(PF) Way of the Wicked IC

[Skya]

In the kingdom of Talingarde, many crimes may send you to Branderscar Prison, but the sentence has but one meaning. You are wicked and irredeemable. Each of you received the same greeting when you arrived. You were held down by rough hands and branded upon the arm with a runic F. The mark signifies ‘forsaken’ and the painful scar is indelible proof that each of you has betrayed the great and eternal love of Mitra and his chosen mortal vassals.

Condemned, you face at best a life of shackles and servitude in the nearby salt mines. Others might await the “gentle” ministrations of the inquisitors so that co-conspirators may be revealed and confessions extracted. Perhaps, some of you will be spared this ordeal. Perhaps instead you have come to Branderscar to face the final judgment. In three days, the executioner arrives and the axe falls or the pyre will be lit. Through fire or steel, your crimes will be answered. You have all been chained together in the same communal cell dressed in nothing but filthy, tattered rags. Manhandled and mistreated, any finery you once possessed is either ruined or long lost. No special treatment has been given any prisoner – male or female, commoner or noble – all of the forsaken are bound and imprisoned together. Your feet are secured by iron cuffs tethered by one long chain. Your arms are secured to the wall above by manacles. A guard is posted right outside the cell day and night. Little thought is given to long term accommodations. At Branderscar, justice comes swift and sure.

Escape seems hopeless. You have all been well searched and every attempt to conceal anything on your person has failed. And if you could somehow slip your bonds and fly out of this prison, where would you go? Who from your former life would want anything to do with the forsaken?

Despised, alone and shackled – all that you can do now is await your doom. For each of you, your old life is over. For each of you, hope is a fading memory. For each of you, justice will be fairly meted. And who can blame fair Talingarde after what each of you has done?


I would like each of you to describe yourself and reveal what crime you have done. You can talk to each others, the guard don't seems to care. Remember one thing : You may be a villain, a criminal or an outcast, but for whatever crime you commited, you are here and you are guilty. But you all have one thing in common : every one of you wishes you were somewhere else.

[IamL]

Lothar the Fallen

I sit tall in my cell, a burning look of intense conviction and passion on my face. My hair is a fiery red and my eyes are a smoky blue. I'm tall and broad-shouldered, with a lean kind of muscle. Anybody who converses with me notices that I have very strong beliefs, and can't help but be swayed towards them.

I was imprisoned for the "blasphemy" of worshipping Asmodeus, the god of law, order, and contracts. I don't understand why; society is based off of the kind of order that the so-called "good" deities often reject. It fills me with disgust that they would dare ban the worship of such a powerful god, and I am filled with holy rage, intent on showing the world the power and worth of Asmodeus.

I speak quietly but powerfully to my cellmates.
"We need to get out of here. I don't know how yet, but we will. We only have to have faith in the true Order of Asmodeus, and find every weakness in these walls, every vice and foible of the guards. Then we must seize our opportunity and escape."

[ashifter]

Simon:

Arrested and condemned for the kidnapping and torture of a nobleman, Simon stand there, calm and quiet. He hasn't talked much, but stares intently at people. He focuses his attention on Lothar and says,

"Easier said than done my devout friend. Still, I have no intention of going quietly to the executioner's block when there is so much more to learn about this world."

Simon yanks on the chains tethering him.

"From what I've seen of the guards, overpowering them shouldn't be too difficult in the event we can break out of our chains."

[IamL]

Lothar the Fallen

I nod at Simon's comments.

"If I only had my Holy Symbol, I'd be able to aid our efforts significantly. Alas, the symbol of my faith was stolen from me on the way in. However, if I had some sort of material to make it out of, I could fashion a makeshift one. Maybe utensils or something of the sort."

[JBarca]

Corlen Drintal

A small, slight man leans up against the wall to which he's chained. Thin, black, greasy hair hangs across his pale blue eyes, which dart around constantly. A deep bruise covers the left half of his face. Even though he's leaning, he is very obviously slouching.

"I agree, we must escape. I was imprisoned for acting as I should; I opposed this disgustingly oppressive, racist, xenophobic government. It deserves to fall. We will get out, and we will burn this place to the ground. I don't have a way out yet, but give me time. Perhaps one of my allies will hear of my plight and rescue us? Or we could leap upon our capturers when they come to take us to the block?"

[Eldon4]

Jaali

A slightly tall sturdy looking man stands in the middle of one wall. He peers shyly from under his dark brown hair, and his green eyes gleam momentarily at the mention of holy symbols. He is almost totally silent and often ***** his head as if he is thinking intently.

I am here because I acted rashly but I too wish to escape.

[Skya]

After a few minutes a group of six guards, heavily armed and ready for trouble, come into the cell led by a fat well-dressed sergeant of the watch. You all recognizes Sergeant Tomas Blackerly. This
was the man who held the brand that marked each of you. He laughed as your skin burned.

http://i.imgur.com/kwPiiGH.png
(Sorry for the bad paint job :P)

He points to Lothar and says gruffly:

“You there! That’s the scum! Get ‘em unshackled. If any of you makes trouble, they’ll earn a thrashing! Today’s your lucky day, scum. You’ve got a visitor. How you ever warranted such a fine lady is beyond me. Seems she wants to say good-bye. Now step lively. We wouldn’t want to keep her waiting.”


You have absolutly no idea who this lady could be

Lothar is then escorted roughly to a meeting room down the hall and shoved into a chair. With a total of 8 guards, none of you have any chance to fight back. There waiting is a hauntingly beautiful woman in an elegant black dress and soft silken veil. She looks as if
she is headed to a funeral. Her hair is so platinum as to almost be white and her eyes are a vibrant almost unearthly green. She clearly has been weeping.

http://i.imgur.com/MjP39Ag.png

“Oh, dearest, i’m so relieved you’re alive!”

She quickly turns to Tomas.

“Could we please have a moment alone, good sir? For pity’s sake?”

Tomas goes blank for a bit and then quickly agrees.

“Of course, my lady. For you,’ tis no problem.”

You know there is something fishy here. The Sergeant seem to be under the effect of an enchantement of something similar.

As soon as the guards leave, her demeanor immediately changes. She drops all pretense of grief or concern. She is immediately all business.

“Have you forgotten me, dearest? Call me Tiadora. We possess a mutual friend who would like to meet you and your fellow cell-mates. Unfortunately, our friend is unwilling to visit you in your present rather shabby accommodations so it seems you must escape. Don’t be so dour. Just because it’s never been done before is no reason you can’t be the first. If you manage that, cross the moors on the outskirts of town. On the old Moor Road you’ll see a manor house with a single lantern burning in the second story. There our mutual friend waits. That is all I know. He did want me to give you this. Something to remember me by, dearest.”

She takes off her silken veil, wipes away a few fake tears with it and give it to Lothar with a wink.

[IamL]

Lothar

I am suspicious of the woman, though I show no outward signs of it, and I'm grateful to see somebody and elevate my chances of escape. This could be the one thing I need. When she gives me the veil, I am momentarily irked and confused, but then I come to the conclusion that the veil must be more than ordinary. I inspect the veil and try to read her true intentions; this could be a sting operation or something of the sort.

"I assume that the veil of such a beautiful woman must be a little...out of the ordinary."


Sense Motive on Tiadora: [roll0]
Perception to inspect the veil: [roll1]

[Skya]

She smile and answer simple.

" You are right, dearest."


This appears to be a fine silk veil of gossamer cloth. Only as it is held and closely inspected can you see small cloth patches of various shapes. One patch can be detached each round as a move action. Detaching a patch causes it to become an actual item. This veil contains:
• 2 daggers
• Bullseye lantern (full, lit and shuttered)
• Hempen rope (50-foot coil)
• Sack full of needed spell components (worth less than a 1 gp)
and common clothes in the PCs sizes
• Thieves Tools, Masterwork
• Potion of cure light wounds
• 100 gold pieces
• Unholy Symbol of Asmodeus (silver)
• Window (2 ft. by 4 ft., up to 2 ft. deep)
Note that the window patch will create a window (and therefore
a hole) in a nearby wall. If there are no nearby walls, it simply
turns into a common wooden window frame. It cannot be
placed on a living creature however.

Once removed, a patch cannot be replaced.

You are not able to read her.

"If you have no further questions i'll go, i have other matters to attend."

[IamL]

Lothar

I smile as I recognize the veil's function. Forget creating an unholy symbol out of utensils or bones, I can get the bona fide article here.

"Thank you, gorgeous. With your help, we should be able to crack this place like a nut."

I bow to her in the traditional Asmodean display of gratitude be unspoken debt.

When I am presumably led to my cell, I waste no time explaining to my fellow captives the function of the veil and detaching the holy symbol, meditating and preparing spells. The fact that I couldn't read the woman bothers me; I can smell something isn't quite right here, but, in my situation, I can't look a gift horse in the mouth.


0th level: Cure Minor Wounds, Spark, Create Water
1st level: Command, Cure Light Wounds
Domain: Disguise Self

[Skya]

As Lothar is escorted back to his cell, he hear something...in his head.

"Three days. Don't disappoint me, dearest."

Once more you are in your cell, secured in tightly locked bands around your ankles and your hands are shackled above your heads.

[ashifter]

Simon:

Simon tests his bounds, hoping that this time he can slip free.

[roll0]

[Skya]

You do not succed

[IamL]

Lothar

I pull off the masterwork thieves' tools patch and pass the tools to Corlen.

"Get yourself free, then free us."

[JBarca]

Corlen Drintal

"Sure thing, boss."

Rolling his eyes as he catches the tools as best he can, Corlen begins to work at his bonds.

Taking 20 if I can on Disable Device (then it's a 31). Otherwise, [roll0]

[Eldon4]

Jaali

I watch as Corlen works at his bonds, excitment growing at the prospect of being free.
"We should make a plan before we actually try our escape."

[ashifter]

Simon:

Simon smiles at Jaali and says, "Well one idea I had was to release all the other poor souls in here. Either Master Corlen could free them using his skills, or we could use a key once we jump a guard. They don't deserve their cruel fate anymore than we do..."

[Eldon4]

Jaali

He smiles.
At the least they can draw attention away from us.

[ashifter]

Simon:

Simon winks and says, "Exactly."

[Skya]

You successfully open the manacles around your hands.

[IamL]

Lothar

I think for a moment, and, after a brief moment, a semblance of a plan comes to my mind.

"I have an idea. After Corlen uses the Thieves' Tools to pick the locks on our shackles, you three hide in the pile of chains, shackles, and clothes from the Veil.

I cast Disguise Self to appear as that thrice-damned officer of the guard, Tomas Blackerly, when the guard rotates out and scream at him to "get me out of here and then get them!" Once the guard does, we all jump out at him/her and kill them and loot them. If there are other cells nearby, we release the convicts from there to cause chaos, as Simon and Jaali wisely suggested. From there, we try to find the real Blackerly and I cast Command on him, getting him to attack his own men, convincing them that he's the fake. We take advantage of the ensuing chaos and escape."

[ashifter]

Simon:

"Hmmm, how much influence do you think Blackerly has? If we were to hold him hostage, or rather hold you, disguised as Blackerly, do you think the guards would just let us pass?"

[IamL]

Lothar

I think for a moment.

"Hrm...good idea. That might work. The only problem is if we ran into the real Blackerly."

[JBarca]

Corlen

Taking a quick glance outside the cell to ensure no guards are nearby, Corlen grabs his manacles off the wall (if possible) and stalks over to Lothar.
When the Cleric is free, he moves to Simon, then finally Jaali.

Perception: [roll0]
Stealth: [roll1]
Taking 20 (result of 31) on Lothar's manacles.
Taking 20 (result of 31) on Simon's manacles.
Taking 20 (result of 31) on Jaali's manacles.

[Skya]

Corlen see no guards around, and begin to work on his cellmates manacles.


You can't take 20, sorry i didnt specify i took you roll the first time. I rolled for you this time and you got 30, 23, 17.

He succesfully free Lothar and Simon, but when he got to Jaali he made a mistake and didnt succed. As he fail to open the manacles, they all heard voices coming from nearby.

" Hey, did you heard that?"

" Probably a rat. Relaxe."

They all recognized 2 of the guards.

[ashifter]

Simon:

Simon stretches. It felt good to be able to move again. When he hears the guards' voices, he whispers,

"We've got two choices here. One, enact the plan right now with Jaali still chained, or pretend to still be chained and wait for the next guard rotation."

[Eldon4]

Jaali

I whisper back,

I believe we should wait till the next rotation

[JBarca]

Corlen
Cursing under his his breath as his hand slips on Jaali's manacles starts when he hears the coming guards. He hurries back to his spot on the wall and holds his hands in the manacles against the wall, hoping the guards won't notice.

[ashifter]

Simon:

Simon nods and moves back to the manacles, putting his limbs back in the chains, but making sure the manacles don't relock around him.

[IamL]

Lothar

I nod, sliding back up against the wall.

"I have an ability, granted to me from my devotion to order, that will help you next time around. It imposes order upon your nerves, coordination, and senses, causing you to do slightly better than average on whatever you next attempt."

-----------------------------------------------------

The next time the guards rotate out, before Corlen tries to pick the lock, I place my palm against his shoulder and chant briefly in Infernal, using the Touch of Law domain power.

"Touch of Law (Sp): You can touch a willing creature as a standard action, infusing it with the power of divine order and allowing it to treat all attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws for 1 round as if the natural d20 roll resulted in an 11. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier."
That means that Corlen gets an 11+his skill modifier (9)+2 for the masterwork tools=22 on his Disable Device check, which ought to free Jaali.

[Skya]

The 4 criminal wait a few minutes, but the guards don't come by. You can hear them talk in a room down the corridor

[IamL]

Lothar

Well, now's as good a time as any, I suppose.

"You guys ready to do this?"

[JBarca]

Corlen

Once again, Corlen makes his way to Jaali, and begins work. Before he begins, he accepts Lothar's blessing. Afterwards, he speaks. "Lothar, does that magic veil of yours have any weapons? I'd hate to run into someone with naught but my fists, you understand."

[ashifter]

Simon:

Simon smirks and whispers,

"I don't need any weapons. I can't imagine how it would be to feel so helpless. Weapons, as I'm sure you are well aware, can be taken away. Being a master of the fist on the other hand, cannot be taken away. Well, unless they unhand you of course.

Also, should we take the guards alive first? Naturally we'll kill them later, but in the meantime they could be good meat-shields or something."

[Eldon4]

Jaali

They struggle less and take just as many hits if they are dead.

[IamL]

Lothar

I pull both dagger patches from the veil and give them to Corlen. I then pull out the clothes and pile them in the corner, signaling for them to hide in the pile of clothes.

"Alright, gentlemen, time to earn our freedom."

I grasp my holy symbol, chanting the familiar words. Those who watch me see a nearly-grotesque transformation into Tomas Blackerly.

I shout in Blackerly's thrice-damned voice at the guards.

"They've escaped, damn you incompetent guards. And they've got me locked in here like a common criminal! Get me out, then go after them!"

[ashifter]

Simon:

Simon is hiding in the pile of clothes.

[JBarca]

Corlen

Corlen grins as he catches the daggers.

"Is this all we have? I only really need-"

He's cut off by Lothar's shouting, and quickly hides himself under the rags.


Stealth:
[roll0]

[Skya]

Corlen succesfully free Jaali with the help of Lothar's spell.

I'll wait for Jaali to aact before continuing with what happend after.

[Eldon4]

Jaali

Seeing the daggers he makes as if to try and take one, but has to quickly hide instead.

[roll0]

[Skya]

As Lothar shout, they hear the guards stop talking immediatly. A few second after, they heard chairs moving.

Guard 1:
" Was that Blackerly? It sound like him."
Guard 2:
" Not a chance. He left some time ago and he hadnt return. We would have see him pass here. Let's go check it out."

The two guards arrives in front of the cell. One stay back while the other get close to see what is going on. Seeing Lothar looking exactly like the sergeant his eyes widen.

" What is this? Who are you?"

[IamL]

Lothar

Damn, he left. Well, time to improvise.

I shout at them again.

"I'm your commander, and I order you to let me out of here! I was on my way out when they hit me and put me in this cell like I was scum. We need to get them!"

[Skya]

Bluff:
[roll0]

The guard draw his club and without leaving his eyes off the "sergeant", he talk to the other guard.

" There is something not right about him. Sound the alarm!"

The other guard take a signal horn of his belt and blow it.

[IamL]

Lothar

It seems as if the jig is up. Ah, well. Time to get messy.

"Well, gentlemen, I suppose it's time to put away the guard with the horn before it starts to become trouble."

I present the Pentacle of Asmodeus in my right palm, holding it out towards the guards.

"Asmodeus rebuke thee!"

A burst of crackling red-black energy emanates from the symbol chained across my palm, striking the guards with a burst of negative energy.

The guards get DC 16 Will saves to avoid taking [roll0] damage.

[Eldon4]

Jaali

Since the guards never came in and he isn't sure what happens next in plan Jaali will stay hidden in the clothes.

[Skya]

Jaali : 4 (in OOC)
Simon: [roll0]
Corlen: [roll1]
Guard 1: [roll2]+??
Guard 2: [roll3]+??
DC 16 for half damage.

edit: Simon and Corlen 2 dmg, all other 5.



Corlen
Simon
--- Guards ---
Jaali
Lothar

For combat every one who is above the foes can post in any order, the others have to wait for the NPCs to act. Then wait until i post the result to start the round again.

So for know it's Corlen and Simon.

[JBarca]

Corlen

"Blast it! Watch your aim there, Lothar!"

Speaking as he rises, Corlen pulls back his arm and throws a knife at the guard with the horn.

Standing as a move action. If the rags permit, five-foot-step away from the pile toward guards. Throwing dagger as a standard.
Attack: [roll0] (assuming he's within 10ft since I'm in a cell. If not, apply penalties as appropriate)
Damage: [roll1] (if applicable) Sneak Attack [roll2]

[ashifter]

Simon:

Simon also curses, saying,

"If we die here I'm going to haunt you."

Simon jumps out of hiding and lunges for the closest guard, attempting to catch him and bring him right against the bars.

(Ooc: Oh Dice God, hear my prayers... Also, would I get some sort of circumstance bonus if the guards don't know I'm there?)

[roll0]

[Skya]

Sadly, the dagger hit the guard bot is blocked by his armor.


You grab the guard by the arm and pull him to the cell bar, grabing in by the neck and immobilising him there.

The guard grabbed by Simon try to free himself.

The other guard try to help him.


Guard 2: Aid another : [roll0], if over 10 the other guard have a +2 bonus.
Guard 1: [roll1]
He didnt succed.

http://i.imgur.com/c2EUPey.png

Jaali and Lothar's turn.

[Eldon4]

Jaali


Ugh this doesn't seem to be going well, guards haven't even noticed me and I'm already hurt!
After thinking this to himself Jaali will move up next to Simon and try to punch the guard he is holding

Attack: [roll0]
Damage(nonlethal): [roll1]

[IamL]

Lothar

Well, it seems that Simon has taken care of the first guard. I just need to take care of the damned horn. It could be a problem.

Once again, I present my holy symbol, this time chanting in Infernal.

"Fall to order, fall to law, fall to pow'r of hell's burning maw. Do as I command. APPROACH."

I cast the spell Command. The guard with the horn gets a DC 15 Will save to avoid having to spend all of his actions moving towards me.

[Skya]

Will save
[roll0]

Corlen and Simon, it's your turn.

[ashifter]

Simon:

Simon attempts to hold onto the guard, saying,

"Now, now, no need to struggle. I promise you I'll be nice."

[roll0]

He then tries to hurt the poor soul trapped in his embace.


Nonlethal:[roll1]

[JBarca]

Corlen

"Quit hugging the wretch and kill him, man!"

Stepping forward, Corlen tosses the knife to Jaali, winking.

"Show him how it's done, eh?"

He cracks his knuckles and grabs the thieves' tools from his belt.

Actions:
Five-Foot Step to be adjacent to the door. Move (?) action to hand the knife off. Move to get the tools.

[Skya]

You can't move directly next to the cell door bacause Jaali moved there before you to hit the guard Simon is holding, So i move you to the other closest square. You can still acces the door from there.

I think giving an item is a free action, so if you want to do something else just tell me.

Your embrace of doom is a succes, but the guard is still concious.

The guard stuck in Simon's grapple try to free himself.


[roll0]
Fail.

The guard enchanted by Lothar move to the door of the cell and stop there.

http://i.imgur.com/dMF2VEJ.png



Corlen
Simon
--- Guards ---
Jaali
Lothar

Jaali and Lothar's turn.

[Eldon4]

Jaali

Now in possession of a dagger, Jaali will attempt to finish the embraced guard.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Skya]

The guard fall unconcious.

[IamL]

Lothar

Finally, a spot of luck. Now, if hell's strength be with me for a minute more...


I take a five-foot step to the guard's diagonal right. My holy symbol's chain is wrapped around my hand, and both the chain and the symbol itself glow a fiery red as my voice calls out once more, this time, a gutteral growl of only a single word.

"Burn." I punch through the grating at the guard, channeling all of my physical and mental strength towards harming my foe.

Charging at him, then using the Channel Smite power in combination with the punch.
Aaand I messed up the rolls. :P Will try them in the next post.

[IamL]

To Hit: [roll0]
Crit Confirm (if necessary): [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Crit Damage (If necessary): [roll3]
DC 16 Will Save for Half Damage: [roll4]

[Skya]

You can't charge in this situation.
And you miss.


Corlen
Simon
--- Guards ---
Jaali
Lothar

Corlen and Simon turn.

[JBarca]

Corlen

"Will you kill those two already? This ruckus is bound to attract more!"

After a moment of glaring at his cellmates, Corlen shakes his head and begins to work, doing his best to ignore the combat going on mere feet away.

Disable Device check on the door to open the lock. Only action this turn (full-round).
[roll0]

[Skya]

Succes! The door is now open.

[ashifter]

Simon:

Simon runs past Corlen, through the now-open gate and unleashes a flurry of non-lethal blows at the remaining guard.


Attack 1:[roll0]
Damage:[roll1]
Attack 2:[roll2]
Damage:[roll3]