Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Strix takes his arm-n-leg of the prone goblin corpse and indicates he's ready to chuck it southward once the door is opened ...

Incantis places his hand on the heavy bar, ready to raise it and open the door, and looks to Dekhan.

Dekhan smiles at Strix and winks. Here we go!

Incantis attempts to lift the heavy bar; struggling a bit, but manages to get it clear, and opens the door.  As he does so, there's a terrible roar from inside the room.

Dekhan and Strix, you heave the goblin through the gap; it goes flying, and lands in a heap on the floor.  You are able to peek inside and see the area beyond.  The upper floors of this tower have collapsed to create a hollow silo at least thirty feet high, and the upper reaches of the room are lost in shadows. Dust, rubble, and broken glass cover the floor, and old worktables and bookshelves lie strewn to the south. In the middle of the room is a hulking beast that looks like a mangy bear with an owl’s head. It rears up and roars when it sees you.

However, as the goblin flies and lands near its feet, it steps over, sniffing, perhaps attracted by the blood of the recently-slain goblin.  The large creature - which you recognise as an owlbear - moves around the body so that it can keep its eye on the strange folk in the door, but then slowly starts to take bites out of the goblin corpse.  It seems wary, but not hostile - mostly hungry.

Poor fella...

Scupper is mostly wide eyed with shock at seeing an actual owlbear but can't help but see a resemblance to someone.

Strix...you tink mebbe it's a cousin or a uncle...I mean definitely a bit on the heavy side but if I squints, I'd swear there's familial ting goin' on.

We should get it a few more gobos. He's all skin an' beak...an' terrifyin' beastial hunger.

Strix blinks slowly. For a moment he's a child again and all the years of abuse and isolation are about to end because he's home and he will understand, he will help him. 

Ha! That thing is clearly a southerner, look at the flaring around the eyes. Maybe a second cousin's ex-wife's former roommate but there's no way you're No don't you dare say ...

"Poppa.....?"

Oh dear gods....

But it's not. For all their savagery, even when transformed there was always the spark of intelligence in the eyes. Mother had been clear about that. They were accountable. This wretched thing was just muscle and hunger and instinct. There but by the grace of Tempus.... 

Strix backs away from the door to fetch another goblin (or hob goblin, whichever is closer). Very softly he mentions

"Should give clear path out. Make escape option."

To this end, unless someone is able to befriend it, while it's busy eating he will open the heavy southern door to the outside then try tipping cots to make a Monaco F1 corner to encourage the beast in that direction. 

Strix, you are able to find goblins aplenty in the banquet hall nearby.

If anyone would try to recollect information about owlbears, you can make a Nature check.  Strix, you know a fair amount already without any rolls, and can make a Nature check with advantage to recall anything more obscure.  Any interaction with the creature will require an Animal Handling check.

Nature 17

(What specifically are you trying to think of?)

(uh..... Stuff? Honestly I saw 'roll with advantage' and things went blurry... Would mostly be interested in remembering if they can be reasoned with or tamed, and whether there's any link between Owlbears and the lyncanthropal uthgardt tribes of the north. If shifters are a dilution by humanoid blood could this be the more beastially inclined dilution? I'm gearing up for an hilarious mind meld / mauling )

Strix, you know that owlbears can't be reasoned with, and can be tamed only with extreme difficulty and high risk of failure.  They are instinctively hostile to almost all other creatures, and extremely territorial.  They are almost never successfully kept in captivity.  There's no link between owlbears and were-creatures, and though they are magical in origin, no-one knows for sure what that origin is. 

"think mebbe we try make friends, just make food. Can't leave stuck though. Make path to door with gobbies? Hope bear listen to stomach, not spleen?"

(If I hadn't shifted earlier I might have a go but that ship has sailed... :) )

Strix resumes plan a, using goblin body parts and the tipped beds to encourage the owlbear towards the door out. 

Incantis helpfully closes the door and bars it again, so that the owlbear does not wander out during the preparations.

Strix, you use the cots and goblin bodies to make a trail towards the door that you believe leads outside the castle.  However, the door it still closed, and when you test it, it seems to be locked.  It is a large wooden door with iron strips and a keyhole.

Before trying to pick or force the lock, Strix tries to remember whether or not he or anyone else in the party (yes, Scupper, he's talking to you) came by a giant key....

Have i picked up something what didn't belong te me again? Perish the thought.

Scupper digs through his effects... 

I remember the Red Wizards key...got that...any other keys? I tink the charismatic folks is better at handlin people but if it's like a horse or a camel, i might get lucky...

Animal handling through the door...11

Now you jest be a good dear and eat yer num nums. We got plenty more for ye when yer done.

Scupper, you don't recall having picked up a suitable key, and you don't find one as you search your possessions.

The owlbear glances in your direction, but its attention is focused on chewing the dead goblin.

While Scupper gets in touch with his ranger side, Strix channels his inner Scupper and had a crack at the lock

Thieves Tools : 5

(d20 + prof?)

Strix, it takes you a couple of minutes of careful work, but you are able to open the door leading south and out of the castle.  It opens onto a set of stairs down to the ground.  This entrance looks rarely used; an overgrown path leads round to the front of the castle and though there are arrow slits from the neighbouring rooms, as far as you can tell it was poorly guarded if at all.  The doorway is large enough for the owlbear to get through - it will be a bit of a squeeze.