Nate is a bit perturbed at this entire situation. The group has finally made it to Waterdeep, was just about to meet the Harper contact to see what the next steps might be, and now Soar seems to have picked a fight with a Gargoyle and her employer! Nate is also confused when Soar looks at him to go follow the cultists. In his mind, they have already succeeded in this mission. We already know-ish their plans, and we've reported this said information to the higher-ups as Nate would say.
Regardless of any of that though.... Nate would never leave Soar (let alone any one else in the group) alone in a potential fight to the death. Even if she told him to leave. she must have a reason for doing this... Nate realizes the potential disaster brewing, doesn't want to get himself killed or thrown in jail... so he will basically just stand there, not taking any action, just watching the situation unfold, just like any other by-stander, as to not draw attention to the fact that he knows Soar. (particularly to the god damn city watch!!!). Nate would still be in the combat round though. He's just not doing anything.
The pixie flits up and around the wagon, towards the gargoyle, distracting it slightly and helping Soar should she attack or take any other suitable action against the gargoyle.
Soar will command the gargoyle to halt. WIS 14 save to not move or take any actions this turn.
She will try to open the door with a free action or a bonus action. I can’t remember if it’s really locked or just shut tight.
“This is not a fight. No one needs to attack anyone. This is an inspection, and hopefully a confirmation. That no laws have been broken. That there isn’t a sentient creature stuck held against its will.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Gargoyle WIS save: 20
Soar, you attempt to open the door, but it appears to be locked now.
The Watch guard walks a little closer, confused and hesitant. Traveller, you cannot simply make an inspection of someone else's goods. Do you have reason to believe there is something unlawful in the wagon?
Soar addresses the guard. “I have an accusation of from her,”and she indicates the pixie. “I am hoping that it is not true. That there is no kidnapping or slavery of a sentient creature here. We just arrived from Baldur’s Gate, I just now completed a contract with this gentleman as his bodyguard. I do not need to be the one to look inside. Someone just needs to confirm there is nothing unlawful here. I would be so happy to find out I am being foolish here.”
wow, a little fairy told her... what's with her and that fairy... seems a Gargoyle creature like that maybe should be restrained anyhow... well perhaps Soar has lost it...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Elspeth's been told what Soar thinks is in the wagon, and what Soar wants from all of this already. The problem, of course, is that she isn't quite sure that provoking the city guard would be a good idea, especially considering they're still on the trail of the cultists, who'd probably love to jump on something like this. So: no aggressive action. Instead, she steps up so she's standing alongside Soar, hand briefly patting her shoulder, to show her support and offer her guidance, although she's prepared (not ready) to have to calm them down sometime in the near future. Right now, she just smiles hopelessly at Lasfelro and the guard. "I'm dreadfully sorry about this, but you can imagine, my companion here spent a month of her life escorting this to your esteemed city, guardsman, and it'd just break her heart if it turns out she'd been aiding and abetting in an illicit transaction. It wouldn't look good if she just let it slip under her nose."No mention of what it'd do to the guardsman's reputation, of course. Elspeth's patience is, however, very much getting thin. Still feigning something between moderate to complete casualness, she leans towards Soar and murmurs in celestial: "Tell me you had a plan for this. Don't start a fight, alright?"
I'm assuming some sort of roll would be necessary? Vanilla d20s for now: 113
[dndbeyond, please, let me roll my virtual math rocks]
Guidance has a somatic component, so it wouldn't just be patting Soar on the shoulder; it would be very obviously casting a spell, tracing symbols in the air as well as speaking the verbal component. The guard reacts to it with some alarm: Hey, no magic. Stop that!
I will take the first roll as a Persuasion attempt on the guard, and that's a natural one, so...
Stop her! the guard (apparently the commander) calls. Two other guards come up, hands on their weapons. They don't actually draw, but they do surround Elspeth and give her warning looks.
Carlon hangs back, unwilling to get involved and uncertain what is happening.
The gargoyle seems about to take a swing at Soar, but Lasfelro shouts out. Halt! It seems to obey his command.
Lasfelro then shouts out: Guards, please, stop that woman. She's gone mad. I am simply a merchant, transporting my goods for sale.
Everything is very tense. It seems as though violence could break out at any moment, but everyone is holding back from making the first move.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Would Soar be able to make any of her pitches to the guards persuasion rolls? I didn't know we could do that in combat rounds...
Soar speaks quite a few languages, but not sylvan. She's also spent a lot of her life in Waterdeep. Would she know if the city guards can speak languages like sylvan? Would it be crazy to assume that one of the guards might speak it, or have a way of speaking any language someone they meet might speak?
If persuasion rolls are allowed for Soar, here's one in spoilers:
Jalt eyes up the situation and seeing the guards place their hands on their weapon, he raises both hands in front of him No one wants a fight and no one wants any trouble. My friend here just thinks that something is not quite above board with the goods that were transported. I'm sure if we were all to just have a look then this disagreement can be solved peacefully.He looks to Lasfelro Surely if you aren't hiding anything contraband then you wont have a problem showing us.
Jalt holds action
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
As Soar is not taking any further action to enter the wagon, and Lasfelro has commanded the gargoyle to halt, we can come out of initiative order.
The guard commander looks at Jalt, and then at Soar. Let me be clear, you are accusing this merchant, your former employer, of transporting something illegal?
As you speak of sylvan, the guard commander sighs and turns to one of those, a half-elf, now standing guard of Elspeth. Go get Orleen - he's on fourth docks patrol. The guard salutes and runs off. It will take time; but we will have a translator. Now, why don't you step away from that wagon and tell me exactly what is happening. Lasfelro tries to speak, but she cuts him off. I'll have time to hear from you in a moment, sir. Rest assured you'll get to say your piece. Now, ma'am. She addresses Soar. What in the nine hells is going on?
Elspeth, after that disastrous diplomacy attempt, would definitely and absolutely back off. Way off. She supports Soar and all, and, in fact, that's why she's backing off, literally and physically. She's stepping away from the nice sharp spears of the nice guards and keeping her mouth sealed shut before her temper takes over.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Soar begins to speak, and then stops, in response to the guard. She smiles a bit.
"I... almost said 'it's quite simple, really,' but, well, I realize that doesn't quite pass muster. This isn't the normal thing you deal with at the South Gate, is it? But it is, at its root, rather simple. I just want to ensure there is nothing unlawful happening here, that doesn't immediately threaten the life and freedom of a person."
She relaxes and adopts a bit more of her real mannerisms, more bits of the Soar her friends know beginning to poke through.
"Everything is as I just told you. I was employed to protect the person of Lasfelro here, traveling from Baldur's Gate to Waterdeep. I risked life and limb to do so, against many dangers on the road. Recently, I became aware of accusations, the possibility that this wagon did not contain simple goods, but rather held a sentient creature against its will."
She gestures during this, in a friendly manner, to the pixie, realizing that the pixie can't really understand most of her words.
"Lasfelro, you have been a decent and proper employer through the length of our contract. It was very hard for me to believe those accusations, so I waited. Hoping it wasn't true. You dismissed anything resembling a question, so I didn't have any choice. As we entered the city, and you paid me for the completion of out agreed-upon contract, I realized that this could be solved with a simple inspection."
Turning once again to the guard, she adopts her most empathetic, sincere face, fully Soar again.
"I don't want to cause trouble. Only prevent it. And protect others. All I am asking here is confirmation that these are indeed goods, and not a thinking, breathing, feeling being who does not want to be in there. I would love nothing more than to be wrong. I am happy to return some of my pay for any trouble this causes you."
She's trying to stay physically separate from Elspeth, Nate, and Jalt, fully aware none of them asked for this. She had honestly hoped that they could have continued on into the city while she tried this, and she thanked Kelemvor for the fact that they didn't enter combat.
Rolls?
Not sure if you need a deception check for any of this, mainly for omitting some of the story. Deception: 9 Or performance? Deception: 10 Or persuasion? 18
The guard commander sighs. I see. And you, sir? What is your view on this?
Lasfelro is still red-faced from anger and shock. I... this... person... I thought...
He takes a deep breath, and starts again.
I have been to Waterdeep before. I know your laws. I do not break them. I transport legal goods only. You have the right to search my wagon, if you have grounds to do so. You do not. The word of this... he looks at Soar with renewed fury on his face... this turncoat. This vagrant. This is not sufficient. She has no standing.
He crosses his arms.
The guard commander sighs again. All right. Names. I am Lieutenant Mixtier, of the Waterdeep City Watch. You, sir?
"Boar, formerly a caravan guard. People call me Soar here, though. Sunny disposition, you see. Lieutenant Mixtier, it is good to be home. I spent over two decades as a Waterdhavian. People will vouch for me here. I can provide references if needed. I don't want to cause trouble. If they are legal goods, you have my sincere apologies, Lasfelro."
OOC: should we make a location or address for where the church of Kelemvor is, as well as the chapterhouse where the doomguides train and operate out of? Was looking at the map, and thought maybe this Rejviik's Mortuary [T45 here] could be a sort of comforting, nonprofit charity run by the clerics and paladins of the god of the dead, there to help guide people through the process of grief. Perhaps Rejviik is a grave cleric or doomguide and it makes sense they'd have a mortuary with the chapterhouse and church nearby, just around the corner from the City of the Dead.
If you're good with that, she will provide the address of the mortuary and Rejviik's name when she says she can provide references, knowing that the guards would know immediately what it is.
(OOC: I would locate the temple of Kelemvor, with chapterhouse, within or on the edge of the City of the Dead. Do you know what date that map is supposed to be? I couldn't find anything on it, but the art style suggests an earlier edition to me. There's a map from Dragon Heist in that module, but that's from three years after Hoard of the Dragon. The map I shared above is from the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.)
Mixtier nods, seeming happier than before. I see. Perhaps we will need to speak to those who can vouch for you. It may come to that. For the moment, let us wait. Since this creature, and she indicates the pixie who buzzes unhappily, is the source of the accusation, I will hear her words.
A few minutes later, two guards come jogging up. One you have seen before, the other is an elven youth, only just into adulthood, with short red hair and an apologetic smiles. He salutes the lieutenant and stands, a little more awkwardly than most naturally-graceful elves you've seen.
Orleen, this woman, she points to Soar, has accused this merchant, and she points at Lasfelro, of holding a captive within his wagon, but apparently the accusation comes from this...
Pixie, the young elf says helpfully. She only speaks Sylvan?
Apparently. Please get her side of the story, the lieutenant says.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Nate is a bit perturbed at this entire situation. The group has finally made it to Waterdeep, was just about to meet the Harper contact to see what the next steps might be, and now Soar seems to have picked a fight with a Gargoyle and her employer! Nate is also confused when Soar looks at him to go follow the cultists. In his mind, they have already succeeded in this mission. We already know-ish their plans, and we've reported this said information to the higher-ups as Nate would say.
Regardless of any of that though.... Nate would never leave Soar (let alone any one else in the group) alone in a potential fight to the death. Even if she told him to leave. she must have a reason for doing this... Nate realizes the potential disaster brewing, doesn't want to get himself killed or thrown in jail... so he will basically just stand there, not taking any action, just watching the situation unfold, just like any other by-stander, as to not draw attention to the fact that he knows Soar. (particularly to the god damn city watch!!!). Nate would still be in the combat round though. He's just not doing anything.
The pixie flits up and around the wagon, towards the gargoyle, distracting it slightly and helping Soar should she attack or take any other suitable action against the gargoyle.
Soar is up.
Soar will command the gargoyle to halt. WIS 14 save to not move or take any actions this turn.
She will try to open the door with a free action or a bonus action. I can’t remember if it’s really locked or just shut tight.
“This is not a fight. No one needs to attack anyone. This is an inspection, and hopefully a confirmation. That no laws have been broken. That there isn’t a sentient creature stuck held against its will.”
Gargoyle WIS save: 20
Soar, you attempt to open the door, but it appears to be locked now.
The Watch guard walks a little closer, confused and hesitant. Traveller, you cannot simply make an inspection of someone else's goods. Do you have reason to believe there is something unlawful in the wagon?
(Soar can respond out of turn, if you wish.)
Elspeth is up.
Soar addresses the guard. “I have an accusation of from her,” and she indicates the pixie. “I am hoping that it is not true. That there is no kidnapping or slavery of a sentient creature here. We just arrived from Baldur’s Gate, I just now completed a contract with this gentleman as his bodyguard. I do not need to be the one to look inside. Someone just needs to confirm there is nothing unlawful here. I would be so happy to find out I am being foolish here.”
wow, a little fairy told her... what's with her and that fairy... seems a Gargoyle creature like that maybe should be restrained anyhow... well perhaps Soar has lost it...
(Nate's thoughts in the moment)
Elspeth's been told what Soar thinks is in the wagon, and what Soar wants from all of this already. The problem, of course, is that she isn't quite sure that provoking the city guard would be a good idea, especially considering they're still on the trail of the cultists, who'd probably love to jump on something like this. So: no aggressive action. Instead, she steps up so she's standing alongside Soar, hand briefly patting her shoulder, to show her support and offer her guidance, although she's prepared (not ready) to have to calm them down sometime in the near future. Right now, she just smiles hopelessly at Lasfelro and the guard. "I'm dreadfully sorry about this, but you can imagine, my companion here spent a month of her life escorting this to your esteemed city, guardsman, and it'd just break her heart if it turns out she'd been aiding and abetting in an illicit transaction. It wouldn't look good if she just let it slip under her nose." No mention of what it'd do to the guardsman's reputation, of course. Elspeth's patience is, however, very much getting thin. Still feigning something between moderate to complete casualness, she leans towards Soar and murmurs in celestial: "Tell me you had a plan for this. Don't start a fight, alright?"
I'm assuming some sort of roll would be necessary? Vanilla d20s for now: 113
[dndbeyond, please, let me roll my virtual math rocks]
Guidance has a somatic component, so it wouldn't just be patting Soar on the shoulder; it would be very obviously casting a spell, tracing symbols in the air as well as speaking the verbal component. The guard reacts to it with some alarm: Hey, no magic. Stop that!
I will take the first roll as a Persuasion attempt on the guard, and that's a natural one, so...
Stop her! the guard (apparently the commander) calls. Two other guards come up, hands on their weapons. They don't actually draw, but they do surround Elspeth and give her warning looks.
Carlon hangs back, unwilling to get involved and uncertain what is happening.
The gargoyle seems about to take a swing at Soar, but Lasfelro shouts out. Halt! It seems to obey his command.
Lasfelro then shouts out: Guards, please, stop that woman. She's gone mad. I am simply a merchant, transporting my goods for sale.
Everything is very tense. It seems as though violence could break out at any moment, but everyone is holding back from making the first move.
Jalt is up.
Would Soar be able to make any of her pitches to the guards persuasion rolls? I didn't know we could do that in combat rounds...
Soar speaks quite a few languages, but not sylvan. She's also spent a lot of her life in Waterdeep. Would she know if the city guards can speak languages like sylvan? Would it be crazy to assume that one of the guards might speak it, or have a way of speaking any language someone they meet might speak?
If persuasion rolls are allowed for Soar, here's one in spoilers:
20
(Soar can try that on her turn, yes, but not right now. :) )
Jalt eyes up the situation and seeing the guards place their hands on their weapon, he raises both hands in front of him No one wants a fight and no one wants any trouble. My friend here just thinks that something is not quite above board with the goods that were transported. I'm sure if we were all to just have a look then this disagreement can be solved peacefully. He looks to Lasfelro Surely if you aren't hiding anything contraband then you wont have a problem showing us.
Jalt holds action
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
The guard commander does not respond to Jalt yet; you'll find out her reaction on...
Round Two
Nate and the pixie
Soar
Guard commander and two other guards
Elspeth
Carlon
Gargoyle and Lasfelro
Jalt
Nate is up.
Nate doesn’t do anything and will hold his action.
Soar will try to charm the pants off the guard. What is the pixie doing as this turns not into combat, but a discussion?
”Does anyone here speak sylvan? That is what this one speaks.”
As Soar is not taking any further action to enter the wagon, and Lasfelro has commanded the gargoyle to halt, we can come out of initiative order.
The guard commander looks at Jalt, and then at Soar. Let me be clear, you are accusing this merchant, your former employer, of transporting something illegal?
As you speak of sylvan, the guard commander sighs and turns to one of those, a half-elf, now standing guard of Elspeth. Go get Orleen - he's on fourth docks patrol. The guard salutes and runs off. It will take time; but we will have a translator. Now, why don't you step away from that wagon and tell me exactly what is happening. Lasfelro tries to speak, but she cuts him off. I'll have time to hear from you in a moment, sir. Rest assured you'll get to say your piece. Now, ma'am. She addresses Soar. What in the nine hells is going on?
Elspeth, after that disastrous diplomacy attempt, would definitely and absolutely back off. Way off. She supports Soar and all, and, in fact, that's why she's backing off, literally and physically. She's stepping away from the nice sharp spears of the nice guards and keeping her mouth sealed shut before her temper takes over.
Soar begins to speak, and then stops, in response to the guard. She smiles a bit.
"I... almost said 'it's quite simple, really,' but, well, I realize that doesn't quite pass muster. This isn't the normal thing you deal with at the South Gate, is it? But it is, at its root, rather simple. I just want to ensure there is nothing unlawful happening here, that doesn't immediately threaten the life and freedom of a person."
She relaxes and adopts a bit more of her real mannerisms, more bits of the Soar her friends know beginning to poke through.
"Everything is as I just told you. I was employed to protect the person of Lasfelro here, traveling from Baldur's Gate to Waterdeep. I risked life and limb to do so, against many dangers on the road. Recently, I became aware of accusations, the possibility that this wagon did not contain simple goods, but rather held a sentient creature against its will."
She gestures during this, in a friendly manner, to the pixie, realizing that the pixie can't really understand most of her words.
"Lasfelro, you have been a decent and proper employer through the length of our contract. It was very hard for me to believe those accusations, so I waited. Hoping it wasn't true. You dismissed anything resembling a question, so I didn't have any choice. As we entered the city, and you paid me for the completion of out agreed-upon contract, I realized that this could be solved with a simple inspection."
Turning once again to the guard, she adopts her most empathetic, sincere face, fully Soar again.
"I don't want to cause trouble. Only prevent it. And protect others. All I am asking here is confirmation that these are indeed goods, and not a thinking, breathing, feeling being who does not want to be in there. I would love nothing more than to be wrong. I am happy to return some of my pay for any trouble this causes you."
She's trying to stay physically separate from Elspeth, Nate, and Jalt, fully aware none of them asked for this. She had honestly hoped that they could have continued on into the city while she tried this, and she thanked Kelemvor for the fact that they didn't enter combat.
Rolls?
Not sure if you need a deception check for any of this, mainly for omitting some of the story. Deception: 9
Or performance? Deception: 10
Or persuasion? 18
The guard commander sighs. I see. And you, sir? What is your view on this?
Lasfelro is still red-faced from anger and shock. I... this... person... I thought...
He takes a deep breath, and starts again.
I have been to Waterdeep before. I know your laws. I do not break them. I transport legal goods only. You have the right to search my wagon, if you have grounds to do so. You do not. The word of this... he looks at Soar with renewed fury on his face... this turncoat. This vagrant. This is not sufficient. She has no standing.
He crosses his arms.
The guard commander sighs again. All right. Names. I am Lieutenant Mixtier, of the Waterdeep City Watch. You, sir?
Lasfelro the merchant, Lasfelro responds.
She turns to Soar. Your name, please?
"Boar, formerly a caravan guard. People call me Soar here, though. Sunny disposition, you see. Lieutenant Mixtier, it is good to be home. I spent over two decades as a Waterdhavian. People will vouch for me here. I can provide references if needed. I don't want to cause trouble. If they are legal goods, you have my sincere apologies, Lasfelro."
OOC: should we make a location or address for where the church of Kelemvor is, as well as the chapterhouse where the doomguides train and operate out of? Was looking at the map, and thought maybe this Rejviik's Mortuary [T45 here] could be a sort of comforting, nonprofit charity run by the clerics and paladins of the god of the dead, there to help guide people through the process of grief. Perhaps Rejviik is a grave cleric or doomguide and it makes sense they'd have a mortuary with the chapterhouse and church nearby, just around the corner from the City of the Dead.
If you're good with that, she will provide the address of the mortuary and Rejviik's name when she says she can provide references, knowing that the guards would know immediately what it is.
(OOC: I would locate the temple of Kelemvor, with chapterhouse, within or on the edge of the City of the Dead. Do you know what date that map is supposed to be? I couldn't find anything on it, but the art style suggests an earlier edition to me. There's a map from Dragon Heist in that module, but that's from three years after Hoard of the Dragon. The map I shared above is from the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.)
Mixtier nods, seeming happier than before. I see. Perhaps we will need to speak to those who can vouch for you. It may come to that. For the moment, let us wait. Since this creature, and she indicates the pixie who buzzes unhappily, is the source of the accusation, I will hear her words.
A few minutes later, two guards come jogging up. One you have seen before, the other is an elven youth, only just into adulthood, with short red hair and an apologetic smiles. He salutes the lieutenant and stands, a little more awkwardly than most naturally-graceful elves you've seen.
Orleen, this woman, she points to Soar, has accused this merchant, and she points at Lasfelro, of holding a captive within his wagon, but apparently the accusation comes from this...
Pixie, the young elf says helpfully. She only speaks Sylvan?
Apparently. Please get her side of the story, the lieutenant says.