The door feels a little stiff on its hinges, but a solid push opens it well enough. As the door swings, a loud crash of old ceramic plates piled up behind the door shatter across the floor and agains the wall of the passageway the wends north and east into the darkness.
Titus steps over the shattered plates, the ceramic crunches beneath his heavy boots, and he quickly maneuvers 20 feet down the north passage.
He firmly plants himself and holds his shield forward, his axe hung behind his head as he peers down the hallway, wondering if their commotion had awakened anything.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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)
Thinking the same thing, Atuan playfully draws a dagger, switching it's position in his hand back and forth before stowing it in a nervous tick. He moves forward with Titus.
At the dim periphery of his light, Tituscan see two figures standing in a room. The room appears to have some torches scattered about haphazardly but they do little to light the end of the passage into the room. All three of the adventurers can hear one of the men speak.
"Ullo," the man says in a clear an authoritative voice. "Come to pay the dungeon tax? 10 gold a head."
Lanieland Morphcan hear a voice on the other side of the door to their north but cannot make out what is being said.
Atuan twists his head to one side. "A fascinating prospect. Do you get many travelers here to pay the toll, or were you sent just for us, today? Forgive my cynicism - I don't envy your job in the slightest." He glances at Titus to gauge his reaction before proceeding.
Titus is perplexed and steps forward to address the men respectfully "Sirs, we mean you no harm. I am certainly not one for tax evasion, but I must inquire as to what precisely our 10gp will get us?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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)
Atuan smiles. "Gentlemen, surely you perceive our situation. You have us at a disadvantage, as we have already entered into your domain without knowing whose domain it is we enter! Perhaps we would be more willing to part with our coin should we know the future keeper of it, and whether that keeper can be trusted to their original tax estimates..."
Morph moves ahead coming around so he can see and hear Atuan. Hearing his response, Morph gets an idea of what is happening.
Morph casts Guidance on himself and steps up behind Atuan,
"What is this all about then? Why are we being asked to pay the tax again?"
Morph addresses the occupants of the room down the hallway.
"We already paid that other guy, why do we need to pay again?"
Deception check, to try and get those in the room, to think he is talking about an associate of theirs: 10(includes Guidance bonus)
Morph then takes hold of an amulet around his neck, and casts Detect Thoughts on himself, before walking forward to where Titus is, getting close enough to see, and read the surface thoughts, of those in the room.
"We already paid that other guy, ah, I can't remember his name...ah..."
Morph listens to their thoughts, hoping they will provide a name he can then give them to further sell the deception.
(Edit: why you no like me dice? what I do to you?)
(Do you want Morphto dismiss Joy where she is or stop painting? The unseen servant will be out of range going that way."
Morphdetects that this fellow is actually the leader of the group, Uktarl, which Morphgathers because he finds Morph's deception hilarious. Laughing, he says"If you gave up your gold to anyone else in here, you're a bigger fool than I thought. The price is 20 gold to stay...or to leave." Still chuckling, he draws his scimitar and a dagger, casually waving it in the direction of the adventurers. "Now, open your purse strings."
Lanielopens the door right next to the bandits. Uktarl motions to him. "All of you."
Atuan mutters something under his breath and briefly flutters his fingers by his side and targets the second thug (not the leader/main speaker) with charm person (DC 14).
If successful, he will call out to him. "Surely, you must realize that this kind of business is simply bad. Extorting passersby? At least have a sign up! And think, who gets to keep the biggest payday? Look, I think we are good friends, you and I. You deserve more than that brute will ever give you. You should seriously consider seeking a more aggressive promotion."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Y'know, Uktarl," says the one next to the one speaking. "You promised us a bigger share of the goods the last three times. I really feel like you haven't been respectin' us the way you should."
"Now isn't the time!" Uktarl says with a snarl. (AtuanDeception(10) check: 16)
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Leaning in with a light, Atuan sees the passage bend to the east after another west-leading door.
Atuan will step forward and try to open the door, relying on the support of the team should something go horribly awry.
The door feels a little stiff on its hinges, but a solid push opens it well enough. As the door swings, a loud crash of old ceramic plates piled up behind the door shatter across the floor and agains the wall of the passageway the wends north and east into the darkness.
Titus steps over the shattered plates, the ceramic crunches beneath his heavy boots, and he quickly maneuvers 20 feet down the north passage.
He firmly plants himself and holds his shield forward, his axe hung behind his head as he peers down the hallway, wondering if their commotion had awakened anything.
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)
Thinking the same thing, Atuan playfully draws a dagger, switching it's position in his hand back and forth before stowing it in a nervous tick. He moves forward with Titus.
Morph lets out a short laugh,
"Hah, a crockery cupboard in the middle of a dungeon! I did not expect that..."
Morph directs Joy to continue the line along behind the group.
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
(21 minutes remain on Joy's timer.)
Titus, Atuan, and Rethan:
At the dim periphery of his light, Titus can see two figures standing in a room. The room appears to have some torches scattered about haphazardly but they do little to light the end of the passage into the room. All three of the adventurers can hear one of the men speak.
"Ullo," the man says in a clear an authoritative voice. "Come to pay the dungeon tax? 10 gold a head."
Laniel and Morph can hear a voice on the other side of the door to their north but cannot make out what is being said.
Atuan twists his head to one side. "A fascinating prospect. Do you get many travelers here to pay the toll, or were you sent just for us, today? Forgive my cynicism - I don't envy your job in the slightest." He glances at Titus to gauge his reaction before proceeding.
"Job? This ain't no job. This is our territory. You want to tresspass here, you pay the price."
Titus is perplexed and steps forward to address the men respectfully "Sirs, we mean you no harm. I am certainly not one for tax evasion, but I must inquire as to what precisely our 10gp will get us?"
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)
"We'll let you wander wherever you want! For15 gold apiece."
Atuan smiles. "Gentlemen, surely you perceive our situation. You have us at a disadvantage, as we have already entered into your domain without knowing whose domain it is we enter! Perhaps we would be more willing to part with our coin should we know the future keeper of it, and whether that keeper can be trusted to their original tax estimates..."
Morph moves ahead coming around so he can see and hear Atuan. Hearing his response, Morph gets an idea of what is happening.
Morph casts Guidance on himself and steps up behind Atuan,
"What is this all about then? Why are we being asked to pay the tax again?"
Morph addresses the occupants of the room down the hallway.
"We already paid that other guy, why do we need to pay again?"
Deception check, to try and get those in the room, to think he is talking about an associate of theirs: 10 (includes Guidance bonus)
Morph then takes hold of an amulet around his neck, and casts Detect Thoughts on himself, before walking forward to where Titus is, getting close enough to see, and read the surface thoughts, of those in the room.
"We already paid that other guy, ah, I can't remember his name...ah..."
Morph listens to their thoughts, hoping they will provide a name he can then give them to further sell the deception.
(Edit: why you no like me dice? what I do to you?)
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
(Do you want Morph to dismiss Joy where she is or stop painting? The unseen servant will be out of range going that way."
Morph detects that this fellow is actually the leader of the group, Uktarl, which Morph gathers because he finds Morph's deception hilarious. Laughing, he says"If you gave up your gold to anyone else in here, you're a bigger fool than I thought. The price is 20 gold to stay...or to leave." Still chuckling, he draws his scimitar and a dagger, casually waving it in the direction of the adventurers. "Now, open your purse strings."
Laniel opens the door right next to the bandits. Uktarl motions to him. "All of you."
(Joy will just disappear, leaving the paint and brush on the ground where she was waiting)
(Also, no surface thoughts for Morph?)
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Morph:
Sorry, I implied but didn't state directly.
"What a bunch of marks. 'A fool and their dragons...'"
Atuan mutters something under his breath and briefly flutters his fingers by his side and targets the second thug (not the leader/main speaker) with charm person (DC 14).
If successful, he will call out to him. "Surely, you must realize that this kind of business is simply bad. Extorting passersby? At least have a sign up! And think, who gets to keep the biggest payday? Look, I think we are good friends, you and I. You deserve more than that brute will ever give you. You should seriously consider seeking a more aggressive promotion."
Morph attempts to gauge the strength of the two hostiles, while Atuan speaks to the second one.
Insight check to gauge how strong the hostiles are compared to our group: 7 (stronger, weaker, about the same?)
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Bandit WIS(14) check: 6
It is a little too dark to tell how strong these extortionists are.
"Y'know, Uktarl," says the one next to the one speaking. "You promised us a bigger share of the goods the last three times. I really feel like you haven't been respectin' us the way you should."
"Now isn't the time!" Uktarl says with a snarl. (Atuan Deception(10) check: 16)