Blastwind smiles at Marquez somewhat condescendingly. "Ah well. There is no need to worry. We will certainly catch the one responsible. Many have tried to escape the long hand of justice in Waterdeep, and many have failed."
He folds his arms across his chest then continues, "I will add that, I doubt your wounded man is the one responsible for the blast. He may be otherwise involved, but he did not cast the fireball that so disturbed this peaceful morning." He pulls a couple of small round stones from a pocket and begins rolling them around in his hand as he thinks. The stones quietly clattering together over and over. "You see we have other witnesses who swear to seeing a small figure up on the roof who threw something that caused the blast. Likely some filthy goblin, kobold or gnome based on the various descriptions so far. But there are many witnesses to speak to yet, and even now we are searching for an item that the perpetrator was seen dropping into the alley after the blast."
He looks around at those standing in the manor's common room. "None of you have come across any unusual objects? Perhaps of a magical or religious nature?" Blastwind's blue eyes scan everyone's face as he receives little in response to his question.
When Dacknar makes his offer, the investigator lips disappear into a thin smile. "I...ah....thank you for your offer of assistance, but this really is a matter for the City Watch to handle. And as I mentioned, there is no doubt we will find the one responsible."
"Now it seems you know little of this gnome or why he should be running to your establishment, so we'll be moving on." He flashes a look at Dacknar. "And you can be sure the Watch will be keeping tabs on this area to insure no further trouble arises."
With that he signals to the sergeant and the two return out into the street to speak with other witnesses.
The inspector emerges from the manor just as the constable finishes escorting Unmei away from the bodies. His face turns red at her admonishment and he leans in slightly, "Forgive me auntie." He says quietly to her. "But you don't want m'Lord Blastwind to catch you where you shouldn't oughta be. He's a stickler for the rules and such. And he'd have both our hides serving in the mines if he thought you were tampering with the scene." He slips Unmei a silver piece as an offering to the Morning Lord and then hurries back to his post.
Unmei arrives not long after Blastwind leaves Trollskull manor. After some time exchanging information and what you learned about the morning's events, Unmei dumps the contents of a small pouch out on the table revealing five cut sapphire gemstones.
"I remember this one fellow tellin' me about a metal walkin' scallywag he saw durin' th' Day o' Wonders parade. 'twas part o' th' temple o' Gond's automatons that they sponsored. At it sounds jus' like th' puppet that ye were natterin' about Bhoors."
"Well clearly these groups that are warring think that there is something real to be gained. Otherwise they wouldn't be risking open war with eachother. War is bad for business for secret crime groups."
"It could also be a new group tryin' t' make a name fer them selves, 'n pilfered th' tin scallywag from th' temple o' Gord fer thar use."
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”The temple of Gond sounds eenteresting and could provide us with more information. I have always found de automaton facinateeng“
The House of Inspired Hands, Waterdeep's temple of Gond, sits on the corner of Seawatch Street and Shark Street in the Sea Ward. The building looks like a cross between a temple and a workshop. It takes a good part of the remainder of the morning, but you finally find yourself standing in front of the temp. The spoked and toothed cog symbol of Gond is displayed prominently above the building's entrance. As you all arrive, you spot the silhouette of a humanoid shape perching on the rooftop. It extends an arm, releasing a tiny metal sparrow into the sky. Sunlight briefly glints off of the artificial bird as it flutters through the air and even doing a few graceful loops. Then it suddenly veers down and right toward you.
"Should be fun."
Bhoors smiles at the mechanical bird. He looks at Marquez, "Rue would love this."
Marquez looks at Unmei strangely as she returns so well disguised. ”No whone will be able recognize jou. Thees much ees for scure.”
Marquez looks up with the others and is amazed at first as well. Bhoors’s words are answered with a slow nod but Marquez’s face becomes quite serious. He looks at Bhoors suddenly ”What eef theese is another fire spell!?” He rushes forward and wraps his arms around Unmei who he sees as a motherly figure and positions to his body to protect her from a blast from the bird like projectile.
Dacknar looks at the metal bird flying to them and hears Marquez warn about a fire spell.
"I thought the fire spells were from beads not birds"
Dacknar takes a good look at the bird to see if it is holding anything
However, the fact that you aren't there anymore may not keep him from learning about the group's visit and their interest in automaton's and the days events.
You all watch as the bird drifts through the air. At first simply enjoying the site, but then as it veers towards where you all stand the potential danger following this morning's events become more clear. Fortunately, Dacknar doesn't spot anything held in the tiny mechanical claws, or any other evidence of magic or explosive qualities.
Taking no chances, Marquez gallantly puts himself between the falling bird and Unmei as he grabs her and quickly pivots sideways. Moments later the bird crashes into the ground where he was standing and shatters. Little gears, springs and bits of metal scatter across the cobblestones outside the temple. The figure on the roof disappears from the edge and out of sight.
Bhoors looks around, "See I think the old lady likes the Amnaird."
Dacknar picks up the the crashed bird parts.
"Maybe they can fix it."
Nodding to the temple.
The creature on the roof ignores your calls and doesn't appear again, but one of the acolytes from the temple, a gnome with a slight scar on one cheek and walking with a limp, steps out and sees Dacknar picking up the pieces.
"Excuse me good sirs...and madam." He says with a nod to Unmei. "May I be of some service to you?"
The acolyte smiles warmly at Unmei, then looks over the parts gathered by Dacknar. Frowning at the various bits and pieces, he shakes his head. "I'm sorry, but I doubt your device is repairable, at least not by me. I will go get Priestess Valetta, she may be able to help." He says. He steps back toward the temple door, beckoning you to follow. "Please come in and be welcome. You may wait in the central hall while I fetch Valetta."
The temple is buzzing with activity as you step inside to the great Hall of Exemplary Inventions. Acolytes rush to and fro on various errands, many carrying some tool, mechanical component or finished piece to be judged worthy by the temple priests. The hall itself holds two dozen marble pedestals. Each one bears a prize-winning invention or a miniature model of some other extraordinary creation including a four-foot-tall working model of a clock tower. It's delicately crafted brass bells ringing throughout the hall every hour on the hour. There's a miniature model of a mechanical dragon turtle that has a brass plate affixed to its pedestal that reads, "Big Bclchy. Sank in Deepwater Harbor on the Day of Wonders in 1363 DR." A functional "waking helmet" equipped with small, articulated metal arms and hands that gently slap the wearer if he or she falls asleep, and many more odd and marvelous items. But before you can review them all, the little gnome acolyte returns, followed by a dragonborn in priestly garb, her bronze colored skin almost matching perfectly with some of the metalwork of the items in the hall.
"Greetings and blessings of the maker upon each of you." She says putting her hands together and offering a slight bow of the head. "I understand you seek some assistance fixing an item beyond this young acolytes abilities?"
"Someone from the roof top let this one go and it crashed. Do you know who the owner might be?"
Showing her the broken bird machine.
Marquez stands to the side, splitting his attention between the conversation and the fantastic devices surrounding him.
Valetta takes the bits and pieces from Dacknar and looks at them for a few seconds. "Someone up on the roof you say." She says, letting out a heavy sigh as she shakes her head. "That will most likely be Nim, our resident Nimblewright. An avid and able Maker of Things, but it struggles both to curb its enthusiasm or consider future consequences of its work."
She turns, beckoning you to follow. "I will take you to Nim so it can apologize for this carelessness."
You follow the priestess thought the temple past several small workrooms filled with sounds of metalwork or acolytes being instructed in the ways and methods of Gond. Eventually you wind up a narrow spiral staircase the ends at a small landing and a closed, locked door.
Valetta examines the lock and her scaled face curves down into what can only be dragonborn frown as she knocks on the door. "Nim!" She calls. "Nim. Come out of there. You must apologize to these good citizens for causing them potential harm as they entered the temple." She knocks again, but there is no answer.
Hmmm. Did she mean to call this person eet? Or does she have an accent as I do??” Marquez asks to anyone close enough to hear him.
At the door
”Would eet be ok for me to open dhe door? I have just de spell to do eet. “
"You keep saying, 'it'?" Bhoors looks puzzled.
Valetta huffs in frustration as the door fails to open. She's about to say something more when she notices the puzzled looks on your faces and your questions around her usage of 'it.' "Ah. I see you may not be familiar with Lantanese constructs." She says. "You see nimblewrights are magical constructs, usually quite simple minded or with a single purpose. They have no gender to speak of being creatures of metal, wood and magic." She looks back at the door, glancing at what seems to be a newly installed lock. "Nim. Nim is a bit unique for a nimblewright because it can think, create and build. The wizard who left it with us was rather mysterious about its creatioin, but it is one of Gond's creations none-the-less and we do our best to watch over Nim and keep it out of trouble." She knocks at the door and calls out again but to no avail.
When Marquez steps up and offers to open the door using magical means and she sighs with relief. "That would be most helpful, as long as your magics won't damage the door." She says stepping aside to let the wizardly entertainer get a closer look.
With assurance that no harm will come to the door Marquez steps up speaks a few magical words in his native language. Moments later a loud ringing knock echoes from the door up and down the hallway and through the temple. The lock clicks open and the door swings quietly open.
"Wow what sort of things does a created thing make. . . .as a performer that is intriguing."
Valetta turns to Bhoors with a toothy smile. "In Nim's case, it creates whatever seems to come into its mind at the moment. Some things work..." She glances at the broken pieces from the mechanical bird. "...some don't. But so far most of its ideas have been quite harmless."
Bhoors continues what to some might appear small talk as he prods asking additional questions about Nim's craft. "Just the me . . .mekenikel devices or does he do art or work with magic."
"So does this...tin man talk? Or is it just a moving statue?"
Dacknar seems somewhat interested. May be he could get a crew of these Nims things for a Pirate ship then all the loot could go to the captain.
Hmmmm....well I've never seen Nim be artistic, beyond rough design sketching. But that doesn't mean there isn't talent of some kind there." She says thoughtfully, scratching lightly under her chin. "As for magic, no. No, I don't think so. It's a magical being itself, but I've never known it to have any capacity to manipulate the aether in any way."
Nodding toward Dacknar, "You will see in a moment, that it is much more animate than just a moving statue. However, you are correct it that doesn't communicate verbally, instead we have worked out a hand language that allows for interaction and conversation."
Stepping through the now open door, Valetta calls out to the mechanical creature while gesturing for you to follow. Ducking through the low door, you find the temple's attic space to be quite similar to most attic's. It is filled with a variety of boxes, parts, scraps, and other clutter. A messy workbench sits along one wall, covered with tools, bits of metal, screws, springs, wood blocks, and other baubles. The whole place smells of dust and oil.
Impatiently Valetta claps her hands. "Nim!" She says sternly. "Come out this instant. These good folk and I have a few questions to ask of you. The longer you delay, the worse things will be."
A few moments later there is the rustle and clatter of a broom handle sliding to the floor and out from behind a couple of stacked crates emerges a curious looking being. It stands about four feet tall made mostly of wood and metal. It's carved wooden face is similar to that of a wood elf, but its features are frozen into a permanent slight smirk. It wears a simple robe similar in color and fit as the one worn by the temple acolyte, but stained with oil, woodstains, and other substances. Thin articulating metal hands swirl nervously as it creeps out from its hiding place, head hanging down like a cowed puppy.
"That's better." Valetta says with some satisfaction. She holds out the broken pieces of the bird to the little nimblewright. "These folk say this device came from the roof of our temple and nearly hit this kind woman. It looks like one of your little inventions Nim, so what happened and what do you need to do?"
The nimblewright ducks lower when the priestess shows it the broken parts, then slowly begins signing back to her some kind of response. The two communicate quietly for a few moments, hands flashing at times quicker than your eyes can easily follow. Finally, Valetta tsks softly, signs something and then turns back to you.
"It appears Nim is responsible for the bird and it's nearly hitting you. It says it was an accident, that the bird was supposed to simply glide and fly through air and then return back to Nim's hand." She says. Then adds with a pointed look at Nim. "It seems the design was flawed, which would have been discovered safely in the temple if proper testing procedures had been followed." Focusing back on you she offers a slight bow of her head. "You have the sincere apologies from myself and the temple for being caught up in this incident. I can assure you it won't happen again. Now is there any other way we can be of service?"
"No one was harmed it is a remarkable creation. What sorts of things do you create Nim? Beyond little birds."
Nim perks up at Bhoors' question. A metal ringing sounds as it claps its hand together and then moves over near a set of shelves containing a variety of odd looking objects. Tilting its head toward Valetta it makes a few gestures to which the priestess responds by saying "Yes, you may Nim. He did ask." With a grin, her eyes land on Bhoors. "Nim is always excited to show off its creations." She says.
There is a rattling, winding sound as Nim turns a key in a wood and metal device that looks quite similar to a hydra. Finished turning, Nim clicks a couple of switches and the metallic creature roars to life. Five little wooden heads swing back and forth in an intricate dance, jaws occasionally snapping while short legs move it forward slowly across the room.
Another key turns and Nim holds a whirling, spinning, device in his hand that elicits small sparks and whistles. There's another half built bird similar to the one that nearly hit you earlier. The bird sits next to what seems to be a scale model of a large hippodrome. Nim winds up two model chariots one with purple colors, the other green, sets them on the course in the model, and again flicks two switches. The surprisingly nimble and quick models, race around the track circling multiples times until finally the purple model winds down to a stop followed moments later by the green.
Soon enough the whole attic space seems alive with a variety of noisemakers, gadgets and toys, the little nimblewright standing in the center of it all, arms held out then clapping in excitement at the cacophonous display.
Bhoors smiles and seems pleasantly surprized by each one he moves to a place he can see both Nim and the priestess. "Great balls of Fire Nim these are amazing."
"You have talent that is for sure. Have you been here all day or have you made anything bigger like your size?"
Thinking back when someone said it was like a puppet that threw the bead.
Both Nim and Valetta seem completely oblivious to any alterior motives that Bhoors may have. And yet, they also seem completely unphased by his references to the morning's events. It's as if they've nothing to hide or completely missed the potential reference.
Nim continues to clap, sign and show off his things. A sense of pride and unbridled enthusiasm emanates from the little nimblewright. That is until Dacknar asks his question. At the mention, of crafting something of his size or similar to his own nature, the nimblewright hesitates, drops its head as if looking at the ground, and eventually shrugs its shoulders in the universal sign for "I don't know."
”I am no expert on Neem’s behavior but eet seems as though Dacknar has struck a nerve. “ Marquez then looks at the others with a look that says “let’s show our cards and tell them what is going on”
Placing his had on Nim's arm. Dacknar looks at the tin man "Nim, wha' did ye make? 'tis ok, jus' tell us wha' be goin' on. Th' reason we be askin' be 'cause people 'ave lost thar lives already 'n we needs t' stop th' one that did it, afore more people are hurt."
With sagging shoulders and bowed head, the little tin creature begins slowly signing to Valetta. As she begins to understand, her features become stern and once again she sighs heavily before she begins interpreting.
"It seems you are all correct in your guess that Nim has created another of its kind. A nimblewright meant to be a...a companion of sorts. Apparently Nim became lonely and took matters into its own hands." She gives Nim another look causing Nim to droop even further. "To make matters worse, the creature fled the temple and Nim's charge several weeks ago. I not sure how or by what, but it was frightened by something and ran away. Nim swears not to know what it was." Nim makes a rough cross across where his heart might be to emphasize that he really doesn't know what happened. "Nim hasn't seen or heard from the other nimblewright since."
When Valetta finishes speaking, Nim jumps up and quickly rummages through a drawer. Eventually he pulls out an odd looking device made of copper, about a foot long with an umbrella like protrusion on one end. The nimblewright gestures to Valetta again.
"Hmmmm...it seems Nim hasn't been idle in seeking this lost creation." She says thoughtfully taking the device from its small hands. "He says this will detect the creature, actually any nimblewright except Nim." She points to a trigger. "By activating the trigger you'll know when any nimblewright is within 500 feet of the device. He says it's easy to know when you've found something because the thing whirs, spins, and clicks. The closer you get, the more vigorous the activity."
She looks at Nim shaking her head. "We will speak of this later, but for now you are confined to the attic and will be barred from the suppliers for a month." She turns back to all of you. "It seems this new creature may be responsible for an awful crime. Nim is impulsive and foolish but not a villain. If I could impose upon you to find this wayward nimblewright and either return it to the temple or bring evidence of its destruction, I would be most grateful. I believe we have 500 dragons in the miscellaneous fund right now. It's yours if you are successful." She offers the nimblewright detector to Dacknar. "This may be of some help in the search."
Nim simply shrugs his shoulders not really understanding what a 'Zhent' is or how to spot one. Valetta, more knowledgable of the darker side of Waterdeep rubs a clawed hand under her chin for a few seconds and then shakes her head.
"We don't usually traffic with members of the Black Network, however, such transactions are not forbidden." She says to Unmei. "But I don't recall seeing anyone with such affiliations in or near the temple recently. Then again, in this part of town, a member of such a group may be more careful about hiding his or her true affiliation." She shrugs and shakes her head. "I'm sorry I cannot be of more assistance. But if you believe the network is involved, they could have been responsible for the nimblewright's disappearance."