Totmacher, hands manacled behind him, is escorted through the streets of Borderton...two guards in the front and to either side of the half-orc, two in the rear and to either side.  Savin leads the way.

As the group moves through the town, it soon becomes apparent that their destination is another of the few stone buildings in town--this one a squat, square affair with tiny windows and an iron door.  One of the guardsmen pounds on the door with a leather-gloved fist, making a muffled clanging.  The door is opened by, apparently, another Borderton guardsman--armored in studded leather and bearing a long sword at his side.  He looks at Totmacher and nods at the guard who had knocked.  "What's th' charge?"

"Murder, maybe.  We're gonna hold him 'til this thing wi' th' fires is sorted out."

Totmacher is led into the front chamber of the town prison...

More later.

Kev, I am interested in the layout of the building, # of guards, type of manacles, windows, etc--As stated earlier Totmacher's phobia of imprisonment may be too much to withstand...he will be plotting his escape the moment the manacles are placed on his wrists.

He will also keep a close eye on his belongings--were they taken to the same location?

OOC:  Alright...I need to put together a map for the gaol--that will happen later tonight, and I'll post it up on website.  As for Tot's belongings, they were conveyed to the gaol by one of the guards, so he knows they'll be here.  I'm still at work, so I won't get a chance to post much until later tonight.

Cheers,
Kev

OOC:  Hey Scott, sorry I've been incommunicado for a while--lotsa things going on here in Seattle.  The next post will give you a bit of info regarding the layout of the room, and may allow you to assess your actions a bit more readily.

Cheers,
Kev

Totmacher is led into the Borderton prisonhouse, two guards behind him, and two guards in front.  The guard who opened the prison door stands aside to allow the others entry.

The big half-orc steps into the room with his escort, and the iron double doors of the prison boom shut again, as one of the guards draws them closed.  Several other guards glance up from cleaning weapons or engaging in mundane duties such as oiling manacle locks, coiling ropes, etc.  There are the four guards that escorted Totmacher, the guard who opened the door, and four others in the room--making a total of nine guards plus Savin...who had accompanied the guardsmen to the prison.

The common room is about 60' x 60', with a ceiling height of about 12'.  Everburning torches are placed into sconces along the wall, and provide the room illumination.  Cells line the northern wall, and the rest of the room appears to be given over to storage, maintenance, or prisoner processing duties.

A desk with a leather-bound chair sits just to the southwest of the main doors, and a middle-aged man dressed in studded leather sits with a series of parchments strewn in front of him on the desk, and a large, clasped ledger book is pushed to one side of the desk.  Behind the desk, in the southeast corner of the room, a spiral staircase leads both to an upper story and to a lower one.  A nearby workbench has shackles and manacles in various states of disassembly, and a suit of studded leather armor sits on the bench also, clearly undergoing some repair.  A number of tools and clay mugs are perched on an overturned crate near the workbench, and two stools are positioned near the workbench as well.  Upon one of the stools sits a guardsman, working on the lock of one of the shackles in front of him.

A large stone fireplace dominates the southern wall.  A pile of stacked logs sits to the west of the fireplace, and a weapons rack is positioned along the southern wall to the east of the fireplace.  A large, scarred, octagonal wooden table and numerous mismatched chairs take up most of the southwest corner of the room.  A smaller table with two nearby chairs--both occupied by guardsmen with their feet up on the table--is close to the larger table.  An old, upright barrel stands near the small table, and a brazier with glowing coals, several tongs, hammers, and irons stands to the west of the small table.  A large tub of water with a ladle hanging from a hook on the wall sits between two torches on the western wall.

Two of the cells are occupied--one by a man who is snoring like the sound of tearing cloth---LOUDLY tearing cloth.  One of the guardsmen gets up from the table, retrieves a ladleful of water from the tub, and hurls it on the snoring man--producing a change in the timber and pitch of the snores, but little alteration in volume.  The other cell is occupied by a black-bearded, muscular man who stares morosely at the wall, barely turning his head to see Totmacher being led into the prison.

Kev, which cells are occupied (and with whom)?  Are the cells made of plaster, stone, with or without bars?  Would this be considered a minimum security prison town standards?

Tot keeps a careful eye on his belongings--making sure they do not stray off too far...

What is the condition of the manacles?  Tot will wait to see what is done with him.

OOC:  Occupied cells and occupiers are indicated on the "Gaol" map on the website.  Cells are made of stone walls, with iron bars fronting each cell (hard to tell with the map, I know).  Seeing as Tot has essentially zero experience with security and prisons in human towns, the thrid question is kinda moot.  As to the conditions of the manacles--well-made and -maintained, sturdy iron ones (Imperial forces don't really skimp on the basics).  The DC for a Strength Check to break is a 26, as per the PHB.

Ok, Tot will wait to see what the guards and Savin have in store.

The alderman steps over to the guard sitting behind the scarred wooden desk.  "You will be required to hold this man until I give my assent to release him.  There has been a crime committed, and there is some question as to the circumstances that attended it."  Savin smoothes his tunic and glances distastefully at Totmacher.  If the night ends with the capture or death of Zante Barbaras, the half-orc will be freed.  If not, he will be charged with and tried for murder--if he is a citizen of Paldor."  The alderman shrugs.  "If he is not..."

The guard nods.  "Aye, sirrah.  We be knowin' th' drill fer foreigners.  Inta th' cell, you!"  The guard addresses this last to Totmacher, and two of the guards place their hands on the big man's arms and escort him towards the middle cell.  The other two stand by warily, swords still drawn.

Do the manacles remain on?
Once in the cell, Totmacher will stand and provide Savin with a hard "Kubrick" stare without blinking until Savin is out of sight.

Once the guards go back to their "routines" Tot will begin to thoroughly examine the cell trying to find weak spots--bar corrosion, stones that are worn, patched floor boards, etc.  Note--just using his eyes initially.  If there is enough noise and distraction in the room, he would also like to get some info out of the non-snoring neighbor.

If the opportunity arises for some dialog without drawing attention to himself he will ask his neighbor:

"Totmacher wants to know what happens to "non-citizens?"

Totmacher is led into the cell, and then ordered to turn around and back up to the bars.  The big half-orc does so, and the manacles that had restrained the barbarian's hands behind his back are removed, as the cell door slams shut.  The half-orc favors Savin with a long, hard stare.  The alderman returns the stare with a steady gaze of his own, and then shrugs and leaves, remarking as he departs, "I go now to find the half-breed's companions...his fate is in their hands.  They are an unpredictable lot; you may wish to prepare for other detainees, if their methods continue to include murder."  With that, the alderman departs.

The guards who had escorted Totmacher to the prison leave with Savin.  The others gradually return to their tasks or their diversions.  The two guardsmen at the table take out a battered old tharls set and begin to arrange the mismatched pieces on the board.  The guard at the desk appears to be involved in some sort of paperwork, the quill pen scritching across the parchments in front of him.  The guard at the workbench continues his work with repairing the manacles, and the guard who had opened the prison doors lounges nearby.

The cell in which Totmacher finds himself is sturdily built of granite, with inch-thick iron bars set deeply into sockets in the stone.  An initial investigation gives the half-orc little hope that there are obvious structural deficiencies that he might be able to exploit.  As is almost always the case with fortified structures, the weakest point is the door.  However, the door is constructed of iron, the hinges are heavy and situatedon the outside of the door, and the lock appears strong--with a heavy, sliding bolt and a similarly heavy housing mounted on the door and the cell bars.

Totmacher looks over at the black-bearded man, who continues to stare morosely at the wall.  The half-orc asks, "Totmacher wants to know what happens to "non-citizens?"

Slowly, the man turns his head to regard the barbarian.  He blinks twice, and then replies in heavily accented Paldorian.  "They hang you."

OOC:  New gaol map is up on the site.  Sorry about the size...I think I changed the pixel dimensions somewhere along the line during the conversion to jpg process.

Forty-five turns of the minute glass past seven bells

What are the guards armed with?

What is the strength check to bend the bars of this cage?

where is the exact location of Tot's belongings?

OOC:

Typical guardsman weaponry consists of long swords, daggers, and short bows.  Some also carry saps or clubs.

DC to bend the iron bars is a 25 (in order for Tot to be able to squeeze out, normally the DC is a 24 as per PHB).

Tot's stuff:  tossed in a pile to the west side of the workbench.  One of the guards nudges the stuff with his foot and just grunts.

A muffled explosion and brief, faint flare of light spills through the narrow windows in the eastern wall.

"What th' ?!" the guard lounging near the door rhetorically inquires.  The man presses his face to the nearest window.  Peering out, he continues.  "Th' fuckin' square's on fire, looks t' be.  Mithras damnit."

The other guards turn to look at the one seated at the ramshackle desk.  "Nobody's goin' nowhere.  We sit tight, an' let th' others deal wi' this.  Orders, an' ye all know it."

Totmacher will listen for townsfolk yelling and the like as a result of the explosion.

23:04, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 16 using 1d20+4. Listen (w/mods).

If Tot does not hear anything, he will call to the guards speak with minimal inflexion:

"Totmacher requires sustenance.  Saving your residents from fire and certain death requires fuel."

If Tot hears people panicking he will call to the guards and speak with minimal inflexion:

"Hear the screams of your women and children?  Totmacher is here to save your town from Mithras.  Free Totmacher and you will all be rewarded for your heroism.  Totmacher cannot serve when caged."

OOC:  Ummm, Scott, Mithras is the chief deity worshipped by many people of western Paldor.  Totmacher's statement is sorta like saying, "Totmacher is here to save your town from God."  While there may be something to a statement like that, it makes you sound kinda like a crazy man when you say it from a jail cell.

Go ahead and make a Bluff check.

Cheers,
Kev
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:19, Thu 30 Sept 2004.

I guess my message did not take that I posted yesterday--

OOC:  Whoops...LOL--Totmacher was trying to imply that he will save the town from the evil infiltration--but that is ok...

00:36, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 14 using 1d20. Bluff.

The guard at the desk, busy with various parchments, doesn't even glance up as Totmacher makes his declamation.  "Nothin' doin'.  Yer a menace--y' killed one o' me men.  We'll bring 'im back, soon as we can get word to th' Sword an' get a cleric out here, but he's done as an active guardsman--comin' back from th' dead is pretty debilitatin'."  The man looks up at Totmacher.  "If Savin comes back an' yer friends ain't done th' job he wanted 'em to do, I'm talkin' to a dead man right now.  Savvy, half-breed?"

The man turns back to his papers.


OOC:  He rolled a natural 20 on the Sense Motive check, and there are significant bonuses (+10) due to the  nature of the Bluff.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:13, Tue 05 Oct 2004.

The sleeping man in the cell next to Totmacher turns on his side slightly, the loud snoring never ceasing for an instance.  The big barbarian can smell the fumes of whiskey arising from the snoring man from his own cell.  The black bearded man continues his sullen inspection of the wall, but begins to speak.

"It is of no use.  They are without pity or remorse, in this town of theirs."

The man turns to the half-orc.  "The caravan I traveled with was set upon and butchered, and only I was left to escape.  Not two days' from this...this...TOWN."  The man spits in disgust.  "And I came for help...only to be thrown into this place, because I am from Canile and they wanted to investigate the caravan disappearance.  I was there, but now I am a suspect...suspected of what?"

"Shut up, dog.  Ye'll be freed soon as yer story checks out.  Until then, enjoy th' hospitatlity o' Borderton's finest."  One of the guards playing tharls says this without looking up.

"And when is this 'checking out' to be, eh?  When will you investigate?"

The guard waves a hand negligently.  "When we ken get 'round to it, dog.  We're kinda busy right now, wi' th' fires an' all.  First things first, thass what I always say.  Why, I'd go so far as t' sayt that ye..."

"Shut yer yap, Tolly," the guard at the desk says.

"But I was jest gonna say that..."

"Fuckin' stow it, I said."  The desk guard's voice hardens, and the guard playing tharls does indeed fall silent.

Totmacher calls out to all:

"Totmacher does not see much "urgency" from this group in regards to the fires.

Totmacher is not quite sure how playing a game will address the issue at hand.

Lives will continue to be lost each passing moment Totmacher is unlawfully caged.

One of your own was about to set fire to a building.  Are you privy to that information?

Totmacher wants to know how many more snakes are silently waiting to strike from within."

If there is no response, Totmacher will finish with:

"Totmacher requires sustanance.  Defending your town requires fuel."

OOC:  Is Totmacher familiar with Tharls?  Is Tharls like poker or some sort of solitare?  Any change on the number of guards?

Totmacher says:
Lives will continue to be lost each passing moment Totmacher is unlawfully caged.

The previous statements elicited no response from the guardsmen, but the desk guard now looks up at the half-orc.  "'Unlawful'?!  Half-breed, yer up fer murder, dumbass.  An' murderin' a guardsman, too.  An' I know yer sayin' that Ulmo was settin' fire t' the stables, but that ain't fer me t' decide.  If Savin vouches fer ya, then we'll go from there.  But ya ain't goin' nowheres until then.  We're followin' our orders, an' guardin' th' prison an' what all's in it--includin' yer sorry ass.  Fer all's I know, yer in cahoots wi' Barbaras--ya look th' sort he'da met in th' Montvale dungeons."

The desk guard looks irritated, and speaks with a great deal of exaperation.  Upon Totmacher's request for food, the desk guard turns away and looks at the two playing tharls.  "Tolly, Reithrin, go check t' see if'n th' priests got th' prisoners' dinner ready, yet."  Grumbling, the two men get up from their seats at the small table, and head out the door into the night--drawing their swords as they do so.

OOC:  Tharls is a game played with pieces on some sort of board.  Roll an Intelligence Check vs. a DC of 12 to see if Tot knows what this game might be.

21:32, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 3 using 1d20. Intelligence Check.

Looks like Totmacher couldn't tell the difference between Tharls and a salad fork.

OOC:  Ok Kev, does that mean there should be only 3 guards remaining.

I would like to know the direction the guards are seated and their actions.  Tot is planning his escape.  If the guards are not paying attention to Tot, he will take 20 and bend the bars enough to escape.

OOC:
Hey Scott,

Yeah, it does mean that there are three guards remaining.  The positions are indicated on the updated Gaol map on the website.  The guard at the desk continues his work with the parchments piled in front of him, the guard at the workbench continues his work with repairing the set of manacles in front of him, and the guard at the door continues to peer out at the square outside.

You cannot take 10 or 20 on any action for which failure would have consequences.  Any attempt to bend the bars would draw attention to you in your attempt, and consequences would ensue.  Let me know what you want to do.

Cheers,
Kev

Totmacher calls out to the assumed ranked guard:

"Totmacher senses that you are fearful--what stories do you have to tell about the fires?  What do you know?"

The guard at the desk, still scratching at the parchments scattered in front of him with a bedraggled-looking quill pen, barely glances up at Totmacher.  "Can't say we be frightened, half-breed--jes tired o' th' shite...yer shite, 'specially.  Ye talk t' me if'n yer cleared o' th' murder o' one o' ours...til then, we'll give ye some'at fer supper, an' thank ye t' leave us be."

As the man completes his statement in a flat, bored voice, the two guards sent for the evening meal return.  Clearly, they have news...

The two guards have not returned with food, but with news, it seems.

"There be a fire in th' square, Cap'n!"

"An' th' trees are burnin' like Ahriman's hells!"

Another guard bursts into the gaol, exclaiming hurriedly, "Perysinos says that an assassin is in the burgomaster's manor!  We need reinforcements!"

The guard at the desk blinks, then nods decisively.  "You.  Stay here an' watch th' prisoners.  Th' rest o' you--yer wi' me."  With that, the guards grab weapons and depart the gaol, leaving a single guard in the cell area.

Times a waistin!

Totmacher will silently count to 100.  While counting, he will look over the single guard for weapons and size him up.

Totmacher will then call out to the guard, "Do you hear that?  More death, more dispair--Totmacher's tongue speaks the truth."

Then he will take 20 to bend bars.

Seeing the big half-orc beginning an alarming series of deep-breathing exercises and eyeing the bars of his cell with a rolling, crazy-eyed intensity, the black-bearded prisoner speaks up softly--pitching his voice so that the sole remaining guard cannot hear.

"Await my distraction; free yourself, then free me."

Suddenly giving out a great, whooping series of sounds--describable only as a hybrid between a horrible cough and a wracking moan, the black-bearded man falls to the floor of his cell, writhing and thrashing around violently.  Foam appears to be gathering at the man's mouth, and flecks of the stuff are being spewed forth like tiny missiles.

"What th' ?!?  Holy shit!  What th' fuck's wrong...Ahriman damn ye, man...behave!"  The guard springs to his feet in alarm.  The black-bearded prisoner shows no signs of hearing the guard's commands, continuing the violent, spastic activity on the floor of his cell.  The guard seizes a quarterstaff and approaches the cell, trying to poke the black-bearded man through the bars...his attention entirely on the spectacle before him.

That sounds like Tot's queue--

Tot will take 20 and bend the bars unless the guard is close enough for Tot to grab him through the bars...then we can discuss the alternative.

OOC:  Scott, Scott, Scott.  You *still* can't take 20 on an action with consequences.  I've played out a round-by-round series of strength checks and opposed spot checks.  You and the guard were pretty evenly matched.  In-game description of events to follow.

Watching the truly alarming display of spastic theatrics that the black-bearded prisoner was performing, the big half-orc nevertheless turned his attention to the iron bars of his cell.  Trying not to attract the notice of the guard, who, though preoccupied with trying to poke the black-bearded prisoner with a quarterstaff through the bars, was still very much in view.

Totmacher takes a wide stance, gripping the bars and attempting to prize them apart--shoulders straining and mouth turned down into a silent snarl.  The bars refuse to move.  Again the half-orc tries to coerce the bars into moving, and again he fails.  Another try.  Another.  Sweat runs down the barbarians's face and arms.  Another attempt.  A cry from the guard.  "Hey!  Fucker!  Stop that, or I'll do for ya, I will!"

Ignoring the outcry, the half-orc continues his assault on the iron bars.  With a rending shriek, the bars slowly are displaced from their vertical alignment, warping their shape under the tremendous strength of the barbarian.  Judging that enough space was available between the bars to allow his huge frame to pass, Totmacher just manages to squeeze out of the gaol cell.

Only to be met with a speeding arrow, taking the barbarian high in the shoulder.  The big man grunts, and turns his attention to the room around him.  The one guard is near the worktable, clutching a short bow and looking rather panicked.

OOC:  Tot takes 4 hp of damage, bringing him down from 30 to 26 hp remaining.  The guard saw Tot attempting to bend the bars; he then moved over to get his bow.  On the subsequent round, Tot managed to bend the bars (a full round action), and take a 5 ft. move through them.  The guard successfully fired an arrow.  NOW, you both need to roll initiative for the next round.  Please do so.

Cheers,
K

OOC:  Modified Gaol map up on the website.  By the way, if you can reply quickly to this thread, it'll make it easier for me to deal with the other thread.  Thanks.

Cheers,
Kev
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:20, Wed 02 Feb 2005.

22:55, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 17 using 1d20+3. Initiative.

Totmacher will call out to the guard:  "Are you ready to be baptized in the blood of Totmacher?"

Totmacher will then attempt to grapple the guard.


Base attack binus (+3) + Strength modifier (+5) + Special size modifier (0)

23:10, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 24 using 1d20+8. Grapple Check.

(20)
The guard drops his short bow and seizes his long sword, lying scabbarded on the nearby work table.  Drawing the blade with a steely whisper, the guard swings wildly at the oncoming barbarian.  Clearly, the man is nervous and the oblique, downward sword cut is far from its mark.

(16)
As the half-orc continues his approach, intending to grapple the guard, the guard replies with a horizontal cut in an attempt to fend off Totmacher (IGA:  attack of opportunity from beginning the grapple).  Moving with a quickness surprising in such a big man, the barbarian ducks the sword swing, and the blade whistles harmlessly over his head.  Reaching out with his hands, the half-orc seizes the hapless guard.

OOC:  Scott, please make an opposed grapple check for me (d20+8 for Tot), and I'll make one for the guard.

OOC:  Actually, it doesn't matter if you make the check or not--there is no way you can lose the opposed grapple.  I'm taking the liberty of rolling damage for you, and moving us along.

Cheers,
Kev
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:48, Thu 03 Feb 2005.

(16--same round)
Totmacher seizes the guard, bringing his forearm and elbow around to smash the man's face.  A groan escapes the guard, and his eyes roll up in his head--but he remains conscious.

Next round:
(20)
With a tremendous effort, the guard manages to break the half-orc's grip.  Nose and mouth streaming blood, the guard yelps and breaks into a run.  Without a weapon, the barbarian has no recourse to an attack of opportunity.  The guard slips through the half-open gaol door and into the night.

Seeing the guard flee, the black-bearded prisoner calls out.
"The keys to the cells are on a nail to the right of the inner door!  Quickly!"

OOC:  Tot does not receive an attack of opportunity.  Updated gaol map on teh site.  What do you want to do?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:17, Thu 03 Feb 2005.

Totmacher will toss the bearded prisoner the keys then search for his belongings.

If he does not locate his belongings he will try to arm himself with what he can.

Can the doors be barred from the inside?

Upon his arrival at the gaol, Totmacher's belongings had been unceremoniously dumped in a pile near the work table.  All of the half-orc's items appear to be present and accounted for.  The main doors to the gaol do have brackets for a bar, and a heavy oaken beam leans against the wall just inside of the doors.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:24, Fri 04 Feb 2005.

Seizing the keys that the barbarian has thrown him, the black-bearded prisoner chuckles as he unlocks the cell door and swings it wide.  "Many thanks."

The man makes a beeline for the weapon cabinet in the room, lifting down a falchion and short composite bow when he gets there, and slings a quiver full of arrows onto his shoulder.  Moving purposefully, he then retrieves a worn leather satchel from out of the weapon chest in the room.  Slinging the satchel over his shoulder, the black-bearded man turns to face the half-orc.   "What will you do now then, eh?"

Totmacher nods and smirks in approval of his new friend--

"Totmacher senses that this place will be swarming with guards soon--and disguise for Totmacher will be difficult."  "Are you good with that bow, friend?"

"Bar the single door and check the windows on that side for guards and activity."  Tot, arming back up with his gear, will bar the double doors and check the windows on that side.

Kev--do the stairs go up and/or down?

The black-bearded man shakes his head.  "I am...competent...with this bow and my blade.  I cannot hold off an assault, however.  There is a postern door to the rear of the gaol, if the guards were to be believed.  To flee would be our best hope--even though you are noticeable, there is much confusion now, I believe.  And I have means to disguise myself."

OOC:  Stairs go up.  What do you want to do?  The single door is an interior door, and has no bar on this side.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:18, Tue 08 Feb 2005.

What does Tot see at the windows?

Night has come to Borderton--the last rays of the setting sun had vanished from the sky some time ago.  However, the lurid light of two burning trees provides light to the town square in the distance, and light from other municipal lanterns and hand-held lanterns provides little islands of illumination.  Totmacher has no difficulty in discerning most of the immediate activity.  The barbarian sees the large edifice that is the combined municipal manor and garrison--which appears to be surrounded by guardsmen armed with bows and spaced some twenty feet apart from one another.  A small cluster of men is in the process of lighting and distributing lanterns.

Totmacher also sees the guard whose face he had smashed stumble up to this group, and clutch one of the men's arms while gesticulating back towards the gaol.

Tot will bar the double doors and update his bearded companion on the situation--

"Totmacher recommends that we make our way through the inside door and move in the opposite direction of our slightly disturbed guard."

Totmacher will then bust through the inside door--

Totmacher drops the heavy, oaken beam into the iron brackets that flank the gaol's double doors--effectively barring them from outside entry.  Then, the half-orc crashes through the inner door to the gaol, arriving in a 20'x10' room that seems to be some sort of an adjunct chamber to the main gaol bloc.  A large, iron-bound door appears to lead to the outside.

More later...updated map on the website.

--K

The smaller anteroom is stacked with barrels, crates, and wooden containers of various sorts.  Several coils of rope lie about the room, and a number of tools (simple hammers, crowbars, spikes, etc.) hang on the walls.  A few piles of rags or sackcloth are nested on the floor along with several stacked planks, and a broken table leans vertically against the wall near the outer door.  It appears to Totmacher to be an ordinary storage/lumber room.  The outer door is closed, but leads to the Borderton night.

OOC:  Slightly revised Gaol map up on the website.

Totmacher will smash one of the barrels with his great axe to reveal the contents.

OOC - Totmacher wants to see if there are any flammables in the barrel--

Let me know if there is a distinguishing odor.

There are windows in the room, can Totmacher see any activity outside so that he can plan his movement once he leaves?

Totmacher will then turn to the bearded one and gestures towards the door.

"Freedom does not like to be kept waiting, bearded one."

Totmacher brings his great axe down on one of the nearby barrels...hard.  The barrel leaps at the blow, its staves splitting and splintering, its top shattered, and its upper hoop coming askew.  Apparently, however, nothing is in the barrel.

OOC:  Breaking stuff requires a to hit roll and damage assessment.  Items have hit points and hardness ratings--see pp 165-167 in PHB 3.5 (this barrel had 10 hp and a 5 hardness...2 more point of damage and you would have destroyed the barrel completely).

"Freedom is a fickle mistress, and will often depart on the slightest whim," the bearded man replies as he tries the reinforced door, only to find the thing locked.  "Fortunately, there are ways to entice her back."

The man produces a soft leather wallet, and begins to extract a number of picks, pries, chisels, and a small hammer.  He sets to work on the door, and begins to curse quietly.  Within half a minute, however, the sound of tumblers reluctantly moving with an audible *click* is discernable.  "She will not always come willingly, however."


OOC:  You have 5 rounds (@6 seconds each) to do what you want.  Let me know if you have anything in mind.

Kev, what does Tot see out the windows?  Are the windows large enough for a man (or half-orc) to fit through?

Tot will go back to the main room and search the weapons chest in M4 while he waits for the lock to be picked.

Not much is visible out of the windows--they are unglazed but barred.  The smell of smoke from the outside is strong, and Totmacher gets the sense that people are engaged in a high level of activity outside, but none of it seems focused on the gaol.  The windows are too small to allow egress for someone of Totmacher's size, even if the bars were to be removed.

Tot can spend approximately half a minute searching the weapon's chest.  Please make a Search check for me, and I will post additional info.

Cheers,
Kev

OOC - Looks like Tot gouges out his own eyeballs with the corner of the chest...

01:20, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 1 using 1d20. Search.

Totmacher manages to rummage through the weapon chest, finding several long and short swords, two or three light maces, and a number of daggers.  All are serviceable, but none look particularly fine.  The half-orc's own weaponry are somewhat better maintained and of better quality--particularly the dweomered great axe he had obtained.

Tot spends a half minute or so going through the weapon chest.  As the black-bearded prisoner grunts with satisfaction, having at last managed to coax the rear door's lock into turning, the half-orc hears the front doors being rattled as someone tries them.

OOC:  What's next?

Totmacher will call to the bearded prisoner"

"Totmacher suggests we make haste..." gesturing towards the double doors, "Freedom may be having second thoughts..."

With Great Axe in hand, Tot will close the single door behind himself and prompt the bearded prisoner out the door--

"No further prompting is necessary," says the black-bearded prisoner.  Opening the heavy, iron-bound door, the man quickly exits the gaol.  Outside, the Southern Paldorian night has fallen, and numerous small knots of people are moving about.  Not much attention is paid to Totmacher and his fellow prisoner.

The black-bearded man turns to the half-orc.  "I wish to leave this town.  I will not remain here, and there seems to be much confusion to aid any escape.  I thank you for your assistance.  I do not wish to leave you "in extremis", as these Paldorians say.  Do you have plans?"



OOC:  What's next?  Updated town map on the website.
This message was last updated by the player at 09:48, Thu 24 Feb 2005.

Totmacher nods in agreement.  "Agreed--Totmacher must seek his team.  Your presence will certainly be welcome if you so choose, although under the current circumstances you would be better served taking care of you own neck."

Totmacher will then blend in with the crowd and run south, then east circumnavigating 25a following the ?hedge.  He will try to get a view into the manor through what appears to be entrance to the left of the number 13.

The man nods.  "This is a dangerous place for me.  I wish you good fortune, but I will depart."  The man begins to leave, but stops suddenly.  "Wait!  If you wish to remain here, I can aid you....I..."  The black-bearded prisoner rummages in the satchel that he had retrieved from the gaol, drawing forth what seemed a sort of twig wrapped in colored yarn.  The man mutters something, stares at the twig, and then curses once.  He mutters again, and some of the yarn twists and moves under its own accord, apparently.

The black-bearded man looks at the half-orc, and chuckles.  "Now, you look like a large, tired, human peasant or caravan handler.  This will only last some half-hour, friend, and your voice will betray you.  Have a care, if you wish to stay in this foul town.  But to try to move about undisguised...foolishness.  The watchmen will attempt to seek us out.  Find your friends and flee this place--I will do so now, and take to the hills outside of town."  The man pauses again, and bows slightly.  "I am called Mahatmer.  I thank you for your actions, and my release," the man says formally, and then begins to move away.

Totmacher can move with some degree of freedom, as his appearance is seemingly altered.  Several watchmen are attempting to surround the gaol--one yells out, "Oi, drover!  Ye seen a big half-breed, orc-blooded?  Eh?"  Totmacher just shakes his head mutely, and continues on his way.

The disguised half-orc makes his way to the line of watchmen are keeping surveillance on the manor.  Seeing Totmacher moving towards the manor, one of the watchmen calls out, "Oi!  Move away, mate...stand clear o' th' manor, right?"

OOC:  Approaching the manor inconspicuously will be difficult.  Getting a "view" into the manor is gonna be challenging.  What do you want to do?

Ok--Tot will try to make his way towards the north west corner where there are not many guards-does there appear to be a gap in the guards to compensate for the ones that are looking for Tot?  Are the walls scaleable?  How many entrances are visible from that side of the manor?

Does any area seem vulnerable?  Which way are the guards facing?  Does the fire have anyone's attention?

OOC:  The area to the northwest of the manor does, as you note, appears to have fewer guards.  This may represent the gap in the guards due to deployment of personnel to search for Tot, but you have no way of knowing this for sure.

There are no entrances to the manor on this side, and the entrances to the garrisons are flanked by small watch towers (a west-facing entrance for the west garrison, and a north-facing entrance for the east garrison).  The garrison's wooden pallisade walls appear scaleable, as does the manor's stone walls, but the DC for both is a 25.  The possibility of jumping up to one of the manor's ground floor windows, then breaking through the mullioned panes exists, but you would obviously draw immediate attention to yourself.  The acacia trees that are on fire in the town square are being allowed to burn, although several citizens and one or two watchmen are keeping an eye on the trees to make certain the fires don't jump to some other flammable item.

Totmacher makes his way away from the guard who had warned him away from the manor, looking for an avenue of approach to the manor with a little less town watch activity.  Near the northwest corner of the manor, the barbarian notes that there appears to be greater spacing between the watchmen guarding the manor.  All of the watchmen that Tot had seen appear to be watching the manor.

The barbarian considers means of entering the manor, and concludes that simply walking into a door is not an option.  As the big man begins to assess the walls for climbing and windows for effecting an entrance, a window on the second floor opens, and a voice calls out, "We have Barbaras under assault!  Send up reinforcements, but continue to watch the manor!"

The guard nearest Tot hears this and dashes off to the nearby garrison gate.

OOC:  You are, for now, unobserved by guards.  You may either try to climb walls or enter one of the windows.  The Climb DC for the walls is a 25, and the Jump DC to reach high enough to grab a window ledge is 20.  Your check modifiers are +7 for climbing, and +11 for jumping (you get a +4 bonus for your 40' movement).  Pulling yourself up and onto the window ledge, assuming a successful jump, is a Climb check with a DC of 15.  Let me know what you want to do, and make the appropriate rolls on the Dice Roller.

As Totmacher considers this, a fiery explosion blasts some of the glass from a second story window.

Tot will try the Jump/Climb check to get into the window--does the window with the blast seem more accessible?  Or is the heat too intense.  If the heat is too much or there is too much fire, Tot will try another window.

OOC:  Tot can't make the leap to the upper windows--they're simply too high.  He is constrained to going for one of the first story windows (which are still about 10' from the ground--on an upward sloping approach).  Go ahead and roll your Jump and Climb checks like I detailed a couple of posts ago.  And if you do it soon (while I'm still screwing around at work), I can move you along.

Looks like it won't be good enough...going for the first floor window...

22:37, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 14 using 1d20+7. Climb.
22:37, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 28 using 1d20+11. Jump.

Totmacher leaps for the first floor window, easily gaining a grip on its ledge.  The half-orc's attempt to lever himself up and onto the ledge, however, is unsuccessful.  The barbarian relaxes a bit, still suspended from the ledge, and prepares to try again.

OOC:  Hey Scott, your Jump attempt allowed Tot to leap and grab the window, your Climb attempt means that Tot failed to bodily gain the ledge, but he is still hanging from the ledge nonetheless.  You can try again next round.  And please roll an initiative for me so I can place you within the broader initiative context.  Thanks.

Ok...

23:09, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 19 using 1d20. Initiative.

Then I made an error when I put in my modifier and had to re-roll for Climb (which did not help me):

23:09, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 11 using 1d20+7. Climb.

Totmacher once again attempts to heave himself up onto the window's ledge, but again is unsuccessful.

OOC:  You'll have to wait until this round plays itself out to try again.  I'll keep you posted.

--K

(19)
Totmacher manages to gain the window ledge and, remarkably, finds the casement unlatched.  Perhaps some servant had opened the window during the warm, late spring day and had forgotten to close it.  Opening the window, the half-orc finds himself looking into what appears to be an audience room of sorts--complete with a richly bedecked official-looking chair and some statue of a kneeling woman.  The room smells like civilization.

OOC:  Tot has a standard or move action still to go.  Tot's position is indicated on the website in the first floor burgomaster manor map.

Tot will move to the the south east door in search of a stairway going up...

What does Tot hear about?

Totmacher finds a staircase leading downward, its stone steps descending into a damp-smelling depth.  Upon further search, the half-orc finds a wooden stairway that ascends to an upper floor.  Taking the steps two at a time, the barbarian hears the sounds of the manor doors opening, and hurried voices and running feet from below.

Upon reaching the second floor, Totmacher steps through an open door and into a tastefully furnished and appointed study.  A portion of the room's wall has swung inward, apparently leading to another chamber.  Totmacher can see the figure of the halfling Caylin beyond, and the little archer turns to the barbarian, no recognition on his face.  The halfling's bow comes up, training an arrow on Totmacher.  "Who're ye, then?  Speak quick, man...I've nae patience fer a slow reply."

Totmacher recalls his appearance--

"Totmacher of the Wilds, deliverance!"

"Friend-Caylin, where does death await?"

Thread closed.  Go ahead and post in the "Crashing the Party" thread.