After almost a normal sized meal, both men feel a slight release of the knawing knot in their stomaches.  Though Gustav thinks to try and slip his bonds, Terri and Rolf talk him in to waiting, that with only a bit more rest, perhaps they can make a real go of escape.

The evening passes into morning, and with the dawning sun the cart begins moving again in a slow, clattering roll.

Both men seem somewhat better; Rolf finally feels that he can move without mind-numbing pain.  For his part, Gustav is downright chipper in comparison to the previous day, the extra ration of food having put him back in near fighting form.  Attempting to accomodate their desires for additional movement, Terri has retied the bonds around both men's limbs, allowing for slippage in the knot and an easy escape whenever desired.

Taking heart at her companion's increased vigor, Terri has been whispering near non-stop information about their predicament as she is looking at Rolf's lame leg.

"There's five of them.  Two I think are the muscle.  There's a man with a chain shirt and sword, and a woman with lots of knives.  Two men who I think are the worker bees for the animals and the wagons, and Mendel, who's a fat old bastard of a man.  At least the woman and the man have horses, so I don't think we can outrun them, especially in our state."  She pauses, leaning in further to inspect Rolf's knee with a probing hand.

As she says this, Rolf can't help but notice that of the three of them, Terri is the only one who doesn't look any better.  The dark circles under her eyes seem to have grown, and her face is paler than it had been.

"I don't know what happened."  Terri finally gives up and sits back.  "But it doesn't look good.  Maybe a torn muscle?  I don't think anything's broken, but I don't know how good it's going to be for you regardless."

The assessment is nothing that Rolf didn't know already.  The fact that his leg had been causing him so much pain was evidence enough that he wasn't going to be able to stand on it but he had accepted Terri's offer to look at it regardless, mostly to offer something to keep them occupied.

OOC:  It is 0900 on the 18th of January.  Gustav, your pair of critical successes has garnered you 3 FP and 2 HP.  Unfortunately, until you are eating normal meals, you will be stuck at your current FP.  You can still roll to regain HP once per day.  You have also earned two hero points.

Everyone please let me know if you have your ropes "on" or "off". 

He is following Rolf's and Terri's lead.
This time when food is brought, Gustav will make sure Terri gets enough to eat, based on what there is ... he suspects she has been shorting herself for Rolf and himself.

Five...Mendel is a minor thret, but the two guards are from the fight and he knows they are seriously good in a fight.
Terri, do you know who is on guard and how long they pull duty?

OOC:  ropes on.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:03, Tue 09 May 2023.

Like Gustav, Rolf keeps his binds on.  He wants to keep up appearances that he is still weak, which in truth isn't far off from reality.  He is improving, but is still dead tired and feels awful.

He notices Terri too looks pretty bad and surmises she is forgoing eating to assist himself and Gustav.  They are being kept barely alive by design and there's nothing he can do to help the situation.  Well, besides escaping.

Feeling better he ruminates on their plight as there is nothing else to do.

Hearing Gustav's speak up he says "Good question.  We have no hope of fighting our way out.  Slipping away in the night is our best bet."

"If we choose to try to flee we should do it tonight.  The longer we wait the greater the risk of reaching the slavers market and all hope is lost."

Rolf thinks things over and trying to escape is the only way.  "It will be risky and even if we get away initially they might be able to track us down.  We won't be moving very fast.  But we can try to cover our tracks as we go and try to hide come day break."

He ponders the wisdom of trying to make a run for it, but he sees no other choice.  He'd rather die than live life a slave, especially after being a free man his whole life, and he's sure Gustav and Terri share the same view.

He looks Terri over again.  He's not sure if she'll be up to trying to escape in her current state.

"You can't skip another meal tonight Terri.  We need you strong for this." he says thoughtfully.

OOC:  Ropes on loose for Rolf.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:04, Wed 10 May 2023.

Rolf, I was thinking of taking the horses, so we could ride and they could follow us on foot.

Rolf considers Gustav's suggestion of making for the horses.  He wants the input of both Terri and Gustav.  He can't think of everything, of all the angles, and they may come up with something he hadn't considered.  But at the same time the risk of trying to flee and what's at stake for all them remains paramount.  They must get away and do so with the least risk as possible.

"Getting the horses I think is out.  They snort and make noise and will likely wake them.  I think it's better if we try to slink away and be miles and miles from camp before they rise for the day and notice we escaped."

"We likely only have one chance at this.  If they catch us they will punish us and...maybe even kill us.  Any that are left alive can expect extra measures to make sure they don't get another try.  Which I would suspect would be along the lines of maiming...crippling."

He thinks more on what lay ahead.  "Tonight after we are sure they are asleep we peak under the tarp and see where the guard is.  If he's distracted and not keeping us in sight we try to sneak away.  I should go first.  I will cast a spell that allows me to float.  It's not very fast but will allow me to not have to walk and I should be very quiet as my feet won't even be touching the ground."

"If they don't notice then Gustav try next.  Then Terri.  If all goes well we can get away.  After that we'll have to try to find their cart tracks so we'll know how to get back.  I'm hoping the tracks won't be too hard to find even in the dark."

With horses, they will be back on us by noon. We will be very slow. Perhaps if there is a river close, we could  float away. but we are not up for a long fast walk.

Rolf takes in Gustav's assessment.  "Them catching us is a risk.  Trying to flee is going to be risky no matter what we do, but there are things we can do to maximize our chances."

"Me and Terri are both pretty good trackers and can cover our tracks as we go.  If we can get away unnoticed, we can elude them."

"Assuming all goes well and we get away, I say we initially steer clear of the carriage tracks leading back.  If they're smart they'll be searching around them for us knowing we'll try to use the tracks to return to the Three Corners."

"Instead we head in some other direction and after a few hours, try to find a place to hide.  Preferably near a water source with fish we could eat.  Then rest and recover for at least a few days."

"After that we search for the carriage tracks heading back and try to return to the Three Corners. Hopefully after a few days of not finding us they'll give up and move on."

Rolf mind whirls with all the possible scenarios.  There's lots that can go wrong.  But he does come to at least one conclusion.  "If they notice us leaving the carriage split up.  Maybe one or more of us can still get free.  Just stick to the basic plan to hide for a few days, find the tracks and return."

We can only try...

Rolf remains silent for a time, but then a thought occurs to him.  "We might need a distraction.  We should see if there is something in here we can throw." he says to Gustav and Terri as he slips from his bonds.

Seeing as he can't easily move far, he searches the area directly around him, then inspects the ropes that have bound him for many many days before returning his arms to his bound state.

OOC: Rolf missed his perception roll.  But will take a good look at his ropes to see if he could use them to throw.  He's thinking if ties each end in a big knot (kind of like a qtip) that could be thrown a good far distance in an end over end fashion.

Why alert a snoozing guard, better to thump him if we could, or better yet put him to sleep.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:42, Tue 16 May 2023.

"If the guard sleeps all the better for us to sneak away.  But if we need a distraction like the sound of a small thrown object to divert his attention then it would be good to have something on hand."

Rolf's eyebrows furrow.  "Under no circumstance do we thump anyone or anything.  I want to get away, and to do that we need to be quiet.  Hopefully we won't need a distraction though.  Even that may doom us."

Do you have a spell to cause sleep?

"I have some mind affecting spells, but none that cause sleep.  In any event I have not the strength to cast them.  I should be able to muster enough to weave a spell to allow me movement at a walking pace, but nothing more."

"I am very weak and desperately want to get away, rest and eat."

I suspect that is all of us

Terri sits and listens to the other two, smiling softly as Rolf chastises her about eating.  "It's ok.  I was eating all our food until you both woke up.  It's my turn to go without for a little so the both of you can gain some strength."

As the conversation turns to tactics however, Terri bites her lip.  "Um...  I don't think you should go first.  I think I should be the first one out...  Just in case someone sees us I think I'm the only one with enough energy left in me to make it a distraction for the others...  I could run, at least for a little, letting you two make your way in other directions.  But the rest of it I think is good.  Maybe we can wait until one of the hired hands is on watch?  Maybe..."

But a ruffle of the flap of their cart causes Terri to turn her head swiftly, halting her thought at a word.

Rolf and Gustav watch as the canvas of the cart rips open and a woman's face appears in the gap!

OOC:  Ok, lots of ways that you can play this and I don't want to steer you in any one direction or another.  If you wish to "play dead" please roll vs. Acting.  Otherwise, feel free to use any social skill that is applicable to whatever tactic you want to employ.  You could also fight, although you will be impeded by your ropes, even if you stated that they are loose.

Please don't go too far down this road.  Initial actions and a roll is all I am looking for at the moment.

Gustav just groans and acts [not much acting really] like he is barely with it.



20:29, Today: Gustav Du Meseries rolled 9 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,3,2.  Acting default.

Rolf listens to Terri's suggestion and nods his head in agreement.  There's much to consider, but ultimately it may not matter.  If one of them alerts a guard it's unlikely any of them would get away.

Rolf immediately goes limp the moment the canvas flap is ruffled.

OOC:  Rolf made his acting roll to play dead.

At the opening of the canvas, Rolf is already closing his eyes and falling into a limp repose.  Gustav simply attempts to look as miserable as possible (an easy feat he thinks) though their act does not seem to impress the woman.

"I told you!"  She shouts, assumedly to someone behind her.  "They're fine back here!  Just babbling on to each other while the carts are moving!  They're plotting!"

"No!"  Terri nearly shrieks back, her hands already up defensively.  "I was trying to tend to their wounds!  I was talking to myself!  They're barely even able to eat!"

But the woman does not seem to be impressed by Terri's argument, instead, he unsheathes a knife from her belt, pointing it towards Terri's general direction.

"You!  Out!  You walk from now on!"

"But my leg!"  Terri wails, her voice raising up to near hysterics.

Terri's act however (for Gustav and Rolf both know it is an act, as Terri has only feigned a lingering leg injury when limping back and forth for food) does not seem to impress the woman, and she jabs the knife even closer.

"And shackle them all!  They're better than they've been telling us!"

OOC:  Again, space left here for resistance if required.  If none is offered we'll fast forward.

Well Crap! Gustav thinks, this makes it much more difficult.

He says nothing.

Rolf remains as motionless as possible.  Despite their efforts to stay quiet the jig is up as their captors sense their health is improving.  Knowing there is little to gain if they know he's conscious, Rolf continues to play possum.

Though they are threatened with being shackled, neither Rolf nor Gustav make any motions of resistance as the woman grabs Terri's wrist, wresting her from the small wagon at knifepoint.  Terri groans in false pain as she is pulled from the cart, calling out in sharp cries and at one point both Gustav and Rolf can hear her fall to the ground... they hope under her own volition as an act.

Soon metal crinkles and cracks in the dull sound of irons, before long, a man pushes aside the canvas, taking a moment to look over the two men before he turns and shouts back out into the morning.

"Ohtar you sure you want me to...?"

"Fucking do it!"  The woman shouts, and Terri yelps in pain in near harmony.  "It's on your head if someone gets off!"

"Just do it."  A man's voice responds, tired sounding, as if the whole situation is an inconvenience.

"Fine..."  The man turns back towards Rolf and Gustav, the iron of the shackles still clinking in his hands.  "But they don't look like they're going anywhere anytime soon."

Even as their wrists are chained, the two wait, knowing that when they do make a move, surprise is their only advantage.

The morning drags on.  The two refrain from whispering back and forth, hoping not to dig their hole any deeper.  Outside, occasionally, Terri groans audibly, often accompanied with the soft thump of flesh hitting against a cart somewhere in the distance.  At one point, a horse whinnies in protest.

"Get away from the horses!"  The woman shouts.

"I can't walk!"  Terri answers back in retort, a fierce defiance to her voice.

"Just fucking put her in the cart Ohtar!"  One of the men shouts, a familiar voice though Rolf and Gustav cannot place it.

It's barely a handful of seconds before Terri is thrust forcefully back into the cart, groaning in pain as she is pushed in.  As soon as the flap is closed however, Terri pushes her head up, flashing the two men a victorious smile, a small metal rod in her hand.  Without a word, she pushes a finger to her lips and lowers her head back down groaning occasionally with each jerk of the cart.

The day wears on into evening, and eventually into night.  The rations that come at the break of camp seem particularly scant.

As darkness begins to fall, and the soft mumble of voices begins to quell, Terri pushes herself back up into a sitting position, perking her ears before she produces the small rod again in one hand.

"I managed to pry of the prong off of one of the horse's buckles!"  She beams as she jabs the utensil into the small hole in her shackles.  "It's not much of a pick, but then again, these aren't much of a lock, so I'm hoping it does the trick."

Terri's face screws up in concentration as she wiggles the small device at her wrist.  She spends nearly a minute at it, but eventually there is a soft click! and one of the manacles pops off her wrist, allowing her to squirm out of the restraint.

"You now."  She motions towards Rolf, the small piece of metal again in one hand as she presses her face close to the manacles.

Again, Terri goes to work, rotating and levering the small bit of steel in the iron hole, rooting around by feel as much as by sight to try and unlatch the mechanism that keeps the shackles closed.  "Almost got it..."  Terri says as she puts an extra bit of leverage on the pin.  However, instead of popping the lock open, the small pin bends and snaps in half with the pressure!

Oh no!  Terri mouths, looking up into Rolf's face as she pulls away half of the pin.  She looks at it briefly, but it's clear without much appraisal that the thing is now useless as a lock pick.

"What do we do?"

OOC:  It is 2200 on the 18th of January.  Terri successfully managed to pick her own lock, but critically failed her next roll to get Rolf.  The manacles aren't keeping you in the cart, but they are inhibiting your ability to use your hands.  Ball is back in your court, thanks for keeping with me and my slowness.

Gustav slips the ropes off of his ankles and gets up, looking around in the dark for anything else that might serve as a lock pick.

So much for being quiet ... when the guard shows up, Gustav says he needs to defacate.

Is it possible to peek out under the canvas without moving the canvas noticeably? Can we access the seat up front where the driver normally sits?

Rolf accepts their fate with the manacles willingly.  There's really nothing he or they can do about it.  Any protest or fight will only make things worse, and they can always be worse, much much worse.

He glumly rests in the cart, his wrists held fast by crude iron loops.  He says nothing to Gustav and waits.

He is glad when Terri is put back in the cart.  At least if they are together it's possible to plan, even if the odds are long that they will be able to do anything to escape.

He raises an eyebrow at the sight of the piece of metal she has found, and waits with her for nightfall.

Rolf smiles when Terri frees herself and holds his hands out to allow her to pick his own manacles.

BLAST his mind screams when the pick breaks leaving both him and Gustav held fast.  Thoughts of never being able to escape torment his mind temporarily as he struggles to quell his thoughts and think of what to do.

Rolf reaches out to Gustav and motions him to sit quietly with a finger over his pursed lips.

He looks himself and the cart over.  Slowly a plan forms in his mind.

"We wait for them to sleep.  I should still be able to cast my spell for movement, but I'll need to utter a quick word.  For that I'll need you both to pretend to roll over and let the manacles clink a bit.  With luck that should keep them from noticing."

"Once it looks like they aren't checking on us, wrap these manacles in cloth to quiet them."

"Terri you then peak out of the tarp and if the coast is clear you exit first.  Then help Gustav down with me helping on the other side.  Then hold the tarp for me to slide through.  Then we slowly and quietly escape."

OOC:  As long as both Gustave and Terri agree with my plan, we wait till we think they are fully asleep with only the guard(s) awake.  Then I'll try to cast my spell and hope they don't notice (with Terri and Gustav tossing in their sleep to cover the sound.)  If possible Rolf will muffle the keyword as best he can with his shirt when he casts.

Also, If the ropes are still available then use those to wrap the manacles to keep them from clinking.  Assuming we have some clothing on our backs, then use that if needed by pulling our shirts over our heads and tightly wrapping them over the links.

Gustav nods in agreement but waits to see if anyone comes to check on them.

Gustav  is angry nd upset by being put in manacles.  He starts working to see if he can get out of them. He can feel a little room to work with, but doesn't succeed.  He waits a while and tries again.