Dangerous Designs (2020)

Wash, you find the ring on the goliath's finger.  You poke it and turn it and rub it as you saw Sken do, but no change; the fog cloud remains where it is.  You can make an Arcana check if you wish.  

You also find 26 gold pieces in a bag on her belt.

Alton, the gnome hesitates, but jumps when you mention the name of Sleese Firemark.  Sleese?  Sleese sent you?  Oh dear goodness.  Really?  Are you sure?  You're definitely not lying?  Why should I believe that you're not lying.  Or in league with them.  I suppose you did kill them, which is a point in your favour, but after all that wasn't actually them, it was just their friends, or something.  In any case you do look reputable,  but why should I trust you?  Or indeed, why should it matter, since I am completely helpless and you can do what you wish with me?  It would be really helpful now if you could say something because that would make it easier for me to stop.

She gives every appearance of intending to continue to speak without stopping.

 Wash Arcana check: 17

If he doesn't figure it out, he will give it to Alton to have a look at. He'll share the gold around when appropriate.

Wash, you know from your general knowledge of magic that there are some items that require attuning to the owner, and some that do not.  Typically if an item requires this, it is sufficient that a new owner spend an hour examining and trying out the item, and you suspect this is one such item.

(Following RAW, or at least my understanding of it, Arcana won't work to identify magic items.  An Identify spell will (almost) always work, but isn't needed in most cases - spending an hour with the object is enough to learn its properties, and for potions, tasting a single drop will achieve the same.)

[Yep, my understanding of RAW are the same - it is what I use in my game, though I also am making players pass an Arcana check on the short rest that they focus on the item, so identify is more necessary unless they actually experiment with the items (putting a helmet on, blowing into the bagpipes of doom etc.). I was just checking that it didn't have a jewel that when touched (or similar) dispelled the fog cloud. Also I wanted to grab it just incase there was something about to happen which means we need to flee, as it seems very useful.] 

When Wash has a chance (possibly will have to wait until next go in initiative and/or after Alton finishes his conversation with Nima) he asks Alton "Do you have any arcane way to figure out how to use this ring or what its powers are?" Wash is also going to be scanning/searching the workbench that doesn't have Nima underneath it, though again that might need to be on my next turn. 

You guys are out of initiative - it means that Balassar's fight/chase with the kobold will have resolved already, most likely.  Speaking of which...

Balassar, you are not wide enough to block the ledge leading outside fully.  The kobold attempts to run past you and out to freedom, but it doesn't disengage.  You can make an Opportunity Attack on it, if you wish.

Balassar just looks at the kobold as he swings.

OOC:

Attack: 19 Damage: 8

Wash will start searching the workbench that doesn't have Nima underneath it, taking all blueprints, papers and books that look at all interesting. If there are contraptions/gizmos or similar, he will examine them to see if they look dangerous and if not will put them in one of the sacks that he bought initially, to examine them in more detail (or have someone else examine in more detail) later when they have more time.

[DM question: I'm assuming Wash got the sack and healer's kit that he gave to Cal back before she left?]

Alton shakes his head at Wash, "I don't know anything that for that, sorry." He turns back to Nima and fishes inside his pocket to pull out the token that the Watchmaster gave them and shows it to her. "Oh, see we were hired by the watchmaster to be investigate into the jail break that freed Sken from her cell. We actually fought her before and tried to stop her from escaping but she got away from us using that same fog trick. While we were investigating we meet with Sleese who talked about you and said that he was really worried and he asked us to look in on you because you wouldn't let him inside your house. Oh, your house is a bit ruined by the way. Turns out some of those kobolds took up residence there and messed the place up a bit. We took one captive and found a map to this place, which our kobold captive brought us too. I think that is about what we have done for today. Oh, and there is this other lady that doesn't like us much and she is also looking into the whole jail break mess." Alton gets closer and says quietly only for the Gnome to hear, "Between you and me, I think she was in on the whole thing. She seemed very um... how to be polite about it... Uppity? No. Snooty? No, not that either. Um... Well she seemed to have a stick up her rear." He goes back to his normal tone, "Anyway, do you know if anyone has a key for these shackles? I mean we could try to break them, and I'm sure Balassar could do it too. He is super strong. Though, Wash might be able to magic it open. He is really nice; he likes to make people feel better." With out really meaning, Alton also begins to ramble.

Splat.  Dead kobold.  And I think we can agree he had the worst day of anyone, so perhaps it's for the best that it's over.  Poor little guy.  He did try to kill you all, of course, so also screw him.

The fog cloud is still up, but it's easy enough for Balassar to make his way, slowly and carefully, back through it to where Alton, Wash and Nima are.

Wash, yes, you did recover those from Cala.

Alton, Nima's demeanour changes significantly when she sees the badge.  Oh, thank goodness.  She clambers up slowly from beneath the workbench.  Thank you, thank you so much for coming to find me.  I thought I would die here, I really did.  Oh, and the danger's not over.  It's all down beyond that door, she points at the heavy door in the western wall.  Oh, I do have some things to tell you.  I need to walk about a bit first.  They don't let me move, because they think I'll try to escape.  She shuffles in her restraints, but manages to move around a bit and stretch her legs.  The keys... I think one of the kobolds had the keys. She gestures towards the former Kobold 2.  Poor Jinnt.  He was actually quite nice apart from all the Xhorhas hate-the-Empire nonsense.  I don't think he really wanted to be here at all.  Could you... um... take a look.  I think I might topple over if I try.

As you speak about her house, she looks alarmed.  Ruined?  What do you mean?  Burned down?  Exploded?  Infested with giant slugs?  What???

Wash, as you start searching the workbenches, Nima pipes up.  There are some exploding seed thingies in the third drawer, they might be useful.  You won't find any blueprints though.  Everything's in here, she attempts to tap her head but the shackles prevent this and she growls with irritation.  Everything's in my head, I meant to say.  And also secret, she add firmly in case this was unclear.

In the third drawer, you find 4 explosive seeds - Nima will explain their intended use as a throwing weapon rather than a suicide/booby trap like the kobolds had.

Wash thanks her and asks "are these exploding seed thingies safe to carry just in a sack or a pouch, or should I be wrapping them in something, or putting them in a storage box?"

He will then check the kobalds for keys, and anything else useful and then look at his manacles (I assume it was strength it used rather than dex used to break free, which means they broke).

The manacles are fine - it was DEX used to escape, so you can re-use them.  

Nima replies.  You can store them however you like, they're pretty sturdy.  The trigger won't go off unless you press them in the right way.  She frowns.  If you fall, try not to land on them. 

Kobold 2 has two keys, a small iron one that might fit some shackles, and a large steel one.  

Wash unlocks Nima and asks "Is there anything else useful in this room that you know of, as we probably want to get out of here before anyone comes through that door. I don't know about you lot, but I could do with a bit of a rest, as that was a bit too close for comfort. " 

[I know, Warlocks, right? This is even before I get my short rest Warlock recharge too, this is just so I can heal people with healers kits again.] 

Out?  Yes, out.  Out to Hupperdook.  You're going to take me home, right?  I don't care if it's burned down.  I want to go home. 

The high of rescue is beginning to fade, and Nima, who has been a prisoner here for week, looks shocked, shaken and not in a very good way.  Please, I'll tell you everything, but please just get me out of this place.

Wash unlocks Nima and checks her for cuts, bruises or similar and patches any of her injuries up before they go [I've marked off one use of healer's kit. I can roll hp if needed, but if she is already at full health, I'm happy for it just to be for RP].

He reminds his friends on the way out "I have coin that I found on the goliath, you two can have 9gp and I'll take 8gp. I also picked up this ring that apparently releases fog somehow. Alton, would this be useful for you? I also have these four explosive seeds, though should I keep them safe in this bag until we need them?"

Before leaving, Alton will take a quick look around inside of the tent and around the table for anything useful. Investigation: 5, if needed.

After he returns to the others he says to Wash, "Oh, thanks for the gold, Wash. I think you should have the ring, seeing as how you dealt the final blow to Sken; or Balassar can have it as he did do most of the work in this fight. I'm sure that ring will be useful to anyone of us." Alton turns to Nima, "No, your house just looks like it was ransacked, and tossed. Like someone was looking for something." When given a chance, Alton will look to see how far down it is to the bottom of the cliff.

Wash, you can see that Nima is tired and scared, but otherwise has been kept in good condition.  You surmise that her skills were valued by her captors.

Alton, you don't find anything of interest in the tent.  The falls go down at least a hundred feet; it's hard to tell from the spray, but you'll definitely need to head back to Hupperdook the way you came, down the mountain path.

Nima is relieved to hear about her house.  Well, perhaps you could escort me home, and I can tell you all about what has happened and what's behind that door.  You'll want to rest before you go - I didn't see anything, because they blindfolded me as they carried me through, but I can say for sure it's big, and there's a fair few things and folks down there working for...  Well, I'll tell you later.

Wash agrees that they should escort Nima to her house and at least take a short rest. If it does not sound like there is urgency to get to what is behind the locked door, he will also ask the others whether they want to take a long rest (though won't insist), and if they agree he will head home and sleep there.

Unless Balassar wants the ring (which Wash is happy for Balassar to have), Wash will accept it. If he does take it, he will offer Alton and Balassar his share of the gold. He will then concentrate on it over his next short rest and try to attune to the ring.

Alton looks a bit disappointed at the bottom of the cliff and that he and his friends can't go down, in what he thinks, would be the fun way. Instead he distracts himself with talking with Nima about his adventure up until rescuing her and asks her more about the city of Hupperdook; all while they escort her back home.

Balassar just returns and looks at his companions "Is this the one we came for?"

Wash listens intently to both Alton's stories and anything that Nima shares about what happened on the walk back to town. He will start asking questions about what Nima saw and heard and what contraptions her kidnappers had her working on.

When they get back to town he suggests that they take a short rest at Nima's house, during which he focuses on the ring and tries to attune to it.