EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

[futurologists]

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.

Comments

[grunehexe]

[What she did the other day.

Sieglinde's shoulders dropped slightly, expression clouding over a bit further at the reminder. The physically grueling trek to the jail, the fear that had seized her at the idea that those inside would be executed, the nervousness she'd felt trying to smuggle in medicine and lie.

All of that which she knew couldn't be compared to the pain suffered by those actually imprisoned.]

... It wasn't- I was scared.

[Which sort of felt like it cancelled out bravery... even if she knew she had at least managed to do some good.]

[counterattacked]

[Not the reaction he was expecting to get, to be honest. He looks at her like he doesn't see her point.]

So what?

[Was that supposed to be a secret? So was he, during all that, even if he's faced down bigger monsters and more gruesome threats of death before. Being scared when shit gets bad is normal, it's human, and it's only shameful if you let that make you weak, or selfish, or useless.]

You'd be crazy if you weren't ever scared of anything. It's not like that changes what you did.

[grunehexe]

[That was the thing of it. Sieglinde knew that she'd be praising someone else if they'd done what she had... but there was something about it being herself that made her reluctant to call it "bravery".

But he did. It made her feel equally good as it did guilty.]

- were they any help? The medicine.

[She hadn't intended for him to get even more hurt as a consequence of her calling out to him.]

[counterattacked]

[Don't ever blame yourself for his many and varied bad life decisions, Sieglinde, you'll live a happier life that way... And really, there's no point in feeling bad about things you couldn't hope to change or predict, anyway. Of course, avoiding that is far easier said than done, and Eren knows that as well as anyone.

He answers as if it should be obvious.]

Yeah, of course it was.

[There were a lot of people in that cell who were varying degrees of in need. It helped a hell of a lot more than nothing at all. If she needs to hear it out loud to believe it, then that's fine. It's important that she knows it wasn't for nothing. He wouldn't stand for that kind of thinking anyway.]

That was pretty smart.

[Hiding it like that to get around the guards. Clever in a way he isn't really wired to consider.]

[grunehexe]

[Of course it was.

It was as simple as that, but Sieglinde truly had just needed to hear it. She sagged a bit into her chair in relief, expression softening. It helped. - That was good.]

I read it in a story, once.

[She couldn't take credit for the idea, but. She was glad it had worked.]

If anyone still needs it, I have more...

[They were free from the prison, but they weren't free from further threat... and she knew she only a fraction of those captured had made it through her makeshift hospital the previous night.]