In response to the sign you wanted made for your tavern, your neighbors have decided to make it for dealing with the Hag problem. Tally makes a fine handcrafted sign with no lettering as per your request while Embric and Avi create an arm and chain mount for the sign to hang it from the building. The WOMP guild is just a collection of wizards and dont really act as a unit in most cases, however, Rishaal will use a minor illusion spell and created a neon like image that says Lif Your Spirits and has some minor movement. That will only cost you 25gd and will be ready for the start of the festival season.
You enter a small shop in the Trades Ward named McGuffin's MacGuffins and behind the counter you see a middle aged gnome with multi-lens spectacles on. When he looks up, his eyes bulge out towards you. He greets you with a scruffy high pitched voice, "Hello and welcome to my shop."
Common
Clockwork Amulet-70gd Instrument of Scribing- 40gd Pot of Awakening-70gd Wand of Pyrotechnics-30gd Pole of Collapsing-20gd
Uncommon
Dust of Dryness-600gd Keoghtom's Ointment-600gd Wand of Secrets-500gd Bag of Holding-300gd
Your investigation checks let your know that the Black Viper was once a notorious thief that presumably died or retired some 60yrs ago but in the last season someone new has seemingly taken up the mantle. It seems to be a she and robs nobles in the Seaward. There are some suspicions that Black Viper is a noble herself. In fact, there is a writer that says he "knows for a fact" that the evil sister of Ammalia Cassalanter is the Black Viper.
To Nijal:
Vincent Trench will tell you that all of these things are true, except that to his knowledge Ammalia Cassalanter is an only child. He will also tell you that the Cassalanters are a well respected and powerful noble family in Waterdeep, so step lightly with any "confrontations" you might have with them. He also suggests that making yourself a target might bring the Black Viper to you.
Black Viper has been robbing nobles in the Seaward at night. If you made yourself look like you had money, you could probably draw the attention of Black Viper.
What actions could one take to make themselves a target?
He definitely would share that info in full as soon as possible.
"From the sounds of things we would have to become nobility. The Black Viper has only been targeting noble houses in the Seaward. If not nobility at least be seen as successful enough and refined enough to be invited to social functions where we can be seen with and have access to nobility. That is the only way we would be able to present ourselves as a target with enough wealth to interest the Black Viper. Talking openly and loudly about our "supposed" wealth would almost be a requirement for us to even be there since we aren't likely to become nobles any time soon. Hopefully that would be enough to entice the Black Viper. Unless it is less about the wealth and more about damaging the other noble houses. That is always a possibility if the Black Viper is in fact a noble. Regardless, we have to try and avoid any sort of confrontation with these nobles. Other wise we will find ourselves in the stocks, gallows, or worse. These noble houses are never what they seem on the surface. I did some quick looking into the Cassalanters, verifying what Vincent gave me and have been told on good authority that this Ammalia has no sister. This makes me want to meet this writer of yours and see why he is so convinced it is her evil sister. I wonder if Volo might know of any writers who might be our mark. And I think I might have an idea on getting around becoming nobility. Let me check into something first."
OOC-yea so that whole "someone posts something while I'm typing" thing we talked about last week...yep. Happened again! lol
It's not an elegant solution, but we could just walk around the Sea Ward at night disguised as someone well off. Maybe make it a nightly routine in order to draw the Viper out.
I can walk it, and maybe you 4 can all follow 120ft back using khereks familiar as a alert system.
Also, I found a way we might be able to gain the favor of some nobility in Waterdeep. A halfling fellow named Dasher Snobeedle has gone missing. The Snobeedles are the most affluent halfling family in Waterdeep. They aren't offering a lot of up front (Dasher apparently has a wildstreak), 50 gold, but it never hurts to have friends in high places.
Hey fellas. I got a message from Blackstaff Tower. Something about our "group's future". I was going to head over a little later today and see what they're proposing if anyone would care to join.
Friends in high places are definitely not a bad idea. We should look into the Snobeedle disappearance if for nothing else but to gain some rapport with a respected noble family. As far as Blackstaff is concerned, I think that is something one does not just ignore. That is another person who we would want to be allied with. If Muloon's capabilities weren't enough proof of one's potential after working for Blackstaff then I don't know what would be. Just let me know when you want to head over and I will go with you. The wandering bait isn't a bad idea but if things escalated on the streets, it could have some serious consequences. Springing a trap on our terms and at a location we chose would be more ideal but I don't exactly want to have a potential conflict in the tavern with it just opening up. If we could scout out a route maybe Gary could look at the route from a thief's perspective and we adjust it to only have one or two places where it would make sense to try and rob someone and we could try to contain the conflict to those secluded areas. Regardless of what we decide I think it best to confront the culprit when they are in their "Black Viper" guise and in the act. Any open accusations to noble houses will only end poorly for us. Gathering info off the nobles, now that should be fine as long as we avoid stepping on any toes.
If we could scout out a route maybe Gary could look at the route from a thief's perspective and we adjust it to only have one or two places where it would make sense to try and rob someone and we could try to contain the conflict to those secluded areas. Regardless of what we decide I think it best to confront the culprit when they are in their "Black Viper" guise and in the act.
4. Honestly, I think we should look into more defensive measures for the bar. Maybe spells that block mean things like fiends and tentacle-faced baddies?
(unless Battle of the Bards will advance some sort of story point, I'm 100% ok with that being handled on the forums rather than eating up an hour+ of table time)
Also, at the earliest available opportunity we should go to Blackstaff and report what we heard from Hilim? Hilam? Monk guy.
Oh yeah! We should have done that on the way back into town
Are there are kind of ward/zone spells that deny tentacle faced monsters and their brain cats? Or undead since a necromancer might come back and raise cain?
Well, I have a new important thing to do. Cailyn just notified me that there's been 7 murders in the field ward over the last 7 days. They were all poor, and nothing was taken off of their bodies from what she could tell. Waterdeep Guard and Watch have refused to help since the field ward is technically not a part of the city. They don't care about the lives of the impoverished and weak.
OOC, Josh had me do some rolls privately, and this is the result:
Chen has been complaining of not sleeping well. By the time day 8 rolls around (the day of the Battle of the Bards), Chen looks quite haggard. He's moving at half his usual speed, and he's making a lot of mistakes at whatever he attempts to do. He says, "Just as I feared, The Blushing Bride and her crew are in town for this horrid festival. I've seen some of my old shipmates in town. They've been watching me for the last two days. I don't know how they recognized me, since I've been wearing these great disguises all the time, but I think they have." He will look at Nijal and say, "You said you thought we should attack Capt. Whitecap and send him and his dogs to the bottom of the ocean. Well, it looks like the time has come, whether we are ready or not."
Chen will then describe The Blushing Bride as a ship made of white wood, and that its most distinctive feature is the figurehead on the ship's bow that is perpetually red, from the blood of Whitecap's victims. If it's moored in the docks, it should be pretty easy to find.
Just as a side note. Mathew Mercer introduced Dragon Marks as tattoos that you can have done. They are very expensive, but you can have one (only one) done on your character if you wish. They range from 2500 to 5000gd.
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In response to the sign you wanted made for your tavern, your neighbors have decided to make it for dealing with the Hag problem. Tally makes a fine handcrafted sign with no lettering as per your request while Embric and Avi create an arm and chain mount for the sign to hang it from the building. The WOMP guild is just a collection of wizards and dont really act as a unit in most cases, however, Rishaal will use a minor illusion spell and created a neon like image that says Lif Your Spirits and has some minor movement. That will only cost you 25gd and will be ready for the start of the festival season.
Updated magic shop list
For Chen and Lucian:
Your investigation checks let your know that the Black Viper was once a notorious thief that presumably died or retired some 60yrs ago but in the last season someone new has seemingly taken up the mantle. It seems to be a she and robs nobles in the Seaward. There are some suspicions that Black Viper is a noble herself. In fact, there is a writer that says he "knows for a fact" that the evil sister of Ammalia Cassalanter is the Black Viper.
To Nijal:
Vincent Trench will tell you that all of these things are true, except that to his knowledge Ammalia Cassalanter is an only child. He will also tell you that the Cassalanters are a well respected and powerful noble family in Waterdeep, so step lightly with any "confrontations" you might have with them. He also suggests that making yourself a target might bring the Black Viper to you.
If Nijal tells us his bit.
What actions could one take to make themselves a target?
Black Viper has been robbing nobles in the Seaward at night. If you made yourself look like you had money, you could probably draw the attention of Black Viper.
He definitely would share that info in full as soon as possible.
"From the sounds of things we would have to become nobility. The Black Viper has only been targeting noble houses in the Seaward. If not nobility at least be seen as successful enough and refined enough to be invited to social functions where we can be seen with and have access to nobility. That is the only way we would be able to present ourselves as a target with enough wealth to interest the Black Viper. Talking openly and loudly about our "supposed" wealth would almost be a requirement for us to even be there since we aren't likely to become nobles any time soon. Hopefully that would be enough to entice the Black Viper. Unless it is less about the wealth and more about damaging the other noble houses. That is always a possibility if the Black Viper is in fact a noble. Regardless, we have to try and avoid any sort of confrontation with these nobles. Other wise we will find ourselves in the stocks, gallows, or worse. These noble houses are never what they seem on the surface. I did some quick looking into the Cassalanters, verifying what Vincent gave me and have been told on good authority that this Ammalia has no sister. This makes me want to meet this writer of yours and see why he is so convinced it is her evil sister. I wonder if Volo might know of any writers who might be our mark. And I think I might have an idea on getting around becoming nobility. Let me check into something first."
OOC-yea so that whole "someone posts something while I'm typing" thing we talked about last week...yep. Happened again! lol
It's not an elegant solution, but we could just walk around the Sea Ward at night disguised as someone well off. Maybe make it a nightly routine in order to draw the Viper out.
I can walk it, and maybe you 4 can all follow 120ft back using khereks familiar as a alert system.
Fortune favors the bold
Also, I found a way we might be able to gain the favor of some nobility in Waterdeep. A halfling fellow named Dasher Snobeedle has gone missing. The Snobeedles are the most affluent halfling family in Waterdeep. They aren't offering a lot of up front (Dasher apparently has a wildstreak), 50 gold, but it never hurts to have friends in high places.
Hey fellas. I got a message from Blackstaff Tower. Something about our "group's future". I was going to head over a little later today and see what they're proposing if anyone would care to join.
I'll go with
Friends in high places are definitely not a bad idea. We should look into the Snobeedle disappearance if for nothing else but to gain some rapport with a respected noble family. As far as Blackstaff is concerned, I think that is something one does not just ignore. That is another person who we would want to be allied with. If Muloon's capabilities weren't enough proof of one's potential after working for Blackstaff then I don't know what would be. Just let me know when you want to head over and I will go with you. The wandering bait isn't a bad idea but if things escalated on the streets, it could have some serious consequences. Springing a trap on our terms and at a location we chose would be more ideal but I don't exactly want to have a potential conflict in the tavern with it just opening up. If we could scout out a route maybe Gary could look at the route from a thief's perspective and we adjust it to only have one or two places where it would make sense to try and rob someone and we could try to contain the conflict to those secluded areas. Regardless of what we decide I think it best to confront the culprit when they are in their "Black Viper" guise and in the act. Any open accusations to noble houses will only end poorly for us. Gathering info off the nobles, now that should be fine as long as we avoid stepping on any toes.
I agree about Snobeedle, and I love this idea.
Ok so, big things on the docket include...
1. Battle of the bards
2. Find a way to out the black viper
3. Look around for other jobs
4. Honestly, I think we should look into more defensive measures for the bar. Maybe spells that block mean things like fiends and tentacle-faced baddies?
Any other ideas?
(unless Battle of the Bards will advance some sort of story point, I'm 100% ok with that being handled on the forums rather than eating up an hour+ of table time)
Also, at the earliest available opportunity we should go to Blackstaff and report what we heard from Hilim? Hilam? Monk guy.
What sort of defensive measures?
I like that idea, save some time.
Oh yeah! We should have done that on the way back into town
Are there are kind of ward/zone spells that deny tentacle faced monsters and their brain cats? Or undead since a necromancer might come back and raise cain?
(oh and at some point I would like to see whats in the spellbook you guys found)
spell book:
1st lvl- Catapult, Expeditious Retreat, Feather Fall, Jump, Longstrider
2nd lvl- Alter Self, Dragon's Breath, Enlarge/Reduce, Knock, Rope Trick
3rd lvl- Blink, Slow, Water Breathing
Well, I have a new important thing to do. Cailyn just notified me that there's been 7 murders in the field ward over the last 7 days. They were all poor, and nothing was taken off of their bodies from what she could tell. Waterdeep Guard and Watch have refused to help since the field ward is technically not a part of the city. They don't care about the lives of the impoverished and weak.
She's worried they will hurt one of the kids next
OOC, Josh had me do some rolls privately, and this is the result:
Chen has been complaining of not sleeping well. By the time day 8 rolls around (the day of the Battle of the Bards), Chen looks quite haggard. He's moving at half his usual speed, and he's making a lot of mistakes at whatever he attempts to do. He says, "Just as I feared, The Blushing Bride and her crew are in town for this horrid festival. I've seen some of my old shipmates in town. They've been watching me for the last two days. I don't know how they recognized me, since I've been wearing these great disguises all the time, but I think they have." He will look at Nijal and say, "You said you thought we should attack Capt. Whitecap and send him and his dogs to the bottom of the ocean. Well, it looks like the time has come, whether we are ready or not."
Chen will then describe The Blushing Bride as a ship made of white wood, and that its most distinctive feature is the figurehead on the ship's bow that is perpetually red, from the blood of Whitecap's victims. If it's moored in the docks, it should be pretty easy to find.
Just as a side note. Mathew Mercer introduced Dragon Marks as tattoos that you can have done. They are very expensive, but you can have one (only one) done on your character if you wish. They range from 2500 to 5000gd.