Archon's Way of the Wicked.

[Zweanslord]

Amber Tash

Not keen on wearing a chain shirt, as it hampers her magic, Amber shrugs. This turns to wide eyes when she sees with what the half-orc returns. Kegs of lantern oil! Her eyes shine as a gleeful smile makes the way on her face. "Great!" Holding her hands together, she seems a lot more amused at the turn of this situation.

"Didn't you say we needed rope?" She mentions to the half-orc. "I wonder where they keep those then."

[Farmerbink]

He shrugs, prominently displaying the coil looped over a shoulder. "There was more in there." He nods back to the storeroom as he hobbles away, following Irene's directions to the latrines.

[CasualViking]

"Alright, I'm going to go ahead and look for the boat. Join me once you're done torching the place". Caleb moves ahead to the cave with the alleged boat-feather.

[Hellfire014]

Seeing the wisdom in Inigo's words, the weaker redhead goes to grab a chain shirt. Putting it on, she begins to have difficulty walking. Ugh, this thing is heavy. She gradually makes her way back to the party, and down to the latrine.

Spoiler: OoC

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Really wish I dumped Wisdom instead of Strength now :P

[Ionbound]

Mira looks down the latrine and says, "Well...Better than nothing..." as she begins to descend.

[Zweanslord]

Amber Tash

Nodding to the half-orc, Amber goes and fetch more rope. Just in case. Afterwards, she moves along with the others to follow the given directions and use the rope when needed. She looks around a bit more, glancing at the door they did not enter, but then shrugs. She gleefully looks at the barrels the half-orc is carrying along, clearly excited about what is to come.

[archon_huskie]

Grumblejack hands over the chest he carries. “Sounds like lots o' little tings. Gives it extra weight for smashing but throws balance off.” He grins and turns serious, “Grumblejack think that room is barracks. Food smells coming from other room and guards in sleepwear came from somewheres.” The ogre points at the room labeled Quarters. (As Grumblejack does not have class levels yet, he can only read in his native tongue of Giant.) the iron lockbox opens with one of the keys on the master key ring.

The crew quarters hold 4 bunk beds each with 3 bunks each. There are 12 small chests labeled 1-12 scattered around the room. The group currently has keys numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, and 12. Inigo also has a copy of each key on the master key ring.

Spoiler: contents of the chests

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Contents of Blackerly's chest – a case of twelve bottles labeled Rotgut Whiskey. The bottles themselves are not labeled. He also has 1235gp in a sack.
Chest 1 a set of peasant clothes and a short sword
Chest 2 an Iron Mithran holy symbol and a Mithran holy book.
Chest 3 a well written love letter ending in a propsal of marriage to someone named Michelle and a sapphire engagement ring
Chest 4 a bottle without label that matches the Rotgut Whiskey bottles found in Blackerly's chest.
Chest 5 bottle of Godsmead, a triple distilled apple brandy sweetened with honey. This brand is one of the 13 famous liquors of Daveryn, the major port city on the Eastern coast of Taligarde.
Chest 6 Ink, quill, and a personal journal with the first 6 pages filled. This guard wrote one entry a week. And the top of each page “this week's password is:” Hesterfield is the current week's password. This guard has also kept detailed notes of the illegal gambling games the guards play every night! in Room 3c on the map.
Chest 7 Masterwork lute
Chest 8 A potion of cure light wounds with a hand written note. “In case of trouble, Luv Mum.”
Chest 9 a detailed map of the nearby town of Varyston including Branderscar and the Old Moor Road
Chest 10small coin pouch with 16cp, 12sp, and 5 gp
Chest 11 a set of peasant garb and two decks of cards, one regular, one marked and 120 silver pieces
Chest 12 whetstone, cleaning supplies for chain shirt, extra bowstring, and a small book of military regulations

While the group is finishing looting, Grumblejack gets bored. Irene will have lead Grumblejack into the kitchen and fed him the dinner she was preparing for the guards. This is a hope that if he eats enough, he will not want to eat her. She will also feed any who demand food, fish stew and soft bread.
The kitchen is well stocked with serving and cooking paraphernalia. and there is plenty of food in the pantry. Forty day's worth of perishable and ten days of iron rations (not spoiled) for a prison staff of 15.
There is a large green cloak here that Grumble jack takes and drapes over himself. It fits him surprisingly well. An Iron Cauldron is in the fireplace cooking the fish stew Irene serves.

Spoiler: Better copy of the map.

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Once all things are taken care of in the Castle, Irene will lead the group to the latrine. She opens a side door in the kitchen. First thing you all notices is that there are no guards on the wall. And according to Blackerly's papers, there should be guards on the wall. Immediately outside the door is a garden that takes up most of the grounds on this side of the Castle. A few paces from the garden is a lightly pruned shrub. (Knowledge Nature or Survival to identity. DC15)

There are towers along the walls. There is a door at the bottom of each tower. The sun is setting in the west throwing shade and shadows on this side of the Castle. There is a building marked Kennel to the north.

Irene leads you south to the nearest tower. It is labeled Outhouse. There is a second sign here, Occupied.

[CasualViking]

"Mister Grumblejack, would you kindly knock on the door?" Caleb grins.

[dathom]

As Inigo scoured through the empty barracks, the slim man pocketed any valuable he could. Stuffing the potion into the folds of his clothing, he also took the short sword, sapphire engagement ring and the map. Before leaving, he decides to also take as much of the coin as he could carry, figuring that they would need some coin once they got beyond the prison walls. After that, he joins up with the others and, with a small grin on his face, followed to the outhouse.

In his injured state, he wasn't one to take the lead. Instead, he made enough room for the ogre to try his hand at opening the door. Certainly it would be noisier, but also quicker.

[Farmerbink]

The jingle of Blackerly's ill-gained gold causes the Half Orc to raise his face with an interested expression. "I hope you're not planning on keeping all of that for yourself, Inigo." He continues huffing his barrels into the kitchen, letting his allies do most of the looting. When the return a few minutes later, he has retrieved another pair of barrels and eaten a hearty portion of fish stew, inspired by Grumblejack's demands.

The room reeks of oil, and it quickly becomes apparent that he's also punctured one of the barrels, and it's now leaking, leaving a thick, odorous trail leading back to the store-room where the other barrels remain. "If we're quite done here," he begins. "I think it's about time to leave." Sparks fly dangerously towards the ceiling as excitement threatens to overpower whatever sense the arsonist has.

He waits for his unlikely allies to file out the door before turning back to the puddle of flammable liquid. With near-manic eagerness, he sends a spray of sparks flying towards it, and shuts the door.

Spoiler: OOC

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Casting the spell spark. I'm assuming the oil is an acceptable target, though it may not qualify as "fine."

[Ionbound]

Mira feels a twinge of guilt as she looks through the contents of the chest, the potion being the only thing that caught her eye. She follows the party to the latrines, refusing any offer of food reasoning that it would be a bad idea to be fed by someone held in fear. She looks down into the latrine, then at Inigo and says, "You first."

[Zweanslord]

Amber Tash

Initially, Amber had shrugged at leaving things behind, ready to go the latrine. But suddenly, there was the jingle of gold and the remark of the half-orc. She rubbed her chin, looking around again. In the end, she took the decks of cards along, as well as the masterwork lute (if nobody else wanted the lute). In the mean time, she was stuffing her mouth with fish stew and soft bread, probably taking more than is good for her, but when she first saw them, her belly growled like an angry beast. She quickly looked around if there was a bag of some kind to take along, nabbing it to put in the decks of cards, as well as more rations, because she was not about to leave and go through such a period of starving again if she could help it. If there's some coin left, she's also eager to take some, though she takes effort that her pack does not weigh her down. If nobody takes it, she also tries to stuff the map of Varystown along, figuring that being lost is a Bad Thing, considering her previous experiences with that. Afterwards, she quickly rushes to the others, in time before the half-orc lets the sparks fly. She watches with a smile at the starting fire.

[archon_huskie]

Grumblejack knocks. Or rather he breaks the door down. And our vilians find themselves face to face with Mathias Richter, the Warden of Branderscar! He sits on a bench with his robes hiked up around his waste. He is a late middle-aged man who has seen some adventures in his day. He wears an eyepatch over his right eye which bears a scar. His shoulder length gray hair is tucked behind his ears save for one strand that refuses to stay in place.



The latrine is lit by a glowing stone that floats around his head. A proper wizard can't be bothered with a common lantern after all.

The wizard is caught off guard, cornered, and has no back up. At least he doesn't have to worry about soiling himself. You have a surprise round.

Initiative order
Irene Richter – 20
Mira – 19
Inigo – 17
Caleb - 16
X – 16
Amber – 13
Gail – 12
Mathias Richter – 10 (After a surprise round)
Grumblejack! - 7

Since Irene goes first, the red headed woman raises her middle finger at the warden. “That's my ******* of an Uncle,” she declares, “He's an enchanter. Don't let him speak.”

[Ionbound]

Mira hums and replies to Irene, "Handy." She rushes the wizards on the toilet, looking to brain him with her shield then impale him on her blade in two easy strikes.

Spoiler: OOC

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Shield Attack: (1d20+2)[4]
Shield Damage: (1d4+5)[8]

Sword Attack: (1d20+3)[9]
Sword Damage: (1d8+5)[8]

Plus charge bonus, if possible.

[CasualViking]

Caleb barges into the cramped space, intent on pulling the old man out of there, by his head if need be.

OOC: Grapple attack. (1d20+5)[24]

[dathom]

A grin spread under his hooked nose at the precarious situation their next victim is in. Not wanting to waste time in closing the distance to the seated Warden, in one smooth motion, Inigo flips his dagger into a throwing grip before chucking it at the man on the loo.

Spoiler: Actions and Rolls

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Standard action in surprise round to throw dagger at Warden
Ranged Sneak attack - (1d20+4)[24]
Damage - (1d4+2)[6]
Precision Damage - (1d6)[1]

Combined with rolls in OOC thread, damage should be 12

[Zweanslord]

Amber Tash

An orb of acid streaks through the air towards the Warden of Brandenscar, its origin the pointed finger of Amber Tash as she follows the aggressive example of her companions.

Spoiler: Actions

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Ranged Touch Attack roll In Melee: (1d20-1)[9]
Damage: (1d3)[2] acid

[Farmerbink]

The Half-Orc turns to Irene, scrutinizing her anew in light of her apparent distaste for her own flesh and blood. As his companions swarm the unprepared arcanist, he smirks. "Tell me, Irene. What has Master Richter done to inspire your hatred so?"

He ignores the violent commotion taking place only a few paces away- if an Ogre and four angry ex-inmates can't kill a wizard with his pants down, they deserve to die.

[archon_huskie]

Mira charges, her shield missing, but her blade easily finds the wizard's soft overfed belly. Inigo's dagger finds a home in the wizard's throat, the jugular artery to be specific. He topples over, the acid orb striking the wall behind him. It matters little, even as Caleb grabs the wizard, he is already dead.

Irene smiles at the dead body of her Uncle. She answers X's question choosing her words carefully. “ The Richter family, does not approve of my behavior and beliefs. Being at this prison and serving in the kitchens under my Uncle's eye was a punishment.”

Her eyes widen, “No one is allowed in his tower! All of his stuff is unguarded.” Behind her, smoke has started to rise from the main keep, but the sky grows dark masking it. Inside the first floor burns, but solid walls only let the smoke out. There are still no guards on the wall. There is time to loot the Warden's tower.

[Ionbound]

Mira blinks, then says, "I've faced worse than a few burns." She makes haste into the tower, looking for anything that seems immediately of value.

[Farmerbink]

Irene continues to receive almost the complete weight of the Half-Orc's scrutiny. "Oh?" The question is laced with anticipation. "Pray tell, what for? I do love a good story." His eyes dance dangerously as he eagerly awaits hearing about whatever wicked things Irene may have done.

Mira's comment earns a snort of amusement and a quiet "indeed" from the sorcerer. His hands idly rise together, rubbing the brands which mark him forever as forsaken...

[Hellfire014]

Gail raises an eyebrow at the dead wizard. This must be how most casters die when they're not either out of spells or playing with forces not meant for mortals; literally caught with their pants down by an angry mob.

Still, she waits for the attackers to haul out the fresh corpse before looting it, and hoping that scaring the crap out of him didn't damage any of his stuff.

"Unguarded treasures? I like the sound of that."

[Zweanslord]

Amber Tash shrugged momentarily. Given no alarms sounding, sounded like a good opportunity. "Fine by me! Which way?"

[archon_huskie]

Grumblejack grunts and passes the leash to X. The ogre then begins stripping the wizard's corpse. He is uninterested in the man's possessions and leaves them. Once Mira is out of sight, he bites into the corpse chewing quickly. he soon has the flesh off the limbs and he dumps the body unceremoniously down the latrine. The wizard was carrying, a dagger with what Irene identifies as the Richter family crest engraved in the blade, an Ioun torch stone, a blue blood stained silk robe (a noble's outfit), an a wizard college class ring (gold with a diamond stone inset). The markings on the ring are in a foreign language.

The Wizard's Ioun stone stopped flying around his head and went out when he died. The first person who picks it up will find that it lights up again and will circle their head.

“Mostly silly girlish things.” Irene answers X. “Flirting with the servant boys, trying to bribe a nun after failing my confirmation exam, trying to get a tattoo. I'm curious what they would have thought of my relations with Tomas. But mostly, I wanted to be a knight. They did not think it proper that a woman wear armor and arms." She laughs, "I doubt Uncle even knew he had two women guards here.”

From here each character has two options, search the tower, or prepare the escape.

IF you are searching the Tower,

There are three floors to the Warden's Tower and 4 rooms (not counting the landing at the top of the stairs which is empty). The rooms are: the Hall of History on the first floor, which is a museum of banners and tapestries detailing the history of the Castle as it goes through its evolution from signal tower to coastal fortress to Castle Branding to Branderscar Prison. There is a spiral staircase in the center of the room leading up. The second floor is the Warden's personal library. It is divided into two sections. A fiction section consisting of Talingarde's equivalent of Harlequin romance novels and graphic novels (the kind published by Dynamite Comics) and a scholarly section which contains 55 books. The spiral staircase continues up to the Warden's chambers. Reaching the landing there are two doors. The left leads to the Warden's private chambers, the right to his office. the furniture n these rooms is heavy oak and was assembled in these rooms. they will not fit through their respective doorways.

You will have the opportunity to both climb to the top of the tower and search a room 3 times. At that point the roof of the Prison collapses and the remaining Guards will hear the noise and therefore the fire. You may divide these searches between the 4 rooms. You will find one item per successful search check. Just roll a D20 and state which room you are using it to search. I will add the appropriate modifier that gives you the best result. Some items have a lower DC to identify if you use a knowledge or appraise skill instead of perception.

If you stay and help Irene and Grumblejack prepare the escape,
Grumblejack uses his brute strength to rip open the Latrine and make a hole wide enough for him to climb down. True to Irene's word, the latrine does go to an cavern. It is a drop of forty feet to slippery jagged rocks below. Erosion has opened the cavern to the sea. the tides and current have already washed the warden's body away.

Irene an Grumblejack will begin tying all the ropes the group has into a rope ladder. The climb check down will be DC 12. If no one stays and helps them, on your return, you will find the rope tied off with a few knots in it. No bonuses to the climb check.

Each person who stays adds a +1 circumstance bonus to the climb check by making it into a true rope ladder.

[Ionbound]

Mira pauses when she hears Irene wanted to be a knight and says, "I could be able to help with that." She decides to stay to help tie off the rope, continuing, "That's what I was before I was captured. And I suppose I could use a squire...If you'd be willing to join me."

[archon_huskie]

Irene Richter smiles, "YOU are Dame Fontaine? No wonder Uncle Mathais wouldn't let me see the transfer reports! You are my hero! You say what people are thinking but too afraid to say! I would be happy to serve as your squire!"

[Ionbound]

Mira's smirk becomes a full grin as she says, "Great! I'm glad you still see me that way as well." She sighs and says, "Probably the last person to, but what does it matter. When I rule the Talingarde, people will see."

[CasualViking]

"Well NOW look who's proselytizing!", Caleb grins, before wandering off to loot the Warden's private chambers.

[Farmerbink]

The Half-Orc's gaze rises almost wistfully to the tower. The faint scent of smoke brings a smile to his lips, and in the same moment writes off the tower as a fool's errand. "Search if you must, but be quick. It won't last long."

Irene quickly loses his interest, as her admissions prove to be nothing at all out of the ordinary. Mira's interjection earns a glare of annoyance, which deepens into a full-on scowl as Irene's girlish excitement bubbles to the surface. "You may have to fight Grumblejack for her," he grunts, with an unfriendly leer. "Let's get the ropes dealt with."

Without waiting for assent, he begins making long loops in the rope, to knot it off at various points. As Caleb saunters off, he shrugs. "If he dies, he dies."

[Ionbound]

Mira rolls her eyes at Caleb as he wanders off, but then looks at X and says, without hesitation or doubt, "I will."