A chance encounter upon the road leads to captivity.  You awaken with the Gunderland ranger, Sthenelus, before you.  As he urges you to act quickly, you realize you have become involved in matters much greater than yourself . . . .

Traveling through rolling wooded hills near Arcoedunum, you were waylaid by brigands and taken captive.  You now find yourself in a cell, searching for a means of escape.

You are in a holding pen in a brigand camp.  It is currently night, several hours after being taken to this encampment deep in the Coedwudu in northern Gunderland.  You have been roughly handled, robbed of your trade goods and weapons, but otherwise unharmed.

Suddenly you can see light under the door and through the chinks in the rough wooden stakes that comprise the pen.  The light stops then the door slowly swings open.  Amber floods into the small chamber and you can make out a tall man holding a small torch in the doorway.

"Come' he whispers. 'Come quickly.  I am Sthenelus.  We must move and make little noise lest we rouse these bandits to action.'
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:40, Fri 19 July 2019.

Peleus takes a moment to observe the man and make a snap decision as to whether he is trustworthy.

Observation: (11)¹ 6, 8  [2]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:29, Fri 19 July 2019.

+1 Momentum

A quick but careful look at the man Sthenelus reveals the immediately recognizable neck-scarf of a Ranger of Westmarck - this is no brigand.

Peleus moves immediately to the door and in hushed tone says, 'My thanks to you, Sthenelus.'  Peleus nods, indicating that he is ready to move at Sthenelus's word.

Sthenelus narrows his eyes, 'Thank me once we leave this place, if we leave this place unharmed.  I hope you are prepared to fight - not all is as it seems.  Strangeness is afoot and we will likely face foes ere we depart.  You will need this.'

Sthenelus hands you a stout spear with a thick blade and heavy cross-piece.

'You are not the only traveler to be taken by these bandits and I need your help.'  Pointing to a rough door opposite the cell, he says, 'There are at least two others being held beyond.  Free them if you can.  I must part from you here - something is amiss with these brigands and I must find out what it is.  There is another ranger here, Achaius, beyond the walls.  He will be waiting at the gate.  Go now and meet Achaius as soon as you have the others.'

Sthenelus turns and slips silently around a corner.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:21, Fri 19 July 2019.

As darkness descends again, Peleus stalks quietly to the portal.  He slowly opens the ramshackle door.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:38, Fri 19 July 2019.

The door opens soundlessly and Peleus sees a wide space lighted dully by the glow of a campfire.  The yard is roughly square and the sound of voices can be heard.  Words are hard to make out and many of the voices are slurred as if with heavy drinking.  The campfire is the only light and there are deep shadows along the corners and edges of the courtyard.

Directly across from this door, Peleus can see another recess - that is a likely spot for another cell.

Peleus will slowly begin to move toward the recess, keeping low.

Stealth: (11)² 4, 4, 8  [3]

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Will use the +1 Momentum

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This message was last edited by the GM at 20:13, Fri 19 July 2019.

+1 Momentum

Peleus silently crosses the courtyard and there is no movement from the campfire.  There is no guard posted at the door.

Inside there is a another cell and Peleus can barely make out two eyes staring at him from the darkness.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:34, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

Peleus will quickly motion for the prisoner to remain calm and quiet (to the extent that he or she can see).  He will then cross to the cell door and open the door dependent on how it is locked.

The prisoner can see enough of Peleus's signs to understand and remains still in the cell.  The lock, such as it is, is simply a knotted rope twisted around the frame and what passes for the handle.  This was clearly an abondoned stable for livestock.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:16, Wed 29 Apr 2020.

Peleus attempts to quietly open the stall door, either unknotting or cutting the rope.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:36, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

The rope is tightly knotted, but use of a blade is not necessary, and Peleus can unknot with his hands.

He could possibly open without much sound, if he is quiet and quick.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:43, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

Will use Momentum.

Stealth: (11)² 7, 17, 13 [1]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:43, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

+1 Momentum

The knot is undone and the stall door swings open quietly.  The prisoner is free.

Stepping out, a stout woman in her early middle years, says quietly, "I thank you now for whatever madness has possessed you to free me.  These fools - ruffians and drunkards, in the main - have never lain a hand on folk of the wood before now.  I wouldn't believe it, if I hadn't been taken."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:14, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

Peleus nods agreement and says, "There is another captive here, yes?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:18, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

She nods, "Yes.  A friend, Milo.  Apparently, these