appropriated clothing." Kahmunash will dress himself in the finest suit the sergeant has, cleaning off any Aggghhh spit with Prestidigitation while shifting himself as necessary to make it a decent fit.
Dahlia wanders into the bedroom and finds a silk robe, wrapping it over herself and her chain shirt.
With that room taken care of, Tartarus peeks under the door to the kitchen smelling room, keeping herself to the crack so as to not be seen as anything but the shadow under the door.
Here, let Squeaks give it a try.
Reginald says to tartarus before a small field rat scurries down the ogre's body and under the door crack and quietly scurries to a safe vantage point.
Igoroskandrallanotly takes the documents from Dahlia, putting them in the belt of his stolen chain shirt. He takes a moment to look under the bed in the Sergeant’s room, in case anything is hidden there.
Kruegar is able to get his armour and several of you tske choice clothing options courtesy of Sergeant Blackerly. Several sergeant's uniforms are among his wardrobe. With clothing, 8 sets of armour and weapons, those without natural attacks or armour feel much less naked.
Hidden underneath all the papers on the desk is a simple map of branderscar. The top level is almost all cells, with an interview/interrogation room off the guard post at the top of the stairs. The ground floor which you are on has a hall with a kitchen connected to it and a door opening to outside. Where the stale smell is seems to be a storage room. Next to Blackerly's office and bedroom is the guard's sleeping quarters. Next to that a smaller hallway leads to the armoury and another door outside. The main building is surrounded by walls on all sides at almost 100ft. distance. The large double doors that you thought led to your freedom lead actually to a central courtyard which leads to a 3 storey gatehouse and a stable next to it just inside the wall. On the wall there are towers every few hundred feet with one much larger 4 storey tower behind the main building. A single garderobe juts out of one of the wall towers nearest the kitchen entrance. A possible escape unfortunately made dangerous sure to Branderscar's location. Escaping over the walls or down the garderobe is a fall of hundreds of feet to sharp rocks and rough waters. A swim to the mainland also necessary if you survive the fall. The common way out is a rocky path past the gatehouse leading to a guard post and a smaller gate just on the mainland. The location of branderscar proving perfect for a castle, impossibly difficult to assault, and equally well as a prison to prevent escape.
Igor and Edward look under opposite sides of the bed at the exact same time to find a large iron chest. Pulling it out reveals its heavy weight. Trying to open it finds it locked, likely Blackerly has the key. If this is the secure location of the embezzled gold, then it is likely magically locked as well.
Squeaks and Tartarus investigate the door hiding the food smell. Tartarus sees wooden tables and wooden chairs, the mess hall. There are boots under a table that aren't moving, like the men are sitting down. Squeaks feels happy, smelling a feast, and more smells from behind another door. He does not seem to transmit any danger through the link. This is where the off-duty guards spend some of their free time.
Igoroskandrallanotly considers the big, heavy chest for a moment, then looks to Fjori and Reginald. "I don't mean to be rude or imply anything, but given your overall size and strength coupled with the fact we have not yet found you a weapon you could use, would it be possible one of you could carry this big, heavy chest, likely full of thousands of gold pieces?"
Reginald is more than happy to take the chest.
ah, yes, certainly! I only really need one hand free anyway, besides... would be a shame to let treasures go to waste... just to be sure, Reginald will cast detect magic on the chest, and the two rooms to make sure nothing is missed.
Fjori takes one of the bed sheets and ties it around himself for some modicum of decency. he'll also attempt to rip one of the legs/posts off of the bed for an improvised club.
Gold is good but no good in a prison in the middle of nowhere. It will weigh us down unless we get a wagon. Kill then loot. Has the mouse and slime found anything?
Armed just with tooth and claw, Eat-in-Shadow checks out the room smelling of sweat and bodies.
Is there a guard schedule with shift times and names?
When Mei mentions cleaning the place up for an ambush Fjori simply looks down at his new club, then at the bed, back to the club, and finally back up at Mei. eventually he simply shrugs, "Oops."
Kahmunash will study the maps as best as he can. "It seems like our biggest problem is going to be getting through this gatehouse area here--from there onward it looks like we're through the worst of it and only have one more guardhouse until freedom. The trick is going to be crossing this wide-open area quickly and quietly."