Chapter 6: Escape from the Prison World - Dark Beginnings

[Rukellian]

Gathered around the town's center, citizens and adventurers prepare themselves for their trip back to the real world. It is here that they found new allies, enemies, secret knowledge and perhaps a new purpose. Many trials were overcome, but the greatest yet may be just over the horizon.

Having resolved all ties to this town, Whitsell, Flynn, Amberlynn, Elithil, and Rand stands by as Deceidon performs an ancient ritual, his hands now raised over the orb of magical and terrifying power, the Fabricator of Planes. Intoning words from long past, the 'shadow warrior' begins the ritual:

"De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine:
Domine, exaudi vocem meam:
Fiant aures tuae intendentes,
in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine:
Domine, quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est:
et propter legem tuam sustinui te, Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in verbo eius:
speravit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem:
speret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia:
et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel,
ex omnibus iniquitatibus eius.
Gloria Patri, et Filio,
et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,
et in saecula saeculorum. "

The orb flashes brilliantly, as if in response to the words of the shadow warrior, and starts to shake violently upon the pedestal. Pulling an elven dagger out, an item with natural spell-breaking properties, Deceidon thrusts it deeply into the orb, fracturing it. A large sound whistles through the air and the whole world seems to shake around everyone! Light shoots out from the orb and the town's citizenry starts to panic. It is at this time that Matkinsai, the mysterious rogue wizard who helped the adventuring group, speaks one last to the group. "Remember! Remember where you were, what you were doing! When we arrive back to our own world, meet me as soon as you can!" The wizard's last words are barely heard as the whistling sound of the fractured orb reaches an incredible volume of noise.

The Fabricator of Planes shatters. The world around you collapses in an instant, a void of darkness swallowing everyone inside. And then just as quickly as the darkness came, everyone opens their eyes to light, the light of the real world.

-------

Rand awakens in the middle of field, some distance away from the city of New Dathan. The bandit's wagons are no where to be found, nor does the thief see any of the bandits who captured him. The sky, as he looks up, is filled with a welcoming sight, stars twinkling in a familiar darkness. No perpetual sun in sight, no large mountain or forests in the vicinity. As he checks to make sure everything made it along with him, he is relieved to find his belongings all in one piece.

In the distance, you spot a long line of torches and horse carriages, all approaching the city of New Dathan. Such a large crowd... Rand has not seen anything like this before, unprecedented.

-------

Elithil finds himself in a dark and very damp setting. The sound of running water can be heard and the quick smell of the air confirms that the elf is back in the sewer network of New Dathan City. The royal guards that were in pursuit of him are no where to be seen... of course, that happened many months ago. Which means, Markus, the man you were sent to save on behalf of Matkinsai, is no longer here, but probably already buried somewhere and forgotten.

As Elithil collects his bearings, he finds all of his personal possessions in one place, having successfully traveled with him after the orb's destruction. Where the others may be, he has no way of knowing right now. As he contemplates his current situation, the sounds of much activity can be heard coming from above. A lot of people seem to be gathering for something. The light shining down below is that of moonlight, it is night.

-------

Deceidon, Flynn, and Whitsell find themselves in a dimly lit room of stone bricks and pale blue torch flames. The room is circular and spacious, a single door of large wooden frame and metal seems to be the only way in and out. In the middle of the room is a table with a spherical object on top, the twin orb of the Fabricator of Planes. It is now idle and where once there was swirling mists and a town inside of its glass cage, there is now nothingness. The group remembers very quickly where they were when they left this world. They are all inside one of Fenrin's chambers!

Fortunately enough, the group finds that all their belongings survived the jump between realms and that they all appear to be in one piece. Even the elven dagger that was used in the ritual can be found in Deceidon's possession. Flynn, however, is quick to notice that his sweet Amberlynn is no where in sight!

Actions and rolls when you are all ready! This will be the final chapter of this game session. It will be picked up afterwards once I make my transition over to the next campaign.

[onlyme]

The royal guards that were in pursuit of him are no where to be seen... of course, that happened many months ago.

I dont know Elithil's backstory, so wondering in general... Would we have any sense of timing? I think we only slept 2-3 nights in the alt world. Would there be any indication that it was months in the real world? Dust in the room we are in? Trees or bushes growing or fallen from winter, etc?

[Rukellian]

The royal guards that were in pursuit of him are no where to be seen... of course, that happened many months ago.

I dont know Elithil's backstory, so wondering in general... Would we have any sense of timing? I think we only slept 2-3 nights in the alt world. Would there be any indication that it was months in the real world? Dust in the room we are in? Trees or bushes growing or fallen from winter, etc?

It felt like you've only slept for 2-3 nights, and you won't know for sure if this was the case until you ask around. Elithil and Rand were in the prison realm for a lot longer than the main group, already being imprisoned by the bandits before you all showed up.

[tooleychris]

my dumb ass didn't ask Amber where she was from. You ONLY hinted us to Remember where we were two or three times. Guess I'm a little dense. Did our backgrounds come up during pillow talk? LOL

Flynn gets his bearings and whispers to the others.
"We probably don't have much time. Will he know how we've returned? What are we going to say?"

[MonkeyWrench]

Love how you added a part of Rand's back story to Elethil

Rand sheaths his dagger and begins heading off towards the road and the large caravan of people. He will wait in the nearby foliage and watch the procession. Depending on the group entering the city Rand will either stay and watch, leave, or approach to get some more information.

[Grognardsw]

Flynn gets his bearings and whispers to the others.
"We probably don't have much time. Will he know how we've returned? What are we going to say?"

"These wizards never tell us enough," grumbles Deceidon, sheathing the elven dagger. "How are we suppose to find Matkinsai? Let's blame him if Fenrin demands to know what happened. The rogue mage destroyed it and we suddenly found ourselves here."

Deceidon quickly looks around the room for a window.

[Zhym]

Elethil looks about. This isn't where he remembered entering the other world...but no matter. He gathers his items and looks for a way out of the sewer.

[tooleychris]

Flynn gets his bearings and whispers to the others.
"We probably don't have much time. Will he know how we've returned? What are we going to say?"

"These wizards never tell us enough," grumbles Deceidon, sheathing the elven dagger. "How are we suppose to find Matkinsai? Let's blame him if Fenrin demands to know what happened. The rogue mage destroyed it and we suddenly found ourselves here."

Deceidon quickly looks around the room for a window.

"You'd be the expert on wizards, I'd say, Deceidon." Flynn says suspiciously. "And they ain't the only ones keepin secrets." he adds, eying the magic dagger. "But that plan's good as any. "

[onlyme]

Whitsell looks around, and answers,

He already knows most of it, I'd imagine. Is there any way out?

[Rukellian]

Rand finds a nice hiding spot in some nearby foliage and watches the procession of people make their way to New Dathan. The group consists of farmers, merchants, regular townsfolk from nearby villiages, and even the occasional shepherd. The crowds are packed, counting in the hundreds from the looks of it, and they are all deadly silent. Save for the random cough and sniffle no other noise can be heard coming from the group. No idle chatter, no singing or even the sounds of excitement from children. As Rand gets a better look at their faces, he notices that a lot of them have red eyes, the kind that are found after someone has done a lot of crying.

-----

Elithil spots a wooden ladder leading up to a source of light in the distance. Behind him lies darkness, the occasional splashes of water being echoed throughout the underground tunnel. The sound up above grows louder, more people gathering perhaps? But this late at night... why you cannot help but think.

-----

Looking around the room, Deceidon and Whitsell spots no visible windows, only the pale blue flames of the torches, the table with the inert orb and the big wooden door. As the group collects their bearings and figures out what to say to Fenrin, should he arrive, the sudden sound of slamming can be heard coming from behind the door. The door shakes violently with each slam. You don't know know how long it will last or who is trying to get in.

(and no, Amberlynn's home did not come up during pillow talk, you never thought to ask )

[onlyme]

Whitsell grabs his sword, ready for some massive army to break down the door...

[tooleychris]

Flynn draws steel and readies to defend (parry mode)
"You would do well to mind your manners when that door is opened! " he shouts to those beyond.
"We've slain hellspawns on our journeys and are not like to fall to brigands!

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon scoops the orb and takes side position to door to set up for a back stab once the door smashes open and someones rush in.

Can you roll Ruk, I'm away and the phone roller is problematic.

[onlyme]

Whitsell whispers to the other two,

Just remember...it could be the king's men trying to free us. Be ready, but use caution.

[Zhym]

Before climbing up into who knows what, Elethil looks back into the dark sewer. Does he see anything back that way with his elven vision?

[Rukellian]

Whitsell whispers to the other two,

Just remember...it could be the king's men trying to free us. Be ready, but use caution.

As Whitsell finishes and Deceidon quickly gets into position for a backstab, the door finally gives away and two large men in full suits of armor step forth and with weapons raised!

The two armored men have their visors down, but their silence speaks more for itself. A rescuing party would have said something upon seeing the group, and an attacking army wouldn't be so quiet either.

"You would do well to mind your manners when that door is opened!" Flynn shouts to those beyond.
"We've slain hellspawns on our journeys and are not like to fall to brigands!"

The two men don't say anything in response, they do however, take a few steps forward and draw their swords. One of them lunges forward, a display of killing intent that Flynn has seen one too many times during his years on the seas. The man stops just as suddenly though, a blade now piercing through the armor. Deceidon pulls the blade out from behind in a dramatic fashion and lets the armored man slump to the ground, his backstab having successfully been pulled off.

The other towering man who entered remains deadly silent and starts to charge towards Flynn and Whitsell, that intent to kill displayed once again.

Actions!

[Rukellian]

Before climbing up into who knows what, Elethil looks back into the dark sewer. Does he see anything back that way with his elven vision?

Your vision in the darkness reveals the outlines of various objects floating in the water, crates, broken barrels, trash and debris, and the occasional mouse scurrying around. You notice that the path breaks off into two different paths at a sort of t-intersection. The place does not seem to be maintained well, not at all.

[Zhym]

A sewer that's not well-maintained? Goodness!

Elethil decides he doesn't want to pop his head up in the middle of a ruckus. He'll go back and explore the tunnels, starting with the left, hoping to find an exit that isn't in the middle of whatever is going on above.

[tooleychris]

"Fools!" shouts Flynn. "This is hardly the environment for such weapons as yours. Come, fall next to your comrade then!"

Flynn enters parry mode. Defensive stance.
In case it needs refreshing:

A character who is a specialist can add his dex missle bonus to AC when parrying(fighting defensive ) with a light weapon.
(As a side note, when fighting defensively and the enemy misses by more than 10, the character gets a free single riposte attack against THAT target)

[onlyme]

Whitsell quickly jabs at the advancing attacker, hoping it is distracted between his attacks and Flynn's cowering.

assuming this is round 1 where he gets 2 attacks)
long sword attack [1d20+4] = 12+4 = 16 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 1+4 = 5
hits AC1
long sword attack [1d20+4] = 20+4 = 24 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 6+4 = 10
hits