Plagued by nightmares of darkness engulfing a faraway island, Rook could never quite shake the dream. Now it appears his dreams were prophetic in nature once he crossed paths with an wizard fading from this world. Now, Rook stands determined to understand his dreams and, hopefully, stop the destruction he envisioned.

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Dramatis Personae

Rook (Dragonborn Fighter) portrayed by Kalix77

Quinn (Halfling Herbalist) image
     HP 10, AC 12 (No Armor)
     STR 9 (- 1), DEX 15 (+ 2), CON 13 (+ 1), INT 15 (+ 2), WIS 16 (+ 3), CHA 9 (- 1)
     Skills: Nature, Medicine
     Quarterstaff of Shillelagh, + 5 to hit, 1d6 + 3 bludgeoning or 1d8 + 3 two-handed
     Spells: Druidcraft, Guidance, Poison Spray
     Special Notes: Small Humanoid, Brave (Advantage versus being frightened), Nimble (Move through space of any creature 1 size larger) 

Enigma (Animated Flying Spellbook) image
     HP 2, AC 13 (Natural Armor)
     STR 3 (-4), DEX 15 (+2), CON 11 (+0), INT 1 (-5), WIS 4 (-3), CHA 1 (-5)
     Skills: Arcana, History, Medicine, Nature, Religion (all these checks are + 4 to roll)
     Spells: Check here.
     Spell Slots: 2 First Level, 1 Second Level (--Currently Too Weak to Cast Higher--)
     Special Notes: Tiny Construct, Vulnerable to Fire, Immune Poison, Psychic, Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, 60 ft. blindsight (blind beyond this radius), Incapacitated while in an Antimagic Field, if targeted by Dispel Magic, Enigma must succeed a con save versus the spell caster's spell save DC or fall unconscious for 1 minute, False Appearance (when motionless, it appears like a normal book)

Filia (Elven Archer)
     HP 14, AC 14 (leather armor)
     STR -1, DEX +3, CON +2, INT +1, WIS +2, CHA 0
     Skills: Acrobatics +5, Animal Handling +4, Perception +4, Survival +4, Stealth +5
     Longbow +5 to hit, 1d8+5 piercing damage (has archery fighting style)

Elsa (Edgy Human Swordswoman)
     HP 20, AC 16 (chain mail)
     STR +2, DEX +1, CON +2, INT -1, WIS 0, CHA +3
     Skills: Athletics +4, Stealth +3, Intimidation +5
     Spells: Hex (2/day)
     Darkeblade +5 to hit, 2d6+3 slashing damage (hexblade)

Mirrian (Sneaky Halfling)
     HP 10, AC 14 (leather)
     STR -1, DEX +3, CON +2, INT +2, WIS +1, CHA 0
     Skills: Stealth +5, Sleight of Hand +5, Investigation +4
     Shortswords +5 to hit, 1d6+3 piercing damage
     Notes: can bonus action use other shortsword, deals mod damage on that attack.

Maps

Rassalantar

/--Morning, Second of Ches, 1491 DR, Rassalantar--/

The quiet hamlet of Rassalantar rests in the rolling hills just north of the crossroads of the High Road and the Long Road, favoring the Long Road. This humble farming community is made up of six families and their walled farms. The core of the hamlet is situated around a spring-fed pond, which drains into a stream and empties to the east into the Stump Bog... an area filled with danger as monsters prowl just within it. 

In this quaint place dwells our hero, Rook. This morning, his wizard friend of the past several months entered into a deep coma. Just before he sunk into this long sleep, one which no one is certain he might survive, the wizard asked for Rook to visit... and Rook alone. There in a room in the church of Chauntea, this wizard made his plea...

"I'm afraid my time has come sooner than I'd hoped..." the wizard whispered. Mostly, this wizard had gone unnamed, preferring to be referenced merely as 'The Wizard,' or as some of the scamps called him -- 'gramps.' This human man, whose beard would rival any dwarf's, lay almost completely motionless before Rook that day. Certainly, his health declined and it facilitated a much needed rest, but Rook couldn't have expected for the Wizard's health to suddenly take a turn for the worse so suddenly. 

Beckoning Rook closer, the Wizard makes his final plea before his eyes close... possibly never to open again, "Rook... Take Enigma and go... Go to the isle... something is stirring there. I meant to go myself... but I'm afraid that can no longer be arranged. It can only be you, Rook... You're..." The old man faded right before Rook's eyes. Not dead... but as good as if the clerics were to be believed.

Enigma... this was the name of the wizard's spellbook. He knew it because of the draconic written on the cover. The wizard's spellbook contained all the spells of the wizard, true, but it also contained his notes, glued on loose pages from histories, studies of the arcane, pieces of holy scripture... it contained a plethora of information. Much of it quite above Rook's ability to process and understand... at least not without time and diligent study.

Enigma... If Rook recalled, this spellbook is at the wizard's room in the Sleeping Dragon. The sleeping man paid for a whole year to keep his room there. The innkeeper, Yondral Horn (a dwarf), would probably begin to rent out that room again despite the old man having paid in advance. Rook would probably need to reach that room before news of the wizard's sleep did.

[Please, describe your character, their reaction to things, and your actions!]

Rook had received the wizard's message and made haste to the church. Entering the room as quietly as he could the dragonborn towered over the bed and hoped to not dirty anything with his plain clothes already filthy from morning chores on the farm. His broad shoulders, height and strong build made him the largest man of any age in town most days but he was also known for being gentle and approached the bed as such. He nervously whispered 'gramps?' as his heart sank seeing his good friend in such a state. As the wizard spoke Rook sat with a large, scaley hand resting gently on the man's arm as tears slowly dripped down his face. As the wizard expressed his final wish the young dragonborn said "but... wait...nooo...gramps!" "I'm..I'm what? Only me? Why? Oh no gramps." Rook wept silently for another minute before snorting and saying "ok gramps, I will do as you ask, for you, and I suppose for me too." "We'll do it together, in a sense. Having Enigma will be like having you there, I think. We will go together and see what we find, after everything we've talked about." "Thank you gramps."

After a few more seconds a thought occurred to Rook. "Enigma!" He quickly stood and strode out of the church headed for the Sleeping Dragon.

(OOC: What does Rook know of Yondral Horn? Is he kind and agreeable, or might getting past him to the room be a challenge? Does he know of Rook's friendship with gramps which might allow him access to the room, or is Rook rarely seen there, etc.? Thanks!)

Yondral Horn is, sorry for my cursing, a complete bastard. Rook and everyone in town knows it. Yondral seems to know it too, but he doesn't seem to care that the general opinion of him is lower than the Underdark. Rook imagines that getting Enigma will be no easy task if it requires going through Yondral first. Yondral will attempt to drag the truth out of Rook, and very likely bar Rook from entering the room. This situation will need to be handled with finesse, bold-faced lies, or maybe even getting some dirt on Yondral enough to let Rook just walk in? These are just initial thoughts. He may come up with more once he reaches the Sleeping Dragon.

Rook reaches the Sleeping Dragon and gives it a solid look. He digs into his memory and conjures up a mental map of the place. He's been here before, plenty of times. This is, after all, the only place to eat out for miles and miles. The next closest tavern is up in Amphail, and the gods know that place is too rich for Rook's tastes. [Its basically a rich boy resort, lmao.]

The building is 2 stories up. The ground floor hosts the tavern, and the next floor up has some rooms. Thankfully, if Rook is remembering rightfully, he knows which window belongs to the wizard's room if it comes to feats of strength... though throwing a hook through the window is likely to make a lot of noise.

Rook walks quickly towards the Sleeping Dragon as his paranoia of someone getting to the wizard's property before him increases. He ponders how in the Nine Hells he's going to get past Yondral, having never had any need to engage in such an activity before and knowing that he is not exactly the right person for a sneaky task. The dragonborn regrets not checking in gramp's room at the church for his room key and almost turns back but decides not to take his eye off of the inn for any longer than necessary.

In a panic Rook thinks of any small magics he has practiced with gramps in recent months since his physical skills are likely to draw too much attention and he has no will to have to come to blows with his fellow townsfolk to solve this problem. Drawing near Rook sees a large pile of hay next to the inn and gets an idea, one that he knows he may regret. First Rook enters the inn to see how crowded it might be, who might be there, etc.

(Hope making the assumption that the pile of hay in the tiny inn picture is actually there is ok, DM!)

[100%, you are allowed to embellish things especially in this little town! If its in the picture, largely I will say it really is there! I do my best to do real improv in writing. I don't always succeed, but I do try!]

This early in the morning, Rook might expect no one, however, there are a few patrons present. One of them is someone Rook knows well, Quinn. Quinn usually lives and works at the church of Chauntea, but it appeared this was a day off for him... or perhaps he snuck away to the tavern. Quinn sat alone at the two seater in the center of the room. Rook was starting to belief the latter more likely. He was blatantly eyeing what can only be called a trio of cute girls who sat at the table near the bar.

One of the three girls is a tall, handsome elf that has no weapons on her, but her two other friends are armed. One of those armed gals carries a shortsword on her back, which looks more like a longsword when compared to her body as she is a halfling who seems even short for her kind. The last girl of this trio is human and armored quite heavily, but the way she is dressed screams DARK KNIGHT. You've heard about dark knights in fables and fairy tales your nan told you when you were a child. They always seemed to be something she made up, but if knights who wield dark powers exist... surely this girl must be one of them.

The three girls don't seem to notice Quinn's leering as they drink and speak. They definitely come off as visiting adventurers. They seem to be talking about a conquest of some sort, but unless you come closer, its hard to tell what exactly they are saying. Oddly enough, the Dark Knight seems the most animated of the three. The halfling seems to be listening quietly as the elf and dark knight speak.

[Sorry for the delay! BTW, nan will still be recruitable if you wish LOL. Quinn is just your guaranteed ride or die.]

(No rush! I'm going to assume that Quinn is a true friend who can be trusted based on his 'ride or die' status. If not we can adjust this as necessary.)

"Quinn! Boy am I glad to see you. So... hey, who are they?" Rook is temporarily distracted with the new faces. "Um, oh where's Yondral? I may need to ask for your help, Quinn."

Quinn is completely infatuated, you think with the human woman, so when you approach him he nearly spills his drink onto himself. The trio of girls look over to you guys for a moment, but then return to their chatter. They seem to be talking about zombies?

"The old man's upstairs, I think. Said his barmaid wasn't coming today since she is sick, so he has to go make the beds and whatnot... not that there is really that much to do." Quinn shakes his head. Usually, Quinn is here for that barmaid, her name is Ariel and she's the daughter of one of the farming families. "Those girls? They are cuties is what they are..." Your request for aid goes totally noticed however, because Quinn is, in short, your boy -- "Anything, say the word."

Rook whispers "ok, if you help me I'll talk to the girls with you after." "I just need you to help me distract Yondral so I can go into gramp's room. Hopefully he has the door unlocked right now."

Rook's plan thus far:

• Use Prestidigitation to create the smell of smoke in the room.
• Eventually if no one else says it first, ask aloud "what's that smell?"
• Pretend to look around and soon go to the window nearest the pile of hay outside.
• Use Presti. again to light a small bit of hay on fire and hope the pile goes up in flames.
• Ask aloud "where is Yondral?!!!"
• Hope yelling about fire is enough or someone goes up to get Yondral, or just send Quinn.
• Hope Yondral comes rushing down to see what's going on without locking bedroom doors.
• Rush upstairs and hope the wizard's room is unlocked.
• Wing it from there, maybe see if Enigma recognizes Rook's voice and can open the door from inside, or just break the lock if need be.

*Rook will start with step 1 immediately and adjust the chaotic plan as he and Quinn go.

[lmao]

The subtle smell of smoke fills the room. The elven woman is the first to notice it. "Hmm, is something burning?"

"That dwarf has been gone awhile, maybe something in the oven is burning to a crisp." The dark knight smirks.

The halfling girl doesn't say anything, but she hops up and heads near where the kitchen would be. She looks to the other two girls and shakes her head.

"Oh, wow, that smells like smoke!" Quinn is totally not nailing the acting, at least you don't think he is. "Where, oh where, could that be coming from?" He looks at you with a grin. "What do your dragonborn nostrils tell you, Rook?"

(LOL Quinn)

Rook pretends to sniff the air and his nostrils lead him to his intended window where he tries to light the hay with magic.

[I aim to please!]

As Rook hoped, his spell actually worked! It lit a small fire... wait... wait, now its a huge fire! Unbeknownst to our dragonborn, there may have been an accelerant of some type in the hay. Oops. Well -- it certainly got people's attention!

"Oh my goodness! Are we under attack?!" The elf stands, knocking her chair to the floor from her sudden movement. 

"Wot's all this about?" Yondral stomps around overhead, but you can hear him shouting. He's coming for the stairs based on how his voice seems to come closer. "Attack? Here? Nonsense."

The dark knight has a wicked grin on her face. You can almost make out fangs. "Alright, that's what I'm talking about, let's go check it out ladies!" The halfling nods as the three of them move towards the door.

At this point, Yondral appears down the staircase and when he glimpses the burning bush outside his window -- panics very hard. "No, no no no!" He runs to the window.

Rook gives Quinn a very brief but knowing glance, hoping both will have the chance to slip upstairs while Yondral is distracted. Rook will not head for the stairs right in Yondral's view, but rather will wait for him to go outside, go to the kitchen for water, etc. He hopes that at least one of them can get up there quickly even if the other is delayed by the Inn owner.

As Rook predicted, the old dwarf runs out and all his attention is on the burning bush so to speak. You have zero issues getting upstairs during the commotion. Once up stairs, you find that the old man's room has been disturbed -- the door is a crack open. Pushing it open further, you realize this is likely the room Yondral was just inside. To what end, you can't be sure. Still...

You spot the spellbook on the desk, presumably where the wizard had left it. "Enigma" it reads in draconic upon its cover.

"Enigma!" Rook tries to keep his voice down but it relieved to see the spellbook. He opens it quickly to make sure everything is there and then quickly tries to hide it away in his own pockets. He then scans the room for any other valuables he thinks gramps would want him to have, or at least hold for him for now. He tries to remember if there were any other special items, spell components, spell foci, inks and the like for recording spells in the book, robes, etc. etc. that he should recover before he goes.

If the business of recovering the wizard's belongings wraps up smoothly Rook will send Quinn downstairs to watch for Yondral as Rook descends the stairs. Then the two will help get buckets of water and try to ensure Yondral's business does not burn down.

[Hehe, sorry I am so bad right now. I think my activity should pick up here soon thankfully! Also hope you don't mind, I will automatically roll certain things for you as they come up just so I can make sure things happen quickly and smoothly. If this bugs you, let me know and I will stop and ask for checks instead!]

It goes according to plan, thankfully! The fine women look confused as the fire is finally put out. Yondral breathes a sigh of relief. [Insight check rolled 6: You don't see any reason to linger here and worry about Yondral.]

"Okay, buddy, pal, bestie -- don't forget what you said..." Quinn elbows Rook and wiggles his eyebrows suggestively as he nods towards the adventuring group.

(Sounds good on the rolls! I was going to say maybe it would be nice to know the results so I can see how my skills are helping me, know why something just went terrible wrong (nat 1), etc. but you did show me my roll result, so that's perfect. Thanks!)

Rook chuckles a little and says "you got it bud, and thank you." He takes one second to gently touch where Enigma is hidden and ensure it is secure before entering the inn once again. He leads Quinn over to the girls and says "well that was exciting." "I'm Rook, and this is the most loyal friend a dragonborn could have, Quinn! Are you all adventurers?"

[Ye! I will always show the rolls and impart some roleplay prompt on how you could act on it, or why your character may have ignored something you the player are like AHH! Likewise, if you ever want to use some ability to reroll, you may! Just state so, and I will edit the world accordingly before we get too far.]

"Aha, so you noticed..." The handsome human woman strokes her chin. In a way, she is very dashing. Probably as dashing as a prince. "Yes, we are an adventuring company, perhaps you've heard of us?"

"Please, Elsa, I thought we talked about this." The elf woman says patiently, but something about the soft and lovely expression on her face betrays that she is actually really annoyed right now. 

"Where darkness roams and demons dare our domain, we are the damsels that shall dominate and subjugate evildoers! And we are called... Hell's Angels!" During her little tirade, Elsa as she seems to be called strikes a pose. You might feel secondhand embarrassment for her. [History check rolled 6: You have never heard of them in your life.] Despite all this, Quinn seems positively giddy. You can see him falling in love in real time...

"Wow, what a woman..." Quinn whispers under his breath.

The halfling girl claps vigorously. The elf woman sighs, "Mirrian, don't encourage her. Sorry," the elf woman looks at Rook and Quinn. "My friends and I are adventurers, and we've gotten a few wins under our belt. Elsa is sort of our leader, and she can be a bit much, but I promise she means well."

"What'ya think, Quinn? Do you know their stories? I'd like to hear them."  Rook smiles slightly at the elf woman. "Oh did you, ah, did you say your name? Um, sorry."

Rook does take note of what Yondral is up to after the incident. (Unless that instinct goes again the previous Insight check.)

(OCC: Were there any other items Rook would have recovered from the wizard's room? Anything special to the wizard he'd want to protect, anything valuable, anything needed to cast or copy spells, etc.?)