Looking up, Whit and Chalk notice there is an upper level, opening up around the room as a balcony. It looks like there is at least one more door in the upper level.
Looking around the room, it doesn't seem like there is anything beyond corpses and broken furniture. On the bodies, they are only able to find 5 coppers and a bent up silver piece, likely fake.
As they walk around the room, they notice under the stairs a door hanging off its hinges, but still blocking their view into the room beyond. They hear a small scuffle from the room as they get close, and as they stop to listen near the door, they hear ragged breathing coming from within...
At the sound of gasping breathe, Chalk gestures to the door panickedly, pushing on Whit to get his attention. Someone was dying in there. They needed to talk to him before then. She hurries towards the room. "Don't make yourselves a concern of ours!" she shouts, bursting through the door and waving her talons menacingly. "Any idea what happened?"
Whit and Chalk head upstairs to loot the building, but Kaivius stays by Odrith to make sure he won't die. She knows he's usually a drama queen and over exaggerates, but she thinks that this time he really was hurt. As she's fussing over the wound the bolt left in Odrith, she hears Chalk shouting from upstairs. Kaivius is sure Chalk meant to sound intimidating, but it sounded like she was a child telling an adult why they SHOULD have cookies for dinner. Her eyes travel upwards and she tries to focus her attention to see if any fights are breaking out.
"What do you think Odrith? Should we just let them fight their own battles or help them out?"
A long and drawn out sigh slowly escapes from Odrith. With one hand he removes the shield from over his eyes and slightly rotates his head to make eye contact with Kaivius. "That is a pretty good joke Kai." A soft chortle slips through mildly pursed lips. "Those two fighting their own battle, hehe, they would get in trouble so quickly; lets go save their blazing asses." Odrith slowly sits up, rotates slightly, and finally stands up with a few creeks and cracks. Odrith hoists his flail, resettles his shield and while winking at Kaivius says, "Stay behind me and lets go keep them out of trouble." and heads up toward the rest of his fellows with Kaivius.
Odrith and Kaivius approach just as Whit and Chalk walk into the small room under the stairs and pull back a tarp that was hiding a quivering form underneath. A man emerges, hiding behind his hands. "Please! Don't hurt me! I can pay! my father will pay! Just please don't hurt me!"
The man is dressed in expensive and fashionable clothing, but is marred by grime and the lingering stench of rancid pickled herring, he speaks with grace and articulation, though his voice is shaking with fear and exhaustion. His fine hair is matted with blood that is running down the side of his face and staining his shirt and gold-buttoned waistcoat.
He starts to cry. "P-p-please, I j-just want to g-go home."
"Oh..." Odrith dictates in a deadpan tone. Turning to close the door behind them Odrith states, "You are safe now. We are your rescuers and uhhh... the normal spiel, I'm too tired to deal with it, someone else handle Floon." Odrith waves his hand in the general direction of the battered Floon character and slides his back against the door, holding it shut while at the same time slumping on the floor in a lackadaisical sitting position. "I'm just going to finish catching my breath... before... we head... back." Odrith slurs and he bunches his cloak up behind is head and closes his eyes preparing to nap against the door, a slight smile cracking his lips.
Odrith's last thought before his eyes fully close for a short rest: I didn't fail...
An audible sigh comes from Odrith along with a string of muttered curses along the lines of hot blazes and molten gold 'in select places', all while keeping his eyes closed, obviously waiting for someone else to handle this.
"Well Renaer, my name is Whit, sorry about my bad mannered friend over there, he's had a long day." Whit leans in, "he's not really a people person. Now you said they took Floon thinking he was you, do you know where they took him?" Whit pauses and thinks for a second, "Say why did they want you anyway?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The man Chalk and Whit discovered looks shaken, but that could all be a front. Kaivius squints to see if she can glean his true intentions in the details.
Perception 18
She's itching to clean his up, the poor little tyke looks like he could use some Kaivius Care. But first she needed to make sure he wouldn't try to kill her if she started scrubbing his face.
Renaer sighs, looking guilty and distraught. "Floon and I hit it off really well, and we were more than a bit intoxicated. We were heading to my quarters when we were jumped by 5 thugs. They beat us and dragged us here, then took Floon somewhere else... I think they thought he was me - I was nearly passed out, I can't remember much, but when I came-to, he was gone. About two hours ago more thugs showed up here and there was a big fight, then the Kenku came and started to search the place, I think they were looking for me and Floon."
“The Zhentarim thinks that my father embezzled a large amount of gold while he was Open Lord, and that he hid the dragons somewhere in the city. They think they can find it by using an artifact called the Stone of Golorr, which was in the hands of the Xanathar Guild until recently. Apparently, someone stole it. The Zhents thought I knew something about all of this, but I don’t. My father and I haven’t spoken in years.”
Renaer seems genuine in his sadness and guilt at what has happened to Floon, and seems to want to make amends. If you try to clean him up and heal him, he will be grateful. You gather that he is waiting for you to ask for his help, and he will join you in finding Floon.
"Well this is turning into quite the story isn't it!" Whit says with some excitement in his voice momentarily forgetting about the sewers. "Kaivius, when you get a moment do you think you could help this poor man. He might be able to assist us in finding Floon." Turning back to Renaer, "You mentioned an artifact, the 'Stone of Golorr', I have never come across such an item in my studies, do you know what it is?"
Renear looks as if that final speech took the last of his energy. He definitely needs a nap. Kaivius, drawn to all helpless, weak, pitiful things (like Whit) starts taking out her supplies for healing.
"Here, let me help you" she says to him, "I've been training as a healer most of my life"
Roll for medicine check : 9
As she's fixing the chap up, she tries to keep his mind off his injuries.
"So Renear, what's this I hear about headquarters? You sound like you have a very important job" (Obviously she's trying to smooze him)
Ignoring the other implications Mr. Renaer had said, Chalk gets down to business. "Floon somewhere else" she repeats, questioning Mr. Renaer. Perhaps he might have an idea where Floon might have been taken. She cocks her head and repeats in the deep voice, "Xanathar sends its regards." They did seem the most likely people to actually have him. Since those Kenku didn't really have much of a chance to lie.
She lets the man finish his answers and potential offer of help before asking, "Heading to my quarters." Just what had his intentions been.
As Kaivius tries to administer salves and bandages, Renear pushes her off, getting upset. "You aren't listening! They have Floon! It's him you should be worried about! I think they said they were taking him down into the sewers, they didn't leave long ago they can't have made it far!"
"I don't know anything more about this artifact than you do, like I said..."
He breaks off as outside, the sound of marching feet and clanging armor approaches quickly. A deep voice shots "In here lads!" as suddenly, the door shudders as something hits it hard. As you all turn towards the sounds at the door, you notice the Kenku you were interrogating had started to sneak away, but now is frozen in place as the door shudders again, then bursts open off its hinges...
...
...
...
A tall man, familiar to Odrith as Hyustus Staget, the commander of the Waterdeep city watch, rushes in, sword in hand, with a dozen watch members entering behind him. He points at the remaining Kenku and shouts "Seize them!" before looking up and noticing the group of people standing at the back of the hall. He points his sword, not noticing Renear or Odrith and shouts again "In the name of the city watch, Halt! If you move you will be cut down!"
Four of the city guard are taking the Kenku into custody, and the others fan out, starting to cautiously approach the back of the hall.
Action economy of what is going to happen in my post. 1. Half move to stand up 2. Action to take full defense action or dodge... what ever it is called. 3. Free Action to talk.
By Waukeen's golden glow it is difficult to relax when they all start talking and arguing all at once. It was fine when Renear was the only one speaking, but then of course Whit, Chalk, and Kaivius all jumped in right when they got their wits about them... hehe, whit, wits... hehe. Blazes my chest hurts... ... ... Whats that sound...
As the sound of marching feet sound from outside Odrith reaches up and turns the handle on the door he was leaning against while sitting on the floor. He doesn't fight gravity as his weight makes the door forcefully swing open and Odrith plops, back on the floor, eyes turned toward the front of the building to catch a first glimpse of who enters. *The stuff Jon described happens* Knowing absolutely that Hyustus Staget is a man of order, truth, and most importantly, action, that if he moves he will 'cut down'. Odrith preps his shield without grabbing his flail and stands up defensively ready to catch any arrow or crossbow bolts with his shield. That was always a favorite tactic of commander Staget, have a forward force being covered by ranged fire. When finally on his feet Odrith, still cautious about attack, speaks up, "Commander Staget Sir! Odrith Gygazzylyshrift ready to report if needed Sir!"
Chalk freezes with the commanding voice, maybe Odrith's connection would be enough to get them out of trouble. Maybe it wouldn't. She didn't have any intention of getting wrapped up with the authorities. Now she really wished that they had spent more time searching around outside. She needed more knowledge if she was going to make a speedy escape. But she couldn't do much until she heard what the Commander had to say.
"Odrith?" The commander whispers, the name making a connection in his mind. He slowly walks around the boxes blocking his view until he sees the tall dragonborn behind his shield. He stares for a second, then a slight recognition crosses his face. "Odrith. That's right. What are you doing here lad?" He motions for his soldiers to lower their weapons, and glances around at the bodies on the ground, moving a man's arm with his foot, rotating it around to see the forearm and palm and notices the tattoo of a winged snake. "Zhentarim," He mumbles to himself, then says loudly "Did you and your companions do this Odrith? What happened here." His eyes finally find Renaer, and another look of recognition crosses his grizzled face. "And why is the son of Lord Neverember here? Explain yourselves. Now."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Sir." A short and clearly dictated reply. Odrith stows his shield and changes to a general ready stance, hands behind his back; distinctly taking his time as to show the situation was not as severe as it looks. I must remember I am no longer under his command, I must act accordingly. "We are trying to find a missing person and was directed here in our investigation but we were not involved in conflict here, that is all that you need to know about our business." Odrith states with an tone that brooks no argument. "You can look at some of the other bodies and identify that two rival gangs conflicted here." Odrith says motioning toward a body with a wheel tattoo instead of the snake. "We only just found Renaer here was was patching him up before escorting him back to safety. With you and the city watch here we will release him into your custody for safe keeping." Another statement that wasn't exactly a command, but blazing close. "I believe the Kenku you captured were not involved in this violence, but only scavenging, still worth questioning, but not violently." Odrith says with a nod toward the captive kenku, returning to his general ready position. "As of now we really don't know anything about why this gang violence occurred other than the Zhentarim wanted Renaer here. If we come across any more information in our own personal, separate, investigation we shall report it to the watch. Renaer here gave us a clue to our missing person and we plan on following up on the clue, sir." Odrith says, making a point to call out that their investigation will not be taken over by the watch. Odrith looks towards his compatriots and asks, "Anything else before we head out and continue our investigation? I assume we will be permitted to leave." The last part of that being directed toward the commander.
Looking up, Whit and Chalk notice there is an upper level, opening up around the room as a balcony. It looks like there is at least one more door in the upper level.
Looking around the room, it doesn't seem like there is anything beyond corpses and broken furniture. On the bodies, they are only able to find 5 coppers and a bent up silver piece, likely fake.
As they walk around the room, they notice under the stairs a door hanging off its hinges, but still blocking their view into the room beyond. They hear a small scuffle from the room as they get close, and as they stop to listen near the door, they hear ragged breathing coming from within...
At the sound of gasping breathe, Chalk gestures to the door panickedly, pushing on Whit to get his attention. Someone was dying in there. They needed to talk to him before then. She hurries towards the room. "Don't make yourselves a concern of ours!" she shouts, bursting through the door and waving her talons menacingly. "Any idea what happened?"
Get this totally vulnerable guy to cooperate 1
Whit and Chalk head upstairs to loot the building, but Kaivius stays by Odrith to make sure he won't die. She knows he's usually a drama queen and over exaggerates, but she thinks that this time he really was hurt. As she's fussing over the wound the bolt left in Odrith, she hears Chalk shouting from upstairs. Kaivius is sure Chalk meant to sound intimidating, but it sounded like she was a child telling an adult why they SHOULD have cookies for dinner. Her eyes travel upwards and she tries to focus her attention to see if any fights are breaking out.
"What do you think Odrith? Should we just let them fight their own battles or help them out?"
A long and drawn out sigh slowly escapes from Odrith. With one hand he removes the shield from over his eyes and slightly rotates his head to make eye contact with Kaivius.
"That is a pretty good joke Kai." A soft chortle slips through mildly pursed lips. "Those two fighting their own battle, hehe, they would get in trouble so quickly; lets go save their blazing asses."
Odrith slowly sits up, rotates slightly, and finally stands up with a few creeks and cracks. Odrith hoists his flail, resettles his shield and while winking at Kaivius says, "Stay behind me and lets go keep them out of trouble." and heads up toward the rest of his fellows with Kaivius.
Odrith and Kaivius approach just as Whit and Chalk walk into the small room under the stairs and pull back a tarp that was hiding a quivering form underneath. A man emerges, hiding behind his hands. "Please! Don't hurt me! I can pay! my father will pay! Just please don't hurt me!"
The man is dressed in expensive and fashionable clothing, but is marred by grime and the lingering stench of rancid pickled herring, he speaks with grace and articulation, though his voice is shaking with fear and exhaustion. His fine hair is matted with blood that is running down the side of his face and staining his shirt and gold-buttoned waistcoat.
He starts to cry. "P-p-please, I j-just want to g-go home."
"Oh..." Odrith dictates in a deadpan tone. Turning to close the door behind them Odrith states, "You are safe now. We are your rescuers and uhhh... the normal spiel, I'm too tired to deal with it, someone else handle Floon."
Odrith waves his hand in the general direction of the battered Floon character and slides his back against the door, holding it shut while at the same time slumping on the floor in a lackadaisical sitting position.
"I'm just going to finish catching my breath... before... we head... back." Odrith slurs and he bunches his cloak up behind is head and closes his eyes preparing to nap against the door, a slight smile cracking his lips.
Odrith's last thought before his eyes fully close for a short rest:
I didn't fail...
"Wait, Floon? I'm not Floon! They took him thinking he was me! I'm Renaer Neverember! Who are you?"
An audible sigh comes from Odrith along with a string of muttered curses along the lines of hot blazes and molten gold 'in select places', all while keeping his eyes closed, obviously waiting for someone else to handle this.
Continuing short rest.
"Well Renaer, my name is Whit, sorry about my bad mannered friend over there, he's had a long day." Whit leans in, "he's not really a people person. Now you said they took Floon thinking he was you, do you know where they took him?" Whit pauses and thinks for a second, "Say why did they want you anyway?"
The man Chalk and Whit discovered looks shaken, but that could all be a front. Kaivius squints to see if she can glean his true intentions in the details.
Perception 18
She's itching to clean his up, the poor little tyke looks like he could use some Kaivius Care. But first she needed to make sure he wouldn't try to kill her if she started scrubbing his face.
Renaer sighs, looking guilty and distraught. "Floon and I hit it off really well, and we were more than a bit intoxicated. We were heading to my quarters when we were jumped by 5 thugs. They beat us and dragged us here, then took Floon somewhere else... I think they thought he was me - I was nearly passed out, I can't remember much, but when I came-to, he was gone. About two hours ago more thugs showed up here and there was a big fight, then the Kenku came and started to search the place, I think they were looking for me and Floon."
“The Zhentarim thinks that my father embezzled a large amount of gold while he was Open Lord, and that he hid the dragons somewhere in the city. They think they can find it by using an artifact called the Stone of Golorr, which was in the hands of the Xanathar Guild until recently. Apparently, someone stole it. The Zhents thought I knew something about all of this, but I don’t. My father and I haven’t spoken in years.”
Renaer seems genuine in his sadness and guilt at what has happened to Floon, and seems to want to make amends. If you try to clean him up and heal him, he will be grateful. You gather that he is waiting for you to ask for his help, and he will join you in finding Floon.
"Well this is turning into quite the story isn't it!" Whit says with some excitement in his voice momentarily forgetting about the sewers. "Kaivius, when you get a moment do you think you could help this poor man. He might be able to assist us in finding Floon." Turning back to Renaer, "You mentioned an artifact, the 'Stone of Golorr', I have never come across such an item in my studies, do you know what it is?"
Renear looks as if that final speech took the last of his energy. He definitely needs a nap. Kaivius, drawn to all helpless, weak, pitiful things (like Whit) starts taking out her supplies for healing.
"Here, let me help you" she says to him, "I've been training as a healer most of my life"
Roll for medicine check : 9
As she's fixing the chap up, she tries to keep his mind off his injuries.
"So Renear, what's this I hear about headquarters? You sound like you have a very important job" (Obviously she's trying to smooze him)
Ignoring the other implications Mr. Renaer had said, Chalk gets down to business. "Floon somewhere else" she repeats, questioning Mr. Renaer. Perhaps he might have an idea where Floon might have been taken. She cocks her head and repeats in the deep voice, "Xanathar sends its regards." They did seem the most likely people to actually have him. Since those Kenku didn't really have much of a chance to lie.
She lets the man finish his answers and potential offer of help before asking, "Heading to my quarters." Just what had his intentions been.
As Kaivius tries to administer salves and bandages, Renear pushes her off, getting upset. "You aren't listening! They have Floon! It's him you should be worried about! I think they said they were taking him down into the sewers, they didn't leave long ago they can't have made it far!"
"I don't know anything more about this artifact than you do, like I said..."
He breaks off as outside, the sound of marching feet and clanging armor approaches quickly. A deep voice shots "In here lads!" as suddenly, the door shudders as something hits it hard. As you all turn towards the sounds at the door, you notice the Kenku you were interrogating had started to sneak away, but now is frozen in place as the door shudders again, then bursts open off its hinges...
...
...
...
A tall man, familiar to Odrith as Hyustus Staget, the commander of the Waterdeep city watch, rushes in, sword in hand, with a dozen watch members entering behind him. He points at the remaining Kenku and shouts "Seize them!" before looking up and noticing the group of people standing at the back of the hall. He points his sword, not noticing Renear or Odrith and shouts again "In the name of the city watch, Halt! If you move you will be cut down!"
Four of the city guard are taking the Kenku into custody, and the others fan out, starting to cautiously approach the back of the hall.
Action economy of what is going to happen in my post.
1. Half move to stand up
2. Action to take full defense action or dodge... what ever it is called.
3. Free Action to talk.
By Waukeen's golden glow it is difficult to relax when they all start talking and arguing all at once. It was fine when Renear was the only one speaking, but then of course Whit, Chalk, and Kaivius all jumped in right when they got their wits about them... hehe, whit, wits... hehe. Blazes my chest hurts... ... ... Whats that sound...
As the sound of marching feet sound from outside Odrith reaches up and turns the handle on the door he was leaning against while sitting on the floor. He doesn't fight gravity as his weight makes the door forcefully swing open and Odrith plops, back on the floor, eyes turned toward the front of the building to catch a first glimpse of who enters.
*The stuff Jon described happens*
Knowing absolutely that Hyustus Staget is a man of order, truth, and most importantly, action, that if he moves he will 'cut down'. Odrith preps his shield without grabbing his flail and stands up defensively ready to catch any arrow or crossbow bolts with his shield. That was always a favorite tactic of commander Staget, have a forward force being covered by ranged fire.
When finally on his feet Odrith, still cautious about attack, speaks up, "Commander Staget Sir! Odrith Gygazzylyshrift ready to report if needed Sir!"
Whit immediately puts his hands up, "You win! I surrender, I'm not fighting! I'm with Odrith! Please don't cut me down..."
Chalk freezes with the commanding voice, maybe Odrith's connection would be enough to get them out of trouble. Maybe it wouldn't. She didn't have any intention of getting wrapped up with the authorities. Now she really wished that they had spent more time searching around outside. She needed more knowledge if she was going to make a speedy escape. But she couldn't do much until she heard what the Commander had to say.
"Odrith?" The commander whispers, the name making a connection in his mind. He slowly walks around the boxes blocking his view until he sees the tall dragonborn behind his shield. He stares for a second, then a slight recognition crosses his face. "Odrith. That's right. What are you doing here lad?" He motions for his soldiers to lower their weapons, and glances around at the bodies on the ground, moving a man's arm with his foot, rotating it around to see the forearm and palm and notices the tattoo of a winged snake. "Zhentarim," He mumbles to himself, then says loudly "Did you and your companions do this Odrith? What happened here." His eyes finally find Renaer, and another look of recognition crosses his grizzled face. "And why is the son of Lord Neverember here? Explain yourselves. Now."
"Sir." A short and clearly dictated reply.
Odrith stows his shield and changes to a general ready stance, hands behind his back; distinctly taking his time as to show the situation was not as severe as it looks.
I must remember I am no longer under his command, I must act accordingly.
"We are trying to find a missing person and was directed here in our investigation but we were not involved in conflict here, that is all that you need to know about our business." Odrith states with an tone that brooks no argument.
"You can look at some of the other bodies and identify that two rival gangs conflicted here." Odrith says motioning toward a body with a wheel tattoo instead of the snake.
"We only just found Renaer here was was patching him up before escorting him back to safety. With you and the city watch here we will release him into your custody for safe keeping." Another statement that wasn't exactly a command, but blazing close.
"I believe the Kenku you captured were not involved in this violence, but only scavenging, still worth questioning, but not violently." Odrith says with a nod toward the captive kenku, returning to his general ready position.
"As of now we really don't know anything about why this gang violence occurred other than the Zhentarim wanted Renaer here. If we come across any more information in our own personal, separate, investigation we shall report it to the watch. Renaer here gave us a clue to our missing person and we plan on following up on the clue, sir." Odrith says, making a point to call out that their investigation will not be taken over by the watch. Odrith looks towards his compatriots and asks, "Anything else before we head out and continue our investigation? I assume we will be permitted to leave." The last part of that being directed toward the commander.
Inspired Intimidate check: 14