Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Incantis warily looks at the bound Vyerith, walking over to Scupper and casting cure wounds [ 8 ], accompanied by a mental song transmitted to everyone present. "I'm not a fan of drow either, we were taught to fear them." He approaches the dwarves. "Gundren? I believe that was his name, right everyone?" "Rockseer, yes"

Thanks, lad. I feel like I lost a few glasses o' claret, as Vaz might say. 

Strix turns the Drow over and secures her hands behind her back with his increasingly-good-value manacles. He gives the dwarves a cursory nod, avoiding conversation both to hide his disappointment that neither of them is the important dwarf and because he had resigned one of them to death moments ago (though even now he's struggling to remember which one that was - dwarves all look so similar). Instead he busies himself searching Krol and his desk for anything that might point them towards the cave that the dwarves can probably tell them how to find but only if one is willing to talk to them. Maybe later. 24 perception

Reinforcements?  Tharden responds.  I... I don't know.  He's on his knees, attempting to wake his brother; the other dwarf coughs into consciousness, and Tharden gives him some water from Dekhan's waterskin.  I don't know much, I'm afraid.  We were mostly kept hooded and unable to see or hear much - I think in that room (he points to a door leading to an unexplored area.  Until a short while ago; I think when they heard you moving through the keep, they brought us in here.  That's when they started arguing about... what to do with us.

Strix, you don't find anything on the body of King Grol other than his weapon, a large morningstar that doesn't appear particularly valuable.  There's no desk in the room, but you do search the tables and chairs, and the beds against the north wall.  And under one of the beds, you find a stitched leather sack containing 220 silver pieces, 160 electrum pieces, three vials of potion of healing, and a map.

Scupper, Dekhan's inspection of you doesn't really make you feel better, but Incantis' magic does.

Strix gently underarm-bowls a healing potion to Scupper in an unhurried manner that definitely precludes needing to roll. He offers the other two around, calls out "map!" then starts turning the map around trying to figure it out. Insight 18 - pointy bits are mountains, dead seagulls are water... 

Strix, despite your high Insight skill, you're struggling to understand the true intentions and motivations of the map.  What does it want?  What does it need?  Alas, it is a closed book to you, or at least, as closed as a one-page document can be.

With that roll, your Investigation skill (12) would tell you that this is a map of the countryside near Phandalin, showing the location of a mine.  There are dozens of mines near Phandalin, they're quite hard to miss.  Why anyone would want a map that marked the location of a mine is entirely beyond you.  What a waste of time and effort!

From nearby, Tharden says That's the map.  The cause of this whole mess, I suppose.  

Sildar adds  Gundren was taken too, but some weeks ago now.  I have no idea where he might be - I had hoped he would be here.  He turns to Dekhan, Technically, I suppose it was me who hired you to find Gundren's brothers, but no matter.  You will be rewarded, and I've no doubt Gundren will reward you even more if we can find him.  He looks happy and disappointed at the same time.

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Strix, despite your high Insight skill, you're struggling to understand the true intentions and motivations of the map.  What does it want?  What does it need?  Alas, it is a closed book to you, or at least, as closed as a one-page document can be.

With that roll, your Investigation skill (12) would tell you that this is a map of the countryside near Phandalin, showing the location of a mine.  There are dozens of mines near Phandalin, they're quite hard to miss.  Why anyone would want a map that marked the location of a mine is entirely beyond you.  What a waste of time and effort!

 "Shit map!" Strix concludes, throwing it to the ground while he sweeps up the coinage. "Should burn if cause trouble? No more trouble, plus toasty warm!" He fumbles for his flint while talking. " Well, should go - reforcements might not be lie. Little guys, you walk? Neewon want check door" - he gestures towards the north west corner - "or we just 'sume no more little guys?"

Sildar picks up the map, looks at it, and hands it the Tharden Rockseeker.  The map to the Wave Echo Cave?  The fabled Lost Mine of Phandelver?  Yes, the source of all this trouble in a way, but the fault lies with this Black Spider and his servants.  He scowls over at the unconscious Vyerith.

It has always been the way of the Rockseekers to take risks, Tharden replies, taking the map.  Foolish, perhaps.  How could we have known such a find would bring such attention down upon us.  But yes, this is what she wanted.  Or rather, he adds, what she didn't want.  Didn't want to get out, I mean.  She wanted Grol to destroy it, and to kill us both.  She'd no interest in taking it, or us, away with her.  That means her master, this Spider, already knows where the mine is.  Most likely is already there.   He sighs, and returns his attention to his brother, who is now looking around in confusion and some fear. 

Dekhan will inspect Vyerith searching her pockets, checking for false linings, secret pockets, hidden caches, rings, bracelets, false teeth, and the like being as thorough as he can without being needlessly invasive investigation 12 as he works he asks the dwarves What do you two know of this mine and why this “spider” is so keen to find it?

Dekhan, the drow carries with her no magical items that you can see, and very little real wealth.  You find a silk pouch containing 31 gold pieces, 21 silver and 23 copper.  You also find an amulet around her neck; it's a metal cage containing a small, rather beautiful jewel which seems to be glowing ever so faintly.  The jewel is loose within the cage, though the metal strips are close enough together to hold it in.  You've never seen anything quite like it, and struggle to guess at how much it might be worth.

Sildar opens the one remaining door, to the place where the Rockseekers were previously held, pops his head in, looks around, shrugs and steps back.  Don't see anything, but you're welcome to search it if you like.  He walks to one of the beds, sit slowly sits down.  He's not injured, but he looks tired;  Ah, my sons have told me to stop gallivanting around the Sword Coast and act my age; perhaps they are right.  He leans back, and closes his eyes for a moment, content that the danger and threat seem to have passed, for a while at least.

Varinth will set a flaming ball in his hand and peer into the room, still convinced he doesn't have Dark Vision. If nothing decapitates him, he will search the room.

Investigation: 24

Incantis is still, ruminating. He is reeling at Sildar's mention of a fabled lost magic cave, the uncovering of which might possibly give the Corpse Star reason to shift its course of fate. He waits, listening to Dekhan and Sildar talk.

Varinth, you search thoroughly and take your time over it, but find very little of any interest; it seems to have been used a holding cell or prison, and so largely devoid of useful or interesting things.

(if we're heading back the way we came, Strix will try to nab some teeth / beak from that worm thing and will encourage people to take all the weapons they can carry from the hobgoblin barracks. If we're headed south, he'll be on alert for signs of the owlbear. Perception 18)

Incantis will approach the two Rockseers, inspecting the level of their wounds though he has no magic left. "What can the two of you tell us about this 'Wave Echo Cave' and the Lost Mine?" 

To the party: "These two look in bad shape, I wonder if there's a safe place to camp in this keep..."