Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

You take the wagon slightly off the trail, though there has been no sign of other travellers in either direction this day.  The horses are clearly happy for the chance to stop and graze, and Soodi joins them, Vaz still perched on her back.  It's early in the afternoon, and you think you need only a few more hours to reach Phandalin; you should be there comfortably before nightfall.  Sildar closes his eyes and rests comfortably in the back of the wagon, though you don't think he's sleeping.

The area where you have stopped is near the top of a long, gentle incline; turning around you see a glorious view of the countryside that stretches behind you to the horizon; if you were a little higher, you might just be able to see the Neverwinter Wood in the far distance.  Ahead of you, the path levels off but hills rise around you, and there are likely to be further climbs up ahead.  

Do you do anything while you are resting?

During this time Dario sits on the ground, resting his back against the cart. While tending to his wounds he pulls out from his pouch the remaining Goodberries (OOC - I think 4x are left) and offers them to the rest of the party. 

He looks up at Sildar and then Dekhan, "Is he alright? He went through the lower levels of hell and back." 

Short Rest Heal: 8

"Well lets hope the horses still listen to me after they've tasted rest and grass."

Scupper rests in the driver's seat.

"So a pirate tale? Well, so long as it doesn't lower the deep and abiding respect I'm sure you all hold for me...hehe...I could tell you a short one..."

I am well enough, Master Dandolo; Sildar speaks without opening his eyes or moving anything except his mouth.  Or were you asking after my assailant.  He opens his eyes now, sits up, and looks for Asher, who has come to a halt perhaps eighty feet behind the wagon, and is now sitting on a small clump of rocks, inspecting his wounds.  Sildar watches him, his expression hard to read, then turns back to the group.  I would enjoy a pirate's tale very much.

16

Varinth would put in his two coppers but they are currently dreaming of rather risque lava nymphs with fire pokers.

Dario looks up at the cart upon hearing Sildar's voice and he sighs in relief and then turns to Scupper. "A good tale would be nice," he says and then closes his eyes and rests his head against the cart.

"Well lads this little tale t’would take place in the Nelanther Isles. The Sea Witch often made anchor there when she weren’t huntin’. Most mainlanders don’t know which isle is which there, and even less o’ them know where the reefs and rocks are...but a seasoned pirate does know...so even if yer only touched yer toe in te’ ocean, you’d know there’s a t'ousan' pirates in the Nelanther Isles. One might ‘tink a pirate would be safe amongst a t'ousan' other pirates but one would be an eejit for ‘tinkin that. Sure and when trade ships aren’t runnin' through Asavir's Channel who’d ye ‘tink pirating folk prey on? Each other lads. Pirate codes bein' what they are, there isn’t a one o' them what plays past desperation. So I suppose the civilized folk o’ the Sword Coast can take comfort that some o’ the best pirate hunters are in fact other pirates."

"Now the Sea Witch was never easy pickins’...as I'm sure many of you may have heard. The Sea Witch had a reputation. Al Shaddad was a captain with a reputation. Our red sails were not dyed with shellfish or madder root, to be sure. The Witch’s crew is not and was not ever to be trifled with. But sometimes, a young, foolish briggand with a new ship and a newer crew thought of the fame that’d come with taking the Witch as their own. So we never got too comfortable what makes men stupid."

Strix drags himself through the mud. His legs seem to be taking a rest. Nearly there now. Why can't he hear the cart any more? But the song calls.... The song...

Perception check to notice our missing fowl feathered friend?

16

Scupper, you can see that Strix has got part of his overcoat snagged under one of the wagon wheels.  As far as you can tell, he hasn't noticed and thinks he's walking forwards towards some destination, but actually his feet are very slowly digging a small hole in the ground as he goes absolutely nowhere.  He seems rather out of it, though not unhappy.  He's not getting any rest, though.

Passed out Roll: 1

Dekhan takes a berry from Dario and holds it up in front of Strix's face. Berry? Please, Scup, tell us what the foolish brigand did! 

Someone want to put the bird to bed? I tink he's maybe needing some shut-eye...now where was I...

Scupper pulls his flask and drains the remnants of some bad goblin beer...he winces and continues his story. 

Achh! Two years ago around the 15th of Highsun, we’d jest taken a youthful prize - The Marid. It were commanded by a fresh young pirating captain - no idea how he got hisself such a fine ship. Takin it was easy pickin’ really. His crew so green, half o’ them leapt to their deaths in the reefs afore we could board her. So the ship was ours. We put a skeleton crew on her and soon enough, the Witch and the Marid had dropped anchor near the Rookery...tis one of the islands there. Sure and you remember how hot the weather was that summer...Most men slept on deck those nights owin’ to the heat. Stillbones led the night watch on the Marid, called Stillbones on account of his steady hands and steadier nerve. One could mark the man dead ifn’ you didn’t watch close for the occasional blink. So’s the crew was marked surprised come two bells to find him ACTUAL dead - throat cut - bones still forever now. The rest of the watch on the Marid were also perished but Stillbones was rather especially well liked. Hard to hate someone what barely moves lest needed. We were all sorry to see him go but Mammoth jest sat down and cried. Big feckin’ baby - that half orc lad. Meanwise we’d clearly had a problem...but no fight to be seen...no boarders to be found. The call was raised and another watch were sent over to set about searching the ship.

Now we'd kept the young captain alive in case he'd been keeping secret any additional treasure he might've already hid. We come upon him in his cell as we figure he must've hid some men and maybe wasn't quite the fool we took him for. And there he sits, jest laughin’ in his cell. So now for sure we knows some’tin is da matter. I puts the screws to him good. It's sorta me specialty aboard the Witch... but no matter how much I hurt 'im he jest keeps laughing. Finally he speaks through giggles and blood. “Didja not see the name of me ship” says he all mirth and murder. Al Shaddad says, “aye...the Marid.” Sometimes he watches me work. Gives a crewman a sense o’ pride in his job. So the young captain starts a fit of coughin’ he's laughin’ so hard...and maybe bleedin’ internal like. He finally gets the words out. “Didja not know what a Marid is then?” Al Shaddad gets a dark look about him. “Tis an ocean genie,” says Al Shaddad. “Sure I say but what’s in a name?” That young captain get’s a crazed look in his eye. “It’s named that because that’s how I got it...and no one else can have it...and live.” Now he starts laughin all maniacal and I tink’ he’s full of shite but the Captain takes one more look at this fella and runs him through straight away...kinda disappointing since it's sorta taking the work I do so well right outa me hands. But then he turns to me and says, “tell the crew...no one else goes over.” So I do. Sure enough we never heard from the second watch. We waited alongside the Marid for another half day and then we scuttled her right where she was. No idea ifn’ there were crew that went down with her. No idea if this ocean genie were real. But we did like Al Shaddad said and put in the deep with all her cargo still in her jest to be safe.

Are you quite finished? You're not impressing anyone. Put your feet up. You deserve a break. Wait, are those your eyelids? I thought you had potato slices on your eyes, dear gods! 

Am.... Fine..... Fence..... Holds......

this brings me no pleasure, chum. There is no fence. Your barely fooling yourself, never mind me. Just have a lie down, for both of us.

FENCE HOLDS!.... not ... far....

home............

.....

Soon ......