Waterdeep Dragon Heist - Campaign Thread (DM: Webgambit)

"Relax, Sel. Remember, this is all a ruse to catch Soluun. You're not being judged on your performance, at least not in anyway that matters. Just let your inhibitions go and have fun with the whole experience. This entire play is pure mockery, so run with that if you can.

If you need direction, ahh... how about this! Your character (Wanton Woman 1.) is motivated at first by a desire to rid herself of the Wanton Blade's company, but then falls foul of his dark charms and from that point forward is motivated by lust. In fact, lust is pretty much the over-arching theme of this play. Remember, we're trying to make Soluun so furious with our antics on that stage that he makes a critical error that ends in his capture. The more ridiculous we make him seem and the more we play on his hatred for elves, half-elves and their existence, the better our chance of success."

Seeing how nervous the goliath is, Vassa makes light conversation to put her more at ease, assuming that Phae and Bason have their lines and scenes pretty much down pat. The half-drows violet gaze sweeps the interior of the tavern periodically, searching for any sign of their quarry.

perception check to spot any sign of Soluun: 2

Elon ventures down to the tavern with the others. Once inside, he finds himself a spot in the corner away from the others where he can watch the door and the patrons.

"So basically your story line is that I am ment to lust after you...that is it. That's all you could come up with? I suppose my costume supports such acts, my bodice can barely be laced up! Do you know how I would look if one of the other priest from the temple comes down here tonight and witness me like this.

You have better hope that this stupid drow of yours turns up fast or the slaps will not be fake. And no hands, you hear me?"

 Phaedra stands looking at the bard with her hands on her hips.

*Come to Waterdeep and fix the surge of dark cult and gang activity they said. Now look what I am doing. Playing dress-ups for a bunch of drunks. I bet not one of that crowd has even prayed before the Lady of Mysterious tonight, even once this week*

Nodding his head slightly as he watches Elon move into a quiet corner, Vassa turns back towards Phae with a look of mock innocence on his face, hands safely at his side, but his eyes roaming somewhat freely, before saying, "Why, dearest Phae, you do wound me so. I'm a professional, I'll have you know. But remember what we discussed... initially, you, as Wanton Woman 2., lust after Wanton Woman 1. It's only after the Wanton Blade spurns his human lover and professes his undying love to you, that you fall for his wicked ways. The whole things is admittedly rather sordid, certainly not my finest work, but as something concocted on the fly it should suffice. Besides, the crowd should eat it up... and it should drive Soluun furiously mad, which is entirely the point. 

Of course, the penultimate scene where Wanton Women 1. & 2. find the Blade in bed with Wanton Women 3. is the real bell-ringer. Feel free to let those slaps fly hard and fast... just don't knock me out, if'n you please. I'll need to be conscious for the final scene, when I renounce my promiscuous ways and help to deliver mine and Bason's duergar baby. I just finished the closing speech, and it really is a tear jerker, if I do say so myself!"

Vassa will take one last appreciate side-long glance at Phae, before making final preperations to their costumes and props, thinking to himself 'Come on, Soluun, you bastard! Don't you let this all be for naught. If you hate half-elves, you should REALLY hate me after this... so come and get me!!!'

OOC: Sorry, weekends are tough for me. I'll back up a little to the afternoon

Bason shakes his head and stands. 

"Appologies, where are my manors." He bows to Selinae.  "Hullo Selinae, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Bason CrimsonBrow."

Then, hearing the conversation. "Wait, you know who the murderer is? I have an ax that could solve our problems."

"Um, I suppose a play can work, but isn't a direct approach better? Well, what ever you all want to do, you've been thinking about it more then I. "

"Who Gazing at what now? Are we throwing the cat at them? I'm not sure what you all have been up to, but it seems you've been having fun without me! Wait, they're coming from the basement? My stuff is down there!" He will stay down in the basement protecting his brewing supplies, waiting for it to be time to go to. He will try to pet the cat while he's down there. Animal Handling 14

Bason will head to the bar with the others but will come in slightly after them. He will head to the opposite corner as Elon and order a drink, waiting for any commotion. He's not much of a performer, and it might be better to have someone this Soluun doesn't know waiting in the wings. 

"Security, aye Vassa?  I can handle that. If he comes in, I'll stand by the front door to make sure he doesn't go out that way."

As the conversation continues and Phaedra voices her concerns, Kestrell pipes in: "Tell us more about not being able to lace up the bodice!"

As it gets closer to show time, Kestrell moves over to stand by the door, with a view of the stage and of everyone who comes in.

"All good, Kes. Those not on stage are the eyes and blades of this little operation, we're the bait. He may not choose to attack inside a crowded tavern, so I'll still be wandering out alone later, 'drunk' as a skunk, stumbling down the pier. Again, the surveillance and confrontation parts of the trap are completely up to you all. Now where's Bason? Oh there he is - must be another one who's a little stage shy."

Vassa wanders over to Bason, "Hey, Bason! There you are. Ready to blow all these folks away with your debut performance? Hope you're not nervous, we have plenty of our 'friends' supporting in the audience. Phae, Sel and I really need you up there with us... you're the only actor with two roles to play and to be honest, you kind of steal the show, despite only saying two lines. You'll do great - trust me!"

Vassa walks up to the still unlit stage, quietly talks everyone through the scenes one last time, arranges the props and actors and then cueing the lanterns, turns back with a flourish of his cloak, drawing his rapier and crouching in a mock-deadly dueling stance, saying, 

"Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the one and only performance of... The Wanton Blade! *sparks* 

It all begins with a lone drow mercenary, a fellow neither as handsome nor as smart as he thinks he is, playing cards in a rough tavern, much like this one in fact. While he's playing for copper, pauper that he is, it's not gold that's on his mind. Oh, no. It's treasure of another kind...

[OOC] Whether or not Bason agrees to take part (hopefully yes, otherwise Vassa will adhoc playing a half-drow baby instead in the final scene, giving the father's speech from the baby's perspective), the show must go on. Throughout the play, whenever the other actors are speaking, Vassa will step back into the shadows to use his viol, dancing lights, prestidigitation to add effects and atmosphere, also using Airus to blow hair around and lift skirts for the audiences amusement.

performance check: 25

DM - If having the 3 other PCs assisting in the play acts as help, let me know and I'll roll again. The intended result of the play is 100% mockery of Soluun, but down in a bawdy and ridiculous fashion for the entertainment of the locals.

OOC - I need all the actors to give me a performance check, please. Either here or in the ooc thread.

Performance: 13

 Bason stares blankly at Vassa and says as Vassa walks back to the stage "Wait, I thought you were joking. I thought he was joking. Oh gods, I actually have to perform."

He'll down his drink and make his way to the stage. Bason has faced many battles, fought numerous enemies. This terrified him like nothing else. 

The normally loud and excitable cleric does not seem comfortable on stage at all. It could be the crowd or the atmosphere, the overly tight dress that we making her feels selfconsious or even the topic of the play. Phaedra froze and in doing so required a good prod from Vassa to get her moving again.

Much to the crowds delight this resulted in a slap that the half-drow was not anticipating. 

Since the entire nature of the play was poking fun at stereotypes, the patrons just assumed the poor acting was intentional. Well, the patrons who were sober enough to notice, anyway. Either way, there were lots of laughs during it and even some applause at the end. But the tips were a bit slim. At the end of the night there was only 53 copper in the tip jar.

At no point did anyone looking like your Drow come into the bar, unfortunately.

Patting everyone on the shoulders at the end of the performance, Vassa tosses the bag with the coppers in it to Phae, saying in a loud, slurred voice, "Y'all did good... *hic* Take this for your troubles. Me, I'm gonna grab a bottle and head out for a walk to enjoy the rest of the night in peace."

Staggering towards the door, Vassa heads out, wandering down the docks alone. 

[OOC] performance check for the drunken act: 14

perception check (made with disadvantage because he's trying not to appear like he's looking around): 9

Selinae was quiet after the performance, she knew she sucked but she was just so very happy to have been included....and given a speaking part!

As Vassa left Selinae turned to the others, " Wheres Vassa going?"

Silver waits in the alley looking for any signs of their friend from the other night. There was a solid feeling of anticipation building up inside of him about what may happen tonight.

OOC:

perception check: 9

As Vassa walks out the door, Kestrell casts Hunter's Mark on him, and winks as he stumbles by.

To Selinae, if she asked in a whisper "He's hoping that the Drow fellow will jump him."  If she asked loudly where anyone can overhear: "Probably to find a pot to piss in and then a wench or two."

And then Kestrell whispers: "Wait for me to leave, then wander out the door and meet me in the alley."

After about 5 minutes Kestrell will causally walk out the door, and then down the nearest alley.  After waiting a couple of minutes to see who joins him, he'll quietly begin to track Vassa, with advantage from Hunter's Mark.

OOC:
Stealth to try to hide from the Drow while Kestrell is trying to find Vassa: 23
Perception: 23

Bason stumbles off the stage. "They'll probably have to clean up that pot I vomited in. I do not belong on a stage."

He makes his way shakily towards the bar and orders a drink, to calm his nerves. He'll drink at the bar and watch as the other's slowly make there way out. A few minutes after Kestrell heads out, he'll join them outside. 

To Kestrell, he'll say "I'm not the most inconspicuous person. I'll hang back 100ft or so and follow behind you lot."

OOC:
Stealth 9
Perception 18

Edit: For rolling stealth with disadvantage, that wasn't bad. He's muffling his chain mail pretty well. 

"Good plan, Bason.  Nice job up on stage by the way."

Bason goes a little green around the gills just thinking about it. "Never again."

Elon walks out as though he is not part of the group and follows Vassa far enough back to barely keep him in sight.