Chapter 01: Not like any pub you remember

[Nordbo]

Vivella

(gravitating towards Thorelf, quite clearly warming up to him): "Well, well. Tiny, Beaver, Mr. McGruffin and...Thorelf" (blushes) "Forgive me, but you do rather sound like a band of travelling minstrels!" (giggles discreetly and whispers something to Paxon, and then opens up Thorelf's/Korin's cell). "With those names, I guess you can't be all that bad. You let those two out, Paxon" - she hands him a key. With an expression of disgust (and maybe sudden jealousy?) he tries not to touch the spattered door handle to Tiny's / Eaton's cell. He somehow manages to open it up without getting soiled, and sets Tiny & Eaton free. He then snorts at Thorelf: "I'm fine".

All four of you are now out of the cells. You are standing in a torch-lit short corridor, 0,5' wide, 5' long, rough ceiling - 15' high in places. Along one side is a row of cells (5 in total). The corridor ends in a wall at one end, and a door at the other end. On the long side opposite the cells is the double door that Klov and Vivella burst out from.
Paxon seems to have come out of cell 4 - its door is open.

Klov lies crumpled up in a heap beneath cell door 3, which is covered in blood and bits. Now that Eaton is out of the cell, he can search Klov. He finds nothing of interest, except that the large red stains on Klov's pants aren't actually blood - they smell like wine.

A long sword lies on the floor where Vivella dropped it.

Vivella scratches her head, looking puzzled at Thorelf. "When did you arrive ? I'm sure there was only the dwarf in that cell..." - "Anyway, we gotta get out of here. Now!" Vivella points at the double door.

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin shrugs "Dunno bout that lass. I woke up in ere and Thorelf was there wit me maybe he was just hidden in tha shadows er somethin'. I dun spose you know where they mighta kept our stuff? I'm missin me weapons."

[sastaz]

Map. Name denotes where (n)pc started from, not where they are right now.

[sastaz]

Thorelf sheaths his dagger again before the door is opened. While stuffing back his rope into his backpack he says:

Most kind Vivella, I will not forget this. <broad smile> Also, thanks to you Paxon. <small bow> While you all look for your weapons, surely they'll be needed, might I be so bold to say we let me take the lead?

Without really waiting for an answer he walks over to the double doors (which should be still at least partly open) and leans forward just ever so slightly to see what's inside. At the same time:

Is there anyone else in these cells?

[Rex]

Tiny

"Can I take the sword?" Tiny motions at the long sword.

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin "Swords are fine an all but I prefer me axes, but I do know how ta handle a broad sword. Best we search fer our missing stuff."

[Rex]

Tiny

"This isn't my preferred weapon either but, better than nothing. Maybe our stuff is in the room he came out of?"

[sastaz]

Thorelf

We'll find out in a second, hold on. Now let's see what we have here....

[sastaz]

Thorelf

Turns around to face his companions once more.

In a low voice

Seems safe, no one there. Let's move.

Faces Tiny, makes exaggerated gestures and points towards the room.

BIG. SWORD.

[Rex]

Tiny

Tiny leads the way in.

Has all his stuff plus the long sword.

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin grabs what stuff he was left with and follows Tiny.

[sastaz]

Updated map

[Nordbo]

You peer into a 20' x 25' torch-lit 'chamber' of sorts, with a 15' high ceiling. To the right: a bunk bed, on which some blankets & garments lie tussled in disarray. Next to the bed lies a sack - all of these are soaked by the contents of a large overturned jug. Propped up at the end of the bed stands a two-handed sword. Over the bunk, a piece of rope hangs from the ceiling.

Across, on the opposite wall: closed double doors, similar to the ones you've just come in through.

Vivella is already inside, rifling through the garments on the bed. She untangles a book, and tucks it away in her robe.
"...I...I can't handle swords - I wasn't brought up that way." she motions dismissingly towards the two-handed sword. "And the stench...of evil... can't you feel it ? Let's go, already?"Paxon stays close to her, standing by.

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin raises a bushy eyebrow "Eh? I twarted evil more n' once. I ain't leavin' till I find me weapons er somethin equal to em. I ain't no bare fisted fighter."

[Rex]

Tiny

Tiny takes the two-handed sword. "Does someone else want this other sword? I prefer this big one."

Is it his?

He looks around for his other weapons.

[sastaz]

Thorelf

You go ahead and grab that, no problem.

He walks carefully over to the next double door and checks it for traps.

Find traps (25%): [1d100] = 48

Hmmm...hard to tell. Vivella, is this the way out, or where does it lead to? And trust me, I do feel the stench.

[Nordbo]

Vivella

only now responds to Korin's earlier question: "These two swords are all the weapons I've seen lying around. And" (nodding towards Tiny) we aren't really sword people, Paxon and me."

"The guards - who kidnapped us - are armed, of course; maybe they got your stuff ? I don't want to hang around to find out. And you" (pointing at Thorelf, and now sounding shakier) "promised to help us out, remember!!"

Tiny

is now armed with a two-handed sword. Please update character sheet. Does he drop the other sword ?

Thorelf

finds no sign of traps. Vivella rushes up alongside him and replies: "Yes I think that's the way out - but it's hard to say, we were blindfolded when they brought us here. It's real wet and slippery though, some sort of spring or well seeps through the floor in the next room - Klov showed me. Look!" she puts her hand on the handle.

[sastaz]

Thorelf

I do remember Vivella, and I intend to make good on my promise! Careful now... <takes a few steps back> ..that door might be trapped. Let's open it from a safe distance, okay?

To Korin <with ever so lightly clenched jaw>

Come on now, please Korin, let's grab that second sword and get moving. What are you missing? Only your axe?

[Rex]

Tiny

If no one asks for the long sword Tiny will tie it to his pack and continue with the two-hander.

Walking towards the door, "Lets just open it and see whats on the other side."

Sheet updated.

[sastaz]

Thorelf

<mumbles>

Oooookay big guy, let's do it.

<takes another few steps back>