The guards relent, unable to defend themselves should Rollo follow through with his threat. Prisoner is in the dungeons. Through the locked door below us, third door to the left. Not sure why you care about that old woman, aren't you here for her ladyship?

Lightly pushing the captain off of himself as Claire moved in, he got himself up, dipping his side in where the captain had attempted to gut him as the wound closed. breathing in relief as the fight, seemed, to be over. Nodding at Claire as he began to strip the captain of her armor and weapons. If anyone asked "What the **** are you doing?!" he'd respond with Making her easier to hit. since.. without her armor and weapons, she was little more than a skilled commoner Unless stopped, he'd proceed until she was left in only her underclothes, before heftign her over his shoulder. But as he did so, he responded to the now bound guards. 

Ha.. Could care less about... I think her name was Cromm? We were only ever here for the prisoner. Had whoever the dumbass was at the gate the other day just let us in, we could have gotten what we came for - And none of you would have had to die at all, defending someone who was never in danger in the first place. No hard feelings though. You thought you were doing your job, and we had our own. I'll be keeping the captain as insurance.. Just in case, either you change your minds.. or the prisoner isn't who we think it is. Just sit tight, and we'll be out of your hair quickly. Don't make this harder on any of us than it has to be. 

Barring any interruptions or attempted stops, Zack would heft the near-nude woman over his shoulder like a caveman to head, with Claire, to the door the guards had specified. Oh and Rollar the Brave, keep an eye on them just in case. Nadia... Keep an eye on the courtyard.

Although marginally injured compared to most, Narz refrained from lowering his guard until he saw the last weapon hits the ground. After which, he quickly says in [draconic] as a precaution, "That's it for now. No more blood is to be let. Yet. This one will go get your shaman. Keep watch in meantime." The deed done, Narz points from his own eyes to the guard he'd just been fighting, then to the hawk, who by that point flew over to the wall to watch the courtyard.

As he's taking that first step in the direction however, he recalls the raven still inside, and slowly face palms. He then positions the head of the maul against the ground and rested his hands on the handle end. As he stood there keeping watch on the survivors there, appearing to have changed his mind, the raven within relays from a nearby perch: "No fighting. No fighting. Shaman come? Shaman take command? Big one fall."

Rollo nods and begins to herd the men into a corner. "Armor off. Any hold out weapons, give them up now. You don't want to know what happens if I find one on you." 

Nadia was prepared to defend herself against the guard who had had enough of her arrow slinging, but drops her defense slightly when she sees the guard be pulled back by a thorny whip. She gives the shaman a thumbs up and a thank you before picking back up her bow to aim at the nearest enemy, only to stop soon after when she sees that Claire's words managed to quell the remaining enemies and persuade them to cease their defense. She gives Claire a quizzical look then nods her head, surprised she managed to get them to back down, but also thankful that there would be no more fighting (hopefully).

When directed to keep an eye out on the courtyard, she gives a two finger salute over to Zack and says, "Aye, aye, cap'tn." then promptly moves to a spot where she can keep her eyes on the courtyard and see/listen inside.

Her healing spirit will pad over to whoever looks the most injured in the party and give them healing before fading away. 1, 1 hp.

Once the armor is off the Captain, Claire would grab Zacks wrist as he moves to continue disrobing the woman.  "I think that's far enough, unless you're worried you're not skilled enough to strike a killing blow through her gambeson.  We're here to save the prisoner, not fool around." Claire then stands and walks over to the man that Zack had spoken too.  "Cromm... is that the name of your employer?  Is she here now?  When's the last time you saw her?" Claire asks, worried that perhaps there would be more to this than a simple rescue.

After the answer, Claire will dip into healing spirit for health, offer a Cure Wounds to Zack and/or Rollo and then take position by the door.

Zack would shake his head at Claire. I already have someone for fooling around with, and I have no interest in this woman, least of all for 'that' assuming you're not being general. But any piece of armor or clothing could be enchanted, or hold a hidden dagger, a vial of poison. I'm not willing to take that risk given our current situation.

The shaman hears the call and nods to the Raven before heading outside to tie up the remaining guards and having his warriors bring them in with the others. The warriors stand guard over the prisoners while the shaman collects his peoples dead and moves them to one side. To Narz he says in Draconic. We will keep watch while you do whatever it is you need to do. Then my people will need to leave for some time. The scaleless ones may want revenge on my people, so we will move our tribe deeper into the swamp.

Back inside the guard whonhad been speaking earlier responds to Rollo in a clearly frustrated tone We are tied up! See the short swords? Thats all we have for backup. He gestures to the hilt on his side. You can disarm him whenever you wish, he can't exactly stop you. In a more calm tone the soldier turns back to Claire. Baroness Wynne Cromm yes. We are obviously her household guard. We had orders to let no one in or out of the keep under any circumstances. Not sure why but not our place to questions orders. I had assumed it may have bad something to do with the prisoner but I'm not sure why. Just some old marsh had. Not even sure why she's down there. The Lady is the only one allowed down there, not even the Captain can see the prisoner. And as far as I know Lady Cromm was taken to her chambers down the hall by two guards. They won't surrender though not with the Lady with them. They'll fight till the death, or at least until her Ladysmith calls them off. But please I beg have mercy, we are just doing what we are sworn to do. If all you want is the prisoner then take her, she means nothing to us. 

Claire tightens her grip on Zack's arm before releasing it.  "I suppose you'll be stripping every guard in this fortress to their undergarments then?  If that's your plan, I'm willing to wait."

After the guard speaks, Claire turns to Zack or Nadia if she's still within earshot: "... Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm still trying to catch up: a demon or devil was posing as the Baroness, while the real baroness is being held captive here, no?  In which case... if you killed the imposter, who's holed up in the baroness' room?"

(in the second half, who are you talking to?)

Zack just grunted and relented with her gambeson still on. Standing to full height as he said Ironically enough that was my intention once we had secured the prisoner, while we know where the prisoner is. But if this is going to bother you that much.... whatever.  All the better to keep them from pursuing us when we leave if somehow the 'lady' of the fort feels insulted. At the very least, take their weapons like Rollor the Brave.  he said, intentionally misusing the name so that at-least an assassin might be seeking someone who doesn't exist.

Regardless, He'd still heft the woman over his shoulder, leaving his sword there, and taking her own blade, since he felt they'd likely be fighting in closer-quarters and he might not be able to swing his blade around in a cell effectively. However at her remark, he would say You're right and you're wrong. This is a Duchess. The rightful Duchess of the town we met in. The demon we killed was there. Not here. 

"And the duchess is different from the Baroness... this 'Cromm'.  Gotcha.  Sorry, I'm bad with names."  Claire will assist with disarming the guards.  "So... we go straight for the duchess, right?  Or do we have business with the Baroness as well?"

Zack would shake his head in the negative as he finished sheathing the commanders sword to his own belt. Not as far as I'm aware. if anything we should try to tell the Baroness that we've already taken her fort.. the commander here is proof. Say she can have it back if she gives us the Duchess. And if worst comes to worst... we fight. But yes, the Duchess is our only priority here. Either way, We'll be keepign the commanders armor.. for you. And for me... Rollor the Brave... Find one of the guards about my size... And get his armor off him. Its higher quality than what either Claire or myself have. And to the victor go the spoils.... 

Have Narz start collecting the weapons outside. We'll return them once we're leaving. We weren't here for a coup, we weren't here for anything other than the Duchess, so a few pieces of missing armor and our original goal aren't a high price to pay. he said, pausing as he realized what that could be taken as, before turning to face the guards and shooting them a look that was sincere. And sorry about any of your friends who died. I mean it. I've lost people too. I would much rather have made it in and out without having to fight any of you. And you all fought well. Be proud. But for now, stay put and no one else on either side will be hurt further.

With that, If Claire or Zack didn't have the keys already he would get them from where they were (I legit forgot who had it and too lazy to look it up) and would start to head where the guards had said after letting Claire take the remaining 'spirits' energy. C'mon... the sooner we do this, the sooner we're gone.

Claire follows, twirling the keyring around her index finger.  "Right behind you!"

The guards have confused looks when you mention the dutchess but none of them speak up. Most don't seem to acknowledge Zacks final words to them.

Narz, if you're collecting weapons you find 16 long swords and 16 shortswords. All armor and weapons have the Baroness's crest on them markjng them as belonging to her household. It could be removed or altered by a less the reputable blacksmith but until then carrying these out in public could draw unwanted attention, at least until you're far enough from Daggerford where it wouldn't be recognized. That said the guards armor could be stripped and use d by anyone proficient with splint mail, though it may not fit perfectly it'll function as intended.

Back inside, Zack and Claire make their way to the Baroness's room as pointed out by the other guards. You arrive at a set of double doors that appear to be made of a higher quality wood than the others but there's little else to distinguish it. Without trying you can assume the door is locked, though you have keys you can try irs likely the door is also barricaded. You hear nothing from the otherside.

Whispering, Zack says to Claire I haven't had much luck hitting things lately... except doors... Give me the keys to atl-east try to unlock it, if nothing else it will make it slightly easier to ram through... While you ready ... whatever you feel is best should we find ourselves under attack.

If accepted, Zack will do his thing with the keys, trying them one by one, starting with the dingiest looking key and 'working up' (Going with Raiders of the Lost Arc logic) otherwise, Zack would instead prepare to block an incoming attack.

The wizard gives a curt nod and pats the left pec over his heart in a show respect. "A wise decision." He replied in [draconic]. "I would suggest taking their weapons here for your own but temporary use. But, may only give cause for them to seek further. The decision I leave to you and yours." Narz then looks to the scattered array of arms on the ground. Then he hears through the Raven -- which had remain nearby to watch proceedings --  Zack's remark, and following a frown, began collecting all the longswords and shortswords into his bag ahead of time. He also collects, assuming they hadn't left them on the wall, at least two sets of crossbow bolts and cases from the men. If any of the soon to be or already bound guards voice a complaint, he just scoffs and notes he left them with more than enough spare bolts and crossbows to "defend themselves" once they left.

Although with that said, he makes sure those are removed from their persons as well if hanging off of them with the aid of the Lizardfolk; leavign them discarded by the gate or left in the care of the lizardfolk, if any took a shine to the weaponry. Regardless, he also asks, "Is there like an armory on site? I have no plans to take from it, as that would be even more exceptionally rude, eh? But, I would know so that I'm at least not leaving you fellas hopelessly defenseless once all this is wrapped up. As I understand that you were just doing your job, and this is not typical procedure."

Once he had an answer of one form or another Narz leaves the courtyard in the Shaman's capable hands. Although would suggest in draconic he have the guards stripped of their armor until the group returned to leave the keep. Over the next few moments he hoped to catch up with Zack and Claire and the watchful Raven of his, but would stop along the way if Nadia or Rollo were injured and doing something else along the way in order to patch them up a bit using his Healer's Kit and some trained combat medic know-how for making the absolute most of the kit. Rather than the slap-dash actions of those untrained. And if he's able to get to Claire and Zack in time before they go opening doors, he offers the same.

(If able or healing is not refused, use the below numbers.)

Rollo Heal: 13.
Nadia Heal: 11.
Claire Heal: 12.
Zack Heal: 11.

(26 of 30 use remaining out of 3 Healer's Kit)

The guards don't make a fuss when their weapons are taken and Narz can take as many crossbows and bolts as he could carry. Anything not taken is discarded by the main gate by the Lizardfolk who also examine the weapons and taking anything they like. In response to the question posed by Narz, the soldier nearest confirms the existence of an Armory further in the keep though he doesn't mention how well stocked it might be, not that anyone could stop the party from raiding the armory if they truly wanted to. Heading inside Narz either heals those closest or heads to Zack and Claires location to heal and assist before they go opening doors. (Since Claire hasn't posted any word of opposition we will continue.) 

Zack tries the keys but it takes several attempts until he finally gets to the correct one. The lock makes a loud *thunk* as itsnturned indicating the way should be clear. From inside the room you hear a man's voice call out Hold! Identify yourself! Is that you Captain? Are the intruders dealt with?

Zack would thank Narz for the assistance, especially since he always seemed to get hit by literally everything. Once all was said and done and he finished trying the keys, once the shout was heard from within. Yeah, the intruders are no longer a threat to the keep. They weren't here for the Baroness it seemed. he would say, with no attempt at deception, not masking his voice as he was tired of this place already as he pushed open the door regardless of protests from within. Though he does make himself ready to dodge should an attack come his way, but he intended to try to convince them to just hand over the prisoner and they would leave.

Narz brows knits together as he stared after Zack. If he were to be honest, he expected a more hearty attempt at deception. Even if the end result were decided by fate, an attempt might've bought time. But, this was Zack operation, the hobgoblin mentally reminded himself while breaking out the maul again. Plus, it's not as if the goblinoid hadn't spoken up sooner! So, unless barred by the guards beyond, Narz followed inside just behind the others until he stood past the threshold. Raven and hawk fly in soon after and search for a perches on the far end of the room to observe and wait to be called upon at a moment's notice.