Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Varinth, Tolben seems startled to see you go so abruptly, and almost as though he will call out.  But he hesitates as he looks around at the group, and backs away timidly to stand behind the bar again.  

Vaz! A moment! Incantis calls out with his mind. He turns to the rest of the party. "It seems we're in agreement to go to this 'Sleeping Giant', perish the thought-" he comments on the name before continuing "-and I think that's reasonable. Ought we take precautions however? I've mind to believe Apple about their numbers, and it is supposedly their haunt."

Varinth stops suddenly in the dirt outside the Inn. He flails around about his head as though an insect was attacking him. He then turns around and puts two fingers to his temple and squints with exertion at Inantis through the doorway. He then laughs at the joke he thinks he just told Incantis. He takes a swig of his ale and shouts back into the Inn;

WANT ME TO DO SOME RECONNASASIS? he looks troubled at his use of that word but dismisses it almost as quickly.

He waits for an answer with a big grin on his face, swaying gently.

"Well do we all go at once or filter in a few at a time? Jest remember yer mean sons o *****es and not heroes o the realm. We'll see how well we pull this off...but at least they're not likely to be serving bugbears and eyeball monsters at the Sleeping Giant."

Scupper gives a shout to Vaz, "Oi! You wait up ya flamin' bollocks! I already owe you a round or two!" ...and runs to catch up.

Varinth brightens when he see's Scupper coming out.

SCUPPY! Varinth goes to give Scupper a hug and notices the tankard in his hand as though it just magically appeared. He goes to drink it, thinks better of it, and then hurries inside to return the stein to Tolbin.

I nearly stole your horse! he tells Tolbin.

He then joins Scupper back outside, giving Incantis a wink and a friendly elbow in the ribs as he passes. 

Dekhan finishes his ale, sets down his tankard, and follows Scupper out of the bar. As he steps out into the street, he raises the hood of his cloak. I say we should filter in a few at a time, stake up in different parts of the tavern. 

Varinth will now follow Scupper, thinking he is the most wise. Mostly because of his cool accent.

"Right lad, let's get pissed!"

Scupper heads east while using what he remembers of whence the Redbrands came to hopefully triangulate. Worst case scenario, they see a bit more of the town. Being the cautious fellow he is, he takes the corners wide so as not to be surprised stumbling into 12 Redbrands without some good warning. He keeps things jovial in a threatening pirate sort of way. Joking threats, plenty of cussing, and the occasional, "I wish somebody would..." As he hangs onto Vaz enough to keep him pointed in the right direction. 

I have an idea to even the stakes, friends. Vaz, do you have an extra flask of oil? if he does and is willing to part with it. I‘ll Take this, buy an ale, drink or dump the ale, then fill my tankard with the oil and approach the Redbrands. I can douse one of them with the oil and make them more susceptible to your arts, swing things in our favor before the battle is joined in earnest. There is an importance to being earnest. the look is Dekhan’s eyes is a fresh one, the glow there is only slightly manic one.

Shertainy! Varinth gets a flask from his pack on Soodi and hands it to Dekhan (-1 flask of oil and another for the pyre).

Where gunna go the other pub Darlin he says to Soodi

If things shtart burnin we best get the innocents out. Prolly not awl Red Buggers.

Varinth looks down at his hand as he saunters, sure that there was a beer there before...

I hadn’t considered that, perhaps you or Dario could talk to the innkeeper and let them know right before it kicks off to get their people out. We won’t want them in there when push comes to shove anyway. And once you or Dario are behind the bar, you could use the cover to attack at range. Is there an upstairs at the Sleeping Giant? Could one of you get up there? 

I don't believe any of us have been there. I'm expecting to walk into the average seedy joint and get a lot of mean looks... what's new? That said, if there's a slew o the bastards, we'll make nice or talk our way out. If there's jest a few of the slags, we'll start sometin and then finish it before more arrive...I hope.

You take the road east as Tolben has indicated.  Phandalin is not a large town, and you can see there are only a few buildings either side of the road before the town comes to an end and the path winds up a mound leading to what appears to be the ruined manor Appet described.  Before you hit the edge of town, however, you notice a building to your left with the words 'Sleeping Giant' scrawled across the wall.  This appears to be the Redbrands' chosen hangout in town.

Scupper, you take the lead and enter the Sleeping Giant.  It's dark, it stinks, and it's quite empty.  The only exception is a female dwarf who is standing behind the bar idly cleaning something with a large cloth in her hand.  She takes a long look at you, as the others come into the tavern behind you.  What can I get you?

I have been up and down this wee town and everyone says this might be the only place te get someting stronger than wine or ale. Ye got anyting what can strip paint or set a gobo alight? We're looking te get proper fecked, love.

IndEEDilY! says Varinth.

The dwarf looks at you both.  Got some Fireseed, if you're after the hard stuff.  Fifteen silvers a shot.

Varinth leans on the bar. 

If I happen to be wearin' a fancy red cloak would that price be diffrent?

Should the dwarf take a while to answer Varinth will continue;

Thersh one *hic* behind me isn't there? He spins around to look but keeps going and ends up back where he started, leaning on the bar. Not entirely certain what just happened, Varinth rolls with it and pretends he meant it.

How you doin? he says provocatively to the dwarf

If you were wearing a fancy red cloak, then yeah.  If it was a filthy, stinking, dog-chewed red stain piece of shit you was wearing, I wouldn't bother offering the good stuff.  And in both cases, you'd be paying up front, in case there's confusion on that point.  She's taken a bottle of liquor from behind the bar but made no move to pour from it.

She looks the group over.  You the ones that killed the Reds?  A pause.  Word gets around.

Vaz, she ignores your line so completely that you begin to doubt you actually said it out loud.

We be they, yes. That didn't sound right. Sho yor not a happy lassh for thier patronage then? Might I be sho bold *hic* as to ask what time they usually show up? We heard they come here a bit. Word gets around.

Varinth is starting to think he should find a chair. A nice comfy one perhaps...