In the manège Sylvio and Sunny discuss the trio next steps. The stables should be closer to the training area, but far from the mansion so south by southeast. The Villa didn’t see to have any dungeon so it was likely that the soldiers would transport the prisoners through some cart to a place that either had or could serve as a dungeon. The thought alone made a single word emerge into Sunny’s head - torture.
The resolute Gabriel and satisfied Amadi watch as the discussion unfold. Their escort had stopped and now every single man at arms in the ground floor was watching not them, but their jailers. The four tense, confused and alert as if a single more word, a single more push, could be enough to drive them into fighting.
“What are you doing?” A fifth guard approaches soon after the shout about Shar.
“This one is using some sort of magic to speak into our mind.” Says the one with the whar hammer out.
“Are those words making you see things?” The four guards each answer denying the possibility. “Feel things?” Another round of negatives. “I will say it is not forcing you to do anything either and if this is this case, what is the problem? Can’t you deal with some whispers in the head? Though up and move the prisoners to the stables!”
The guards respond almost in unison with a loud and clear ‘yes, sir’ and start moving arcanist and cleric through the entrance hall. Soon they reach the kitchen area and given their natural perception both Bryte and Shadeflame notice that aside for the six of them the kitchen is empty. Maybe there are guards stationed outside the kitchen door, but definitely not inside.
Notes
Questions answered in the OOC.Visual aid of the area updated and in spoiler (with subtitles) below. In case of further doubts feel free to ask here or in the OOC chat.
Red - Gundwynd Villa Purple - Villa House (mansion) Orange - Manège Blue - Stables
@Gruba and @Paladin, given your characters passive perception they notice not only the empty kitchen, but that the four escorting them are very much on edge. @Everyone, what will your characters do now?
Sunny looks to the others, "I think we need to move quickly. They are likely planning to move them to another location. Over to the stables." Discarding the idea of removing Chewy's gear, she looks to Sweeps. "Can you get us there? Maybe we can ambush them and then exit via the sewers should there be an access point. I'm not in the best shape but I need to save the rest of my healing in case they need it when rescued." She continues to watch for any sign of the other two or guards and follows Sweeps' lead to get to the stables.
Sylvio shakes his head “First-a, we must find-a the exit. Then we can-a worry about our friends and-a where they are. If not then-a we have nowhere to go-a if we find-a them.”
“Thank you, your healing is greatly appreciated. I hope I can repay your efforts.” Sweeps thanks the Tortle for her magic. Sweeps looks toward where Sylvio points out the stables should be, trying to determine a way to approach them without being seen. At least the stables are farther away from the main house, and the guards. "Let's try to find a way to the stables, the magic will help us stay hidden for awhile longer."
Perception 15
He also notices a small building in between the manege and the stables, and tries to determine what the building is used for and if any guards would be nearby.
Sylvio will use the cloak and the spell to sneak around the side of the house to look towards the south and see if it looks like a likely way to sneak towards the stables. 40 stealth and 22 perception
Passing into the kitchen Amadi sees that there are no guards here. Another opportunity, fewer guards and the outside is just beyond the door.
Telepathically Amadi again sends messages to the guards.
To the last of the guards who said not to speak of the Lady of Loss, The one who struck, he is guided by Selune, did you not see his mark? He will free them!
To the one who the questioned the violence, Is this really what Gundwynd wants, is this right?
To the man at the cleric's right side, You cannot speak of Shar? Is she so weak? He doesn't believe, he has no faith!
To the guard with the warhammer, They do not fear Shar, they follow Selune! Do you not hear their fear!
Seeing that there is space behind the buildings, Sylvio will sneak southwards towards the stables. He doesn’t wish to be spotted so will be careful to avoid the sight of whoever is working in the smithy and any wandering guards.
Sunny follows last with Chewy as she's the most likely to make noise but keeps a quick pace. Watching carefully ahead as the other two fade into the shadows made by the buildings.
Despite of the words said by the fifth guard, the four soldiers escorting Amadi and Gabriel seemed less than comfortable. In part, both arcanist and cleric, perceptive as they are, could notice, because they were not sure the mysterious voice echoing in their minds had not the power to control them. Sure, until now, the telepathic messages had not compelled any sort of action, but what if that was a stratagem by the caster? But at the same time, what could he possibly gain showing that he could reach their thoughts directly?
The silence of the kitchen just served to make the four feel more tense. If there was any time or place to take control of any of them it was then and there. Birghtflame made his attempt, speaking to every man telepathically, one at time. To the one who mentioned the Lady of Loss, an epithet of Shar, he said the one armed with the wharhammer followed Selûne and would free the captives, but that didn’t see to phase him in the slightest.
“Shut up, caster, before I encourage him to beat you.” Said the one who previously questioned the violence, looking at Bryte. The question in his mind inspiring nothing but tiredness.
“He keeps pestering me too.” Mentioned the man at Amadi’s right, soon after hearing the accusations about supposed lack of faith his from his companions’ part.
“I think he’s pestering everyone, but doesn’t matter.” Spoke the one carrying the wharhammer. He seemed unimpressed by the mind games. “Let’s just finish it fast.”
By the time he finished saying his piece the soldier by Amadi’s left open the kitchen door. Outside, the extension of grass occupying the space between mansion and outer wall formed a corridor, larger than an alley, but not by much. Eight more guards were stationed there. The escort of the prisoners then continued following east.
Inside the manège the trio that escaped capture decide their next step, to find their way to the stables and from there and exit to the sewers. Both Sylvio and Sweeps scan the surrounding area, trying to better situate themselves. They notice a comparatively smaller building from which smoke rises controlled. A smithy. Made sense, considering the possibility of stallion in training needing to change his horseshoes. More than that, this could mean weapons or, even, a grappling hook. For a moment their escape seemed to become easier, but then they notice the obvious. Smoke, fire, someone was working the forges. Someone was standing in the direction by which they intended to go.
The rogue snakes further and find that the space between the smithy and the outer way form a alley, far from view and likely to provide cover to most of the way to the stables.
Notes
Questions answered in the OOC.Visual aid of the area updated and in spoiler (with subtitles) below. In case of further doubts feel free to ask here or in the OOC chat.
Red - Gundwynd Villa Purple - Villa House (mansion) Orange - Manège Blue - Stables
@Jynne, @Paladin, If you decide to move through the "alley" between the smithy and outer wall you do not need to roll another stealth check . If you decide to enter the smithy you will need to roll a stealth check. @Althax, you do not need to roll a stealth check (Sylvio can keep his amazing 40). Instead roll me a d6. @Paladin and @Gruba, you are know outside the mansion.
The guards are well trained, I cannot seem to get them to turn on each other. Now again there are too many guards. My last hope is to use my Giant's Might to break free of my bonds. I will wait till we are in the stables and hope these are the only guards. Then we will need to fight. I am unsure what else to do. I can only hope the others will try and free us, but we are strangers brought together by chance. They may have just fled. I would not blame them if they had. I will give one last try to disrupt their plans.
Amadi is beginning to lose hope. He has failed to turn these guards on one another. Seeing the new set of 8 guards he again tries to make a quick judgement, which one may the easiest target, the one that looks most confused or doubtful of why he and Gabriel were being escorted past them.
Insight 22
He then chooses that guard and makes one last effort to sow doubt and confusion.
It is Gundwynd! By the name of Shar stop those guards. I need the prisoners alive! Stop them by all means!
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sweeps follows Sylvio through the alley behind the buildings toward the stable to the south. He whispers to Sylvio and Sunny “Be careful of the smithy, it looks like someone is inside. We should make for the stables”
As he approaches the stables, he pauses to look for signs of any people in the building and the location of the sewer entrance.
Gabriel remained in silence, reinforcing the idea of the guards that he was using some sort of magic to reach into their minds even though in truth he was doing nothing of the sort. Amadi tried to use his telepathy again, but by this point the trick had become old and the only he got from the soldier was a brief sigh of annoyance. At the very least the attempts to compel Bryte to stop using magic through force had stopped.
Before long the manège came into view for the group formed by prisoners and man-at-arms. A large building that seemed to be equal parts stone and wood, drowned in silence. For the guards it meant that the evacuation order given to the Villa staff had been enacted successfully, to the arcanist and the cleric it meant that there were no more troops around.
Further south, Sylvio advances, an inaudible specter in the alley formed between smithy and the outer wall. He is then followed by Sweeps and finally Sunny and Chewy. As their approach the forge the echoing sound of steel being pounded took the air, disguising any noise that the trio steep could possibly cause. Looking inside the building the elf sees a middle-aged man using simple clothes under a thick leather apron. Gloves of the same material covered his hands as he tempered some sort of blade. Two young man with similar attire moved carrying tools. A master and his apprentices, the rogue knew, far too absorbed with their own work to know about the chaos in the property.
As the trio moved onward their reached the stables. The place was as large as the manège and housed size or eight animals. Entering Sweeps was fast to determine that the place was empty, except for the beasts it housed. Tools in the floor suggested that the workers were evacuated in a hurry, probably as soon as tensions broke out in the mansion.
Notes
Questions answered in the OOC.Visual aid of the area updated and in spoiler (with subtitles) below. In case of further doubts feel free to ask here or in the OOC chat.
Red - Gundwynd Villa Purple - Villa House (mansion) Orange - Manège Blue - Stables
Upon sneaking into the stables Sylvio immediately begins looking for a sewer entrance. “We need-a to find the way out of-a this place. We also need-a to watch the manor for the others-a.” He begins searching about for a sewer entrance.
Knowing the time is coming for action and feeling the weakness still in her body, she casts cure wounds at first level on herself. Healing 6 of her injuries. As she does so, she looks about at the animals in the stables and smiles. She whispers to Sylvio and Sweeps, "We need a distraction right?" Looking at the 8 beasts within the stables.
Of note, Sunny is a Ranger/Beast Master and her animal handling is high at a +6. So I'm hoping at the very least she can keep them from spooking the animals with their presence.
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In the manège Sylvio and Sunny discuss the trio next steps. The stables should be closer to the training area, but far from the mansion so south by southeast. The Villa didn’t see to have any dungeon so it was likely that the soldiers would transport the prisoners through some cart to a place that either had or could serve as a dungeon. The thought alone made a single word emerge into Sunny’s head - torture.
The resolute Gabriel and satisfied Amadi watch as the discussion unfold. Their escort had stopped and now every single man at arms in the ground floor was watching not them, but their jailers. The four tense, confused and alert as if a single more word, a single more push, could be enough to drive them into fighting.
“What are you doing?” A fifth guard approaches soon after the shout about Shar.
“This one is using some sort of magic to speak into our mind.” Says the one with the whar hammer out.
“Are those words making you see things?” The four guards each answer denying the possibility. “Feel things?” Another round of negatives. “I will say it is not forcing you to do anything either and if this is this case, what is the problem? Can’t you deal with some whispers in the head? Though up and move the prisoners to the stables!”
The guards respond almost in unison with a loud and clear ‘yes, sir’ and start moving arcanist and cleric through the entrance hall. Soon they reach the kitchen area and given their natural perception both Bryte and Shadeflame notice that aside for the six of them the kitchen is empty. Maybe there are guards stationed outside the kitchen door, but definitely not inside.
Notes
Questions answered in the OOC.Visual aid of the area updated and in spoiler (with subtitles) below. In case of further doubts feel free to ask here or in the OOC chat.
Red - Gundwynd Villa
Purple - Villa House (mansion)
Orange - Manège
Blue - Stables
@Gruba and @Paladin, given your characters passive perception they notice not only the empty kitchen, but that the four escorting them are very much on edge.
@Everyone, what will your characters do now?
Gabriel continues to move as directed, still hoping that Lathander - or his friends - will deliver a plan to rescue him.
Sunny looks to the others, "I think we need to move quickly. They are likely planning to move them to another location. Over to the stables." Discarding the idea of removing Chewy's gear, she looks to Sweeps. "Can you get us there? Maybe we can ambush them and then exit via the sewers should there be an access point. I'm not in the best shape but I need to save the rest of my healing in case they need it when rescued." She continues to watch for any sign of the other two or guards and follows Sweeps' lead to get to the stables.
Sylvio shakes his head “First-a, we must find-a the exit. Then we can-a worry about our friends and-a where they are. If not then-a we have nowhere to go-a if we find-a them.”
Noob
“Thank you, your healing is greatly appreciated. I hope I can repay your efforts.” Sweeps thanks the Tortle for her magic. Sweeps looks toward where Sylvio points out the stables should be, trying to determine a way to approach them without being seen. At least the stables are farther away from the main house, and the guards. "Let's try to find a way to the stables, the magic will help us stay hidden for awhile longer."
Perception 15
He also notices a small building in between the manege and the stables, and tries to determine what the building is used for and if any guards would be nearby.
Investigation 20
Sylvio will use the cloak and the spell to sneak around the side of the house to look towards the south and see if it looks like a likely way to sneak towards the stables. 40 stealth and 22 perception
Noob
Passing into the kitchen Amadi sees that there are no guards here. Another opportunity, fewer guards and the outside is just beyond the door.
Telepathically Amadi again sends messages to the guards.
To the last of the guards who said not to speak of the Lady of Loss, The one who struck, he is guided by Selune, did you not see his mark? He will free them!
To the one who the questioned the violence, Is this really what Gundwynd wants, is this right?
To the man at the cleric's right side, You cannot speak of Shar? Is she so weak? He doesn't believe, he has no faith!
To the guard with the warhammer, They do not fear Shar, they follow Selune! Do you not hear their fear!
Deception 9 (with adv)
Seeing that there is space behind the buildings, Sylvio will sneak southwards towards the stables. He doesn’t wish to be spotted so will be careful to avoid the sight of whoever is working in the smithy and any wandering guards.
Noob
Sunny follows last with Chewy as she's the most likely to make noise but keeps a quick pace. Watching carefully ahead as the other two fade into the shadows made by the buildings.
Despite of the words said by the fifth guard, the four soldiers escorting Amadi and Gabriel seemed less than comfortable. In part, both arcanist and cleric, perceptive as they are, could notice, because they were not sure the mysterious voice echoing in their minds had not the power to control them. Sure, until now, the telepathic messages had not compelled any sort of action, but what if that was a stratagem by the caster? But at the same time, what could he possibly gain showing that he could reach their thoughts directly?
The silence of the kitchen just served to make the four feel more tense. If there was any time or place to take control of any of them it was then and there. Birghtflame made his attempt, speaking to every man telepathically, one at time. To the one who mentioned the Lady of Loss, an epithet of Shar, he said the one armed with the wharhammer followed Selûne and would free the captives, but that didn’t see to phase him in the slightest.
“Shut up, caster, before I encourage him to beat you.” Said the one who previously questioned the violence, looking at Bryte. The question in his mind inspiring nothing but tiredness.
“He keeps pestering me too.” Mentioned the man at Amadi’s right, soon after hearing the accusations about supposed lack of faith his from his companions’ part.
“I think he’s pestering everyone, but doesn’t matter.” Spoke the one carrying the wharhammer. He seemed unimpressed by the mind games. “Let’s just finish it fast.”
By the time he finished saying his piece the soldier by Amadi’s left open the kitchen door. Outside, the extension of grass occupying the space between mansion and outer wall formed a corridor, larger than an alley, but not by much. Eight more guards were stationed there. The escort of the prisoners then continued following east.
Inside the manège the trio that escaped capture decide their next step, to find their way to the stables and from there and exit to the sewers. Both Sylvio and Sweeps scan the surrounding area, trying to better situate themselves. They notice a comparatively smaller building from which smoke rises controlled. A smithy. Made sense, considering the possibility of stallion in training needing to change his horseshoes. More than that, this could mean weapons or, even, a grappling hook. For a moment their escape seemed to become easier, but then they notice the obvious. Smoke, fire, someone was working the forges. Someone was standing in the direction by which they intended to go.
The rogue snakes further and find that the space between the smithy and the outer way form a alley, far from view and likely to provide cover to most of the way to the stables.
Notes
Questions answered in the OOC.Visual aid of the area updated and in spoiler (with subtitles) below. In case of further doubts feel free to ask here or in the OOC chat.
Red - Gundwynd Villa
Purple - Villa House (mansion)
Orange - Manège
Blue - Stables
@Jynne, @Paladin, If you decide to move through the "alley" between the smithy and outer wall you do not need to roll another stealth check . If you decide to enter the smithy you will need to roll a stealth check.
@Althax, you do not need to roll a stealth check (Sylvio can keep his amazing 40). Instead roll me a d6.
@Paladin and @Gruba, you are know outside the mansion.
4 for… reasons…
Noob
Sunny will stick to the outside (alley) not willing to jeopardize their position because of Chewy's noisier armor.
(Hoping the smithy is not making irons for the prisoners. )
Amadi speaks to Gabriel in his mind.
The guards are well trained, I cannot seem to get them to turn on each other. Now again there are too many guards. My last hope is to use my Giant's Might to break free of my bonds. I will wait till we are in the stables and hope these are the only guards. Then we will need to fight. I am unsure what else to do. I can only hope the others will try and free us, but we are strangers brought together by chance. They may have just fled. I would not blame them if they had. I will give one last try to disrupt their plans.
Amadi is beginning to lose hope. He has failed to turn these guards on one another. Seeing the new set of 8 guards he again tries to make a quick judgement, which one may the easiest target, the one that looks most confused or doubtful of why he and Gabriel were being escorted past them.
Insight 22
He then chooses that guard and makes one last effort to sow doubt and confusion.
It is Gundwynd! By the name of Shar stop those guards. I need the prisoners alive! Stop them by all means!
Deception 16
Sylvio sneaks up to the smithy and try to get a look inside and see how many are in there.
Noob
Sweeps follows Sylvio through the alley behind the buildings toward the stable to the south. He whispers to Sylvio and Sunny “Be careful of the smithy, it looks like someone is inside. We should make for the stables”
As he approaches the stables, he pauses to look for signs of any people in the building and the location of the sewer entrance.
Perception 23
Sunny follows closely looking about quickly as they reach the stables for anything of use. Are there horses or carts occupying the stables presently?
Gabriel remains compliant, waiting to see the outcome of Amadi's last hail mary.
Gabriel remained in silence, reinforcing the idea of the guards that he was using some sort of magic to reach into their minds even though in truth he was doing nothing of the sort. Amadi tried to use his telepathy again, but by this point the trick had become old and the only he got from the soldier was a brief sigh of annoyance. At the very least the attempts to compel Bryte to stop using magic through force had stopped.
Before long the manège came into view for the group formed by prisoners and man-at-arms. A large building that seemed to be equal parts stone and wood, drowned in silence. For the guards it meant that the evacuation order given to the Villa staff had been enacted successfully, to the arcanist and the cleric it meant that there were no more troops around.
Further south, Sylvio advances, an inaudible specter in the alley formed between smithy and the outer wall. He is then followed by Sweeps and finally Sunny and Chewy. As their approach the forge the echoing sound of steel being pounded took the air, disguising any noise that the trio steep could possibly cause. Looking inside the building the elf sees a middle-aged man using simple clothes under a thick leather apron. Gloves of the same material covered his hands as he tempered some sort of blade. Two young man with similar attire moved carrying tools. A master and his apprentices, the rogue knew, far too absorbed with their own work to know about the chaos in the property.
As the trio moved onward their reached the stables. The place was as large as the manège and housed size or eight animals. Entering Sweeps was fast to determine that the place was empty, except for the beasts it housed. Tools in the floor suggested that the workers were evacuated in a hurry, probably as soon as tensions broke out in the mansion.
Notes
Questions answered in the OOC.Visual aid of the area updated and in spoiler (with subtitles) below. In case of further doubts feel free to ask here or in the OOC chat.
Red - Gundwynd Villa
Purple - Villa House (mansion)
Orange - Manège
Blue - Stables
Upon sneaking into the stables Sylvio immediately begins looking for a sewer entrance. “We need-a to find the way out of-a this place. We also need-a to watch the manor for the others-a.” He begins searching about for a sewer entrance.
20 perception
Noob
Knowing the time is coming for action and feeling the weakness still in her body, she casts cure wounds at first level on herself. Healing 6 of her injuries. As she does so, she looks about at the animals in the stables and smiles. She whispers to Sylvio and Sweeps, "We need a distraction right?" Looking at the 8 beasts within the stables.
Of note, Sunny is a Ranger/Beast Master and her animal handling is high at a +6. So I'm hoping at the very least she can keep them from spooking the animals with their presence.