Rael rub his chin thinking "Say Berta, what are the chances the guards at the nook would accept a late night meal?" he check his herb pouch "I have here some herbs that would be able to send them all into deep sleep... spiced wine would help to mask the taste but if not I have some cinnamon ."

He glance at the others "I rather delay combat until the last minute, as it would increase our chances of setting alarms and if we could have the guards drugged it would be the best."

Berta shakes her head at Rael's suggestion.  "I wouldn't," she says frankly. "Yara or one of the others catches you shirking your duties and it'll be you that's howling on their table."

"We could try freeing the other prisoners which should liven things up," she muses.  "But I'm not sure that they're even capable of fleeing any more."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:09, Mon 18 May 2015.

Lars considers the plans.  "Well, some kind of diversion would help, maybe that would lure some of the guards from their post."  He scratches the side of his eye patch.

"Could give us a chance to slip past.  What do you think?"

Rael considers "Well... I might able to concoct some potion that when released would create a knockout smoke." he shrugs "depending on the nook, it may take them out or just make them dazed so fighting them should be easier."

He glance about "but I'll need some time and a kitchen would be helpful."

At the mention of a kitchen you can see that the area to the "east" side of the room looks like it may have some basics that may be usable in terms of brewing up something. There is already a roaring fire and you can see various liquid containers about the room, some of which have to have water. As for a proper kitchen it is common for places such as this to have their kitchens in a separate building altogether. [Private to Berta: Any kind of smoke or cloud would have a difficult time dispersing in the rather poorly ventilated dungeon.]

The few other things in the room lend itself to more of a lounge or planning area. The large table is easily big enough to entertain many, however the overall look of the place is definitely more business than anything. Remembering from outside, the stairwell to the "west" should lead upstairs to where the light poked out from behind some curtains. The stairs just outside the doors you entered most certainly heads down into the dungeon and laboratory area that Berta just described.

Lars jabs a finger at the door they came in.  "There are guards right out that door.  I don't think we have time to cook up slops in the galley, unless you you can do it quickly and quietly?"

Lars starts poking around the room, looking under the tables, behind curtains and wall hangings.  He will listen at the base of the stairs where light can be seen behind the curtain.

09:57, Today: Lars K'Rusome rolled 82 using 1d100. listen. tn 29
09:57, Today: Lars K'Rusome rolled 4 using 1d100. search. tn 56

Khazim listens to the conversation with interest. "If I may." He raises a single hand. "In the wastes there are many large animals that can not be taken down with a single shot, spear, or trap. Many times we rely on a paralytic or other such items to fell the great beasts before they have a chance to harm anyone. Is there a chance you could get such a paralytic on a dagger or such Rael? We then get Berta to head down like nothing is wrong, engage in conversation, and then prick the guard so that they sleep?"

Khazim spreads his hands wide in a gesture of quizzing. "We would have to place our new found ally in such a position with no real help to dissipate any suspicion. Once the nook guard is down, we can then rush the guard station possibly? or maybe then employ Rael's smoke bomb?"
This message was last updated by the GM at 02:32, Tue 19 May 2015.

Rael glare at Lars "Some time a delay is worth the wait and I'll do it as fast as I can... of course if you rather fight the guards while they are wide awake and alert then let us not waste time here... " he consider Khazim words "Let me see if I have something that could work..." he search his bags for a paralytic agent that is in honeyed syrup so it could be coated easily on a blade.

Eclair looked around as her companions once again tried to concoct an overly complicated strategy, "Yes, the paralytic agent would be good, but let's not waste time cooking up a smoke right now. We are 5, Berta says they are four and in a confined area? Well, we can blitz using the poison and make sure that one of us hangs back at the exit so none can escape. Seek to wound and paralyze as fast as possible. Berta, would it be a mercy to kill such men? I get that they would end up on a table otherwise? That might work to our advantage... yeah?"

Guards that knew their own miserable fate for failures were very handy in a pinch, or so the thought went.

Lars paces around the room. "Those odds sound ok, especially if we can take 'em by surprise." He stops pacing. "Rael, how do we use this poison?."

Lars anxiously pokes about the room seeking any advantage that could help the group. First and foremost he listens on up the stairs, their nefarious deeds would do no good if some passerby would happen to hear their voices echoing up the great stone staircases. Luckily, no movement can be heard as at the top of each of the stairwell appears to be a stout wooden door. He methodically moves about the room, testing sconces, moving chairs, tapping on the stone floor and walls.

Eventually his efforts are rewarded, a sconce near the left stairwell appears to have a catch trigger attached to it. Not foolhardy enough to simply trigger the potential trap, he renews his efforts on the floor and walls near the sconce. After a few minuets his knocking and tapping is rewarded with a hollow sound from a nearby wall.

Updating map - Blue Letters Players (A = Angrboda) Red = NPC's (G = Guard, X = Unknown)
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:29, Fri 22 May 2015.

"We don't have the time," Berta shakes her head at Rael's proposition, her urgency echoing that of Lars. "We could be discovered any moment and we'll have far more than four or five guards to worry about.  We must act quickly - we cannot remain here."

"And even if we could make such a potion and take out the guards with it ... the smoke would not swiftly disperse - we'd be unable to gain the door without falling victims ourselves."

"The poison ... aye," she likes Khazim's suggestion better, "I could use that ... and if I am successful I could call forth the other guards to help our ailing colleague."

Berta raises a brow at Eclair's question, her face set. "They serve Queen Media, they deserve what they get - as assuredly as do we who follow the dictates of our patron even though under compulsion.  But they are not men ... look at us sister," she swirls her fine green cloak.  "These guards are women too - all the Royal guards are as we."

"What have you found ?" she turns to Lars.

Lars looks up from his searchings.  "Looks like some kind of hidden door.  There is a trigger on this sconce.  I'll see if I can open it."

He fiddles around with the mechanisms and scowls.  "Argh. Maybe my axe would be more useful!"

OOC: 09:48, Today: Lars K'Rusome rolled 93 using 1d100. Open secret door (pick lock). tn 50.

"Lets just agree I'll not tell you how to smash heads and you don't tell me how to brew potions... if I say the smoke would be safe it would be..." Rael grumbles as he pulls some herbs from his pouch.


"...but since you are all so eager to rush ahead I'll just make the paralytic potion... it won't take long as I can use the slaver drug as a base just add some Selek reed and Gykatha root to strengthen the effect and some honey spores to make it thicker..." he shake the bottle and fix the potion.

It take him a few minutes to mix the potion and hand it over to Berta.

Thanks to an already concocted base Rael is able to finish with his alteration of the paralytic in a matter of minuets. The now condensed liquid is almost like molasses in consistency and would easily coat and stick on just about any surface. Rael finishes re-packaging the thick fluid and hands the vial over to Berta with a word of warning about the experimental nature of this altered Decoction. At that moment the great fires in the hearth waver a bit, as if the wind were sucking the air down the chimney causing the flames to slightly leap toward the room. However after a few moments all returns to normal. Normal that is except for this pit that seems to form in your stomachs.

As if someone were to have walked on your graves, you get this bad feeling.

[Private to Eclair: During the exchange of items, you hear a nearby door opening, you also think you hear a sound of metal on stone. It is faint and you are not entirely sure where it came from. 15:00, Today: The Grey Lords, on behalf of Eclair, rolled 30 using 1d100. Listen tn 52. - Pass]
[Private to Khazim: During the exchange of items, you hear a nearby door opening, you also think you hear a sound of metal on stone. It is faint and you are not entirely sure where it came from. 15:00, Today: The Grey Lords, on behalf of Khazim, rolled 4 using 1d100. listen tn 49. - Pass]
[Private to Rael Gol: During the exchange of items, you hear a nearby door opening, you also think you hear a sound of metal on stone. It is faint and you are not entirely sure where it came from. 15:01, Today: The Grey Lords, on behalf of Rael Gol, rolled 23 using 1d100. Listen tn 28.  - Pass]

"If it even lead downwards, it'd probably only drop us into Yara's parlour," Berta tells Lars, swiftly considering the layout of the floor below.

The big woman holds her tongue at Rael's remark, merely giving the pale man a curt nod, but listens carefully at his instruction as she takes the vial.  Before she can pose a question, however, the flaring of the fire and sinking feeling in her stomach gives her momentary pause, then spurs her to action.

"We must go now !" Berta urges, jaw set.  "Eclair, with me," she tells the other woman in guard's garb.  "The rest of you stay close - hold to your deception till it serves no more purpose !"

Berta opens the door, heading into the hall beyond, "Enough, enough" she calls back over her shoulder, for the benefit of the two guards therein, "It matters not how these thralls look - but will go hard on us all if we dally !"

[Private to GM: lead them down the stairs.  :>]

Berta pauses in the doorway, staring for a second before turning around and calling back, authoratively, "Trouble below !  Draw your swords and follow me !"

"Something is happening," she speaks urgently, her voice lowered, thrusting the potion toward Rael to free her hands.  Swiftly she pulls off her brass helm and unclasps her cloak, passing them to the pale man.

"White Lords be good, you have that distraction you wanted ... we must be quick to take advantage.  Salrenna is entering the cells, we must follow on her heels - perhaps we can make it to the Tenatir unseen.  Once down the stairs, double back down the passageway.  Rael - with helm and cloak you'll pass for a guard in the chaos, but stay behind Eclair and me - us they will expect - the rest of you, follow close, but if you value your lives keep your heads down and your wits about you !"

"Hurry !  HURRY !" her voice loud now as she strides towards the stairs drawing her blade from its scabbard.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:08, Sun 24 May 2015.

Rael was about to mention he had heard something when the big woman turned into frantic action... he grab her cloak nodding in understanding "Coat your blades, it with give you an edge so that even a nick would slow your foes." he adds as he draw a throwing knife and hold it ready as he follow her, of course he would let any of the other fighting men and woman, enter before him as they were far better suited to combat than he is.

As Berta rushes out the door of the common room you can hear her bellow out orders. The two guards in the portico do not hesitate as Berta uses an authoritative voice to get them moving. They too draw their longswords and move into position behind Berta waiting for her lead down the stairs. Eclair is a bit slower on the uptake but moves in behind Rael waiting for an opportunity to move through the door. At the bottom of the stairs the black robed woman notices Berta and two other royal guards assembling at the top of the stairs. Seeing that the matter is about to be handled she moves off to the side at the bottom of the stairwell, places her hand against the wall, then proceeds to walk through it.The bottom of the stairway is left clear for the guards to descend..

Updated map (downstairs)for those from the common room on Map B
Green designates the "hidden" door location.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:22, Sun 24 May 2015.

Lars mumbles a sailor's curse then shuffles towards the door after Berta, trying his best to look drugged when really he is extremely nervous that he is about to be embroiled in a fight with half the gauards in the castle. He makes sure his axe is slung so it can be readied quickly.

Following the lead of others, Kazhim moves towards the nearby table and lays a small handful of arrows down on it. Checking his desert bow to ensure that it can fire as needed, he once again adopts a semi-drugged stance. Keeping a wary eye out, he never lets those staged arrows more than a twitch away from firing.

Sensing that it is now or never, Berta does not hesitate, "GO ON !" she tells the two guards at the top of the stairs, shoving them into action if needs be, then following down close on their heels.

Her impatience is such that she does not pause to coat her blade as Rael suggests, but should the little man be keeping up, she'll hold the sword out that he may apply the potent liquid to the bare metal, though will not slow to make that task easier.

The large woman was growing on Rael and he could see that should she and he would survive he would really be fond of her. Fond of her despite her short patient and ability to leap into action without thinking.

He smiled as he watch her charge into the steps, yes he was growing fond of her, with his luck she will end up either dead or betraying them all maybe she was the queen of this place playing some sort of sadistic game with them...

He shrugs and offered Eclair, Lars and Khazim a coat from the potion he made he also dipped his own knives but only once it was done did he ran after the woman. He was not going to risk exposure to the strong paralytic agent just because she did not had the patient to wait for a few heart beats.

Lars will coat his axe, but only if it is safe to do so without being noticed.  He follows Berta down the stairs, still acting like he is drugged.

Scooping up the arrows he had set aside he grips them tightly and quickly dips the tips of the few arrows into the concoction. Holding the arrows down and in the folds of his cloths he lets the air dry them before inserting them once again back into the quiver. Falling in step beside Lars, he trudges slowly behind the group acting as if he were simply obeying the simple command of "stay near".