CCC-WWC-04 The Black Hand [5e Adventurers League] [Recruitment Closed] (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

"You're Ontharr, I take it?" Shaldinari says to the man, taking in the small sparsely furnished room. "We're here with a deliverly from Mother Hommwell."

Let's assume we take a short rest before continuing on to the town.

Edit: Looks like I got ninja'd while I was typing. Adjusted my action to account for hers.

Zar seems relived that they make it to town without further incidents. "Just one attack? I was expecting them to try harder than that. Let's not let our guard down," he says to the group as they enter town.

He follows along quietly while they proceed to the temple, constantly scanning for someone to ambush them again. He nods in agreement to Ontharr's suggestion and enters the room. Zar looks around the room while everyone enters. When Shaldinari asks her question, he puts his hand on her shoulder and speaks before she can continue.

"I suppose you know why we are here," he says once the door is closed, pausing to let the priest respond to judge his reaction.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Insight: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Aye, he responds with a nod, I am Ontharr.

Turning to address Zar, Aye, that I do. Tell me, easy travels? No problems?

The representative of the Order of the Gauntlet waves for you all to enter and gestures to have the chest placed on the table, awaiting your report.

I am fine taking a short rest, I did use the lay on hands to heal 10 hp up though.

Just to make sure this person is who he said he is. Antonio uses his Divine Sense to detect evil. Unless it only works on celestial, fiend, or undead

"It appears that the items enhance the evil feeling that are associated with them.
How is the order planing to destroy these items of evil?"

Jiro worries that this might be too easy and watches Ontharr suspiciously.

Wisdom (Insight): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Yes, it is as you suspect, Celestial, Undead, or Fiend. Also hallowed / unhallowed... he does not seem to be any of the above.

Ontharr shrugs, That will be the church of Torm in Elturel's job, we just need to protect it on the way.

He stops and looks the bunch of you over, Malana speaks highly of you all. She says you, Antonio, have been training with her. Do you really think that there any credence to her need for such extreme levels of protection of these things? I mean there are a good, he stops to count! Eight of you? Assuming that the hobgoblin outside is one of you...

The church of Bane has not been active in the Moonsea region for years...

Jiro, you think that this guy doesn't seem to be taking this a seriously as he should, but he seems genuine. He does seem to be hopeful of something, however...

Knowing that magic can be tricked, he listens to his gut feeling.
"Yes, Seeing the great pains to hide the items. I believe there is a high degree of danger."
insight: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
"The church of Bane is like a viper. It waits until you feel safe and then strikes when you least expect it."

Sorry, it was a holiday weekend here in Canada...

Insight: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Jarprax looks brightly at the church, the acolytes, and this man before him: "HA! Yes, quite an easy trip! But we have encountered some stronger forces looking to retrieve these artifacts in the past - agents of Bane. Perhaps we can accompany the chest the rest of the way to Elturel?"

Zar nods in agreement to Antonio's and Jarprax's comments.

"Agreed. I think the closer we get to destroying these items, the harder the church of Bane will try to take them. Who do you plan to send with the disks? I would go so far to say that we insist that we continue the journey. I don't want our hard work in obtaining them end with the disks in the hands of the people they were being hidden from," he says sternly.

Ontharr looks more closely at you now, intent on gauging your sincerity...

All of you that tried to read this man are certain that he is who he claims to be. You clearly think that he thought that Mother Protector's concerns were her being overly cautious, but he may be changing his mind...

The smile fades from his face, as he can clearly see the concern on your face, You are all serious, not just buying in to Malana's paranoia. Torm's left hand! he swears before continuing, The discs in your chest there are fakes. I doubt that even the heavy metal lining could dull the discs power that much. You realize that he didn't know about the bag of holding at this comment.

Ontharr shifts uncomfortably, Look, before you get upset, Malana struggled with this decision. She did not want to send you all as a decoy, but duty overcame guilt and she took them to Elturel, herself...

Gods, I was a fool. I should have given her concerns more weight. After all, we did serve together, he looks up at all of you, She headed to Melvaunt. She did not even tell me how she intends to get to Elturel from there, probably for further security or something... Curse me for a fool!

He looks up at you all again, the pain evident on his face, I will understand if you refuse, but I implore you to look into her. At least, make sure that she made it to Elturel without issue. I will add further payment, if that is what is needed.

With your previous Insight checks, you feel that you have gotten a feel for his character. You are certain, with the possible exception of Jiro and his 9 (who no doubt has gotten distracted again), that he is on the level.

"$!@#&%#" Curses Shaldinari hearing of Homwell's deception. "Blasted old woman and her over-cleaver thinking. I neither like being bait on the hook or the thought of the old fool out there alone with the discs." Her jovial and relaxed manner completely gone, as she wrestles with both fury and worry. "Now I understand her...concern and odd behavior back at the temple."

She pierces the man with a stern look. "Aye, the both of you were fools it seems. Those blasted discs are like great beacons of evil and my guess is Bane's followers'll have a way to find them even if they are tucked away in the bag. After all if a simple Bag of Holding could have kept them hidden all this time, why all the trouble to hide them away as they were?"

She waves a hand in the air. "Bah! I ought to let you and Homwell rot in your own foolishness." She says vehemently. "But as usual it'll be other innocents like those merfolk who'll pay the price if those foul things fall into the wrong hands. So I'll do what I can to bail you out of this fiasco." She pauses for a moment, feels the weight of her purse. "And yes, you'll be paying extra for the service."

A look of shock and anger crosses Jarprax's face and he bares his teeth in a grimace that any prey-animal would interpret as "time to hide." Throwing open the chest (breaking the lock if necessary), Jarprax will confirm what the priest has said and, roaring his displeasure, will slam open the door and stamp out of the temple.

The state of affairs genuinely struck Blacklock as entertaining "Hah. After all her preachin about good and valor shes no different than a gods damn Zhentarim Ardragon: lie when its convenient, usher the subservient into chaos. Truly a priest of the Moonsea..." he chided bitterly.

Jarprax opens the chest and inside there are three discs of platinum coloring. The storm priest does not feel the play on his darker emotions that you all were used to in travel...

Ontharr patiently waits until the outbursts abate, then turns to the coffer behind him. Placing it on the table, he produces a bag of coin for each of you. Going back in, he places an identical pouch next to each bag, doubling the amount that was promised by Mother Homwell.

I will carry through the deception and take the ship that I secured to Elmwood and continue via skiff along the River Lis, then on by ship again to Westgate. I can make the last leg by horse and cart. In case there are others, still looking for the chest...

He shakes his head slowly before sitting at the table and begins penning a letter that you all can see is addressed to the acolytes at the Helping Hand, Antonio, may I speak to you for a moment? I have something personal to ask you.

Going to give Antonio a little more time, then, assuming that you are going to check in on Mother Homwell (only Shal has given an affirmative), I will continue.

Ah, yes, sorry - I could have been more clear. Jarprax is storming off in a huff, but he's storming off in the direction of the Mother Protector. Of course, he probably doesn't know where to go, so hopefully someone redirects him...

Zar goes through a series of emotions upon hearing that they were transporting fake disks. Shock that they were duped followed by anger that they were not trusted with the plan. He then accepts that it actually wasn't a bad plan but then concerned if she is safe travelling alone with the real disks.

He looks at the pouches on the table, taking his two and judging the weight before putting them in his belt pouch. "I suggest you take a large group of guards with you as you will be a target if the ruse is still being believed. If you are found out, Mother Homwell will be in danger until we can get to her."

@Zar, judging by the weight, they are about 35 gp each.

Ontharr nods at the wizard's assessment, I have a sizable group, but not so big as to attract too much attention.

Snatching her gold from the table, Shaldinari turns to leave...stops...turns back around and grabs the gold meant for Jarprax. Then without saying another word she hurries out to catch up with the fuming dragonborn.

"Jarprax!" She hollers grabbing the thunder priests attention by adding a crackle and boom of thunder to her voice with a bit of fey magic. When he turns around, she quietly points in the opposite direction he was stomping off toward and tosses him his two bags of gold. "We need to go that way."

Jarprax turns at the sound of thunder and is surprised to see Shaldinari standing there - the thought that the slender elf might be blessed with storm magic flashes through his mind, before he falls into step alongside her, back to the others. A litany of foul curses in both draconic and giantish rumble forth as they return to the others.

Absentmindedly, he drops one of his pouches into Uglariet's hands unless Orntharr laid out enough money for him as well - he did count the hobgoblin as part of the group, earlier.

Taking a short walk with Ontharr, Antoinio speaks.

Returning to the group Antonio addresses them.
"I fear that Mother Homwell could be in danger. I believe that her over confidence in her plan could be her undoing.
Ontharr has the same concerns and has secured supplies and mounts for us to hopefully get to Mother Homwell before she gets to Melvaunt before she disappears."

Going up to Uglariet. "Well, I guess the agreement has been has been changed somewhat. The agreement said you would stay to protect the chest and it's contents. The contents went with someone else, it appears. We are going to meet up with that person, not sure if you want to go with us or stay with this chest until it arrives at it's final destination. Which way do you want to go? If you follow the chest, I will make sure you are paid when you arrive. If you come with us I can fulfill the contract myself."

Ontharr does not have a bag of coin for Uglariet, it appears that in Mother Homwell's instruction, the hobgoblin was not accounted for.

Uglariet nods, The tall dracon paid more than was promised. I assumed that he was hiring me on for another task. He did not seem in the mood to be receptive for question.

--

The trip to the Helping Hand is quiet, and it is easy to assume that whatever pursuit was chasing you, is now after the chest. By the time that you get back to the wayside church, the sun dips low in the sky.

When Antonio hands the letter to the acolytes, they begin scrambling to gather things for you. A small chest is brought forth, similar to the ones that Mother Homwell had refilled your healing potions from, and you are each given a second one. This healing potion, you all can keep. This is offered by the adventure, because of Antonio's story award from the second module.

So, it is late afternoon. You are being provided fresh horses, and could make Melvaunt by nightfall. Or, you could stay the night and leave at first light. Your choice.

If more subdued than before, Jarprax nonetheless urges the group to hurry - chivying them on at every break. Especially because the trip to the Helping Hand is so quiet, he urges the group to continue on to Melvaunt immediately: "We have to catch up to that reckless cleric before she gets herself killed!"

Not accustomed to riding so hard, Zar dismounts when they arrive at the Helping Hand and his legs almost give out. He takes a few moments to wash the dirt off of his face, then gets a goblet of water to rinse out his mouth. While they are waiting for the acolytes to finish gathering things, he tries to stretch.

"I agree, Jarprax. While I don't look forward to another long ride, I don't think we have the time to wait until morning to follow after her," he says, asking for some food they can take on the road.

Dropping down off of her horse, Shaldinari follows the others inside and proceeds to drop into one of the chairs diving into whatever food is on hand. Not relishing the thought of getting back in the saddle, but she knows Jarprax is right and that is they waited it could very well mean more trouble in the end. So while the acolytes run around gathering rations and equipment, she spends a few minutes looking over any maps on hand and talking with whoever Homwell left in charge to see if there are any dangers they should be on the lookout for between the temple and Elturel.

That is 3 for, and 0 against. I will wait for one more 'for'
vote and then continue.

The head acolyte looks at Shaldinari, I do not often have the opportunity for travel, but I hear that there are the occasional bandits along the Trade Way. I hear that the presence of the Cult of Bane is rearing its head again, but then again, you would know. It was from yourselves that I had heard of your battles. I am assuming that you all spoke of your adventures after each mission, over meals and whatnot...

The vote is for ride today or wait until morning? Blacklock agrees rush today.

I was pretty sure that everyone would be down to rush, but I at least wanted a majority.

--

Your ride to Melvaunt was blessedly uneventful, and it is late afternoon when you pass through its eastern gate. The bustle and smells of the city surround you, creating distractions, but your purpose here is clear: You are to see that Malana Homwell is safe, or at least learn that she has safely departed Melvaunt for her next destination. Unfortunately, there are many ways she could have left the city, with land, air, and sea being the most conventional methods.

What is your next move? Also, if you can come up with another skill that makes sense or may help the situation, by all means propose away!

Not being from around here and not knowing the best routes. Antonio does the only thing he can think of, he prays to Torm for guidance.
History: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7
But Torm feels that Antonio is not worthy of such an easy answer.

"Blacklock, with your more than colorful past. If you were trying to evade someone and take valuables, what path would you take to have the least amount of notice?"

Agree to leave as soon as we can

History: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
History, Inspiration: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

"Melvaunts got a tight harbor...they over tax it and dont let nothin slide. Power heres got a number on it, 2 million gold to buy a councilman seat if I remember right...can you believe it? Na, quick escape I'd hit the Archway Stables...hippogriff rentals aint so useful for trade, so less tax...that means less eyes on it."

History: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Jarprax shrugs: "Let's ask around at the stables too, but my bet's on the caravan company. I hired on with them them when I first arrived in the Moonsea - they'll pay a few coin for guard duty, and it was a good way to get to know the country. The Mother Protector might have joined a caravan for protection, or even hired a fast coach if she had the coin."

Which would you like to check out first?

Investigation: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

"Ahhhh....Meluvant." Shaldinari begins whimsically as they arrive at the city gates. "City of...ummm...Incredibly Filthy Streets? No...City of Pox Infected....no,no,no...City of Whimsical Wonders?"

She frowns, tapping a finger against her lips thoughtfully. "You know, I can't remember ever being in Meluvant." Her brow furrows a little further as she continues. "Unless it was during that month or two when I had a love-hate relationship with Waterdavian Brandy...hmmm don't really remember much from that time." She trails off then shrugs. "Stables, caravans, they all sound like reasonable options to me."

Let's check out the stables first, since Blacklock suggested it first.

A sign bearing the name Archway Stables hangs from the rafters of a large barn near Melvaunt’s eastern gate. Just beyond the placard, stablehands mill about, forking manure and delivering hay to the various stalls. Near the front of the barn, two stalls have been converted into an open-air office. Inside, a pair of heavyset men in tweed coats and leather riding boots stare intently an open book on a desk cluttered with ledgers and miscellaneous papers. A plain-looking woman in simple clothing leans across the desk, pointing to an entry in the book. If you follow the lineage back, you can see that not only did he win the Solstice Derby, but so did his sire, and his sire’s sire. It’s not chance, Reggie, it’s just good breeding.

When she notices you and your companions, she excuses herself and moves from behind the desk toward you. Welcome to Archway Stables. What can I do for you?

Antonio walks over and holds out his hand to shake.

"Greeting and sorry to disturb you, But I am Antonio a follower of Torm. I am looking for a woman that may have used your services in the last day or so. Have you rented out any horses or anything recently?"

She takes Antonio's hand, shaking firmly, If you need to be stabling your horses, the cost will be 5 silvers a day. As for your friend...

The woman pulls out her ledger, fingering, That's right, she came into town last night, bordered a mare named, Josephina for the night and paid for it to be returned to the Helping Hand, out to the East. One of my riders headed out with the mare this morn.

Don't know where the lady went afterwards. If they pay up front, I don't much care to find out their lodgings.

--

As you find that you do not have much of a lead here, and head out to figure out your next destination, a young boy with a mop of red hair and manure-caked boots tugs at Antonio's sleeve. He immediately slinks into a nearby alley and beckons you to follow to speak in private.

"Beat it kid. Go find another pocket to pick." She says, tossing the boy a copper as she walks by, completely ignoring his attempts to get anyone's attention.

Insight: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The kid deftly catches the copper, and looks at it. He hesitates a moment...

Will give a little time for the others to chime in before moving on...

Blacklock didn't like the thought of the ledger leaving a trail, as much as Mother Homwell irritated him, letting those Calimport thieves get any where near the discs irritated him more. "That ledger entry needs to be scrubbed." he stated flatly.

If she refuses, he will start looking for a way to steal it.

The woman gives Blacklock a hard look, That will not do. What is going on here? Am I going to have to call the Watch?

Smiling to the lady behind the desk
"What by friend is asking if you could remove any mention of the woman arriving here. It is a sensitive matter with the church. I am sure you understand."
Persuasion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Insight: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
"Shaldinari please be kind to the young one, he is only doing his job."

Antonio nods to the boy and follows him out side.
"What is your name son? Is there something you wanted to tell me?"

Annoyed by the distraction, Jarprax's lips pull back from his teeth in a disconcerting grimace. Jerking his head toward the child, he looks at Antonio: "Hurry it up - we're wasting time."

He sighs, thinking ::Did you forget you fool? This is what happens when you try to help good people.:: "Lady, look...this isn't a shakedown. But worse than us might be coming through next...if they find that book they're gonna cross all the tees and dot all the ayes if you follow."

Help action on Antonio's persuasion attempt.

The woman purses her lips, Well, I guess it can't hurt any. She paid up front and her horse is already gone... Oops.

Very deliberately, she drips ink over Malana Homwell's name, such that is obscures the entry and says with a smile, How clumsy of me. Good day to you!

--

The boy nods to Antonio, The name's Rendall, sir. I heard you was looking fer someone. My employer, um, from my second job, deals in infermation. If'n ya feel ya needs the help, our organization's got 'er finger on the pulse o' the city. Normal fee is 3 gold scales, sir. I'm confident that I can find 'ooever yer lookin' fer. If'n you needs the 'elp, that is.

Jiro snorts and crosses his arms. "Three gold?! For maybe having the information we need? Who do you take us for, hmm? How much are you going to sell what you know about us to that mysterious other employer of yours? Hmm?"

The kobold leans in, eye to eye with the kid, "How about you tell us who this employer is, and if it's someone we decide to trust, 1 gold now, and the rest when you bring us the information. Bring that information back within a quarter hour and you can keep that first gold for yourself."

"You're a clever kid. Remind me of myself when I was young. I bet you'll be running things when you're older and this is a good place to start and show some initiative."

Charisma (Persuasion)?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

The boy looks at the kobold, who just about comes up to his chin, with some scrutiny and seems to come to a conclusion, 'Tis the rich house on the hill, the Nanthers like to know what is going on in their home. 1 scale now, and ya best be gettin' the other two ready ta pay! So who's it ya lookin' fer? Description and all that.

EDIT: How much you willing to tell him?

Jiro looks to the rest of the group, "Well? Sound trustworthy? Any of you have any better leads?"

Jarprax grumbles about his idea to check out the caravan company, but won't object if the others want to follow up with the urchin.

Worried about being overheard, he will growl at Jiro: