Repeating the Past (IC)

[InigoMontoya]

Thirty Days. That's how much time has been wasted rotting in this cells. The magistrate that tried you, if it can be called a trial, sentenced you to six months in prison for your crimes of attempted robbery and resisting detainment. It's hard to judge the magistrate TOO harshly, though... After all, you were essentially caught red handed, attempting to remove a shipment of crates from one of the river warehouses bordering Fort Ellesmere.

The prison has you in a communal cell, which has afforded you the ability to converse, at least. You suspect that is not the reason for such an arrangement, however; a single guard watches the cell, and every 15 minutes or so, another calls in from outside of your view, to check on things.

The cell is evidently located nearly directly above a smithy or bakery or somesuch; the heat is oppressive. Occasionally, you're allowed outside the cell, one at a time, to cooler areas, typically for menial work. You're always under guard during this time.

The food is relatively bland, but nourishing, at least, and plentiful; a typical meal is a vegetable stew of some sort and some day old bread. Occasionally, there's meat in the stew, although it would never be considered fine dining.

One small bit of solace is the windows. While small, they do reveal that your cell is on the wall of the keep, overlooking a nearby mountain (Mount Wrexham). It also reveals the prison cell to be on the third floor. The view is picturesque; as part of the Fort's outer wall, your window looks out over farmland, and perhaps a mile or so away, the base of Mount Wrexham.

Mechanics/OOC:You've been in Very Hot conditions (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/environment.htm#heatDangers) most of the time in the cell. Once every 6 hours, you're let out for work, into cooler areas (this generally lasts a bit over an hour).

The current guard isn't paying incredibly close attention to you, although you've been here long enough to know which guards watch closely, and which are less interested in you. You've also learned which guards are more friendly, and which are less inclined to be charitable. The current guard is relatively friendly when he deals with you; however, it's clear he'd rather not have to.

Due to the hot conditions, and lack of good rest, you've been fatigued (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/conditionSummary.htm#fatigued) for much of your time here.

One final thing: This area has been prone to minor earthquakes of late. In the last month, there have been about 4. Nothing major enough to cause any real structural damage (you hope), but certainly enough to feel.

Relevant Links:OOC Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16523779#post16523779)

Map of prison cell area:http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w85/maharai23/Prison.png

B2-F4 is the cell.
Rectangles along the cell wall are iron bedframes with wood forming a "mattress". Frames are bolted to the walls.

Double lines at B1-2 and E1-2 are barred windows.

The area B5-E7 is the area guards are posted.
There is a simple table in the room, at C6-D6.
The large X is where the guard currently is.

Bright line between the cell and the guard area is heavy iron bars, with a locked gate at C4-5.

Triple line at E-F7 is a Strong wooden door, with iron bands. There is a small window in the door, which is barred. It is apparently locked, though all guards on sentry duty here have had keys when they entered and left.

Area at F5-G7 is a small room, which has always contained 2 guards, when you've been escorted through it for work details.

[Toliudar]

Red sat with her back to the wall, feeling the sweat trickle slowly down her arms. She had settled next to Adonna several minutes ago, but with the heat and fatigue, it took a while to form any thoughts. Carefully, she shifted so that her body concealed her face completely from the guard, and murmured close to the big orc-woman's ear.

"We have been lucky so far that the women prisoners have not been used as they sometimes are. We can't be sure such luck will continue.

"I think that I have a way out of the cell, but the leg irons would slow us down too much. Do you have any way out of those?"

[bryn0528]

Merryn, the dark skinned halfing, sat not much farther away. The prisoner's were dressed in rags, which offended the young woman. She had, despite the oppressive heat, taken the sheet and draped it over her head and neck. much like her typical headscarf. She said little.

They needed the keys, and she knew the key was meat. Every so often in their slop of a meal, they were served meat. Grey with a slight sheen, but still flesh and blood and... bone. Merryn picked at the meal with her fingers, finding every scrape of nourishment. She picked her teeth clean with a small sliver of bone before throwing it back into the tray.

Only later, she smiled and showed the bone clenched between her teeth.


[roll0] for Sleight of Hand, to conceal a small, approximately lock pick sized bone. (Why don't I have more ranks in Sleight of Hand...?)

[GameSpawn]

Adonna shifted in the oppressive heat, turning slightly so her back was to the door, she whispered back to Red "Lucky for them they haven't tried. I should be able to break the manacles if I can finding something big enough; one of the meal trays would do. Shouldn't be too hard, but it'll be loud, and could take a few swings".

[Toliudar]

Red used the pretext of wiping sweat away from her face and neck to check out their fellow thieves. She hadn't really gotten to know most of them in the theft, although none had shirked their assigned duties. Red wasn't sure whether it was safe to trust any of them with a more elaborate plan. There was Merryn of course, who had struck Red as a resourceful and nimble-fingered thief. Perhaps that could be put to good use.

"Loud is no good. We can't have the whole keep alerted, or we're done.

"I think I can keep one guard contained. Maybe toss him to you, if you can be ready on the other side of the bars. Then I secure the guard post and you get the keys for the irons and the door. Do you trust anyone else to help with this?"

[GameSpawn]

"Merryn. The halfling. She might even be able to pick the locks. Ethan, he's the one with short brown hair. I've worked with him before, I think he'll help. The rest...I can't imagine they're too happy about being setup by Mandlebrot. I'll be ready when you say so".

[Illven]

Ethan finally finished his meal. Clearly he was a slow eater.

Hm. I heard my name Adonna. He whispered looking up to the taller girl.

[GameSpawn]

Adonna speaks softly, "I figured you wouldn't want to wait around here, while we slowly cook to death".

[Illven]

Adonna speaks softly, "I figured you wouldn't want to wait around here, while we slowly cook to death".

Ethan chuckles softly

No, I would rather not. Do you have a plan? He whispers.

[GameSpawn]

Adonna whispers back to Ethan, "Red says she can get out of the cell, and maybe get the keys, but she'll need our help."

[Illven]

Ethan nods, and holds out his hand to Red.

Hello, Red. Is that a nickname, or....? He whispers.

[InigoMontoya]

Prison Cell, Guard Area

While you are discussing your potential jailbreak, and pilfering small bits of bone, apparently undetected, a second guard enters(locking the door behind him), approaches the first, and begins talking quietly, but apparently excitedly.

Mechanics/OOC/Etc:There are now two guards in the room, but they are both moderately distracted.

They are speaking, but too quietly to easily hear.
Listen DC 20 will overhear the conversation, and Spot DC 20 will allow you to read the lips of one of the two speaking.

[Illven]

The rolls

Listen [roll0]
Spot [roll1]

[Toliudar]

Red

Red nods solemnly to Ethan, shaking his hand with a formality strangely out of keeping with the location.

"Just Red will do. And you are?"

Before Ethan can answer, Red's attention was drawn to the guard's area.

"As soon as one leaves, let's be ready to do this."

Feigning stiffness, Red rose and took a halting step toward the guard post.

Spot: [roll0]
Listen: [roll1]

[GameSpawn]

Staying where she is, Adonna turns to look at the guards, and tries to make out what they're saying.


Listen: [roll0]
Spot: [roll1]

[THEChanger]

Aodhan sat against the wall, close to the bars of their cell. His eyes closed, he whistled a soft tune under his breath, listening to the conversations of his compatriots, and trying to catch the conversation of the guards. Opening one eye as Red staggered closer, he looked to Merryn, and winked. For he had also had the same idea, though his application was somewhat more violent. A sliver of bone would make a good lockpick, but a small, makeshift sack filled with stale bread would, with a little help from some rocks gathered from the yard, make a serviceable sap. Useful when they finally made their break for it. "Oh I'll sing you a song of peace and love...whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day..."


Listen-[roll0]
Spot-[roll1]

I thought a sap would be a simple enough thing to improvise. If you don't want me having weapons, that's fine, I'll choose a different tool. Something less violent. :smallbiggrin:

[bryn0528]

Merryn set her ear to the task of eavesdropping the guards. Her mind only half on the task, of course, as she moved closer to Adonna. She raised an eyebrow, and made a quick look to the manacles that bound her friend. "Now?" she asked under her breath.

Listen check, [roll0].
C'mon, nat 20... Not even going to bother with a spot check.

[GameSpawn]

"Can you do it without being seen?"

[bryn0528]

Merryn bit her lip slightly. "Probably not," she spoke softly. "Start a distraction if they notice." And without further ceremony, Merryn set about picking Adonna's manacles with her improvised bone pick.

Open Lock roll (with -2 from improvised tools); [roll0].
Was going to try and plan something possibly more intelligent, but oh well.

[InigoMontoya]

The two guards are evidently unaware of your group's antics; however, Merryn's efforts are for naught, as the lock resists the simple bone tool. She's confident that, with a proper set of tools, though, she could have gotten the last tumbler.

Meanwhile, the new guard says something to the original one, and chuckles. The first guard doesn't find it quite as funny, as he gives a not-quite-serious punch to the other guard's shoulder, before grumbling something, and returning his attention to the cell.

The second guard laughs, and walks towards the door. He stops and calls out his shoulder, "Don't worry, I'll try to keep the party going until shift change. I may even buy a round or two. Heck, it's not every day that Andra's Dragoons stop by some backwater outpost like this one." He then unlocks the door, lets himself out, and locks it behind him.

Mechanics:Andra's Dragoons: The following skills can possibly reveal information:

Knowledge (Local), Knowledge (Dungeoneering), Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty), Martial Lore, and Knowledge (Religion)

You can roll as many as you wish to. Please denote if you are untrained in the skill you are rolling.

[Illven]

Andra's Dragoons. What are they? Ethan whispered.

[bryn0528]

Merryn stifled a curse as the fine point of the bone broke, and the tumbler slipped close again. "If only I had my lockpicks, then we would be out of here in a second." Merryn sighed, and tossed her makeshift idea away.

She paused, to think about who the guard might be talking about. Or who Ethan might be talking about, since she largely ignored the guards in general.

"Old adventuring group. Going strong for maybe a decade? No, a bit longer than that. Bards sing about 'em all the time. Nothing but hot air if you ask me."

Making multiple rolls, all trained:
History: [roll0].
Local: [roll1].
Nobility: [roll2].

[Illven]

Why would an adventuring group stop at a prison? Ethan whispered.

[Toliudar]

Red moves to cover Merryn's activities by pushing herself wearily up the wall to a standing position, then walking slowly over to the guard position. She tried to position herself so as to block the halfling's efforts. She spoke softly to the guards.

"Hey! Hey, whose turn is it to go out for some air?"

Knowledges (untrained, all but Religion): [roll0] [roll1] [roll2] [roll3] [roll4]

Knowledge Religion (not untrained): [roll5].

[InigoMontoya]

The guard looks a bit perturbed as you approach, but glances over to you when you speak, responding, "Carvis was supposed to be next, half an hour's time, but the kitchen's closing early today, I think. Doubt any of you will see much time out of the cells today. If it's any consolation, I think I can probably arrange for staff meals today for all of you, rather than the stew."

[bryn0528]

Merryn rolled her eyes, "Oh, how considerate of you," she said heavy under her breath. She sighed. "Now if you could just turn down the heat and I think we'd be content for the next five months."

Merryn shook her head and looked at Adonna. "Any more ideas?"

[GameSpawn]

Adonna smiles slightly, "Red?"

[THEChanger]

"You'd arrange that for us? How sweet of you!" Aodhan rose lithely from his sitting position, and put himself next to Red. "You know, I rather like you. Bit nicer than the other chaps that keep us company. I don't suppose those meals come with any gravy, do they? I miss gravy."

[Toliudar]

Red nods her gratitude for the offer of the upgraded meal. She acknowledges Aodhan's additional request without quite getting behind it.

"That would be wonderful. Thank you."

[GameSpawn]

Adonna stifles her impatience at Red's inaction, supposing she'll have to trust the other woman's judgement.

[InigoMontoya]

The guard looks somewhat strangely at Aodhan, replying, "Not usually, no. We get whatever's caught in the local area, which is fish, more often than not.

He then casts his gaze over to Red, responding, "Don't worry about it. I can't do much about the heat, but the captain's off today, so I've got a bit more latitude with some of the other things."

The guard is leaning back against the wall as he says this, and an observant eye can note that he's sweating too in his chain shirt; evidently the heat isn't completely restricted to the cell. Also, if he thought anything of Adonna's query to Red, or the frustration that followed, or he makes no note of it. In addition, he apparently doesn't hear Merryn's muttered words.

[Toliudar]

Red nods, and shambles back to her place on the wall next to Adonna. She speaks very softly to her co-conspirators.

"If Andra's in the keep, it changes everything. Getting away from half a dozen ill-prepared guards is one thing. Evading a powerful mage and priest seems like quite something else. I'd say it's best we wait for the hangover following their departure, and hope that it is a literal one."

She glances around, gauging others' thoughts on this matter.

[GameSpawn]

Adonna replies in the same hushed voice, "I hate to swelter here any longer than I need to. Maybe they won't be paying attention now".

[Illven]

You have a point, Red. Ethan says glumly. Slumping down.

[Toliudar]

Red shrugs slightly, dislodging another rivulet of sweat.

"And if the guard on duty doesn't have the keys to the shackles?"

[InigoMontoya]

Prison Cells

Afternoon passes as slowly and steadily as the sweat forming on your brow, but an hour before dusk, the evening meal arrives. True to his word, the guard was able to arrange staff meals; it's not fish, though.

A second guard, along with a few people in more common attire (likely kitchen staff), deposits the trays on the table, says a few quiet words to the other guard, and is out (as if in something of a hurry). Truth be told, you're not exactly sure what creature the meat came from, but it's plentiful, it's well-seasoned, and truth be told, not half bad. Rounding out the meal is beans, with a side of bread. Your stew portions weren't sparse, but there's decently more food, as well.

The original guard brings the trays to the horizontal slot in the door sized for such things, saying as he does, "I hear you'll be getting a bit of a show with supper; there's a group of dragon hunters in town, absolutely convinced that there's some nefarious dragon up on Mount Wrexham. Poppycock, if you ask me; we've not seen one larger than a pony since before my father's time, and even those aren't that common. Still, I hear there are some wyverns and such up near the top of the mountain, and if these guys live up to the stories, you may be able to see the fireworks from the windows."

[bryn0528]

Merryn looked to Red, and spoke quietly. "If he doesn't have the keys, then we can worry about that later. Adonna can smash the chains, and once I get my set back, then I can pop off the manacles like cheese."

She frowned a bit. "I just can't sit here, knowing that Mandlebrot is still out there somewhere. Honestly, the longer we sit, the more he could be getting away."

[Toliudar]

Red nods at Adonna's wisdom. She rises to slowly approach the cell door after dinner has been served. She addresses both guards, but speaks solemnly. Cheap flirtation was not in her nature.

"This is a very great kindness, gentlemen. It is much appreciated. Fireworks or no."

She smiles faintly, and waits there for the original guard to leave. She rests briefly against the door, using this moment to make eye contact with each of the other prisoners, attempting to convey a 'now or never' moment.

Turning back to face the remaining guard, she reaches into the power she had been storing up for weeks now, and slides past the bars, appearing between him and the exterior door. She immediately reaches out to try to grab him.

I might be getting ahead of myself, but wanted to give you choices as to how far to advance this.

Roughly, it would take Red a round to enter Martial Spirit stance and become psionically focused.

She will then use a swift action to use dimension hop, and immediately follow it up with an attempt to grapple the guard.

Touch attack: [roll0]
Opposed strength choice: [roll1]
Nonlethal damage: [roll2]
If the grapple succeeds, the others in the cell get a +4 to ranged or melee attacks against the guard.

Regardless, if the guard provokes an AoO by moving, she will use Stand Still to try to keep him in place. Melee attack: [roll3]. Fort save to successfully move: [roll4].

[InigoMontoya]

Combat in the Cells, Surprise Round

Red phases through the bars, catching the guard by surprise. He reaches out, connecting with the guard. The tray clatters to the ground as Red succesfully gets hold of the guard's arm and wrenches, causing the guard to wince in pain, before stepping in close and binding a leg with his own.

[GameSpawn]

Adonna moves up to the cell door and punches the guard through the bars, then shifts to holding her tray in both hands in case she needs to use it quickly.


Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
(includes fatigue and bonus from Red's maneuver. Let me know if I've forgotten anything). EDIT: I think it should be clear, but I'm doing non-lethal damage with my unarmed strike.

[Illven]

Ethan swings with a tray in both his hands


[roll0]
[roll1]

[InigoMontoya]

Combat in the Cells

Merryn and Aodhan bide their time, waiting for an opening. Adonna rushes forward, landing a solid blow to the guard's midsection. From the sound of the grunt, it caused pain even through the chain mesh he wore. Ethan followed suit, but swinging an unwieldy tray with two hands proves too awkward for him, and his attack clangs harmlessly off of the prison bars.

The guard, over his momentary surprise, attempts to punch Red in the midsection, whilst shouting, "HELP! PRISONERS ARE BREAKING FREE!"

Mechanics: Attack: [roll0] vs Red's current AC
Damage: [roll1] nonlethal
If a threat: [roll2]
If a crit: [roll3] additional nonlethal

EDIT:
Active turn:

All players.

[Toliudar]

Grimacing as the guard starts shouting, Red tries to adjust her grip to stifle his cries in her shoulder, while twisting with all of her might. She hoped that the others might be able to knock him out quickly.

Red is currently AC 12 vs the guard, and AC 10 against everyone else. It looks like his attack misses.

She will attempt to pin him and prevent him from speaking.

Opposed Grapple for this action: [roll0]

In case it's useful, opposed grapple vs guard's next action: [roll1]

[GameSpawn]

"Yeah, sorry about this, but we really shouldn't be here," Adonna tells the guard apologetically. Then she throws another punch at him, and shifts back to holding the tray two-handed.

Attack:
Damage: [roll1]
Crit Confirm: [roll2]
Crit Damage: [roll1d3+4
(unless I still get the bonus from Red's maneuver, in which case +11).

[InigoMontoya]

Combat in the Cells

As everyone else looks on, Red strangles the guard's cries off, after but a few moments... The now-helpless guard is easy pickings for Adonna's jab, sending him into an involuntary slumber.

[Illven]

Okay, now get the keys. Ethan said brimming with energy.

[Toliudar]

Quickly rolling the guard over, Red tosses the keys through the bars to Ethan. She pulls the guard's sword out of its sheath and goes to peek out of the door to see what's beyond.

[Illven]

Ethan starts unlocking the manacles, starting with his own, and then getting whoever is closest.

[InigoMontoya]

The guard's belt contains a key ring with a pair of keys... Ethan's attempt to unlock manacles reveals that neither one unlocks them.

At the door, Red peers through, in time to see the guard in the adjoining room leaving through another door, which closes, and locks behind him.

[Illven]

Ethan grumbles as he tries opening the door with the keys.

Red, search his pockets. These might be false keys. He requests.

[Toliudar]

Red glances back into the room, noting that the guard had fallen adjacent to the bars.

"You should be able to reach. We have bigger problems. The other guard just took off, locking a door behind him."

She pulls the door open and steps through, then takes a deep breath. She quickly grows to astonishing proportions.

Inigo: what's in the next room?

Move action: open the door
free action: 5' step to enter the next room.
Standard action: Manifest a 3PP Expansion (extending the duration).

[InigoMontoya]

The first key sticks a bit in the lock, but a bit more force causes the lock to click, allowing the door to swing inward.

@Red: the door leading out of this room is locked. A peep through suggests that it is an administrative room, with a desk against one wall.

[GameSpawn]

Adonna moves out of the cell, bringing her tray with her. "Maybe this guard has the keys to that door? I can start smashing manacles, if we want." She bends down and looks at the guard; feeling a bit sorry for him, she begins searching his body.

I think you said he had a short sword and night stick? Search Check: [roll0]

[InigoMontoya]

Adonna gathers the nightstick from the guard, after a cursory inspection. Also noted is a coin pouch on the guard's belt.

Red already got the short sword.

[GameSpawn]

Adonna picks up the guard's nightstick and leaves the coins, after checking to make there were only coins in the pouch.

What are the stats on the nightstick? I assume you're not talking about the Libris Mortis item :smalltongue:?

Adonna glances up at her companions, "He's got nothing of interest. Maybe the first keys work on both doors? If not, I can smash it. Seems like they'll hear about us regardless."