[Other] Halforums Heist
- Thread starter MindDetective
- Start date
any glyph is considered to be more than 50 words, according to Word of Author. It should technically be possible to create such a bomb, visit not easily and cheaply from existing material. DM can always rule differently, of course, but that's what's intended
Yeah but...think of the reward
Doing anything with the prisoner or should I advance things?
I don't think he knows anything. I'm guessing they were just here to loot the place after everyone else killed each other.
We need to ask Renaen what he knows. What they wanted with them and if Floon is likely still alive. Then we need to escort him home to get a reward for rescuing him. We also need to figure out if we want this to be our sweet base of operations as we take over the organized crime scene.
We need to ask Renaen what he knows. What they wanted with them and if Floon is likely still alive. Then we need to escort him home to get a reward for rescuing him. We also need to figure out if we want this to be our sweet base of operations as we take over the organized crime scene.
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I'll try to talk to the bird a bit more before you advance, if that's ok.
"Look, thinks will go better for you if you just tell us what you know," I'll say, as kindly as I can. (persuasion 7) It doesn't come across as nicely as I'd like.
"Look, thinks will go better for you if you just tell us what you know," I'll say, as kindly as I can. (persuasion 7) It doesn't come across as nicely as I'd like.
Ty spent the first period of time after the fight doing the following:
First, he reclaimed his own thrown dagger, along with any that his allies tossed, and returned them to their owners.
Second, he checked the bodies of both gang members to see what killed them (it seems awfully convenient that they would each kill the entire group of their enemies with no survivors, and survivors presumably would have tried to loot and/or remove the bodies!). Primarily he wants to determine whether the Kenku were involved in the fighting here, or opportunists coming in after the fact to loot the place.
Third, he checked the closet where the prisoner was, looking to confirm the claim that he was bound and managed to escape.
Once he's done those things he'll move to question whichever of the prisoners seems more likely to have useful information.
First, he reclaimed his own thrown dagger, along with any that his allies tossed, and returned them to their owners.
Second, he checked the bodies of both gang members to see what killed them (it seems awfully convenient that they would each kill the entire group of their enemies with no survivors, and survivors presumably would have tried to loot and/or remove the bodies!). Primarily he wants to determine whether the Kenku were involved in the fighting here, or opportunists coming in after the fact to loot the place.
Third, he checked the closet where the prisoner was, looking to confirm the claim that he was bound and managed to escape.
Once he's done those things he'll move to question whichever of the prisoners seems more likely to have useful information.
After finding the daggers, Ty finds that the two gangs most certainly killed each other in a wide-ranging battle. Investigating the closet is more difficult, but he does find ropes inside that possibly bound Renaer's wrists and ankles.
Renaer has already spoken (and is he a prisoner?) The kenku thus far, is tight-beaked. When Marten poses his option to the ruffian, the kenku just turns away from him.
Having collected his gear and what information he can, Ty speaks to whichever members of the group are within earshot.
"As far as I can tell, it seems that our friends with the dragon tattoo are the ones who kidnapped Floon and Renaer here, though judging by their treatment of him, and the fact that he was left here after the fight, it seems that Floon was the target. They brought the two back here , Gods know why, and before they could take their next step they were attacked by this other gang, probably in larger numbers than we see here, and Floon was taken somewhere else."
He pauses to consider for a moment before continuing, "These Zentarim must be good fighters to bring down as many as they did while outnumbered so heavily. Something to keep in mind."
He takes a breath, turning to Renaer. "I know you couldn't have seen anything from where you were, but if you heard anything at all that might tell us why they wanted Floon, where they were taking him, or even who they were, it might be important. Either way," and he turns to include his group in the conversation, "I think we can offer an escort to your home, or to a guard station, if you don't mind waiting while we wrap this up?"
Not waiting for an answer, he shifts his attention again, this time to the Kenku bound and being questioned by Marten. "These birds are harder to explain. Are they scavengers who happened to hear the fighting and saw an opportunity to loot the fallen? Were they sent here by someone to clean up the mess and dispose of evidence?"
He bends, making eye contact with the Kenku and addressing it directly.
"Answer our questions and we'll let you run off after your friends."
[17 for persuasion]
"As far as I can tell, it seems that our friends with the dragon tattoo are the ones who kidnapped Floon and Renaer here, though judging by their treatment of him, and the fact that he was left here after the fight, it seems that Floon was the target. They brought the two back here , Gods know why, and before they could take their next step they were attacked by this other gang, probably in larger numbers than we see here, and Floon was taken somewhere else."
He pauses to consider for a moment before continuing, "These Zentarim must be good fighters to bring down as many as they did while outnumbered so heavily. Something to keep in mind."
He takes a breath, turning to Renaer. "I know you couldn't have seen anything from where you were, but if you heard anything at all that might tell us why they wanted Floon, where they were taking him, or even who they were, it might be important. Either way," and he turns to include his group in the conversation, "I think we can offer an escort to your home, or to a guard station, if you don't mind waiting while we wrap this up?"
Not waiting for an answer, he shifts his attention again, this time to the Kenku bound and being questioned by Marten. "These birds are harder to explain. Are they scavengers who happened to hear the fighting and saw an opportunity to loot the fallen? Were they sent here by someone to clean up the mess and dispose of evidence?"
He bends, making eye contact with the Kenku and addressing it directly.
"Answer our questions and we'll let you run off after your friends."
[17 for persuasion]
"I...don't think they did want Floon," Renaer says, a flash of guilt on his face. "I think they mistook him for me. The Zhentarim thinks that my father embezzled a large amount of gold while he was Open Lord here in Waterdeep, and that he hid the dragons somewhere in the city. They think they can find it by using an artifact called the Stone of Golorr, which was in the hands of the Xanathar Guild until recently. Apparently, someone stole it. The Zhents thought I knew something about all of this, but I don’t. My father and I haven’t spoken in years.”
The kenku, when promised with freedom, says in a very human sounding feminine voice, "I'm sure you would." Then, in a deep voice with an orcish accent, "Xanathar sends his regards."
Would that name, Xanathar, be familiar to me as a Waterdeep resident?
Waterdeep residents:
There are rumors and rumblings about the Xanathar Guild. It is not a recognized guild in Waterdeep, for one. They are said to work in secret and have been connected to everything from thievery to slavery. The whereabouts of their headquarters is unknown but people speculate that they live in the sewers, in Undermountain, in the Sea Ward, the Dock Ward, the South Ward, and the cemetery. Who or what a Xanathar is is also an unknown.
Marten clears his throat, his face a mask of concentration, trying to put the pieces together.
"Sounds like to me is more of the same gang war we've seen on the streets. 'Cept now it sounds like there's a mebbe bunch of coin involved, which makes this more desperate. And more deadly. Zhents grabbed our boy Floon and Raener here, hopin to get that coin. And Xanathar's guild snatched Floon up fer the same reason. Xanathar's crew is a bunch of thieving, slaving thugs--no better than the Zhents here. Mebbe worse.
Ty, can you get these squawking birds to tell us where they took him? They seem to have some connection to the Xanathar guild from what little they've said so far."
"Sounds like to me is more of the same gang war we've seen on the streets. 'Cept now it sounds like there's a mebbe bunch of coin involved, which makes this more desperate. And more deadly. Zhents grabbed our boy Floon and Raener here, hopin to get that coin. And Xanathar's guild snatched Floon up fer the same reason. Xanathar's crew is a bunch of thieving, slaving thugs--no better than the Zhents here. Mebbe worse.
Ty, can you get these squawking birds to tell us where they took him? They seem to have some connection to the Xanathar guild from what little they've said so far."
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Ty cleans his fingernails with the deadly tip of his dagger as he asks the Kenku again. "Where did they take the human?"
The kenku finds the gesture utterly unthreatening. "Xanathar sends his regards," he says again in the precise orcish accent he used before.
Just then a pounding resounds from the gate. "City watch!" yells a voice from the street.
Without waiting for polite entry, the watch forces the gate open and rushes into the warehouse through the yard. The watchpersons see the bodies littered around the building and immediately begin taking stock of the situation, searching the rest of the warehouse. None of them draw a weapon, but several station themselves as guards to react to any sudden violence. The leader of the watch steps forward. "I am Captain Hyustus Staget," he says in a clipped and formal tone. "We are investigating suspicious activity here. What is your part in all of this?"
The kenku finds the gesture utterly unthreatening. "Xanathar sends his regards," he says again in the precise orcish accent he used before.
Just then a pounding resounds from the gate. "City watch!" yells a voice from the street.
Without waiting for polite entry, the watch forces the gate open and rushes into the warehouse through the yard. The watchpersons see the bodies littered around the building and immediately begin taking stock of the situation, searching the rest of the warehouse. None of them draw a weapon, but several station themselves as guards to react to any sudden violence. The leader of the watch steps forward. "I am Captain Hyustus Staget," he says in a clipped and formal tone. "We are investigating suspicious activity here. What is your part in all of this?"
Charity
Charity comes forward, her hands upraised with her palms open, trying to not provoke the guards into rash action. "Hail, Captain," she starts, "my companions and I came here in search of a missing friend." The farmgirl gestures towards the dead bodies of the Zhentarim thugs. "We found those dead bodies, as well as some birdmen," another gesture, this time to their captive kenku, "who drew their weapons as they saw us. A brief skirmish ensued." Her own wounds are proof enough of that. "We were...victorious, if you could call it that, and found master Neverember who had been kidnapped, along with our friend, by the dead ones."
Charity does not lower her hands until the captain gives the indication to do so. "If it would be amenable to you, we would like to continue searching for our missing friend. Time may be of the essence; as the Xanathar Guild are intent on taking knowledge from him that he does not have."
Charity comes forward, her hands upraised with her palms open, trying to not provoke the guards into rash action. "Hail, Captain," she starts, "my companions and I came here in search of a missing friend." The farmgirl gestures towards the dead bodies of the Zhentarim thugs. "We found those dead bodies, as well as some birdmen," another gesture, this time to their captive kenku, "who drew their weapons as they saw us. A brief skirmish ensued." Her own wounds are proof enough of that. "We were...victorious, if you could call it that, and found master Neverember who had been kidnapped, along with our friend, by the dead ones."
Charity does not lower her hands until the captain gives the indication to do so. "If it would be amenable to you, we would like to continue searching for our missing friend. Time may be of the essence; as the Xanathar Guild are intent on taking knowledge from him that he does not have."
"Mmhmm," Captain Staget says to Brad.
He looks skeptical during Charity's explanation until Renaer Neverember steps forward. "I can vouch for their story, Captain," he says.
Captain Staget's eyes widen in surprise. "Lord Neverember!" The captain gives a polite nod of his head. "You look..."
The nobleman waves away the captain's imminent observation. "I was captured by..." he says as he looks around the room and points at several of them. "Those men. Zhentarim, I believe. The others attacked them an hour ago. A bloody brawl resulted, as you can see. I hid, having slipped my ropes, but for my cowardice they hauled away my friend, Floon Blagmaar, mistaking him for me." Guilt wracks the nobleman's face. "Several Xanathar thugs stayed behind, searching the place, and would surely have found me if these fine people had not arrived in time."
The Captain is clearly convinced by Renaer's words and the city watch all relax, stepping away to less strategic places in the warehouse or to help search the premises. "Of course, my lord," Captain Staget says stiffly. "The gods smiled on you this night."
Renaer fruitlessly smooths his wrinkled clothes. "Indeed, captain. And what will become of these fine folks?"
Captain Staget clears his throat, clearly unsure what to do with his hands before the nobleman. "Well, I see no glaring reasons to haul them to jail, my lord."
Neverember eyes the captain for a moment and then nods. "Very good, Captain."
"However..." Staget says. "I'll advise the six of you to stay out of this little gang affair." The captain snaps his fingers as he looks over his shoulder and a young watchwoman steps up promptly. He whispers into her ear and she runs off. She returns a minute later with a sheaf of papers. "As a reminder, please take a copy of the city Code Legal."
He hands Brad the sheaf of papers with a stern look. "That said, you are free to go. You have done Waterdeep a service tonight."
He looks skeptical during Charity's explanation until Renaer Neverember steps forward. "I can vouch for their story, Captain," he says.
Captain Staget's eyes widen in surprise. "Lord Neverember!" The captain gives a polite nod of his head. "You look..."
The nobleman waves away the captain's imminent observation. "I was captured by..." he says as he looks around the room and points at several of them. "Those men. Zhentarim, I believe. The others attacked them an hour ago. A bloody brawl resulted, as you can see. I hid, having slipped my ropes, but for my cowardice they hauled away my friend, Floon Blagmaar, mistaking him for me." Guilt wracks the nobleman's face. "Several Xanathar thugs stayed behind, searching the place, and would surely have found me if these fine people had not arrived in time."
The Captain is clearly convinced by Renaer's words and the city watch all relax, stepping away to less strategic places in the warehouse or to help search the premises. "Of course, my lord," Captain Staget says stiffly. "The gods smiled on you this night."
Renaer fruitlessly smooths his wrinkled clothes. "Indeed, captain. And what will become of these fine folks?"
Captain Staget clears his throat, clearly unsure what to do with his hands before the nobleman. "Well, I see no glaring reasons to haul them to jail, my lord."
Neverember eyes the captain for a moment and then nods. "Very good, Captain."
"However..." Staget says. "I'll advise the six of you to stay out of this little gang affair." The captain snaps his fingers as he looks over his shoulder and a young watchwoman steps up promptly. He whispers into her ear and she runs off. She returns a minute later with a sheaf of papers. "As a reminder, please take a copy of the city Code Legal."
He hands Brad the sheaf of papers with a stern look. "That said, you are free to go. You have done Waterdeep a service tonight."
"You are too kind Captain, but our service is paltry at best, for two of these foul creatures escaped and out into the street! I'm sure you could catch them if you hurry. And there is the matter of this live one, we obviously surrender him to your authority. But we may still assist in some small way, my friends can escort his lordship safely home, while I help clean up here and dispense with this mess. My cousin sometimes runs a cart for the morgue, and I have helped him in the past."
"The gangs seem to be taking care of themelves," Staget says to Erythro. "And I'll not send my men into the sewers after a few Xanathar thugs. Though we are happy to take the kenku. He won't see a good time in a cell, I'd wager."
The kenku keeps his beak shut, glaring at anyone that dares to look at him.
Renaer Neverember speaks up, "Thank you for the offer, kind mage. I'd prefer you continue after Floon in good haste."
Captain Staget's expression sours. "Yeah, well, keep the blood of the streets, okay? Not all city watch officers are as nice as me. And I don't arrange the morgue pick-ups. That would be back at the city watch station. You're welcome to have your cousin put his offer in there."
The kenku keeps his beak shut, glaring at anyone that dares to look at him.
Renaer Neverember speaks up, "Thank you for the offer, kind mage. I'd prefer you continue after Floon in good haste."
Captain Staget's expression sours. "Yeah, well, keep the blood of the streets, okay? Not all city watch officers are as nice as me. And I don't arrange the morgue pick-ups. That would be back at the city watch station. You're welcome to have your cousin put his offer in there."
"Please," Renaer says again. "Spend your efforts on finding Floon instead."
Erythro will start investigating the warehouse again. Causally searching for clues. Making notes and such, plucking feathers from dead birdman. He does this for at least an hour, after which he turns his investigation to the surrounding areas.
Take a short rest at the warehouse. Then investigate the city, rolled a 15. If I am ever left alone in the warehouse I secure the treasure I found. Otherwise I make plans to return for it.
"Bird brains wuzznt to keen on talking. From whut Lord Renaer seen, Floon was drug through the streets out in the open an hour ago. Someone hadda seen it. Gimme my share of that dirty thief money. Mebbe it can loosen some tongues and do some good. Find out where they drug him off to. Anyone wanna tag along?"
If I'm doing my math right, my share of the various coin carried by the dead gang members should come up to about 8 gold and 7 silver. I'll canvass the area and use coin where I must to loosen tongues to find out which way they drug off Floon.
Erytho and Marten find out rather quickly from some of the people who work on Candle Lane, and without needing to spend any coin, that they saw Floon dragged into a side-alley. The alley is a dead end but harbors a sewer grate at the end of it.
Short rest: Yes. Treasure, not while the watch is around.
I'd rather long rest. I'm outa spells for healing, and if we're about to go down into a gang hideout, we might need some of that sweet juice.
Unless the Bards have enough healing to cover us. I know some of them spent spells too.
On the other hand, time is of the essence. If you think we can get by without the spells, I say we go for it.
Unless the Bards have enough healing to cover us. I know some of them spent spells too.
On the other hand, time is of the essence. If you think we can get by without the spells, I say we go for it.
First level is rough.
But...poor Floon can wait...right?
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But...poor Floon can wait...right?
Meh, whatever. If I die, then I'll just sit back and watch the rest of the fun from the sidelines.