Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Vaz disappears from the festivities for a while but returns with two letters. He approaches the leader of the three.

I have a letter to return to Mama. I believe you have already been paid to return but I also have a letter to go to Master Elnost Vombarkay in Neverwinter. I believe there are some other members of my party that have correspondence as well, if you don't mind taking on some more work? Will you be leaving tomorrow? 

If the trio are up for it then Varinth will ask around his compatriots who he overheard needing something sent to Neverwinter (OOC: both Vaz and Tob can't remember)

And I'm happy to pay for your extra time and effort.

Vaz, the leader of the trio is enjoying an ale, watching the dancers.  That's great, Master Tannerman.  But, you won't be returning with us?  We are ready to escort you, if you need protection.  Don't worry, he says in his best reassuring voice.  I know the roads are dangerous these days, but we're more than a match for anything likely to turn up.  

Ah sure an' yer a patient woman te be chancing yer arm on the likes o' me. What's yer name lass and why haven't I seen ye before? I would've formed meself a completely different opinion o' Phandelver?

Dekhan takes a breather from the festivities and sees Vaz talking to the three armed men. It doesn’t seem suspicious, but he wanted to follow up with Vaz about the spellbook anyway, so he makes his way over. Alright, Vaz? When you have a moment I’d like to talk with you about that missing book. In the meantime, how do you do, gentleman? Dekhan Vale, I’m a friend of Vaz’s what brings you to the festivities?

Scupper, she laughs loudly enough to earn some stares from dancers nearby.  Phandalin.  Phandelver was some old pact, hundreds of years ago.  Don't worry, she says, spinning you round, I wouldn't remember the name of this shithole if I didn't live here.  We have a farm, a little way east.  I don't come into town often.  There isn't a reason to.  Usually.  My name's Pru. Scupper, right?  That a real name?

Dekhan, the man replies, Well, just making a few deliveries.  Master Tannerman asks if you've anything to be delivered to Neverwinter; we're headed there soon enough.  For a modest fee, of course.  He grins.

 Dekhan maintains his smile and genial demeanor.  You’re rather well armed for a delivery service. What is it you generally deliver?

Dekhan, the man replies, Not really, friend.  There's bandits and goblins and gods knows what on the roads these days.  Phel says he saw a bugbear a couple days ago, but I reckon it was a scarecrow.  One of the others, presumably Phel, is taking a drink but lowers his tankard and seems ready to argue, but the man raises his hand.  Sorry, Phel, I said I'd leave it, and I will.  He turns back to you.  And we deliver what needs delivering.  Letters, packages, people.  Whatever pays.  

It's my shout Dekhan, if you need somethin' sent. Was it you? I remember someone sayin somethin' about a delivery..

Varinth digs into his cummerbund but finds his purse has dropped considerably lower leading to some rather undignified poses and grunts.

How much Sirs? I'll also see to getting you some rooms at the Sleeping Giant for the night? Varinth looks around for Greta or Gilda or whatever her name was.

To Neverwinter City, nothing, for any of your friends, the man insists.  Your good lady mother would not be happy if we were taking your money.  And we've a camp outside town, no need for rooms.  

The afternoon is turning into evening.  Some of the townsfolk begin clearing up, though a few continue drinking and talking in small groups.  The sky begins to dim as sunset approaches.  A fair number of people are keen to shake your hands as they go.

Vaz will happily shake hands and even hug (as he is a bit of a hugger, and the days events have made him a little delicate) the villages and friends.

He will also chat to Dekhan about the book and tell him he is up for a bit of Banshee Parlay if the others are.

Dekhan nods at the man’s solid points, taking especial notice of the delivering people aspect. Can’t argue with you there, friend, the roads aren’t as safe as they used to be. A man can’t be too careful. Dek will make a note to stick close to Vaz while these men are around. He’ll finish his last ale and stay sober for the duration.

While sticking close to Vaz, Dek will mention the heightened importance of recovering the spellbook.

Pru! A pleasure to make your acquaintance. No. Scupper is what you'd call me piratical name. It's eh...part of a ship. Me Hin name is lost to the feckin' flowery hills...and good riddance! Haha! And whilst I share yer view on sleepy villages, we are here for at least a few more days. Then we'll be off to stomp that wee spi-

Well...Then we'll be off on another adventure.

Scupper isn't paranoid...really...but Halia and her conversations about this group or that...each with agents and alliances...makes him wonder if this lass has any other reasons for looking past all the things that make him... mostly unlikable to everyone else.

(Insight? 14 )

Scupper, far as you can tell, she's just into bad boys.

"I'd be happy to, is she a lover of music? I have some things to attend to but not as many as you'd expect." Incantis still has a mind to speak to Blinky, but could happily spare a trip to Nena's mother.

Incantis, you visit a small farm a little to the west of the main town; Nena lives there with her mother, her aunt and uncle and their three children.  As is often the case with halfling homes, it's a little small for you to enter, but there's human-sized furniture outside the main door where you can sit.  Nena's mother brings you some tea.  It's nice to see that Nena has made a new friend, she says.  I'm Aranee, Aranee Razebrooke.  You're one of the saviours of the town, isn't that right?  Nena stands by impatiently, and her three cousins, all younger than her, watch curiously from a distance at the start, but find their courage in time and come over.  

Aranee is happy to make smalltalk and welcome her guest, but Nena interrupts her quickly.  Show her.  Show her what you can do.

Truth be told, Pru...there's this villain...the Black Spider...and fer whatever reason, he wants this town under his thumb...we aims to stop that. Even shithole towns deserve to be free of Redbrands and Bugbears. 

The fence really is tall. That always seemed comforting before. Too tall to jump, too sheer to climb. He had hoped to find a corner and use the perpendicular faces to resolve transverse force into some upward mobility but it's been what feels like endless days of night and the fence goes on. *It* got out. There has to be a way. 

A noise, at once distant but oppressively present; giggling? Probably his imagination.

You don't have an imagination. You're meat, you think meat thoughts, bound by meat rules. But you have your uses. Look at this.

From the dark, form. A short rod. He knows this - Chorster's flute. The old man couldn't play a note but that had never stopped him trying. It always seemed the cleric valued it more as a weapon than a woodwind, constantly correcting stance and position with swift raps from the instrument. It's a wonder it had ever held a note.

Strix reaches for it, grasps it, turns it over in his hands. Almost as soon as the finger holes rotate into view it's gone, with a faintly echoing Perfect!

Is that how things work in here? From darkness, form. From darkness, form. He concentrates and closes his hand around... A hilt. Bone, bound in red strips of cloth. A pretty blade but impractical. Try harder. He feels the comfortable grips of his staff. Better... But it wasn't always just a staff, was it? He reaches back to before it was his, feels the sudden shift in centre of gravity, the crushing weight. How's that for a meat thought, chum?

The fence is tall, the fence is long, but how strong is it? He swings Chorster's hammer as hard as he can to find out. 

 The day of the celebration comes to a close, and those of you staying in the inn head back there to spend the night, tired but happy at the day's end.

Scupper, Pru nods; I'm glad you killed the Redbrands.  I know there's more out there, though I don't know anything about a spider.  Like a real spider?  Or just some stupid man with a stupid name?  Anyways, I don't think you're the type to stick around for along, am I wrong?   There's nothing accusatory, just matter of fact, in her manner.

I wouldn't mind learning to fight, and Qelline's talking about getting something organised.  Maybe you could show me a few moves, she says, smiling.

Night falls, and quiet descends upon the town.

7 12

Dekhan, as you are sleeping at the inn, you are woken by a loud thud coming from another room.  

Varinth, please make a Acrobatics or Athletics check as arms reach out in the darkness to grab you and cover your mouth.

19

Strix, you are awakened by a loud thump.  You see three men you don't recognise (as you barely attended the celebration earlier), standing over Varinth, holding him in position and trying to put a gag around his mouth.  They seem not to have noticed the room has another occupant.