Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

"Animal! Manimal! All good, yes! Got bone?" Strix is starting to clap excitedly, anticipating a yes.

Well, animal I suppose... I don't have any in the shop at the moment, but I'm sure... just wait a little while.  Thistle?  He calls to one of his assistants, and heads over to whisper in his ear.  The young man looks surprised and a bit grossed out, but Barthen says, Don't dally, boy.  Go.  The young man runs out of the shop.  

Very happy to procure some animal bones for you, my friend.  I'm sure you have some fascinating and lawful purpose in mind for them.

After about twenty minutes, Thistle returns carrying six animal bones of various sizes.  One of them looks suitable for making a bone flute.

"Lawful, yes!" Strix cries, pulling the likely candidate from the pile and  quickly weaving a scene of Linene lying dead in the road, an animal bone through her heart and a giant ghostly thumbs down hovering over her while Incantis dances a jig playing a bone flute beneath an equally spectral thumbs up.

"Blow on bone! Song! Not kill neewons! Uh.... Money? Bone money?"

He fumbles for his coin purse.

Once accounts are settled he skips out and back to the  green, setting about the laborious work of boring out the marrow and filing n filling the osteons into a workable chamber. 

Dekhan greats Nilsa and the children warmly as he introduces them to Oggor. He gives Oggor a satisfied nod as Nilsa gives him the ale. If there’s anything Nilsa needs done around the house he will offer to take care of it and see if Oggor cares to help.

I can’t say for certain how long we’re back, Nars, but I’m very glad to hear your training is going well. Sildar is very skilled in the martial arts and he will train you well. But more importantly he’s a good, honorable man. Would you care to come outside and show Oggor and me what you’ve learned before we have to head to the town hall?

At some point this morning, a bleary-eyed Scupper will wander over to the miner exchange in hopes of news and maybe a better academic than himself. He brings the two books. Halia seems the well read type and maybe she can find the clues he's looking for or at least help him look somewhere else.

Strix, Barthen takes 5 copper pieces for the bones, and thanks you.  You find a pleasant spot to work without being pestered too much by the local children who are still more interested in Soodi.  Please give me a check with your bone carving tools (d20 + proficiency).

Dekhan, you spar for a while with Nars; Oggor looks on but initially he's not willing to join the practice session.  He seems... old, to begin to use a weapon so.  But I know that many never learn at all, so maybe not so strange.  He continues to watch.  Nars is continuing to make progress with his swordmanship, and he manages a couple of feints that he clearly learned from Sildar, still very beginner stuff that you counter easily.  He seems disappointed not even to come close to catching you out, but shrugs it off and focuses on the sparring.

Scupper, you knock on Halia's door, and she welcomes you in.  She seems unimpressed by your two books.  Yes, I have read those.  Some years ago, as it happens. What information were you hoping to find in them?

Whittlin' 17

Strix, you manage to complete half the required work during the morning, but it's shaping up to be a very impressive piece of work.  You wonder if the cow concerned knew that it was walking around on such a potentially fine flute during its fairly short and mundane life.

Scupper sighs, crestfallen. Well looking for a lost mine leaves a bit to be desired. Since this magic forge whatsawhosits dates back to the ancient Netheril, and since a Red Wizard had been searching around old Owl Well with nothing but these two books to keep him company, I thought maybe there were some clues within. Apparently not. Honestly not sure what the Wizard expected to find in ruins that looked to have nothing but a well and a wall. Had a bunch o’ zombies doing the heavy lifting but no real excavation. Though, we were pretty quick to pack up and head out.

I'm no expert in history, Halia comments, relaxing and sipping her tea, (he has offered you a cup too).  It was a good thought, but these two titles are not so rare that the Lost Mine could have remained lost, if they told its location.  I'm very interested to hear of a Red Wizard nearby, though.  Did you get his name?  Did you ally with him, or dispose of him?

(If anyone wants to keep playing out your individual morning activities, please go ahead.  But we'll skip ahead now to the mid-morning visit to the Townmaster's Hall.)

At around mid-morning, you all gather in the street outside the Townmaster's Hall, and head in.  Oggor is with you, and as he enters with you, he picks up the notice from the noticeboard outside:

"REWARD — Orcs near Wyvern Tor! Those of a mind to face the orc menace should inquire within."

It's not clear from his expression what he feels about it.

Inside, what is clear is that Hester and Sildar have been waiting for you.  The halfling Townmaster sits at his desk, everything on the top of the desk extremely neat.  His posture is tense, and his face shows a fixed, friendly and probably insincere smile of welcome.  Good day, my friends.  Welcome back to you all.

Sildar leans against a bookshelf, arms folder, eyeing you, in much the same posture as you recall he took when you first met Gundren, those of you who were there.  His expression is definitely warmer, and he adds to Hester's words, Welcome back to the Heroes of Phandalin.  And you've brought a friend.  He nods at Oggor, who nods back.

Strix kicks off the introductions.

"orc mence, Hester; Hester, Orc mence!"

He can't help but giggle.

"Is joke. Orc mence - him Brughor - him gone. Dekhan beat. Fair fight. Very citing. This..."

He pats Oggor on the shoulder

"This Orc Saviour. Stop zoms at well. Is friend! Big green friend. Play cards right, not biggest friend Hester make today!"

Quote from SteveThaiBinh >>

I'm very interested to hear of a Red Wizard nearby, though.  Did you get his name?  Did you ally with him, or dispose of him?

 No tea thanks. Hate the bloody stuff. 

Did we ally with him. Nay. He was a red wizard and Zoria felt sure that made him evil and untrustworthy. Plus a necromancer, so that put him on Dekhan's naughty list. Hamun Kost was his name and he was shattered into pieces when they finished with him. Pretty sure our scout still has his hand though.

Hester begins to speak in an exasperated tone.  You can't possibly...

But Sildar interrupts him.  A big green friend indeed.  I am Sildar, good orc.  And you are?

Hester shoots him a furious look, but holds his tongue.

Oggor replies, Oggor.  I followed my Chief here, he gestures to Dekhan.  Speak to Chief, not me.

Sildar nods.  Dekhan, all of you, perhaps we could sit and you could tell us what has happened, before Hester here faints away with his joy at your return.

Sildar arranges some chairs for you to sit together, and waits to hear what you have to say.

Before going to the meeting Vaz will see if he can borrow a shirt from Tolben.

As they enter Varinth will casually rip the Orcs Wanted poster off the wall and let it pop into flame then ash. If Oggor sees he will give him a nod.

Dekhan looks at Hester We handled your issue with the Redbrands who you suffered to live among you despite theft and destruction of your property and the taking of innocent lives.  Now we have resolved your issue with the orcs. What crime did they commit against you that you would argue against our course of action? His eyes, which had begun to flash and glow during his previous words despite the controlled measure of his voice, fade once again to their normal hue as he looks at Oggor and then Sildar. Yes, we could join you in private to discuss our proposal.

Dekhan, Hester looks at you and rises in his seat.  Resolved our issue... He looks at Sildar.  Course of action?  He looks back at you.  What in the blazes are you talking about, man?  Are you talking about the orcs at Wyvern Tor?  Is that what this is about?  He looks aghast at Oggor.  Is this... one of those orcs?  We had word from Triboar that they had been raiding farms.  Killing folk, burning them in their beds.  Whatever....

Sit.  Down.   Sildar's voice is quiet and menacing, and Hester does so.  Don't jump to conclusions, just let these fine lads speak...

There's a knock on the door, and no wait for a response as the door to the room flies open and Sister Garaele and Qelline Alderleaf enter, with Barthen and Tolben in tow.  Tolben tells me you've an interesting story to tell us all, says the Sister, pulling up a chair and joining the growing circle without waiting for an invitation.  

This is town business, Sister, begins Hester, but he is cut off quickly by Qelline. 

Yes, and we represent the town, as we've stated many many many times these last two weeks, Hester.  No more decisions made by you on your blessed lonesome.  Nor by strangers who breeze into town and start throwing their money around, however handsome they may be;  the halfling farmer winks at Sildar who gives a sharp laugh in response.

Strix cracks his knuckles and nods at Incantis, preparing to start the slide show on the bardlock's cue. 

Incantis watches mutely as the town leaders have their rather tense preliminary discussion, contacting the others mentally. "We now await the fate of Phandy, leaders give their heed; let's make this story sweet as candy, tell our sordid deeds."

The half-elf bardlock steps forward with a flourish of his cloak, looking left to the shadow monk. "Good thing we got a practice round."

With a sparkling flash of prestidigitation the scene begins: a set of minor illusions shimmer into existence, simulacra of the dramatis personae. A tiny, glowing warrior stands in front of a collection of green figurines. Behind him stand an unarmed feral-looking figure, a halfling with a dagger in hand and a mantle of shadow, a centaur with a glint in her eye, and a pair of robed humanoids, one purple-robed and glimmering and one red-robed and shimmering with simmering flame.

Scupper asks if Halia might know where the right books might be found.

"Who has the collections o' those real ancient feckin' books?"

Then he realizes the time and takes his leave to rush and tell the story everyone is so keen on hearing for some reason (still completely unaware of any magical feature to his last telling).

He burst through the door just in time to see the illusions forming. He shushes himself and steps near to the scene looking for a cup of ale or water nearby and maybe a candle or lantern while thinking hard about the way the ruins looked and the zombies...gods but they were sickening.