He then turns to Cunning, still in a low bow, “I owe you a life debt for my freedom, Master Cunning, though I do not have the power to grant wishes as a true Jann does. How may I be of service?”
"Errrrrr...........
I have no idea. You could buy me another ale I suppose.
Oh, and don't call me master. I work for a living."
The fighter was astonished. They'd just freed someone from a magical imprisonment?! Well, with everything going on, he didn't think he should be that surprised, but yet... it took a couple seconds before he realized he'd been holding his mug to his lips without drinking.
His mind quickly snapped back to attention. The quarry!
“I owe you a life debt for my freedom, Master Cunning, though I do not have the power to grant wishes as a true Jann does. How may I be of service?”
Titus quickly made his way over to the mage even as Cunning spoke. "I've got a task for you if an ale isn't enough of a payment," he interjected as he leaned in with a lowered voice. Discretely pointing with his thumb to the nearby table, he continued, "That white kobold in the hooded cloak at that table; we need something from him. Don't let him leave this tavern until we've gotten it from him."
Sensing a bit of confusion, Titus decided to hurriedly summarize for everyone, "We're all working together; some sort of unnatural winter is spreading across the region, and we're trying to stop it. Our next key is that kobold, and we NEED what he has. Help us with that, and I think Cunning might forgive you a portion of that debt." He gave a nod to Cunning as if to say he'd make it up if he'd made too big a presumption.
Still trying to also keep an eye on their target, Titus then quickly informed everyone in hushed tones of what he'd overheard from the table:
You can see [the kobold] is looking at a map, and you can see a prideful smile on his face. One of the dwarfs [sitting with him] marks an X near the right side of the map, and you can hear the words "The target is in place. The cargo arrives at midnight, Simon has it in the eastern tunnel."
"I don't know when they're going to try to leave, but I also don't really know how he'll react if we just walk up and ask for the scarlet letter. Everyone in here knows who were are now, so if he really is with the enemy, I'm guessing it won't be with a warm embrace. Any ideas?"
"My apologies, Worker Cunning," says Fuego as he brightens at the prospect of getting off so lightly with the price of an ale for his rescue. He nods politely as Titus expounds on the team's mission, but he gives no real indication if he has heard the hushed communication. "I'm off to the bar then--ale coming up!" he adds as he moves off to get the requested beverage.
Fuego approaches the Goliath bartender and proffers a few silver coins marked with an image of some important Pasha from a distant land. "Two ales, please....better make it four," he asks. Does the path between the party and the bar go past the kobold?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
*Reminder: The party is standing by the counter in the center, and the dining area surrounds the small bar building. The kobold is sitting at a table in the corner, so the party is between the kobold and the bar. The party hasn't yet taken a seat. There is an empty table next to the table with a tiefling, 2 dwarfs, a human, and the white kobold*
The bartender is shocked at the sudden appearance of Fuego, and decides to leave them to their business. The messenger lets the party keep the horn, as it hasn't been of much value lately due to being trapped in ice.
The tiefling at the table gets up and starts ordering drinks for the table. "Getting a refill?" "You know what. 2 ales, a beer, and a wine." "Are you not getting one yourself?" "I'm picking up a package soon." The bartender starts placing the drinks on a tray. Meanwhile, the kobold and the human begin arguing with each other, and the kobold reaches for his knife. The tiefling glances at the kobold and human and scowls. "Looks like the package might be a bit of a struggle, luckily we have something set up to help with this. Threats should be gone soon."
Sweeping up the four ales with a grand gesture, Fuego says, “No need good bartender, I spy a table that will accommodate all of us.” He uses the noise and the hubbub of the crowd to work a simple incantation underneath the bar top before he picks up the ale, Conjuring up Mage Hand, he takes out one of his personal items from his background as a Far Traveler, “poorly wrought maps from your homeland that depict where you are in Faerûn”.
Concealing one of his maps underneath his cloak by using the mage hand to keep it there, he fills both hands with 2 ales each and heads towards the open table—coincidentally right by the table with the kobold and dwarves…
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
The bartender continues to pour drinks for incoming customers, and the tiefling grabs a tray of 4 drinks he requested. At this point, the human has drew a rapier, and the tiefling decides to wait to bring back the drinks. During the argument, the kobold's leather pack falls to the ground.
Phait's jaw drops at the genasi's appearance. "Gods above!" he mutters in astonishment. He eyes the newcomer in amazement, "H-h-hello Fuego?"
His attention becomes focused as Titus speaks. "I've never liked kobolds." he says, "Always have a trick up their sleeves. Never being straightforward with their wants. Constantly testing you." He spits at the ground, "Perhaps we could turn it against him? Star with a gamble or contest of some sort. Use it as a pretext to get him comfortable or to a location more to our advantage?"
Titus' brow wrinkled in confusion as Fuego went to fetch ale, but he soon nodded to himself as he noticed the genasi maneuver toward a table next to the kobold.
"Perhaps we could turn it against him? Star with a gamble or contest of some sort. Use it as a pretext to get him comfortable or to a location more to our advantage?"
It was about then that the kobold and human started their fight. "Well, looks like he dropped something," Titus whispered to Phait and the others. "Be ready for anything!"
With that, he spun towards their prey and smiled broadly as he waved in a somewhat-exaggerated fashion. "Oh, hey, Fuego!" he called out loudly, continuing to smile while slightly slurring his speech. He took a meandering path toward the genasi's table, one that took him right by the arguing patrons. He stopped just before bumping into the kobold.
"Hey, what do ya think you're doing?" he said with a chuckle to the knife-wielding creature. "Y'all shouldn't be fighting here, this is a happy place, right? Here, here, settle down, let me buy you both another round, how's about it?"
With that, Titus took out a sloppy handful of silvers (( he's not counting, so let's say 5 coins )) and placed them onto the table in front of the pair, while attempting to step over the dropped leather pack and covertly kick it back towards his companions via a faked stumble.
(( @DM: Not sure which skill that'll require, so I'll roll for a few, please use whichever is appropriate... Deception Check: 6 Performance Check: 15 Sleight of Hand Check: 11 Stealth Check: 15 ))
(( Whether the stunt is successful or not, Titus will chuckle absent-mindedly, as if he didn't know what he was doing, then will continue walking and sit down at Fuego's table. ))
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Fuego:
With the Kobold and Human facing off, Fuego is about to do his best effort as he goes by at “tripping and spilling ale on the map on the table, but actually switching the map for the one he has under his cloak first so he has the important one first and it is just his own map with ale on it on the table”.
Tutus’ intervention gives him an even better opportunity, so he uses both that distraction and the one of the fight to switch the maps and cover Titus’s backpack reposition.
Deception to switch the map with mage hand while his real hands are full: 21
(Titus, I'd say it's a Sleight of Foot, so I'll use the sleight of hand.)
The kobold is a little confused by Titus, but this stops the arguing. The human looks back at the table. "Hey, the map's wet." "We don't need that map, we know where we're going." Replies one of the dwarves. The map is ruined, so they can't tell is was swapped.
The map you have has an X over the city to the bottom right of the frozen wastes. There is the name Simon wrote near the bottom left of the frozen wastes and the name Myka a little east of Veysha, as well as a note at the top right corner saying "Package arrives at you know which tunnel at 6 PM. The boss is waiting." This is all in black ink.
So far they haven't noticed that the kobold's bag is missing, and they continue to talk in hushed voices. If you'd like, you can hear them with Perception of 14:
"I thought I was head man." The white kobold scowls. "The package was meant for me. I have a letter that proves it." "The tunnel I found has the package. Simon says-" "Simon didn't say, he knows nothing. Sit down." "I am sitting. Look, I was promised 2 pounds of silver for-" "Silver?" Asks one of the dwarves. "That's it?" "How about we just split the bounty?" The tiefling sits back down at the table "Stop arguing. What's this money for?" "Someone bought us another round." "I'll go give this to the bartender." The tiefling leaves again to pay for drinks.
The bag was successfully kicked, and the kobold's group is unaware that it was ever dropped. In the bag is the scarlet letter, a dagger, 12 GP and 34 SP, a spare quill, and a scroll.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Fuego:
After making his apologies for the spilled ale, Fuego goes to the empty table and sets down the drinks. He looks expectantly at Cunning and gestures to his waiting mug of ale. Sipping his own ale without a care in the world, Fuego is definitely maybe not eavesdropping…
Perception: 21
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Thrudor stretches and bends over to touch his toes, and reappears with the bag in which he puts around his back under his cloak. (I am imagining an Indianna Jones type satchel bag)
"We should get going soon." One of the dwarves suggests, no longer whispering. The others agree and start draining their drinks. "Alright, so you'll let me lead?" "Like I said, I have the letter. I'll show it to you in a minute." The kobold begins reaching for his bag...
Just then, Fuego drinks a bit too quickly and sneezes loudly, spewing foam out in a spray that coincidentally soaks the back of the kobold’s cloak. He starts to stumble over towards the other table offering apologies, saying half-drunkenly, “This northern brew is so much fizzier! Sorry about that! Let me get your next round, friend…” and generally making it hard for them to have a private conversation.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Phait will follow Fuego's lead. He mosies over to the dwarves, adding his company to the mix, and says, "Seems some can't hold their liquor. I'll make you a bet, Fuego." he winks, "Hold your coin for now. We'll keep drinking and the first one to stop pays the tab."
"Errrrrr...........
I have no idea. You could buy me another ale I suppose.
Oh, and don't call me master. I work for a living."
OOC: Old army joke - don't call me sir.
Alteria Bennutu - Orc Archfey Warlock
Scarlett Rotkäppchen - Tiefling Vengeance Paladin
Myrith Duskwyn - Aasimar Celestial Warlock
The fighter was astonished. They'd just freed someone from a magical imprisonment?! Well, with everything going on, he didn't think he should be that surprised, but yet... it took a couple seconds before he realized he'd been holding his mug to his lips without drinking.
His mind quickly snapped back to attention. The quarry!
Titus quickly made his way over to the mage even as Cunning spoke. "I've got a task for you if an ale isn't enough of a payment," he interjected as he leaned in with a lowered voice. Discretely pointing with his thumb to the nearby table, he continued, "That white kobold in the hooded cloak at that table; we need something from him. Don't let him leave this tavern until we've gotten it from him."
Sensing a bit of confusion, Titus decided to hurriedly summarize for everyone, "We're all working together; some sort of unnatural winter is spreading across the region, and we're trying to stop it. Our next key is that kobold, and we NEED what he has. Help us with that, and I think Cunning might forgive you a portion of that debt." He gave a nod to Cunning as if to say he'd make it up if he'd made too big a presumption.
Still trying to also keep an eye on their target, Titus then quickly informed everyone in hushed tones of what he'd overheard from the table:
You can see [the kobold] is looking at a map, and you can see a prideful smile on his face. One of the dwarfs [sitting with him] marks an X near the right side of the map, and you can hear the words "The target is in place. The cargo arrives at midnight, Simon has it in the eastern tunnel."
"I don't know when they're going to try to leave, but I also don't really know how he'll react if we just walk up and ask for the scarlet letter. Everyone in here knows who were are now, so if he really is with the enemy, I'm guessing it won't be with a warm embrace. Any ideas?"
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Fuego:
"My apologies, Worker Cunning," says Fuego as he brightens at the prospect of getting off so lightly with the price of an ale for his rescue. He nods politely as Titus expounds on the team's mission, but he gives no real indication if he has heard the hushed communication. "I'm off to the bar then--ale coming up!" he adds as he moves off to get the requested beverage.
Fuego approaches the Goliath bartender and proffers a few silver coins marked with an image of some important Pasha from a distant land. "Two ales, please....better make it four," he asks. Does the path between the party and the bar go past the kobold?
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
*Reminder: The party is standing by the counter in the center, and the dining area surrounds the small bar building. The kobold is sitting at a table in the corner, so the party is between the kobold and the bar. The party hasn't yet taken a seat. There is an empty table next to the table with a tiefling, 2 dwarfs, a human, and the white kobold*
The bartender is shocked at the sudden appearance of Fuego, and decides to leave them to their business. The messenger lets the party keep the horn, as it hasn't been of much value lately due to being trapped in ice.
The tiefling at the table gets up and starts ordering drinks for the table. "Getting a refill?" "You know what. 2 ales, a beer, and a wine." "Are you not getting one yourself?" "I'm picking up a package soon." The bartender starts placing the drinks on a tray. Meanwhile, the kobold and the human begin arguing with each other, and the kobold reaches for his knife. The tiefling glances at the kobold and human and scowls. "Looks like the package might be a bit of a struggle, luckily we have something set up to help with this. Threats should be gone soon."
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"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
Fuego:
Sweeping up the four ales with a grand gesture, Fuego says, “No need good bartender, I spy a table that will accommodate all of us.” He uses the noise and the hubbub of the crowd to work a simple incantation underneath the bar top before he picks up the ale, Conjuring up Mage Hand, he takes out one of his personal items from his background as a Far Traveler, “poorly wrought maps from your homeland that depict where you are in Faerûn”.
Concealing one of his maps underneath his cloak by using the mage hand to keep it there, he fills both hands with 2 ales each and heads towards the open table—coincidentally right by the table with the kobold and dwarves…
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
The bartender continues to pour drinks for incoming customers, and the tiefling grabs a tray of 4 drinks he requested. At this point, the human has drew a rapier, and the tiefling decides to wait to bring back the drinks. During the argument, the kobold's leather pack falls to the ground.
Upvote these 18 unique mythical weapon materials!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
Phait's jaw drops at the genasi's appearance. "Gods above!" he mutters in astonishment. He eyes the newcomer in amazement, "H-h-hello Fuego?"
His attention becomes focused as Titus speaks. "I've never liked kobolds." he says, "Always have a trick up their sleeves. Never being straightforward with their wants. Constantly testing you." He spits at the ground, "Perhaps we could turn it against him? Star with a gamble or contest of some sort. Use it as a pretext to get him comfortable or to a location more to our advantage?"
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo Malololomologalo Tumagalokumagalo, Sunny
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion
Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Recruiting for Troubles in the Silverwood Forest
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 50, 9/23/25, The Mystery of Your Gift
Titus' brow wrinkled in confusion as Fuego went to fetch ale, but he soon nodded to himself as he noticed the genasi maneuver toward a table next to the kobold.
It was about then that the kobold and human started their fight. "Well, looks like he dropped something," Titus whispered to Phait and the others. "Be ready for anything!"
With that, he spun towards their prey and smiled broadly as he waved in a somewhat-exaggerated fashion. "Oh, hey, Fuego!" he called out loudly, continuing to smile while slightly slurring his speech. He took a meandering path toward the genasi's table, one that took him right by the arguing patrons. He stopped just before bumping into the kobold.
"Hey, what do ya think you're doing?" he said with a chuckle to the knife-wielding creature. "Y'all shouldn't be fighting here, this is a happy place, right? Here, here, settle down, let me buy you both another round, how's about it?"
With that, Titus took out a sloppy handful of silvers (( he's not counting, so let's say 5 coins )) and placed them onto the table in front of the pair, while attempting to step over the dropped leather pack and covertly kick it back towards his companions via a faked stumble.
(( @DM: Not sure which skill that'll require, so I'll roll for a few, please use whichever is appropriate...
Deception Check: 6
Performance Check: 15
Sleight of Hand Check: 11
Stealth Check: 15 ))
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
(( Whether the stunt is successful or not, Titus will chuckle absent-mindedly, as if he didn't know what he was doing, then will continue walking and sit down at Fuego's table. ))
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Cunning hangs back, watching the bar in general, and ready to intervene if the kobold makes a break for it.
He also casts a wary eye at the other tiefling to try and figure out it is on one side or the other of the fight.
Insight 15
Alteria Bennutu - Orc Archfey Warlock
Scarlett Rotkäppchen - Tiefling Vengeance Paladin
Myrith Duskwyn - Aasimar Celestial Warlock
Thrudor unsure of the plan wonders what will come of this. He decides to hang near the counter drinking his water, watching
Fuego:
With the Kobold and Human facing off, Fuego is about to do his best effort as he goes by at “tripping and spilling ale on the map on the table, but actually switching the map for the one he has under his cloak first so he has the important one first and it is just his own map with ale on it on the table”.
Tutus’ intervention gives him an even better opportunity, so he uses both that distraction and the one of the fight to switch the maps and cover Titus’s backpack reposition.
Deception to switch the map with mage hand while his real hands are full: 21
Help on Titus’s gambit.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
(Titus, I'd say it's a Sleight of Foot, so I'll use the sleight of hand.)
The kobold is a little confused by Titus, but this stops the arguing. The human looks back at the table. "Hey, the map's wet." "We don't need that map, we know where we're going." Replies one of the dwarves. The map is ruined, so they can't tell is was swapped.
The map you have has an X over the city to the bottom right of the frozen wastes. There is the name Simon wrote near the bottom left of the frozen wastes and the name Myka a little east of Veysha, as well as a note at the top right corner saying "Package arrives at you know which tunnel at 6 PM. The boss is waiting." This is all in black ink.
So far they haven't noticed that the kobold's bag is missing, and they continue to talk in hushed voices. If you'd like, you can hear them with Perception of 14:
"I thought I was head man." The white kobold scowls. "The package was meant for me. I have a letter that proves it." "The tunnel I found has the package. Simon says-" "Simon didn't say, he knows nothing. Sit down." "I am sitting. Look, I was promised 2 pounds of silver for-" "Silver?" Asks one of the dwarves. "That's it?" "How about we just split the bounty?" The tiefling sits back down at the table "Stop arguing. What's this money for?" "Someone bought us another round." "I'll go give this to the bartender." The tiefling leaves again to pay for drinks.
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"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
(( Perception Check to continue listening: 5
Did Titus manage to kick the bag over to the others at the bar? ))
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
The bag was successfully kicked, and the kobold's group is unaware that it was ever dropped. In the bag is the scarlet letter, a dagger, 12 GP and 34 SP, a spare quill, and a scroll.
Upvote these 18 unique mythical weapon materials!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
Fuego:
After making his apologies for the spilled ale, Fuego goes to the empty table and sets down the drinks. He looks expectantly at Cunning and gestures to his waiting mug of ale. Sipping his own ale without a care in the world, Fuego is definitely maybe not eavesdropping…
Perception: 21
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Thrudor stretches and bends over to touch his toes, and reappears with the bag in which he puts around his back under his cloak. (I am imagining an Indianna Jones type satchel bag)
"We should get going soon." One of the dwarves suggests, no longer whispering. The others agree and start draining their drinks. "Alright, so you'll let me lead?" "Like I said, I have the letter. I'll show it to you in a minute." The kobold begins reaching for his bag...
Upvote these 18 unique mythical weapon materials!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
Fuego:
Just then, Fuego drinks a bit too quickly and sneezes loudly, spewing foam out in a spray that coincidentally soaks the back of the kobold’s cloak. He starts to stumble over towards the other table offering apologies, saying half-drunkenly, “This northern brew is so much fizzier! Sorry about that! Let me get your next round, friend…” and generally making it hard for them to have a private conversation.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Phait will follow Fuego's lead. He mosies over to the dwarves, adding his company to the mix, and says, "Seems some can't hold their liquor. I'll make you a bet, Fuego." he winks, "Hold your coin for now. We'll keep drinking and the first one to stop pays the tab."
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo Malololomologalo Tumagalokumagalo, Sunny
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion
Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Recruiting for Troubles in the Silverwood Forest
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 50, 9/23/25, The Mystery of Your Gift