Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

The innkeeper stares at you for a good few seconds, his lips moving as he's running the strange string of words through his head.  Finally, he gives a tentative smile.  Hello, Strix.  Well, um,  my name is Tolben.  Tolben Stonehill.  Welcome to my inn.  Ah yes, Master Hallwinter said to expect an unusual group.  He took a room, but then went out again, I'm not sure where.  He said he would be back at sundown.

Tolben moves back behind the bar as he speaks, seemingly reassured that nothing dangerous or violent is about to happen.  Conversation resumes in the room, and Tolben continues.  We have five rooms remaining, each with two beds for those who wish to share; it's five silver pieces per room per night.  We serve drinks and good, hearty food, as you can see.  Let me know how we can serve.  He picks up a tankard and inspects its interior; apparently satisfied, he puts it down and picks up another.

 "The Forge of Spells? This is the first I'm hearing of this, would you mind telling me what it is?"

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 Incantis follows the party hesitantly into the Stonehill inn, glancing around the room at the patrons' responses. We are an odd assortment I suppose... "Hello Tolben," Incantis says as he approaches the innkeep. "Might I have a loaf of bread and a pitcher of this... 'ale'?" He looks around the room curiously, staring perhaps more than is polite at the medley trio drinking their drinks.

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Before Incantis follows the party to the inn he quickly finishes his conversation with Barthen. Was the group told of this Forge of Spells before?

 "The Forge of Spells? This is the first I'm hearing of this, would you mind telling me what it is?"

 

Flash back to the shop...

Ah, well, I suppose it's mostly famous around these parts, says Barthen.  And it's ancient history, too.  But yes, the Forge of Spells in its day was quite a marvel, or so the tales tell.  It was used to craft magical items, though the tales don't agree about what was made there.  Every kind of amulet, armour and weapon, according to one bard or another.  All part of the legends of Wave Echo Cave - that's the proper name for the mine, you understand.  Of course, it was lost long ago.

Flash forward to the inn...

Greetings, good sir, says Tolben in his typical friendly manner.  Please have a seat, and Elsa will bring you a fine meal and our best ale to wash it down with.  Elsa!  he calls, and a woman who had been sitting at a table chatting with a customer jumps up and turns to him.  Bread and ale for the gentleman at his table, saysTolben, and Elsa nods and heads behind the bar and into a back room.

History: 2

Incantis, though the idea of a magical forge that makes powerful magic items is interesting, you can't remember hearing of anything like that in the past.

Rooms. Yes. We are 7. Wait no, 6. Camel have bed? No, silly, prolly not. 6. So 3 room. Please. And food. And drink. Enough?"

He fishes 2 electrum from the petty cash fund.

Sitting at the table and looking around, Incantis surreptitiously projects his voice into the others' heads. Did any of you overhear what Barthen was saying about this "Forge of Spells"? It seems the sort of thing that would call not only my star, but all manner of ambitious folk...

Well, goodness, says Tolben, turning the electrum coin in his hands.  It's been a while since I saw one of these; not many in Phandalin, though the traders in Triboar would use them sometimes.  Not everyone in town would take old money like this, or they'd tell you it's worth less than you think.  But I know a couple of traders can make use of it, so I can take them. 

He hands the coin back to you Strix, a little apologetically.  More than two, I'm afraid, if you want six meals and three rooms, that'll cost you thirty-three silver pieces; tell you what, I'll make it a nice round thirty silver.  Which would be six of those fancy electrum coins, as they're worth five silvers each.

Dario decides against buying anything at the store and follows behind Scupper, Strix, Dekhan, and Vas into the inn, but before Incantis arrives. He goes up to Tolben and listens while he speaks to Strix and then, when they are finished, he asks Tolben "Where can a dirty elf go find himself a bath and for how much?" He then buys himself and Incantis some ale and makes his way towards the table puts the ale. "Thought you might want some of this," he says to Incantis as he hands him the ale and then listen to Incantis's question about The Forge of Spells and thinks back to his father and the stories he told him about these area.

History: 9

Dario, Tolben hands you two ales; if Strix purchases the full meals and rooms package then one ale each is included in the price.  Or you can buy extra, as you like.

Master Hallwinter has already requested a tub, Tolben informs you.  You can use his after him for no extra cost, or your own with fresh water would be one silver piece.

Dario nods at Tolben and hands him a silver piece, "I prefer some fresh water, please."

Back at the table....

Dario rubs his ear as he tries to think harder about what The Forge of Spells might mean.

History: 13

30 silver. That lot. But not use dependents, is new for Strix. Mebbe we start tab?

He takes the electrum and replaces it with the remaining platinum piece.

"Should cover couple days, yes?"

Dario, the name Forge of Spells takes a moment to click in your mind, but then you recall the details.  You know a little of the history of this part of the world, of a time when humans, dwarves and gnomes made an alliance centred on a great mine that produced powerful magical items.  You don't know much about the forge or mine or how they operated when they were active, but you know well how this time came to an end.  It was one of the great orc invasions of the Sword Coast; a horde plundered the mine and were believed to have destroyed it. 

The orcs laid waste to many parts of the Sword Coast, coming close to Neverwinter itself once, though never quite reaching the walls before being defeated.  This all happened about five hundred years ago; you've come upon other ruins from that time in your travels.  The present town of Phandalin is built upon the ruins of another settlement, which you guess was the large, prosperous town that thrived at the same time as the Forge of Spells was in operation.

Strix, Tolben takes the platinum piece and his eyes widen.  Another strange ancient coin.  Wherever did you find these?  People get these digging around in old ruins and dangerous underground lairs.  Hey, the Rockseekers haven't had you off at the Wave Echo Cave, have they?  He laughs, takes the platinum coin, and hand you back one gold piece.  That will cover three days for the full group, three rooms, three meals in the afternoon or evening, and I'll throw in a free breakfast of bread and cheese in the mornings.  Will you also be bathing, he adds politely, noting the remains of Strix's face-down-in-the-dirt nap during the short rest.

Dario keeps rubbing his ear until his memory clicks and he hears his father's voice in his head. He reaches for the mug of ale and take a sip and settles into his seat and looks over at Incantis. He clears his throat and says "when I was younger my father used to take me on patrols with him through the Misty Forest and on these walks my father would tell me stories. I loved my father. He was a good father, a good friend, and most of all, he was a great ranger. He was smart too and loved to tell me about the history of the Misty Forest and the surrounding lands. I sometimes wonder if he hadn't picked up a long bow he might have been a teacher" Dario takes another sip and ale and continues, "I remember my father telling me about how a long time ago there was an alliance between humans, gnomes, and dwarves and it had to do with this mine. Now, the special thing about this mine was that the forgers could produce powerful magical items. But like all good things, orcs came along. I despise orcs," when Dario mentions orcs his eyes becomes slits and darkness overcomes him, but it passes and he refocuses on Incantis, "my father said an army of orcs came through these lands and brought with them death and destruction, leaving nothing good standing in their path. They came to these hills and to the mine and destroyed it. Since then the mine and its magic have been lost to history. But, according to our friend at the shop, Gundren and his brothers might have stumbled upon it. And if they did, then that mine is going to be worth a fortune." Dario finishes and takes another sip of ale. 

"A fortune, as well as an unprecedented arcane font..." Incantis muses wonderingly. "It is a shame the orc waylaid such a valuable resource, vile creatures."

We may speak more of this, He whispers to Dario. "Well then friends, what should we do for the rest of the evening? Is this 'inn' suitable for everyone or should we roam about?"

I'm for dinner and a few ales myself. Perhaps some conversation as well, He casts a glance over to the table of women. See what the word around town is about this old mine. He takes a sip of ale Perhaps those ladies over there have hears something of the goings on? 

Incantis takes a few exploratory sips of the ale, nodding at Dekhan's words. "That sounds -hic- like a fine idea Dekhan. Stars above and below what's in this stuff?"