Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Quote from SteveThaiBinh >>

You never inquired about the quest to deal with the 'orc menace' at Wyvern Tor; you only saw the notice.  It's up to you whether you consider that a quest you undertook - for the log - and whether you want to speak to Hester to claim the reward.

I've added the link to the quest log to the main campaign page: https://www.dndbeyond.com/campaigns/328984 

 If Incantis is in the room Strix will show him the unfinished cow bone carve and wiggle his eyebrows. 

Strix wanders the village looking for obvious chores waiting to be done - a cart to unload, a brush waiting to sweep a stoop, that kind of thing. Repetition sets the conscious mind free to wander. 

If he reaches the green, he'll centre himself, sit and resume carving the cow bone. 

6 scrimshaw

Varinth, you arrive at the orc camp just as the orcs are getting ready to leave and head to the manor.  Varinth, says Fekar.  That ale?  You find yourself very popular as the orc takes the keg from you, hoists it over his shoulders, and sets off with the others and with you on the walk to the hidden entrance to the former Redbrand lair.  The orcs seem in good cheer; Oggor's news went down well, as far as you can tell.  You see no sign of Gog the Ogre.

Incantis, Strix shows you what is apparently a bone flute in progress; one that might be suitable as a focus for your bardic spells and might, with some modifications and the right crystal, work as an arcane focus too.

Strix, people are more welcoming than they have been in the past, though not particularly busy or in need of your help.  You settle down to try to continue the flute but you're just not feeling it.  The cow bone, it does not sing to you today.

Vaz will travel with the Orcs to the underground Manor and give them a quick tour, making sure to point out the pit and any other dangers. He will give them a quick run down of Blinky and leave it to them on what to do with the information. Finally, when it feels time to leave them to it...

Alrighty Lads, I'm off. Tomorrow our little tribe is heading off to run down a lead on some missing dwarfs. Is there anything you need before we go? Otherwise Sildar and the Priestess will be around tomorrow to see how your settlin in.

If there is nothing more that they need, Vaz will head back to town, keeping an eye out for Gog.

Varinth, there's no sign of the one-eyed creature you saw before; even in the chasm, there's no indication of fresh remains or food consumption.  You imagine that it's been scared off or just moved on when the food ran out.

Nah, we're good, Chief's friend, says Kosst.  Priestess?  He seems confused, but Jukk interjects:  Like a shaman.  After the tour, Kosst and Jukk are about to head out on patrol; Oggor gives them instructions in the orc language, and there's much laughter. 

You walk back to town, through the secret entrance and then the woods, but see no sign of Gog.

Quote from SteveThaiBinh >>

Strix, people are more welcoming than they have been in the past, though not particularly busy or in need of your help.  You settle down to try to continue the flute but you're just not feeling it.  The cow bone, it does not sing to you today.

 Snap it!

Strix twists the bone this way and that, chisel poised, scribe behind his ear. 

Chuck it, it's no good. 

He resists the urge to throw it, placing it gently down beside him, then take out his previous work and tries to find the a more musical place in his mind (performance 8 ) but then realises that what's missing isn't in him. His soul is a rusty bucket full of swift violence and umbral shadow, that's not the essence of music. Well.... Not the kind most people want to hear. 

He changes his tack - holding his or bone flute out he summons an illusion of the flute on top of itself, casting and recasting until he can't tell the difference between them, then switches bones and uses the illusion to position the holes and block so as devoid of artistry as it is, it will at least function. Once ready he returns to Incantis to let him breath some kind of life into it so Strix can finish it. 

Scupper never worries when Graele or anyone else seems offended and doesn't figure it to hurt the group reputation since he's already known to be intimidating and salty (unless that halfling lass told tales of a blushing mumble mouthed pirate on the make). Still, he's comforted no one tried to apologize for him. Good friends let friends fail to make friends 😁

Scupper wastes the afternoon doing much o' nothin save perhaps drinks and bad behavior at the 'Giant. He doubts very much that Hester would consider bringing the orcs home the same as "accomplishing" the orc mission and decides only to ask for payment as a means o' pissing him off should they cross paths that night.

Incantis nods thankfully to Dekhan for taking up the role of speaker, smiling at Garaele's words of praise. To Strix Incantis gapes openly. "Your craft in time you've honed it seems, this is a wond'rous flute of dreams."

Incantis will seek out Nena before the day's end.

Dekhan will attempt to surreptitiously speak privately with Sister Garaele and then stop by to see Nars and family, before heading back to the tavern to join his friends and seeing if anyone wants to join him in heading over to Orc HQ.

Strix, as unconventional as this method is, you feel that you have a clearer idea of what is needed to make this flute perfect for Incantis.  With his words of praise ringing in your ears, you are overcome with confidence, and can, in the next 24 hours, attempt to continue with the flute and roll with your tools with advantage.

Scupper, you visit the Townmaster's Hall, but the door is locked and no-one answers if you knock.

Incantis, Nena is playing with her friends, but is delighted to see you and interrupts her game to drag you home to visit her mother.  They both make you feel very welcome, and invite you to stay to dinner if you wish.  Nena tells you how she is practicing what you told her, though there's no sign of her abilities breaking through yet.  I know you said to be patient, Nena says.  I am being patient.  Really. 

Nena's mother laughs openly, earning a sharp look from Nena and then a hopeful one.  No, dear, her mother says, not this time.  

Dekhan,  at the shrine, Sister Garaele welcomes you and invites you to join her.  She seems to have found a bottle of wine somewhere and is a little merry, but in very good spirits.  So much change.  Sometimes when the Redbrands were here, I couldn't remember a time before they came.  They were only here a couple of months, but it felt like an eternity.  Did you find out anything about who was behind them?  Apart from Glasstaff, I mean.

Later on, when she remembers, she adds: Thank you for the answer.  To the question, I mean.  I've already sent a message to the others.  I don't know where or when this will help, but I'm sure it will.  Perhaps some good mage will find a useful spellbook, perhaps some evil mage will have it denied to him.  Who knows.  Our associates like their secrets, after all.   She smiles, relaxes, and looks up at the sky.

We learned of someone called the Black Spider who was pulling Glasstaff’s strings. There was another Red Mage at the old well, he was looking for the same book as our associates. His small army of undead leads me to believe his intentions were not good, however... Two Red Wizards so close together is suspicious, I can’t help but feel that they are linked in some way and to the disappearance of the Rockseekers as well. 

Glasstaff was of Thay?  Garaele is surprised, but thoughtful.  I hadn't considered that.  In any case, Sildar mentioned that you are leaving again tomorrow.  I hope you find Gundren; I remember him as a decent sort, and I hope he has been spared whatever evil has us in its grip.  But you, Sir Dekhan, give me great hope.  Promise me you'll take care.

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Incantis nods thankfully to Dekhan for taking up the role of speaker, smiling at Garaele's words of praise. To Strix Incantis gapes openly. "Your craft in time you've honed it seems, this is a wond'rous flute of dreams."

 Strix beams. "Bone is cow! Her...say...ow? Ow!" If his self-congratulatory grin got any bigger his head would flip open like a pedal bin. "But...but give back now! Ha! Sorry, need finish. Redd' soon!

He takes a moment to note any visible tattooing on the warlock to work into the filigree, creating a quick illusion to make sure he's remembering it correctly and then bounds off.

9 scrimshaw for whenever he has time

Strix, you have time to work on the flute today, if you remain in town and don't visit the orcs with Dekhan.  The flute is coming along extremely well, not quite finished, but shaping up to be a fine piece of work.  Something tells you that even when you've finished with it, it won't be completely finished - there's something more in store for this flute, though you can't imagine what.

Ooc : there's a road trip to visit the orcs? Sure! Strix would be on the green when Dekhan leaves the shrine, so he'd happily tag along, making harp-strumming gestures and thumbs ups to Sr Garael in the hope of sparking a jam session. 

Oof: have I thoroughly gone through the Glassstaff room and lab to be sure there’s nothing else hidden away?

(Oof (OOC?) - yes, that place has been thoroughly gone over, first by Scupper, then by the townsfolk collecting their stolen belongings and evidence for the Redbrands' trial)

Indeed, Glassstaff’s true name was Iarno, the other wizard of Thay was Harnum Kost, perhaps the Harpers know more of these two? I promise, Sister, to do all I can to protect and foster the Light. He smiles at her and places a hand on her shoulder. You do wonderful work here, Garaele, I know you will do whatever you can to help Oggor and the rest settle in and join the community. This could be one of the greatest accomplishments the Harpers ever pulled off, helping bring peace with the Orcs. I am thankful for you. Dekhan takes his leave and heads to Nilsa’s home.

Dekhan, Garaele gives a wry smile.  Oh, I think we have some way to go before we rival the greatest achievements, but thank you anyway.  For this town, it will be a great achievement.  She shakes your hand warmly as you go.

Mirna greets you as you arrive, and calls Nilsa and Nars from another room where they've been studying.  They come out.  Do you speak orc, Dekhan?  Nilsa asks.  We found a book for travellers in Papa's trunk.  It teaches you a few words in gnomish, halfling, and a half dozen more.  We thought we'd learn some orc, to talk to our new neighbours.  

Nars says, Good worm, Bloodletter Dekhan.   Pee upon the hatchet, in very badly-pronounced orcish.  

Incantis smiles "I have something more mundane you could try." He pulls out hist flute, plays a quick ethereal tune, and hands it to the girl.

If thee's time after dinner, Incantis would hope to speak to Garaele as well.