Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Dekhan, you manage to put four of the unconscious Redbrands onto Zoria's back, with her help.  Three of them are snoring, loudly but happily, and don't seem to mind.  Varinth appears to be trying to help, and does manage to bring you some rope, but he struggles with the knots and soon decides to head off, who knows where.  You can't really tie the Redbrands to Zoria, but if she walks slowly and you stay alongside to keep them balanced, you reckon you can make it a short distance with four on her back and with you carrying a fifth.

Quote from jsmall >>

((Could I use minor illusion to conjure a small mirror to look around the corner? It seems included in RAW objects, but I'm not sure how you want to handle reflections))

 Yes, I think so.  It makes sense to me that an illusion of a mirror would reflect light.

They won't need to be tied if we can get them to the jail quickly enough, Grista, how should we get the keys? Will the guard be there?

Varinth, you hear footsteps from the other side of the door, then a bar being moved, and then the door opens.  The face that greets you is familiar; it belongs to Tolben Stonehill the innkeeper, and you realise that you are standing at the door to the Stonehill Inn.  There don't appear to be any people inside drinking, despite this being a typically popular time for it.  You notice that Tolben looks tired and worried.  What... um... hello, my friend.   Um, did you say jail?

Keeping silent, Incantis holds an arm out, blocking Dario in his tracks as the two proceed. Summoning the minor illusion of a subtly ornate mirror angled in the corner toward the west corridor, peering ahead for any clues or movement. 

Investigation: 21

Dekhan, Grista replies to you:  Hester will have the keys.  Hester Tarbin, the Townmaster.  Townmaster because he wanted it and no-one else cared anything about it or him, so he can sit in his office writing stupid letters and staying out of everyone else's way.  Guard?  No guard in this town.  Look, I can come with you, help you deal with ol' Hester.  He just loooooves me.  She smiles a sweet, innocent smile.

"I agree with Dekhan," Zoria replies to Vaz. "I don't see the point in using our supplies when the jail cells should be sufficient. If they are capable of breaking out of the jail cells, then surely their hands and legs clasped together wouldn't stop them." She trots through the town, following anyone that seems to be leading the way, while balancing the Redbrands on her back.

Incantis, you are able to see the hall as it leads west.  You're not sure you're able to see all of the detail you'd like in the mirror, but you get a general sense of the shape of the hall.  It leads west, ending in double doors that have a figure carved into them, though you can't see it clearly.  

Dekhan will see if he can read anything further into Grista's reply such as if she would actually be an asset talking to the townmaster [Tooltip Not Found] 6

Dekhan, you get the sense that Grista doesn't like the Townmaster and that he feels the same about her.  However, she seems confident that she can handle him on your behalf, and she seems to want to help you.

Does Incantis see any movement?

No, none.

Incantis, can you roll me a straight d20 please?

Grista, your help would be appreciated with the townmaster. Will you lead the way?

Grista thinks for a moment, and then says:  Leave these two.  She nods at the other Redbrands.  They'll keep for a little while longer, I reckon.  She speaks to Scupper and Strix: Or maybe you want to stay and watch over the little sleeping babes, eh?

She marches out of her tavern, with Dekhan and Zoria following, four Redbrands balanced somewhat precariously on Zoria's back and Dekhan walking next to her, occasionally adjusting one of the men to prevent him falling off; it's an extremely tight fit, as centaurs are not quite as big as you imagined, but Zoria seems to be managing.

Zoria, please make an Athletics check, at advantage because Dekhan is helping.

Grista walks west down the road, past the tavern where Varinth is having a conversation with the innkeeper.  Grista waves cheerfully at Tolben, whose eyes open wide as he sees the dwarf and her entourage.  Lovely night for a stroll, eh Tolben? 

She makes a left turn, following the street south until she reaches the scene of your earlier battle with the other group of Redbrands.  She raises her hand to stop you, and goes and tries the door of a building to your left.  It's locked.  A committed servant of the people.  Hold here while I fetch him from his bathtub.  She stomps off east, leaving you in the quiet moonlit night, the sound of gently snoring Redbrands in the background.

hEllo TolbiN! You're nOt the TownmaSter?! WhY am I here? Oh wait there's tha crew *hic* wronG house sOrry.

Varinth bows to Tolbin and then joins the other's over at the Townmasters, helping keep the unconscious on Zorias back.

2

Scupper sits with his glass and says, "aye... I'll stay. I'm no help with town-masters or mayors or jails."

At the Townmaster's Hall:

After a few minutes, Grista returns accompanied by a halfling you had seen previously in the aftermath of your fight with the Redbrands.  Hester is middle-aged, balding, and looks annoyed; you recall that he asked you to leave town and take your trouble with you, last time you met.  He looks shocked and unhappy at the sight of the unconscious Redbrands, and stops in the street, staring at them for a moment.  I... what... and the others?  Are you going to rid us of the lot?  Or will you leave us to the tender mercies of their friends, and he nods towards the manor ruins on the east side of town.  Do you want to get us all killed?

Off to the side, Grista mutters Worthless chickenshit..., but Hester interrupts her: Says the woman who's been profiting from them for the last two months.  Where was your courage...  Grista interrupts him in turn:  Are you calling me a coward, you little... It seems they might actually start fighting if you don't get involved.