"Well, this was over a century ago, but if the Black Viper is making appearances again, I would probably guess it has been someone else that has taken the name. As an inspiration maybe, the Black Viper became a story to tell children to stop them misbehaving. As to who it might be now, I don't know," Volo responds.
Drawing heavily on his second drink, Tyrus begins to ramble, "None of what we've learnt about the Viper adds up. You tell us they was operating a hundred years ago, and that they was publicly executed for their crimes. Somebody else told us that the Viper was publicly executed 10 years since. Then you tell us the Viper's was an assassin, but the only recent crimes they've done is steal small keepsakes from nobles... I be thinking you be right, Volo. This Black Viper is just an identity used by anyone with enough bravado to dress up in a costume... Though why anyone would do such a thing, is beyond me."
Draining his tankard, Tyrus shrugs and goes back to the bar for another drink [OOC: I have deducted another 4 cp from my character sheet].
After getting his drink, Tyrus comes back looking excited.
"Maybe this current Viper can be found by magic," he says, speaking to Renaer. "My gnomish master was always losing things in his workshop, but he knew this spell that allowed him to find 'em. Maybe some wizard could do the same thing with one of the stolen items."
"That could work" Renear said, "I'm not a practitioner of the arcane, but I have contacts. If you can find out something that has been stolen, then someone with those abilities should be able to try and locate it. If you are familiar with any of it, they may even be able to scry on it to get it's true location, and possibly who is in possession of it.
Of course, all of this will only work if they are not smart enough to keep it in a demiplane or another plane of existence. Elminster has told ME some stories about some of those places, and I'm glad I'm not there, that's for sure," Renaer replies with a chuckle.
"Bwahaha, if we're dealing with a petty thief who has access to a private demiplane, that isn't a thief, it's a bored archmage," Briga laughs. "In which case the bounty isn't nearly high enough. The magical tracking thing is a good idea, Tyrus. Didn't one of those fops... fine personages, say something about a missing signet ring or something?"
"You be right, Briga," says Tyrus. "It was Lord Aristach, one of Arlon's friends. If a mage with their magic could locate one of those rings in the wrong place, then it could give us a clue as to who took it... It may even help us get some rewards for the recovery of some of them stolen items."
Happy with himself, Tyrus will give the others a big smile and take another draw on his tankard.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Volo smiles, "Or they could be wearing something like this," he says as he pulls out a necklace around his neck that looks like some sort of silver medallion shaped like an eye. "Or other objects that prevent divination magics. Trust me, it's one of the few ways to guarantee privacy in these lands, and there aren't many of those when you are as well known as me," he chuckles, "and I can't go off to a demiplane every time I want some quiet time," he adds with a slightly more serious tone.
Tyrus is silent for a moment, but only a moment, before saying, "But that means they'd have to be carrying all their stolen loot on them, doesn't it? Which don't make a lot of sense, iffen people can see what's been stolen."
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"Tyrus is right, more than likely if this is a for-profit thief, they've already fenced the goods. But it still could be a lead, if we can persuade the fence to talk," Briga says. "If they're stealing for some weird pride motive they could be keeping the goods as trophies, though, we might find out where they crash at night. Volo, can you do the tracking stuff type magic, or do you know who can?"
Volo chuckles and says "That's way beyond my knowledge of the Arcane, that sort of thing is handled by the Blackstaff, or the Order of Magists and Protectors. Just they won't do anything until there's evidence to invade a person's privacy," he informs you all. "Plus, you can ward properties against divination effects just like you can ward yourself," he says as he twists his beard.
"You know, I'm sure the nobles didn't ward their own possessions like that, and since the voices of the rich speak louder, it might not be hard to get the Order of Magists to cooperate, particularly if we can get a noble to support the idea," Briga says. "Maybe we arrange for a meeting with the noble we spoke to earlier, and a representative from the order of Magists? Present the idea that the mages using detection spells is the fastest way to locate the thief, and that we're the best people to apprehend them? Alternatively I can hit up street level leads first, talk to known fences for stolen goods. What do you guys think - go all in on the magic angle, or the traditional route?"
"The magic... angle, did you say, sounds easiest and safest for us," says Tyrus. "It be less likely the Black Viper will have warning that we be onto her... And besides, I'd really like to see one." [OOC: ;-) ]
"Well, if your looking to get a meeting with someone like the Blackstaff or another one of the Order, I can probably make that happen," Ranear says. "My father was the previous open lord, after all. As much as I am not a fan of the man, he is still my father, and the heritige does have some sway," he tells you.
*Briga suggests this as a good course of action, contacting the noble they spoke with previously to, who was a victim of the viper, and bringing them to work with the mage Renear puts them in contact with, to try to use magic to locate their stolen goods.*
"What be this Order of Magists and Protectors?" Tyrus asks Volo struggling to keep up. "It sounds like catching this Viper is something they should be doing anyway."
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"They work with the city guard to investigate crimes that are magical in nature, mostly. They also defend the city - pretty much every arcane spellcaster that is a citizen is a member," Renear responds. "They wouldn't usually get involved unless magic is involed, but I have some contacts that might be able to help you," he says.
Tyrus looks at Arlon and says, "So, why are you not a member of this order, Arlon? You being a local and all... Is your master a member? ... Hey, maybe he could help? Maybe he could find this missing signet ring. Or maybe he could teach you how."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
OOC: Yes, I may have phrased that oddly - Briga wants to contact the noble the party spoke with earlier to provide the connection with the object, Renear would be putting us in contact with a mage from the order, we do not expect him to perform the magic himself.
Arlon shrugs. "That is something that has been bothering me. I believe my master might be part of that group but I am a bit to ..." he shrugs again," new in the art to be part of the group."
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"Well, this was over a century ago, but if the Black Viper is making appearances again, I would probably guess it has been someone else that has taken the name. As an inspiration maybe, the Black Viper became a story to tell children to stop them misbehaving. As to who it might be now, I don't know," Volo responds.
Drawing heavily on his second drink, Tyrus begins to ramble, "None of what we've learnt about the Viper adds up. You tell us they was operating a hundred years ago, and that they was publicly executed for their crimes. Somebody else told us that the Viper was publicly executed 10 years since. Then you tell us the Viper's was an assassin, but the only recent crimes they've done is steal small keepsakes from nobles... I be thinking you be right, Volo. This Black Viper is just an identity used by anyone with enough bravado to dress up in a costume... Though why anyone would do such a thing, is beyond me."
Draining his tankard, Tyrus shrugs and goes back to the bar for another drink [OOC: I have deducted another 4 cp from my character sheet].
After getting his drink, Tyrus comes back looking excited.
"Maybe this current Viper can be found by magic," he says, speaking to Renaer. "My gnomish master was always losing things in his workshop, but he knew this spell that allowed him to find 'em. Maybe some wizard could do the same thing with one of the stolen items."
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"That could work" Renear said, "I'm not a practitioner of the arcane, but I have contacts. If you can find out something that has been stolen, then someone with those abilities should be able to try and locate it. If you are familiar with any of it, they may even be able to scry on it to get it's true location, and possibly who is in possession of it.
Of course, all of this will only work if they are not smart enough to keep it in a demiplane or another plane of existence. Elminster has told ME some stories about some of those places, and I'm glad I'm not there, that's for sure," Renaer replies with a chuckle.
"Bwahaha, if we're dealing with a petty thief who has access to a private demiplane, that isn't a thief, it's a bored archmage," Briga laughs. "In which case the bounty isn't nearly high enough. The magical tracking thing is a good idea, Tyrus. Didn't one of those fops... fine personages, say something about a missing signet ring or something?"
"You be right, Briga," says Tyrus. "It was Lord Aristach, one of Arlon's friends. If a mage with their magic could locate one of those rings in the wrong place, then it could give us a clue as to who took it... It may even help us get some rewards for the recovery of some of them stolen items."
Happy with himself, Tyrus will give the others a big smile and take another draw on his tankard.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Volo smiles, "Or they could be wearing something like this," he says as he pulls out a necklace around his neck that looks like some sort of silver medallion shaped like an eye. "Or other objects that prevent divination magics. Trust me, it's one of the few ways to guarantee privacy in these lands, and there aren't many of those when you are as well known as me," he chuckles, "and I can't go off to a demiplane every time I want some quiet time," he adds with a slightly more serious tone.
Tyrus is silent for a moment, but only a moment, before saying, "But that means they'd have to be carrying all their stolen loot on them, doesn't it? Which don't make a lot of sense, iffen people can see what's been stolen."
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"Tyrus is right, more than likely if this is a for-profit thief, they've already fenced the goods. But it still could be a lead, if we can persuade the fence to talk," Briga says. "If they're stealing for some weird pride motive they could be keeping the goods as trophies, though, we might find out where they crash at night. Volo, can you do the tracking stuff type magic, or do you know who can?"
Arlon nods at Tyrus and Briga.
"From what we heard before the thief didn't" collect" many things. It would be easy to travel through the city if the object was light."
Volo chuckles and says "That's way beyond my knowledge of the Arcane, that sort of thing is handled by the Blackstaff, or the Order of Magists and Protectors. Just they won't do anything until there's evidence to invade a person's privacy," he informs you all. "Plus, you can ward properties against divination effects just like you can ward yourself," he says as he twists his beard.
"You know, I'm sure the nobles didn't ward their own possessions like that, and since the voices of the rich speak louder, it might not be hard to get the Order of Magists to cooperate, particularly if we can get a noble to support the idea," Briga says. "Maybe we arrange for a meeting with the noble we spoke to earlier, and a representative from the order of Magists? Present the idea that the mages using detection spells is the fastest way to locate the thief, and that we're the best people to apprehend them? Alternatively I can hit up street level leads first, talk to known fences for stolen goods. What do you guys think - go all in on the magic angle, or the traditional route?"
"The magic... angle, did you say, sounds easiest and safest for us," says Tyrus. "It be less likely the Black Viper will have warning that we be onto her... And besides, I'd really like to see one." [OOC: ;-) ]
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"Well, if your looking to get a meeting with someone like the Blackstaff or another one of the Order, I can probably make that happen," Ranear says. "My father was the previous open lord, after all. As much as I am not a fan of the man, he is still my father, and the heritige does have some sway," he tells you.
*Briga suggests this as a good course of action, contacting the noble they spoke with previously to, who was a victim of the viper, and bringing them to work with the mage Renear puts them in contact with, to try to use magic to locate their stolen goods.*
((OOC: Renear is a noble, not a mage - he just has contacts at the Order))
"What be this Order of Magists and Protectors?" Tyrus asks Volo struggling to keep up. "It sounds like catching this Viper is something they should be doing anyway."
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"They work with the city guard to investigate crimes that are magical in nature, mostly. They also defend the city - pretty much every arcane spellcaster that is a citizen is a member," Renear responds. "They wouldn't usually get involved unless magic is involed, but I have some contacts that might be able to help you," he says.
Tyrus looks at Arlon and says, "So, why are you not a member of this order, Arlon? You being a local and all... Is your master a member? ... Hey, maybe he could help? Maybe he could find this missing signet ring. Or maybe he could teach you how."
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
OOC: Yes, I may have phrased that oddly - Briga wants to contact the noble the party spoke with earlier to provide the connection with the object, Renear would be putting us in contact with a mage from the order, we do not expect him to perform the magic himself.
Arlon shrugs. "That is something that has been bothering me. I believe my master might be part of that group but I am a bit to ..." he shrugs again," new in the art to be part of the group."