Chapter 6: Escape from the Prison World - Dark Beginnings

[Rukellian]

Whatever Fenrin is about to do, Elethil decides he'll have to bear the brunt or hope that Rand and the other mages can stop it. His job is to free Matkinsai. Which he does.

Initiative: [1d6] = 1

Or tries to do, anyway.

Monkeywrench, you mentioned that you were trying to figure out which spell to cast, or if you wanted to cast one at all. Have you decided on this course of action?

[MonkeyWrench]

Yeah, with Elethil's action Rand will do what he can to distract the evil mage.

Rand, trying to buy time for Elethil, casts the spell he was holding, with a yell to the evil mage, "Hey! You ugly bastard! You failed with your previous schemes and now you'll fail this one too!!" With an outstretched hand he sends off several magical bolts of energy to Fenrin.

Magic Missle

Magic Missle: [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3, [1d4+1] = 3+1 = 4

[Rukellian]

Yeah, with Elethil's action Rand will do what he can to distract the evil mage.

Rand, trying to buy time for Elethil, casts the spell he was holding, with a yell to the evil mage, "Hey! You ugly bastard! You failed with your previous schemes and now you'll fail this one too!!" With an outstretched hand he sends off several magical bolts of energy to Fenrin.

Magic Missle

Magic Missle: [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3, [1d4+1] = 3+1 = 4

Rand does not waste any time in gaining Fenrin's attention. With a pulsating bluish-purple axe raised over his head, he looks over to the source of the taunt and freezes in realization of the source. Before he can bring the axe down onto Elethil, before he can even say anything in response, two missiles of searing light shoot forth from Rand's fingertips and hit the executioner square in the chest! This disrupts the axe attack and sends it off course, hitting the wooden platform far to Elethil's right. The wood splinters and freezes over instantly, an aura of chilly magic permeating from the axe blow. Fenrin starts to wrench the axe out, but finds it a difficult task, not being physically adept like Elethil or say Whitsell. A little winded from the attack to his chest, Fenrin curses out loud in a hoarse whisper: "Markus' protégé, how fate just LOVES to toy with my plans!!"

Elethil, during this brief struggle around him, manages to cut loose the binds on Matkinsai and is able to remove the cloth currently gagging the man. The entrance to the sewer network underneath the platform is just big enough now to slip through.

[MonkeyWrench]

Rand continues to try and close the gap, never taking his eyes off of Fenrin. He yells out to Elethil, "Get him out of here!!! I'll have a word with Fenrin."

With a dagger in hand Rand gives Fenrin a look of pure rage, intent on making his way towards the mage as fast as he can and stab the man with the pointy end of his dagger.

[Zhym]

Elethil looks with shock at the missile, then at Rand. How could anyone who claims to be in the Order of Prometheus use magic to harm?

But he has no time to ponder Rand's actions. "Quick, into the sewers!" he says to Matkinsai. "I will be down right after you!" Elethil puts himself between the escaping Matkinsai and Fenrin, then makes sure that Fenrin has something other than the escaping Matkinsai to worry about.

Long sword (THAC0 16): [1d20+7] = 2+7 = 9, Dmg: [1d8+9] = 4+9 = 13 (S/M) [1d12+9] = 4+9 = 13 (L)

Maybe Fenrin has a high AC...

[Rukellian]

With a silent nod, Matkinsai quickly slips through the new opening and makes his way into the sewers, with a strange level of speed and dexterity at that. Having successfully prevented the hanging, Elethil turns his attention towards Fenrin the executioner. He is dismayed by many things at this point; one: Rand just used offensive magics, despite being a brother of the Order of Prometheus, two: his attack, which should of hit Fenrin, misses, and three: there are now 3 Fenrins on the platform.

The rings on each of the Fenrin's hands finishes its brief glow of light, as another spell seems to be cast almost instantaneously! Not only this, but now the glowing axe, now three of them, are all removed from the platform and ready to be swung once again. One Fenrin turns to Rand and smiles an evil smile, the other two Fenrins now focused on Elethil.

[Rukellian]

Captain Hal nods quickly in understanding as he motions for the others to follow him in. Whitsell is left alone in the room to finish his self-ministrations. The look on his face says he doesn't want any help.

After looking out of the window and gauging the distances of everything outside the castle, Deceidon decides that pursuing the king's trail through the escape route would be a more viable option at this point. He let's everyone know about the mysterious fog he spots with his hawk like vision and follows after Hal shortly afterwards. The guards accompanying Hal bring up the middle and Flynn covers the rear with his bow.

The passage stairs goes down for some distance, winding every now and then, the torches on the walls becoming fewer in number the lower you go, at least the ones that are still lit. The passage itself is constructed purely of stone and brick, the air musty and unused for some time. Multiple sets of footprints are easily found in the dust-lain steps as well as the occasional spurt of blood. Despite the dark and cramped conditions, Hal hurries the pace, fearing for his king's safety.

The stairs leads the group to a small chamber that may have once served as a personal dungeon. Cages are left open, chairs and racks are strewn about around the walls and corners, chains and ancient blood stains litter the place. You notice amongst the debris and features of the room two armored guards, the hollowed ones you fought earlier. They lay on the ground, motionless, and thoroughly beaten. The blood trail from earlier runs down a corridor on the other side the room, an open entrance marked with stone statues. "Rooms built from the kings of past. I pray that our king does not have a use for such things now."

The torture room connects to a corridor that extends for some time into further darkness. Blood and signs of fighting grow stronger as they descend down staircase after staircase. It is only a few minutes later of rushing down stairs do they come across another room, this time with bodies of men mixed among hollowed suits of armor. It is plain as day, looking at their armor, that they belonged to the royal guard. You do not see the king amongst them, but the number of bodies you do see is very unsettling. After checking all seven guards for confirmation of their status, you hear the sound echoes of metal boots running down the corridor in front of you.

It is at this point that Whitsell should have finished his self-ministrations, and can join the group in about two action segments, if he runs and doesn't trip. If he chooses to run down the stairs, have him roll against dexterity. If he does not make his check, he stumbles along the way and takes 1 point of damage.

[onlyme]

Whitsell runs
Dex roll [1d20] = 16

[Zhym]

Elethil keeps his attention on the Fenrins. Unsure which one, if either, is real, he strikes at both:

Long sword (THAC0 16): [1d20+7] = 13+7 = 20, Dmg: [1d8+9] = 2+9 = 11 (S/M) [1d12+9] = 1+9 = 10 (L)
Long sword (THAC0 16): [1d20+7] = 3+7 = 10, Dmg: [1d8+9] = 8+9 = 17 (S/M) [1d12+9] = 2+9 = 11 (L)

[Grognardsw]

"Let us follow the sound of those boots!" exclaims Deceidon.

[MonkeyWrench]

Rand has his dagger out and readied, "It may not be by me, and it may not be now.... But you'll pay for what you've done." Rand eyes Fenrin with a dark look, his eyes filled with rage. Rand will keep on the defensive, watching to see what the dark wizard will do next.

If melee:
Dagger: [1d20] = 5, Damage: [1d4] = 4

[tooleychris]

Flynn chases after Deceidon with bow and arrow in hand, still not comfortable with his wound binding.

[Rukellian]

With Deceidon leading the charge towards the sound of metal footsteps, the group eventually comes across two hollowed suits of armor heading their way, swords drawn as well. The spacing of the corridor can only allow two fighters to fight side-by-side, albeit at an awkward stance for each. With two fighting at once, you receive a -1 to hit for the battle, one just one person fighting up front, no penalties. Archers can still shoot from the middle or behind, so long as those in front duck when needed, or if the archers are feeling lucky.

There is still a few seconds left before they are close enough to engage in battle, how will you proceed in formation?

[Rukellian]

Elethil and Rand have speed on their side as they both execute their attacks in melee range before the Fenrins. One of the Fenrins cackle with evil glee as he evades Rand's dagger thrust with ease, however, one of the ones facing Elethil is slain as blade tears one of them into two! The Fenrin cut in twain fades in a flash of light and leaves only two left on the platform. The second Fenrin who is attacking Elethil swings his glowing axe and slices right through his shoulder and across his torso! Where there should of been blood splatter and open gash, instead lies an icy cold feeling that seems to cut into the elf's very soul. He feels the damage alright but does not seem physically staggered from the strange attack (Elethil loses 5 hit points).*

Rand is more nimble than Elethil at this point, and easily evades Fenrin's counterattack. Once again, the axe seems to leave a cold chill in the air where it arced right over the thief's head.

The crowds of people who arrived for the execution are in a state of noticeable panic now. The fog is unnatural, this much they know and they are hearing strange things coming from the platform area. The guards are trying to keep things under control as they all approach the center. The brothers of Prometheus keep low, having completed their walls of fog. If they were given any other orders (please remind me if this is the case) they do them when appropriate.

* Fenrin rolled a natural 20 on this to hit, but instead of giving him bonus damage, I just deemed it an automatic hit on his part.

[Zhym]

Elethil puts the icy cold from his mind and strikes with all his considerable might at the remaining Fenrin.

Long sword (THAC0 16): [1d20+7] = 13+7 = 20, Dmg: [1d8+9] = 7+9 = 16 (S/M) [1d12+9] = 10+9 = 19 (L)

[MonkeyWrench]

Rand moves on the balls of his feet, never staying still for one moment as he lunges towards Fenrin.

Dagger: [1d20] = 18, Damage: [1d4] = 3

Have them pop their other scrolls?

[Rukellian]

Once I get some actions, formation positions, or just some basic rolls from Deceidon and Flynn, I will proceed with the post. I have Whitsell's input, and the Hal's group will follow any player strategy once stated.

----

Rand and Elethil both strike the Fenrins before them with battle-honed accuracy and determination. The two duplicates drop their icy axes in response, collapse to the floor of the slanted platform and cackle an evil laugh before flashing out of existence in blinks of light.

The Brothers of Prometheus, hearing the sounds of battle near the platform, start to read from their scrolls to help create an illusion to trick the crowds of people. Some of the walls of fog start to dissipate as new scrolls are read. As the fog lifts, images of something can be seen on the platform...

The guards approaching and the people in panic cannot see clearly what is taking shape yet, but Rand and Elethil have a good sight from their position. It is not an illusionary monster like they originally thought would be used, but instead the image of an upright gallows stand, with Matkinsai swinging back and forth from the now raised rope.

With Fenrin out of the picture for the moment and the fog lifting, you are left with two options, more if you can think of any. One: follow Matkinsai down the newly made sewer entrance, or two: slip away from the platform and avoid combat with the guards.

[tooleychris]

Flynn will hang in back nursing his wound by not engaging in melee.
AMBER WHERE R U?

If he gets the chance to fire an arrow before the hall is filled he will.

Bow attack [1d20+4] = 15+4 = 19 Damage [1d6] = 5

[Zhym]

Elethil nods with approval at the Brothers' illusion. Matkinsai will be safer if everyone thinks he's dead.

The elf quickly looks to see if the phantom Fenrin left anything real, expecting to find nothing, then crawls into the sewers to follow Matkinsai.

[MonkeyWrench]

Rand quickly follows Elethil into the sewers after sending out the signal for the members to disperse.

Honestly didn't think the fight with Fenrin would go so well...