[IC1]WotW: Book #1 - Knot of Thorns

[blackwind1kaze]

Branderscar Prison

Act One: Prison Break

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?

[Calinero]

Orrick did not mind the ragged clothes, or the dirty conditions. He was used to those--he had grown up expecting nothing less. He did not even mind going to his death. Ever since he was young, he had known death would be a possibility, and he had lived his life without regrets.

What wrankled was the in-nobility of it. That he had been held down and branded like a pig. That he had not been able to go to his death like a warrior. That was what rankled Orrick. That was what kept his head held high even as he stood chained to the others, and that was what kept the anger burning in his eyes.

[Athaleon]

Arvus

As soon as the guards were gone, the man with the patrician features and silver-streaked hair spoke up. "So, what are you all innocent of?" he asks without a trace of mirth in his features.

[Burnheart]

Sorjen

"Who says we're innocent?" a plain face man with messy black hair, green eyes and perhaps a hint of elven blood replies with a satisfied smirk "The man i killed deserved everything i did to him."

[Stevemantis]

EROGOTH

you mind keeping it down? I'm trying to get my last sleep said a man chained in the corner

[Stevemantis]

well, second to last sleep... you know what I mean the mans body is seemingly enveloped in the darkness, when looked closer it is actualy a pair of black, broken wings covering his body.

[Calinero]

Orrick

Orrick shook his head. "I challenged a man who insulted me. He foolishly accepted, and I slew him in fair combat. Only in a nation of cowards and dogs is this a crime." He stretched his bulging, muscular arms.

"Are all of us to be executed, then?" he asked, with no trace of fear in his voice.

[Athaleon]

Arvus

"I can't speak for all of us, but I'm destined for the block."

[Stevemantis]

sigh... well if everyones spilling their guts out before that phrase becomes far too literal. the man shifts his body to get comfortable my crime was not controlling my temper, and that's going to cost me an arm and a leg... and what ever else the executioner thinks would be fun

[Calinero]

Orrick

Orrick gave a hearty laugh at the 'guts spilling' comment. "I am Orrick," he said. "If I am to die, it will at least be in good spirits."

[Stevemantis]

I go by Erogoth he removes his wings to reveal the scars and bruses,glad to be greeted without a beating for once

[TheVitulus]

Andraste

She had always known she would end up here. She prayed for it, some nights. To be a martyr for her lord was the greatest fate she could imagine. She simply hadn't known her destiny would come so... soon... She looked down the line of prisoners, her radiant, golden locks now matted and dirty, clinging to her face. Wretched souls, just like her. They all deserved to be here, she knew, but she did not regret her crimes. The blood of the divine and the power of the fiends coursed through her veins. Who better to bring retribution to those murderers protected by the state? That was over now, she knew. These were to be her last days alive, whether she was to go to the block or to the flames.

When they had taken her to be marked, she had stared solemnly at the guard. "Repent," she had said, "and you may be granted mercy." Not by her, of course. There would be no more vengeance from her, but there would always be another, and perhaps the next of Asmodeus' faithful would avenge her as she had avenged her mentor and countless others. She was ignored, of course, and when the iron seared her flesh, she screamed as loud as any other mortal.

She would much rather spend her final days in silence and prayer, but she would not ask the others to be silent for her benefit. At last, she finally spoke to the other prisoners. "Do any of you wish to be administered your last rites?"

[Burnheart]

Sorjen

"Sorjen." he says after a moment.

[Stevemantis]

looking at the man, does sorjen mean yes? 'what they arrest him for not speaking the language of Mrs. Goody god?' erogoth thought. to the girl what are you in here for? thought Milta priests got off clean for choir boy incidents

[TheVitulus]

Andraste

The angel-blooded woman rolled her muscled shoulders. The uncomfortable position her limbs were locked into was making her arms burn in exhaustion. "I am not one of the False God's flock. I serve the Prince of Law and that is whose favor I urge you to seek in your final days."

[Calinero]

Orrick

Orrick snorted. "I believe Sorjen is his name," he said slowly. Turning to the newly arrived woman, he shook his head. "Any deity that is worth my notice is already aware of my deeds, and that I do not regret them. They will not be fooled by last minute wavering. If they accept me, then they accept me. If not, I have no use for them."

[blackwind1kaze]

Event One: An Unexpected Visitor

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. Everyone recognizes Sergeant Thomas Blackerly. This was the man who held the brand that marked each of them. He laughed as their skin burned. Right now, though the sergeant seems a little dazed.

He points to Sorjen and says gruffly, "You there! That's the scum! Get'm unshackled." He looks in the direction of the rest, "if any of you makes trouble, they'll earn a thrashing!" "Today is 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", He says as he looks back at Sorjen. When Sorjen is freed Thomas says, "now step lively. We wouldn't want to keep her waiting."

[Stevemantis]

EROGOTH

erogoth kept his head down as the sergeant came in, 'looks like someone has friends in high places' erogoth thought

[TheVitulus]

Andraste

Andraste nods slowly. "Well said. You slew a man in a duel, you said? My lord understands the importance of pride. I pray he will accept your soul in death."

She goes quiet as the guards approach, watching silently as the sergeant calls out the man who'd spoken before. Sorjen.

[Burnheart]

Sorjen

Suprised since everyone he knew and cared about was already arrested sometime ago and none of them was a noble lady Sorjen narrows his at Blackerly "Is this a joke Sergeant?"

[Stevemantis]

EROGOTH

something seemed strange to erogoth, the sergeant was different than usual, it seemed impossible to get a good read on him from this far away though... he would need to get closer to get a good look, this was most likely going to hurt hey tubby, anyone come for me?

[Calinero]

Orrick

Orrick nodded to Andraste. Sounded like there was a little bit of hope for his soul after all.

When the sergeant came in, Orrick looked at him in disgust. It seemed a shame to die without having the chance to crush at least one more skull...but the fat little man wasn't worth it. Besides, something seemed odd.

[blackwind1kaze]

As the two guards roughly grab sorjen to get him moving Thomas says gruffly while still seeming a little dazed, "No, now don't keep her waiting." Unfortunately Sorjen can't figure out why Thomas seems dazed.

Thomas snaps at Erogoth saying, "Shut up scum, otherwise you'll get a thrashing!"

The cell is then locked with two guard standing outside the cell watching the prisoners.

-----
Meeting Room

Sorjen is then roughly escorted to a meeting room down the hall and shoved into a chair. There waiting for Sorjen was 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.

“Oh, dearest,” proclaims the unfamiliar woman. “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.”
OOC: Sorjen can make a Sense Motive roll

[Burnheart]

Sorjen

Sorjen remains quiet simple observing the two with narrowed eyes while waiting for the woman to explain what she wants.

Spoiler

Show

Sense motive check to figure out whats going on with these two (1d20+9)[17]

[TheVitulus]

Andraste

Andraste gave a quiet sigh as the man was taken away. She didn't particularly care why the sergeant was acting strangely. He was probably drunk. Her thoughts instead turned to the past fixtures in her life. She'd had companions, friends, and lovers of different races and genders throughout her long life, but never more than that. She had always been consumed by her duty, both before and during her path of vengeance, which left little room for relationships romantic or not. She did not regret her choices, but... she hoped the man was being taken to someone he would want to see.

[Stevemantis]

Erogoth

Bloody Hell! swore erogoth, tommy didn't take the bait... yet, thought erogoth, when has he ever swayed away from corporal punishment? something was defiinatly wrong, erogoth was sure of it. with a heave of a sigh, erogoth looked to the girl, although I think I am already set with that certain god, it wouldn't hurt to get some assurance, that last rite still available?

[blackwind1kaze]

Meeting Room

Sorjen realizes that she somehow has power over the guard and 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?” the unexpected visitor says with a smirk, dropping her pretense of grief. “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.”

She takes off her silken veil and wipes away a few fake tears with it. “Something to remember me by, dearest.”

[Burnheart]

Sorjen

"You clearly have some power over the Sergeant, any reason you can't just have him get us out?" Sorjen asks with a look of curiousity upon his face.

[blackwind1kaze]

She smiles lightly but says, “That is a command he’d never obey. I’ve helped you as much as I can.” She looks a little bit impatient to leave and slowly starts to get up from her seat.

[TheVitulus]

Andraste brings herself back to reality at the man's question. She nods solemnly, and closes her eyes. "Bow your head." She commands softly, pausing for a short moment, before intoning,
"As we bow our heads in supplication,
May the First in his mercy and generosity lend us his strength,
May the Creator of Meaning aid our transition to the Great Beyond."