Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Zoria chuckles. "Good Elmer, if we've cleaned you out, then how to you intend to pay these taxes? At least you can negotiate with the Spicy Seven, and by the way, may I remind you that not a single one of us put a price tag on the amount, this was donations, not a forced tax. Wouldn't you rather have us around to give what you want, instead of be forced to pay a set amount every set time period? Just think of your futures is all I'm saying." She smiles as she looks at her cards. "But it seems as this money at the table has been decided anyways, I just wanted to give the lot of you an opportunity to make a good impression on us, as like I said, you'll be spending a lot more of your paychecks supporting this militia tax, unless you convince this Qelline that it isn't needed due to our valiant efforts."

Incantis pauses thinking. Every day in the outside world it seems, he's discovering new things about it that his matriarchs neglected to tell him. An entire variety of telepathic beings, with their own songs of the mind, complete with their own styles, ways, and harmonies? Incantis' mind is abuzz, and he weighs his reply. "I would like to hear these legends of these halffolk from the east, I had no idea there were others with my people's abilities." He crouches by Nena, getting on eye level with the small girl. "Nena, what you have is a blessing, one many of my people would dearly envy, to have even a fraction of our abilities, at none of the cost...You must understand, I was not born with these gifts, I learned them. We all take an ancient and eldritch pact,  sacred to our people, in a...not unpleasant...ceremony for the Elder Star. I'd not expect this of you." He smiles at Nena's mother. "Yet I might have the perspective needed to teach, I agree to squander one's gifts and nature..." he shakes his head at these last words, trailing off. He meets the mother's eye. "My own practice is always easier at night, in view of the stars. Might I wait here until dark?

Zoria, the group laughs.  Elmer grins and looks at his cards.  I would say matters have been decided indeed.  Perhaps the four of you can form the militia together, and earn back some of my winnings tonight.  I pay at a very reasonable rate, I promise you.  More laughter. 

Make your Intimidation check, as a straight roll I'm afraid as they didn't find your argument very convincing, but you did at least avoid a disadvantage...

Incantis, you think back to what the matriarchs told you, and what you have learned from reading.  Make a History check.

Nena and her mother make you welcome until nightfall, and Nena is keen to listen to what you have to say - or think - to her.  You watch the stars together for a while, and then you begin.

"Alright Elmer you son of a *****, read em and weep!"

She throws her cards down face up!

4

LOL I mean....I must think we're playing go fish............

"Tieboar eh?" Strix begins to munch on some mousey biltong. "Strix born near Tieboar" He offers the headless mouse to the prisoner, then gently beats his chest with one hand. "Am Snowcrester. Was. No more." He stares down the road again, swinging his head sadly from one direction to the other, then coming to rest staring at the ground. "Tough place. Ran. Like elf. But Strix not caught. Not like elf."  He shrugs. "Elf is beggar. Sword Coast not good for beggar. Be fighter. Be sneak. Be...uh... big-brain man! But not beg. Want be free? Earn. None can give. Au contraire, mon geolier, sometimes freedom is just a friendly hammerblow away. If let Beast kill elf, both shut up? Sir, you have a deal Too bad! Gave word." 

The whole group puts their cards down, and Zoria is the clear winner, though Halia takes a small pot for having the most face cards.  

You win back your original stake of 30 gold pieces, plus an additional 45 gold pieces on top of that.  Most of the players managed to keep at least half their stake, but Tolben looks at you miserably and then down at his non-existent pile of coins.  I might have to start charging for that stable, you know. 

Sildar gives him a firm, but friendly slap on the back.  None of that, my friend.  Let's drink to the lady Zoria, to our lost gold, to and the King of the Storm Giants, may he enjoy it greatly!

History: 4

 Incantis takes a deep breath, gazing intentfully and peacefully at Zhudun suspended in the sky. He speaks into Nena's mind. "If you want to think outside your mind, you need to be outside your mind. Look at the heavens, at their cosmic pattern, know all stars are one Star, and all minds are one Mind."  He's not going to get ahead of himself, he's not trying to teach Nena his song, he just wants her to be able to use her telepathy voluntarily.

Strix, the elf babbles, increasingly alarmed that he appears to be speaking to two different personalities and that one of them is quite happy for him to die.  I can't... I can't fight, I don't know how.  I'm not good with that.  I'm good with numbers.  I have... I have money.  He reaches into his coat and pulls out a small bag of coins, he offer it to you.  Please, sir, will you let me go?

Can't have light without creating shadows can ye. Ye ever wonder if there's really anything scary under the bed at night or someting hungry outside yer window? Ye ever tink there's someone egging ye on to hurt tings or that feelin' ye get in yer gut when ye done someting that weren't too nice? That's Shadow, lad. I spent more'n me fair share o' time happily enjoying the dark an' all the terrible tings what lurk inside it. Not evil tings necessary like but terrible nonetheless...an' evil sometimes too, truth be told.

Dekhan, see, he plans to keep the light shinin' on me, figurin' it's bound to spark a light o' me own, an' keep the Shadow's plans at bay...

Zoria puts her arms around the table bringing in all of her gold pieces she's earned as her eyes reflect the gold. She smiles a great big smile! "Yes, Tolben, let's not be a poor sport!" Zoria thinks to herself, that's exactly how she would have behaved, had she lost. "Thank you Sildar. Yes let us drink and celebrate! At least someone will get enjoyment from this gold!"

The only other thing Zoria wants to do in this downtime is get that eyepatch with the jewels repaired.

Scupper, Nars thinks for a long time before he answers.  I haven't told anyone.  Not mama, not Dekhan.  When the Redbrands had us captured, and they said those things to my sister, and they beat me, I didn't fight back.  They would just have enjoyed that.  But I thought about... about hurting them.  Hurting them really bad.  I hated thinking like that.  But I needed to.  To keep myself together, I think.  He looks at you, and then looks away, and then down at his feet.

Incantis, Nena does what you say, and looks at the stars in the sky.  Then she looks at you.  That's silly. They're not all one star, there's lots of stars.  She scowls.  This isn't going to work.  

Her mother, watching from the doorway to the house, interjects:  Nena, don't be so rude.  Or so impatient.  You've barely started.  Now apologise to Mr. Incan... oh my.  Her eyes widen, startled.  Well, I definitely saw that image.  Where does a girl your age come up with something like that?  Nena turns bright red, and her mother laughs.  Don't worry, Nenny.  Just keep trying.  It seems... to be working.  

You didn't get any sense that Nena just used her telepathy, but it's clear that she did use it, again by accident and again in anger.  Since it was between her and her mother, you wouldn't have expected to pick up on it anyway.

Dekhan feels a kind of transcendent peace as he gazes at the tree. A wonderful contentment and warmth spread out from his chest. He feels meridians in his body the tree speaks in his mind. I thank you. How shall I address you?

Dekhan, the voice answers warmly, We are too many to count, and too many to name.  You may call me the Green Lady, if you wish.  Others have done so before.  And now, there we have a task to attend to.

The air shimmers, and you are no longer by the tree.  You are standing on the village green, and all around you the villagers are dancing and celebrating the defeat of the Redbrands.  You see Scupper chatting with a pretty halfling girl, Vaz talking to three strangers, and... you see yourself, standing quietly to one side, a mug of ale in hand, watching the happy people around you, a small smile on your face.  No-one seems to react to the version of you that is you, and you suspect this is an image conjured from your mind, an illusion only.

The voice says:  You freed them.  Why?

Zoria, the evening comes to an end, and you all make your farewells.  You head back to the stable, and rest for the night.  Zoria has now reached level three. :)

In the morning, you visit Freda the Weaver, who is happy to craft a cloth or leather eyepatch for you, at a cost of five silver pieces.

Incantis smiles internally at Nena's reaction, thinking back to his own training when he was only able to cast eldritch blast out of frustration at his tutor's mindlessly mundane tasks. It's working..."All stars move as one, Nenny," he says teasingly, using her mother's nickname. "Patience, child."

Zoria forks over the silver with one hand, while the other hand tries to pull the arm back from paying for the weaver, but it eventually does make its way to her hands.

Incantis, Nena mutters 'Patience' under her breath, but does as you ask and once again focuses on the night sky and the stars.  After a while, she seems to relax and she is able to focus on one particular star after another, under your instruction.  She is calm and attentive, and awaits your words.