Waterdeep Dragon Heist - Campaign Thread (DM: Webgambit)

Vassa walks out with the cleric on their way back to the Manor, nodding his head at the criticism, smiling the whole time. Periodically the bard will say things like, "Great point, Phae... Now that you mention it, I agree... Wow, very insightful - why didn't I think of that, etc." 

Mostly the half-drow just looks distracted as he mentally writes lyrics and constructs the night's show in his mind, hoping that Grumpy will show up and appreciate the effort he's put in.

Quote from WebGambit >>

Quote from KestrellKestrell >>

"Wow!  That is way too much for a book.  How much for the cat book?"

 
Looking rather affronted, "I'm sorry you feel that way sir. All of my books are 25 gold. And every bookstore in town charges the same, the prices are set by the guild. Some books may be higher if there's something special about them but 25 gold is the minimum allowed by the guild. Perhaps you've never scribed a book before. It's quite labor intensive."

 "No, I can't say as I have.  But for 25 gold I could buy enough food to last me for a year out in the woods.  You let me know when you've got a good deal on a book for 25 silver. "

Kestrell leaves with the others, and as he walks he keeps a lookout for any stray cats or kittens that he can bring back to the Manor.

OOC: Perception: 10

On the way back Kestrell does see a few stray cats here and there. And manages to catch one old tom cat, blonde in color. The exercise was not without risk as Kestrell now had a number of scratches on his hands and forearms.

OOC: In case anyone is wondering why Kes couldn't have a made an animal handling check there, the Animal Handling skill gives a few examples of its usage, such as calming a domesticated animal, keeping a mount from getting spooked, intuiting an animal's intentions and so on. Emphasis mine. These are only examples, but the skill clearly has limits and personal experience tells me feral cats are a rough crowd. But perhaps with time he can turn this feral cat into a domesticated one.

Soon the party is back at the manor. The construction seems to be going well and the group relaxes in taproom.

"Hey guys!  Look what I found!  Gazer bait!"  Kestrell proudly holds up the old, blonde cat.  He gets a saucer of milk and puts the cat in the basement, trying to comfort the cat and get him used to the new manor.

Animal Handling: 19

//what time of day is it at this time?//

"Well, I've heard worse pet names." Vassa walks over and pats Mr. Gazer Bait fondly, winking at Kes as he does so. Leaning against the bar with an admiring glance around the significantly refurbished tavern, the relaxed bard finally turns back to his companions and asks, "So, what's it to be? Do we head back to the ship and search for evidence against 'Grumpy' or persist with trying to lure him into a trap? I'm for the latter, partly because I've got an idea that's sure to raise his hackles, but mainly because I doubt that he'd have anything that we could tie to his crimes just lying around his abode. Or does someone have another suggestion?"

Before Kestrell takes his cat downstairs, he responds to Vassa: "Gazer Bait?  For a name.  No, that's a mouthful.  This handsome, but ornery fellow is named 'Elsa'.  A boy named Elsa, that's right."

As Vassa ponders the night's plan, Kestrell adds: "I think we should try the trap again.  Either way, don't leave without me.  I'll be downstairs trying to catch Gazers for a little bit."

Bason comes up the manor and opens the door (perhaps a little too hard). His armor is slightly scorched and his beard is a little singed, adding some black to his red beard. He walks to a table, pulls out a seat and falls into while dropping his gear to the ground. 

He lets out a big sigh as he puts his feet up on the table. "What a day! I think I've taken care of all my duties with the Guild now. What have you lot been up to? Rescuing any more plumbers? Or still looking for murderers? ...No one messed with my brewing stuff downstairs, right?"

He stops, looks up right at the Goliath. "Wait a minute. Something is new...... Since when was there a cat here!" 

"Ohh welcome back Bason, it is good to see you again."

"Yes a new cat and well, Selinae as well. I do not believe you have meet her yet either. Speaking of cats... I will not let you use Elsa as gazer bait! Poor little kitten. I thought you had a heart Kestrell.... really?"

(Assuming  Phaedra brought this up before, I headed downstairs):

"Don't worry, Elsa won't be in any danger of getting eaten by Gazers.  We'll kill the Gazers first!  You can show us how to do it!!"

"Hey, Bason. Great to see you again! Still hard at work, toiling for the man... or dwarf? No one's touched your brewing gear, though i'd be happy to volunteer to 'test' sample your creations as needed - in the name of scientific advancement, of course!

We found the murderer and are currently discussing how to best take him down. Looks like we're going to try to lure him into attacking us again. To that end, I have a better idea than my previous solo act... who here would like to be in a play?"

[OOC] Sorry about the lack of formatting. Away from home, using my phone. 

Selinae stared back at the dwarf for a long moment...

"meow."

"Bason, pleased to make your acquaintance.", she said with a slight curtsey.

She was very tempted to say yes to the play...she loved the theatre....but her eyes were getting drowsy.

" I was thinking if we're going to be up all night it might be worth grabbing a few hours shut eye. I can pay for a bunk if you've one spare."

"I think we've got a few hours to spare, Selinae. The tavern runs from dusk till dawn and I have a feeling that Grumpy probably likes to hit his victims in the wee hours when people are least aware. Besides, Kes is busy gazer hunting and my preperations will take a little while.

And we wouldn't dream of charging you to stay with us. In fact, and I'm sure the whole gang would agree, feel free to stay as long as you'd like. There's plenty of room."

Vassa bows low in a courtly fashion to Selinae, grins at Phae and then heads out the door.

[OOC] Vassa is going to a few stores to pick up a number of cheap stage props for the play, i.e. a couple of bawdy dresses, a deurgar mask and a large pram.

Time passes, the sun sets, and before you all know it it's time for Vassa to head the bar.

Who's doing what?

Kestrell comes up from the basement after a second hour.  "Hey, Bason!  Welcome back.  Well, no luck with the Gazers yet.  Maybe we need to make Elsa meowl more so they can hear him?"

"When are we leaving for the thing to catch the murderer?"

OOC: Animal Handling for second hour: 4

Having returned from his little shopping trip, Vassa lays the purchased items out and outlines his plan - to put on a short, slapstick and ribald play titled 'The Wanton Blade' about a pompous drow mercenary with a penchant for exotic affairs, who fumbles his way through short lived romances with first a surface elf, then a human and finally a dwarf, the latter resulting in a child which (using creative licence here) turns out to be a duergar. Vassa explains that the whole point of the play is to ridicule and taunt 'Grumpy' with the theme of interracial coupling and progeny that the murderer seemed to find so offensive.

"So who wants in? The dialogue and scenes are very simple, and due to the comic tone and mocking intent of the play, acting skills and character accuracy are not at all important. I'm happy to play either the pompous lead or act as narrator and provider of the score. A bit of applied makeup and the use of a few props and we should be good to go."

Vassa waits for a response, clearly hopeful that some of his companions might be willing to get involved.

[OOC] DM please let me know how much the props would cost. If it exceeds Vassa's current funds, he'll try and cut corners and improvise as much as possible.

Quote from vassasunstar >>

Having returned from his little shopping trip, Vassa lays the purchased items out and outlines his plan - to put on a short, slapstick and ribald play titled 'The Wanton Blade' about a pompous drow mercenary with a penchant for exotic affairs, who fumbles his way through short lived romances with first a surface elf, then a human and finally a dwarf, the latter resulting in a child which (using creative licence here) turns out to be a duergar. Vassa explains that the whole point of the play is to ridicule and taunt 'Grumpy' with the theme of interracial coupling and progeny that the murderer seemed to find so offensive.

"So who wants in? The dialogue and scenes are very simple, and due to the comic tone and mocking intent of the play, acting skills and character accuracy are not at all important. I'm happy to play either the pompous lead or act as narrator and provider of the score. A bit of applied makeup and the use of a few props and we should be good to go."

Vassa waits for a response, clearly hopeful that some of his companions might be willing to get involved.

[OOC] DM please let me know how much the props would cost. If it exceeds Vassa's current funds, he'll try and cut corners and improvise as much as possible.

 Having had a few hours shuteye Selinae comes downstairs and nods as Vassa finishes talking, " What part do I play? Do you need a tree? Or a mountain, I can do a good mountain."

Kestrell listens as Vassa outlines his plan.  "Alright, I'm in.  But I'm not wearing makeup."

Growing increasingly excited as Selinae and Kes buy in. "Great, Sel, though I think we can pass you off as a tall human woman. No worries, Kes. How about you narrate and keep a lookout, and I'll play the antagonist? Unless Silver wants to play the lead, then I'll provide music and special effects. Anyone else? If you're not against a bit of role-play, Bason, you'd be perfect for the dwarven love interest and the duergar baby... ere, no offense intended. Then we'd just need someone to play the human paramour."

Vassa says the last holding one of the low cut dresses up to himself, wriggling his hips suggestively and grinning widely at his companions.

Quote from vassasunstar >>

Growing increasingly excited as Selinae and Kes buy in. "Great, Sel, though I think we can pass you off as a tall human woman. No worries, Kes. How about you narrate and keep a lookout, and I'll play the antagonist? Unless Silver wants to play the lead, then I'll provide music and special effects. Anyone else? If you're not against a bit of role-play, Bason, you'd be perfect for the dwarven love interest and the duergar baby... ere, no offense intended. Then we'd just need someone to play the human paramour."

Vassa says the last holding one of the low cut dresses up to himself, wriggling his hips suggestively and grinning widely at his companions.

 " You want me to speak?", she clapped excitedly, bouncing a little on her heels.

" I never got to speak in the school plays. I got  lot of practice at trees and mountains though..........Oh! I was a hill giant once! I got to say " Me Smash!"