As Ian and his companions stand peering around at the vault, out of the dusty gloom steps a venerable dwarf in ornate robes, clutching a staff carved and painted to resemble a pair of entwined dragons — one red, one gold. Despite the dwarf’s apparent age, his eyes are steady and bright, and his voice rings as clear as a bell, surprisingly resonant even in this echoing space.
“I wasn’t expecting anyone,” he says plainly. “As you can see, I'm afraid the place is a bit of mess. Perhaps you should come back later, after I’ve had a chance to tidy up.”
Ian notices that the smell of ash and sulfur seems to grow stronger as the dwarf approaches.
The dwarf blinks slowly, and says with a gentle smile,
"How fascinating! But I am afraid that there really isn't anything for you here. I must insist that you take your leave. I am not accustomed to guests, and not in any position to entertain."
Having put his weapons away, Falshen addresses the dwarf with a open posture and polite tone, "With respect, good master Clamghammer, I fear I may have to disagree with you." Bracing himself with a slow, deep breath, Falshen gives the briefest glance to his companions before steeling his resolve and continuing.
"Our party was charged by the Open Lord of Waterdeep, Laerel Silverhand, to find and recover the hidden dragon hoard of the former Open Lord, Dagult Neverember. On information received from Dagult's own son, Renaer Neverember, we have learned the hoard was embezzled from the coffers of Waterdeep. While I cannot, with certainty, speak for the inner hearts and motivations of my companions, I hold my duties as a noble and my responsibilities to my people as something approaching sacrosanct - I cannot abide seeing one in a position of responsibility to a people forsake it, whether for money or power. By recovering the hoard Dagult stole from his people, I - and my companions - seek to return the coin to the Open Lord and so to the city and its people. I hope you will forgive my presumption, but the large number of coins collected in this... vault-like location would seem to very precisely fit the descriptions our investigative efforts have led us to seek."
”My name is Ian Nito, and while I do not hold the same noble upbringing as my good friend here, I do support his intentions. In addition to our charge, we are not the only party aware of this treasure hoard. Mansoon, Xanathar, the Zhents, and I suspect several other parties all have their intentions. We secured a majority of the keys to this vault from a Xanathar agent. So we come here with intentions that I hope you can perceive are better than the other parties hot on our trail.”
"Krrr! You speak to Akai, scion of dragons!" the diminutive sorcerer chimes in. "Akai seeks power! Akai seeks glory! Missing treasure, key to both! Akai works with useful fools to reclaim! But first..." His eyes take on a new gleam as he spots the dwarf's staff. "Staff of Ahghairon - how you find it?"
Looking about, Falshen attempts to discern the source of the sulphur smell.
[Per DDB log, Perception check: 8]
Falshen cannot discern what could be adding the strange aroma to the atmosphere of the vault.
Irma attempts to locate the source of the sulphur smell... perception 8
Irma, likewise, is unsure of the source of the smell.
Ian will use his dark vision and see if he can glean out details that his human friends cannot. 19 Perception roll per game log.
As Ian and his companions stand peering around at the vault, out of the dusty gloom steps a venerable dwarf in ornate robes, clutching a staff carved and painted to resemble a pair of entwined dragons — one red, one gold. Despite the dwarf’s apparent age, his eyes are steady and bright, and his voice rings as clear as a bell, surprisingly resonant even in this echoing space.
“I wasn’t expecting anyone,” he says plainly. “As you can see, I'm afraid the place is a bit of mess. Perhaps you should come back later, after I’ve had a chance to tidy up.”
Ian notices that the smell of ash and sulfur seems to grow stronger as the dwarf approaches.
Before responding, Ian quickly takes in the sulfur and ash smell and wonders what it could signify. Intelligence check 15 per game log.
Ian is quite sure that dwarves do not naturally exude such an aroma, nor is there any sign of why this dwarf in particular should.
Akai will make a quick attempt to identify the dwarf based on his staff and the design of his robes.
Arcana check: 19
Irma responds to the dwarf, "may we know your name first good sir?"
"Barok Clanghammer, at your service young man. And may I ask your name, and those of your fellows, and what might you be doing here?"
"My name is Irma Gerd good sir, I am a paladin and these are my companions. We were following clues for a quest and it led us down to here."
The dwarf blinks slowly, and says with a gentle smile,
"How fascinating! But I am afraid that there really isn't anything for you here. I must insist that you take your leave. I am not accustomed to guests, and not in any position to entertain."
Having put his weapons away, Falshen addresses the dwarf with a open posture and polite tone, "With respect, good master Clamghammer, I fear I may have to disagree with you." Bracing himself with a slow, deep breath, Falshen gives the briefest glance to his companions before steeling his resolve and continuing.
"Our party was charged by the Open Lord of Waterdeep, Laerel Silverhand, to find and recover the hidden dragon hoard of the former Open Lord, Dagult Neverember. On information received from Dagult's own son, Renaer Neverember, we have learned the hoard was embezzled from the coffers of Waterdeep. While I cannot, with certainty, speak for the inner hearts and motivations of my companions, I hold my duties as a noble and my responsibilities to my people as something approaching sacrosanct - I cannot abide seeing one in a position of responsibility to a people forsake it, whether for money or power. By recovering the hoard Dagult stole from his people, I - and my companions - seek to return the coin to the Open Lord and so to the city and its people. I hope you will forgive my presumption, but the large number of coins collected in this... vault-like location would seem to very precisely fit the descriptions our investigative efforts have led us to seek."
Ian also pipes up,
”My name is Ian Nito, and while I do not hold the same noble upbringing as my good friend here, I do support his intentions. In addition to our charge, we are not the only party aware of this treasure hoard. Mansoon, Xanathar, the Zhents, and I suspect several other parties all have their intentions. We secured a majority of the keys to this vault from a Xanathar agent. So we come here with intentions that I hope you can perceive are better than the other parties hot on our trail.”
Persuasion: 21 (per game log)
"Krrr! You speak to Akai, scion of dragons!" the diminutive sorcerer chimes in. "Akai seeks power! Akai seeks glory! Missing treasure, key to both! Akai works with useful fools to reclaim! But first..." His eyes take on a new gleam as he spots the dwarf's staff. "Staff of Ahghairon - how you find it?"
Persuasion check from Akai, please.