Sylvio thinks about Sunny’s suggestion a moment before responding “Perhaps... it-a has merit but-a the problem is that we are-a hiding in the stables-a. If-a the animals are loose, they will-a know something is-a wrong in the stables and will-a come here or at least return-a the animals here-a. It is a good-a idea but must-a be done at just-a the right time-a so we can-a use the distraction and escape-a with the others before-a they come here looking-a.”
I have tried and failed. I am sorry. It looks like we must fight, I see no other way out. If the stables are empty then when the door closes I will grow again and hopefully break my bonds and we will fight, and then run.
Sweeps enters the stables with the others, some small sense of familiarity filling him as he lightly pats and comforts a nearby animal to prevent them from becoming alarmed at their arrival. He was used to stables. All across the city, rich or poor neighborhoods, they were largely the same. The Gundwynds may have a larger one, with more elaborate features, but at the end of the day they all served the same purpose. He looks around quickly, noticing that the grooms and other stablehands left in a hurry, and searches for the connection to the sewers. He will also look out the doorway or windows back toward the house to see if there are any signs of guards or his fellow companions.
Perception 8
“Sylvio makes a good point. Releasing the animals will just bring attention to the stables. If we need a distraction, perhaps setting fire to the manege would be a useful one. However, I don’t with to cause additional harm or destruction, it would just make us more likely to be viewed as criminals. Perhaps we will not need a distraction. Has anyone seen any sign of the others?”
The trio of escapees enter the stables from one of its back doors, a place closer to the outer wall of the villa. They discuss a course of action, strategy and diversions while Sunny occupies herself with healing her wounds, Sweeps advances in search for a window through which he could see the mansion and Sylvio start looking for a sewer entrance. Distance had made impossible to watch the mansion and so the genasi efforts are proven to be in vain, but the elf easily notices the presence of a manhole not far from the point where they made their entrance, just halfway the stables proper and the Villa’s wall. Provided they manage open the lid, a simple feat for a barbarian, it would be easy to descend into the gutter. Even for the tortle with her shell.
Another thing of note for the trio is the fact that at the center of the stables lies a carriage. Skilled with land vehicles, Sweeps knows it to be the kind drawn by four horses. It’s wagon an ornate structure of wood, with the sigil of House Gundwynd carved upon its doors and richly colored. Inexperienced in carpentry none of the three can identify the wood used or the quality of the ironwork holding it together, but for everything they saw in the Villa it was safe to assume it was made to the highest standard.
Halfway through the manège, Amadi and Gabriel notice the total absence of staff, even guards, in the place. They easily presume that after what happened in the mansion most of the soldiers were there. Most likely the House personnel were evacuated, and they wouldn’t find soldiers anywhere but the entrance gate and by whoever the laborers stood. Shadeflame tells Bryte of his new plan and the aasimar disguise a sign of his understanding. Suddenly they start to hear the echo of steel being hammered - a smity, still occupied. Not all workers where evacuated.
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
Sylvio points out the manhole “There is-a our escape hatch. Sweeps can-a you open that up for us-a? With-a that open we have a way out-a. Now we just-a need to find-a the others. Can-a you see the manor from-a here?” He then eyes the carriage and opens it up to see if there’s anything useful inside. 6 investigation
Sunny will help Sylvio check the carriage quickly.
"Now how to get the others out of the house? I doubt we'll be so lucky with access to the house through. I'd like to leave the smithy alone hoping that he'll stay out of it, although there might be good gear in there should we need it."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sweeps shakes his head and whispers back to Sylvio “No, I can’t see the manor, or any sign of the others at this point, just too far away.”He turns back to Sunny "I am not sure how to free the others. Any chance they are holding the others somewhere else on the grounds? I can't see them keeping prisoners in the main house with the lord and lady. If they are going to hand them to the city watch, they may just march them out the front gate."
He moves over to the sewer grate and uses his strength to attempt to force it open. Athletics 15
Amadi silently walks along with the guards hoping he has the strength to release his bonds. He is waiting for the stables, far enough from the house and hopefully no additional guards. He silently whispers prayers to Gond in his mind.
At the sound of the smithy he raises his head. The sound of hammered steel fills his heart. They may be work for the Gundwynd family, but they may be his allies. He considers that they may be members of the Most Careful Order of Skilled Smiths & Metalforgers but Gundwynd may hire the best and so they may be from the Splendid Order of Armorers, Locksmiths, & Finesmiths. He hoped so, he needed allies.
Amadi tried to remember who from his guild may work the the Gundwynd family. The smithy would likely be close to the stables. Amadi had his gray cloak with a single blue star on the left shoulder designating his membership to his guild. Hope returned to him as he watched for the blacksmith.
If they don't find anything useful in the Carriage, Sunny will return to watching while the others looks about the stables. "If they take them out of the gate, they likely will have a ways to go. We can exit through there," gestures at the sewer exit, "and seek to intercept them elsewhere. That exit is still our only hope I believe."
The sound of steel being hammered was stronger at each step. A melody that told a story, a tale about strength in the harms and strength in the spirit, about creativity and effort and fire. A song Amadi knew well and that carried there echoes of hope. House Gundwynd had more than proved its predilection for quality, for the rare and especial. Few could hope to satisfy the nobles like his guild. The men at work there could friends, allies or, at the very least, sympathetic to the situation. Maybe not enough to confront the guards, but at least to the point of delaying the soldiers by questioning about what was happening and when their evacuation would happen. A few telepathic messages could be enough to bring them to act, especially as the cleric carried his proof of office proudly, a gray cloak with a single blue star on the left shoulder. A mark that, closer to the forges, Shadeflame simply do not find.
Gabriel, stoic and attentive notices not the absence of a symbol, but rather the presence of a guard. It lasted but a second, but the aassimar saw a soldier with the same arms he meet at the entrance gate and at the mansion, moving crouched from a window side to the other, hoping in vain that it’s frame would be tall enough to hide him. But what could a guard be doing there when all the others seem to have been called either to the mansion or to the entrance gate? Did they failed to hear the alarm and remained there waiting for some king of repair in their weapons or amors? Or did they go there to avoid the alarm. No, Amadi said it before, the guards are well trained. They would never fail to notice the situation or run from it. There was another option, the last one - a trap.
It made sense. For complete stranger, the two best places in the Villa to find weapon or equipment would be the Barracks and the Smithy, and out of the two the Smithy would be easier pray. That by itself was a good sign, Bryte understood. The three that escaped through the window had not left the Villa and were yet to be captured. He and Amadi, they were not abandoned.
While Sylvio and Sunny investigate de carriage, Sweeps pulled one, two times and easily opened the entrance of the sewers. At first glance the elf finds nothing in the cart, he was about to leave it be when the tortle pointed that they should look under the carpet. Her question made the rogue notice how strange it was for such wagon to have a carpet, and agreeing with the ranger, he took it and started examining the wooden floor. Carved on it there was an amalgamation of diagrams, subtly craved into the wood, precisely carved into the wood. Strange symbols. Then Chewy presses his nose against the beast-master, as if trying to say something
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
@Guba and @Paladin You are now passing by the Smithy. By the next narration you may arrive at the stables. @Jynne with your passive Insight you understand that Chewy is trying to cal you attention and show something.
Sunny answers Chewy asking him to show her whatever he noticed. The mastiff points to a window with view to the smithy and from there the keen eyes of the ranger are fast to notice six individuals approaching. Divided in two trios, each made of two guards wearing the orange and red of Gundwynd surrounding a shackled figure. Amadi and Gabriel, the tortle recognized. They were restrained and being brought to the stables.
She looked at the cart with its strange engravings. Where the soldiers intending to transport the two? If so, to where? There was no way to be sure, but it was at very least unlikely that her captured friends would be sent to the City Guard. It would be much more practical to let them come to get the prisoners than to transport them. More importantly, if she could see the six then it was a matter of time before the six could see her, Sylvio and Sweeps. They needed to decide on a plan of action fast and needed to do so without being noticed.
Notes
In the next DM post the escort (guards, Amadi and Gabriel) will reach the stables. You all have a turn to act.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, thanks to Sunny passive perception you notice Amadi and Gabriel being transported to the stables. @Gunner, given his passive perception Sweeps notices the same as Sunny if he looks in the direction Chewy is pointing. @Althax, @Gunner and @Jynne, you can make a stealth check to keep hidden from the approaching group but if you do so you will not be able to perform another action that demand a die roll. @Althax, if either Sweeps of Sunny tell what they see Sylvio can make an Investigation check to deduce why the guards are bringing Gabriel and Amadi to the stables. This skill check can be made even if you opt to roll a stealth check.
@DM Armadi and Gabriel are only being 'held' at the moment, or do they have shackles? Also are they)the prisoners) presently in view of the guards outside the villa?
Sunny whispers to Chewy, "Good Boy," then to the others still in a whisper, "The guards are coming with Amadi and Gabriel but I don't think we should let them put them in the Carriage, after where we've been transported to, it might 'send' them rather than need to be led with those symbols on its floor."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sunny also makes an attempt to hide near the carriage but in a position to hopefully prevent them from being locked inside it. She's suspicious that they didn't hook up the carriage before loading up the prisoners, further worrying her about the magical capabilities of the Carriage. Sunny stealth20 (if needed only - Chewy's stealth roll with disadvantage for armor - 20
Seeing the blacksmith as they passed by Amadi called to him in his mind. By the Splendid Order of Armorers, Locksmiths, & Finesmiths help me. I have been falsely accused. If you cannot intervene at least notify Hallthor Duzmund, Master Smith. My name is Amadi Shadeflame. Aid me if you can! By the Holy Maker of All Things I am a cleric of Gond! Aid me! I have been falsely accused!
Amadi had only a fleeting moment to hope that the blacksmith would answer, at least to send for aid, perhaps intervene and delay.
Persuasion 20 with advantage using my inspiration
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Sylvio thinks about Sunny’s suggestion a moment before responding “Perhaps... it-a has merit but-a the problem is that we are-a hiding in the stables-a. If-a the animals are loose, they will-a know something is-a wrong in the stables and will-a come here or at least return-a the animals here-a. It is a good-a idea but must-a be done at just-a the right time-a so we can-a use the distraction and escape-a with the others before-a they come here looking-a.”
Noob
Amadi speaks to Gabriel again in his mind again.
I have tried and failed. I am sorry. It looks like we must fight, I see no other way out. If the stables are empty then when the door closes I will grow again and hopefully break my bonds and we will fight, and then run.
Sweeps enters the stables with the others, some small sense of familiarity filling him as he lightly pats and comforts a nearby animal to prevent them from becoming alarmed at their arrival. He was used to stables. All across the city, rich or poor neighborhoods, they were largely the same. The Gundwynds may have a larger one, with more elaborate features, but at the end of the day they all served the same purpose. He looks around quickly, noticing that the grooms and other stablehands left in a hurry, and searches for the connection to the sewers. He will also look out the doorway or windows back toward the house to see if there are any signs of guards or his fellow companions.
Perception 8
“Sylvio makes a good point. Releasing the animals will just bring attention to the stables. If we need a distraction, perhaps setting fire to the manege would be a useful one. However, I don’t with to cause additional harm or destruction, it would just make us more likely to be viewed as criminals. Perhaps we will not need a distraction. Has anyone seen any sign of the others?”
(Since DM is being so kind to allow two cure wounds for second heal - 5 )
Sunny will watch the entrance of the Stables while Sweeps searches for Sewer access.
Gabriel nods, imperceptibly, hiding the action as a cough.
The trio of escapees enter the stables from one of its back doors, a place closer to the outer wall of the villa. They discuss a course of action, strategy and diversions while Sunny occupies herself with healing her wounds, Sweeps advances in search for a window through which he could see the mansion and Sylvio start looking for a sewer entrance. Distance had made impossible to watch the mansion and so the genasi efforts are proven to be in vain, but the elf easily notices the presence of a manhole not far from the point where they made their entrance, just halfway the stables proper and the Villa’s wall. Provided they manage open the lid, a simple feat for a barbarian, it would be easy to descend into the gutter. Even for the tortle with her shell.
Another thing of note for the trio is the fact that at the center of the stables lies a carriage. Skilled with land vehicles, Sweeps knows it to be the kind drawn by four horses. It’s wagon an ornate structure of wood, with the sigil of House Gundwynd carved upon its doors and richly colored. Inexperienced in carpentry none of the three can identify the wood used or the quality of the ironwork holding it together, but for everything they saw in the Villa it was safe to assume it was made to the highest standard.
Halfway through the manège, Amadi and Gabriel notice the total absence of staff, even guards, in the place. They easily presume that after what happened in the mansion most of the soldiers were there. Most likely the House personnel were evacuated, and they wouldn’t find soldiers anywhere but the entrance gate and by whoever the laborers stood. Shadeflame tells Bryte of his new plan and the aasimar disguise a sign of his understanding. Suddenly they start to hear the echo of steel being hammered - a smity, still occupied. Not all workers where evacuated.
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
Sylvio points out the manhole “There is-a our escape hatch. Sweeps can-a you open that up for us-a? With-a that open we have a way out-a. Now we just-a need to find-a the others. Can-a you see the manor from-a here?” He then eyes the carriage and opens it up to see if there’s anything useful inside. 6 investigation
and again with the help 22 investigation
Noob
Sunny will help Sylvio check the carriage quickly.
"Now how to get the others out of the house? I doubt we'll be so lucky with access to the house through. I'd like to leave the smithy alone hoping that he'll stay out of it, although there might be good gear in there should we need it."
Sweeps shakes his head and whispers back to Sylvio “No, I can’t see the manor, or any sign of the others at this point, just too far away.” He turns back to Sunny "I am not sure how to free the others. Any chance they are holding the others somewhere else on the grounds? I can't see them keeping prisoners in the main house with the lord and lady. If they are going to hand them to the city watch, they may just march them out the front gate."
He moves over to the sewer grate and uses his strength to attempt to force it open. Athletics 15
(Using inspiration to reroll: 11 )
Amadi silently walks along with the guards hoping he has the strength to release his bonds. He is waiting for the stables, far enough from the house and hopefully no additional guards. He silently whispers prayers to Gond in his mind.
At the sound of the smithy he raises his head. The sound of hammered steel fills his heart. They may be work for the Gundwynd family, but they may be his allies. He considers that they may be members of the Most Careful Order of Skilled Smiths & Metalforgers but Gundwynd may hire the best and so they may be from the Splendid Order of Armorers, Locksmiths, & Finesmiths. He hoped so, he needed allies.
Amadi tried to remember who from his guild may work the the Gundwynd family. The smithy would likely be close to the stables. Amadi had his gray cloak with a single blue star on the left shoulder designating his membership to his guild. Hope returned to him as he watched for the blacksmith.
If they don't find anything useful in the Carriage, Sunny will return to watching while the others looks about the stables. "If they take them out of the gate, they likely will have a ways to go. We can exit through there," gestures at the sewer exit, "and seek to intercept them elsewhere. That exit is still our only hope I believe."
Perception check for Gabriel (passive 13) 17
Amadi Perception (Passive 16) 26
The sound of steel being hammered was stronger at each step. A melody that told a story, a tale about strength in the harms and strength in the spirit, about creativity and effort and fire. A song Amadi knew well and that carried there echoes of hope. House Gundwynd had more than proved its predilection for quality, for the rare and especial. Few could hope to satisfy the nobles like his guild. The men at work there could friends, allies or, at the very least, sympathetic to the situation. Maybe not enough to confront the guards, but at least to the point of delaying the soldiers by questioning about what was happening and when their evacuation would happen. A few telepathic messages could be enough to bring them to act, especially as the cleric carried his proof of office proudly, a gray cloak with a single blue star on the left shoulder. A mark that, closer to the forges, Shadeflame simply do not find.
Gabriel, stoic and attentive notices not the absence of a symbol, but rather the presence of a guard. It lasted but a second, but the aassimar saw a soldier with the same arms he meet at the entrance gate and at the mansion, moving crouched from a window side to the other, hoping in vain that it’s frame would be tall enough to hide him. But what could a guard be doing there when all the others seem to have been called either to the mansion or to the entrance gate? Did they failed to hear the alarm and remained there waiting for some king of repair in their weapons or amors? Or did they go there to avoid the alarm. No, Amadi said it before, the guards are well trained. They would never fail to notice the situation or run from it. There was another option, the last one - a trap.
It made sense. For complete stranger, the two best places in the Villa to find weapon or equipment would be the Barracks and the Smithy, and out of the two the Smithy would be easier pray. That by itself was a good sign, Bryte understood. The three that escaped through the window had not left the Villa and were yet to be captured. He and Amadi, they were not abandoned.
While Sylvio and Sunny investigate de carriage, Sweeps pulled one, two times and easily opened the entrance of the sewers. At first glance the elf finds nothing in the cart, he was about to leave it be when the tortle pointed that they should look under the carpet. Her question made the rogue notice how strange it was for such wagon to have a carpet, and agreeing with the ranger, he took it and started examining the wooden floor. Carved on it there was an amalgamation of diagrams, subtly craved into the wood, precisely carved into the wood. Strange symbols. Then Chewy presses his nose against the beast-master, as if trying to say something
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
@Guba and @Paladin You are now passing by the Smithy. By the next narration you may arrive at the stables.
@Jynne with your passive Insight you understand that Chewy is trying to cal you attention and show something.
Sunny noticing the familiar signal from Chewy, looks down at him immediately and whispers, "Show me," giving him a little encouragement.
To the others, "Chewy has noticed something."
Sunny answers Chewy asking him to show her whatever he noticed. The mastiff points to a window with view to the smithy and from there the keen eyes of the ranger are fast to notice six individuals approaching. Divided in two trios, each made of two guards wearing the orange and red of Gundwynd surrounding a shackled figure. Amadi and Gabriel, the tortle recognized. They were restrained and being brought to the stables.
She looked at the cart with its strange engravings. Where the soldiers intending to transport the two? If so, to where? There was no way to be sure, but it was at very least unlikely that her captured friends would be sent to the City Guard. It would be much more practical to let them come to get the prisoners than to transport them. More importantly, if she could see the six then it was a matter of time before the six could see her, Sylvio and Sweeps. They needed to decide on a plan of action fast and needed to do so without being noticed.
Notes
In the next DM post the escort (guards, Amadi and Gabriel) will reach the stables. You all have a turn to act.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, thanks to Sunny passive perception you notice Amadi and Gabriel being transported to the stables.
@Gunner, given his passive perception Sweeps notices the same as Sunny if he looks in the direction Chewy is pointing.
@Althax, @Gunner and @Jynne, you can make a stealth check to keep hidden from the approaching group but if you do so you will not be able to perform another action that demand a die roll.
@Althax, if either Sweeps of Sunny tell what they see Sylvio can make an Investigation check to deduce why the guards are bringing Gabriel and Amadi to the stables. This skill check can be made even if you opt to roll a stealth check.
@DM Armadi and Gabriel are only being 'held' at the moment, or do they have shackles? Also are they)the prisoners) presently in view of the guards outside the villa?
Sunny whispers to Chewy, "Good Boy," then to the others still in a whisper, "The guards are coming with Amadi and Gabriel but I don't think we should let them put them in the Carriage, after where we've been transported to, it might 'send' them rather than need to be led with those symbols on its floor."
At Sunny’s whisper, Sylvio jerks his head upwards to see the guards coming “quick hide!” he hisses. Why here he wonders? 15 investigation
Sylvio slips out of the carriage to hide behind it. 35
Noob
Sunny also makes an attempt to hide near the carriage but in a position to hopefully prevent them from being locked inside it. She's suspicious that they didn't hook up the carriage before loading up the prisoners, further worrying her about the magical capabilities of the Carriage. Sunny stealth 20 (if needed only - Chewy's stealth roll with disadvantage for armor - 20
Seeing the blacksmith as they passed by Amadi called to him in his mind. By the Splendid Order of Armorers, Locksmiths, & Finesmiths help me. I have been falsely accused. If you cannot intervene at least notify Hallthor Duzmund, Master Smith. My name is Amadi Shadeflame. Aid me if you can! By the Holy Maker of All Things I am a cleric of Gond! Aid me! I have been falsely accused!
Amadi had only a fleeting moment to hope that the blacksmith would answer, at least to send for aid, perhaps intervene and delay.
Persuasion 20 with advantage using my inspiration