Lost Lab of Kwalish

Tetrevess smiles grimly “OK, but be prepared to speak smoothly or quickly, or face him in battle, if it doesn’t go well.   I can introduce you, and someone else can take over from there.!”    Tetrevess will give the help action (advantage) on either persuasion or deception, if we go this route.  

Kilis approached Tetrevess from behind and put one of her webbed blu fingers on one of his cheeks.

”Are you feeling ill? If you have a fever I am more than willing to help you.” She says as she tilts her head a bit.

“I’ve had a rather traumatic experience the last few hours, I’m afraid.  I was turned to stone, most of my adventuring party were defeated, and we survivors barely escaped. .”  Tetrevess replies.  

The bearded man changes his expression as Tesservet briefly recounts her tale, his look goes to something akin to disappointment before a smirk creeps across his face. "Sounds like you got your asses whupped. Must be some right powerful critters in these parts. Let's go see this Moghaddem and if young Ana here can't charm his pants off, I'll take a pop at trading blades with him."

I'm taking you to him, but If you fail whatever check you're making, he is pretty powerful.  He is the boss of this section and you are actually here to rob him.  If you convince him otherwise, its a boon, if not... ???

Who goes in first, a familiar face or a newcomer?

Barril will enter, respectfully, and say in Abyssal, “Ziyyg di ridtxy gio, rizz. Dtxzx piqez nioqw qaex u kikxsd ip gioy dakx.”

He’ll then sidestep and sweep his arm as an introduction to the group. He hopes that Moghadam has some “good will” towards an agent that had some minor success for him recently.

 Barril will keep his head down, feigning reverence, but be looking left and right with his eyes to spot cover in case this goes wonky.

Raeland ushers his two companions in first, comfortable to let them do the talking whilst he sizes up this Moghaddam and takes stock of the room they are in before placing himself to watch Ana and Gravity's back should this go badly.

OOC - looking for any signs as to what sort of adversary Maghaddam would be (magical / martial), whether he is accompanied by guards or assistants, and whether the room looks to have additional entrances / exits. Perception (+5) / Investigation (-1)   18

Edit... Nice, Nat 1 to kick things off. Glad to get that out of the way, sort of.

Kilis will hang back and place her self outside the office but within earshot so she can hear what’s going on inside. She has no need for a badge as she already have one. Her instinct tells her her this could be a bad situation and it won’t actually help her to get where she needs to go. But at the same time she can’t abandon these strangers if they need her help. She will also keep an eye out for any reinforcements that might show up if things go sideways.

This entrance opens up to a large stone chamber. At the far end, an intense-looking man stands behind a large stone table covered in a dense layer of plans, drawings, and other documents. Tiny wax golems, their heads all lit wicks of flame, flit about the place, keeping the objects under his gaze well illuminated.

The room is in reality a single alcove carved into the north face of the hill.  No extra rooms or doors.  The room has some cabinets and the desk has drawers. 

The stone table here is the first piece of stone cut for the tomb’s excavation. It holds a number of important documents of Moghadam’s creation, including the master map of the tomb. This map features a notation in Undercommon. (Anyone speak undercommon?)

Reinforcements: there ks a whole tomb (almost) fully staffed with workers and others. 

"I am very busy, here as you well know.  You're potions are ready and waiting for you in the Chapel.  What (more accurate translation than "who" though u duration to.mean the aforementioned people) have you brought me, now?" Moghaddam responds in Abyssal, his ha ds still writing out arcane symbols and recognizable maths in the margins of the page on which he is drafting neat lines.

(Moghaddam is the architect of the tomb, an artificer.   You could infer this much, more or less at a glance,  barring any shortcomings in my description.)

((Can someone please back me up with a Help action? I'd like to avoid trying to charm him. Since Ana is lying about the reason why they're here I'll roll Deception: 20))

He didn't seem like the  type to be inclined toward charity but perhaps she could do business with him. A little put off by the unknown language, Ana steps forward and says in Common. "Please pardon the interruption. We're here looking for work, surely you could have use for our skills. If you have any problems, we can... take care of them for you."

Tetrevess is helping, filling in the gaps and explaining why he should listen.

"OH, right ro the point then, I admire that.  Hmmm." The architect says, stroking his chin as he looks you over with a raised eyebrow.

Moghadam insight: 25

He suddenly changes his expression to one of a gregarious old acquaintance.  "Wonderful, wonderful.  We could use some extra hands. You can start immediately.  Between you and me, there have been some unsavory characters sneaking about, trying to pilfer things from the depths of my glorious creation.  Here. Have these and have a look around.  Keep them with you at all times.  So many new faces, the guards can't keep track.  They're not the brightest lot" He pulls some more medallions from a desk drawer and hands them over.  "Im sure you'll fit right in.  Make yourselves at home. Bit if advice: Mind the umber hulks, the dwarves keep them on a tight leash; all the same, I'd avoid getting too close, or getting on the dwarves' bad side.  Paydays every other Earthday." 

Finished with the conversation, he sits again and resumes his drafting.  Realizing people are still in the room, he looks up once more. 

"Well? Carry on then, and be on the look out for any thieves lurking about."

*Days in Greyhawk are reckoned in weeks of seven days each. The days of the month are: Starday, Sunday, Moonday, Godsday, Waterday, Earthday and Freeday. Godsday is commonly associated with worship, and Freeday with rest. The remaining days are considered “work days”.

Tetrevess smiles broadly at you all and heads out of the cave.  Once safely outside, he says.  “Well- nicely done.  Where should we start ‘working’?”   He takes his own badge back, and places it on his chest.  

When 'Spark' finds a bunch of 'chewable' items neatly placed on the table of the artificer, he fails to restrain himself and attacks the harmless pieces of blueprints, consuming some of the documents as edible items.

Gravity shouts at the steel defender while attempting to recover the papers:

"Bad bird! Get off, now!"

Then she will apologize for the reckless behavior of the familiar construct, and try to examine the contents of the documents and her surrounding.

"We're extremely sorry for causing such kind of disturbance, Sir Moghaddam. These draft works might have been precious collection of ideas, but this daft defender ruined everything."

Intelligence: (Investigation) 24 (Rolled with advantage from Spark's distraction)

(@Wile_E_Coyote, Does Gravity have any idea about the existence and importance of the 'book of golem'?)

Why do dryfolks always complicate things? Kili thought as she heard the ruckus from inside. She had prepared toleve her place outside the door as things seemed to go their way. Now she hesitated and remained in her place, waiting on a reaction.

Quote from InkedBee >>

When 'Spark' finds a bunch of 'chewable' items neatly placed on the table of the artificer, he fails to restrain himself and attacks the harmless pieces of blueprints, consuming some of the documents as edible items.

Gravity shouts at the steel defender while attempting to recover the papers:

"Bad bird! Get off, now!"

Then she will apologize for the reckless behavior of the familiar construct, and try to examine the contents of the documents and her surrounding.

"We're extremely sorry for causing such kind of disturbance, Sir Moghaddam. These draft works might have been precious collection of ideas, but this daft defender ruined everything."

Intelligence: (Investigation) 25 (Rolled with advantage from Spark's distraction)

(@Wile_E_Coyote, Does Gravity have any idea about the existence and importance of the 'book of golem'?)

 The PCs in the employ of Thesselar who just joined are presumably aware that half if the manual of golems was stolen, it is assumed by operatives of Moghadam.  They would have to k iw the title if they hope to recover it. That alone would suggest to them vaguely what it does, u less they didn't k kw what a golem is, which I leave to the players to decide.  Probably more people per capita in Greyhawk and surrounding areas know what a golem is than do Americans right now, so use that as a guideline.

During the distraction, canny eyes might find calligrapher’s supplies; a forgery kit; 3 spell scrolls and a strongbox.

As he stands, trying to shoo the birdbrained biomimetic and salvage his work, you can see Moghadam wears a sword on his belt.

"Aaaghhh!" Moghaddam screams, face red, blood boiling.  In an instant, he quiets, completely still, head down and silent he stands.  He raises a hand and points to the door.  Looking up, he growls through clenched teeth, "Get. Out. Now."

Tetrevess is heading out, quick as he can..

Gravity does what she is expected to do whenever her mentors would find her presence irritating and decide to get rid of her....she seems to be freaked out by the sudden turn of event and attempts to grab the defender and pull him out of the office. But, she 'accidentally' trips on something and falls into the pile of spell scrolls, when some of the documents from her hand drops into it.

Dexterity: Sleight of Hand 14 (To replace at least one of the scrolls with blank scroll of parchment)