Kinnik wracks his brain thinking about what gestures he has seen these people use when he watches the ships go by from his various nesting spots in Sharn. He can pick out several gestures, and he recalls one in particular for when ships come to a halt. Perhaps that was it! The Ship Goon gestures exactly how Kinnik wants, but instead of the ship stopping, it merely slows down.
On Mazzio's turn, the ship will only move half as fast!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
(Holding Copper's turn and having Arthemis delay as well.)
Fortune Cap Ship Goon (Mazzio) Kinnik Copper (Held) Arthemis (17 dmg, but healed for 8) Shroud <---- Your turn! Vasha Clockwork Machinery
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
Cordnods to Arthemis, turning to looking at Vasha, waiting for Arthemisto look back as well.
Cordthen aims his bow in Vasha's direction, before suddenly changing directing and letting loose a shot at Arthemis.
"Let them have it Vasha! We'll take this boat to the Depths themselves, before we let you steal our Schema!"
Action: Shortbow attack on Arthemis: Attack: 22 - Damage: 6 piercing damage (I have added Advantage, in case you think I would get it for deceiving Arthemis, otherwise go with first roll in the tool-tip) Sneak Attack (if allowed): 10
Bonus Action: Help Action (Master of Tactics), to give Vashaadvantage on her next attack against Arthemis.
Arthemis is completely taken aback and surprised! The arrow cuts his cheek deeply, leaving a nasty gash. The bald man stumbles as his hand is brought to his cheek absentmindedly. He seems to be momentarily distracted at this juncture. He will take his turn after Vasha!
Fortune Cap Ship Goon (Mazzio) Kinnik Copper (Held) Arthemis (25 dmg) Shroud Vasha <---- Your turn! Clockwork Machinery
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
Vasha's form pulses with energy as electricity jumps across every limb. She steps forward toward Arthemis, meeting his gaze with glowing eyes, "Tell me something, Mark: If I blast us all off this deck and onto the ground below, will the schema survive? I think you know your choices."
(Readied Thunderwave in case Arthemis or the pilot attacks, or if he refuses.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
"... hah." Arthemis shakes his head as a small smile creeps onto his face. "I'm outmanned and presently, outmaneuvered. I think at this rate, that spell could be my doom..." He seems to appraise Vasha and her power for a brief moment. "I suppose the choice is clear!" With that, he suddenly turns and runs! He is heading toward the edge of the ship. As this is a refusal, Vasha is able to cast her spell if she so chooses. Afterwards, he will make his full turn proper.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
Vasha unleashes a thunderous boom from her hand which manages to catch Arthemis in the ass. Shroud and Vasha both hear him shout some choice expletives as he flies overboard. In that same moment, the clockwork machine fighting Copper falls to pieces as a pile of junk on the ground in the skysled.
With that, the combat is over. Shroud and Vasha, it is clear to you that the man driving the skycoach you are currently in is willing to obey... of course, it helps that Kinnik is pulling the guy's strings.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Just checking- one of us has the schema, yes?)
Kinnik and his new friend speed toward the puttering vessel and (I assume) manage to catch up without much trouble. The bird attempts a flip onto the deck (Acrobatics: 18) but flops onto his feathery butt instead.
Laughing, he hops to his feet and bounds over to the railing in excitement. "Well, now that we have our very own flying ship I'd say we have a trade route to waylay! I've always wanted to be a sky pirate..."
"Hmm?" Kinnik turns away from the railing. "Oh, yeah. Hey, someone tie him up and let Cap take the wheel. He can absolutely talk before I release him." He puppets the pilot a step or two toward the edge of the ship without warning, then returns him to the wheel. "He can also walk in the meantime, if you understand me."
The Rogue's Gallery reconvenes at the Gilded Lotus after finding a safe place to stow the illegal skycoach. One of Cap's associates knew a guy who knew a guy who could hide it alongside junker skycoaches and skysleds in his garage. The gang had to abandon the other sky-equipment since they'd be tracked sooner or later. Wonder what the looks on the Watch's faces would be to see the soarsleds in proper order with no crooks nearby.
Boss, who had been stabbed, was right as rain by the time the Gallery came home to roost. They saw him lounging at the bar, dapper as ever. He was holding is public face, the one that's unassuming, personable, complete with a mischievous grin. He flashes you the skull eyes before inquiring you all about the schema and hearing your tale of the events that transpired in your pursuit of the object. When you tell him the bit about the Emerald Claw, he doesn't look surprised. Nor does he show shock when you mention that tiefling, Fortune, had been with you one moment and the next disappeared from your sights. Instead, he holds out his hand for the schema which Copper hands over readily. Boss laughs, winces a bit, and lays the schema on the bar behind him.
"You've done a fine job. All of you," the changeling acknowledges each of you. "There are a lot of dangerous people interested in this contraption, and I'm glad the least of them were the ones you fought this day. Fortune warned me about the Emerald Claw element, albeit, it seemed to be a bit late by the time she arrived. Leave it to her to disappear on cue." He pauses for a moment, searching for words and decides on, "Well done, gentlemen and lady. The gold from this schema will hold us up for quite some time. Of course, I will award you some pocket money, but the majority of the finder's fee goes back into room and board, get me?"
Everyone may add 50 galifars to their pockets!
Shroud's Loot: (This is representative of what you can sell them for unless you have other ideas of who to sell them to. You can make checks about these as well.) Antique Gold Coin - x20 ---> Shroud takes them to the Kundarak Bank and it seems they sell for 3x the price! (60g) Bubbles from a barrel - unknown handfuls ---> Shroud takes them to a Cannith fencer he knows. The fencer is willing to purchase the whole lot for 10g. Compass - Antique House Cannith design ----> That same fencer takes special interest and offers 30g. Khyber Dragonshard - x3 ----> Same guy. He oo's and ahhh's about what you have. He offers you 100g. Strange clockwork spheres (toys?) - x2 ----> SAME GUY. He offers you 2g each.
Kinnik's Retcon: Kinnik, after a few days, loses his ability to speak. It was such a strange miracle to have happened, but it has mysteriously stopped. However, it seems he has picked up more magical tricks. Perhaps he learned them from watching Vasha? It's unclear, but there is something UP with that bird.
Somewhere in Sharn it's a beautiful day, but the tension is high. Everyone is excited AND worried about tomorrow. Tomorrow marks the beginning of Wildnight, which begins at sundown and ends at dawn on the 19th.
The Fury, the Sovereign of Passion and Madness, the mistress of unbridled emotion, reaches the height of her power during the month of Sypheros. When the sun sets on Wildnight, emotions run high, and people find it difficult to restrain their natural impulses. The shy and the superstitious usually stay indoors on Wildnight and avoid public places. But many see the night as an excuse to cast aside their inhibitions. The streets fill with raucous revelry. From the depths of the Cogs to the highest towers of Central Plateau, wild celebrations last well into the night. But for all the joy and revelry, it is a dangerous time. Riots, brawls, and crimes of passion are all too common.
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
This is only Kinnik's second Wildnight in the city. He slept through his chance for prime looting last year, and he's not going to miss it again.
He's been casing a shop of the arcane about a mile from the lotus for the past several nights. It's a hoighty toighty place and the proprietor is a real jerk. She blasted Kinnik off the back stoop a while back for (basically) no reason; she could do with a lightened inventory.
In addition to this personal project, the bird has been doing courier and collection work for boss with some of his meatier associates. In his spare moments, he's been meeting with Shroud fairly regularly for the past week to talk magic.
(So I'd like to suggest that we use the cover of purge night to rob this place. Kinnik would very much like a +1 arcane focus- any takers?)
Cap will join Kinnik, of course. There's no way he'll pass up an opportunity like this! He'll be wearing his old face while he does this. It needs a bit of fresh air.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Vasha was as tired as ever from that last excursion. Bad enough it was an ambush, but they had the nerve to come out in the middle of the night too, so she hadn't even gotten a whole night's sleep. By the time the party returned, the sun was rising and many citizens were starting their day. Vasha stopped at the bar, took some bread, a hunk of cheese, and a bottle of cheap wine. Once secluded and the curtains were drawn, she released herself to return to her true form. Features melted away to a face devoid of gender, her skin and hair lost all pigmenation, and sheboth relished and feared the total exposure.
She'd barely touched her food and drink when fatigue finally caught up to her and she slipped into a deep sleep. Her dream was filled with shouting; masked enforcers rushing through allies and houses, taking the families and innocents to the streets and lining them against a building. When the block was cleared and captive, an officer among the intruders paced along the line of residents.
He'd looked over the terrified crowd three times, then began moving to each, staring long into their eyes as fearful moans and wimpers escaped each. Vasha watched the silent interrogations proceed paralyzed with fear. From halfway down the line, she watched many collapse as their minds were intruded and probed. A few tried to resist, but were overcome and fell comatose. The officer was at the last few captives before Vasha would be subjected to the mental assault. She tried to summon her power, a gout of flame, an arc of static in her hand, anything to fight back, but nothing came. It was worse than feeling drained as she did the night before, there was a complete disconnect, as though all traces of the arcane had been stripped from her.
Finally her turn had come. The officer kneeled before her and stared cold, red eyes into her mind. She snapped her head away, but heavy hands took her by the head and hair and forced her eyes center. A moment stretched into minutes, then the officer stood and announced, "This is one, take her while I search the others." Without any will of her own, her facade melted away to her natural form and she felt eyes fall on her from all angles filled with a mix of fear and anger. Anxiety filled her senses and her skin crawled with being forcibly unmasked.
"Breathe..." A voice whispers. Vasha snaps her head around, but she only finds the gazes of her neighbors and captors. "Breathe and relax..." The voice coos. Without any sane alternative, Vasha gives in. With a deep breath among the violent jerks and mingled shouts, the world seemed to disconnect from her. She turned to the captain who still stood before her and watched as fire erupted from within his visored helmet. Around her, each of the armoured enforcers burst into a conflagration. Then, to her horror, a select few of the residents around her follow suit as the night erupts with a chorus of pain.
Beyond the burning, flailing spectacle, a man stands in observance. He is dressed in a fine red doublet over a green shirt with brown pants and high boots. Under a wide-brimmed hat, a rolled cigar sits clenched in smiling lips. He removed the cigar, and gives a bow, "They'll never hurt you again." The words float through her mind, though his mouth never moves.
Vasha snaps awake in her bed, late in the afternoon, to the sound of a metal hand on her door, "Vasha! Kinnik's got a job if you're interested." Rubbing the sleep from her face, Vasha stands renewed to her usual countenance. She takes the bottle and plate and greets Cap at the door.
"Sounds good, whatever it is. Let's go."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Kinnik bustles around the parlor room, setting up the last of his maps and sketches on a stretch of blank wall as the crew settles into their seats. Cap (I assume) has served drinks all around, and a few additional members of the Lotus are lounging in the back, grinning in anticipation of the birdbrain's show.
Once he's finished stretching red string between the last two pinned images, Kinnik steps back and reveals his plan. It's... It's a lot. Plastering the wall are multi-colored charcoal sketches of the street and shops in question. They include a variety of details that would really only be interesting to a bird- stoops and rain barrels are meticulously filled in- but key relative positions and distances are easy enough to make out. The building in question is drawn in painstaking detail. Azzaria's Arcane Accoutrements sits within a multi-level building. It's large and well-lit, with clear glass windows lining each wall on the ground level. From the runes drawn along these windows, it would appear that this level is guarded with a number of wards. There doesn't appear to be a way in once the doors are locked. However...
Kinnik holds up a talon. The light in the room changes dramatically, and he begins to cast minor illusion to animate small figures made of flickering light moving along the map. Using his spell, he clearly demonstrates where guards are located, what their rounds are, and also... A single light burns blue in the back of the building. Kinnik gestures to a drawing of a small rectangular opening roughly 8 feet off the ground; the words 'AIR VENT' appear above it in glittering golden letters. There do not appear to be any wards around the vent. The blue light then extends from the vent directly into the shop, unimpeded by guards or wards.
Kinnik rubs his hands together and green dollar signs (or the Eberron equivalent) begin to bubble within of the drawing of the shop, settling in specific areas. Beside them, phantasmal simulations of the goods to be found within appear. There are numerous cases around the interior of AAA (or 'AzArAcs' as it's known locally)- the big ticket items appear to be held within these cases, including a particularly fine-looking arcane focus and a set of rainbow-hued opals...
The bird holds up a finger: Caution. The lights and images wink out and are suddenly replaced by a snarling female face.
The name AZZARIA appears in burning fire above the figure, followed closely by MEAN!HURTY MAGIC! VERY SMALL. HALF-ORC? HALFLING?HALFLORC? VERY CAREFUL!
The images fade, and Kinnik bows. QUESTIONS? appears above his head.
Vasha's plate is emptied by the end of the briefing, but her bottle is held close. "Uuuhh!" She slinks down in her chair, cradling her prize, "Another snatch and grab. I assume everything's valuable, so the big booms aren't needed?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
ADDENDUM TO ABOVE:
Kinnik wracks his brain thinking about what gestures he has seen these people use when he watches the ships go by from his various nesting spots in Sharn. He can pick out several gestures, and he recalls one in particular for when ships come to a halt. Perhaps that was it! The Ship Goon gestures exactly how Kinnik wants, but instead of the ship stopping, it merely slows down.
On Mazzio's turn, the ship will only move half as fast!
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
(Holding Copper's turn and having Arthemis delay as well.)
Fortune
Cap
Ship Goon (Mazzio)
Kinnik
Copper (Held)
Arthemis (17 dmg, but healed for 8)
Shroud <---- Your turn!
Vasha
Clockwork Machinery
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
Cord nods to Arthemis, turning to looking at Vasha, waiting for Arthemis to look back as well.
Cord then aims his bow in Vasha's direction, before suddenly changing directing and letting loose a shot at Arthemis.
"Let them have it Vasha! We'll take this boat to the Depths themselves, before we let you steal our Schema!"
Action: Shortbow attack on Arthemis: Attack: 22 - Damage: 6 piercing damage
(I have added Advantage, in case you think I would get it for deceiving Arthemis, otherwise go with first roll in the tool-tip)
Sneak Attack (if allowed): 10
Bonus Action: Help Action (Master of Tactics), to give Vasha advantage on her next attack against Arthemis.
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Arthemis is completely taken aback and surprised! The arrow cuts his cheek deeply, leaving a nasty gash. The bald man stumbles as his hand is brought to his cheek absentmindedly. He seems to be momentarily distracted at this juncture. He will take his turn after Vasha!
Fortune
Cap
Ship Goon (Mazzio)
Kinnik
Copper (Held)
Arthemis (25 dmg)
Shroud
Vasha <---- Your turn!
Clockwork Machinery
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
Vasha's form pulses with energy as electricity jumps across every limb. She steps forward toward Arthemis, meeting his gaze with glowing eyes, "Tell me something, Mark: If I blast us all off this deck and onto the ground below, will the schema survive? I think you know your choices."
(Readied Thunderwave in case Arthemis or the pilot attacks, or if he refuses.)
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Note: Copper has the schema.
"... hah." Arthemis shakes his head as a small smile creeps onto his face. "I'm outmanned and presently, outmaneuvered. I think at this rate, that spell could be my doom..." He seems to appraise Vasha and her power for a brief moment. "I suppose the choice is clear!" With that, he suddenly turns and runs! He is heading toward the edge of the ship. As this is a refusal, Vasha is able to cast her spell if she so chooses. Afterwards, he will make his full turn proper.
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
Vasha unleashes a thunderous boom from her hand which manages to catch Arthemis in the ass. Shroud and Vasha both hear him shout some choice expletives as he flies overboard. In that same moment, the clockwork machine fighting Copper falls to pieces as a pile of junk on the ground in the skysled.
With that, the combat is over. Shroud and Vasha, it is clear to you that the man driving the skycoach you are currently in is willing to obey... of course, it helps that Kinnik is pulling the guy's strings.
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
(Just checking- one of us has the schema, yes?)
Kinnik and his new friend speed toward the puttering vessel and (I assume) manage to catch up without much trouble. The bird attempts a flip onto the deck (Acrobatics: 18) but flops onto his feathery butt instead.
Laughing, he hops to his feet and bounds over to the railing in excitement. "Well, now that we have our very own flying ship I'd say we have a trade route to waylay! I've always wanted to be a sky pirate..."
Imani Jones - Lv 11 Warlock of The Living City - Variant Human| Fate/False Revelation
Wick Stumbleduck - Lv 4 Lore Bard - Forest Gnome | Elustran Days
Khurah - Lv 3 Star Druid - Half-orc | Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians
Dale Swanson - User of the Sound of Silence Stand - Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Sunset Investigations
Ayaci Vikerfjell - Lv 8 Rune Knight | Variant Human | Storm King's Thunder
"Oh, it's quite a blast!"
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Cord, shakes his head, and then body, a transformation flowing down from his hair, to his feet.
Olen stands before you again, still wearing the uniform of the guard.
"We have a job to complete first my friends."
Olen winks at Kinnik, and turns a smile to Cap.
"Piracy will have to wait...for now."
Turning to Vasha, Olen gives a short sharp bow.
"Very well done Vasha, your efforts have tipped the scales nicely in our favour."
Olen calls out to Copper, giving him a wave, to get him to come over to the ship.
"Copper! Over here!"
Olen turns to regard the pilot,
"Where do your loyalties lie, my dragon marked fellow? You aren't going to try and kill us all in a suicide attempt?"
Olen looks over at Kinnik,
"Can he talk while you have him like this?"
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
"Hmm?" Kinnik turns away from the railing. "Oh, yeah. Hey, someone tie him up and let Cap take the wheel. He can absolutely talk before I release him." He puppets the pilot a step or two toward the edge of the ship without warning, then returns him to the wheel. "He can also walk in the meantime, if you understand me."
Imani Jones - Lv 11 Warlock of The Living City - Variant Human| Fate/False Revelation
Wick Stumbleduck - Lv 4 Lore Bard - Forest Gnome | Elustran Days
Khurah - Lv 3 Star Druid - Half-orc | Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians
Dale Swanson - User of the Sound of Silence Stand - Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Sunset Investigations
Ayaci Vikerfjell - Lv 8 Rune Knight | Variant Human | Storm King's Thunder
/--- Thursday, Sypheros 5th, 998 YK --- BGM: Wrap Up ---/
The Rogue's Gallery reconvenes at the Gilded Lotus after finding a safe place to stow the illegal skycoach. One of Cap's associates knew a guy who knew a guy who could hide it alongside junker skycoaches and skysleds in his garage. The gang had to abandon the other sky-equipment since they'd be tracked sooner or later. Wonder what the looks on the Watch's faces would be to see the soarsleds in proper order with no crooks nearby.
Boss, who had been stabbed, was right as rain by the time the Gallery came home to roost. They saw him lounging at the bar, dapper as ever. He was holding is public face, the one that's unassuming, personable, complete with a mischievous grin. He flashes you the skull eyes before inquiring you all about the schema and hearing your tale of the events that transpired in your pursuit of the object. When you tell him the bit about the Emerald Claw, he doesn't look surprised. Nor does he show shock when you mention that tiefling, Fortune, had been with you one moment and the next disappeared from your sights. Instead, he holds out his hand for the schema which Copper hands over readily. Boss laughs, winces a bit, and lays the schema on the bar behind him.
"You've done a fine job. All of you," the changeling acknowledges each of you. "There are a lot of dangerous people interested in this contraption, and I'm glad the least of them were the ones you fought this day. Fortune warned me about the Emerald Claw element, albeit, it seemed to be a bit late by the time she arrived. Leave it to her to disappear on cue." He pauses for a moment, searching for words and decides on, "Well done, gentlemen and lady. The gold from this schema will hold us up for quite some time. Of course, I will award you some pocket money, but the majority of the finder's fee goes back into room and board, get me?"
Everyone may add 50 galifars to their pockets!
Shroud's Loot: (This is representative of what you can sell them for unless you have other ideas of who to sell them to. You can make checks about these as well.)
Antique Gold Coin - x20 ---> Shroud takes them to the Kundarak Bank and it seems they sell for 3x the price! (60g)
Bubbles from a barrel - unknown handfuls ---> Shroud takes them to a Cannith fencer he knows. The fencer is willing to purchase the whole lot for 10g.
Compass - Antique House Cannith design ----> That same fencer takes special interest and offers 30g.
Khyber Dragonshard - x3 ----> Same guy. He oo's and ahhh's about what you have. He offers you 100g.
Strange clockwork spheres (toys?) - x2 ----> SAME GUY. He offers you 2g each.
Kinnik's Retcon: Kinnik, after a few days, loses his ability to speak. It was such a strange miracle to have happened, but it has mysteriously stopped. However, it seems he has picked up more magical tricks. Perhaps he learned them from watching Vasha? It's unclear, but there is something UP with that bird.
/--- Tuesday, Sypheros 17th, 998 YK --- BGM: Into the Wildnight! ---/
Somewhere in Sharn it's a beautiful day, but the tension is high. Everyone is excited AND worried about tomorrow. Tomorrow marks the beginning of Wildnight, which begins at sundown and ends at dawn on the 19th.
The Fury, the Sovereign of Passion and Madness, the mistress of unbridled emotion, reaches the height of her power during the month of Sypheros. When the sun sets on Wildnight, emotions run high, and people find it difficult to restrain their natural impulses. The shy and the superstitious usually stay indoors on Wildnight and avoid public places. But many see the night as an excuse to cast aside their inhibitions. The streets fill with raucous revelry. From the depths of the Cogs to the highest towers of Central Plateau, wild celebrations last well into the night. But for all the joy and revelry, it is a dangerous time. Riots, brawls, and crimes of passion are all too common.
What will the gang get up to this time?
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
This is only Kinnik's second Wildnight in the city. He slept through his chance for prime looting last year, and he's not going to miss it again.
He's been casing a shop of the arcane about a mile from the lotus for the past several nights. It's a hoighty toighty place and the proprietor is a real jerk. She blasted Kinnik off the back stoop a while back for (basically) no reason; she could do with a lightened inventory.
In addition to this personal project, the bird has been doing courier and collection work for boss with some of his meatier associates. In his spare moments, he's been meeting with Shroud fairly regularly for the past week to talk magic.
(So I'd like to suggest that we use the cover of purge night to rob this place. Kinnik would very much like a +1 arcane focus- any takers?)
Imani Jones - Lv 11 Warlock of The Living City - Variant Human| Fate/False Revelation
Wick Stumbleduck - Lv 4 Lore Bard - Forest Gnome | Elustran Days
Khurah - Lv 3 Star Druid - Half-orc | Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians
Dale Swanson - User of the Sound of Silence Stand - Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Sunset Investigations
Ayaci Vikerfjell - Lv 8 Rune Knight | Variant Human | Storm King's Thunder
Cap will join Kinnik, of course. There's no way he'll pass up an opportunity like this! He'll be wearing his old face while he does this. It needs a bit of fresh air.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Vasha was as tired as ever from that last excursion. Bad enough it was an ambush, but they had the nerve to come out in the middle of the night too, so she hadn't even gotten a whole night's sleep. By the time the party returned, the sun was rising and many citizens were starting their day. Vasha stopped at the bar, took some bread, a hunk of cheese, and a bottle of cheap wine. Once secluded and the curtains were drawn, she released herself to return to her true form. Features melted away to a face devoid of gender, her skin and hair lost all pigmenation, and sheboth relished and feared the total exposure.
She'd barely touched her food and drink when fatigue finally caught up to her and she slipped into a deep sleep. Her dream was filled with shouting; masked enforcers rushing through allies and houses, taking the families and innocents to the streets and lining them against a building. When the block was cleared and captive, an officer among the intruders paced along the line of residents.
He'd looked over the terrified crowd three times, then began moving to each, staring long into their eyes as fearful moans and wimpers escaped each. Vasha watched the silent interrogations proceed paralyzed with fear. From halfway down the line, she watched many collapse as their minds were intruded and probed. A few tried to resist, but were overcome and fell comatose. The officer was at the last few captives before Vasha would be subjected to the mental assault. She tried to summon her power, a gout of flame, an arc of static in her hand, anything to fight back, but nothing came. It was worse than feeling drained as she did the night before, there was a complete disconnect, as though all traces of the arcane had been stripped from her.
Finally her turn had come. The officer kneeled before her and stared cold, red eyes into her mind. She snapped her head away, but heavy hands took her by the head and hair and forced her eyes center. A moment stretched into minutes, then the officer stood and announced, "This is one, take her while I search the others." Without any will of her own, her facade melted away to her natural form and she felt eyes fall on her from all angles filled with a mix of fear and anger. Anxiety filled her senses and her skin crawled with being forcibly unmasked.
"Breathe..." A voice whispers. Vasha snaps her head around, but she only finds the gazes of her neighbors and captors. "Breathe and relax..." The voice coos. Without any sane alternative, Vasha gives in. With a deep breath among the violent jerks and mingled shouts, the world seemed to disconnect from her. She turned to the captain who still stood before her and watched as fire erupted from within his visored helmet. Around her, each of the armoured enforcers burst into a conflagration. Then, to her horror, a select few of the residents around her follow suit as the night erupts with a chorus of pain.
Beyond the burning, flailing spectacle, a man stands in observance. He is dressed in a fine red doublet over a green shirt with brown pants and high boots. Under a wide-brimmed hat, a rolled cigar sits clenched in smiling lips. He removed the cigar, and gives a bow, "They'll never hurt you again." The words float through her mind, though his mouth never moves.
Vasha snaps awake in her bed, late in the afternoon, to the sound of a metal hand on her door, "Vasha! Kinnik's got a job if you're interested." Rubbing the sleep from her face, Vasha stands renewed to her usual countenance. She takes the bottle and plate and greets Cap at the door.
"Sounds good, whatever it is. Let's go."
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
"Well, then, let's get a move on, eh?"
Cap meets Kinnik with Vasha in tow.
"Do you know if anyone else cares to join us?"
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Olen comes out, only a moment behind Vasha and Cap,
"I'm up for some skulduggery, but before we get the details..."
Olen pulls out his money pouch and counts out some coins.
"So I managed to sell the various items we collected during our last job."
Olen hands each of his friends, 48gp. (remember to record your share on your character sheet)
"Here is your shares each."
Olen puts away his coin pouch, hiding it within his cloths, and turns to Kinnik.
"Ok Kinnik, what's the target, any plans for the job?"
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Kinnik bustles around the parlor room, setting up the last of his maps and sketches on a stretch of blank wall as the crew settles into their seats. Cap (I assume) has served drinks all around, and a few additional members of the Lotus are lounging in the back, grinning in anticipation of the birdbrain's show.
Once he's finished stretching red string between the last two pinned images, Kinnik steps back and reveals his plan. It's... It's a lot. Plastering the wall are multi-colored charcoal sketches of the street and shops in question. They include a variety of details that would really only be interesting to a bird- stoops and rain barrels are meticulously filled in- but key relative positions and distances are easy enough to make out. The building in question is drawn in painstaking detail. Azzaria's Arcane Accoutrements sits within a multi-level building. It's large and well-lit, with clear glass windows lining each wall on the ground level. From the runes drawn along these windows, it would appear that this level is guarded with a number of wards. There doesn't appear to be a way in once the doors are locked. However...
Kinnik holds up a talon. The light in the room changes dramatically, and he begins to cast minor illusion to animate small figures made of flickering light moving along the map. Using his spell, he clearly demonstrates where guards are located, what their rounds are, and also... A single light burns blue in the back of the building. Kinnik gestures to a drawing of a small rectangular opening roughly 8 feet off the ground; the words 'AIR VENT' appear above it in glittering golden letters. There do not appear to be any wards around the vent. The blue light then extends from the vent directly into the shop, unimpeded by guards or wards.
Kinnik rubs his hands together and green dollar signs (or the Eberron equivalent) begin to bubble within of the drawing of the shop, settling in specific areas. Beside them, phantasmal simulations of the goods to be found within appear. There are numerous cases around the interior of AAA (or 'AzArAcs' as it's known locally)- the big ticket items appear to be held within these cases, including a particularly fine-looking arcane focus and a set of rainbow-hued opals...
The bird holds up a finger: Caution. The lights and images wink out and are suddenly replaced by a snarling female face.
The name AZZARIA appears in burning fire above the figure, followed closely by MEAN! HURTY MAGIC! VERY SMALL. HALF-ORC? HALFLING? HALFLORC? VERY CAREFUL!
The images fade, and Kinnik bows. QUESTIONS? appears above his head.
Imani Jones - Lv 11 Warlock of The Living City - Variant Human| Fate/False Revelation
Wick Stumbleduck - Lv 4 Lore Bard - Forest Gnome | Elustran Days
Khurah - Lv 3 Star Druid - Half-orc | Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians
Dale Swanson - User of the Sound of Silence Stand - Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Sunset Investigations
Ayaci Vikerfjell - Lv 8 Rune Knight | Variant Human | Storm King's Thunder
Vasha's plate is emptied by the end of the briefing, but her bottle is held close. "Uuuhh!" She slinks down in her chair, cradling her prize, "Another snatch and grab. I assume everything's valuable, so the big booms aren't needed?"
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Kinnik shrugs. 'NOT UNTIL WE NEED THEM' appears above his head in balloon letters.
"A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,
The bold winds speechless, and the orb below
As hush as death," he recites.
(Be as quiet as you can, he seems to be saying)
Imani Jones - Lv 11 Warlock of The Living City - Variant Human| Fate/False Revelation
Wick Stumbleduck - Lv 4 Lore Bard - Forest Gnome | Elustran Days
Khurah - Lv 3 Star Druid - Half-orc | Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians
Dale Swanson - User of the Sound of Silence Stand - Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Sunset Investigations
Ayaci Vikerfjell - Lv 8 Rune Knight | Variant Human | Storm King's Thunder