Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

"Sure and yer welcome. Jest remember that Oggor was a barrister some years ago and not to try and take advantage. Orc lawsuits are feckin' murder."

He winks at Quelline, gives a friendly elbow at Oggors leg.

"I'll see me'self out"

(orc) I"know, I know, they're rude and abrasive and ungrateful. But they're also.... Actually no, I think that covers it. But they're weak. There's no honour or achievement in asserting oneself over the weak. Make some gold, keep the peace and if we don't meet again, I wish you good fortune and a safe return home as a champion of the New Ways. But if they try to screw you over, we'll be in the general area, just look for the camel. Anyway, cheerio Oggor."

Strix nods at the villagers and leaves for the bar.

Strix, you head to the inn and find a warm welcome from the regulars and plenty of ale to drink.  Is everyone else following along, or doing something else?

Ale you say?

Before leaving the town hall Dekhan claps Oggor on the shoulder and looks at Strix as he says in Orc  My friend Strix has the right of it, even if he doesn’t see the best in them. These are good people, frightened, but good. Help them to see the right of things, show them that honor is what matters. I trust you to do what is right, to be an example to your tribe and to the people of Phandelver. I have chosen the right person to lead. Speak to these people with honor and with compassion. Lend them your strength and let the gratitude you receive in return make you better, my brother. Dekhan holds Oggor‘s gaze for a moment longer before nodding to Sildar and Sister Garaele, he keeps his hand on Oggor’s shoulder for a moment longer as he makes eye contact with the rest of the town council and then leaves the room. 

Walking to the door 

"Anyone heard of Candlepoint? Names familiar. Ain't that where the other wiz and book went? Hundred years ago? I got business there I tink. Still hoping to find the trail of our illustrious drwarven employer. His brothers certainly haven't shown up. I'll be at the tavern when we're ready te discuss. Vaz? I got first round and we'll practice making elements dance to see who owes the second. My water vs yer fire. Lord knows ye need the practice."

You all, one by one, leave the Townmaster's Hall.  Dekhan's words to Oggor get a mixed responses - Hester looks annoyed, Barthen looks alarmed, Sister Garaele looks approving, and Qelline says:  Well spoken, lad.  Now shoo! and she makes the appropriate shooing gesture as you leave.  Scupper, those who are paying attention to you seem not to know of any 'Candlekeep', but their minds are clearly on other things.  You get a reaction from Sildar when you mention Gundren's brothers, but he doesn't say anything, he just looks at you sharply.

You all make your way to the inn, and gather around a table to talk and drink.  After a while, Sildar Hallwinter comes into the tavern alone and asks permission to join you.

They kicked me out in the end, though I hung in there a while.  They're happy to take my funding for whatever defences they agree, but don't appreciate my 'interference' in how it gets spent.  Well, never mind.  They're on the right track, I think.  Your friend Oggor doesn't say much, but chooses his words carefully.  Hester's the only one holding out against your idea, and he doesn't have a veto, not any more.  In a couple of months' time, he'll be back on his farm and Qelline will be sat in his chair, and that will be to everyone's good, in my view.  She's a smart one.  Smart enough to know how to handle this town.  Please don't be offended by the way she pushed you... us... he grins ruefully... out of the meeting.  This kind of thing won't work if people see it as imposed by outsiders like you or me.  They have to see it as their own deal, their own solution.  Qelline and Garaele know that.  They'll make this work.  It's a good thing you've done for this town.  Another good thing.

Now, he says, his face becoming grimmer.  It's interesting you mentioned Gundren's brothers, Scupper.  I've some news on that score.  He stops and takes a long swig of the ale that Elsa has just brought over to him.  We found their camp.  Two days ago.  Daran found it, I should say - he and I have been looking into this since you left.  It's half a day's travel straight east of here, and looks like it's been abandoned for a week or more.  I reckon they were taken by goblins, just like Gundren and me.  That's after you cleared out the ones that took me, so this must be another group, probably acting on the same orders from this 'Black Spider'.  He stops, and takes another long swig.

Aye, lad. I've no interest in being mayor so I've no problem with being left out o' the negotiation. But I will take offense if'n the orcs get short shrift. We coulda fought them man to man and they'd stand a sold chance o' winning. They accepted defeat because they'd never wanted the fight. This'll be a good bargain if the town recognize it. The orcs already do.

So the brothers were nearby all along. Feck! I can't say I'm pleased with the idea that they was taken out from under our nose. We'd like te see this camp, maybe get a feel for what happened. Even without Dario we've some solid tracking.

Candlepoint also poses some possibility. The Echo cave dates back te Netheril and I've on good authority we could find some information there if we look in the right place...but let's see this camp and maybe find a more direct route.

*sip* "how neething get done 'fore we's come? One sniff gobbie, vreething 'clapse!"

Scupper, Sildar nods.  I was planning to set off tomorrow to try to find you, or to follow the trail myself.  I can't pass up this chance to find Gundren, or at least learn what happened to him.  Candle... Is it Candlekeep you're meaning?  That's well to the south, past Waterdeep, past Baldur's Gate even, a month's journey or more by foot I'd say, though a ship would be faster.

Should we set off for the camp now or wait until morning? Varinth asks the table as he concentrates on the butterfly made of small flickering flames that he has perched on the rim of his mug.

Strix, I can’t imagine what they did except suffer...but I also wonder how we’ve managed what we’ve done.

Scupper has a dragon made of ale (or water) snap at the fire butterfly attempting to eat the flame 

A month of travel is useless to us right now. We should follow the trail. Morning makes sense. Vas is waiting on his shirt and it gives us a moment to see how Oggor fairs in negotiations.

A black dragon appears, superimposed upon the other two, though unmoving. 

"Fire...water...earth...air.... 'nergee alway dis'pate. But void... Absence conker all!"

Jeez Strix, way to bring on the existential angst!

Vaz gets himself another ale and tells Tolbens wife or whomever is at the bar, that the party will be staying another night, and pay.

Dekhan makes a shadow puppet rabbit and growls as it attacks the magically made dragons. He then clears his throat and gets back to business. The campsite seems to be the way to go. When do we leave? 

I would advise tomorrow morning, says Sildar.  That will give me time to speak to Daran; we'll need him for the first day at least, so he can show us where the campsite is.  It also gives you time to complete any errands - I gather from that very entertaining performance there were some quests for you to report in, to the Sister and the Townmaster, perhaps?  And to speak to your friend Oggor as well, as you mentioned.  Sildar stands.  I will be waiting outside Barthen's shop with Daran at dawn tomorrow, unless I hear otherwise from you.  He gives the group a nod, and leaves the inn.

Dekhan finishes his ale Well, boys, I’m going to head back over and see what they’ve decided and talk to Oggor and Sister Garaele, if anyone cares to join me.

Vaz walks back to the table with a fresh tankard.

I'll hold down the fort Vaz grins I'll organise food for the trip.

Varinth will organise rations for the party and before the night gets too blurry will pack them onto Soodi.

"bet follow Deks. Keep balance"

Minor illusion, halo over Dekhan, horns on Strix. 

Performance 17

Strix and Dekhan, you make your way back to the Townmaster's Hall after about an hour or so.  Strix you are able to conjure a halo or horns, but not both at the same time, but you can alternate every six seconds if you wish.  You both get a few stares from people you pass in the street.

The meeting is just breaking up as you arrive.  Hester Groff is pushing people out of the door, sees you, scowls and closes the door to go back into his office.  Qelline nods at you as she bustles off somewhere, and the other townsfolk greet you but don't seem inclined to chat.  

Only Sister Garele and Oggor actually stop to speak to you.  Chief, says Oggor.  I told them I have to check with you.  We made a deal, but only if you agree.  And my brothers, of course, but they'll agree if you say so.  The deal is... okay.

Hello Dekhan, and... Master Strix.  The deal, it's not great, admits the Sister.  They're very nervous of orcs, I'm sorry to say.  And it's all moving a little fast for them.  They see the need, but they're scared.  I'm sorry for some of the things that were said in there, Oggor.

Oggor shrugs uncomfortably.  We can make it work, if Chief agrees.

Garaele and Oggor explain briefly how the town's new security forces will work.  The orcs will be based in the old Redbrand base under the manor, and they will be forbidden from entering the town.  The townsfolk will man a watchtower with a bell, and will summon the orcs if there's danger, but otherwise they will be kept apart.  This will last for a month, and the orcs will be paid in food only.  After that, there's a series of small steps towards integration; they'll be allowed into town to shop and patrol, and be paid a small wage for their work.  They'll also take over the training of the new human, half-elf and halfling youngsters who have volunteered for Qelline's town watch.  Over time, the wage will grow to a standard guardsman's salary, and they'll be invited to take homes in the town, and fully merged with the town watch, all step by step over the course of one year.  The agreement is for two years, after which the orcs will choose to continue in Phandalin or leave.

It's not a good deal, but as I say, we can make it work, says Sister Garaele.  Oggor has told us some of what they did, under Brughor's command.  They were taught to see us as prey, or as food.  That's why the others are so scared.  But we won't fix that by hiding them under the manor.  So we will make sure that you and your brothers are not isolated, Oggor.  She speaks to him directly.  We will go to you, and teach you and learn from you; we will make you part of this community from the start, you have my word.

Oggor grunts, nods at the Sister, and turns to Dekhan.  Chief?

(Varinth, you're able to purchase rations according to the lists in the Player's Handbook; mark it on your character sheet, please.)