Waterdeep Dragon Heist - Campaign Thread (DM: Webgambit)

Kestrell joins Vassa at the sewer grate, "What do you think?  Should we check it out?"

Noting that the grate looks long disused, Vassa shakes his head in puzzlement, glancing in frustration back-and-forth from the sewer grate to the door of the Bent Nail. Sighing as he walks back to the Bent Nail's front door, the confused bard says to Bason and Kes,

"Thanks, Bason, but it looks like I was barking up the wrong tree... or down the wrong stinkhole, rather. Nothing has travelled this way in quite some time.

Keen as I am to reaquiant myself with all of those wonderful odours, Kes, we've got to find this 'burned man' character. We can't let explosions on our very doorstep go unanswered now can we? I thought tracking was your forte, though I guess you're more used to hunting deer in the woods than criminal suspects through city streets. To be honest, after my recent track record with 'clever plans', I'm a little hesitant to be the one giving directions.

Still, if this suspicious fellow ran this way, it looks like there's only one reasonable course of action remaining."

Seeing that it's open for business, Vassa walks into the shop, stopping to cast a critical eye around as soon as he enters.

[OOC] perception 21

"Correct, deer not criminals."

Kestrell follows Vassa into the Bent Nail, seeing if anyone in there looks suspicious.

Perception: 23

Quote from WebGambit >>

As you approach the guards on steps forward. "Sorry ma'am, I'm under orders to let no one enter or leave until cleared by a superior officer."

" Good! So wheres the perpetrator that ran this way then? Burns, cloak, in a hurry....he was seen running this way bare minutes ago."

Quote from vassasunstar >>

Seeing that it's open for business, Vassa walks into the shop, stopping to cast a critical eye around as soon as he enters.

[OOC] perception 4

As you enter the building, you see that the front room contains displays of ornate wooden furniture, as well as a selection of bows and crossbows. The wall behind the counter is lined with rows of finely carved wooden canes, quarterstaffs, and shields. You don't see anyone, however.

Quote from KestrellKestrell >>

Kestrell follows Vassa into the Bent Nail, seeing if anyone in there looks suspicious.

Perception: 23

When you follow Vassa in you're immediately struck by how quiet it is inside. You don't hear any of the noise from the street once you're indoors.

Quote from Damian_May >>

" Good! So wheres the perpetrator that ran this way then? Burns, cloak, in a hurry....he was seen running this way bare minutes ago."

"No one has come nor gone through this street since we've gotten here. But if you have a description of the criminal I'd recommend heading to the other end of the alley and speaking with the officer in charge there."

Kestrell stands, mouth agape, staring at the bows.  "This place is right down the road from ours!  I thought it was a tavern!  This is way better than a tavern."

As Kestrell says this a voice calls out, "Hello?" and you hear someone approaching from the back room. A door opens behind the counter and a male half-elf walks out. "Hiya, what can I help you boys with? Name's Talisolvanar Fellbranch but most folks just call me “Tally”. Are you folks looking for anything in particular?"

"Hello! Shopkeeper... potential customers here!!!"

Distracted by the fine interior and weapons on display, Vassa calls out in a loud voice, barely noticing Kestrell entering the shop. Stepping up to the shop counter, the bard examines the top of it and the area behind looking for any sign of disturbance.

[OOC] investigation: 13

Quote from vassasunstar >>

Stepping up to the shop counter, the bard examines the top of it and the area behind looking for any sign of disturbance.

[OOC] investigation: 13

You don't notice anything out of place. In fact, this is probably the most organized and clean carpentry/woodworking shop you've ever seen.

 Kestrell shakes his head and asks "Did you hear the big explosion right up the street?  Did anyone come in here right afterwards?"

With a look of concern Tally replies, "Explosion? Oh my. Is everyone ok? There were children playing outside about an hour ago, were any hurt?", pausing to take a deep breath, "No one else has been in here today. And I didn't hear anything, but as you might have noticed I have a magic ward on the place to block sound. It was intended to keep all my noise inside. Used to have some neighbors that would complain if I worked at night, you see. But the mage who put the ward up made it work both ways. No noise from outside reaches me, even if I leave the door open."

Vassa studies the shop keeper carefully as he stands back and listens to the exchange between Kes and Tally. When the half-elf mentions the strange enchantment on his shop, the suspicious bard murmers to himself, "How... convenient."

[OOC] insight check to see if Vassa thinks that Tally might be lying or hiding something from them: 8

Quote from WebGambit >>

Quote from Damian_May >>

" Good! So wheres the perpetrator that ran this way then? Burns, cloak, in a hurry....he was seen running this way bare minutes ago."

"No one has come nor gone through this street since we've gotten here. But if you have a description of the criminal I'd recommend heading to the other end of the alley and speaking with the officer in charge there."

 Selinae span around and looked back the way she had come, where had he gone?

Dejected she slumped back towards the Bent Nail.

Quote from vassasunstar >>

[OOC] insight check to see if Vassa thinks that Tally might be lying or hiding something from them: 3

Vassa is sure he's lying... no... wait... he's telling the truth yes. But was that a twitch? As Vassa watches Tally he realizes he has no idea if the half-elf is truthful or not.

Phaedra looks around outside the Bent Nail, gazing up above the buildings.

"Could he have used magic to run up the wall and onto the roof?"

Bason watches as Vassa and Kes go into the Bent Nail. He kicks a piece of debris in frustration. He was never very good at investigations. He's trained to fight and protect his friends. He sighs and walks back to the crowds of people, if they are still around talking. If they are, he will ask what they saw happen. Might as well try to be of some use. He's better at talking to people then he is looking for clues in the dirt. 

"Hullo, I'm Bason CrimsonBrow. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Did you see what happened? I was in Trollskull Manor when that blast went off."

persuasion 8 to go up to whatever crowd of people are still about chatting. 

Frustrated at his own inability to make heads or tails of Tally's tells, and knowing that they're likely to lose the trail if they don't do something soon, Vassa reverts to an old habit that often produced results... lying through his teeth. Brushing a softly glowing hand through his lustrous silver hair, the now seemingly even more handsome and affable bard leans over the counter to say with absolute conviction, "Ohh, the children, Tally. I can't bare to think of those poor children. Indeed, such horrible crimes are why we've been tasked by none other than a hidden lord of Waterdeep to hunt down such villainous criminals, my good shopkeep.

Of course, we must be ABSOLUTELY certain that the culprit who caused this wanton destruction is not hiding in your shop, Tally. Spare no effort and let none stand in your way, our patron said. So you see, my colleague and I really must insist on looking through any other rooms you may have here before we move on to search elsewhere."

Vassa says the last as he moves to walk around the counter, acting as though he was carrying out a duty that he and others were expected to permit. 

[OOC] Vassa casts enhance ability (Eagle's Splendor) on himself and then attempts to use deception on Tally to convince the shopkeep to allow him and Kes to search the premises for the suspect: 22

Kestrell was about to say that they should leave and search elsewhere, coming back later to peruse those fine bows, but even he is persuaded by Vassa's impassioned speech.

Elon stands around next to Phaedra, staring at the buildings wondering where the bomb guy could have gone.