Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Dario clears his throat as Tirlena hands him to freshly poured mugs and turns to the elderly farmer. "Excuse me sir, not to be rude to interrupt, but I couldn't help over hear what you were saying. You seem to know a lot of the comings and goings of this here town. Do you mind if I can ask you a few questions?" And if the man agrees Dario asks him the following:

"What can you tell me about the Rockseekers?"
"What can you tell me about this missing mine that has been supposedly found?"
"What was here before this town?"
"Any other strange news that is worth sharing?"

Incantis, there is a group of young women sitting at a table near the door, and you sit and join them.  They appear surprised, but welcome you and chat for a short time.  They ask quite a lot of questions about Dekhan and Dario; a young halfling is with them and she asks a bit about Scupper, but her heart's not in it and she seems to be doing it just to keep up with the others.  After about twenty minutes, two young men come up and sit down next to two of the women, draping their arms across their shoulders in rather clumsy and obvious gestures.  The group as one turns away from you and ignores you.

Persuasion: 15

Would that women everywhere shared your fire! The world would be the better for it! My companions and I will handle these murderous Redbrand bastards, you have my word. Where did they come from? Why are they here? Why are they taking people? Who leads them? Could this Thornton woman be persuaded to help drive them out?

Quote from Dcattarina >>

Persuasion: 15

Dario, the old farmer introduces himself as Narth, while Trilena the innkeeper's wife excuses herself and goes into the backroom.  Tolben comes out to replace her at the bar, but stands at the opposite end to you, hoping to avoid Narth's tales.

Over the next half an hour, you probe him about the various questions you have, and the answers you get go along these lines.

About the Rockseekers:  Dwarves.  Three brothers.  Very keen, not very savvy if you ask me.  They been prospecting around here for a few years, looking for something.  Maybe the lost mine, that's what people said.  Then you started hearing rumours they'd actually found it.  Don't you believe a word of it.  It's a scam, I reckon; some stupid noble in Waterdeep will be losing his inheritance over this tripe, and best of luck to him.

About the mine:  Wave Echo Cave, where the Forge of Spells was.  Another bloody tale to keep the kids quiet.  My grandpa told me stories of the fools who came to look for it; they all walked away penniless, 'cept the ones whose bodies didn't get found.  Ask around, there's plenty of folks here who'll tell you the story.

About the town:  This here's Phandalin, and before it, there was Phandalin, and before that, also Phandalin.   He laughs at his own joke so hard he almost bends over double.  He notices that you're not laughing with him, and frowns.  Not much of a laugher, eh?  You're meaning all the ruins, right?  Well, some time in the past, I'm guessing the town was bigger and richer and full of nice stone houses and the like.  Long time ago, from the looks of it.  Maybe when the Forge of Spells was working, if you believe those stories.

About strange news:   Well, the bloody Redbrand thugs have taken to murdering folks in the street; he looks you over; unless you're with them, in which case they're upholding the bloody law as well as you could bloody hope for.  Except you're not with them, 'cause they don't take elves, if you get my drift.  Other than that, there's Sister Garaele over at the Shrine of Luck, disappears without warning a few days ago, then turns up today looking like someone beat her to within an inch of her life.  She's okay, though; she can heal herself, or the Lady Tymora can, I suppose.  Still, not the Redbrands I reckon, not this time.  If you want to know more about that, you'll have to ask her yourself.

After a long conversation and many tangents into the area of his hernia, his bunions, his bald patch (and various attempted remedies for each), he bids you goodnight and leaves the inn, wobbling slightly.

Quote from MarkDmitri >>

Would that women everywhere shared your fire! The world would be the better for it! My companions and I will handle these murderous Redbrand bastards, you have my word. Where did they come from? Why are they here? Why are they taking people? Who leads them? Could this Thornton woman be persuaded to help drive them out?

Don't know where they're from or why they're here.  Don't know why they're taking - and killing - people.  Nor who leads them.  I'm a weaver, and I don't know much.  I know we can't go on like this.  If you can do something, then... well, the whole town will thank you for it.  And they're not working for Halia Thornton; not  her style.  Not her style to throw them out of town either.  So no, she won't be persuaded, as I see it.  But I don't know as anyone's tried yet.  So who can say?  She seems to have run out of fire.  Look, can we change the subject.  I'm so sick of them.  What about you?  She smiles at you.  Why don't you tell me about some of your adventures, Dekhan the Adventurer?  Killed any dragons?  Kissed any princesses?

Dario, his ears tired from listening to Narth, bids the elderly man goodbye as he hobbles away. Dario takes the two mugs and goes back over towards Incantis and as he takes his seat he hands Incantis a mug of ale. "How's your night been, friend? You seem to be enjoying the ale!" Dario says and then takes a sip from his mug. "I've heard some interesting things about our former employer and some other fanciful tidbits of gossip."

Should the proprietors choose to start the hearth, Varinth will offer to get it going and then will start doing tricks with the fire (Control Flames) whilst telling a local tale from when he was a child. He will also hand Elsa a gold coin and ask that she "Keep em coming!" for Scupper and himself.

Performance: 19

"Burrraaaa-hic-I'm-uurrp - excuse me - I'm enjoying it well Dario, it is quite the odd sensation I'm experiencing." Incantis listens as closely as his newly intoxicated state will allow as Dario relays the findings of his rambling conversation with the old man. "This Forge of Spells comes up again, I -hic- don't believe for a moment that all of this is coincidence and folkrole - my stars - folklore. Something had to call the corpse star...Otherwise it looks like there's all manner of opportunity in this town."

Seeing as Vaz and Scupper are drinking this evening, Scupper would spend the extra coin on some spirits of a higher proof - a bottle of something strong. He probably doesn't bother trying to overhear anything and would be more interested in egging Vaz on to more and more daring fire tricks.

I’ll say this last thing and the subject is changed: leave the Redbrand situation with us, we’ll handle it. As for me, I’ve never kissed a princess, or killed a dragon, I punched a basilisk once, but that’s a long story. Perhaps later I could tell it to you? But for now we’ll have more ale I think! Dekhan will get the waitress’ attention and order 2 more ales. (-10cp)

Strix nurses his first ale and eats his meal in silence while the party mingles. He has neither the thirst of varinth, the patter of Dekhan nor the sean-nós of a drunken Scupper. But he has eyes in his head, feet in his shoes and a curiosity. So he takes that curiosity and his ale outside for a walk around the town green, before returning to the inn and nursing the drink once more to ensure his room-mate doesn't burn the place to the ground. 

Evidently Scupper is singing jest beautifully until someone throws a flaggon of ale at his head

Scupper, common wine is 2 silver pieces for a pitcher, and Tolben does have a couple of bottles of fine wine from Waterdeep, at 10 gold pieces each.  No moonshine, unfortunately - at least, not for sale in the inn.  You might have more luck asking around town...

Vaz, Trilena shuts down the fire tricks very quickly indeed, inviting you to move off to the town green if you want to continue.  If you stay, she's more than happy to keep the alcohol coming. 

Strix, Soodi eyes you as you walk around the town green.  She herself remains standing in the centre, occasionally chewing the grass, and eventually lying down to sleep.  You return to the inn to hear Scupper's voice, as loud and enthusiastic as it is badly out of key: "From Luskan town..."  Surprisingly, one or two of the locals appear to know the song and join in, though with no greater musical skill.  The noise would be terrible if everyone wasn't extremely drunk by this point.

Dekhan, you continue chatting with Freda for some more time before she makes her excuses and leaves; she has to start work early in the morning.  The other locals eventually drift out and your group is left alone with the innkeeper (his family having also headed off to bed).

I LoVe yoo My WeeMAn Varinth attempts to give Scupper a hug but misses.

Vaz burps and small flash of flame fizzles in front of his face.

I ushfell toh mURtiland he states to no one in particular. He then takes off to his room.

Sideways.

Swinging his near-empty flagon to the slightly uneven rhythm of the tavern caterwauling, Strix abruptly drops the drink and leaps forward as Varinth crab-staggers past. He catches the pickled pyromancer with his left arm even as his right foot catches the mug and allows it to roll harmlessly to the floor without shatteringing. He wouldn't want to disturb the "singing".

Making his most soothing cooing noises he drags the over-refreshed oxidationist upstairs and lays him out in the room. Before turning in himself, he secures a bucket of water in case Varinth suffers from Sleep-casting. He's not sure if that's a real thing but he'd rather be prepared and embarrassed than burned to death with dignity.

Finally, he arranges himself on his own bed in a bakasana, legs tucked up and body suspended over the mattress by his rigid arms. It's not the most comfortable way to sleep but it's bad manners to chant in a shared room, the physical discomfort provides a focal point for the rotation of his consciousness without the need for mantra, and besides it's bound to give Varinth a giggle if he wakes first.

Quote from Nunberry >>

Swinging his near-empty flagon to the slightly uneven rhythm of the tavern caterwauling, Strix abruptly drops the drink and leaps forward as Varinth crab-staggers past. He catches the pickled pyromancer with his left arm even as his right foot catches the mug and allows it to roll harmlessly to the floor without shatteringing. He wouldn't want to disturb the "singing".

Making his most soothing cooing noises he drags the over-refreshed oxidationist upstairs and lays him out in the room. Before turning in himself, he secures a bucket of water in case Varinth suffers from Sleep-casting. He's not sure if that's a real thing but he'd rather be prepared and embarrassed than burned to death with dignity.

Finally, he arranges himself on his own bed in a bakasana, legs tucked up and body suspended over the mattress by his rigid arms. It's not the most comfortable way to sleep but it's bad manners to chant in a shared room, the physical discomfort provides a focal point for the rotation of his consciousness without the need for mantra, and besides it's bound to give Varinth a giggle if he wakes first.

Hope it's ok to move Varinth around without your direct intervention - thought it'd be ok since it's not an offensive or competitive move, just trying to reinforce your drunkenness! #SquadGoals...?

 

Varinth (giggles or perhaps gurgles) as Strix scoops him up and relocates him to the Land of Horizontal. As Strix tucks him in, he suddenly opens his eyes and exclaims BIRDIE! before immediately falling into a deep sleep.

The bucket of water did end up coming in handy. Not for any Evening Evocations but due to an early morning ablution. You're not saying he vomited lava but you're not not saying that.

With the weaver gone Dekhan will join Scupper for some serious drinking and singing. He makes a point to say Scup, remind me to tell you what I’ve learned about the Redbrands tomorrow, they’re a group of right bastards. Before he gets too drunk. He’s got an ear for lyrics and even knows a few sea shanties himself.  And once he gets a little more drunk launches into “Sword Coast Girls.”  And “What do you do with a drunken sailor” for an inebriated encore. Then he will stumble up stairs, the happiest drunk, and barely get his boots and armor off before collapsing on his bed.