Fantasy Dragon Heist (Completed)

[Yokai]

Question the dwarf.​

Being recognised right before a fight wasn't Iselas preferred method of motivation; especially when it sounded so accusatory. She almost winced in sympathy when the butt of Amiri's sword smashed into the bandit's face. Almost. Instead she settled for leveling the two males with an analytical glare -- which was also something that she then turned upon the door they were barricading.

"Thought you'd be tryin' to block the other one," Iselas said curiously, gaze focused back on the dwarf with the deep voice. The same dwarf whose face was currently on the receiving end of her crossbow. She smiled. "Mind telling me why you're making a barricade or what's beyond that door you're so frightened of?"

 

[ArcticFox]

"Screw you, elf." The dwarf curses, then spits to the side.

"Want me to fry him a little more?" Regonganr offers helpfully.

"You can try whatever you wanna, but you are not gonna hear a thing from me. Feel free to step through the door and find out what's on he other side." The dwarf grins.

"Must we do this?" Renaer scrunches up his face squeamishly. "I'm sure there is no need to torture anyone. The door is our only way forward, we have to go through them anyway."

"This one will talk." Amiri says, kicking the bandit that's curled up on the floor. He yelps pathetically.

- Question the bandit.
- Continue trying to question the dwarf.
- Go through the door.

 

[Yokai]

Question the bandit.​

"I'm a half-breed, short stack." Iselas corrected him lightly, attention momentarily diverted by her companions comments.

"We aren't going to torture the dwarf," Iselas assured Renaer, a glance over to his pale face made her wonder whether he'd puke if they did. Cute -- it was nice that somebody else shared her dislike for torture, even if it was for a different reason. "We'll kill him but otherwise I think it'd be a waste of your sparks." She glanced up at Regongar, bemused by his offer.

"Now... you recognised us, right?" Iselas said, having moved onto the curled up bandit with a curious look. Amiri was right, he seemed softer than the dwarf and more likely to talk. "Would you like to tell us what's behind that door that's got you so afraid? I said we wouldn't torture the dwarf, I didn't say anything about you."

 

[ArcticFox]

"I know you... from the tavern, You are new to Waterdeep." The bandit says after a short cough. He puts a hand over his nose, finds out that it's bleeding and flinches. "Our boss is in there, with some noble. Speaking of torture..." And he smirks.

"Floon!" Renaer panics at the words, rushing past the dwarf and to he doors, starting to toss the furniture away.

"Why would you barricade the doors with your boss behind it?" Regongar watches the noble panic, then turns to the bald bandit. "It makes no sense."

"Yeah, well, you'll get it if you go in there. Something else is in there with the boss. A mindflayer." The bandit shivers.

"What's that?" Amiri asks, looking at you confused. But the both the dwarf and the human only laugh in response.

"Come on, please!" Renaer calls. "We have to get in there!"

- Help Renaer.
- Tie the two men with your rope.
- Knock them out.
- Release them.
- Kill them.

 

[Yokai]

Kill them.​

"Thank you," Iselas said. Both for the information and the fact that they hadn't called her bluff about the torture. There was nothing honorable about hurting another person for enjoyment. Even when gathering information it was questionable. Now came the other part that she hated, as necessary as it was. "And... I'm sorry for this."

Her crossbow was still leveled between the dwarf's eyes so she only had to pull the trigger to release an arrow into his skull. The bandit was quick to follow, and Iselas tried to fight back the angry burn in her chest. Killing an opponent when they were already trapped left an awfully bad taste in her mouth. Iselas looked deeply unhappy.

"Alright, we need to get in that room."

 

[ArcticFox]

When you dispose of the the two men, only Renaer looks mildly disturbed, but he is too busy removing the blockade to say anything about it. Regongar and Amiri help out and you open the door to the next room in a couple of moments.

Threadbare curtains hang on the east wall of a long hall, in the middle of which a muscular half-orc in dingy robes stands with his foot on the chest of a male human with wavy red-blond hair. Fire burns around the orc's clenched fist, and his victim cries and squirms helplessly beneath him.

"Floon!" Renaer exclaimes immediately.

That's when you see, seated on a raised platform to the south, a nightmarish figure wearing black robes. It has large white eyes and rubbery purple skin, with four tentacles encircling its inhuman mouth.

Upon seeing you,the mindflayer rises from the stone chair and glides across the room, intending to leave through the double door in the west wall.

The big orc in that's towering above Floon, looks at Renaer, then once again at Floon, as realisation dawns on him. "Oh, hell no!" He roars, both of his arms bursting in flames now.

Regongar sees this as an immediate challenge, letting electricity course along his arms, stepping to the front.

- Fight the orc.
- Run after the mindflayer.
- Run up to Floon.

 

[Yokai]

Run up to Floon.​

"What. The. Actual. Fuck." Iselas said, rather eloquently, as the weird octopus faced creature glided out of the room. There was no way she was pursuing that by herself. If it looked like that, had the name 'mindflayer', and was enough to strike fear into the hearts of those two men -- to the point of them barricading the door -- then she definitely wasn't messing with that.

Instead she drew her crossbow and circled around the two posturing orcs in an attempt to draw nearer to Floon. He was the objective in this situation and he looked like he was about to be squished at a moments notice. Anymore pressure on his chest and she was going to have to start shooting, or getting close enough to fight the fire wielding orc.

 

[ArcticFox]

Both you and Renaer run to get Floon. This attracts the enemy's attention and he turns to stop you, but Regongar sends a bolt in his face, making him defend.

"Your brawl is with me, pal." He says with a grin.

The half-orc doesn't respond, instead he throws a fireball of his own to the side where Amiri and Regongar stand, making them duck for cover. The fire mage might have been outnumbered, but he seemed to have an endless amount of stamina and a range advantage on Amiri. The barbarian notices that and stays under cover, though she looks to be preparing to lunge forward as soon as she sees an opening. Regongar wants to defend his magic wielding reputation, but the table he ducked under is already on fire.

Floon is squirming on the ground, still beneath the half-orc's foot. His eyes focus on Renaer for a moment, but then gloss over as he is losing consciousness. Renaer rushes forward and is met with a flaming fist, which sends him flying to far side of the chamber. He hits the ground and doesn't move.

- Sneak behind the fire mage (roll d20 for stealth check, modifier 7).
- Attack him with the crossbow (roll d20, modifier 1).
- Attack him with the shortsword (roll d20, modifier 1).
- Try non verbally to communicate to Regongar to distract the fire mage.
- Try that with Amiri.
- Or just shout and get the fire mage's attention yourself.

 

[Yokai]

Sneak behind the fire mage (rolled 9).​

By that glazed look in Floon's eyes they didn't have long before he was out like a light. The opposing mage had the advantage of being a long-range fighter that was essentially sat on top of their quarry. Iselas currently had a few options but the best seemed to be sneaking around behind their opponent, either to stab or shoot him in the back or to grab Floon. Whichever opening came first.

Iselas surreptitiously checked her shoelaces before making her move.

 

[ArcticFox]

Your shoelaces are tight as they can be and they don't tamper with your progress as you move to circle behind the fire mage. You were in luck too, since Amiri Regongar had to burst out of his cover as the table crumbled. This prompted the fire mage to throw another fireball his way, and your companion hid behind a pillar, robes singed.

Both Amiri and Regongar are in a position to distract the big orc if you need them to, but you are also already in a good position to attack. Though keep in mind that once you attack, you will draw his attention to you, and considering your constitution, you won't be able to take much heat.

- Attack the orc with a weapon (roll d20, modifier 1).
- Let your companions handle it.

 

[Yokai]

Attack the orc with a weapon (rolled 17).
​

Fire was such a nasty magical ability and burning to death was such an awful way to die. Keeping these two things in mind, Iselas also recognised that she needed to distract the orc for long enough to give her companions any opening to attack. Which meant exposing herself to the flames. Short sword in hand she edged nervously forward, intending to strike the male in the back and then bolt for it.

Iselas really didn't want to catch on fire today.

She tried to catch Amiri or Regongar's eye but found them busy behind the pillar. Undoubtedly taking shelter. Oh well, she could only hope that they recognised what she was doing. Iselas turned the sword over in her hand and aimed between the shoulder blades.

 

[ArcticFox]

The fire mage doesn't notice you until the moment you shiv him from behind. Then he turns around with a growl, punching you in the gut, so you double over, your shortsword stuck in his back. This made him turn away from your two companions however, and both of them instantly run to your defence.

Regongar sends a lighting bolt, shocking the mage before he could reach you with another blow. He turns away from you, just in time for Amiri's sword to meet him head on. He shields with his right arm from the weapon and it slices a little above his elbow, the limb falling to ground. The half-orc lets out a sound of both anger and pain, conjuring a fire spell in his left hand. It looks like it will be a big one and all three of you and Floon are within reach.

- Drag Floon away.
- Get away on your own.
- Push Regongar out of harm's way.
- Push Amiri.

 

[Yokai]

Drag Floon away.​

As anticipated things don't go to plan.

Iselas immediately tried to withdraw from the fight to avoid getting burned only to be met with a fist to the stomach. As the young woman stumbled backwards she got the awful visage of her sword; still sticking straight out of the orc's back. Why wasn't he dead!?

The flames collected in his left hand once more.

"Run!" Iselas screamed at her two companions, trusting them enough to get themselves out the way. The only person she didn't trust right now was also the entire reason that they were even here: Floon. He might as well have been an ornamental rug for all the lying around he was doing. Immediately she ducked, hands under his armpits, and pulled with all her strength in an attempt to drag him out of harm's way. She couldn't let the dumb bastard noble die now.

 

[ArcticFox]

You grab Floon and start dragging him away. He is very weak, exhausted by the torture, with burn marks all over his arms and legs. He cannot move on his own and he is very heavy, but you somehow manage to get out of the range of the spell in time.

Regongar was not that close in the first place so he just steps back as the circle of fire burns around the mage, but Amiri's foot gets caught in it as she scrambles backwards, making her hiss in pain.

The fire mage, now bleeding profusely from both wounds, slumps down on his knees as the fire dies out. He lets out a grunt and falls face down on the ground.

"Finally." Regongar says with a tired sigh as he helps Amiri up.

In the next moment you see Renaer open his eyes, rub the back of his head with a pained face, and once he sees Floon he gets up on his feet and runs up to his friend, kneeling beside you.

Floon smiles tiredly. He opens his mouth to speak, but only lets out a gasp.

"We have to help him. Do you have a healing potion on hand?" Renaer asks you. Neither of your party does, but you see some chests around the chamber and the body of the half-orc mage is still there.

- Inspect the chests in the chamber.
- Inspect the dead mage.
- Carry Floon to safety.

 

[Yokai]

Inspect the chests in the chamber.​

A sigh of relief escaped pink lips as Iselas slumped down beside Floon's head, knees pressed softly to the back of his skull. It took a moment for her to register the situation and when Renaer finally rejoined them she had released her grip from under the man's arms. They'd all survived with minimal wounds, though the noble was right; his friend really wasn't looking too good.

"Ah. We don't, sorry." Iselas mumbled in apology, briefly running a hand through her rumpled hair. Electric blue eyes had focused on something past Renaer's shoulder; Amiri. The other woman's hiss of pain causing her chest to tighten with worry. She tried to push it down. There was no point worrying, it never solved anything.

Slowly her gaze continued to sweep the room, frowning at the chests that adorned the walls.

"I'll see if there's anything here that can help, okay?" Iselas sighed, forcing herself to her feet and digging her nails into her palms to center herself. She gently patted Renaer's shoulder as she passed him by.

 

[ArcticFox]

After a short inspection you find, tucked behind the stone chair a small, unlocked wooden chest containing two potions of healing and sixteen gold pieces.

Regongar supports Amiri as she hobbles up to Renaer and the nobles looks up hopefully when you return with potions.

"That's it!" He brightens up, taking one vial and helping his friend drink it.

Floon coughs and chokes, but he forces the green liquid down. Potions work quickly at least and after only a couple of seconds, he sits up with a groan.

"I'm so sorry, my friend." Renaer apologises immediately. "I should have told them they wanted me and not you."

"It's okay. You came for me." Floon smiles gently, patting him on the back. Then he stands up, looks at you for a second, and then suddenly wraps you up in a bear hug. "I don't know who the three of you are, but thank you for saving me." He lets you go and turns toward Regongar with the same hugging intention.

"Not one step closer." Regongar scowls.

Floon's smile disappears as he gets a glare from Amiri as well.

- Ask Floon something.
- Heal Amiri too.
- Search for a way out.

 

[Yokai]

Heal Amiri too.​

Iselas' mood brightened at the discovery within the chest, immediately cheered by the sight of the healing potions and gold. Man, she loved gold. Which was why she was so quick to pocket the sixteen dragons and return to the group; holding out one vial for Renaer to take.

Quiet concern lingered behind her smile as she watched him assist Floon in drinking the potion. Torture was a nasty business and she was glad they'd arrived when they did. Now they just needed to escape. Thankfully the potion worked fast and Iselas felt satisified once more when Floon stood up. The bear hug definitely took her by surprise, however, and she instantly tensed up like a frightened alley cat. Iselas really wasn't used to affection or gentle touches, especially from strangers.

"Yeah, no problem, Floon." Iselas replied, giving him an awkward pat on the shoulder as she slipped beneath his reach. She cleared her throat and hurried over towards Regongar and Amiri. Immediately she was offering the last potion to the other woman with a hopeful smile. "Drink up! Can't have my favourite warrior hobbling about."

 

[ArcticFox]

"I don't like that crap." Amiri says, turning her face away, but at your insisting she drinks the potion with a disgusted grimace.

"Let's get him to that Volo guy and get this day over with. I want a drink and a warm body as soon as possible." Regongar says, starting to get irritable.

You can see two doors leading out of the chamber. One through which you've come and the other, through which the mindflayer glided. You could either stalk back through thee sewers for hours, or follow the other exit and see where it leads, unless they were other hidden doors in the chamber.

- Look around for another door (roll d20 for wisdom check, modifier 2).
- Go back through the sewer.
- Go forward through the other door.

 

[Yokai]

Look around for another door (rolled 14).​

Amiri's concession to drink the potion earned her a bright, genuinely pleased, smile from the half-elf. Unlike, Regongar's admission which earned him an amused snort and the roll of her eyes. Unbothered she turned to appraise the rest of the room, eyes gliding over the walls and floors for another escape route. Honestly, Iselas really didn't want to go back through the sewers again. She wanted to go through that other door even less. That mindflayer was creepy as hell and she didn't know what lay ahead.

"There has to be some kind of escape route around here." Iselas muttered to herself as she walked over to retrieve her sword from the back of the orc.

 

[ArcticFox]

As you scan every inch of the walls carefully with your eyes, squinting not to miss anything, you notice a slightly odd shape to the stones making up the wall at the north-eastern corner. Upon further inspection you see that the stones can be moved, one by one, as they were just loosely stacked. After a short while you reveal a passage on the other side, ending with a set of wooden stairs leading up.

"Try that one out?" Amiri asks, peering curiously over your shoulder, though she really cannot see anything in the darkness of the passage.

"Yeah, let's go." Regongar doesn't wait, getting more impatient by the moment, and he walks first through the passage and up the stairs, leaving you behind to lead a train of blind humans.

--

The hatch at the ceiling opens up into a large cellar and the smell of beer hits you the moment you climb up. Around the place you can see various brewing supplies and a lot of worthless clutter. You also hear voices in the next room.

"What!" Someone exclaims and then screams, which is when you notice that your party is not alone in the room. A petite halfling woman is looking at you, obviously startled, her hands trembling and eyes widened. "How?! Where did you come from!"

At her screams, three more halflings hurry from the other room, a middle aged man and two teenage boys. You have burst into the brewing cellar of a halfling family.

- Question them about the entrance to he hideout.
- Warn them about the entrance.
- Leave them.

 

[Yokai]

Warn them about the entrance.​

This time Iselas is annoyed at the half-orc and her glare settled itself between his shoulder blades as it disappeared from sight. Still, she was careful in guiding the humans to the surface. Stepping through the hatch she was currently in the process of assisting everyone through when the scream startled her.

It looked like they'd found themselves in the house of a family of halflings. Iselas' gaze softened incredibly at the sight, having always harbored a soft spot for families and children alike. She bowed her head apologetically, determining the surprise on their faces to be genuine. Perhaps they were unaware of the hideout?

"I apologise for intruding, we weren't aware that this led to someone's home." Iselas said honestly as she straightened up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and trying to look as gentle or unassuming as possible. "Please, be careful not to venture down there. It is an awfully dangerous place that leads to the sewers... and well, there are much worse things in the sewers than the smell." Which was saying something.

 

[ArcticFox]

"What is down there? How did you get through?" The man asks.

Renaer steps forward with Floon and the two of them explain further about the Xanathar hideout and the secret passage. The family looks genuinely surprised at the news. You find out that they had bought the house just two months ago to use it as a small family brewery. It is believable that they wouldn't know anything about the Xanathar, however after your warnings they swear they will barricade the passage as best as they can.

--

You return to the Yawning Portal where you find Volo drinking alone while anxiously looking around as if awaiting news of Floon's fate. As soon as he sees you, he springs up and runs to embrace his friend and give the rest of you vigorous shakes of hands. Once he makes sure that Floon is fine, he turns to you and speaks, rather sheepishly.

"I confess that I have but few coins to spare. But never let it be said that Volo reneges on a promise. Allow me to present something much more valuable." He holds out a scroll tube. ''The deed to a remarkable property here in Waterdeep! We'll need a magistrate to witness the transfer of ownership. I'll arrange a meeting with one after you've inspected the estate and deemed it satisfactory."

The tube contains a deed to a house titled Trollskull Manor, of which you know nothing. The deed has been notarised and appears legitimate.

"It would be nice to have a home somewhere." Regongar says unexpectedly. "All I've known for most of my life is a four by four cell or a smaller cage."

"I prefer the open plains. Much better to camp under the stars." Amiri shakes her head.

- Accept.
- Refuse.

 

[Yokai]

Accept.
​

"I suspected as much," Iselas murmured, because she had. The motivation to save Floon had started with money but it eventually had developed into a rescue mission. She was annoyed by Volothamp's dishonesty but not as much as she could have been. Being rewarded for saving people was much nicer than being rewarded for hurting people.

That said, the deed to an actual house was a massive surprise and Iselas accepted the scroll gingerly, fingers brushing across the paper reverently. Silently she agreed with Regongar. Her entire life had been spent on the city streets, and then in the den of a mercenary group. Having a home, somewhere safe to rest and make into a nest of her own, would be... too good to be true.

"I see. Then we will accept, thank you." Iselas said, and if her voice was a little softer than normal then that was nobody else's business. "But we'd like to look around the estate first, of course. Just to make sure everything is in order." She offered Volothamp a genuine smile, one without malice or ulterior motives.

 

[ArcticFox]

Chapter II - Trollskull Alley

Area map​

Trollskull Alley is a decent looking street in the North Ward where Waterdavians wealthy enough to own housekeepers. groundskeepers, and nannies, have their residences. You soon realise that the estate you are now the potential owner of, is the grandest of them all. Four stories tall and boasting balconies, a turret, and five chimneys, the abandoned building towers above all in Trollskull Alley. It also looks unkempt and very ominous.

"Uhh..." Regongar gives you an uncertain look. "It looks like it might have a ghost or two. And I don't like ghosts." He says, uncommonly skittish.

Amiri laughs at that with genuine mirth. "No ghost can stop me! You can just hide behind me!" She says as she strides toward the door.

- Go inside.
- Change your mind and don't take the manor.

 

[Yokai]

Go inside.​

Staring up at the decrepit estate it occurred to Iselas that this could become their actual home. Their base of operations. As a young child she'd dreamed of a wealthy couple spotting her amongst the urchins, seeing something special in her, and picking her up off the streets. The houses she'd imagined them taking her to looked something like this, though in her imagination they were less desolate and more structurally sound.

"It just needs some love and attention is all," Iselas grinned, amused by Regongar's nerves. She'd already decided that she liked the house and even his paranormal anxieties wouldn't stop her now. Would Amiri and Regongar let her adopt a few children at some point?

"But, if there are ghosts, then we'll protect you~" She teased, sending him a wink before she followed after Amiri. Iselas wasn't sure whether she believed in ghosts -- well, she did but she wasn't frightened of them. They were just the spirits of people who'd passed on, they were no more terrifying than the living.