Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Zoria, both the tattoo and the man's clothes tell you this is a Red Wizard of Thay.  The Red Wizards often tattoo their skin with various markings, some for identity or cultural reasons, others with actual magical power.  This man's symbol tells you the school of magic to which he is dedicated, which is Necromancy.

Thay is located far to the east, and its wizards have a bad reputation.  There are many who deem them evil - for necromancy, for trading in slaves, for kidnapping people for use in their magical experiments.  But they are usually very powerful too.

Strix, make a Sleight of Hand check, at advantage because of Soodi's unknowing help.

When Zoria makes that realization:

 But she tries to play it cool: 7 - Deception +1 - Performance -1

Either way, she immediately looks over to Vaz and Incantis. Her eyes are wide open and unblinking. Raising her eyebrows, pointing to the wizard with her head, and wiggling her fingers in a way that resembles fire, to portray magic. Then she cups her hands together and then separates them like an explosion, to portray power.

 sleight of hand : 14

Both Strix's waterskin-swap and Zoria's fireball gesture go unnoticed by the Red Wizard, currently staring at the camel and ogre in the distance.

Well now, is there anything else I can help you with?  he asks politely.  Or were you planning on staying around - I wouldn't recommend that, by the way, the lads... he indicates the zombies... get a bit jumpy at too many guests.

Oggor and his orcs are watching Dekhan, clearly ready for and expecting the order to attack.

Incantis gazes suspiciously at the bald man, glancing up distractedly without understanding at Strix' song. "Seems friendly enough, but to enthrall these former beings..."  he thinks to his party members. "Incantis, of the Sect of the Corpse Star. I don't think I caught your name..?" Out of curiosity he contacts the minds of the nearest zombies. "Evening lads, pleased to meet you.**" His eyes darken with confirmed suspicion when he sees Zoria's hand signals. "It's as it seems...you recognize anything about this man? Blink for bad news, wink for good."

Easy friends... he says to all allies, including the orcs.

Incantis maintains his non-hostile demeanor, going so far as to make an arcane flourish of greeting with mage hand. He however leaves his hex up on Zombie 1.

Zoria blinks very hard....the hardest blink a centaur can blink.

Dekhan alights next to the wizard at J8 My companions and I are a bit of a mostly group, it’s true. My name a is Dekhan, what is it you’re doing out here?

Sect of the... you are a... worshipper of Zhudun?  Remarkable.  His eyes bore into you; a sect, you say?  My dear fellow, you must tell me all about it.

To you all, he says:  I am Hamun Kost.  A traveller like yourselves.  Occasionally a seeker of interesting artifacts.  Have you... found anything of note in the local area?  He lowers his hand; the zombies do not move away or fall to the floor, but they do remain inert.

Scupper, by this time you have made it into the tent.  You see furnishing that must enable this man to live in something approaching comfort, even in this isolated spot.  There is a comfortable-looking cot, an ornate writing desk and matching wooden chair, and a large closed trunk.  

"of note? Why ask? Seek someting? Say Strix have find... What happen Strix then? End up Zom dinns? Ha! No, find nutting. Sept spishus man. Freshing well. N' angry ogre not like time wasters." Strix attempts a wink, but blinks. "Know where look? Got reward? Got big eyes, might help find."

Scupper moves for the writing desk. Looking for recent handwriting (notes, diary, letters) that might explain his presence and the zombies. As long as the wizard is talking, he can keep track of where he is...which is how far away from the tent entrance?

"I was -am- a follower. The seas do not worship the moon, though they flow to its ebb." Intending on keeping the man occupied, Incantis continues, his bright purple eyes never leaving the man's tattooed face, nor his hex the man's undead servant. "My sect has no powers such as these," he says, gesturing to the zombies, "though some of the elders had their...own ways of creating thralls of men. I'm curious, how come by you such magick?" Maintaining eye contact with the necromancer, Incantis approaches him and reaches out to the minds of Strix, Dekhan, and Scupper. Careful now lads, here's a magus most foul, our own centaur friend knows the mark 'neath his cowl. If we're to make move after stalling this man, we ought to keep up and learn all that we can.

Strix begins rapping himself on his shaking head and muttering "no! No! NO!" but when the voice subsides he puts his waterskin away and recovers his torch from the wells edge. 

I am, repeats the wizard slowly, a seeker of intereting artifacts.  Make of that what you will.  Reward, you say.  Are you... offering to assist me?  I do have a number of small tasks you could take upon yourselves - for appropriate remuneration, naturally.

Incantis, the wizard smiles at you.  There are many ways to create thralls.  I would be most interested in learning more, though perhaps another time, and a somewhat less rainy day would suit such talk.  I myself am a student of a fine wizarding school where many arts are taught, to those with the wit to learn them. 

Scupper, the writing desk contains only blank papers and ink, along with a large iron key.  The tent is small, ten feet in diameter perhaps.  You are close to the entrance, but so far the wizard has not heard you.

Make another Stealth check.

Obviously dreaming that he has continued his assault, the napping Vaz yells FoOMSH!, sending a spluttering little ball of fire arcing off to the east.

Two peaches please. He says before resuming his snoring.

Stealth 14

Scupper does a quick look from key to trunk...lock? Hearing Incantus in his head (?)...feck me so this is how I die...stealing from a necromancer...

He lifts the key and makes for the trunk

"assist, yes. Think mebbe we assist one way..." Strix jerks a thumb at the zombies "...or other. Prefer contract to salary."

Scupper, do you want to open the chest?

Kost frowns at Strix.  Assist.  Yes indeed.  I'm sorry, he turns to Dekhan and Incantis, I'm not entirely sure I follow what your friend is saying.  Nevertheless, I do have a small task that might be of interest to you.  It involves travelling to the Neverwinter Wood and asking a certain person a certain question.  That's all.  How does that sound?  Perhaps two or three days' journey, and I will pay twenty gold on returning successfully.