Chapter7 ~ Escape from the Keep

[connivingsumo]

"That door leads is used by the kitchen staff. It goes past a guard post, so we'll need to be quiet. I hope one of you can wizard open that door. I'm sure it will be locked."

Bizenghast looks at everyone waiting to see who volunteers; who can 'wizard-open that door!'...

[mythictom]

"That door leads is used by the kitchen staff. It goes past a guard post, so we'll need to be quiet. I hope one of you can wizard open that door. I'm sure it will be locked."

Bizenghast looks at everyone waiting to see who volunteers; who can 'wizard-open that door!'...

Moonglimmer frowns at the sorceress.

"Maybe it's unlocked?" the elf asks aloud.

OOC: what else is on this side? Any windows? Balconies? Trellises? Guards on the roof? Giant bees waiting to attack?

[tumblingdice]

Bengar - dwarf thief

Bengar looks expectantly at Moonglimmer and then Bizenghast. At the mention of the word "unlocked," his face brightens. I'll see if it's unlocked! I can pick the lock if need be.

The dwarf advances toward the door, watching out for dogs, or bees, or dogs who shoot bees out of their mouths. He'll look for loose stones around it, anything on the ground immediately in front of it, poison needles in the lock, etc.

[greyarea]

After becloaking Otis, Fungo quietly and carefully opens the door.

[jcftao]

Otis, Erwin, and Fungo open the iron-bound door and find themselves in the dry moat of the keep. It is dark, the moon is still visible in the sky. Weeds, brambles, and ivy choke the ditch. A cloud of fireflies are a-light in the brambles. The best you can reckon is that you at the rear of the keep and outside the castle walls.

You see lights farther to the south, along the road leadin to the entrance of the keep. You remember there is a gatehouse there.

Actions? Do you want to move towards the gatehouse, follow the moat along to the other side of the keep (heading west), or cross the dry moat and seek shelter in the woods beyond?

[jcftao]

Moonglimmer scans the wall with a careful eye. She sees no guards on the battlement, no tower nearby. Unfortunately the wall is bare--no balconies or trellis on this side of the wall.

The dwarf advances toward the door, watching out for dogs, or bees, or dogs who shoot bees out of their mouths. He'll look for loose stones around it, anything on the ground immediately in front of it, poison needles in the lock, etc.

Bengar moves stealthily past the bee hives. He can hear a faint vibration. The hives are normal sized, he is relieved to know.

He moves towards the door. Checking the stones he finds they are all secure. The door has a simple iron lock. With practiced ease, the dwarf places his ear against the door and listens carefully....

Bengar hears some voices and laughter far off but within the castle walls. Nothing or no one seems to be near the door.

Checking the lock, he is confident that all is at it seems.

Pulling a pair of thin steel picks out of a secret location on his person, he eases them into the lock and makes a quick turn...it clicks!

The dwarf makes a testing push on the door...nothing! It must be barred from the inside.

Actions? Doe Bengar spend additional time to try to throw the bolt or look for another way? Climbing perhaps?

[merias]

Otis, Erwin, and Fungo open the iron-bound door and find themselves in the dry moat of the keep. It is dark, the moon is still visible in the sky. Weeds, brambles, and ivy choke the ditch. A cloud of fireflies are a-light in the brambles. The best you can reckon is that you at the rear of the keep and outside the castle walls.

You see lights farther to the south, along the road leadin to the entrance of the keep. You remember there is a gatehouse there.

Actions? Do you want to move towards the gatehouse, follow the moat along to the other side of the keep (heading west), or cross the dry moat and seek shelter in the woods beyond?

Erwin looks around and listens for any sign of guards. "Let's stay away from the road, I say we cross this moat and head for the woods."

[greyarea]

Fungo agrees

[jcftao]

Fungo, Erwin, and Otis cross the moat as quietly as they can and climb out. They find themselves on a hillside, sloping not too steeply. The hillside has areas of exposed rock that create large bumps of stone with some overhanging areas. As the hill bottoms out, a small creek can be seen ahead and just beyond that a vast expanse of dark forest.

Looking to their left, the trio can see the moat snake southwar towards the main entrance. To the right, the slope of the hill continues and forest can also be seen.

There is no sound of any guard or alarm.

Actions?

[herself]

Moonglimmer scans the wall with a careful eye. She sees no guards on the battlement, no tower nearby. Unfortunately the wall is bare--no balconies or trellis on this side of the wall.

The dwarf advances toward the door, watching out for dogs, or bees, or dogs who shoot bees out of their mouths. He'll look for loose stones around it, anything on the ground immediately in front of it, poison needles in the lock, etc.

Bengar moves stealthily past the bee hives. He can hear a faint vibration. The hives are normal sized, he is relieved to know.

He moves towards the door. Checking the stones he finds they are all secure. The door has a simple iron lock. With practiced ease, the dwarf places his ear against the door and listens carefully....

Bengar hears some voices and laughter far off but within the castle walls. Nothing or no one seems to be near the door.

Checking the lock, he is confident that all is at it seems.

Pulling a pair of thin steel picks out of a secret location on his person, he eases them into the lock and makes a quick turn...it clicks!

The dwarf makes a testing push on the door...nothing! It must be barred from the inside.

Actions? Doe Bengar spend additional time to try to throw the bolt or look for another way? Climbing perhaps?

Susanna, being neither deft nor magic, and suspecting that bashing the door down isn’t an option, will instead listen hard to make sure no-one is coming up on the group from behind!