Before heading out, Uragum will put a hand on Ola's shoulder and say, "Catch up with us when you can. If there are multiple passages I'll mark them for you to follow. Just look high." As he says that he raises his right arm and with his height it stretches above where an average person's line of site leads to. He will then follow the others out the door.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rillo nods, adjusting the small pouch he travels with, barely glancing back as he leads most of the party out of the Tea Kettle and across Phlan toward the Stojanow River that zigzags through the center of town.
Along the way, he makes casual conversation with Uragum, asking questions of his interests in tinkering and speaking of his small workshop. Their difference in size makes the two an interesting pair, but the gnome does not seem to be put off by the towering goliath.
Within the hour, you reach the edge of town, traversing the rough shore at the edge of the river. Rillo stops and points toward the small cliffs lining the edge of the water. "There, by the bend," he says. "That is where the man said would take me beneath the Lyceum of the Black Lord...the direction he saw the men heading with Villonah."
Arnald and Sylyra spot it first with their keen eyesight. Almost impossible to see from an angle within Phlan, an opening sits just at the edge of the riverbend. The mouth of the tunnel does indeed appear to head directly underneath the city.
______________________________________________
Ola Perception: 9
It takes only a few questions for Ola to find directions toward the nearest Black Fist guardpost, located near the docks. The signage around the area is hard to miss, and she soon finds herself staring into the Moonsea at the southern edge of town. The guardpost is a small, nondescript building, with only the symbol of the Black Fist to declare its purpose. The door to the building is closed, but light flickers from within.
As soon as Arnald spots the entrance Sly lifts off and flies toward it and lands in front of it. Sly then makes a show of walking around the ground searching for food while glancing around for any guards or sentries.
While Sly is doing that Arnald turns to Rillo, "Thank you for leading us here. Please go back home or somewhere safe. My friends and I will take it from here."
If Sly says it's all clear
Arnald motions for the others to follow and he heads to the entrance.
If Sly spots sentries/guards
Arnald gets their positions, tells the others to stay back while he stealthily flanks them and proceeds to attempt to silently take them out from afar with well placed arrows.
During the Uragum would discuss with Rillo his hopes of working to create magical items. He'd excitingly describe the schema for magical wands made from elemental infused woods and then lament over having a blue dragon tooth in his possession yet no tools do anything with it. Access to the man's shop could provide great aid in all of this.
When teaching the spot Uragum would wave stop them and pull out his spell book. First he would cast a spell for his protection. Then hed say, "give me a few minutes, I'm going to cast a detection spell. It will help me see if there are magics about."
Casting mage armor then ritual casting detect magic
"Oh, I'm afraid magic is way beyond my expertise," Rillo laments to Uragum along the way, "But learn how I can get my daughter out of this mess and my tools are yours to share, so long as they stay in the confines of my shop. I don't have much in the way of spares, you see."
Sly flies forward, finding the entrance to the tunnel unguarded, and Arnald leads the party toward the opening. "Yes, of course. I will head back to the Tea Kettle so you know where to find me," Rillo answers the archer.
You find the entire tunnel to be free of guards (and animals), completely dark except for the faintest sliver of light in the far distance, acting as a beacon to those without darkvision. The tunnel runs for several hundred yards before ending at a wooden door. The faint light seeps through the cracks of the door, casting a dull glow on your faces.
For Sylyra and Zelra:
Unlike the rudimentary tunnel, you can see in the darkness that the stonework around the door is well crafted.
_____________________________________
At the Black Fist guardpost, Ola knocks on the door. There is a short period of silence before a gruff voice calls out from within, "What am I, a charity service?"
The door swings open, revealing a brooding and old male dwarf in the uniform of the Black Fist. He stares Ola up and down. "A blue elf, ye don't see that every day. Tell me, can blue elves open doors or do ye just enjoy makin' an old man weary?" He turns around and walks to a desk, sitting heavily in the uncomfortable chair there, and turns back. "Now what are ye here for, Blue?" he asks.
Zelra squints her eyes and peers into the darkness. "Nice door... Welp, I'll head in first, look around for any traps and stuff. You guys should follow behind but stay back a little ways in case I set off an explosion or something."She makes her way to the door, carefully looking around for any traps on the way and also trying to hear for any sounds coming from within.
"The pleasure of our meeting is all mine," responded Ola, keeping her tone polite, "Ola do Mari, adventurer. You might heard the name even if you do not recognize the look - I worked with the city-guards among the others on solving a couple of problems around. And right now one of such problems requires attention of Guard Captain. Would you be so kind to tell me where I can find him?"
Zelra takes a moment to examine the door, then presses her ear to the wood.
For Zelra:
You hear muffled voices from beyond; some unintelligible babbling mixed with the occasional low whimper. The door does not seem to be trapped, but it does appear to be locked.
__________________________________
The old dwarf stares at Ola for a moment, without so much as blinking. When she finishes speaking, he uncrosses his arms and moves them wide, motioning around the room. "Do ye think I'm 'ere just to look pretty, Blue? No, I'm here to take reports and sit on me arse all day until I can finally retire, so...report. I ain't for takin' ye to see our top ranks without hearin' yer problem," he says.
Ola was studying the dwarf all this time. She did not overestimate her ability to read other people - especially other races - but hoped to estimate the honesty of the definition of dwarveness she had a rare pleasure to talk to.
"I am afraid I did not catch your name - who am I reporting to?"
"There's definitely some people on the other side. Sounds like they're.... whimpering? Shit, the door's locked. Give me a second." Zelra attempts to unlock the door with her Thieves' Tools.
Uragum nods and sands ready, both observing for magical auras and with his bladed gauntlet ready for quick use if needed. He had half hoped that Zelra would not be able to open the door so he could kick it in but, by the way it all sounded, he would be able to stomp something soon.
Dwarf remained just that - an ordinary dwarf for Ola. Incapable to decide if his rudeness was just a normal behaviour for his kind or a sign of honesty, she simply explained him the situation (watching for his reaction but again without much hope - no one else was moved by it after all).
"Guard Sergeant," Ola's tone was steel calm and polite, "just a few minutes ago we - the group of adventurers - were informed that several Black Guards of the city (renegades as I believe) entertaining themselves by creating sort of a torture facility. They are abducting people from the street, torture and murder them there regardless of age. I do believe the matter is important enough for Guard Captain's attention - the word is already on the streets. Should it be found true - the reputation of the Black Guards will be ruined completely. And if it is a lie - the very presence of such facility should be investigated, and Black Guards doing so will clear the suspicion. Now, do you think you can report it to your "top ranks"?
Before heading out, Uragum will put a hand on Ola's shoulder and say, "Catch up with us when you can. If there are multiple passages I'll mark them for you to follow. Just look high." As he says that he raises his right arm and with his height it stretches above where an average person's line of site leads to. He will then follow the others out the door.
Rillo nods, adjusting the small pouch he travels with, barely glancing back as he leads most of the party out of the Tea Kettle and across Phlan toward the Stojanow River that zigzags through the center of town.
Along the way, he makes casual conversation with Uragum, asking questions of his interests in tinkering and speaking of his small workshop. Their difference in size makes the two an interesting pair, but the gnome does not seem to be put off by the towering goliath.
Within the hour, you reach the edge of town, traversing the rough shore at the edge of the river. Rillo stops and points toward the small cliffs lining the edge of the water. "There, by the bend," he says. "That is where the man said would take me beneath the Lyceum of the Black Lord...the direction he saw the men heading with Villonah."
Arnald and Sylyra spot it first with their keen eyesight. Almost impossible to see from an angle within Phlan, an opening sits just at the edge of the riverbend. The mouth of the tunnel does indeed appear to head directly underneath the city.
______________________________________________
Ola Perception: 9
It takes only a few questions for Ola to find directions toward the nearest Black Fist guardpost, located near the docks. The signage around the area is hard to miss, and she soon finds herself staring into the Moonsea at the southern edge of town. The guardpost is a small, nondescript building, with only the symbol of the Black Fist to declare its purpose. The door to the building is closed, but light flickers from within.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
As soon as Arnald spots the entrance Sly lifts off and flies toward it and lands in front of it. Sly then makes a show of walking around the ground searching for food while glancing around for any guards or sentries.
While Sly is doing that Arnald turns to Rillo, "Thank you for leading us here. Please go back home or somewhere safe. My friends and I will take it from here."
If Sly says it's all clear
Arnald motions for the others to follow and he heads to the entrance.
If Sly spots sentries/guards
Campaigns:
DM - Waterdeep Dragon Heist PbP
Ola would knock on a door.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
During the Uragum would discuss with Rillo his hopes of working to create magical items. He'd excitingly describe the schema for magical wands made from elemental infused woods and then lament over having a blue dragon tooth in his possession yet no tools do anything with it. Access to the man's shop could provide great aid in all of this.
When teaching the spot Uragum would wave stop them and pull out his spell book. First he would cast a spell for his protection. Then hed say, "give me a few minutes, I'm going to cast a detection spell. It will help me see if there are magics about."
Casting mage armor then ritual casting detect magic
Zelra nods but waits a bit impatiently as the group waits for Sly's return and Uragum to finish his ritual.
DM, Sylyra will be keeping an eye out for any animals to ask about dangers in the group's path as they traverse the tunnel.
"Oh, I'm afraid magic is way beyond my expertise," Rillo laments to Uragum along the way, "But learn how I can get my daughter out of this mess and my tools are yours to share, so long as they stay in the confines of my shop. I don't have much in the way of spares, you see."
Sly flies forward, finding the entrance to the tunnel unguarded, and Arnald leads the party toward the opening. "Yes, of course. I will head back to the Tea Kettle so you know where to find me," Rillo answers the archer.
You find the entire tunnel to be free of guards (and animals), completely dark except for the faintest sliver of light in the far distance, acting as a beacon to those without darkvision. The tunnel runs for several hundred yards before ending at a wooden door. The faint light seeps through the cracks of the door, casting a dull glow on your faces.
For Sylyra and Zelra:
Unlike the rudimentary tunnel, you can see in the darkness that the stonework around the door is well crafted.
_____________________________________
At the Black Fist guardpost, Ola knocks on the door. There is a short period of silence before a gruff voice calls out from within, "What am I, a charity service?"
The door swings open, revealing a brooding and old male dwarf in the uniform of the Black Fist. He stares Ola up and down. "A blue elf, ye don't see that every day. Tell me, can blue elves open doors or do ye just enjoy makin' an old man weary?" He turns around and walks to a desk, sitting heavily in the uncomfortable chair there, and turns back. "Now what are ye here for, Blue?" he asks.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Zelra squints her eyes and peers into the darkness. "Nice door... Welp, I'll head in first, look around for any traps and stuff. You guys should follow behind but stay back a little ways in case I set off an explosion or something." She makes her way to the door, carefully looking around for any traps on the way and also trying to hear for any sounds coming from within.
Perception: 13
Investigation: 12
"The pleasure of our meeting is all mine," responded Ola, keeping her tone polite, "Ola do Mari, adventurer. You might heard the name even if you do not recognize the look - I worked with the city-guards among the others on solving a couple of problems around. And right now one of such problems requires attention of Guard Captain. Would you be so kind to tell me where I can find him?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Zelra takes a moment to examine the door, then presses her ear to the wood.
For Zelra:
You hear muffled voices from beyond; some unintelligible babbling mixed with the occasional low whimper. The door does not seem to be trapped, but it does appear to be locked.
__________________________________
The old dwarf stares at Ola for a moment, without so much as blinking. When she finishes speaking, he uncrosses his arms and moves them wide, motioning around the room. "Do ye think I'm 'ere just to look pretty, Blue? No, I'm here to take reports and sit on me arse all day until I can finally retire, so...report. I ain't for takin' ye to see our top ranks without hearin' yer problem," he says.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Ola was studying the dwarf all this time. She did not overestimate her ability to read other people - especially other races - but hoped to estimate the honesty of the definition of dwarveness she had a rare pleasure to talk to.
"I am afraid I did not catch your name - who am I reporting to?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Arnald looks to Zelra "Do you hear anything? Can we open the door?"
Campaigns:
DM - Waterdeep Dragon Heist PbP
"There's definitely some people on the other side. Sounds like they're.... whimpering? Shit, the door's locked. Give me a second." Zelra attempts to unlock the door with her Thieves' Tools.
Thieves' Tools: 26
Uragum nods and sands ready, both observing for magical auras and with his bladed gauntlet ready for quick use if needed. He had half hoped that Zelra would not be able to open the door so he could kick it in but, by the way it all sounded, he would be able to stomp something soon.
Sylyra narrows his eyes as he waits for the door to be opened.
The basic lock on the door is no match for Zelra, who hears the latch click after only a few seconds of trying.
_______________________________
Ola Insight: 13
The dwarf is hard to read, his demeanor unwavering as it is.
"Hurn. Guard Sergeant," he answers briefly.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Zelra will try to slowly and quietly open the door and peek through. If it looks safe, she'll go in and tell everyone to follow.
Dwarf remained just that - an ordinary dwarf for Ola. Incapable to decide if his rudeness was just a normal behaviour for his kind or a sign of honesty, she simply explained him the situation (watching for his reaction but again without much hope - no one else was moved by it after all).
"Guard Sergeant," Ola's tone was steel calm and polite, "just a few minutes ago we - the group of adventurers - were informed that several Black Guards of the city (renegades as I believe) entertaining themselves by creating sort of a torture facility. They are abducting people from the street, torture and murder them there regardless of age. I do believe the matter is important enough for Guard Captain's attention - the word is already on the streets. Should it be found true - the reputation of the Black Guards will be ruined completely. And if it is a lie - the very presence of such facility should be investigated, and Black Guards doing so will clear the suspicion. Now, do you think you can report it to your "top ranks"?
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Arnald follows Zelra into the next room at stealthily as he can, eyes quickly scanning the room for dangers.
OOC: about how large is the room we've just entered?
Campaigns:
DM - Waterdeep Dragon Heist PbP