Amelia will cautiously bring attention to the staircase to the others amwhile moving close to inspect it.
pst, hey guys, I think someone is here, possibly a captive, but lets take care for a trap.
sniffing the air, Amelia moves to the stairs and after everyone has gathered, will open the Hidden area's trap door.
|
Amelia notices the breathing stops abruptly.
As everyone gathers and Reu's clockwork bird tosses papers all around, Amelia, confident that there are no traps, throws the door open!
The odor of sour fish and vinegar wafts out over Amelia, and in the dim light spilling into the closet she makes out what looks like discarded coils of rope, canvas tarpaulins, and splintered remains of shattered barrels.
Those with darkvision looking in spot the slightest movement under a tarpaulin in the corner...
"Where now. Anyone have a light. We aren't sneaking anymore."
With his elven vision using the light to brighten the room to daytime quality, Marquez moves cautiously forward into room motioning for the others to follow.
Bhoors moves in as well. Comforted that he has a bit more reach with the new short swords. He notes Marquez's stance and adjusts to stealth with a shrug.
|
|
Once the figure realizes that you are not the same thugs that were searching for him, he slowly emerges from the tarp. A middle-aged man with striking good-looks, despite being covered in refuse, stands up, Gods, is it over?
He looks bedraggled, but his bearing is clear... that of a noble.
Thank you all for saving me!
Amelia turns to the others.
oye, is this the noble laddie we waz suppos'd ta' be lookin' for? Ole whatshis name.
well maybe, ifn ye our guy, I don't remember tha' name ta' be honest, but someone was right worried bout the guys disappearance
Bhoors nods, That is very likely him. Floon Blagmaar?" Bhoors points at the man. He waits for a response.
"You are Renaer Neverember then? Your name came up . . . Look we were hoping to find Floon. Glad to get you out of a hard scrape here but what's going on. This is more than a mugging. You think they have you and Floon mixed."
|
|
Bhoors gets the sense that he is genuinely sorry that they grabbed Floon instead of him, but relieved that you all are not also after him.
It seems that the Zhentarim thinks that my father embezzled a large amount of gold while he was Open Lord, and that he hid the dragons somewhere in the city. They seem 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, he says with a shrug.
At about that time, you all can hear the front gates squeal as they are thrown open wide! The sounds of voices, the city watch by the sound of it!
"It's the fuzz. Are we running or explaining?"
technically we did break an' enter without so much as a peep ta' the guard, might be best ifn' we act like we were ne'er here. Amelia goes to slink off into the shadows, and out of the building unless stopped.
Bhoors looks at Neverember, "Do you have any credibility with the officials?"
Amelia thinks back to all her encounters with "law enforcement"
are ye sure? I can slip away real easy like if ye got any doubt whatsoever.
She clearly isn't convinced, but doesn't leave yet either.
|
|
Renaer looks at the little halfling, Are you from here? Between the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors and the City Watch, I would rather not take my chances. I have enough influence and we can always place you as good Samaritans that heard my pleas for help or something.
And, perhaps making a contact with the Watch could be worthwhile? the noble says with a shrug.
Bhoors nods to Neverember. He looks at Amelia, "Nows the time if you want to make for the window. I'd trust our charge here between him and Volo we likely have a shot of talking out of this."
He gives her a sec to stay or go. After which, he calls out, "Back here lads. We were able to rescue a victim from these bird people. I think we got them all." He then holds both his hands out the doorway. "There are several of us back here. We mean no trouble."
Amelia sighs. Alright, but ifn' it goes bad, don't ye look ta' me.
|
|
A watch captain and a dozen guards burst in through the front door! The watch moves with with efficiency, two with bullseye lanterns narrowing the beams upon you with several crossbows trained on you.
The watch captain approaches, holding up his hand when it is obvious to him that you are all acquiescing. Scanning the floor, he notes the dead Zhentarim and seems to linger a moment on the kenku corpses.
He examines the nobleman standing next to you and the man's disheveled clothes before addressing you, I am Watch Captain Staget. Tell me what happened here, from your point of view.
Within a few minutes, the lamps all along the wall are lit and the warehouse is brightly lit and Captain Staget is taking notes on everything you say.
Bhoors nods, "We were sent by a friend after another of his friends went missing. Our investigations led here. We checked it out. These bird folks attacked and we defended ourselves. They had been keeping this man prisoner." He motions to Neverember.
|
|
Captain Staget waves off Reu's offer and is relatively inscrutable as he takes notes, nodding at certain comments. A watchman calls him over, and he excuses himself briefly.
You watch him crouch over the kenku bodies as the watchman points out a couple of things then move over to a Zhentarim corpse and repeat the process.
A few minutes later, he returns and says, It seems that your story checks out, but I just have a few other things to ask. So, your friend asked you to look for Lord Renaer, here, and you followed the trail to this warehouse. Did I get that correct?
Is you say yes, please make a Deception check.
Bhoors nods, "Actually finding Lord Renaer was a happy accident for his sake, we were sent for another." He pauses wondering if honesty is the best policy, "Volo, the wizard sent us to find, Floon Blagmaar. It seems that these bird people think those of us without feathers look all alike. Floon was taken elsewhere. They are after something I don't know what." I don't remember any specific instruction to keep this on the down low. Though if it wasn't on the down low why ask us. Crap! Oh well. Tymora I rolled the dice. Here we go.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Damine is standing by as Bhoors talks to the guard, keeping an eye on the Lord they managed to find.
|
|
The watch captain raises an eyebrow, Volo? The author?
Staget jots down some notes, Floon Blagmaar...
Thank you for your help. I know your just trying to help, but in matters like these, it is best to leave the dirty business to the Watch, as he says so, he hands you a copy of the Code Legal.
He gestures to the door, You are free to go. I must ask Renaer a few other questions to follow up. Be assured that we will get him home safely.
As if he just thought of something else, Oh, and keep the blood OFF the streets, eh?
The watch captain raises an eyebrow, Volo? The author?
Staget jots down some notes, Floon Blagmaar...
Thank you for your help. I know your just trying to help, but in matters like these, it is best to leave the dirty business to the Watch, as he says so, he hands you a copy of the Code Legal.
He gestures to the door, You are free to go. I must ask Renaer a few other questions to follow up. Be assured that we will get him home safely.
As if he just thought of something else, Oh, and keep the blood OFF the streets, eh?
** spoiler omitted **
"Thank you. We don't want to get in the way." Bhoors leans in toward the watch captain, "If we were going to 'AVOID' such trouble where do you think we should steer clear of." Bhoors looks at the man pleading for a tip. "We're looking to help."
|
|
He stops and looks hard at Bhoors, Looks like you are a man that likes gossiping with the women of the Dock Ward... No doubt some of them warsher women at the laundry have seen something. Now, I've got work to do, if you'll excuse me...
Bhoors actually knows the laundry that he is referring to, it is just a street over... and those ladies are chatty!
Bhoors thanks the Watch Sargent. He looks to Renaer, "Anything else you think might help."
For a long time Marquez has been staring down at the floor, his hand caressing his goatee as he was in deep thought. Through the encounter with the watch, he continued pacing back and forth with his arms crossed in front of him.
As if not even recalling that the guard had come in, he stops as though has just come to the decision. ”I wonder if we can find dees “Stone of Golorr.” Would you be eenterested in dis?” he asks the party.
"Well we haven't found Floon yet either. Perhaps news of the stone and news of the dandy will continue along the same trail. The watch commander suggested that the laundry women might have news for us."