Way of the Wicked: Knot of Thorns [IC]

[Blackhawk101]

Feeling overly encumbered with the great sword, Leonidas switches it for the trident. He twirls the weapon experimentally, pleased with the weight and balance.
“Ready.”

[lostsole31]

Amadeus decides to cast aside the sword for the mace. After all, the mace is the favored weapon of his lord.

Done.

Ved will then swap out his guard marked longsword for the rapier, top off his quiver and ditch the padded club for a second quiver.

Understand the first will change, but arrows taken, club tossed.

Leonidas ... will gather arrows and stuff his quiver full. He will sling the bow Across his back so he can grip the great sword ...

Check.

Bile takes the rapier ... he gets rid off the new dagger and seven arrows.

Check.

Feeling overly encumbered with the great sword, Leonidas switches it for the trident.

Done.

---

Where to now?

[GM_Dave]

Zepsus, nearing the shield rack, will discontinue scanning the room with an arcane magic of green eyes and a outstretched finger, and stand before the shields as his magic fades. He looks to his vial that he still grips in his left hand, and, with his back to the group, drinks the contents with a indifferent shrug. He will not pause before tossing the vial aside, and grasping the heavy shield in his left. The weight of it seems to be foreign to him as his body language shifts to accomadate the metal for the first few minutes of wearing it, until he remembers his training, and assumes the proper posture, suddenly appearing to be a bulwark of strength in chain and shield. He will regroup, prepare to enter back into the hallway to guard bile as he picks the last locked door besides the double door.

[oyzar]

Bile gets in his combat stance before once again tries to stealthily pick the locked door, slowing his breathing and focusing intently on opening the door without spooking whoever might wait on the other side.

Spoiler

Show

If necesarry:
"disable device" - (1d20+8)[16]
"disable device" - (1d20+8)[28]
"disable device" - (1d20+8)[12]
"disable device" - (1d20+8)[15]
"disable device" - (1d20+8)[21]

[lostsole31]

Zepsus drinks the vile, and it heals the last wound he had from the previous battle. He readies a heavy steel shield for himself.

The party gets in position behind Bile and it takes him only two full rounds to trip the lock and then he opens the door.

On the other side is a large room that is lit by a pair of sconces holding torches. It is an office that is 50' E-W, and 30' N-S. The room, despite its size, is a plain affair with a single cluttered desk and a couple of chairs. There are two doors in here: one on the far west wall, and one in the center of the northern wall.

What do you do?

[GM_Dave]

As he steps up to the doorway, fresh from drinking the healing vial, Zep will wipe his mouth and smirk. He remarks something about the invigorating favour of The Prince of Darkness, while stopping just before the office interior, taking his sword in a non combative grip. He rests the longsword against his leg for a moment, enabling him to raise his free hand up to his eyes, which still hold the magical eldritch energy from his magic detection spell. He will concentrate on the room, and scan the area from his position at the doorway, keeping an eye out for any magical resonance.

[lostsole31]

Zepsus will not note any magical auras in the room.

[bcool999]

Amadeus will search the room. Mainly focusing on an antidote for Grumblejack.

[GM_Dave]

Finishing his quick scan with his green energy enshrouded eyes, Zepsus will transfer his hand back down to his sword. He readjusts the weight of the chain shirt on his shoulders, and will stand guard while the others head in.

[BuckGodot]

Donovan glances around the room quickly... but remains watching their backs.

"If anyone finds any healing elixers... I could definitely use one."

[Ahus]

Ved cautiously moves into the office, and toward the desk. He bestows the dark prince's blessing on himself while he examines the papers on the desk searching and briefly skimming some of the papers to determine if there is any information that the group can use. He will carefully roll up several official documents penned by various government persons, before continuing to ransack the desk.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Show

Casting Guidance as needed for perception to go through the documents on the desk looking for anything interesting. Then opening drawers and continuing to look.

[oyzar]

Bile joins in with the others searching the place, trying to find anything to help aid their escape, a map of the prison or something.

[lostsole31]

It's mainly Bile working with Ved. It only takes the two of them a minute of searching the desk, in which there is mostly uninteresting paperwork, but amidst that clutter there is also a complete map of the prison and the location of all the guard posts!

There is a lot more paperwork here, but it would ten minutes to go through .... does the party spend ten minutes going through that paperwork, or are you done with this as it is?

[Ahus]

"It looks like we found a map, of the prison gentlemen... and Kel. Ved says holding up the map. Pointing out his plan on the map, Ved thinks aloud.
"So, we should continue to clear these last two rooms, here and here. Then, assuming all goes well, exit the back through the kitchen. If we can hug the back wall of this building, here, we should be able to make a play at the Warden's tower.
If there is a cure for our big friend here it is likely to either be in the store room, here, the Sergeant's chamber, here, or the Warden's tower, here.
From the roof of the tower we descend to the top of the Western wall. This should give us the high ground, or at least even ground against guards in the courtyard or upper levels of the gate house. Any that come out to fight us on the wall cannot surround us.
What say you?"

Until someone urges him in a direction Ved will continue shuffling papers on/in the desk looking for a guard roster/duty schedule and any documents signed by anyone in a position of authority in the government.

[bcool999]

Amadeus

Glancing at the map, Amadeus nods with a smirk. "A good find for planning our next moves out of this accursed prison." Amadeus says, "Enough fiddling with files. We have two more rooms to search before we figure out how to sneak into the warden's tower should we not find what we are searching for."

Amadeus goes to the storeroom door and attempts to open it.

[BuckGodot]

Donovan nods his agreement. "Asmodeus is right... We need to keep moving and keep these fools guessing as to our whereabouts. So let's move people!"

[GM_Dave]

Nodding, Zepsus moves backwards two steps into the room, sword drawn, but the Tiefling's body is very relaxed. He looks towards the map, but mainly is watching out for any incoming enemies, so the actual map is left to anyone else.

[Blackhawk101]

Glancing at the map, Leonidas replies, “Wit’ all them guards patrolling the walls, not much chance of this lot traipsin’ across the yard unnoticed. Let’s see what else we can find on this level.”
He prepares to leave the room.

[GM_Dave]

Zepsus volunteers to open the next few doors after bile picks the locks, if any.

[Ahus]

"I venture that the Yard is the least of our problems. If we don't find a way to get cover we will be sitting ducks on the causeway between this island and the mainland. Any guards left on the walls will pincushion us from behind and the gatehouse guards will let us have it from the front. As I said earlier I think our only hope is to get to the top of the wall and use the crenelations for cover while taking out the rest of the guards." Ved replies to Leonidas still shuffling through the papers on the desk.

[GM_Dave]

As Ved speaks up, Zepsus's attention if grasped by the plan, and a look of contemplation crosses his face. After a moment, Zep will voice that he agrees with Ved's idea.
"The open yard is obviously a trap. We should attempt to overtake a wall, as Ved said. I will lead the attack, as soon as Bile clears away the locks. Leonidas, Donavan be ready to summon all of your remaining strength."
He will then await Ved, and Bile to lead the group to the correct doors. A soft prayer to Asmodeus can be heard coming from his angular jaws.

[BuckGodot]

Donovan will nod his acceptance of this idea.

[Blackhawk101]

“Aye, good plan! Good plan!” says Leonidas with false enthusiasm.
“But the how is the question. There ain’t but two doors out of this level of this barnacle encrusted turd of a prison, and both are surely watched closely. How do we get to the top of the wall from HERE!?”

[lostsole31]

So, does the party exit this room the way you came? Does the party check the northern door? Does the party check the western door? I think Amadeus mentioned the northern door, but never defined that IC.

[bcool999]

Amadeus attempts to open the north door, but finds it locked.

Grunting in frustration, Amadeus mutters, "Damn turnkeys and their blasted locks."

Louder he calls out to their 'locksmith' Bile, "Got another door here that could use unlocking."

[oyzar]

"I do think it's a bit ambitious to try to clear out all the guards. If we find a path to stealthily escape we should take it. But getting up on the wall might be a good step towards that. Now, let's see about the lock."

He moves over to the lock and tries to get it unlocked as efficiently as possible while listening for any potential surprises on the other side.

Spoiler

Show

"disable device" - (1d20+8)[25]
"disable device" - (1d20+8)[24]
"disable device" - (1d20+8)[22]
"disable device" - (1d20+8)[9]
"disable device" - (1d20+8)[28]
"disable device" - (1d20+8)[25]

[lostsole31]

This lock is a lot more difficult than the older cell locks upstairs, that's for sure. That said, Bile gets it on the first try!

As expected, Area 13 is a storeroom.

[oyzar]

"Let's fan out and search quickly. Asmodus I implore thee, please reveal any magic in this place to me!" Bile says as he steps into the room to make room for the others while he starts scanning for magic.

Spoiler

Show

Detect magic, then help to search if nothing interesting turns up. Unless the containers are leaden, it could reveal magic inside them as well.

[Blackhawk101]

Once Bile moves in, Leonidas will follow and investigate.

[BuckGodot]

Not having the patience for searching, Donovan will continue to watch the doors.

"Be quick about it!"