Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Strix, you resist the grapple attack, dodging behind him.  It's your turn, if you want to make an attack with your staff, you can do so. 

 Varinth, you get a good night's sleep.

"attack comes.... But where from? Stick! Elbow! Knee! REGARD!"

25 stick!

10 elbow! "A kill!"

10 knee! "A kill!"

Intent is to stop short of hit. A fumble might be an accidental murder. 

(Flurry, btw)

Fekar deflects the first staff attack and laughs, but the next blows (flurry of blows?) hit, though doing no damage.  He roars in fury and lunges at you with his fists.  His sparring partner, Vroh, is now leaning against the wall watching, arms crossed and grinning widely.  There's no tension in the air; this is an extension of the sparring.

Attack:  Attack: 11 Damage: 4

The attack hits, and Fekar, lacking a monk's training with unarmed combat, is unable to pull his punches fully; the fist strikes your nose and the pain is intense; it's not broken, but it was a close thing.

Dek leans against the wall next to Vroh and crosses his arms as well, nodding in admiration when Strix gives his lesson and wincing when Strix gets his beak bonked. 

"palpable! Pulpable! Is milk nose, grows back... Hope!" Strix shrieks with glee, circling and then lashing out 

Qstaff 22 "quarterstaff!"

Bonus unarmed 9 "surprise ear flick!"

Fekar jumps over the staff attack and ducks under the ear flick.  He shouts Puny bird!  and attempts to punch you in the stomach:

Attack: 6 Damage: 4

But he stumbles, almost going face down in the dirt.

 IfeelmyhearthithimbeatslowsteadystrongyouheardwhathesaiditistheheartofamanriphimbreakhimdesecratethoughthebeastsbeatsquickthefenceisKILLhighthechainisshortohyourenofunanymore

Strix calms himself and swallows the urge to retaliate, and listens to the insult as it echoes off the orc's cheeks (Bonus action : Mark the Scent - Fekar). "Nice. Well placed word win battle. Pick wrong words. Strix try - Lon brévin jw'mwen!" (Action : 2 Ki - Darkness, centred on Strix's current location. )

As the shadows from the larder trench leap up to envelop them, Strix smiles at the orc and puts a finger to his lips. He moves backwards 10 feet, saying "close eyes... open mind...seize victory...." then slides out of the way quietly (stealth 23)

"I'll admit curiosity as to this 'trail of provenance,' perhaps it is something I can look into during or after our mission with Sildar tomorrow. And I know what you mean about Agatha, the way she responded to us I was surprised to get one answer from her, let alone two." I wonder where the rest of the gang is...they mentioned getting the manor set up...

Fekar's Perception 1

Strix, you can't see what Fekar does, but you hear the sound of an orc flailing and possibly trying to attack the air.  The rest of you see him stumble out of the darkness pretty much opposite where Strix has gone, failing to follow even the sound of his voice, and he looks around eagerly for his hidden quarry.  Strix wasn't really that quiet - the observers have a pretty good idea of where he is in the darkness, but Fekar is clueless.

Scupper, Tolben takes the letter, looks at who it's addressed to, and nods.  I know the lass.  I'll send someone over tomorrow - after you leave town, I'm thinking?

Incantis, SIster Garaele shakes her head.  You can look, but I doubt you'll find anything about Bowgentle's spellbook here.  The trail has already crossed half of the North.  Still, if you do find something, let me know.  Magical items, spellbooks, wands, weapons - they have such strange histories, some of them.  What stories they could tell.  Although of course some of them do have a voice to tell their stories.  That would be a fine thing, would it not?  They say the Wave Echo Cave was used to create such magical things.  That would be a sight to see.  She seems tired and a little sleepy from the alchohol she's consumed in the day.  

(The staff tap works, I think)

A quarterstaff pokes out from the darkness behind Fekar, taps him lightly on the shoulder and withdraws into the night.  Strix, you ready your attack.

The orc turns round in an instant, and plunges back into the black, on the hunt.

Strix, make an Athletics check, against Fekar's Athletics 17

He's back in the darkness... He doesn't get disadvantage but do I get advantage? I don't think I do.... Curse you, opposed skill roll,  this was a terrible plan! 

Athletics 17

Ooooooh  draw! what happens now?

For a contested skill check, if there's a tie, the situation remains as it was before; in this case, it means Fekar is untripped.  He is, however, aware roughly of where Strix is:

Attack: 11 Damage: 4

But his fist fails once again to connect in the darkness.

(he's not going to stop till I hit him, is he. Might as well enjoy the unseen attacker advantage while I can so. )

Strix brings his staff to bear, honing in on the distinctive echo of the Orc's heart but without visual cues finds himself unable to pull his punches.

22 for 4 "whoops!"

22 for 5 "sorry!"

Then moving back out of the Orcs range.

(Stealth 10 in case you need something to roll against to find him)

Strix, both attacks hit, and Fekar laughs and steps out of the darkness, holding up his hands.  You're too slippy, friend.  Your enemies ever lay a hand on you?  

Vroh snorts from the side of the cavern. You're just slow.  You should practise with enemies that will give you a fair fight.  Rabbit, wasps, that kind of...  Fekar raises his fist, and Vroh brings his hands up.  Peace, brother.  They both take a moment to recover from fighting and/or laughing.

Strix follows him out, wiping blood from his nose and holding it up "once in while, yes!" he cheers, shooing the shadows back into the trench. "nore Vroh, Fekar plenty fast, plenty strong. But fair fight not pr'are for reals. Fight where weak, turn weak strong, in time. Rematch sometime."

Strix tidies up any mess he might have made, then looks to assist the two non-fighting orcs with the general spring cleaning

The orcs are happy to accept your help, Strix, and you spend some time arranging the place as the orcs want.  They are delighted to hear that the second bridge is trapped, and will set about doing the same to the first bridge over the crevasse too.  Orc can jump.  No need of bridge,  says Vroh, possibly seriously.

Dekhan claps and laughs Well fought, Lads! This town is well protected now. Now! Who wants an ale? Dekhan will have a beer of two with the Orcs and ask them if they have any questions or concerns he can help with, on the way back if Strix is willing Dek will lay on hands and fix his friends “milk” nose.

"My thanks, but friend Dekhan, must put milk nose unner pillow, for nose fairy! Else how get fey gold?"

Hahaha too true, Strix, too true! Please give the nose fairy my regards!