Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

((If I could retcon a little bit I’d like to do the following...)) Since setting out of Phandelin Dekhan has had a somewhat distracted half smile on his face. When the party rests the first night outside Phandelin Dekhan wanders off a little bit and spends a while in quiet communion with the forest around him. After about 10 minutes there is a rustling in the woods and a moment later a magnificent warhorse makes its way into the clearing and over to Dekhan who laughs and turns to his friends with tears of joy shining in his eyes. Boys, this is Luskain, he’ll be traveling with us. The horse is tall and his coat is a deep black with a single white starburst on his forehead, he turns and looks at each of the members of the group. After a moment he bows his head then throws it back tossing his mane. 

Varinth looks at the beautiful horse. Then slowly, with trepidation, he turns to look at Soodi and her reaction.

Soodi moves slowly towards the new horse until they are face to face.  There's a long moment, and then she moves forward and bumps his neck in what seems to be a friendly gesture.  Luskain whinnies and returns the gesture, then takes off into a trot around the party, making a wide circle.  Soodi sniffs, and moves away, rather primly one might think, returning to where she was.

The horse and camel mostly ignore each other as you are travelling, but there is a sense that there is no skittishness or hostility between them.

(fine for rations, and can share if anyone's stuck. Assume Strix is scouting ahead when possible. With regards to the man, he would not approach given talking gets him into trouble, but would take up a defensive position out of his sight lines of the party opt to speak to him.)

Dekhan looks at the figure making his way toward them, gives Luskain a pat on the neck, and hails the man Well met, stranger. What news from the south?

Does anyone else have pets or animal partners yet to arrive?

Oi! Wizard! Are you my familiar?

(also I had three days of rations but didn't add the two you offered at the beginning...so i think i have 1 left. However, since Scupper doesn't take the best care of himself, he might have forgotten and therefore has to borrow a ration or two 😁)

The old man continues to approach.  He is muttering, and as he draws nearer you are able to make out snatches:

...fools will face the consequences of my...

...thousand pits of hell for them all when...

...cute little white streak down her back...

As Dekhan addresses him, he stops, startled, and looks at the paladin.  He raises a finger and jabs at the air in Dekhan's direction.  You... cannot see me.

He then continues walking.  When Scupper speaks, he doesn't stop, but does glare at the halfling.  You can't see me either, what is wrong with young people today?

He keeps going.

Varinth, lounging backwards on Soodi's neck, his sash draped over his eyes, states;

I didn't see nuffin.

Dekhan stands perplexed for a moment Sir! We can see you! If you’ve prepared some enchantment to remain invisible I’m afraid it’s worn off. What fools will be facing consequences exactly?

Why, the fools who exiled me from Waterdeep of course.  Wizards, sorcerers, nincompoops all of them!  I'll show them.  I would happily tell you my plans, except that as I think should be quite clear by now, I am a powerful magician who is able to pass through these lands like a shadow, and you, and he raises his voice and enunciates each words clearly, can    neither     hear     nor     see     me.  I would advise you to heed your inebriated friend here, he indicates Varinth, then he shakes his head in disgust and continues down the road.

Dekhan raises his eyebrows and looks at Vaz before calling after the old man And who shall we say we did not see or hear when we meet the fools in Waterdeep?

He definitely sounds like my familiar. 

Amos, the man replies.  Amos the Invisible and Inaudible, is what you would say if you met those fools or if you are were able to hear me, which you are not!  Hmmm.  I am beginning to suspect you are hallucinations... yes, that would explain... yes, indeed, that is obviously the case here.  He looks at you all, raises himself up to stand as tall as he can, and says.  Do.  Not.  Follow.  Me.  

And he begins to cast a spell.

Dekhan looks to the others Should we... should we follow him?

Varinth hears the telltale overtone in the wizards voice.

The nutter is castin' somethin'.

Vaz raises a corner of the sash to see what is happening.

Zhudala regards Luskein similarly, landing on the horse’s flank to inspect him.

As the group engages in conversation with the tittering old man, Incantis reaches out with his mind, casting detect thoughts.

Amos's WIS save:  11

Incantis, you sense a mess of confusion and clouds, but nothing more.

As the man completes his spell, he lifts gently off the ground and begins swimming in the air; he moves forward at quite a slow pace which seems unconnected to his swimming motions.  Ah, that's better.  Now remember, as he moves off down the road the way you came, you didn't see me.  Or hear me.  

With one lazy eye Varinth watches the strange old man drift away.

Well... that was odd.

Vaz lets the sash drop back down again, and lets his mind wander.

I'd like to apologize on behalf o' my familiar, the Nutter Wizard. I can see the shadow is testing me will with this one.