Rhanloi's Romp Through the Sword Coast

(Gah! Stinking cloak... Disadv roll: 26)

(OK - at the start of Veleen's turn she was 40' away from Genren and 60' away from Wakka. She moved 60' away, making it 100'/120'. Genren can cover 105' if he moves, uses his action to dash, and uses his cunning action to dash again, but he can't direct the dancing sword back to him (bonus action) or tackle Veleen (action). Wakka can move a total of 120' with move, action, and bonus action, also letting him catch up to Veleen but without any action left. Tallow is 110' and Manfred is 100' away from her.)

"Let's see if we can slow her down"  Tallow hurls a Fire Bolt at Veleen Attack: 25 Damage: 12

He then moves 30 feet closer

Sorry if this wasn't clear before...because Veleen dodged between some buildings, nobody had a straight shot at her at the end of her turn. So not only do you have the distance you have to go to catch up with her, but you also need to get within about 20-30 feet of her to see her and thus launch a ranged attack. That's a hazard/issue of running through a town/village! Good news is Genren and Wakka are next to her, so you can follow their shouts. Let's assume Manfred and Tallow move and then dash for their turns. At the end of the first chase round, distances are:
0' : Veleen - Genren - Wakka
+50' : Tallow & Manfred

Chase Round 2: Veleen will use her cunning action (bonus) to Disengage, then move 30' and attempt to Hide on her action. (Stealth: 27)

0' : Veleen
+30': Genren - Wakka
+80' : Tallow & Manfred

Party is up!

Perception 8

"I lost her Genren!  Where'd she go?!?" Wakka shouted after losing track of the Assassin.

Tallow will dash just 50' to catch up with Genren and Wakka.  Breathing heavily "Where'd she go?  We can't let her get away."

Genren attempts to keep track of Veleen (Perception) 12

He'll rush towards her direction and attempt to grapple her down to the ground (athletics) 10 (if I can use acrobatics instead) 12

Bardic: 7

Genren manages to spot Veleen, move towards her, and tries to grab her by the arm! (DC16 acrobatics: 13)

Wakka will follow his colleague (...and get a chance to grab or attack her!)

0' : Veleen, Genren & Wakka
+30':  Tallow
+80' : Manfred

"Hold it right there!" Wakka called out as he attempted to grab her and keep her from running off again.

• Athletics: 19  
• (If if can try a second one due to Extra Attack): Athletics: 15  

Veleen DC19 Acrobatics vs Wakka: 14. Wakka manages to keep a firm grip on Veleen!

2nd try @ DC 15: 22

With the ringleader caught and the remaining dragonshield kobold fleeing to the forest, the immediate threat is once again handled! 

Veleen and her kobolds each conceal hidden symbols of the Cult of Talos. She also carries a case containing a pair of lenses and a note in Common that says, “The lenses show the secrets of the map.” If these lenses are used to view the map found in the basement of the Wayside Inn, it reveals secret writing that points out various other locations of Cult of Talos activity up and down the Sword Coast, with the Thunder Cliffs circled as the central hub of activity. Although non-magical, they allow you to see specially prepared ink.

She also has a small belt pouch with 46 gold pieces and an odd-looking candle. It is red, and thicker than a regular candle. It is uniform in diameter rather than being tapered at one end. (Investigation will reveal it to be a candle of the deep. You know it has been lit before, so do not know how long it may last...

The next morning, the council is eager to hear about your discoveries and planned next steps. They encourage you to investigate this Cult of Talos stronghold, as they have caused the most danger and destruction to the town.

They provide some additional background and insights about the area circled on the map. Known as the Thunder Cliffs, they were named for the sounds that the surf makes as it crashes into this high bluff overlooking the Sea of Swords. The Cliffs rest along the coastline halfway between the Mere of Dead Men and the city of Neverwinter. The caves at the base of the Thunder Cliffs were once a haven for pirates, smugglers, and legitimate seafaring vessels looking for a safe place to wait out coastal storms. The shore there is inaccessible except by sea, making it the perfect haven for sea travelers. 

Valdi Estapaar counsels you on finding passage to the Thunder Cliffs. "The fishing boats used by the fishing fleet of Leilon are not capable of making the trip to the Thunder Cliffs. The seas have been too rough, and the waves on the open ocean would crush the smaller fishing vessels. The area at the base of the Thunder Cliffs, once you reach it, is known for being peaceful and welcoming to vessels." She stops and thinks for a moment, looks at the rest of the council members, then continues.

"The town of Leilon will pay for your passage on another vessel if you are willing to once again save our town from this menace. I know two captains who frequently travel along the Sword Coast, transporting goods on behalf of merchants, as well as carrying travelers. Both are trustworthy and should be traveling toward the Thunder Cliffs within the next tenday. The first captain is Stands in Tar, a jovial if slightly off-kilter tabaxi. She is known for her recklessness, but her daring has also earned her a reputation for being able to do the impossible. Her corsair, the Dancing Delight, is fast and agile. The other captain is Kristoffen, a white dragonborn. He is calculating, efficient, and somber. He captains a galley called the Ice Floe, which is specially outfitted to break through the icy waters of the far north. If you like, I will arrange interviews with one or both of them when they arrive."

You also discover that in the past tenday, a whimsical Illuskan male named Aubrey Silverspun has opened a shop crammed with curiosities dredged from the ruins of Leilon: old fishing rods, swamp idols, mining helmets, and other oddities - even some common magic items line his shelves! A painted tryptic above the counter shows three adventurers: a dark-skinned warrior woman, a red-bearded dwarf, and a third whose portrait has faded with age. Aubrey explains that these are the “Swords of Leilon”: an old adventuring company local to the area. 

Tallow listens to the council and begins to make the party breakfast while they discuss what to do next.  "If you want my opinion, I say we go with the Tabaxi.  That seems so much more fun than some old stick in the mud."  

Genren nods at Tallow in agreement "Aye I'm happy to assist with this menace. For a more traditional mission this dragonborn might be a better fit, hell he might even be a safer bet, but this is by no means traditional... a fast and agile ship would be perfect for a quick entry, but more importantly a quick escape if needed. She sounds like my type of captain, flexible even if volatile or reckless and it's what my company would often use so I am familiar with traveling via corsair." he looks to his more experienced guildmates for thoughts or guidance, lifting a dish up to be served whatever Tallow might be cooking.

Within a few days, both captains arrive via rowboat through the marsh to talk to the party. Their vessels are anchored out at sea, awaiting the party if they are selected as the method of conveyance.

Valdi Estapaar brings the tabaxi Stands in Tar and the dragonborn Kristoffen before the characters to allow them to ask questions of the two captains. They each plead their case for being the best ship and crew for the job.

Stands in Tar staggers slightly as she stands. You suspect that the tabaxi has been in the rum-soaked catnip and is not totally sober. She does, however, plead her case eloquently. Her ship is faster and more agile, and her crew smaller and less likely to gossip about their mission. There isn’t a ship on the sea that the Dancing Delight can’t outmaneuver or outrun on the open ocean.

Kristoffen looks at Stands in Tar with a mixture of disgust and horror, shaking his head in disbelief that anyone would even consider choosing the drunken tabaxi and her ship over him and his. He explains to the party that his ship is more reliable and safer, which they might need on the seas that have become more violent of late. He goes on to reveal that he’s heard rumors that the once-safe caves at the base of the Thunder Cliffs have recently become more dangerous. Stand in Tar scoffs at that idea.

Tallow tries to see if Kristoffen is telling the truth 

Insight 10

Tallow gets no sense that the dragonborn is lying. 

(Unless the group is changing their your collective mind, I'm going to assume that you keep to your previous decision to go with the tabaxi.)

Stands in Tar is  pleased that you choose her, and Kristoffen simply accepts the decision and walks away. Stands in Tar reports that the Dancing Delight and her crew are ready to go as soon as the party is. 

Stands in Tar meets you at the fish yard docks with a pair of sailors who man the oars to the rowboat. She welcomes you warmly, still seeming a bit tipsy but sounding competent as she directs you to your places and orders her sailors to row. It is about a 30 minute trip out to the Dancing Delight, a large wooden corsair with three 80-foot-tall masts with sails to catch the wind and oars on the lower deck for rowing. Besides the captain, the crew consists of four officers (the first mate, bosun, quartermaster, and cook) and  twenty-five sailors. On the forecastle (pronounced folk-sill for the non-sailors out there =) is a ballista, and on the main deck is a mangonel (basically a small trebuchet). You are shown to your quarters - a single stateroom with a bunk bed on the forward and aft bulkhead. There is a strap that you can attach top to bottom across the opening to keep you from rolling out of the rack as the ship sways port to starboard. There is a small footlocker for each of you to store your belongings.

(Any questions or things you want to do before setting sail - either in town or on the ship?)

Sometime over the downtime, Tallow would have spent about 10 - 20gp purchasing ingredients for meals.  He would look for the rarest and most expensive food items he could find and would be a bit flashy about it when he returned to the group.  If there wasn't anything equivalent of black truffles or fois gras, he would buy the next best thing but complain a bit snobbishly about it.  I would talk about how he was used to being about to get better product and just wanted everyone to finally have a decent meal.

After getting on the boat, he would head straight to the cook and ask to help prepare some meals.  He would be very respectful of the cook and his kitchen.  He would start assisting with chopping and prepping and slowly bring out more and more of his higher end supplies to add to the meal until he gradually pushed the cook out of the way and prepared everything himself.

For downtime, Genren would try to purchase any specialty arrows if available, a spyglass, and bag of caltrops. He'd also forward the information he's obtained to his military compatriots in Neverwinter similarly to what he's done in the past. 

Genren  would inspect the crew a bit having some naval experience himself,  (insight to gauge the general vibe and skill: 19 )he'd speak with the captain "How does this ship do with more turbulent waters? It looks like you're well equipped for combat and quick and agile missions which is good, but can she take a beating as well? I like your style... reminders me of an old commander I had. Never fully sober, but sharp as the finest of blades eh?" he chuckles scratching the back of his head.

He ponders, running his hands along the wooden ship railings for a moment, "The name's Genren by the way, a Marine before joining this crew of adventurers so I know my way around a ship if you need any assistance, my eyes are as sharp as they come so I'll happily man the crow's nest."

(I'm assuming that we took the 46 gold and split it up four ways.  So 11.5 gold for each of us.  Also does anyone want to hold onto the Candle of the Deep?) 

During the downtime period, Wakka would at first send word to the Guild Hall in Phandalin and let them know of the status of their original assignment via mail or Sending (assuming there isn't enough time to ride there and back?).  In addition, with the new store opening up in town, Wakka would peruse their wares and see what might be worth purchasing for their journey.  (Are there any healing potions available?  And are there specific common magic items available for purchase?).  Lastly, as he probably grew a bit bored waiting for their transport appear, he would continue to use his abilities around Leilon to help build/ repair the town as needed!

(Will add his initial actions on the boat later today!)  

@Sa1nt_Pat - you can find about 40% of the specialty cooking items you want - some of them things you weren't looking for but are unique to the are and you think they would make an interesting addition to your cooking. The cook onboard welcomes your presence and engages in good discussions about various ingredients and cooking methods, but absolutely refuses to let you rule his 'kingdom'. =)

@Aelas - Stands in Tar grins and tips her hat at your comment. "Quite right! The sea is a fickle ***** - you can't come at her straight and narrow." She gladly pairs you with the Bosun to work with lines and sails, and the First Mate to review the weapons. Both seem professional, but you are not able to get a read on anyone. 

@Zoldier - Yes - you have sending stones and can report to the main Guild Hall. The Guildmaster approves of your responses so far and is glad you are making such a good impression for the Guild in Leilon!  The Oddities shop contains mostly common items or old things pulled from the ruins of the town's buildings as they are refurbished. However, there are a handful of magical items for sale:

• Dust of disappearance - 450 gp
• Lock of trickery - 40 gp
• Oil of slipperiness - 100 gp
• Veteran's cane - 50 gp 
• Wand of magic detection - 600 gp