Northlands Campaign

You hear a cacophony of voices, 3 or 4 individuals, all trying to talk at once, making it difficult to understand any of them, but you get the impression that they do not know of any traps on the door.

Kina knocks on the door again with her staff to get their attention.
"Easy, easy in there! I'm going to open the door, but I want to be sure you're all calm enough in there that you're not going to just break and run off. There might still be danger here. We need you to be calm and stay close to us. What are your names?" she asks, starting to undo the latches on the door.

Wil backs away from the door close to Barnabus and covers the door with his longbow incase the occupants end up being unfriendly.

Barnabus, shield once again in hand stands ready.

The voices do not seem to be moving around at all, and are definitely not coming from near the door.  Each calls out a name, but they do so almost all at once and none were able to be deciphered.

Kina opens the doors then, facing front in a relaxed stance. She has no reason to suspect that the people inside are going to attack, not when the bolts were on her side of the door.
"Hello! Didn't quite catch your names. Let's try that again." she says, holding her light over her to peer into the room and illuminate herself so the ones inside can see she's not a threat.

You open the door to a 20' x 20' room.  Along the wall just inside the door are a pair of chests, both closed.  Around the perimeter of the room are a total of 10 nests would be the best way to describe the collections of straw and rags, 4 of those are occupied.  Each of the occupants has a rough sackcloth bag over the head and is bound hand and foot, with a leader rope secured to an iron ring mounted in the wall behind them.  A pair of human males, a dwarven female and a halfling male are here, the men are all calling for help, while the dwarf sits calmly, seemingly just waiting for what happens next.

Cade takes a seat outside the room, ready to lend aid in his bear form if it is needed, but not wishing to scare those inside if possible.

"Okay, okay, shhhh... Keep it down. We're going to free ya but ya have to be quiet." Barnabus says as he goes to the nearest prisoner. He removes the bag and cuts the bindings. He looks around to make sure everyone else is being set free as well before asking. "Are there others? If so can you tell us where?"

Barnabus:  You move to free the female dwarf, mostly because she seems the calmest and easier to read.  As you free her, she says, "I know of no others, but I doubt there are any.  They come by here, if'n I be keeping track o' the hours rightly, twice a day and they should be back within the next two.  And afore ye ask, there will be seven of them.  Six like the ones that jumped me, and one who gives the orders.  Priestly type would be my guess, heard 'em casting a couple of times."  She pauses, rubbing her wrists, "but they seem to be gettin' agitated, like something ain't going by their plan.  I was the first one of this bunch here, and the rest came on a fairly regular clip, but there ain't been no one new for a couple o' days."  She pauses and looks you in the eye.  "And now, a couple of questions for you, if'n ya dona mind.  First, how did ye find us, and second, they stowed our gear in those chests by the door, mind me getting mine back?"  Roll a History check.

Kina goes around to the other captives and takes off their hoods at least, for now. She doesn't have a knife on her, but she's sure the others do, to free the others from their bonds.
"Easy now, we're here to help." she says. "Is anyone hurt?" she asks.

With the hoods off, the men begin to calm down slightly.  Each in turn shakes their head in answer to your question.  "They keep us tied up, but other than that they have not been mistreating us."  The halfling chuckles, "no, not abusing us except all that prattle about The One."  The others quickly nod in agreement to him.

Wil uses his dagger to free them of their earthly.... um I mean fiberous bonds 😁😁😁 (He cuts the rope tying their hands)

Cade continues to keep watch in the hall. Perception: 20

History: -1

"Well we're," indicating the rest, "their most recent failed attempts. We found a map amongst our captors that led us here and by all means regain yer gear." Barnabus offers his assistance in rising. "That's Kina, and Wil,  our feathered friend Bart and Cade are waiting outside as is Rachel our cleric. See her if yer wounded. Cade has some magic about him that allows him to take the form of a bear so don't be fearin' it when you go outside. I'm Barnabus Ironheel at your service." He indicates each of the other two as he introduces them. 

Barnabus:  You recognize her from another of the units at the borderlands, you believe her name is/was Private Stonefist.  You never really got her first name.

She nods in thanks to each of you, and goes to the chests and starts pulling armor and weapons out and gearing up, and the others start grabbing their respective gear too.  The others possessions are all more of farmers' equipment.  Once they have emptied the chests, the dwarf looks over saying, "Now, how we git outta this dump?  I dun wanna be here when those bastids be coming round next."

Kina hmms, helping to get the others travel-ready.
"Think we have enough time to set up an ambush for THEM this time? Something quick and dirty. We already know we can't take any prisoners, they just kill themselves somehow. If we don't stop them now, they'll just keep taking more people." she states. "We didn't cause all that much damage or disturbance on our way in here, they probably wouldn't notice anything is wrong until it's too late." she suggests.

"Aye," she says, "should be time to set up a nice surprise for them.  But, if'n ya could show me to the exit first, I've had enuf o' these halls."

"Up the stairs, take a left, right at the end of the hall. Down the steps. The keep entrance is there. Once you leave follow the trail that starts accross the bridge. The trail will lead you out of the swamp. You're private Stonefist correct? I'm sure you can handle the task of getting everyone back to town. Once there locate the commander  and tell him you saw us and what our situation is. Tell him Sargeant Rachel and Sergeant Barnabus sent you."  Turning to the others he says "I agree Kina we should set an ambush but we should do it in the larger hall. They'll know something is wrong as soon as they see the locks are broken. But we should capture them and lock them in here till we root out the rest." Says Barnabus