Breaking the uncomfortable silence, Friar Xavier approaches the dragonborn, one cleric to another, "Seeker Valetta, well met. I am Friar Xavier of the Ilmateri and these are my friends and companions. We come in search of information on a construct which was recently seen in Trollskull Alley. It seemed to be similar to some that people have associated with Day of Wonders Parade."
Seeker Valetta responds, "How interesting. That is rather far from here. I don't recall any of our constructs being in service in the North Ward."
Veil and Zera pass on the descriptions they heard from the witness.
The Seeker frowns stroking her chin as she ponders in a low voice to herself, "That does sound like some of the old constructs, but they are all in storage in the attic."
Friar Xavier, hearing this reacts, "The attic?" He then describes the humanoid they saw atop the temple and the attack by the mechanical sparrow.
Valetta sighs, "That would be Nim. He is a marvelous nimblewright that was gifted to the temple by a Lantanese wizard. He has taken up residence in the attic."
Seeker Valetta leads them up a spiral staircase to an attic that Nim uses as a lair — only to find the attic’s door fitted with a new lock. Valetta does not recognize the lock and does not have the key. "Oh, this is most frustrating."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Zera says “I might be able to help… I know a little about locks. could someone give me a hand with pressure on the door here?” 17 thieves tools with advantage..
Inserting her picks into the lock, Zera deftly manipulates the mechanism and the lock pops open.
"You are blessed by Gond I see!", says Valetta. She unhooks the lock and opens the door, revealing a large room under the rafters strewn with all sorts of odds and ends. The light from the high-set , narrow windows streams along the dust motes and across wonderful but forgotten mechanisms. Many are partial or broken constructions, others are older pieces, 'archived' here by Seekers past. "Nim, these visitors seek information which perhaps you can provide."
In one corner there is a large wooden and metal horse and its matching carriage next to it. Both are half draped in a large canvas sheet. From behind it steps a humanoid figure dressed in simpler robes, but clearly an imitation of those worn by Valetta. As it approaches, its movements could be interpreted as sheepish. Its head hangs down and it carry its shoulders hunched. Stopping before the group it looks up and not all can see that it is mostly made of wood, expertly joined and hinged with only a few pieces of metal as more ornamentation, than structure. Its face is set in an expression of blissful wonder, however, as it is carved, it never changes.
"Nim understands common, but only can communicate through gestures. I shall interpret. Would you like to describe the construct you are searching for?"
Veil and Zera relate what they heard from the witness.
Nim droops his head, then lifts it again and begins gesturing. As he gestures, Veletta tell the group "I am the only one like me here. I was lonely, my maker gifted me the ability to craft so I thought I would build a friend. All was well. We worked together for a while. My friend and I fixed many things in the attic. But then something went wrong. I do not understand. My friend fled in confused terror a month ago. I haven't seen it since." As his gestures slow and come to a stop, Nim droops into a truly dejected posture.
Valetta turns to the group. "This must be the nimblewright you saw in the North Ward. Although what would have frightened one, could be anything." She then turns back to the sad nimblewright, "Nim, this is exactly why such constructs are forbidden to be made by novice crafters and certainly by other constructs! The chance for error leading to errant behavior is high and the risk is even greater. I am afraid I you have lost your crafting privileges!"
She takes from her stachel a small bell and rings it. After a moment feet are heard shuffling up the stairs and soon several acolytes appear at the attic door. Taking a suddenly commanding and stern tone she declares, "Nim has acted irresponsibly and in violation of the rules of our order concerning the crafting and keep of constructs. As such his crafting privileges are forfeit, until such time as we see fit to restore them. Please remove all his tools and unfinished inventions from the attic. Nim, you will watch so that the gravity of your transgression is not forgotten!"
The acolytes hastily begin clearing the items from the attic as Nim droops lower.
The adventurer's stand in awkward silence as Nim's lair is divested of his builds. While the acolytes work, one comes up to Valetta holding a long metal rod like instrument of some sort.
"Seeker, I am not sure if this is a tool or a construct." Valetta takes it and examines it, "Nim, is this yours? What is it?" She asks with restrained wonder.
Nim begins his gesticulations again. After a while, Veletta turns to the party, "Well, I am sorry for the trouble that Nim's creation caused, but perhaps this will help." She holds out a 1-foot-long copper contraption with an umbrella-like metallic protrusion at one end. "Nim says that it is a nimblewright detector. He made it to find his creation, but then found that he is bound to the temple grounds and could not pursue for it further. May Gond help you find what you seek."
((To activate the nimblewright detector, a character must hold down its trigger. When the activated device comes within 500 feet of a nimblewright other than Nim, the umbrella begins to spin, whir, and click. The spinning, whirring, and clicking accelerates as the distance to the target lessens, reaching maximum velocity and volume when a nimblewright other than Nim is within 30 feet of the device.))
Seeker Valetta hands it to Zera saying, "If you can track down the wayward nimblewright, the House of Inspired Hands will gladly pay you 500 gp to destroy it. If you return with proof of its destruction, I may also be able to offer you some of our wonderful inventions."
"Certainly." Veil nods to Zera, "You can carry that for us no issues here." Veil looks a little less-than-enthusiastic about the contraption, keeping her distance from it.
"It will take a long time to search the entire city, even with that... thing..." She says, glancing askance at the detector. "If we could only fly it would go so much faster, but I don't know of a way to make that happen. Any ideas?" She looks to the others of the group, and includes the people working in the temple here as well in her questioning look.
Valetta looks thoughtfully at Veil's observation, "Hmmm, as with all things in the City of Splendors, you require a license to fly above the city. Even that is not so difficult, as much as time consuming. The real problem is how to fly? Are any of you on good terms with the Griffon Cavalry or with the Lord's Alliance? Both might be able to get you temporary access to a griffon - if you are brave enough and capable of riding it! Otherwise, what official contacts do you have who could both provide you legal permission under their license and the means - either physical or magical to actually fly?"
“We are on good terms with the BlackStaff, actually. Perhaps that might help? I also have this. [Tooltip Not Found]… perhaps we could activate it to find the nimblewright- if we could keep up with it by flying, we’d find it- and even if we couldn’t keep up we might get an idea as to where to start tolook- maybe if we release it way up high above the city we could see where it flew..”. Zera says thoughtfully, smiling as she feels like she finally had a good idea.
(not sure why it doesn’t like my tooltip- I was trying to link to the paper bird. Remember zera has been carrying it since the beginning of the campaign)
"If there is a single one of these constructs in the city, then the paper bird may work." Veil says with a frown. "If there is more than one, then it might be difficult, even impossible, to find it that way." She shrugs. "I personally have no contact that can help with this..."
She then proceeds to interrogate Nim for a moment and turns back to the party.
"As I thought, Nim's excesses have gone so far as to even give his creation a name! Perhaps that would help in addressing the correct nimblewright? Its name is apparently 'Whim'." She looks annoyed at Nim for this.
"If you can gain access to a high enough location, you might be able to address your paper bird to 'Whim the nimblewright' and watch where it goes. If you have a telescope or access to one, that would help further. Either way, barring a locate spell, it should get you in the vicinity and from there you can use the detector!"
"As for a proper location to watch from, well, the highest point in the city IS Mount Waterdeep... so it looks like you will be visiting the Griffon Cavalry anyway."
Shortly after the party entered the Temple seeking knowledge a cloud front rolled in and it began to rain heavily.
This continued through most of the interrogation of Nim, but slowed to a languid pitter-pat
The group from Trollskull Manor thank Valetta for her advice, but decide they need to consider their options further.
They take their leave from the temple as the rain subsides.
They walk quietly through the rain-glazed streets of Waterdeep, each deep in their own thoughts. Occassionally, one or another poses some question or thought on the matter, only to resume pensive silence after a brief exchange.
Thus absorbed in their conundrum, the party does not notice that the traffic seems to lessen and the change in weather leads to a rolling in of a thick, mist-like fog. Soon their's are the only footsteps that can be heard splitch-splatch tip-tapping on the cobblestone. The lamp lights begin to take on extended halos typical in the fog, casting all into an orange-ish hue.
They turn onto a passage with very regularly lined flames flickering its perimeter just as a particularly heavy cloud of amber fog rolls over them. The momentary loss of all but the shortest range vision slows their steps.
The fog, however, continues to roll and the cloud passes among and over them as quickly as it came. As it dissipates, the group cheers to see the lamps become more sharply defined, but then halt. The lights are not gas lamps, but candelabra, behind which are tapestry hung walls. Beneath their feet is not the wet cobblestone of Waterdeep, but mirror polished marble.
More disconcerting, the good Friar is not with them, but before them are three other humanoid forms looking as confused as they are.
They all stand within what looks like an entrance hall of a grandiose castle.
Veil lets out a very feline growl as her ears flatten to her head. She glares all around, tail twitching in agitation. “Where in all of the nine hells are we now?” She says, her eyes landing on the three strangers. She nearly blames them for this, but notices that they look as surprised as she likely did. If there is a window nearby she will go over to it and look outside.
Veil lets out a very feline growl as her ears flatten to her head. She glares all around, tail twitching in agitation. “Where in all of the nine hells are we now?” She says, her eyes landing on the three strangers. She nearly blames them for this, but notices that they look as surprised as she likely did. If there is a window nearby she will go over to it and look outside.
Breaking the uncomfortable silence, Friar Xavier approaches the dragonborn, one cleric to another, "Seeker Valetta, well met. I am Friar Xavier of the Ilmateri and these are my friends and companions. We come in search of information on a construct which was recently seen in Trollskull Alley. It seemed to be similar to some that people have associated with Day of Wonders Parade."
Seeker Valetta responds, "How interesting. That is rather far from here. I don't recall any of our constructs being in service in the North Ward."
Veil and Zera pass on the descriptions they heard from the witness.
The Seeker frowns stroking her chin as she ponders in a low voice to herself, "That does sound like some of the old constructs, but they are all in storage in the attic."
Friar Xavier, hearing this reacts, "The attic?" He then describes the humanoid they saw atop the temple and the attack by the mechanical sparrow.
Valetta sighs, "That would be Nim. He is a marvelous nimblewright that was gifted to the temple by a Lantanese wizard. He has taken up residence in the attic."
Seeker Valetta leads them up a spiral staircase to an attic that Nim uses as a lair — only to find the attic’s door fitted with a new lock. Valetta does not recognize the lock and does not have the key. "Oh, this is most frustrating."
Jhaartael - Circle of Light Team 3, Season 1 | GM - PF2e Adventure set in the Forgotten Realms
Zera says “I might be able to help… I know a little about locks. could someone give me a hand with pressure on the door here?”
17 thieves tools with advantage..
Inserting her picks into the lock, Zera deftly manipulates the mechanism and the lock pops open.
"You are blessed by Gond I see!", says Valetta. She unhooks the lock and opens the door, revealing a large room under the rafters strewn with all sorts of odds and ends. The light from the high-set , narrow windows streams along the dust motes and across wonderful but forgotten mechanisms. Many are partial or broken constructions, others are older pieces, 'archived' here by Seekers past. "Nim, these visitors seek information which perhaps you can provide."
In one corner there is a large wooden and metal horse and its matching carriage next to it. Both are half draped in a large canvas sheet. From behind it steps a humanoid figure dressed in simpler robes, but clearly an imitation of those worn by Valetta. As it approaches, its movements could be interpreted as sheepish. Its head hangs down and it carry its shoulders hunched. Stopping before the group it looks up and not all can see that it is mostly made of wood, expertly joined and hinged with only a few pieces of metal as more ornamentation, than structure. Its face is set in an expression of blissful wonder, however, as it is carved, it never changes.
"Nim understands common, but only can communicate through gestures. I shall interpret. Would you like to describe the construct you are searching for?"
Veil and Zera relate what they heard from the witness.
Nim droops his head, then lifts it again and begins gesturing. As he gestures, Veletta tell the group "I am the only one like me here. I was lonely, my maker gifted me the ability to craft so I thought I would build a friend. All was well. We worked together for a while. My friend and I fixed many things in the attic. But then something went wrong. I do not understand. My friend fled in confused terror a month ago. I haven't seen it since." As his gestures slow and come to a stop, Nim droops into a truly dejected posture.
Valetta turns to the group. "This must be the nimblewright you saw in the North Ward. Although what would have frightened one, could be anything." She then turns back to the sad nimblewright, "Nim, this is exactly why such constructs are forbidden to be made by novice crafters and certainly by other constructs! The chance for error leading to errant behavior is high and the risk is even greater. I am afraid I you have lost your crafting privileges!"
She takes from her stachel a small bell and rings it. After a moment feet are heard shuffling up the stairs and soon several acolytes appear at the attic door. Taking a suddenly commanding and stern tone she declares, "Nim has acted irresponsibly and in violation of the rules of our order concerning the crafting and keep of constructs. As such his crafting privileges are forfeit, until such time as we see fit to restore them. Please remove all his tools and unfinished inventions from the attic. Nim, you will watch so that the gravity of your transgression is not forgotten!"
The acolytes hastily begin clearing the items from the attic as Nim droops lower.
Jhaartael - Circle of Light Team 3, Season 1 | GM - PF2e Adventure set in the Forgotten Realms
The adventurer's stand in awkward silence as Nim's lair is divested of his builds. While the acolytes work, one comes up to Valetta holding a long metal rod like instrument of some sort.
"Seeker, I am not sure if this is a tool or a construct." Valetta takes it and examines it, "Nim, is this yours? What is it?" She asks with restrained wonder.
Nim begins his gesticulations again. After a while, Veletta turns to the party, "Well, I am sorry for the trouble that Nim's creation caused, but perhaps this will help." She holds out a 1-foot-long copper contraption with an umbrella-like metallic protrusion at one end. "Nim says that it is a nimblewright detector. He made it to find his creation, but then found that he is bound to the temple grounds and could not pursue for it further. May Gond help you find what you seek."
((To activate the nimblewright detector, a character must hold down its trigger. When the activated device comes within 500 feet of a nimblewright other than Nim, the umbrella begins to spin, whir, and click. The spinning, whirring, and clicking accelerates as the distance to the target lessens, reaching maximum velocity and volume when a nimblewright other than Nim is within 30 feet of the device.))
Jhaartael - Circle of Light Team 3, Season 1 | GM - PF2e Adventure set in the Forgotten Realms
“This should prove useful!” Zera says enthusiastically. “ Should I carry it for the group?”
Seeker Valetta hands it to Zera saying, "If you can track down the wayward nimblewright, the House of Inspired Hands will gladly pay you 500 gp to destroy it. If you return with proof of its destruction, I may also be able to offer you some of our wonderful inventions."
Jhaartael - Circle of Light Team 3, Season 1 | GM - PF2e Adventure set in the Forgotten Realms
((Assuming you all wish to seek the nimblewright - how do you want to go about scouring the city to locate it?))
Jhaartael - Circle of Light Team 3, Season 1 | GM - PF2e Adventure set in the Forgotten Realms
"Certainly." Veil nods to Zera, "You can carry that for us no issues here." Veil looks a little less-than-enthusiastic about the contraption, keeping her distance from it.
"It will take a long time to search the entire city, even with that... thing..." She says, glancing askance at the detector. "If we could only fly it would go so much faster, but I don't know of a way to make that happen. Any ideas?" She looks to the others of the group, and includes the people working in the temple here as well in her questioning look.
Valetta looks thoughtfully at Veil's observation, "Hmmm, as with all things in the City of Splendors, you require a license to fly above the city. Even that is not so difficult, as much as time consuming. The real problem is how to fly? Are any of you on good terms with the Griffon Cavalry or with the Lord's Alliance? Both might be able to get you temporary access to a griffon - if you are brave enough and capable of riding it! Otherwise, what official contacts do you have who could both provide you legal permission under their license and the means - either physical or magical to actually fly?"
Jhaartael - Circle of Light Team 3, Season 1 | GM - PF2e Adventure set in the Forgotten Realms
“We are on good terms with the BlackStaff, actually. Perhaps that might help? I also have this. [Tooltip Not Found]… perhaps we could activate it to find the nimblewright- if we could keep up with it by flying, we’d find it- and even if we couldn’t keep up we might get an idea as to where to start tolook- maybe if we release it way up high above the city we could see where it flew..”. Zera says thoughtfully, smiling as she feels like she finally had a good idea.
(not sure why it doesn’t like my tooltip- I was trying to link to the paper bird. Remember zera has been carrying it since the beginning of the campaign)
paper bird
((you have to use the tag "magicitem" ))
Jhaartael - Circle of Light Team 3, Season 1 | GM - PF2e Adventure set in the Forgotten Realms
(Oh thanks! I need remedial tooltip training I guess)
((No worries... I always forget... have this bookmarked https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/2069-pbp-rules-and-faq-please-read-first
as well as the Dice Rolling syntax))
Jhaartael - Circle of Light Team 3, Season 1 | GM - PF2e Adventure set in the Forgotten Realms
"If there is a single one of these constructs in the city, then the paper bird may work." Veil says with a frown. "If there is more than one, then it might be difficult, even impossible, to find it that way." She shrugs. "I personally have no contact that can help with this..."
Valetta ponders further, "True... I wonder..."
She then proceeds to interrogate Nim for a moment and turns back to the party.
"As I thought, Nim's excesses have gone so far as to even give his creation a name! Perhaps that would help in addressing the correct nimblewright? Its name is apparently 'Whim'." She looks annoyed at Nim for this.
"If you can gain access to a high enough location, you might be able to address your paper bird to 'Whim the nimblewright' and watch where it goes. If you have a telescope or access to one, that would help further. Either way, barring a locate spell, it should get you in the vicinity and from there you can use the detector!"
"As for a proper location to watch from, well, the highest point in the city IS Mount Waterdeep... so it looks like you will be visiting the Griffon Cavalry anyway."
Jhaartael - Circle of Light Team 3, Season 1 | GM - PF2e Adventure set in the Forgotten Realms
Shortly after the party entered the Temple seeking knowledge a cloud front rolled in and it began to rain heavily.
This continued through most of the interrogation of Nim, but slowed to a languid pitter-pat
The group from Trollskull Manor thank Valetta for her advice, but decide they need to consider their options further.
They take their leave from the temple as the rain subsides.
They walk quietly through the rain-glazed streets of Waterdeep, each deep in their own thoughts. Occassionally, one or another poses some question or thought on the matter, only to resume pensive silence after a brief exchange.
Thus absorbed in their conundrum, the party does not notice that the traffic seems to lessen and the change in weather leads to a rolling in of a thick, mist-like fog. Soon their's are the only footsteps that can be heard splitch-splatch tip-tapping on the cobblestone. The lamp lights begin to take on extended halos typical in the fog, casting all into an orange-ish hue.
They turn onto a passage with very regularly lined flames flickering its perimeter just as a particularly heavy cloud of amber fog rolls over them. The momentary loss of all but the shortest range vision slows their steps.
The fog, however, continues to roll and the cloud passes among and over them as quickly as it came. As it dissipates, the group cheers to see the lamps become more sharply defined, but then halt. The lights are not gas lamps, but candelabra, behind which are tapestry hung walls. Beneath their feet is not the wet cobblestone of Waterdeep, but mirror polished marble.
More disconcerting, the good Friar is not with them, but before them are three other humanoid forms looking as confused as they are.
They all stand within what looks like an entrance hall of a grandiose castle.
Jhaartael - Circle of Light Team 3, Season 1 | GM - PF2e Adventure set in the Forgotten Realms
Veil lets out a very feline growl as her ears flatten to her head. She glares all around, tail twitching in agitation. “Where in all of the nine hells are we now?” She says, her eyes landing on the three strangers. She nearly blames them for this, but notices that they look as surprised as she likely did. If there is a window nearby she will go over to it and look outside.
((Please re-post this to the NEW play-by-post thread at: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/139716-cf-castle-amber
Jhaartael - Circle of Light Team 3, Season 1 | GM - PF2e Adventure set in the Forgotten Realms