epidemiology | EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

THE BARRIER

As promised, Arthur has the means to unlock that first, crucial step to saving the ALASTAIR recruits: unveiling the runes maintaining the barrier. He has sequestered himself in a rented room in the inn down the road from the prison; he’s at a good enough distance to keep his concentration unbroken, but near enough that he can reach the runes in question. The recruits are told to be ready, to wait for his signal before they take action.

The signal comes just after the stroke of 5 on the town’s clocks, at what would be dawn in a world of less darkness. There’s a shimmer in the air around the brick building of the jail, like the surface of a bubble. Then suddenly the runes are there: glowing bright green, flaming into existence at various points along and within the barrier.

There are at least 30 of them along the outside. They’re etched on walls, scribed into doors, carved into the very ground. These have to be destroyed first to make any progress, in any way the recruits are able to. Once these all have been broken, erased, or scattered (and some of them are cleverly hidden or out of reach -- have you checked the topmost brick in the clock tower of the jailhouse?), the first defense of the barrier has fallen. Then the jailhouse itself can be rushed, but magic is still hampered until every rune is destroyed. From there the runes can be found every few feet in the walls, ceilings, and floors of the jail, and only once each one is broken will the spell be completely lifted, magic and abilities restored to the area, and the inmates considerably easier to break out.

The recruits aren’t the only ones that can see those runes, though. The jailers are quick to react, and some spring to the defense of the runes while others rush to sound the alarm, calling even more armed guards to the area. Even city guards start to show up in response to the alarm -- there’s definitely a time limit on this venture. Dispose of the runes, rescue your friends, and be out of the area quickly, or you might just be overrun with armed, angry opposition.

THE ESCAPE

By the time those in the cells are finally brought out, it’s pandemonium. The guards, jailers and city guards alike, might not have been able to stop ALASTAIR’s recruits from destroying the runes and bringing down the barrier, but they’re determined at least to stop dangerous criminals from escaping into the city. And these criminals were due to be hung, so they’re not looking to take anyone down peacefully. They’ll be going for the killing blows.

The best chance will be to rely on numbers and scatter. In ones and twos and threes, people should be taking to shadowy alleys, slipping around corners, even dropping down into the sewers, if they have to. Anything to thin out and disappear. The most capable and destructive fighters are asked to stay as long as they can, giving the bulk of the rest of the escapees time to disappear into that unending night.

THE COOLDOWN

Those that helped free their friends probably won’t run into too many problems in the following days, unless you run into a guard with a few injuries and a long memory. The ex-prisoners, though, are another story. They were in there long enough that the men and women who guarded them know most of their faces quite well, and since they’re out of prisoners to guard, what else do they have to do but take to the streets and search? Ex-prisoners should play it carefully, then, if they don’t want to end up right back where they started. Guards are more than happy to cause an immediate fracas should they spot anyone that belongs in jail.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t go out at all! Just, you know, take a disguise with you. As if anticipating the rising demand for them, all local merchant shops seem to be stocking up on scarves, shawls, and bulky clothing. Isn’t that nice? Most of them don’t really care what anyone did to end up in jail, they just want to share in on those ALASTAIR-paid wages.

If spotted, townsfolk have varied opinions of the escapees. Some are mistrustful and bitter, and will immediately alert guards upon realizing who they’re dealing with. Some of them really don’t care. They’re tired of the darkness, tired of the conflicts, they just want to get on with life. One old man in particular seems to inexplicably love all ALASTAIR recruits, the ex-prisoners in particular, and will insist on buying a drink and playing a game of chess with any of them he runs into. The goblins, of course, have pretty good opinions of anyone on the wrong side of the king, and will be your best bet for finding lodging and food. Some of them might even think of you as a hero, or at least a roguishly charming vigilante.

Spend your post-breakout time well, and try not to make any more enemies.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( Graham, for his part, only had a bowl that someone had delivered some rather horrid porridge in. all considered, it was surprising they'd even bothered to try and feed their captives. it didn't do much to dent the damned thing, but it was impressive what determination and stubborn tenacity could do. )

They've got someone taking this barrier down. I would guess it's someone aligned to ALISTAIR, but...

( he's been trapped in here, just like everyone else. so he doesn't know for sure. it's just an assumption, that the organization paying them would rather not have half of them incarcerated... and that their peers might have a vested interest in getting them free.

he grunts a little as a chip falls off the rune at a particularly solid blow, but it breaks his bowl, and he needs to delay to find something else to smack it with. )

There's only one way to be sure.

[Namely, get the hell out there, however much of that they can manage to hasten from their side of the bars.

It's probably ALASTAIR, and if it's not...well, he's willing to take his chances with anyone else out there. Can't be that much worse than the ones who want to execute them all, can it?]

( graham doesn't exactly want to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire, but yes, it's true that it doesn't take a lot to be better than the situation they're in. there's only so much longer they'll sit in this cell, after all; if they can escape before their imminent execution, they'd be fools not to take it.

he doesn't answer, just heaves up his own bit of chain to keep working at the rune. it's hard to tell, but... )

I think it's got a crack— ( if they keep at it, they should be able to break it. )

[That's the cue to keep scratching it out with even greater intensity; even after after all their captors have done to wear them down, there's nothing that motivates a man like knowing that his freedom - and life - depends on something.

The crack started small, almost hairline, but it's widening visibly. Not much longer, he thinks, and then -]

How many dozen more will that leave us, I wonder?

[He's joking, of course. He'll tackle a thousand of these things if that's what it takes. Bad humor is a coping mechanism.]

( it's a bit of a strained laugh, but the fact it's there at all is honestly a bit remarkable. Graham has been a bit worn out from this whole adventure. he's not the only one locked in the cell, yet he is likely suffering from it a bit more than others considering his ugly past with being trapped and constrained. )

Better than sitting around.

( he's needed something to focus his energy onto, not that he has much anymore. adrenaline is probably to thank for the fact he's still moving. adrenaline will get him out, too, because he's not giving up yet.

between the two of them, even meagre instruments won't stop them from breaking the seal. when it's done, Graham can't help but pick up a broken piece. )

Who put these in here? ( someone capable of a magical barrier must have some skill with magic themselves. or at least, so Graham assumes. )

I know little of magic.

[Aside from being able to throw wind around the battlefield like it ain't even a thing, but that's not magic, that's just video game character physics. Go figure.]

But to put these in here -

[With the people who have the most to gain by getting rid of them.]

It seems to me that either they're very confident it wouldn't make a difference if we tampered with them, or this spell requires complete coverage of the area to be effective.

[Or both, admittedly, because there's nothing saying that things have to be done for one reason alone.]

( Graham is not an expert on magic, either, other than watching it used in front of him a little too often. clearly, the jail had been prepared for potentially holding individuals with magic, he doubted that this sort of precaution was normal. )

There are likely more than just the ones in here.

( or it would have been too easy for them to escape, though, in the end, the runes hadn't appeared until quite suddenly. there had to be a reason for that. )

If there's an answer we're more likely to find it once we're out.

I'd be most disappointed in our captors if there weren't.

[Not disappointed enough to make up for being able to get out, certainly, but it would really say something sad about the guards here if they left everything within reach of their prisoners.

His gaze slides across the wall to the next rune.]

I suppose we have our work cut out for us, then.

Well, we haven't anything else to do.

( there's a slight undercurrent of hope that this will actually help them that keeps Graham going. it's going to be exhausting work, for sure, but if it'll end up saving their lives? it'll be worth diverting every last ounce of energy he's got.

so those runes won't be standing too much longer. )

EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

sorry for slow!

it's all good, work randomly eats me for days at a time \o/;;

i think that happens to the best of us, sadly ;;o

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HMM I think we can wrap here? ac/reward length! yeahhh go team!