Exiting the room through the southern double-doors, they found a 10-foot wide 40-foot long empty hallway. Durial went first, checking for traps. Unfortunately for him, he didn't notice the illusion covering the large pit in the ground, and was lucky to catch himself on the lip without falling all the way in.
Climbing up, everyone took turns prodding through the illusion, looking for a way across. Finally, Raven found a lever hidden along a pillar, which released a long panel from the northern wall, forming a small walkway.At the end of the hall, a southern door opened to a foyer, with a cistern fountain at the western end. Stairs led up to the eastern side, to an exit from the basement. Barrels and crates, filled with food and drink, lined the walls. On the western wall was a closed door, which Lemon approached.
The party hid themselves in shadowed corners behind barrels. Lemon sauntered up to the door, drew her greatsword, and confidently swung it open.
Three familiar faces, Redbrands that Lemon knew when she was part of the gang, sat in the room. The barracks room had several bunkbeds, crates, barrels, and lanterns strewn about.
Brian, standing up from a crate, put his hand to his belt, then realized he wasn't wearing his sword, and looked toward the bed where it sat sheathed.
George, sitting on a bed, bolted upright and said, "Lemon? You're back!?"
Lemon smiled, "I am. Now get out."
Sam, lying in one of the beds, did all he could to pull the blanket over himself, hiding under the sheets.
[DM note: Always prepare names lists! Otherwise, you get "Brian, George, and Sam..."]
Brian took a step towards the beds, and Lemon leveled her sword at him. George held a hand out to stop him, and said "Brian, stop. We had nothing to do with what the Captain did, Lemon. He's the one that convinced Glassstaff to try to have you killed."
"I've already dealt with them," she said in a low, level voice. Brian looked unconvinced, but George's eyes got wide.
Brian shot George an angry glance, muttering, "we can take her!"
"No, we can't. Lemon, I don't know if you came alone, or if you took them out yourself, but if you'll let us live, we'll just leave," George replied.
Lemon lowered her sword slightly, and moved aside from the doorway. George stood slowly, raising his hands, and walked carefully past Lemon. Upon exiting the room, he could clearly see the drow, dragonborn, and two humans with weapons trained on him, and he ran for the stairs to exit the building.
Brian, seething but admitting defeat, followed George a few seconds later. Seeing the party outside, the anger was replaced by fear, and he dashed similarly out the door into the night.
Last, Sam stood, wrapping the blanket around him. He scooted as quickly as he could without losing the covering he had. As he exited the door, the corner of the sheet caught a nail in the door frame, causing his grip to falter. His gleaming cheeks glowing in the moonlight, he streaked into the brisk night.
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With the confidence of a mission accomplished, when the laughter had died down, they took note of their loot. [Swords, money, etc, not described here, for the sake of brevity.]
Among the more "interesting" belongings left behind were:
A piece of silk cloth, found in George's satchel, that smelled different to each person, somehow reminding them each of a past love.
A hand puppet that very much resembles another party member, found in Sam's bed. (The name “Lemon” is stitched crudely on the back.)
[DM note: the loot was from a deck of 50+ random items I custom created. Lucky draws...]
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A clump of glowing green moss was growing on the outside of the bag, illuminating the area once out of the water.
Inside the waterproof bag was an invisibility potion...
...Sending Stones (which work like "Message" spell)...
...the deed and title to the Tresendar Manor... [Durial's Sleight of Hand kept the other party members from noticing this item as he tucked it away discreetly...]
...and a very strange letter, addressed to Halia:
LOL!
ReplyDeleteLOL indeed!!!
ReplyDelete