Unmei is blown away by the collection, then she lets out a laugh of relief, her head tilting back as she thanked the Lord of Shadows for His infinite cleverness.
She steps out of the door and takes in the only city that she's ever known, the greatest city of all, and the one she would see filled with the laughter of children, be they rich or poor, happy and considered by all.
She turns to her companions: "This was fun! We have money to spend, yes? What are your plans?"
"How... different! Did you make them yourself?" she ends up asking.
Unmei pauses, taken aback by the Open Lord's gruesome present.
For a heartbeat, she reconsiders the city officials before her. Allowing the possibility that Mask would trick His most devoted servant.
Insight: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Unmei smiles graciously as she is handed the letter, then wonders why Dacknar got the one with the gold. She reflects upon the manor. Yes, this may be the perfect front for her operations and future expansion. Her little army was taking shape, and new leaders were emerging. Keeping Bhoors and Dacknar in the dark might prove... Well, perhaps they already knew, deep down, of her true purpose?
And then there was this 'infestation,' as Dacknar aptly called it. The perfect front for removing pesky competitors: "Why yes, we would be honoured to help in the shapechangers and the dark elves..."
No matter, the future was bright, yet oblique and full of perils, just as Mask likes it.
DM - Tareth wrote: With the treasure in hand and having beat back the villians thugs, we are coming up on the end of the module.
You are all level 5 now.
Thanks. In a way, that's great, but it also means fun too is almost over...
When you said 'wrap up phase,' did you mean new chapter or wrap up wrap up?
Unmei, while all this is going, thinks hard on how she could serve her Lord and His schemes, but only comes to the realization that the stakes were just too high. And she loved her city, so there was that.
Instead, her mind turns to the reward, and she starts thinking on how she could leverage the gold to help The Cause and her urchins. So many possibilities...
"Lathander be praised..." she says, genuinely smiling as she nods and joins her companions.
"Yes, let's then, but you should know that there is a Dwarf in there. He's been guarding it. He's ok with us, but he's expecting the Open Lord..." adds Unmei.
"We need to speak to the Open Lord now... How did you find us?" says Unmei, studying Jalester's face for signs of mischief.
Insight: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Unmei nods back to Dacknar, resolute. Drows were not to be spared, especially when trying to murder them and steal their gold...
Unmei worries about the kids and chastise them for using such language. Then she orders them to resume their watch: "You've done good work, but this is not over yet..."
She then turns to Dacknar and asks: "You want to tie him?"
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Unmei loses sight of the Drow. She decides to share Mask's blessing with Dacknar, healing the barbarian.
Healing Word: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
If there is enough time, and if she can see Dacknar's signal, Unmei will bring the golden sword to hit the fallen Drow. (I'm guessing I still have my duplicate and mirror images. If so, they're all with me.
Unmei signals the children to hush and hide quickly, then she too hugs the nearest shadows.
Are the steps approaching?
Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Unmei leaves the wizard behind and rushes back to make sure the children are not in harm's way, or at least no more than usual.
All move, bringin the spiritual weapon along if possible (though it moves quite slowly).
Would the fleeing Drow be withing 20 ft of Unmei (unlikely)? 60 ft?
Bhoors, bless is gone.
Unmei tries not to rush towards the kids, for she knows only too well what could happen if she lets that wizard unencumbered.
She thanks Mask for letting an image go instead of her. Witness! This in your service!
Spiritual weapon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 91d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Dagger: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 161d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
To Bhoors, Unmei replies: "Sure! I bet he loves Drows!"
She then returns to the wizard and says: "Me, I prefer to watch. I bet you're the same, yes? Staying behind, acting like the general, providing support to win the day? Yet, here we are, blood on our clothes, in the thick of it! How did it come to that, I wonder? And who will survive? From the look of it, your pal is about to drop, then you'll be outnumbered... And did I mention our Dwarf? You'll like him, I'm sure!"
Spiritual weapon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 121d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
As the sword swings, Unmei adds: "But I also bet, like me, you don't like a fair fight!" as she conjures multiple images of herself.
Casting Mirror Image for three duplicates.
The wizard hit Unmei (AFAIK).
Unmei winces from the pain and crouches into a defensive position. She had underestimated the wizard, and he had plenty of tricks of his own, nasty and painful tricks.
Concentration DC 15: 1d20 + 1d4 ⇒ (8) + (2) = 10
Then she realizes her mistake. The pain had taken her attention away from her spell!
NO MORE BLESS.
She darts, then times her strikes with the golden sword, again letting the bigger sword creat an opening for her.
Spiritual weapon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 251d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Dagger: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 131d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Bhoors, remember your blessed by "The Morning Lord."
Con and Bless: 1d20 + 1d4 ⇒ (17) + (2) = 19
"Almost!" says Unmei as she lets the golden sword swing first, then follows in what opening she sees with her dagger.
Spiritual weapon: 1d20 + 6 + 1d4 ⇒ (7) + 6 + (2) = 151d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Dagger: 1d20 + 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (19) + 4 + (1) = 241d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Great! Unmei will then not just watch the scene.
"So nice of you to come!" she says to the wizard Drow, greeting him with a slice of golden sword and a tip of dagger aimed at his ribs.
Dagger, crit: 1d20 + 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (20) + 4 + (2) = 262d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 = 7
Just checking, did my Command spell have any effect on the Wizard?
Unmei decides to hold a little while longer and stay hidden behind the stone Dwarf to see where the fight was going, sending her duplicate to provide covers for Bhoors and confuse the Drows if possible, while her golden sword lashes now at the wizard.
Changing target to aim at the wizard with spiritual weapon.
Spiritual weapon vs wizard: 1d20 + 6 + 1d4 ⇒ (18) + 6 + (3) = 271d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Bhoors is part of the Bless.
Unmei lets the golden blade do the hard work for her while she targets the wizard with her command: "Come!"
Command, DC 14
Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 6 + 1d4 ⇒ (16) + 6 + (4) = 261d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Unmei, from her spot behind a suit of armour, asks Mask to bless her companions and, while he's at it, herself as well.
Cast Bless (+1d4 on saves and attacks).
She directs the blade to continue swinging, while her duplicate runs interference by threatening the wizard.
Bonus action: Spiritual weapon with Bless: 1d20 + 6 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + 6 + (1) = 101d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Dear me...
Unmei curses when she sees Dacknar just go for it and abandon the high ground. She looks in the shadow to see if she can spot Mask himself, laughing at her.
But then she snaps back to the here and now. Battle was the deal today. Best to join it in kind.
She first conjures a glowing 'Lathanderesque' golden sword and sends it swinging alongside Dacknar.
Bonus action: Spiritual weapon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 71d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Then she conjures an image of herself, which appears behind her (looking like Unmei the Lathanderian, not the Drow personification) and rushes down the stairs to help Dacknar, while she recedes back into a shadowy spot.
Action: Invoke duplicate to help Dacknar, perhaps giving him advantage?
I forgot about the resistance!
Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
"That's it?! We're just leaving the place without them!? Then what? We just come back empty-handed? He'll have us suffer for this. Have you suffer more, most likely... I question your resolve, truly. Some leader! Perhaps it's time for a change? What do you say boys? Soluun? Ready to follow my lead instead?" Unmei asks from the top of the stairs, weaving an incantation in her words.
Charm Person (DC 14) on Soluun, Persuasion for the others to attack the wizard: Persuasion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Unmei does her best to glare angrily at the others: "Did I say the gold was here? Well, there's no gold here, just forgotten traps, from the looks of it. The three idiots I was following managed to get caught for hours looking at that painting, then explored and explored while I waited, but nothing. They thought they knew where the gold is, but they don't. My guess is they don't have the stone. Anyway, they left already. I kept looking to make sure, until I heard you lot arrive. You're as loud as Marissa when I take her, if it matters to you. Good thing you were not trying to creep on anybody, eh? Wait! How did you find this place??? Do you have the stone!? Is it supposed to be here?!?"
Indeed! There's such a thing as too doo a roll, especially when it comes to Dacknar ;)
Deception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Unmei asks Mask for help and turns her appearance to that of the Drow Dacknar dispatched earlier. She winks to her companions and walks into view: "It's about time! But careful here, there's another nasty Dwarf trap on them stairs..."
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Unmei is somewhat confused, but trusts the Dwarf's keen senses, and Bhoors's, and follows the bard, signaling Dacknar to follow with her hand.
Ahahah! We'll see... ;)
Unmei smiles and secretly gives thanks to Mask, but then reconsiders and studies the Dwarf more closely as he crunches through his gem in the most unsettling manner.
Insight: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
"This is all as it should be. Lathander be praised. Let's go and tell the Open Lord then, and get this over with. I'll sleep better when all this wealth is under safe and lawful Waterdhavian protection!"
She thanks the Dwarf for his service to the city then makes for the exit, all the while considering what would please Mask best.
Unmei's eyes widen with anxiety as Dacknar speaks, but there is a warmth to his anger that seems to resonate with the "Dwarf." She smiles motherly as she recognizes Mask's dark sense of humour.
Bhoors Thistledown wrote: Bhoors takes a few steps back.
LOL!
"Ah! It sounds as though you know how friend here quite well, but it is in fact true that we have been commissioned by the Open Lord. Yes, that complicates things, the demise of Neverember, but the role is not the individual, and your duty is to the role, yes. If that may help, we also have brought this robot-chicken as a gift..." and she asks Dack to produce the automated poultry.
Persuasion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 Ok...
I'll be away for a few days with limited posting options. Thanks for understanding and please bot me if needed.
Her face a lot paler, Unmei's voice sounds a little more cautious.
"The Lord of Waterdeep... So this is not your gold is it? It's just that the Lord has passed, and we are here in that regard, sanctioned by the Open Lord to retrieve the gold. Does that make any sense to you?"
Insight: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
"What is supply without demand? You need both, don't you? I was just pointing out that gold that moves might be worth a lot more than gold that sleeps... But tell me, you say you can't remember how long... What's the last thing you remember before starting your shift?"
"Oh! And when you say you're guarding 'it.' By 'it,' do you mean this place? This wonderful vault, its walls..?"
Keynesicus. Nice!
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
"By Lathander's light..." mutters Unmei, eyes bright with wet tears of emotion as she bathes into the light piercing through the shadows. Lathander, and Mask, dancing around one another, and gold lying just beyond...
She lets Dacknar speak with the Dwarf, but she is not as confident as her friend. Surely this Dwarf was here for a reason, and his staff looked mean enough to warrant caution.
"That's a fair question, Dacknar. I've heard some old scholars once debate as to the nature and the purpose of wealth. Once was of the opinion that gold stood for wealth, while the other argued that it was in fact the flow of gold that stood as the true wealth of nations... Old fools, most thought. Anyways, they were also cunning thieves. Well... Not so cunning in fact, for they both hanged right after..."
"Anyways. You need help tidying up?"
Unmei gives Bhoors a warm motherly smile, then immediately turns to the door.
I hope we don't all have to share a secret...
"Perhaps then we are meant to share a secret? Something we haven't told anyone, ever? That could be it. Dacknar, you want to try it out?"
Religion: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
"He's not Lathander, that I'm sure of..."
"A riddle? What could be 'a secret never told'..?"
"What about the automaton. We still have the metal chicken, yes?" offers Unmei.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
"Three paths... And what looks like adamantine doors. My guess is we'll need one of the next keys... An automaton and, what was the other key? And how are we supposed to know which path to take..?" Unmei reflects, scratching her head.
Unmei sighs: "Well, in a way, that's probably better... The stairs then! Dacknar, are you up for leading us and scouting ahead?"
If Dacknar says yes, Unmei will extend Mask's blessing on him.
Adv on Stealth checks, renewed as needed.
"Let's search this room. The painting is there for a purpose. It guards something. Let's find out?"
And Unmei starts checking the walls first, looking for a secret door, a sliding panel, or a button hidden in a crack.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Unmei goes pale when they tell of the Drow's death, but she tries not to show it too much.
"You've certainly proven resourceful. I'm proud of you all! Now, it's good you let us know about these inquiries. Would you stand watch using the string as I mentioned?"
Unmei sighs her relief and embraces the urchins tenderly: "Good of you to look on us. We're ok, but it's been... smelly, to say the least. Now, we could use your help. Are you guys up for it. It can be dangerous, so don't feel like you have to say yes..."
Assuming they agree.
Once the urchins agree, Unmei explains: "We want you to play together, but near the entrance of the building. The hard part is to make sure you act normal. Just hanging out, passing the time, and staying out of trouble, mostly... But if you see some people pass through the door... We'll set up a long string that will run along the walls, to a small bell here. Now if you see someone come through, you go and pull that string to let us know someone's coming. If anyone makes you, you run to find a safe place and you wait for us to return. Clear?"
"By the way, how did you find us?!" she asks.
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