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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 5070195" data-attributes="member: 4937">Ok, escaping confinement...The most important line of imaginative thought is how the prison works.  Presume for the moment that the jailers want to preserve the lives of their charges, or at least make a good show of it for the powers that be.1) Food and Water: Several times per day, each prisoner is fed and watered.  If the prisoner feeds himself, at minimum this means a container of some sort is provided.  This container is probably recovered when the prisoner is next fed.  If the container is presented, then no food or drink until it is, so presumably you only have the container for a while and you can't damage it too much or it will be eventually noted.  Depending on how well the society in question treats its prisoners, or more particularly how well the jailers have been told to treat these prisoner by the powers that be, other comforts can be provided, up to a full table setting and even a servant (however lowly) dedicated to provided for the prisoners basic needs.  The more stuff that is provided, the less likely it is anything missing goes noted.  I doubt the PC's have that sort of clout, but if they have noble titles then its a possibility.  Stephen King's story 'Napkins' (later the novel 'Eyes of the Dragon') revolves around exactly this possibility.2) Sanitation: Either the prisoners are given a container or chamber pot which is emptied on a schedule, or else there is some sort of hole an an amount of sanitary water provided.  3) Warmth and Shelter: In a cold climate, the PC's will need some source of warm during cold periods.  It's quite possible the PC's are unclothed, as cloth is valuable and the jailers may either steal it or the society may simply feel that prisoners have no need of such expensive things as cloth.  If unclothed, then either a small fire is provided in the vicinity (probably not under their control) but perhaps a central brazier containing hot coals shared by several cells, or else rudimentary bedding is provided - rags and straw for example.  4) Confinement: The PC's will likely be shackled or have their feet placed in pillories when not under observation or made to wear a cangue or yoke.  This makes it harder for the PC's to help themselves when the gaurds aren't around.  Known spellcasters are likely to be even more debilitated or even maimed.  The problem with this route of confinement is that anything solid enough to serve as a shackle is also solid enough to make a very good weapon.  So, the PC's may just be left in an empty space and the security device is never give them anything to work with.5) Work Program: No matter how spartan the prison, prisoners are a drain on the economy.  To solve this problem, the prisoners are likely to be put to work doing something, and that almost certain means access to tools and greater amount of freedom when not under observation.6) Health: Assuming that the society cares whether they live, which it may not, the prison likely has some sort of way of handling illness and injury.  It won't be anything like a spellcaster on call waiting to take care of every need.  It will likely be rude, crude, and cheap and perhaps only nothing more than confinement for a while in a slightly warmer, cleaner and drier place.7) Age and Deterioration: The prison like anything wears down.  It must be repaired and maintained.  This represents a reutine and not unexpected disruption, and a chance to investigate prisoner's cells closely (for tunnels, damaged doors, bars, etc.)  However such maintenance is work and disrupts the schedule.Figure out how you want the jail to work.  Figure out what the security precautions are like.  Then we can devise a plan of escape and subtly facilitate for the PC's so that they stumble upon it.</blockquote>

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