Aftermath

[Geoffrey]

"For what purpose I wonder?" Rodric thought out loud, knowing the old man wouldn't have the answer.

[Cedwyn]

"It matters little now, but once we are free, it will be time to bring an amry down upon the with."

[Geoffrey]

To Rodric it mattered quite a bit.  There had to be a reason behind what was going on.

"One of us should try to gain the guard's attention in full so the others can catch him from behind."

[GM Craig]

Powel says, "When they come, I expect it will be to take me away. When they come for me, you must take them from behind. There will be two, I think."

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn nodded, "Why would they take you?"

[GM Craig]

He shrugs. "I have been here longest. They might pick one of you young, strong men. But I expect this will be my time."

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn shrugged.

"Either way...we need to be ready. We'll figure out what happens next when they get here."

[GM Craig]

Not long later, you hear the sound of boots in the corridor outside, and see a light approaching through the tiny barred window of the door. The sound of grumbling Saxon voices reaches you. You then hear a key in the lock, and the door opens. Two men in leather armour and longswords are in the corridor. They laugh at each other as they move to the old man. With their backs to you, they start to undo his shackles.

[Need dex and str roll from each of you. Dex for the sneaking, and str for the grappling / fighting.]

[Geoffrey]

With the backs of both guards turned, Rodric ripped his hands from the shackles and charged towards one of the guards, trying to drive his shoulder into the man's back and send him head first into the wall.

[DEX = 17 (failure), STR = 5 (success)]

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn made the same attempt as Rodrick. He shifted his weight and made a slight twist of his wrists. The knot (if such a term could be used for the straw) slipped past his hands and he was free!

With a deep breath, he rushed a guard and with a grunt slammed the man's head into the wall as hard as he could.

[Dex roll: 10. Success! Str roll: 4. Success!]

[GM Craig]

Cedwyn moves like a cat towards one of the guards, but Rodric scuffs some of the straw and one of the guards turns around. Reacting on instinct, Cedwyn slams his doubled fists into the face of the guard that turned towards Rodric, rocking his head back. That alerts the other guard who spins on Cedwyn, drawing his sword. Rodric is already on the move however, and drives his shoulder into the guard. The man is driven back, and Rodric hears a satisfying crunch when the guard is driven into the wall.

Cdwyn's target slumps to the floor, momentarily stunned. Rodric's target groans and clutches at his ribcage - he's alive, but has no fight left in him.

[Actions?]

Note: Powel is still locked up.

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn makes a grab for the Saxon's sword he pummeled and runs the man through.

[Geoffrey]

[OOC: Hoping Rodric can get him to surrender before Cedwyn tries to run him through.]

Rodric picked up the sword of the guard he'd just driven into the wall.  Seeing that at least one was out of the fight he turned his sword on the other that was down, but not out.

"Yield." he commanded.

[GM Craig]

Rodric levels the sword at the stunned guard and commands him to yield, but Cedwyn draws the man's sword and quickly runs him through while he kneels there trying to recover his wits. The man collapses, while his life runs out on the floor.

The man with the broken ribs is obviously no threat, and he cannot catch enough air to do more than groan.

[OOC: Cedwyn earns a check for Cruel. Rodric earns a check for Merciful. <We resolve those in the winter phase>]

[Geoffrey]

"Was that really necessary?" Rodric asked of Cedwyn as he moved to help the old man to his feet.