The High Cleric stuck her hand in the bag and drew out the tokens. She paused at 4, then sighed and added two more, she's been glad at the faithfuls enthusiasm.
She called out their names as she went; Tanyll, Marvilius, Delilah, Exa, Kyreth and Elias. Follow me. The rest of you may go now I'll check on you later if this party isn't up to it.
She strolled ahead of them following a labyrinthine path to a small room. In the middle of it stands a large map table currently showing a map of the Merchant district of Waterdeep. High cleric Althea rolled the map carefully, underneath it was a complex map of a large dungeon. 'We've been charting the caverns under the Yawning Portal, so our people can best profit from it' Althea sighed and rolled it up too placing it gently on the shelves under the great bench. She bends over and pulls a golden musical box onto the centre. Here is what you have signed up for, a key per problem, and this is the first. Gather around and listen carefully. She leans carefully over and turns the key in the lock. The lid swings up and some music plays, a golden dragon pops up and words spill from his muzzle.
'Greetings operatives. The Golden Vault has learned that the egg of an Eldrich horror has been mistaken for an historical object and is about to go on display at the Varkenbluff Museum of Natural History. The anthropologist Dr Cassee Dannell tried to warn officials about the egg, known as the Murkmire stone, but none believed her. We do, and we know that if this egg hatches, many will die - or worse. This quest should you choose to undertake it, requires that you infiltrate the Museum, steal the egg and return it to Dr Dannell, who will neutralize it. There is no time to waste; the egg could hatch at any moment. Start by meeting with Dr Dannell. Good luck operatives'
With that the lid fell down again and the key in the High Clerics hand falls into dust.
DM OOC Please put your characters name at the top of each post, it helps everyone to keep track.
The bard offered a wry smile as the High Cleric called out the names, his hands tucked into the pockets of his fine suit jacket. When she reached “Marvilius,” he tilted his head slightly and raised a brow, a familiar glint of mischief in his golden eyes.
As they entered the room and gathered around the map table, he waited until the musical box finished its haunting little tune and the golden dragon's voice faded into silence. Then, ever so politely, he cleared his throat.
“High Cleric,”he said smoothly, his tone warm but unmistakably amused. “It’s Mavilius—no 'r', though I am marvelous. I know the city’s full of liars, but I do prefer my own name when someone else is using it.” He gave her a half-bow with theatrical flair, lips curling into a grin. “But I’ll forgive the error, given the urgency of stealing doomsday from a museum display case.”
Exa's shrewd, golden eyes peered out from under her hood and darted all around the winding corridors as she and her new crew were lead to the back rooms of the temple. She couldn't help but imagine what wonders were hidden in the other rooms they weren't shown.
Once they came to their destination, her dark leathers groaned quietly as she excitedly shifted from one foot to the other, her fingers twitching with anticipation. The strange key and the map device it opened were intriguing enough on their own, let alone the message spoken by the little dragon statue.
"The Varkenbluff," she repeated in her husky voice. She knew it well. Its exterior at least. Tourists are easy marks.
"In and out. Just like that. Where will we find the doctor?"
Her eyes shifted to regard the other members of the crew, trying to take their measure. Her eager grin curled to show her pointed teeth. Any of them that met her gaze would receive a wink in return.
Kyreth followed the High Cleric along the various passages, trying to memorise the various twists and turns, just in case. When they reached the room with the music box he stood quietly, craning his neck to watch its operation - being small wasn't always an advantage.
As the Tabaxi asked about the doctor, Kyreth voiced another question. "I don't suppose you have a building schematic in amongst your maps by any chance?"
Elias stepped forward at the sound of his name, posture unconsciously straightening. His hands clasped behind his back in a way that echoed his drilled discipline, though the dark, fitted cloak over his shoulders and the silver glint in his eyes betrayed a different kind of allegiance.
He followed the High Cleric in silence, boots soft against the stone, eyes flicking from corridor to corridor as they walked. Even now, after having tread these halls more than once, he noted every turn, every sign left behind by those who might have walked the path before him.
Upon reaching the map room, Elias approached the table with a practiced air, saying nothing as he listened to the briefing. He did not betray his interest with words, only the slight narrowing of his eyes as the plan was revealed. A dozen routes unfolded in his mind. Fallbacks. Ambush points. Extraction paths.
The musical box clicked open. His gaze drifted to the dragon, then lowered, half in deference, half in calculation, as the message unfurled.
“Eldritch egg...” Elias murmured under his breath once the box clicked shut, more to himself than anyone else. His tone was not surprised. Just... interested. Unsettled in the way someone might be if a name they’d heard only in dreams suddenly echoed in the waking world.
He stepped forward, voice calm, directed at the High Cleric but loud enough for the others to hear.
“An artifact of that nature in a public space is more than negligence, it’s a prelude to catastrophe. The Vault made the right call entrusting this to us.”
His eyes moved to the others briefly, studying them not so much as companions, but more like pieces on a chessboard.
“We should meet with Dr. Dannell. But if this Murkmire Stone is truly what they say it is…” (He paused, eyes distant for the briefest moment, as if listening for something.) “…we may already be too late. Let’s not waste what time we have.”
Her steps so graceful that she almost seemed to hover, a lady in an elaborately decorated long dark dress floats along through the dark twisting corridors in silence. As the team of fortunates reaches the small chamber she gives them each a scrutinizing look with her clear blue eyes. Her hair is dark and adorned with beautiful butterflies and there is an almost regal air about her. She raises an eyebrow as the voice from the golden musical box gives them instructions on their first mission, quickly commiting them to memory. A grin tugs at her lips as she hears the tiefling correct the high cleric of the Lord of Shadows. "Indeed, where can we find the doctor, time is evidently of the essence honoured high cleric." She says a soft melodious voice.
High Cleric Althea studies them all, they seemed a good pick and certainly had asked the right questions.
I have a note from Dr Dannell for you all. It was delivered by a halfling messenger an hour ago. She broke the sealing wax and read the note:
Meet me at the Sage's Quill today as soon as you can, the missive reads ' I beg your help in a delicate matter whose importance cannot be overstated. I shall await you in a purple hooded robe. The note is signed Dr Cassee Dannell.
Althea nods to them all, we don't have a map of the internal Museum, it changes too often with the different exhibits. According to our sources there is a soiree there tomorrow tonight. I'd suggest asking Dr Dannell about it.
Here, each of you and she passes a pouch of 100GP to each of them, expenses. When you've had a chance to plan you may buy what you want from the Temple merchant here. Take your thieves kit with you or the burglar or disguise kits, they may prove useful. I am your contact for the Golden Vault, when I was younger I took part in their heists myself.
***
DM OOC Oberon has suggested that we set up an OOC thread for talking amongst ourselves. Let me know if you are interested.
The lady in an elaborately decorated long dark dress nods and accepts the pouch of coins. At this point she saw no need to acquire any other equipment than the little she carried, but that might of course change once the team had met with the good doctor and made their plans. "Unless anyone has preparations to make before doing so I suggest we find the Sage's Quill. I am not a local, you might have guessed..." She says with a small smile and a regal tone. "...but I can only assume that the Sage's Quill is a public place for drinking?" She adds, looking around to see if there was any waterdhavian fortunate in the team that was offering to be their guide to City of Wonders. "And you may call me Delilah."
You can just see the smile in the High Clerics eyes above her mask.
The Sage's Quill is opposite the university. It's a favoured drinking spot for students and faculty alike. The entrance to the Museum is directly to its right. It's a quiet plush Tavern, serves good food and even better ale.
She won't set you up. She comes from a family of professors and scientists who have interacted significantly with Varkenbluff's intellectuals and nobility. I have been known to eat with the family, you could say that I'm an old friend of the family.
Kyreth accepts the pouch with a slight inclination of his head, maybe the slightest hint of a bow. The pouch quickly disapperas into his robes. "I know where it is also. Should we go as a group, or individually? If the latter then one of us could escort the lady." He looks at the others "Not myself, I would look out of place by her side."
OOC: A seperate OOC thread would be good, I've found it works better then a message group.
The clear blue eyes of the lady in an elaborately decorated long dark dress moves between the golden-eyed feline and the blue-skinned devil spawn. She herself had assumed the temple would have warned them if there was reason to believe that the good doctor might not be trusted, or that there was reason to believe they or the good doctor were being watched. Still, she did appraciate the caution of the others, she preferred careful planning to the more capricious executions of a mission many of her kin often chose. "An escort? I appreciate the concern." She says with a regal yet melodious tone and a small smile. "I would have thought that no one would look quite out of place in this city though." She adds with an encouraging smile to the devilspawn.
Mavilius' golden eyes sparkle with amusement at the mysterious lady’s poised remark, the faintest tilt of his head betraying his interest. Tucking the pouch of coin away, he steps forward with practiced ease, one hand lifting the edge of his cloak while the other crosses his chest in a graceful bow.
“Then allow me the honor of being your escort, Lady Delilah,” he says smoothly, voice warm with charm and tinged with theatrical flair. “I know the twists and shadows of this city better than I know my own reflection. If there are watchers, they’ll see only what we choose to show them.”
He straightens slowly, his tail curling once behind him in a gentle arc, a playful mirror to the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You heard my name earlier, of course—Mavilius...Ah, the rest of you as well. Fun as it is to try to guess who is who, it might be more practical to put names to faces now.”
Exa's suspicions seem to be mollified by the High Cleric's assurances. Her golden eyes even widened with curiosity at the apparent close tie between their families. She itched to ask more, but sensed the High Cleric would have said more if she wanted. Perhaps she'll ask the doctor herself.
"Exa Vel," she points to herself with a thumb, then waves a claw finger over towards Mavilius, "Mavilius. Then we have... Kyreth?" she adds, but can't seem to decide who to point at. Shoot. She hadn't been paying as much attention during the token selection as she thought.
"What gallantry." The lady in an elaborately decorated long dark dress says with an amused smile, inclining her head to the golden-eyed devil spawn. There was nothing wrong with being playful and enjoying yourself but she would keep her eyes on that one to make sure he had the attention span needed to make detailed plans for their heist, and that he stayed with that plan and not started to improvise. She had met with men like that before and they didn't last long, considering his charm she somewhat hoped this one would turn out to be an exception. "Consider me yours to escort." She adds, ready to leave when the others are.
"Thanks. This will be put to good use." Tanyll says, taking the offered pouch. "I have an extra set of thief's picks and such if someone would like it, rather than spending for an extra. Thinking disguise and forgery kits wouldn't be a bad idea. Maybe an antitoxin too, not uncommon at all for valuable objects to be protected by poisoned traps and all." the elf quips, clearly excited about the prospect of the mission.
"But I suppose we should talk with the good doctor first, eh? Ready when everyone else is."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
DM
The High Cleric stuck her hand in the bag and drew out the tokens. She paused at 4, then sighed and added two more, she's been glad at the faithfuls enthusiasm.
She called out their names as she went; Tanyll, Marvilius, Delilah, Exa, Kyreth and Elias. Follow me. The rest of you may go now I'll check on you later if this party isn't up to it.
She strolled ahead of them following a labyrinthine path to a small room. In the middle of it stands a large map table currently showing a map of the Merchant district of Waterdeep. High cleric Althea rolled the map carefully, underneath it was a complex map of a large dungeon. 'We've been charting the caverns under the Yawning Portal, so our people can best profit from it' Althea sighed and rolled it up too placing it gently on the shelves under the great bench. She bends over and pulls a golden musical box onto the centre. Here is what you have signed up for, a key per problem, and this is the first. Gather around and listen carefully. She leans carefully over and turns the key in the lock. The lid swings up and some music plays, a golden dragon pops up and words spill from his muzzle.
'Greetings operatives. The Golden Vault has learned that the egg of an Eldrich horror has been mistaken for an historical object and is about to go on display at the Varkenbluff Museum of Natural History. The anthropologist Dr Cassee Dannell tried to warn officials about the egg, known as the Murkmire stone, but none believed her. We do, and we know that if this egg hatches, many will die - or worse. This quest should you choose to undertake it, requires that you infiltrate the Museum, steal the egg and return it to Dr Dannell, who will neutralize it. There is no time to waste; the egg could hatch at any moment. Start by meeting with Dr Dannell. Good luck operatives'
With that the lid fell down again and the key in the High Clerics hand falls into dust.
DM OOC Please put your characters name at the top of each post, it helps everyone to keep track.
Mavilius
The bard offered a wry smile as the High Cleric called out the names, his hands tucked into the pockets of his fine suit jacket. When she reached “Marvilius,” he tilted his head slightly and raised a brow, a familiar glint of mischief in his golden eyes.
As they entered the room and gathered around the map table, he waited until the musical box finished its haunting little tune and the golden dragon's voice faded into silence. Then, ever so politely, he cleared his throat.
“High Cleric,” he said smoothly, his tone warm but unmistakably amused. “It’s Mavilius—no 'r', though I am marvelous. I know the city’s full of liars, but I do prefer my own name when someone else is using it.” He gave her a half-bow with theatrical flair, lips curling into a grin. “But I’ll forgive the error, given the urgency of stealing doomsday from a museum display case.”
Althea nodded, my apologies Mavilius.
Exa
Exa's shrewd, golden eyes peered out from under her hood and darted all around the winding corridors as she and her new crew were lead to the back rooms of the temple. She couldn't help but imagine what wonders were hidden in the other rooms they weren't shown.
Once they came to their destination, her dark leathers groaned quietly as she excitedly shifted from one foot to the other, her fingers twitching with anticipation. The strange key and the map device it opened were intriguing enough on their own, let alone the message spoken by the little dragon statue.
"The Varkenbluff," she repeated in her husky voice. She knew it well. Its exterior at least. Tourists are easy marks.
"In and out. Just like that. Where will we find the doctor?"
Her eyes shifted to regard the other members of the crew, trying to take their measure. Her eager grin curled to show her pointed teeth. Any of them that met her gaze would receive a wink in return.
"An eldritch horror you say?" Vanyll questions. "Sounds exciting." the high elf says, waiting to hear where the group may find Dr. Dannell.
Kyreth
Kyreth followed the High Cleric along the various passages, trying to memorise the various twists and turns, just in case. When they reached the room with the music box he stood quietly, craning his neck to watch its operation - being small wasn't always an advantage.
As the Tabaxi asked about the doctor, Kyreth voiced another question. "I don't suppose you have a building schematic in amongst your maps by any chance?"
Nyli Bemblade - Gnome Arcane Trickster
Kyreth 'Guile' Rolthar - Tiefling Monk
Portia Thornleaf - Halfling Rogue
Elias
Elias stepped forward at the sound of his name, posture unconsciously straightening. His hands clasped behind his back in a way that echoed his drilled discipline, though the dark, fitted cloak over his shoulders and the silver glint in his eyes betrayed a different kind of allegiance.
He followed the High Cleric in silence, boots soft against the stone, eyes flicking from corridor to corridor as they walked. Even now, after having tread these halls more than once, he noted every turn, every sign left behind by those who might have walked the path before him.
Upon reaching the map room, Elias approached the table with a practiced air, saying nothing as he listened to the briefing. He did not betray his interest with words, only the slight narrowing of his eyes as the plan was revealed. A dozen routes unfolded in his mind. Fallbacks. Ambush points. Extraction paths.
The musical box clicked open. His gaze drifted to the dragon, then lowered, half in deference, half in calculation, as the message unfurled.
“Eldritch egg...” Elias murmured under his breath once the box clicked shut, more to himself than anyone else. His tone was not surprised. Just... interested. Unsettled in the way someone might be if a name they’d heard only in dreams suddenly echoed in the waking world.
He stepped forward, voice calm, directed at the High Cleric but loud enough for the others to hear.
“An artifact of that nature in a public space is more than negligence, it’s a prelude to catastrophe. The Vault made the right call entrusting this to us.”
His eyes moved to the others briefly, studying them not so much as companions, but more like pieces on a chessboard.
“We should meet with Dr. Dannell. But if this Murkmire Stone is truly what they say it is…”
(He paused, eyes distant for the briefest moment, as if listening for something.)
“…we may already be too late. Let’s not waste what time we have.”
DM : The Shade Over Runewarren | Vaelen Gravesong : Shadow of Eternal Night
"Fear is the weight we carry, love is the treasure we bury."
Delilah
Her steps so graceful that she almost seemed to hover, a lady in an elaborately decorated long dark dress floats along through the dark twisting corridors in silence. As the team of fortunates reaches the small chamber she gives them each a scrutinizing look with her clear blue eyes. Her hair is dark and adorned with beautiful butterflies and there is an almost regal air about her. She raises an eyebrow as the voice from the golden musical box gives them instructions on their first mission, quickly commiting them to memory. A grin tugs at her lips as she hears the tiefling correct the high cleric of the Lord of Shadows. "Indeed, where can we find the doctor, time is evidently of the essence honoured high cleric." She says a soft melodious voice.
DM
High Cleric Althea studies them all, they seemed a good pick and certainly had asked the right questions.
I have a note from Dr Dannell for you all. It was delivered by a halfling messenger an hour ago. She broke the sealing wax and read the note:
Meet me at the Sage's Quill today as soon as you can, the missive reads ' I beg your help in a delicate matter whose importance cannot be overstated. I shall await you in a purple hooded robe. The note is signed Dr Cassee Dannell.
Althea nods to them all, we don't have a map of the internal Museum, it changes too often with the different exhibits. According to our sources there is a soiree there tomorrow tonight. I'd suggest asking Dr Dannell about it.
Here, each of you and she passes a pouch of 100GP to each of them, expenses. When you've had a chance to plan you may buy what you want from the Temple merchant here. Take your thieves kit with you or the burglar or disguise kits, they may prove useful. I am your contact for the Golden Vault, when I was younger I took part in their heists myself.
***
DM OOC Oberon has suggested that we set up an OOC thread for talking amongst ourselves. Let me know if you are interested.
Delilah
The lady in an elaborately decorated long dark dress nods and accepts the pouch of coins. At this point she saw no need to acquire any other equipment than the little she carried, but that might of course change once the team had met with the good doctor and made their plans. "Unless anyone has preparations to make before doing so I suggest we find the Sage's Quill. I am not a local, you might have guessed..." She says with a small smile and a regal tone. "...but I can only assume that the Sage's Quill is a public place for drinking?" She adds, looking around to see if there was any waterdhavian fortunate in the team that was offering to be their guide to City of Wonders. "And you may call me Delilah."
Exa
"I haven't been there, but I think I know where to find it," Exa says half-distracted with her eyes in the pouch of coins.
She slipped the pouch into her pack where her trusty set of thieve's tools lay ready to be used.
"Do you know anything else about the doctor, High Cleric? She's not gonna use this to rat us out, is she?" Exa asked with a hint of suspcion.
DM
You can just see the smile in the High Clerics eyes above her mask.
The Sage's Quill is opposite the university. It's a favoured drinking spot for students and faculty alike. The entrance to the Museum is directly to its right. It's a quiet plush Tavern, serves good food and even better ale.
She won't set you up. She comes from a family of professors and scientists who have interacted significantly with Varkenbluff's intellectuals and nobility. I have been known to eat with the family, you could say that I'm an old friend of the family.
Kyreth
Kyreth accepts the pouch with a slight inclination of his head, maybe the slightest hint of a bow. The pouch quickly disapperas into his robes. "I know where it is also. Should we go as a group, or individually? If the latter then one of us could escort the lady." He looks at the others "Not myself, I would look out of place by her side."
OOC: A seperate OOC thread would be good, I've found it works better then a message group.
Nyli Bemblade - Gnome Arcane Trickster
Kyreth 'Guile' Rolthar - Tiefling Monk
Portia Thornleaf - Halfling Rogue
Delilah
The clear blue eyes of the lady in an elaborately decorated long dark dress moves between the golden-eyed feline and the blue-skinned devil spawn. She herself had assumed the temple would have warned them if there was reason to believe that the good doctor might not be trusted, or that there was reason to believe they or the good doctor were being watched. Still, she did appraciate the caution of the others, she preferred careful planning to the more capricious executions of a mission many of her kin often chose. "An escort? I appreciate the concern." She says with a regal yet melodious tone and a small smile. "I would have thought that no one would look quite out of place in this city though." She adds with an encouraging smile to the devilspawn.
DM OOC There is now an OOC thread: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/play-by-post/218341-judymacs-mask-and-the-keys-from-the-golden-vault
Pop in to chat.
Mavilius
Mavilius' golden eyes sparkle with amusement at the mysterious lady’s poised remark, the faintest tilt of his head betraying his interest. Tucking the pouch of coin away, he steps forward with practiced ease, one hand lifting the edge of his cloak while the other crosses his chest in a graceful bow.
“Then allow me the honor of being your escort, Lady Delilah,” he says smoothly, voice warm with charm and tinged with theatrical flair. “I know the twists and shadows of this city better than I know my own reflection. If there are watchers, they’ll see only what we choose to show them.”
He straightens slowly, his tail curling once behind him in a gentle arc, a playful mirror to the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You heard my name earlier, of course—Mavilius...Ah, the rest of you as well. Fun as it is to try to guess who is who, it might be more practical to put names to faces now.”
Exa
Exa's suspicions seem to be mollified by the High Cleric's assurances. Her golden eyes even widened with curiosity at the apparent close tie between their families. She itched to ask more, but sensed the High Cleric would have said more if she wanted. Perhaps she'll ask the doctor herself.
"Exa Vel," she points to herself with a thumb, then waves a claw finger over towards Mavilius, "Mavilius. Then we have... Kyreth?" she adds, but can't seem to decide who to point at. Shoot. She hadn't been paying as much attention during the token selection as she thought.
((Insight: 9))
Delilah
"What gallantry." The lady in an elaborately decorated long dark dress says with an amused smile, inclining her head to the golden-eyed devil spawn. There was nothing wrong with being playful and enjoying yourself but she would keep her eyes on that one to make sure he had the attention span needed to make detailed plans for their heist, and that he stayed with that plan and not started to improvise. She had met with men like that before and they didn't last long, considering his charm she somewhat hoped this one would turn out to be an exception. "Consider me yours to escort." She adds, ready to leave when the others are.
Kyreth
Kyreth nods "Kyreth, that's me."
Nyli Bemblade - Gnome Arcane Trickster
Kyreth 'Guile' Rolthar - Tiefling Monk
Portia Thornleaf - Halfling Rogue
"Thanks. This will be put to good use." Tanyll says, taking the offered pouch. "I have an extra set of thief's picks and such if someone would like it, rather than spending for an extra. Thinking disguise and forgery kits wouldn't be a bad idea. Maybe an antitoxin too, not uncommon at all for valuable objects to be protected by poisoned traps and all." the elf quips, clearly excited about the prospect of the mission.
"But I suppose we should talk with the good doctor first, eh? Ready when everyone else is."