Way of the Wicked: Knot of Thorns [IC]

[GM_Dave]

Zepsus nods in approval towards Ved.
"There is no doubt in my mind, we will escape this place, Ved."

[bcool999]

”Are you all quite finished filling your pockets?” Amadeus asks before continuing, “We should keep moving. I heard that people wanted to go to the kitchens next to look for a side exit? Let’s go then. Ved and Grumblejack can look after the hallway door until we know the coast is clear in the kitchen if they wish.”

Saying what he wished to say, Amadeus will move up to the door and wait for their lock pick to do his work.

[Ahus]

Nodding to Zepsus and Amadeus, Ved moves to find a perch at the North West corner of the South Eastern table trying to keep as clear a line of sight to both doors as possible.

[BuckGodot]

Donovan will move to an area of cover. Given his current health, he wants to not be dead for a third time today.

[lostsole31]

" Ved says, slightly disheartened that Zepsus hadn't noticed. He continues "Grumblejack, are you able to carry one of these tables as a makeshift shield or mobile covering? "

"Mean sergeant poison Grumblejack to make him weak. Less dangerous."

Not that anyone has a daunting clue what in the Nine Hells Grumblejack actually .... is (other than Large), but other than slicing an already downed guard with a claw, he has been entirely inoffensive, mainly using unknown supernatural powers to heal people (and claiming he can only do it once a person).

”Ved and Grumblejack can look after the hallway door until we know the coast is clear in the kitchen if they wish.”

The two NPCs are quite happy to do that.

Bile, you will find that the kitchen does NOT seem to be locked.

Who opens the door? Does Bile jump to the side while Amadeus (or some such doughty stout person) open the door?

[GM_Dave]

After the last door episode, Zepsus will default to whoever is going to listen for enemies behind the door to give the signal, then Zepsus will open the door, once the "all clear" has been given.

[lostsole31]

Probably Bile. Bile you don't hear anything.

Bile hops to the side as Zepsus opens the door. There are four people cowering in the SW corner.

[GM_Dave]

Zepsus moves into the room confidently. He looks to the cowering group and will hold one finger to his lips in an inuendo that says thry should stay silent. He will use his imposing looks to intimidate them into cooperating without a word.

[lostsole31]

They remain silent as can be. One of the kitchen servants pisses himself.

There is a door to the east.

[Blackhawk101]

Leonidas swaggers up to the cowering kitchen staff and growls at them,“Hey, you lot! Which way to the docks or outside? Speak up before I use ya guts to hold up me trousers!”

Spoiler

Show

intimidate check

[lostsole31]

They look confused, and then look to Zepsus for "help."

Everyone (except Leonidas, who thinks he is an unholy piratical terror) .... Leonidas may be a lot of things. Impressive just now was not it.

[GM_Dave]

Zepsus will point to the eastern door, and wave bile through.
Then, he will get closer to the person who had peed in fear, and will bend down to his level. He takes a moment before speaking to stare at the man right in the eyes, "Go ahead, answer the question; how do we get off of this rock? Where does the door lead? Be quick, and do not scream, or you all die."

[oyzar]

Bile moves in after Zepsus and smiles as he spots the people huddling in the corner. "Good, if you answer our questions, you could earn a reward instead of death. Striking a deal with the devil isn't so bad when it saves your life and puts you further ahead. How many guards are there in the Brandescar? What's the layout of the compound? As he says, exits would be nice to know about, but what buildings are here and where there are people or dogs would also be nice to know."

[lostsole31]

"A-about two-dozen soldiers attached, not countin' the sergeant and the warden," says the serving boy.

A matronly cook says, "Only way out is go out and to the left across the green, past the tower, to the bridge-and-gate. But they's ready for you. Ever since the guard blew the horn upstairs many minutes ago, before ye even came down here."

"And they got guards and dogs roving the grounds," says another woman. "Who knows where the sergeant and warden are, but they are probly' with the rest of the guards what ain't been kilt by ye yet, letting your magics and piss wear off some before they come in here like a bleedin' army."

[Ahus]

Seeing that the group of cooks, or whatever, do not seem to be a major threat, Ved clambers down from the table into the room. Finding it a bit odd that all of the guards killed so far would be assigned to this barracks, as noted by their footlocker keys. Ved asks the boy "Two dozen guards, eh. Well down to thirteen now. Where is the other barracks? " Hearing the woman mention the horn Ved addresses Kel. "The horn, KEL, go run get the horn."
Before turning back to the sniveling peasants, and continuing, "Think very carefully, there have obviously been escape drills.
What is the horn sound for the 'all clear' at the completion of the drills?"

Spoiler: Mechanics

Show

Sense Motive +10

[lostsole31]

These peasants don't have a clue about what means what, as they keep their focus firmly on kitchen duties. Ved doesn't sense any dissembling.

Kel comes back with three horns.

[BuckGodot]

Donovan will approach the serving boy smiling... "My young friend, I know that you and your lads must know ways in and out that are not common knowlege. If you were to share those ways with us, you would be well rewarded. We simply want to leave here with as little trouble as possible. What say you?"

Spoiler: The Stuff

Show

Bluff check

[lostsole31]

"Secret ways? What are you talking about?" he asks, stammering and confused.

[Ahus]

"Can anyone play these horns? If we can count an 'all clear' perhaps the guards will lower their, well, guard." Ved says, sounding much less confident than when he told Kel to fetch the horns.

[lostsole31]

The NPC shake their head.

[GM_Dave]

"We dont have that kind of information at our disposal, but what we do need is a destraction. The Warden is waiting for us at our only point of escape, we need to draw him away, or else we risk a head on combat," Zepsus whispers.

Zepsus will then assemble Donovan, and Bile in a huddle away from the npcs. He doesnt want them to hear, but he can be seen eyeing each one of them.
"My idea is to force one of these servants to take the horns and cause a stir on the opposite end of the prison. That might draw the Wardens attention, but the problem is, the servant we send will quickly be found, and the Warden will likely not move unless it is assured that our group is detained. Perhaps this is where we split up, one team goes toward the bridge, and the other circles around to flank from the opposite side with the horns. Once the guards are distracted we converge on the bridge and make a break for it. They may have horses, however, which could ruin the idea. Someone ask the servants if they keep horses here; we may be able to steal them.

[Ahus]

With a renewed fervor, of a man clearly not to be trifled with, Ved orders the group to, "Get that rope from the veil and bind these bitchs and the whelp. Don't want them getting any ideas. At least we'll have some hostages for leverage."
Ved turns on his heels and heads over to the fireplace and proceeds to hunt for the Sergeant's branding iron.

[lostsole31]

This is neither the room nor the location you vaguely remember in your fevered dreams from where/ when you branded. It is a kitchen, and nothing more.

Kel looks at Zepsus incredulously. "Seriously? This is Branderscar. The worst of the worst with a reputation to keep. And their blessed flipping Mitra is not a soft-hand. I don't doubt if they will call on Mitra to welcome these 'heroes' into Heaven for their 'sacrifice."

[BuckGodot]

"I don't think splitting up is in our best intrest... They would want that... We have hostages now. We can use them for leverage and as human shields."

[Blackhawk101]

Leonidas speaks up, “Peasants make poor hostages. Nobody who cares has any money to pay. They can block a few arrows aye, but then their corpses be muckin’ up the place where you’re fightin’. More trouble than they is worth, in my opinion. Best to move on or kill’em to keep their yaps shut.” he states matter of fact.
“Speak no more ‘bout our plans until we is away or they are dead.”

[Ahus]

Ved comes back into the kitchen, slinging his bow over his shoulder he unsheathes his sword. Ved then grabs the serving boy by the wrist, twisting and pulling him out of the room. Telling the remainder of the group to "Get these two to draw us a map of the prison, where the sergeant takes his meals, where the other barracks are, the size of the courtyard, over-watch points on the courtyard, entrances and exits of this building, and come up with a plan. If they resist bleed them. The boy is coming with me, we'll be back in a minute, if he is cooperative." Having procured a human shield, Ved, with the boy in tow with a longsword blade gently pressed to his throat, will make his way back up the stairs to the interrogation room to look for the branding iron.

[bcool999]

Amadeus

Seeing his compatriots go into a flurry of activity trying to incorporate these peasants into their escape plans Amadeus sighs and shakes his head. Deciding to gather his own information, Amadeus asks the peasants, ”Are there any other buildings besides the one we are in or the tower? Also, what is the tower for to your knowledge?”

[GM_Dave]

, "Ved, the warden will kill these three servants without worry, ." Zepsus says shaking his head.
, "We are their top priority, and a few hostages wont change that. Their deaths will simply be blamed on our escape. Humans such as these have no honor,"
he growls, and will attempt to stall Ved, in order to get him to listen.
, "we need to start moving, we can slaughter peasants once we are free from this prison, Bile, lead the way. If we arent splitting up, maybe we can avoid the fight at the exit another way. No more talk in front of these three," he concludes, motioning towards the servants.

[BuckGodot]

As he was already standing beside the boy, Donovan will block Ved... "Listen... Revenge is nice and all that, but I've already died twice today and they say third time is a charm. We need to work on getting out of here...."

[lostsole31]

Ved gets effectively blocked by two of his allies, though he still managed to get ahold of the boy.