Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

As much as I would give my firstborn to see Mister Shcupper once again sail through the air on Zorias back, I don't really want to deal with that pit again. I say we kicK this door down and shcare the Pecks out of whoever is on the other side.

Varinth leans a little on his staff as a small wave of nausea washes over him, the first volley in the oncoming hangover. Perhaps one drink to keep it at bay.

"To be quite honest, Dario and I hadn't found this secret door that you speak of, and I assumed the entirety of the Redbrand's base with in this direction. Good find, by the way. Nevertheless, I heard this door being bolted, and while I think you are correct my new equine friend that the secret passage is our long-term path, in my opinion nothing behind this door in the crypt can be friendly. It's either something that might literally bite us in the ass if not handled with care, or something our newly reunited group can easily dispatch." He continues telepathically, his multitude of mental murmurs meandering in musical menagerie. 

A choice it seems we need forth hence

on what direction to commence

I hope our choice does not comprise

of danger discord or demise

While our group may be whole again,

a wrong choice could lead to our bane

So northward, eastward, southern door

Onward friends to search some more

Strix brandishes a crowbar. 

Friend Vaz, kick is for mules.

He gulps and nods apologetically to Zoria.

Mules fine, mules good! But am no mule. Am man!"

He prepares to work on the door, using the northern door as a guide to where any latch is likely to be, attempting to force the frame away from the door so the crowbar can be pushed through and used to lever up the bar behind the door. Athletics 5 if needed

Edit : can we pretend we didn't see that roll?

Strix, as you jam the crowbar into a likely-looking spot between the door and its frame, there is a definite sound from behind the door, someone stifling a curse word and jumping back, then losing his balance and hitting the ground with a thud.

You attempt to apply force to the crowbar, and it seems for a moment to be working, but you can't seem to do enough to make a difference.  The door remains resolutely barred and closed.

Perhaps I can be of assistance, Strix. With Strix's permission Dekhan will try his hand at the crowbar, adding his strength to Strix's know how with all his might 12 advantage 21

Strix and Dekhan, together you are able to get a firm grip on the door near what you assume to be the bar. You grasp the crowbar and pull with all your might; the door shudders, then moves, and you hear the sound of a large wooden bar splitting as you force the door inwards. It comes off one of its hinges and half falls; making it difficult to enter the room.

However, you can now see into the room clearly, as there is torchlight spilling from the inside. What you see (because you are near the door) is two cells, one to the north and one to the south of the room. Your angle gives you a clear view of the north cell, which appears to have two humanoid figures in it. The door opens onto the area between the cells, and there, with shortsword drawn, stands a single Redbrand. He looks at the heavily armoured man and the lightly-armoured shifter, and the several adventurers he can see behind you.

He seems shocked at your sudden entry, and hesitates:  5

He drops his sword and raises his hands in a gesture of surrender.  You... you're not with... look, don't hurt me, okay?

Dekhan enters the room cautiously and looks to see if he notices anything out of the ordinary in there and looks at the figures in the cell Perception 8  If you cooperate you will not be harmed. Who are you? Are you alone? Who is in the cell? 

16

Look, these, they're, I was just following orders, you know?  He reaches into a pocket and produces a key, which he offers to Dekhan.

Dekhan, you can see that these are two human women, one older, one younger.  The younger one cowers back, but the older one stands, somewhat shakily.  10

Who are you?  Are you with them?  Are you...  she trails off, and seems unsure what to say.

Dekhan addresses the women in the cell My name is Dekhan Vale and by my honor and the light within me no harm will come to you. then back to the guard as he takes the key. I asked you your name, man, if you wish to see the morning alive you'd do well to answer our questions intimidation 18 why are these women in the cell.

The woman comes forward to the bars.  You can see that she is dirty, unkempt and exhausted, and you can also see bruises on her face.  Please... please let us go.  They... they kidnapped us, they say they're going to sell us, please, my children...  she grabs the bars to steady herself and just looks at you, terrified and hopeful.

The Redbrand tosses the key onto the floor near your feet and backs away towards the far wall, with his hands still raised. 

You are still standing outside the room, with the half-fallen door somewhat blocking entry; you would need to clear it out of the way or clamber over it in order to enter.

Dekhan, the Redbrand shrinks back against the wall even further as you show your anger.  Omyn, sir.  Please don't hurt me.  I'm new, I didn't do anything.

Liar!! comes a shout from the southern cell, and a young human male, perhaps thirteen years old, rushes up to grab the bars of his cell, his eyes fixed on the Redbrand.  Liar! he repeats, but he seems unable to say anything more. 

I'll clamber over the door, grab the keys, and approach Omyn. You keep women and children captive, dog? To sell them like cattle? Dekhan's eyes blaze with a slate gray light as he moves to slap Omyn across the face. (not attempting to do damage, just illustrate how pissed Dek is about selling women and children into slavery.) If it's alright with the group Dekhan will free the captives and put Omyn in the cell.

Incantis approaches shakily, his purple eyes balls of eldritch fury. He is consumed, consumed with thoughts and memories of times when he too was locked in a cage; most recently by goblins but before that a more spiritual cage of confinement within his cult, forbidden to leave the halls of their ancient cavern without finally in desperation taking up the hair-brained and sisyphean task of tracking an elder star through the heavens. He shakes himself from his reverie long enough to croak, "Lock him up if you will Dekhan but know this: I know not if I have the coin for Zoria's toll, but I'd see every redbrand we encounter henceforth suffer death."

If only I'd listened to Dario and kept exploring, exterminating this vermin would have been an uncomplicated task, he thinks to himself.

"Ye chose the wrong side, ye bastard. Didja think animated skeletons makes ye the good guys?

Aye, Dekhan. Lock him up. Once we've cleared the rest, we'll decide if we even come back te let him out."

Scupper double checks to make sure there's no other doors than the one they came in.

Dekhan opens the cells letting all the people out. He grabs Omyn and jams his arm up behind his back half hoping to dislocate his shoulder. Once he has him in the cell his rage gets the better of him and he strikes the Redbrand with a closed fist. 14 and throw him to the ground.

Varinth will see to the captives, checking them for wounds, trying desperately to not let the fire take him over.

You're safe now. Medicine : 7

I don't know what I'm doing here guys, can I get some help.

He will also gather food and water from the party to help the family

Dekhan, you pick up the tossed key and open the north cell first.  The woman steps out, hesitantly at first as she is rather nervous of your large and imposing presence, but after a moment she abandons and doubt and rushes to the bars of the southern cell, grasping at the boy's hands through the bars.  You open the other cell, and the boy rushes out to embrace the woman, who is now crying.  Not releasing him, she pulls him towards the first cell door.  She finally lets go of the boy.  Stay here.  Just for a moment.  She walks back into the cell, and reaches down to the other woman, who is still lying huddled in the straw on the cell floor.  Nilsa, it's all right.  Nilsa, get up.  Nilsa.  Slowly, the younger girl allows herself to be helped up, and together they exit the cell.  The three humans - a family, you suppose - stand together, tired, scared, relieved, crying, hesitant.  Three pairs of eyes nervously look at Dekhan, Incantis, and through the door at the others.

Dekhan, you grab Omyn, push him into the cell and strike him.  He falls to the ground, clutching his nose, which you think you may have broken.  He doesn't resist or say anything.

Scupper, there don't appear to be any obvious doors.  Make an investigation check.

Varinth, as far as you can tell, the older woman and the boy have been beaten, probably quite badly but also probably a few days ago, you can't be sure.  The younger woman, aged perhaps eighteen, doesn't appear to have a scratch on her, but she flinches away when you come close to her, hiding behind the older woman. 

You quietly offer food and drink to the three.  The older woman hesitantly takes some food and water, tries it, and passes some to the others.  Hello?  she says.  My name is Mirna.  I... thank you for rescuing us.  

Strix tries to assess if any of the prisoners look like they can jump 10 feet without significant aid.