Chapter 3 - Fresh Air

[Chris1234]

Davil shrugs, personally unconcerned,. "If you want to collect the bounty then he needs to be recognisable." He raises his glass, "Let us drink to our arrangement."

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Woody now has the details of the alleged potion provider. He can easily find Weirdbottle's Concoctions in Dock Ward

[Nocturno]

Sue will be waiting at the door when Woody is ready.

[counterkid]

Woody will explain to Sue what they must do. "Sue, we will need to by some shackles and maybe a net to capture this Harko character."

Chirs, what is the time frame between the costume party and the getting out of this meeting? I want to know how much time we have to capture the Harko.

[Chris1234]

Assuming Woody went to the Yawning Portal to see Davil at lunch time then it's eight or nine hours until Woody is due to meet the Yellow Canary (at nine bells).
Sundown is somewhere between nine and ten bells.

There's plenty of time to before the Yellow Canary rendezvous to purchase whatever odds and ends you want from one or other of Waterdeep's myriad chops and stalls.
And also plenty of time to visit the shop enticingly named "Weirdbottle's Concoctions".

So the bits of shopping (and potion acquisition) can happily fit into gaps during the day's research. Then some time to yourselves before the party.
After that, there's the rest of the evening to go bounty hunting.

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I'm not going to tie you folks in knots timewise.
Any mundane items listed in PHB (obviosuly subject to having enough money) you can just add to your character sheet after deducting the coinage.

[counterkid]

"Ok Sue, come with me to purchase the items we need to capture this guy." "Also I'm going to be buying a potion. Can you split the cost with me".

[Chris1234]

With surprisingly little effort Woody and companion(s) find Weirdbottle's Concoctions in Trades Ward.
It looks pretty much like and other alchemical shop with lots of bottles and jars of interesting colours and contents, some books barred and locked onto their shelf, some animal skulls and so forth.

A serious looking rock gnome stares at Woody, eyes meeting on the same level. A glance around shows that the area behind the trade counter is raised up.

"Yes? What do you want?" he asks. The gnome's eyes are cold as the Sea of Swords.

[counterkid]

"I need a potion that will make my voice sound like someone else and my appearance also if possible."

[Nocturno]

Sue clears his throat.

"I think what he meant was. His business needs special service."

[Chris1234]

"Wait here," says the gnome quietly. In a louder voice he adds, "We're closing now but I will give you a few mintues to look at these: our standard prices." He slaps down a varnished sheet that announces:

• Potion of healing 50 gp
  Potion of greater healing 250 gp
  Potion of clairvoyance 250 gp
  Potion of growth 125 gp
  Potion of invulnerability 250 gp

He then bustles out from behind the counter, down some steps, onto the shop floor, and disappears round the corner of the shop to chase out another customer. "You've not bought anything. You're not going to buy anything, are you? Right, we're closed. Time to go. Now. Thank you."

With just the three of you left in the shop the gnome hangs a "Closed" sign on the door. Looking at Sue, "Stay." And then at Woody, "You should go."

Skeemo.png (82.54 KiB) Viewed 7897 times

The gnome will take some encouragement to continue with Woody present. [DC12 Persuasion or Intimidation skill check or a ten dragon 'donation']

***
When that matter is resolved the stoney gnome waggles his fingers and utters a few half-heard words. [DC 11 Arcana skill check to recognise]
He stares at you, looking you up and down, raising one fingers to his lips for silence. Then he wanders around the shop staring intently but not at anything in particular. Finally he returns to you and says with a grim smile, "It's fine. We may talk freely."

Confirming what you want is simply done. "Rush job? Well, it's not impossible for Skeemo. That's me, isn't it?" He seems to be talking to an invisible something or other on his left shoulder. "Let's see. Hmmm. Normally one fifty dragons and half a tenday. But..fine." Skeemo turns to you, "Seventy five dragons and you'll have to make a delivery for me today and get a component for me within the next tenday. Either 'radiance of a celestial', 'cloak of a cultist', or 'tears of a murderer'. If you undertake to gather all three components for me within the next tenday then, plus the delivery, it's fifty dragons up front and potion'll be ready at seven bells. Take it or leave it. What'll it be?"

***
If a deal is struck, Skeemo offers a twenty percent introductory offer on the prices of the potions listed on the varnished sheet. "Credit available, just ask," he adds, eyes showing some sign of life for the first time.

[counterkid]

I'm assume you need rolls from Sue as Woody is in the bad books.

[Chris1234]

Either of you can try to charm or threaten or bribe. Or some combination.

[Squirrellord]

Jim finally steps forward and in a flat voice bluntly points at Sue while looking at Woody. "He talks." He turns to the gnome and points at Woody "He stays." Pulling out a pouch, he starts counting out gold pieces laying them in front of the gnome while giving him a flat look. "Apologies for my associate. He gets excited."

He will wait for a nod from the gnome to stop putting single gold pieces on the counter. If no nod comes, he stops at 20 gold pieces along with a cold "Good?" and then steps back to allow Sue to continue.

[Chris1234]

A nod comes at ten dragons. The gnome reaches forwards and passes an arm orver the coins leaving a blank counter.
"So, what'll it be? Credit available."

[Nocturno]

lol, man fun times Sue would rather be in the sewers. I also don't remember the name of the potion we want. Is it a potion of Disguise self?
================================================

"Forgive my forgetful Wizard friend, he has been stressed as of late. My Monk friend here has had a bad week. Consumed by Oozes, knocked out by Bugbears.
You see we've had quite the adventure as of late. I apologize." He grins his big toothy grin, that may be taken as a threat in the wrong situation. But he keeps it light. "I don't think we will need credit, as all these stressful situations paid quite well."

Persuasion(Cha)(5): [1d20+5] = 11+5 = 16
Adv if Woody seems really sorry, haha
Persuasion(Cha)(5): [1d20+5] = 13+5 = 18

"Where does the delivery go? We have an appointment tonight, hence the potion required."
He looks around. "The component, likely won't be a problem, since we'd have a 10 day."

[Chris1234]

Skeemo looks from Jim to Sue and then to Woody, as if the latter is something unpleasant to step in, an then back to Sue. "Yes, of course, Goodman. Trying times. Indeed."
He smiles too briefly and somewhat unconvincingly at Woody and then locks eyes with Sue, while whispering to something unseen on his shoulder. "See whats we has to deal with? Hsssst!"

Sue is treated to a full bore professional smile albeit tempered by dead-fish eyes. "Let's see, Goodman. Which of the three components will you harvest for me, delivered here within the Tenday? 'Radiance of a celestial'? 'Cloak of a cultist'? Or 'tears of a murderer'?" He waits, hands rubbing together, clearly expecting the seventy five dragons price paid up front.

***
After the seventy five dragons changes hands, the gnome whispers to his shoulder, "No, we won't forgets. We won't." Beaming again at Sue, eyes still vacant, the short fellow explains, "Potion of 'Delivers What You Asked For' is what it is. Collectable at seven bells from here. Door will be locked. Knock and wait. Now, wait." Short on the pleasantries Skeemo disappears through a doorway behind the counter. A bolt snicks home. After a long hundred and fifty heartbeats the bolt rattles again and the gnome returns clutching a small silk-lined coffer. He opens it up revealing four potions each labelled, 'Mind Reading'. He closes the coffer and passes it over to Sue. "Take them to the God Catcher, you know, the statue in Castle Ward. You'll find a woman in a purple cloak an hour* after sundown. Give her the potions She's a good tipper. Pocket her payment for yourself."

Skeemo cocks an ear as if listening to something unseen on hise shoulder. You don't hear anything, no matter how hard you strain your ears. "Well, will you be wanting any of these delicious concoctions? Twenty percent reduction for your new patronage!" He again taps the varnished sheet that announces:

• Potion of healing 50 gp
  Potion of greater healing 250 gp
  Potion of clairvoyance 250 gp
  Potion of growth 125 gp
  Potion of invulnerability 250 gp

***
When all is done Skeemo re-opens his shop and, maintaining a patient smile, holds the door for your departure.

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*Sundown is at nine bells.
Edit: The successful Persuasion check is what bagged 'Keep the Tip'.