Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Zoria clears her throat. "Yes.....a very.....generous contri.....bution." One of her eyes closes, as if she's in pain. "Thank you." she exhales abruptly. She begins eating the meal in front of her. She nudges Vaz, "You don't think any of this is horse, do you?"

Dekhan looks at the spread and then up at Tolben Thank you Tolben, this looks wonderful, and it smells even better after a beat Dekhan ticks into the food, making himself an eggy sandwich with the meat and cheese.

Strix glowers at Elmer. "Food not free. Price : red cloak." He tears into some meat. "Can show free food. Stays fresh long time. Blinky shares. Strix not share. Not want talk. Am sneaker not speaker."

(None of them were friendly to him before, so if they persist in eating his breakfast there will be blood. Apart from the shrine keeper. )

Strix, Elmer looks hesitantly at you, and says, Umm, thank you, sir.  It's clear he doesn't know who Blinky is and hasn't really followed what you said.  He looks inquiringly at Tolben, who says reassuringly.  It's alright, Elmer, you're very welcome to eat your breakfast, which is quite separate from the breakfast provided to our heroes, here.  He seems to have understood a little more of your intent, and moves some items on the table in order to separate the food for the delegates and the food for the party.

I gotta say... you tink this coulda gone different...better even?...for some anyway? Something maybe we could still do? I wouldn't want a party dissatisfied ifn i can help it.

Is there anything else we can do? For Mirna and the children perhaps?

The food brings Vaz to his senses somewhat.

Perhaps a little mercy for the young one that we brought in last night. Omyn I think his name was. Seems he got a bit over his head, But,of course, the decision is yours.

Varinth washes down some bread with a hearty swig of ale. And, like so many before him, remembers something whilst both are in his mouth and performs an applaudable spit-take.

ONE EYE! Sorry folks I completely forgot! Has anyone mentioned we had one that got away? A one eyed creature that... he looks at the villagers with sympathy ... took care of the refuse.. um look after we have got ourselves sorted here our tracker Dario will scout about to make sure it has taken off. Is that okay Dario? If you want you can take Soodi if she's up for it, her nose is pretty good.

Good point, Vaz. If the creature is still skulking about the area we will take care of it.

Scupper, Halia looks at you for a moment, considering, but then shakes her head.  It's of no matter.  What you did was well enough, and opens up possibilities in the town, for growth and change.  That is all to the good. She smiles, somewhat sincerely.  You should return to your friends at the inn, where I believe our meddlesome Sister and cowardly Townmaster have your reward.  I have made my own contribution to that, of course.  Anything to reward the town's heroes, after all.  She smiles sweetly, and less sincerely, and is clearly inviting you to leave.

Varinth, the townsfolk look a little perplexed.  One-eyed creature?  No, I don't think I've heard of anything like that.  Is it dangerous?  Elmer seems alarmed, but the others are too fixated on the removal of the Redbrands as a threat, and are not interested in a creature they've never seen.  I'm sure Master Dario will take care of it, says Sister Garaele, smiling.  She gobbles up a few bits of chicken, not very elegantly, and stands.  Thank you again.  We, um, are hoping to have a sort of ceremony tomorrow, or maybe the day after tomorrow, to say thank you.  It will take a bit of time to organise, to contact some of the miners you understand, they don't come into town every day, but I'm sure everyone will want to be there.  Come on, gentlemen, she says to Elmer and Hester, we should leave the brave heroes to enjoy their hard-earned breakfast.  

"Well if we find the Wave Echo Mine and you wind up needing some magical whats-its made without goin' through the Rockseekers, it looks like we'll be there, and they'll owe us. You know where to find me, lass. I expect we'll leave with them when they arrive so's we can save that brother what hired us. I'll take my leave then..."

As he heads towards the door...

"You get on with them lads ok? The Rockseekers? Just want to know if they'd be bothered my talking to ye."

Scupper, make a Persuasion check.  Halia eyes you curiously, considering her response.

Strix picks a bit of chicken out of his teeth and addresses his companions. 

"Strix think find Sildar, find gobbie castle, find boss. No boss, no job. Saw sign, town have orc prob, but town happy, n' no orc eat Strix brekkie. Mebbe no need help. Sis seem better. She good too? Rooms paid for though, can slob for day stead. Earned it."

Strix grabs some fruit, stretching out his legs and Golding them back under his chair restlessly. It's nice to be a big shot but the combination of all this daylight and attention is making him feel exposed. 

Persuasion (I'm going to spend my inspiration on this for advantage) 

22

Incantis awkwardly watches the exchange, perking up curiously at the mention of the ceremony. He leaves the glass staff upstairs for now, but will go and fetch it if the party decides to set out.

Scupper, Halia looks at you appraisingly, and finally answers.

The Rockseekers... well, they have their affiliations, as I have mine.  And no, we do not see eye to eye.  My associates and I are always on the lookout for talent, though, and Grista has spoken of your plan to capture the Redbrands.  Ambitious, and creative.  I do not doubt your group's effectiveness, and I suspect you have a hand in point them in the right direction, particularly some of the more, well, 'noble-minded' members.  Tell me, have you heard of the Black Network?

You have heard of the Black Network, the Zhentarim.  What you know is mostly this: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/appendix-c-the-five-factions#Zhentarim.  You also know that Captain al Shaddad had dealings with them, relatively friendly (for him), though he didn't join - he wasn't much for joining things.

Incantis, you don't yet know the properties of the glass staff you picked up; experience with magical items tells you you'll need to spend about an hour studying it 

Interlude

You spend a tenday recovering from the intense combat of the day before and enjoy your qualified popularity in the town.  Some of you took serious wounds in the battle beneath the manor, and Sister Garaele has advised that you rest and not engage in strenuous adventuring activity for a little while.

Character sheets and inventory

Please update your character sheets.  Divide up your money and treasure and, if Strix is still keeping a common purse, let me know how much is in it.  You should refer to Nunberry’s posts listing treasure from the Redbrand’s hideout.  Don’t forget that you also received rewards from Sildar and Elmer Barthen when you arrived in town (except Zoria), and some items from the goblin cave.

Downtime

You have ten days of downtime to spend in Phandalin.  There are a number of things you can do, including but not limited to:

• Shopping (for armour, equipment etc.)
• Selling treasures or other items.
• Building or repairing relationships with the townsfolk or Sildar.
• Getting involved in the fate of the surviving Redbrands.
• Crafting items
• Training (though this is a long term project)
• Attending a ceremony in your honour

Depending on your background and skills, you may also have the option of practising a profession in order to earn money.

Quests

You have also been informed of a number of possible quests.  Though you cannot engage with any of them during downtime, you might discuss as a group (in character) which ones you want to take on (if any) and prepare for those by talking to the townspeople (particularly the quest-giver) to learn more about them, or purchasing useful supplies.

The quests you know of are:

• Sister Garaele wants someone to go ask a question on her behalf to Agatha, a banshee living in Neverwinter Wood.
• There is a notice outside the Townmaster’s Hall mentioning orcs at Wyvern Tor, and a possible reward.
• Investigating the fate – or hunting – the eye creature from the cave.

Also:

• Daran Edermath, who introduced you to Zoria, has also mentioned that he might have something that would interest you.
• Sildar Hallwinter also seems to have interesting connections, and may wish to speak to you.
• There remains the mystery of where Gundren Rockseeker is, and also his brothers, rumoured to be due back in town soon.

Leveling up

Before the end of the tenday, you will all reach level three, though please wait until I confirm the level up for your character before making the changes on DnDBeyond.  Some characters will have an encounter, miniquest or short story thread related to the level up, but not everyone – if you don’t, it will be your turn when you reach level four.

So… what?

Describe what your character does during your downtime.  If it involves going anywhere or speaking to anyone, let me know.  Otherwise, describe how your character relaxes and recovers from the last few days of intense activity.

 Continued conversation at the mining exchange...

Halia invites you into her back office and offers you a seat.  She closes the door, sits behind her desk, and folds her hands on the desk top.

Wildest freedoms?  Wealth and power?  Many do gain that.  Most great merchant princes were not always so, and an aristocratic family background is easy enough to forge, or so I have heard.  She smiles, and shakes her head.  Few reach such heights, it is true.  And my own goals are more modest, though important to me.  This town has potential, with the right leadership, and my contacts have already proved useful, as I have been useful to them in return.  

As for the Rockseekers, they stink of the Lords' Alliance; one hardly need take a second glance at them.  There's little love between them and the Black, though I doubt the dwarves know of our presence here.  I am rather more subtle, I hope.  

She pauses, and takes a long, hard look at you.  There are many who join the Black Network thinking to have riches and power handed to them.  Such fools have their uses, but never rise in the ranks or make much of a mark on the world.  You, I think, are not one of the cattle.  Though you did not handle the Redbrands quite as I would have, you took action, and will profit from the result.  That is what we do.  No member of the Black Network ever got anything they did not take for themselves, as it should be.