Ajax tries to knock him down without killing him, saying to the others

"he can have some insights"

NON LETHAL 

Attack: 21 Damage: 4

Bonus Attack: 11 Damage: 7

Mulligan tries to hit him over the head with the butt of his hammer, trying to knock him out without killing him.  ((Rolling this as a regular attack for now, if you want me to do something different I will.))

Attack: 9 Damage: 5

 Ajax and Mulligan, both realizing the man might be more use alive, try to temper their blows to incapacitate the ruffian.  However, the injured man is more nimble than either anticipated, and manages to dodge their attacks. 

Melkias frowns.

"Wonderful, perhaps we'll invite him to TEA later!"

He moves in, rapier drawn, and attempts to bop the so-called Redbrand over the head with the blunt part of the rapier (non-lethal).

(Attack: 15. Damage: 7)

As the ruffian dodges blows from the fighters, he moves right into the path of Melkias' rapier.  With a solid bop to the head, the man drops, eyes rolling back in his head, unconscious. 

After he falls, the woman in the southern cell begins whispering.  "Over here!" she whisper-shouts.  "Let us out!  Quick, before more show up! Or the wizard!"

Mulligan checks the men for the keys to the cells.

Investigation: 12

Watching Mulligan searching the men, the woman whispers again.  "They don't carry keys - you'll have to pick the lock or break it.  Hurry, please!"  She turns to comfort the small girl in the cell with her.  The boy in the north cell moves closer and you can see that he is wearing an iron collar around his neck.  "Are you planning to sell us, too?" he asks quietly. 

Melkias takes a cloth and wipes the blade of the rapier.

"Ah, see! that wasn't so bad, the poor sod just needed a nap."

As the folks in the cell speak, he gets an odd look about him.

"No keys? How do you lock people in a cellar for sale without a key? From a business standpoint that's just...absurd." 

He looks at the woman in the cell.

"Miss...and please don't say 'Mrs' and break my heart...we'll try and get you out of there, but I'm afraid general larceny skills are not in my repertoire."

He looks to the rest of the group as if needing suggestions.

Delg takes his rope and ties up the man still alive. Then he gives a look at the locks to see how strong they are.

Investigation: 11

Ajax takes a moment of breath, looks at the bad injury and invokes the Gods murmuring while touching the still open wound. 

The biggest wound disappears in a few seconds

+14 hp

He thanks the gods with a low murmur and gets back at the situation 

Noticing the glow and his wound closing, Melkias casts a sidelong glance at his new ally.

"Um...Ajax, was it? If ever you need me to look at a wound, feel free to ask. I am a trained physician after all. Came in handy in the Battle of One Tree Hill. Awkward battle that was. Still can't hear the word 'slippery' without a good chuckle. Lesson in that battle is always wait nature out."

At Melkias' words, the woman seems to gather herself and nods quietly.  "Mrs. Dendrar.  These are my children.  The Redbrands killed my husband and planned to sell us as slaves.  The guards did not have keys - the wizard carries them."  The girl begins to sob quietly and the woman comforts her.  "Please help us get back to Phandalin," she says.  "We must tell Townmaster Wester about my husband's murder." 

Delg walks over to inspect the locks.  They are dirty, but strong.  Someone with lockpicking skills might be able to open them, or perhaps a show of brute strength, but it's hard to tell. 

"thank you Melkias but I am almost fine..."

Ajax replies then, listening to the speech of the slave he thinks the help of the town master will be unlikely... He will try with a good hit to break the lock

"stand aside..."

4

Raya is all too familiar with this situation (she's seen this a lot during her upbringing). She starts to get heated "Those damn Redbrands think they can sell people for their own gain and think there won't be consequences? No! I won't stand for it!" She walks up to the cage the women is in and quietly says "Stand back" then gestures for the others to do the same.

Raya's hands start to glow red hot, green arcane energy swirling within. She points to the lock and mutters some arcane words. Raya will cast heat metal on the lock. The lock will glow a brilliant bright orange. She will take the hilt of her scimitar and pound away at the lock in the hopes the metal is soft enough to break easier.

Attack: 25 Damage: 12 (Crit)

DM:

Ajax steps up to hit the lock, but his weapon glances off, leaving just a small nick on the lock.  Raya, channeling her anger at the Redbrands, casts a spell, and then pounds at the padlock.  It breaks free, dropping to the ground, freeing the two women.  The lock falls to the floor on the outside of the cell door, missing the flammable piles of hay in the floor of the cell. 

The women huddle together.  "Thank you," the older woman says gratefully.  "Can you free my son now?  We need to get out of here before the wizard shows up.  Or one of his furry monsters."  She shudders in horror.

"I'm sorry...the WHAT now?", Melkias frowns.

"I think these Redbrands are a little TOO well funded, having monsters and wizards and such. We'll have to make sure we clear out their vaults before we leave. Because...um...if they can't be bankrolled they have no operation. Right, that was it."

Delg goes to the other cell and swings at the lock, two handed.

Attempt: 9 Damage: 5

"The furry monster," the woman says again and begins describing them.  As she speaks, you realize she is describing bugbears.  While she talks, Delg walks over to the boy's cell and tries to break the lock.  His aim is off and his weapon glances off the cell door, missing the lock. 

"If you need money," the woman says, "we don't have any.  But I know where you can find a family heirloom - as a reward for helping us escape.  You are helping us escape?" she asks uncertainly. 

"Yes Ma'am, we're helping you escape" Raya says to the women as she  helps her out of the cell. We're not quite sure how we can get you out safely. She gestures to the group "Guys, any ideas?" Raya turns back to the women "Do you know a way out by chance?"

If the women looks severely hurt Raya will cast [spell]cure wounds[spell] at 1st level on her: Healing: 9

Delg hits the lock again. "The way I came in is not far from where I met you lot. But no way to know if they can return to town safely."

Attempt 17 

Damage 10