Chapter 6 - The Heist

General Summary

A good hour or so after visiting Lord Foswell, the party began plotting how to stage a heist at Grace's Wonders. At first, Wulfric seeded some doubt about the heist's success, but after communing with Burt the Magic Mirror, they determined it could work with ignore the alarm spells and going through the chimney. They agreed to rob the place at 3:33 AM, and thus started prepping.
When the hour hit, the party was struck by a rainstorm. Not that it mattered to them; they felt it was a perfect part of their "witching hour". They used a grappling hook with the assistance of Gilliam to climb to the chimney. Tequila kept watch in front of the store, while Wulfric kept watch on the roof. Slytoff first used an invisible servant to scout the area. Besides a few pseudo-dragons spotted, they decided it was clear. Thus Slytoff, Riley, and Gilliam slid down the chimney, coughing from soot, but otherwise staying safe.
The first obstacle they had to surpass was the psuedo-dragons. Slytoff cast "Disguise Self" as silently as possible on Riley to make him appear as Lady Grace. The pseudo-dragons would fall for it once Riley fed them chicken scraps. They investigated the front of the store, finding some magic items on display. However, with "detect magic", Slytoff realized the items were nothing but decoys. Thus they went to head upstairs. However, the stairs were blocked by an invisible dog, protected by Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound. They would feed it a bone and went their way.
While this happened, Wulfric would be spotted by a guard on a horse. The guard demanded he get down, but Wulfric booked it. Wulfric tried to jump to the other building, but slipped from the wet surface and fell down. The guard gained on him until they backed into a tight alleyway. Though the guard was at first advantageous, Wulfric managed to kill him in a single blow with his greatsword and hid the body in a crate. He would return to the building to continue watch.
Back inside the store, the trio made their way into the library and investigated. First, they found nothing but historical and magic books. Then, Gilliam spotted a secret switch on the shelf just as Slytoff was trying to climb it. The switch was activated by Slytoff's movement, and it revealed a secret door. Inside, Slytoff sent his invisible servant. The servant stepped on a rug, which came alive and destroyed it. Slytoff sent a fire bolt it's way. The rug then tried to smother Riley. Gilliam would free Riley, and then they looted the room. They found a shiny cloak, as well as plenty of notes from "Grace":

Show spoiler

“The magic shop and disguise has been a good front. Though I must admit, finding reasonable prices is a new concept to me. I’m so used to making and deconstructing magic items for myself that I never realized how much citizens would pay for them. I will find a good balance.”
“Note on page 136: What a dream if kobold blood would work. They are dragonfolk yet considered ‘humanoid’. The same with the dragonborn. Hopefully the dragolok can test it. But where do I get a subject?”
"I have been pondering at night. My dreams of soaring into the sky, free from this constraint of humanity. They're so close. The thought that scares me is wondering if it will actually make me happy. Dragons are lonely creatures to relish in their gold. Is that what I have spent decades of necromantic study and bloodshed to have? Just laying around, with only dragon scales to armor me, in the cold and dark? I don't even know if Tiamat would accept someone who was once human."
"My thoughts are what is weak. The dragons transcend human understanding. Once I can strip this humanity away I won't be worried about these things. I will be a dragon, and nothing else matters. Then, all of Lysandus will come into awe in my splendor!"
“Dragolok Kilroy came back to me. He found a cave full of kobolds, thriving on their own. A few gallons of their blood should be perfect for the transformation I seek. I am sending Galafred, a soldier whom I discovered had dragon blood like myself, toward him.”

After this, the party continued searching the room. Slytoff would be careless with one chest and was attacked by a Mimic. The mimic would knock him out, but Riley and Gilliam saved him. Riley would use a gold piece and have Slytoff sniff it to revitalize him. Further investigation of Grace's bedroom gave incriminating evidence of her being a part of dragon cults.
They would then leave the house the way they came (taking the pseudo-dragons Puffy and Decimator), climbing the chimney. They would once again be spotted by a group of guards, who heard barking. Tequila would have to ward them off, flaunting their tabards of Southern Star to convince the guard not to question them. The party hurried back to the Silver Chalice Inn and laid their loot around. They began to question if keeping the pseudo-dragons was a good idea. At that moment, Puffy heard a guard outside and telepathically alerted him that it was stolen. The guard hurried into the Silver Chalice Inn. Riley and Slytoff panicked. However, quick thinking by Riley had him convincing the guard that they were investigating Lady Grace. They showed the incriminating evidence. The guard was convinced, and went his way to report it to the lord. Riley and Slytoff breathed a sigh of relief.
Slytoff turned to Puffy and felt silencing it would be the best course of action. However, his Shocking Grasp spell did little damage, and the pseudo-dragon began to obey. Slytoff asked Puffy who it's master was, and it replied "Qenlynn" telepathically. The party realized the truth: they had a close encounter with the sorceress once again. Slytoff began to train Puffy to side with him, giving it a pigeon to feed upon. Riley did the same with Decimator. The night ended for them, being successful with their heist.

Rewards Granted

The party was successful in their heist, making way with plenty of loot and books to help on their journey. They collected:

• 1x mysterious cloak.

• 350 gold pieces, plus another 50 from the slain mimic.

• The pseudo-dragons named Puffy and Decimator.

Character(s) interacted with

Edgar: A towns guard from Kirkwall, he road a horse through the town at night. He encountered the party that evening when they made their way to Grace's Wonders. He would meet his demise from Wulfric, whom he tried to arrest.
Morris: Another town guard who was alerted by the pseudo-dragon named puffy. Though at first suspicious of the party's actions, some convincing caused him to turn aside and leave them alone.
Decimator: Decimator is a pseudo-dragon that was owned by Lady Qenlynn as a pet. He was befriended by Riley as the warlock was disguised as his master, Grace. Eventually he would be taken back to the Silver Chalice Inn by Riley. He is the most violent of the pets.
Puffy: Puffy is a pseudo-dragon that was owned by Lady Qenlynn as a pet. She befriended Slytoff Han but almost got him arrested due to being stolen. After some "shock therapy" she began to lighten up to him. As her name implies, she is friendly.

Date (in world)

May 12th, 5689.

Report Date

13 Dec 2019

Primary Location

Silver Town

TomBabbey pseudodragon by Tom Babbey

The party befriended Puffy, one of Qenlynn's pet pseudo-dragons. Though it nearly got them arrested, they are turning it to their side. She likes chicken.

Player Characters

Riley Woodhame: Riley Woodhame, human fighter and warlock, is a member of the Hearthstars (an organization based on gathering information under Amagus' teachings). His search for power and knowledge led him to find the Lady of the Lake, giving him an inkling of control over his own fate.

"The Amazing" Slytoff Han: Slytoff Han is a magician! A gnome wizard, he seeks to find funding to create a magic show and has traveled around County Ellis to show off his skills for potential audiences.

Wulfric Cisboren: Wulfric is a human fighter, who hails from Obesfeld, and a former housecarl. He appears to be a man of the north, covered in furs. Recently he has been talking more in a Norden accent, and has been behaving more like the Dwarves of North in his fighting style.

Gilliam Wulfstan Maydestone: Gilliam is an aakocra swashbuckler, as well as an urchin that grew up in the city of Ebenwald. With his skills with the blade, he seeks higher up contracts to fill his pockets.

Tequila "Teq" Cambow: Teq is a cleric of Amagus, devoting his life and services to the god. He was introduced to the party by the local bishop of Silver Town, searching for field experience and for building his faith.