Barty's "Tyranny In Phlan" (DDEX1-10)

((OOC : Anything else that we can see in the room?  A bucket of water, perhaps?  Any keys?))

Perception, if needed : 15

"We could try to draw them out," Auriel whispers. "Create a disturbance out here. Shouts of an attack, and that the prisoners are escaping. If we're lucky, the guards will come to investigate."

Hex sees Hildgrim's anxiety over their lack of knowledge of what may be in the room and gives him a sympathetic smile. "Give me moment. I might be able to find out a little bit more of what's going on in the room." She takes a few steps away from the door before casting Detect Thoughts, trying to keep her voice low as she speaks the spell aloud. She then moves back to the door and peeks in, reading the surface thoughts of the guards inside as well as trying to detect how many more others there may be that they can't see.

OOC: DM, is there a way to check if the door is locked without making noise? If it is locked, is there a visible lock that could be picked?

OOC: I'd say Sleight of Hand check there to try and test the door as quietly as possible.

((OOC : Anything else that we can see in the room?  A bucket of water, perhaps?  Any keys?))

The armor and uniform of the guards are those of the Knights of the Black Fist, with the exception of the bright green paint that has been splashed across them. The ceiling of the room is around ten feet high, and the room is brightly lit by a fireplace on the west wall. In addition, there is an oil lamp flickering on the desk in the side room where the third man is working. Craning his neck to see further into the sides of the room, the only other thing of note that Carl sees is a free-standing cell - a cage of sorts, currently empty with its door open.

Hex sees Hildgrim's anxiety over their lack of knowledge of what may be in the room and gives him a sympathetic smile. "Give me moment. I might be able to find out a little bit more of what's going on in the room." She takes a few steps away from the door before casting Detect Thoughts, trying to keep her voice low as she speaks the spell aloud. She then moves back to the door and peeks in, reading the surface thoughts of the guards inside as well as trying to detect how many more others there may be that they can't see.

OOC: My general rule of thumb regarding spells with Verbal components is that they are required to be audible since there are abilities that characters can learn that allow them to specifically cast spells quietly - from the PHB, "Most spells require the chanting of mystic words. The words themselves aren’t the source of the spell’s power; rather, the particular combination of sounds, with specific pitch and resonance, sets the threads of magic in motion." I think Hex would be able to walk out of range of the door and back before the spell ends, since it lasts a minute, if that works for you - I'd say she'd have about half the spell's duration left when she reaches the door, to have no chance of it being heard by the occupants within.

(Yeah, that's fine with me! Hex only needs about 18-24 seconds to do everything she wants - read each of the guards' minds and detect if there's anyone else within the vicinity - since they only take one action/6 seconds each to do. If she can't do all of it, then she'll prioritise detecting any other minds.)

OOC: Since Hex is trying something, Hildigrim will wait to test the door just in case he makes too much noise in the process.

"We could try to draw them out," Auriel whispers. "Create a disturbance out here. Shouts of an attack, and that the prisoners are escaping. If we're lucky, the guards will come to investigate."

Hildigrim nods appreciably. "That is a good plan," he says, pushing his glasses up his narrow nose.

"Give me moment. I might be able to find out a little bit more of what's going on in the room."

The halfling watches as the tiefling walks back the way they came. Frowning slightly, he looks at Auriel and Carl. A few seconds later, as Hex is returning, he asks in a loud whisper, "What did you do?"

For Hex:

Hex doesn't answer Hildigrim immediately as she concentrates on the thoughts of the guards. She wasn't expecting much, not being able to influence the guard's thoughts to gain more insight, but at the very least she could confirm there were only three in the room. The spell soon fades and she turns back to Hildigrim. "Well, I was hoping their thoughts would reveal a bit more but we aren't so lucky. There's only the three of them inside so we shouldn't be surprised by anyone hiding out of sight, at least. The one at the desk, Spernik I'm assuming, seems to be distracted by a book? He's on a timeline as well. Only has an hour to find something. That's all I was able to find out."

"Thoughts?" Hildigrim asks, clearly surprised. He looks away a second before beginning to nod. Smiling back at Hex, he says, "That's a helpful skill. Magic?" he asks. He had never heard of mind reading being something tieflings could possess, but the species is so varied — at least in the books he's read — he wouldn't be surprised to find Hex could read minds innately.

After she answers his query, he looks back at Auriel. "Your disturbance idea is a good one." He begins looking around, trying to formulate the best way to implement it.

DM: Can you describe the corridor we're in? Is the door within a wall or at the end of the corridor? Can we stand on either side of the door and pounce once the door is opened? Or is it where there's nowhere to hide?

Auriel nods to Hildigrim. "It should be one of you who calls out about an attack on the Gate. I'm not especially skilled at deception," he admits quietly.

He pauses, then adds, "Unless you'd rather recreate another brawl, like on the island." A faint, fleeting smile touches his lips as he says this, gone almost as soon as it appears.

Hex smiles and nods at Hildigrim's question. "Yup. A useful spell but a risky one if I try to probe too deep."

At Auriel's suggestion of a disturbance, she taps her chin as a thought comes to mind. "Oh... actually I might have another spell that could help us with that. I can change my appearance, appear as one of the guards above to lure them out?"

Carl is standing there quietly, listening to the options, and another thought comes to mind.  "Let me head to where you were, Hex.  I can cast an ethereal hand, I can use it to pick up that oil lamp and dash it on the floor, then create a fire that will separate Spernik from his men.  It will also prevent him from escaping the room.  We handle his minions, then extinguish the flame and handle him.  If he gets singed around the edges, no matter.  It will wall him off so we can handle the others.  One of them we may be able to push in that cell and close the door.  Maybe that's you, Auriel.  What do you think?"  Carl chews on his cheek, beard moving furiously as he considers next steps quickly, looking for consensus.  

Hildigrim nods silently as the others speak, his gaze fixed on the floor. One ink-stained finger taps thoughtfully against his chin, a soft, steady rhythm betraying the speed of his thoughts.

“Hex gets them to open the door. We rush in. Carl isolates Spernik.” He stops mid-tap, a frown creasing his brow.

“No,” he says quietly, but firmly. “Creating a barrier doesn’t just cut Spernik off from his guards — it cuts us off from him. And that gives him time. Time to escape. Time to do something … inventive.” His eyes lift. “We don’t know how many exits he has, or what contingencies he’s prepared. Our objective isn’t the guards. It’s Spernik.”

He turns to Auriel, weighing him with a strategist’s eye. “Carl’s right about one thing — you’re the best chance we have of taking him alive.”

Without waiting for agreement, he presses on, momentum building.

“My suggestion is this: Hex alters her appearance. A guard — on edge, urgent, excited.” His eyes flick briefly to her, then back to the door. “I remain out of their line of sight. When the moment comes, I’ll speak in the Lord Regent’s voice.” He says this last part, unerringly mimicking Ector Brahms' speech patterns and accent.

A thin, humorless smile touches his lips. “They’re expecting him. Or hoping for him. Hex tells them she’s bringing the Regent to Spernik. The door opens.” His eyes sharpen. “The instant it does, Auriel moves. Straight for Spernik. No hesitation.”

He looks between the others. “The rest of us neutralize the guards and then collapse inward. Fast. Clean.”

Finally, his gaze again settles on Auriel, steady and serious. “We have no idea what dark talents Spernik has at his disposal. Assume the worst. Don’t give him space. Don’t give him time.” He's breathes. “And whatever happens — do not let him disappear.”

DM: Can you describe the corridor we're in? Is the door within a wall or at the end of the corridor? Can we stand on either side of the door and pounce once the door is opened? Or is it where there's nowhere to hide?

OOC: The door is at the end of the corridor, so there is not much space surrounding it, but one person could likely stand on each side of the door without being seen through the grate on the door.

"That is a useful magic you wield, Hex," Auriel says, after she explains.

As Carl and Hildigrim outline their plan, he nods once in approval — then pauses, a faint crease forming between his brows.

"Take Spernik alive?" he asks, voice even, but probing. "Is that truly the intent?"

The Eladrin tilts his head slightly. "I was under the impression the goal was to silence him… entirely."

Hildigrim visibly stiffens. But one look at his face shows it is not fear or anger that causes his shoulders and back to go rigid — it is resolve.

"That is the ultimate goal, yes," he says gravely, continuing to speak at a low volume. "But there are too many unanswered questions to silence him quickly. We will need to have a conversation. And I hope I have the constitution to do what needs to be done to get answers."

He looks at his three compatriots. "Do any of you possess the skill to compel someone to speak the truth? Or, perhaps ..." he pauses briefly, "... to speak with the dead? I have read about such spells, and one or both would be very helpful during an interrogation."

Hex shakes her head at Hildigrim. "No, unfortunately I don't." She glances towards the locked door in front of them and chews her bottom lip nervously. "Hey, as much as I love a good plan, we need to move quickly. The longer we take here, the more likely the guards will return and the Lord Regent and the prisoners are overrun. The plan we have now is as good as any. Just say the word and I'll cast my spell."

"Understood. I will do my best to keep him alive for as long as we deem necessary. But not long: Spernik needs to return to the dead, where he belongs. He has done enough harm with his resurrection as it is."

With that, the paladin nods to Hex, signaling that he is ready to act.

Carl nods as well, fingers crackling, ready to throw two eldritch blasts into the room at the guards once he has a clear vantage point..

Once everyone is ready, Hex casts Disguise Self, making herself look like the last remaining guard after Aleyd and her knights had managed to lure away the others. Remembering what she overheard in yard, she walks up and bangs on the door loudly. "Spernik! The next group's here. Lord Regent's among them." She steps back to give space for Auriel and the others to move in when the door opens.