"Right, well next up will be checking in with some of our people and then heading to the entrance to the underground."
Looking at his friends, Morph suggests,
"Perhaps we check in with out contacts this afternoon, and organise to start the underground portion of the adventure, fresh in the morning?"
Turning back to the bugbears, Morph says,
"You can stay here with us until we head out tomorrow and then we can work out what we can offer you in the way of more permanent work, once we are done with the adventure."
"You can then decide if you want to take us up on our offer or part ways, sound good?"
Zakunods with a silly grin on his face. Elezumerely asks, "Where can we put our things and bunk down for the night? It is not as cool here as underground..."
After spending the rest of his clandestine walk out, Mal stops for a quick drink and a song at a local dive before returning home. Upon entering, he quietly greets the bugbears, learning their names and giving his own. "Welcome, welcome. I see that everything has been settled, or at least sufficiently so. Would either of you care for a refreshment? And if something moves suddenly, don't mind. A true local has a permanent share and a spiritual connection to the establishment." Mal good naturedly taps the nearest wall a few times, then flounces off to retrieve drinks for the guests, should they have accepted. If not, Mal will go and find the rest of the party, to make sure he is up to speed on the plan!
The bugbears opt for the den on the second floor and settle in. Drowsy in the heat and used to working nights, the pair doze off before the live-in poltergeist can stir up any trouble with them.
"If you are going to check in with your...people, I can stay and keep on eye on our guests," Laniel says.
Grentario greets the pair outside Blackstaff tower. "Good to see you so soon," he says. "I expect Lady Blackstaff to return tomorrow. How can I help you today?"
"Well, we believe we have what we need, and we were hoping to make an attempt tomorrow."
"When do you expect Lady Blackstaff to return? Perhaps we can arrange our timing around when she is back, in case she has further instructions, or wants to come along?"
The bugbears prove to be a bit...raucous as roommates, keeping the lot of them up late into the night. Even the poltergeist gets annoyed with them at one point, pantsing the taller one much to the amusement of his smaller brother. It is a bleary-eyed morning when the 5 co-owners of Trollskull Manor make their way out to their fifth day of changing bedsheets at orphanages. The bugbears are left alone with only a ghost to watch over them, but both had turned in before the quintet left for their daily duties.
The luster has worn off of volunteering at orphanages this morning. Only Mal, and to a much lesser extent Laniel, seem to gain any joy out of interacting with the rambunctious orphans. Their duties discharged, they all return to the Manor to find it still standing and Zaku jsut waking up and scrounging for something to eat. "Will tonight be the job, then?" he asks, pulling fruits and vegetables out of their containers in search of something more hearty.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Yeah, if our contact returns tonight, we plan to see if they are coming along or not, and then make our attempt to gain access to the underground stronghold."
Morph rubs his tired eye's.
"You know what, I think I may just catch a little more sleep before we do anything else."
Morphlooks at the others,
"I'm going upstairs to get maybe an hours extra sleep. if you need me before then, come wake me, otherwise I will be down in an hour."
Morphheads upstairs and takes a nap to recover some more energy for tonight's adventure.
(Morphsleeps for: 3 hours, unless anyone wakes him early)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
At the orphanage, Titus grows increasingly weary of the squabbling children. The gruff Dragonborn sergeant finally had enough when one of the little gnomic boys spilled his juice all over his clothes and a newly changed bed sheet. He mutters some curses under his breath in Draconic, but then collects himself. He thinks back to his time drilling new recruits, and stands up to address the children.
“ATTENTION!” hebellows, “All right now children! Everyone form a line against the wall! That’s it! Everybody, come on let’s go! From now on we will be doing things differently around here. Everybody is going to get one chore to do each day, and if you do that chore then we will play a game! Here’s how it works...”
Titus will do his best to rally the children, and will help them learn to maintain the orphanage a bit more themselves. As a reward he will teach them some basic marching maneuvers and how the proper way to hurl a javalin. He hopes at least some of the children will benefit from his energetic outburst, and that he had brought a little more discipline and order into their lives.
Once back at the manor, Titus will speak to the Bugbears as he prepares his food, he mixes some vegetables in with some poultry, and he offers to share with them. He cooks slowly as he speaks to them, doing his best to judge if they know their way around the kitchen. Titus hopes the brothers are up to the task, but he worries about their discipline. Even if they prove to be capable fighters, they may not be the best tavern employees...
Titus' success with the children is limited. They catch on to him pretty quickly and generally frustrate his attempts to salvage order in the chaos. While Lanieland Morphretire for a rest, Titusis able to size up the bugbears. His initial assessment is generally right. They lack discipline as well as the niceties of polite society. They are extremely rough around the edges and somewhat willful in their adherence to their tribal ways. But, they could perhaps be taught, if they could first be convinced to want to be taught...
The blasted heat is beginning to die down as the late afternoon approaches and thoughts turn towards finally striking out on their mission. The bugbear brothers have discovered the cellar and are lounging there where it is much cooler. Lanieland Morphhave recharged from their lack of sleep, and with Rethan, head out to see if their contact has returned to Waterdeep.
Grentario greets them at Blackstaff tower. He sees the look of disappointment on their faces and gives a wry smile. "Lady Blackstaff has returned not an hour ago," he says. "She is cleaning up. I have alerted her to your situation and she is expecting you."
Fifteen minutes pass and the leader of the Gray Hands arrives to greet her people. "You have been busy in my absence," she says. "I have news for you as well, but it can wait." She gives a pointed look to Laniel.
Laniel, misinterpreting her look, takes it to mean he should get to the point. "We have found the way to Lord Neverember's stolen treasure. We believe we have the keys to unlock his vault. But we are not sure what to do with the gold once we find it. We would like to return it to Waterdeep. Can the Gray hands help?"
Lady Blackstaff peppers the trio with a few questions and they fill her in on the gold dragon, the location and keys to the vault entrance, and the trials that led to their acquiring this knowledge. Eventually she stops and processes it all. "This has been good work," she says with a satisfied nod. "Firstly, I shall see about having your sentence reduced. Grentario will visit the courthouse in the morning personally. Secondly, I think I will accompany you to see for myself. I am convinced you have possibly discovered Neverember's rumored stash of gold but some of this story is so outrageous that I must see for myself. Prepare your friends to depart. I will meet you at the old tower in the Sea Ward in 2 hours."
After the stint with the orphans, Mal returns to the Manor, where, after a few minutes of trying to find a cool place, he descends down into the cellar as well. He nods appreciatively as he sees the brothers already spread out on the cool stones, and, after humming to himself for a moment, joins them on the floor.
In answer to Elezu's question, Morph answers,
"Right, well next up will be checking in with some of our people and then heading to the entrance to the underground."
Looking at his friends, Morph suggests,
"Perhaps we check in with out contacts this afternoon, and organise to start the underground portion of the adventure, fresh in the morning?"
Turning back to the bugbears, Morph says,
"You can stay here with us until we head out tomorrow and then we can work out what we can offer you in the way of more permanent work, once we are done with the adventure."
"You can then decide if you want to take us up on our offer or part ways, sound good?"
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Zaku nods with a silly grin on his face. Elezu merely asks, "Where can we put our things and bunk down for the night? It is not as cool here as underground..."
“Pick any empty room, there’s plenty of space,” Rethan says.
After spending the rest of his clandestine walk out, Mal stops for a quick drink and a song at a local dive before returning home. Upon entering, he quietly greets the bugbears, learning their names and giving his own. "Welcome, welcome. I see that everything has been settled, or at least sufficiently so. Would either of you care for a refreshment? And if something moves suddenly, don't mind. A true local has a permanent share and a spiritual connection to the establishment." Mal good naturedly taps the nearest wall a few times, then flounces off to retrieve drinks for the guests, should they have accepted. If not, Mal will go and find the rest of the party, to make sure he is up to speed on the plan!
The bugbears opt for the den on the second floor and settle in. Drowsy in the heat and used to working nights, the pair doze off before the live-in poltergeist can stir up any trouble with them.
"If you are going to check in with your...people, I can stay and keep on eye on our guests," Laniel says.
Morph nods at Laniel.
"Right"
Morph turns to Rethan.
"Should we head out and talk to our contact?"
Morph starts to collect his gear and head to the door, as he waits for Rethan's reply.
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Rethan nods, collecting his own gear and following morph out the door.
As Morph and Rethan head to Blackstaff Tower, Morph comments,
"Well this next bit is going to be interesting, a Dragon and a magically locked vault..."
"I hope we make out in one piece, it would be nice to have the manor fully restored and the taproom bustling with people."
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Morph and Rethan:
Grentario greets the pair outside Blackstaff tower. "Good to see you so soon," he says. "I expect Lady Blackstaff to return tomorrow. How can I help you today?"
"Well, we believe we have what we need, and we were hoping to make an attempt tomorrow."
"When do you expect Lady Blackstaff to return? Perhaps we can arrange our timing around when she is back, in case she has further instructions, or wants to come along?"
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Rethan nods. "If you know when she should return, we can certainly delay long enough to speak with her first."
"I couldn't tell you the precise time. Before dark, most likely," says Grentario.
Rethan nods and looks to Morph. "We could probably delay until evening if needed, don't you think?"
The bugbears prove to be a bit...raucous as roommates, keeping the lot of them up late into the night. Even the poltergeist gets annoyed with them at one point, pantsing the taller one much to the amusement of his smaller brother. It is a bleary-eyed morning when the 5 co-owners of Trollskull Manor make their way out to their fifth day of changing bedsheets at orphanages. The bugbears are left alone with only a ghost to watch over them, but both had turned in before the quintet left for their daily duties.
The luster has worn off of volunteering at orphanages this morning. Only Mal, and to a much lesser extent Laniel, seem to gain any joy out of interacting with the rambunctious orphans. Their duties discharged, they all return to the Manor to find it still standing and Zaku jsut waking up and scrounging for something to eat. "Will tonight be the job, then?" he asks, pulling fruits and vegetables out of their containers in search of something more hearty.
"Yeah, if our contact returns tonight, we plan to see if they are coming along or not, and then make our attempt to gain access to the underground stronghold."
Morph rubs his tired eye's.
"You know what, I think I may just catch a little more sleep before we do anything else."
Morph looks at the others,
"I'm going upstairs to get maybe an hours extra sleep. if you need me before then, come wake me, otherwise I will be down in an hour."
Morph heads upstairs and takes a nap to recover some more energy for tonight's adventure.
(Morph sleeps for: 3 hours, unless anyone wakes him early)
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
At the orphanage, Titus grows increasingly weary of the squabbling children. The gruff Dragonborn sergeant finally had enough when one of the little gnomic boys spilled his juice all over his clothes and a newly changed bed sheet. He mutters some curses under his breath in Draconic, but then collects himself. He thinks back to his time drilling new recruits, and stands up to address the children.
“ATTENTION!” he bellows, “All right now children! Everyone form a line against the wall! That’s it! Everybody, come on let’s go! From now on we will be doing things differently around here. Everybody is going to get one chore to do each day, and if you do that chore then we will play a game! Here’s how it works...”
Titus will do his best to rally the children, and will help them learn to maintain the orphanage a bit more themselves. As a reward he will teach them some basic marching maneuvers and how the proper way to hurl a javalin. He hopes at least some of the children will benefit from his energetic outburst, and that he had brought a little more discipline and order into their lives.
Persuasion 18
Once back at the manor, Titus will speak to the Bugbears as he prepares his food, he mixes some vegetables in with some poultry, and he offers to share with them. He cooks slowly as he speaks to them, doing his best to judge if they know their way around the kitchen. Titus hopes the brothers are up to the task, but he worries about their discipline. Even if they prove to be capable fighters, they may not be the best tavern employees...
Insight 10
Vercinius Thrax: Lizardfolk Cleric - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
L’Ouverture Zinn: Kobold Sorcerer - Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Titus Vorenus: Dragonborn Paladin - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Nemean Goldenmane: Tabaxi Fighter - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Retired)
Titus' success with the children is limited. They catch on to him pretty quickly and generally frustrate his attempts to salvage order in the chaos. While Laniel and Morph retire for a rest, Titus is able to size up the bugbears. His initial assessment is generally right. They lack discipline as well as the niceties of polite society. They are extremely rough around the edges and somewhat willful in their adherence to their tribal ways. But, they could perhaps be taught, if they could first be convinced to want to be taught...
The blasted heat is beginning to die down as the late afternoon approaches and thoughts turn towards finally striking out on their mission. The bugbear brothers have discovered the cellar and are lounging there where it is much cooler. Laniel and Morph have recharged from their lack of sleep, and with Rethan, head out to see if their contact has returned to Waterdeep.
Grentario greets them at Blackstaff tower. He sees the look of disappointment on their faces and gives a wry smile. "Lady Blackstaff has returned not an hour ago," he says. "She is cleaning up. I have alerted her to your situation and she is expecting you."
Fifteen minutes pass and the leader of the Gray Hands arrives to greet her people. "You have been busy in my absence," she says. "I have news for you as well, but it can wait." She gives a pointed look to Laniel.
Laniel, misinterpreting her look, takes it to mean he should get to the point. "We have found the way to Lord Neverember's stolen treasure. We believe we have the keys to unlock his vault. But we are not sure what to do with the gold once we find it. We would like to return it to Waterdeep. Can the Gray hands help?"
Lady Blackstaff peppers the trio with a few questions and they fill her in on the gold dragon, the location and keys to the vault entrance, and the trials that led to their acquiring this knowledge. Eventually she stops and processes it all. "This has been good work," she says with a satisfied nod. "Firstly, I shall see about having your sentence reduced. Grentario will visit the courthouse in the morning personally. Secondly, I think I will accompany you to see for myself. I am convinced you have possibly discovered Neverember's rumored stash of gold but some of this story is so outrageous that I must see for myself. Prepare your friends to depart. I will meet you at the old tower in the Sea Ward in 2 hours."
After the stint with the orphans, Mal returns to the Manor, where, after a few minutes of trying to find a cool place, he descends down into the cellar as well. He nods appreciatively as he sees the brothers already spread out on the cool stones, and, after humming to himself for a moment, joins them on the floor.
Morph, along with his two friends, arrive back at the manor.
"Anybody about? We are a, go, for the adventure."
"We are meeting Lady Blackstaff at the old tower, and heading underground tonight, in less than 2 hours, come on!"
Morph seems to be energised by the coming activity.
Poking his head down through the cellar trapdoor.
"Come on lazy bones, we have an adventure waiting for us."
Morph checks over his gear, making sure everything is accounted for and secured in place.
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Rethan nods. "Thank you," he says. "And your assistance will be much appreciated."