Jail escape. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Jail escape. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dragonfan20
02-27-05, 11:33 PM My level 3 wizard has recently found himself unconsious and probably bound for execution in the next few days/hours. He is sitting in a jailhouse and there aren't any other people around. He doesn't have his spell book with him, so he's going to have a lot of trouble with spells. Are there any general ways he can survive the situation?
The only thing I can think of is the other pc's helping him, but they are mainly evil and probably wouldn't want to risk it.
GoodTeletubby
02-27-05, 11:48 PM Wait for someone to come, find out what you're being held for, blame it on your companions and offer to lead them to your companions

either A) you get rid of a bunch of companions who weren't worth your while
or B) you get to loot a group of officials coming to arrest your friends
Dragonfan20
02-27-05, 11:52 PM My character's being held for trying and failing miserably to steal a bow, hehe. The entire party is on the evil side. That party blaming thing might be a good idea though. :D
Dragonfan20
02-28-05, 07:26 AM Anyone have any Ideas?
Taeldrin Laesrash
02-28-05, 08:10 AM Spell Mastery. With it, you can prepare spells without your spellbook. Also, I'd recommend having ranks in Bluff, Disguise, and Move Silently.
mcnoo
02-28-05, 08:59 AM Right, you're in somewhat of a pickle, lets get objective.
Lets list your resources, presuming you're the average wizard:

A high natural inteligence
An good education (which isn't always the same)
Clothes (which have far more practical uses than people give them credit for)
And either other prisoners or complete privacy.

Not looking too good. I need to know if you have any spells ready, what you're in for, how big the jailhouse is and what the security's like.
I've cracked my way out of a barred doored cell using only a pair of boots and my trousers. I'm sure i can spring you out of this one with a little input.
TheUnknownZombie
02-28-05, 12:49 PM Solution: Be a Sorcerer, Warmage, Warlock or Monk. None of them need any equipment to be effective.

If you're not one of them, you haven't planned ahead. :smirk:
Dragonfan20
02-28-05, 07:52 PM unfortunately, this isn't a hypothetical situation. This is the problem I was left with at the end of our last session. He has 1 mage hand, 1 prestidigitation, 2 magic missiles, 1 blindness/deafness, and 1 scorching ray prepared. This does make it easier, but a MINIMUM CONFLICT escape would be better. My DM made these guards to be challange rating 5 and I am at lvl 3.
ShadowDragon8685
02-28-05, 07:58 PM prestidigitation: Slip the key away from the guard.

Deafen the guard if he's looking the other way when you make your getaway, or Blind him if he's looking at you. Or just Blind him while he's asleep (almost all guards will fall asleep at their posts, it's a rule of RPGs,) and when he wakes up, he won't be able to tell the difference between asleep and awake.
TinManFan
02-28-05, 09:15 PM Blind/Deaf the guard, Magehand his keys, open the door. Then as you're escaping Prestidigitation up some sounds strategicly to draw guards away from the door, then walk out non-chalantly, get yer spellbook and kill yer party members.
Vatras
03-01-05, 02:28 AM Let me get this straight: you are to be executed for an attempted theft of a normal bow?
ServantOfTheLordYawgmoth
03-01-05, 03:16 PM unfortunately, this isn't a hypothetical situation. This is the problem I was left with at the end of our last session. He has 1 mage hand, 1 prestidigitation, 2 magic missiles, 1 blindness/deafness, and 1 scorching ray prepared. This does make it easier, but a MINIMUM CONFLICT escape would be better. My DM made these guards to be challange rating 5 and I am at lvl 3.

A slightly risky plan, but one that will get you major points for style.

1: Cast Scorching Ray on something flammable in your cell, preferably something near you. Begin to shout for help, making it quite clear that you are being attacked.

2: When the guards show up (hopefully there will only be one), throw yourself violently around the cell as if struggling with an invisible attacker. Prestidigitation can be used to throw up dust and such to make it look like there are invisible feet moving or create sounds to accompany the illusion.

3: Unless the guard is evil, odds are he'll throw open the cell door and leap to your defense. Break free from your "attacker", stumble suddenly behind the guard, and hit him with blindness.

4: Run.

This plan does have major problems, however, and some of the ideas that have already been posted might be better. I would only recommend using this plan if A) Your DM loves insane plans and will be happy if you're trying to do something with style, B) You're fairly sure that only one guard will be on duty and thus come running, and C) You're either out of sight of other prisoners, or have cut a deal with them that you'll spring them as soon as the guard's down.

As I said, it's a risky plan, but potentially quite interesting. If your DM seems out to screw you over, don't so it, as he'll think it's stupid and kill you. If he likes this sort of thing, it may be your best bet.

Another possible idea is even riskier, but could work if you don't mind drawing attention to yourself. You've got ranged attack spells which you can cast from the back of the cell. Odds are that the gods probably can't attack you without opening the cell door if you're standing at the back. If this is so and a lone guard passes your cell, kill him. hopefully he'll either have just triumphantly thrown the cell door open as he falls, or will be close enough to the bars that you can take the keys from him. Mage Hand may help with this. From here your best bet would be to spring the rest of the prisoners and use them as an ad hoc army to storm out of the prison.
jasper
03-01-05, 03:31 PM Let me get this straight: you are to be executed for an attempted theft of a normal bow?
thieves get what they deserve! especially since they seem to playing an evil campaign.
Beg your friends for a jail break but roll up a new pc.
Dragonfan20
03-01-05, 04:29 PM Basicly, In the process of trying to steal this bow, the shopkeep was killed. Furthermore, the campaigns of this inparticular DM are especially sought after, and there is a line of people to be a part of them. If my character dies, I'm no longer in the campaign.
Bonzai
03-01-05, 06:07 PM "If only we had a wheelbarrow, now that would be something"....

With those spells, you should have no problem escaping provided you are not heavily guarded. If they leave the key on a peg somewhere so much the better. if not, you may have to kill the guard with your magic missles and ray. Then mage hand the keys and let your self out. Blindness/defness and prestigitation will distract a few guards out side the cell, and should give you a means of escape.

Heh, situations like this are why I generally get a familiar. They can scout for you, run messages between you and your friends, and also help in the actual escape.

If Gomphe Baenre, Arch Mage of Menzoberanzan has a rat familiar, they can't suck that bad. ;)
Vatras
03-01-05, 10:46 PM In that case, could you corrupt the guard with a (promised) bribe? Or maybe blackmail them?
And just in case your DM has a penchant for the insane: is there a spoon in the cell...?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dragonfan20 02-27-05, 11:33 PM	My level 3 wizard has recently found himself unconsious and probably bound for execution in the next few days/hours. He is sitting in a jailhouse and there aren't any other people around. He doesn't have his spell book with him, so he's going to have a lot of trouble with spells. Are there any general ways he can survive the situation? The only thing I can think of is the other pc's helping him, but they are mainly evil and probably wouldn't want to risk it.
GoodTeletubby 02-27-05, 11:48 PM	Wait for someone to come, find out what you're being held for, blame it on your companions and offer to lead them to your companions either A) you get rid of a bunch of companions who weren't worth your while or B) you get to loot a group of officials coming to arrest your friends
Dragonfan20 02-27-05, 11:52 PM	My character's being held for trying and failing miserably to steal a bow, hehe. The entire party is on the evil side. That party blaming thing might be a good idea though. :D
Dragonfan20 02-28-05, 07:26 AM	Anyone have any Ideas?
Taeldrin Laesrash 02-28-05, 08:10 AM	Spell Mastery. With it, you can prepare spells without your spellbook. Also, I'd recommend having ranks in Bluff, Disguise, and Move Silently.
mcnoo 02-28-05, 08:59 AM	Right, you're in somewhat of a pickle, lets get objective. Lets list your resources, presuming you're the average wizard: A high natural inteligence An good education (which isn't always the same) Clothes (which have far more practical uses than people give them credit for) And either other prisoners or complete privacy. Not looking too good. I need to know if you have any spells ready, what you're in for, how big the jailhouse is and what the security's like. I've cracked my way out of a barred doored cell using only a pair of boots and my trousers. I'm sure i can spring you out of this one with a little input.
TheUnknownZombie 02-28-05, 12:49 PM	Solution: Be a Sorcerer, Warmage, Warlock or Monk. None of them need any equipment to be effective. If you're not one of them, you haven't planned ahead. :smirk:
Dragonfan20 02-28-05, 07:52 PM	unfortunately, this isn't a hypothetical situation. This is the problem I was left with at the end of our last session. He has 1 mage hand, 1 prestidigitation, 2 magic missiles, 1 blindness/deafness, and 1 scorching ray prepared. This does make it easier, but a MINIMUM CONFLICT escape would be better. My DM made these guards to be challange rating 5 and I am at lvl 3.
ShadowDragon8685 02-28-05, 07:58 PM	prestidigitation: Slip the key away from the guard. Deafen the guard if he's looking the other way when you make your getaway, or Blind him if he's looking at you. Or just Blind him while he's asleep (almost all guards will fall asleep at their posts, it's a rule of RPGs,) and when he wakes up, he won't be able to tell the difference between asleep and awake.
TinManFan 02-28-05, 09:15 PM	Blind/Deaf the guard, Magehand his keys, open the door. Then as you're escaping Prestidigitation up some sounds strategicly to draw guards away from the door, then walk out non-chalantly, get yer spellbook and kill yer party members.
Vatras 03-01-05, 02:28 AM	Let me get this straight: you are to be executed for an attempted theft of a normal bow?
ServantOfTheLordYawgmoth 03-01-05, 03:16 PM	unfortunately, this isn't a hypothetical situation. This is the problem I was left with at the end of our last session. He has 1 mage hand, 1 prestidigitation, 2 magic missiles, 1 blindness/deafness, and 1 scorching ray prepared. This does make it easier, but a MINIMUM CONFLICT escape would be better. My DM made these guards to be challange rating 5 and I am at lvl 3. A slightly risky plan, but one that will get you major points for style. 1: Cast Scorching Ray on something flammable in your cell, preferably something near you. Begin to shout for help, making it quite clear that you are being attacked. 2: When the guards show up (hopefully there will only be one), throw yourself violently around the cell as if struggling with an invisible attacker. Prestidigitation can be used to throw up dust and such to make it look like there are invisible feet moving or create sounds to accompany the illusion. 3: Unless the guard is evil, odds are he'll throw open the cell door and leap to your defense. Break free from your "attacker", stumble suddenly behind the guard, and hit him with blindness. 4: Run. This plan does have major problems, however, and some of the ideas that have already been posted might be better. I would only recommend using this plan if A) Your DM loves insane plans and will be happy if you're trying to do something with style, B) You're fairly sure that only one guard will be on duty and thus come running, and C) You're either out of sight of other prisoners, or have cut a deal with them that you'll spring them as soon as the guard's down. As I said, it's a risky plan, but potentially quite interesting. If your DM seems out to screw you over, don't so it, as he'll think it's stupid and kill you. If he likes this sort of thing, it may be your best bet. Another possible idea is even riskier, but could work if you don't mind drawing attention to yourself. You've got ranged attack spells which you can cast from the back of the cell. Odds are that the gods probably can't attack you without opening the cell door if you're standing at the back. If this is so and a lone guard passes your cell, kill him. hopefully he'll either have just triumphantly thrown the cell door open as he falls, or will be close enough to the bars that you can take the keys from him. Mage Hand may help with this. From here your best bet would be to spring the rest of the prisoners and use them as an ad hoc army to storm out of the prison.
jasper 03-01-05, 03:31 PM	Let me get this straight: you are to be executed for an attempted theft of a normal bow? thieves get what they deserve! especially since they seem to playing an evil campaign. Beg your friends for a jail break but roll up a new pc.
Dragonfan20 03-01-05, 04:29 PM	Basicly, In the process of trying to steal this bow, the shopkeep was killed. Furthermore, the campaigns of this inparticular DM are especially sought after, and there is a line of people to be a part of them. If my character dies, I'm no longer in the campaign.
Bonzai 03-01-05, 06:07 PM	"If only we had a wheelbarrow, now that would be something".... With those spells, you should have no problem escaping provided you are not heavily guarded. If they leave the key on a peg somewhere so much the better. if not, you may have to kill the guard with your magic missles and ray. Then mage hand the keys and let your self out. Blindness/defness and prestigitation will distract a few guards out side the cell, and should give you a means of escape. Heh, situations like this are why I generally get a familiar. They can scout for you, run messages between you and your friends, and also help in the actual escape. If Gomphe Baenre, Arch Mage of Menzoberanzan has a rat familiar, they can't suck that bad. ;)
Vatras 03-01-05, 10:46 PM	In that case, could you corrupt the guard with a (promised) bribe? Or maybe blackmail them? And just in case your DM has a penchant for the insane: is there a spoon in the cell...?