Oriace rests a gentle hand on the copper detector and lets his voice roll out in a low, even hum. “Valetta, if these clockwork folk can craft, yearn, and sorrow, they can surely learn. Has anyone tried to school a nimblewright in right and wrong—guiding its ‘child’s heart’ toward empathy the way we would any young soul? Perhaps with time and patient tending, they might stand beside us as responsible citizens rather than curiosities confined to an attic.”
"Nim has been learning. But he was also crafted by a highly skilled wizard. I do not hold the same hope of one crafted by Nim. If you prove me wrong and bring it back by it's own free will, I will see you get the same reward. As for Nim, the wizard who bound him here is the only one who can release him. And he is not expected to return for the next couple of years"
"If you prove me wrong and bring it back by it's own free will, I will see you get the same reward."
It wasn't likely, but if there was a chance they could deal with the situation without the utter destruction of this creation, they had to at least try.
"We understand," he said, nodding to Valetta. "And don't worry, we will deal with this, of course, but it will be as delicately as possible."
He then turned to glance at the others, his posture indicating he was ready to set out, but was waiting for any further interaction.
Oriace bows his head to Valetta, a deep bass murmur of thanks, then strides after Mana, cloak whispering against the stair rail. “We comb the Watch reports and the broadsheets,”he says low to his companions, drum tucked beneath one arm. “If other sparks or strange sightings mark the streets, they’ll chart us a trail. And mind—one bead of fire hurled true feels more like purpose than a mad machine’s tantrum; someone meant that blast if you ask me.”
To activate the nimblewright detector, a character must hold down its trigger. When the activated device comes within 500 feet of a nimblewright other than Nim, the umbrella begins to spin, whir, and click. The spinning, whirring, and clicking accelerates as the distance to the target lessens, reaching maximum velocity and volume when a nimblewright other than Nim is within 30 feet of the device.
So where to now? Home to plan or straight out somewhere? (either nimblewright detecting or talking to someone else)
“Should we begin our construct hunt here or go back home and discuss a strategy?”
Mana scrunches his face. He should have asked for access to the roof to see what our rogue automaton would have seen as it picked a direction to flee. Would it have immediately dove into the shadiest corner it could make out, or would it have sought refuge high up, it had already been accustomed to bird’s eye views. Would one or more of the giant frozen statues, like the God Catcher have been in view?
Oriace hefts the copper wand,, and lets his rumbling voice cut through the street noise. “Before we chase phantoms across Waterdeep, let’s trust the tool in hand—spin up the detector here and sweep the blocks around the temple. If the rogue’s anywhere close, the device will sing to us and spare a night of blind guessing.”
The detector picks up nothing. Are you searching the whole of the sea ward while here, or just the immediate streets? I would say you are able to search two wards per day utilising the urchin background
Oriace lets the umbrella tip of the detector fall still, then folds a map’s corner between thumb and forefinger.
“Nothing here,” he rumbles. “We’ll cut a wide arc through the rest of the Sea Ward—Mana, your back-ways will speed us—then swing north to Trollskull Alley where the blast struck. If anyone sees a wiser path, speak now; otherwise we hunt along that line.”
Are you proposing a sweeping path through the north ward too? Cover the whole of the ward you are living in? (if you do want to cover it, it will take you until after nightfall but you would be near home so no exhaustion)
Whether by busy thoroughfare or dingy alley, Mana will guide the group in radiating concentric circles utilizing the Temple as a rough center to the pinwheel. The pathways will build in a 50’ or so overlap to account for scanning tops of buildings or underground sewers. We’ll rest anytime the device seems to overheat from constant usage. As suggested, after the Sea Ward has been scanned, we’ll proceed to the North Ward and follow the same procedure utilizing Trollskull Manor as the center to the pinwheel.
As you are approaching the last few rings of your north ward pinwheel, and therefore not far from home, the umbrella begins to spin, whir and click. By now, it's getting late, and you do need to rest before too much longer, but you are able to narrow down the location. You can't get too close but based on when it speeds up and slows down, it seems to be a signal coming from inside Gralhund Villa on Saerdoun Street.
“What do we know about Gralhund Villa? Is it a single family building, tenement building, or business? Are we acquainted with any of its neighbors? Can we decipher which guilds would service the building so we could inquire about the residents through a guild liaison we might already know?”
Mana allows his stream of consciousness to be audible to the troupe as we return to our Manor.
You would know (or be able to easily find out) that it is the residence of a noble family. Lord and Lady Gralhund and their children. They will have staff but not from a guild you are with (servants not normal staff).
In addition, once you get back to the manor, Lif brings you a note that was delivered by flying snake. The answers to your speak with dead questions. Which I will provide once I've had chance to find the questions again
For a deceased Zhent: What do you know about the gnome you were following on your last day? What guild or faction hired you to follow the gnome? What were your complete instructions about following the gnome? What item did the gnome carry that could not be left with him? What is everything you know about that item?
To the departed Gnome: What guild or faction were you representing in your last moments of life? Why were you going to the Trollskull Manor? What item were you carrying that was more important than the gems you carried? What is everything you know about that item? Who are the top three groups that wouldn’t have wanted you to reach the Manor?”
Lif hands over a note which contains a list of answers, as well as a second note which is a copy of the question.
Zhent: The gnome was called Dalakhar.
The Zhentarim hired me
My instruction was to help Urstul catch Dalakhar
I do not know what the item is
Urstal said it would make us as rich as kings.
Gnome:
I worked for the Open Lord of Waterdeep
I wished to enlist the help of those that saved Lord Neverembers son to help me with safeguarding the Stone of Golorr.
I was carrying the Stone of Golorr
The Stone of Golorr is the key to finding a hoard of dragons hidden in the city. I stole it from Xanathar's lair. It belongs to Lord Neverember.
Oriace lets the parchment fall from his fingers, that deep bass voice carrying a hint of dry thunder. “Masked Lords, Zhents, Xanathar… and now a noble villa sheltering a runaway automaton. No chance this nimblewright’s a lone wanderer—someone’s pulling strings, and I doubt it’s Nim’s clumsy hand. It killed Zhents, a Xanathar flew, that leaves the Masked Lords unaccounted for, or just one that went rogue? A dangerous train of thought, I admit... ” He presses thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose, exhaling through his teeth. “At dawn we circle Gralhund Villa—eyes, not steel—looking for servants, deliveries, neighbours who gossip with loose tongues. If the detector sings again, we trace it to a window or gate and mark every guard post. Meanwhile, one of us should petition the Open Lord’s office, share what Dalakhar died to tell us; if they’re hunting the Stone of Golorr as well, better we stand under their shield than in their blind spot.”
Oriace drums knuckles on the tabletop. “As for that stone…” He shakes his head. “Neverember’s key to a king’s ransom hidden beneath the city, if the gnome spoke true. A prize like that would tempt every power in Waterdeep—masked or unmasked.” He glances round the room, steady as an anchor. “Rest while we can. Tomorrow we trade whispers for answers.”
Oriace rests a gentle hand on the copper detector and lets his voice roll out in a low, even hum. “Valetta, if these clockwork folk can craft, yearn, and sorrow, they can surely learn. Has anyone tried to school a nimblewright in right and wrong—guiding its ‘child’s heart’ toward empathy the way we would any young soul? Perhaps with time and patient tending, they might stand beside us as responsible citizens rather than curiosities confined to an attic.”
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
"Nim has been learning. But he was also crafted by a highly skilled wizard. I do not hold the same hope of one crafted by Nim. If you prove me wrong and bring it back by it's own free will, I will see you get the same reward. As for Nim, the wizard who bound him here is the only one who can release him. And he is not expected to return for the next couple of years"
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Sterling had been holding back a frown at the thought of having to destroy their target. Then,
It wasn't likely, but if there was a chance they could deal with the situation without the utter destruction of this creation, they had to at least try.
"We understand," he said, nodding to Valetta. "And don't worry, we will deal with this, of course, but it will be as delicately as possible."
He then turned to glance at the others, his posture indicating he was ready to set out, but was waiting for any further interaction.
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Mana is the first to exit the room.
”Thank you Valetta, you have been a big help.”
While descending the stairs Mana wonders, in which Ward should we begin our search?
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
Oriace bows his head to Valetta, a deep bass murmur of thanks, then strides after Mana, cloak whispering against the stair rail. “We comb the Watch reports and the broadsheets,” he says low to his companions, drum tucked beneath one arm. “If other sparks or strange sightings mark the streets, they’ll chart us a trail. And mind—one bead of fire hurled true feels more like purpose than a mad machine’s tantrum; someone meant that blast if you ask me.”
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
"I agree, I think the nimblewright may be a pawn in a larger plan."
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
To activate the nimblewright detector, a character must hold down its trigger. When the activated device comes within 500 feet of a nimblewright other than Nim, the umbrella begins to spin, whir, and click. The spinning, whirring, and clicking accelerates as the distance to the target lessens, reaching maximum velocity and volume when a nimblewright other than Nim is within 30 feet of the device.
So where to now? Home to plan or straight out somewhere? (either nimblewright detecting or talking to someone else)
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
“Should we begin our construct hunt here or go back home and discuss a strategy?”
Mana scrunches his face. He should have asked for access to the roof to see what our rogue automaton would have seen as it picked a direction to flee. Would it have immediately dove into the shadiest corner it could make out, or would it have sought refuge high up, it had already been accustomed to bird’s eye views. Would one or more of the giant frozen statues, like the God Catcher have been in view?
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
Oriace hefts the copper wand,, and lets his rumbling voice cut through the street noise. “Before we chase phantoms across Waterdeep, let’s trust the tool in hand—spin up the detector here and sweep the blocks around the temple. If the rogue’s anywhere close, the device will sing to us and spare a night of blind guessing.”
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
The detector picks up nothing. Are you searching the whole of the sea ward while here, or just the immediate streets? I would say you are able to search two wards per day utilising the urchin background
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Oriace lets the umbrella tip of the detector fall still, then folds a map’s corner between thumb and forefinger.
“Nothing here,” he rumbles. “We’ll cut a wide arc through the rest of the Sea Ward—Mana, your back-ways will speed us—then swing north to Trollskull Alley where the blast struck. If anyone sees a wiser path, speak now; otherwise we hunt along that line.”
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
Are you proposing a sweeping path through the north ward too? Cover the whole of the ward you are living in? (if you do want to cover it, it will take you until after nightfall but you would be near home so no exhaustion)
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Sounds like a good plan to me.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
Whether by busy thoroughfare or dingy alley, Mana will guide the group in radiating concentric circles utilizing the Temple as a rough center to the pinwheel. The pathways will build in a 50’ or so overlap to account for scanning tops of buildings or underground sewers. We’ll rest anytime the device seems to overheat from constant usage. As suggested, after the Sea Ward has been scanned, we’ll proceed to the North Ward and follow the same procedure utilizing Trollskull Manor as the center to the pinwheel.
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
As you are approaching the last few rings of your north ward pinwheel, and therefore not far from home, the umbrella begins to spin, whir and click. By now, it's getting late, and you do need to rest before too much longer, but you are able to narrow down the location. You can't get too close but based on when it speeds up and slows down, it seems to be a signal coming from inside Gralhund Villa on Saerdoun Street.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
"Let's hit home, rest up, plan and head back out."
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
“What do we know about Gralhund Villa? Is it a single family building, tenement building, or business? Are we acquainted with any of its neighbors? Can we decipher which guilds would service the building so we could inquire about the residents through a guild liaison we might already know?”
Mana allows his stream of consciousness to be audible to the troupe as we return to our Manor.
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
You would know (or be able to easily find out) that it is the residence of a noble family. Lord and Lady Gralhund and their children. They will have staff but not from a guild you are with (servants not normal staff).
In addition, once you get back to the manor, Lif brings you a note that was delivered by flying snake. The answers to your speak with dead questions. Which I will provide once I've had chance to find the questions again
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Lif hands over a note which contains a list of answers, as well as a second note which is a copy of the question.
Zhent: The gnome was called Dalakhar.
The Zhentarim hired me
My instruction was to help Urstul catch Dalakhar
I do not know what the item is
Urstal said it would make us as rich as kings.
Gnome:
I worked for the Open Lord of Waterdeep
I wished to enlist the help of those that saved Lord Neverembers son to help me with safeguarding the Stone of Golorr.
I was carrying the Stone of Golorr
The Stone of Golorr is the key to finding a hoard of dragons hidden in the city. I stole it from Xanathar's lair. It belongs to Lord Neverember.
The Xanathar, the Zhentarim and the Masked Lords.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Oriace lets the parchment fall from his fingers, that deep bass voice carrying a hint of dry thunder.
“Masked Lords, Zhents, Xanathar… and now a noble villa sheltering a runaway automaton. No chance this nimblewright’s a lone wanderer—someone’s pulling strings, and I doubt it’s Nim’s clumsy hand. It killed Zhents, a Xanathar flew, that leaves the Masked Lords unaccounted for, or just one that went rogue? A dangerous train of thought, I admit... ” He presses thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose, exhaling through his teeth. “At dawn we circle Gralhund Villa—eyes, not steel—looking for servants, deliveries, neighbours who gossip with loose tongues. If the detector sings again, we trace it to a window or gate and mark every guard post. Meanwhile, one of us should petition the Open Lord’s office, share what Dalakhar died to tell us; if they’re hunting the Stone of Golorr as well, better we stand under their shield than in their blind spot.”
Oriace drums knuckles on the tabletop. “As for that stone…” He shakes his head. “Neverember’s key to a king’s ransom hidden beneath the city, if the gnome spoke true. A prize like that would tempt every power in Waterdeep—masked or unmasked.” He glances round the room, steady as an anchor. “Rest while we can. Tomorrow we trade whispers for answers.”
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||