IC - The Princess Cake [D&D5e]

[Wooloo]

You have just crossed the small stone archway that greets you welcome to the village of Gnoblabloob, home of gnomes!

This small and quaint gnomish settlement lies just a few miles outside the capital city and is home mostly to specialized workers that provide high-end services and goods to the nobility and upper classes of the Realm.

Everything in the village is meant for small sized creatures, so you might have trouble entering buildings or alleyways.

All of the tiny houses have chimneys and, from each of them, a different colored smoke puffs out. Clockwork contraptions run wide in the streets and various smells of baked goods and magical scents fill the air.

You’re supposed to meet the Cake Master at the Patisserie's Guildhall.

What do you do?

1 - Go to the Patisserie's Guildhall.
2 - Take a leisure stroll around the village.
3 - Go buy a mug of the famous and unique green-froth ale.
4 - Send a postcard to your parents via Gnomish Tinker-mail.
5 - Other stuff you want to come up with.

[dariathalon]

Thorrig - Dwarf Cleric

Thorrig hurried out the door of his inn. He'd been in the gnomish village for a few days already, having been given the honor of helping to decorate the Princess' cake. The spinning floral decorations on the second tier had been his idea, and he thought they turned out very well, thank you very much. But now that rumors were spreading about the cake being taken, his blood boiled. Those decorations had been for the princess, darn it, and the idea of some dirty thieves enjoying them instead drove him nuts. "Who do they think they are?" he hrumphed under his breath as he marched through town.

When he reached the Patisserie's Guildhall he was so distracted that he forgot to duck for the small door, smacking his head on the door frame. He huffed out an annoyed breath and tried again, this time remembering to duck and turn his body sideways so he didn't scrape his broad shoulders on the sides of the door. He stood just inside the doorway, rubbing at his now-sore forehead until he spotted a gnomish decorator he recognized. "I'm here to see the Cake Master, where can I find him?"

[Pyrophilios]

Irael was fuming - and the day had begun so very promising: The sun was out, Princess Birthday was about to happen, people were smiling, Old Widow Farthings hadn't yet tried to set up a date for him with one of her seemingly countless nieces, granddaughters and grandnieces (an improvement about her at first trying to get him together with her nephew).
All that came crashing down when he entered the guard house on Royal Marketsquare. Instead of getting a nice cup of strong tea (tea like that could only be brewed in a kettle that had been in continued use for at least 25 years), he was instantly summoned to the Captain.
Now these were the facts:
- The royal birthday cake gone
- Her royal highness wanting someones head on a platter - and preferably the cake back
- The Captain deciding that this was basically Irael's responsibility and therefore his head
- 24 hours to solve the case or at least get some strong leads or find out what the royal displeasure really meant.

And now he was here, in Gnoblabloob, a hive of saccharine and vaudeville if there ever was one.
Time was short and the Patisserie's Guildhall was the crime scene - so naturally, he first went to the adorable post office to send his dear mother and father a postcard.
Stooping far down, he went to write:
"Dear Mom and Dad,
It's a wonderful day here in Goblabloob. I'm on a very important case for her Majesty, so I can't tell you more. It might be a feather in my cap though if I can pull this off. I'll make sure to bring you some giant gnome cupcakes, which - as I'm given to understand - are what we would call regular sized cupcakes.

Love
Ira"

[RossN]

Mirasanna - Human Artificer

Mirasanna had not meant to cut time quite so fine, especially with the new arcanochronometer (a time telling device she'd invented herself) ticking away in one of her pockets but she'd been distracted by the many delights that Gnoblabloob had to offer that the reason for being here had momentarily slipped her mind.

Having followed a particularly fascinating contraption down three streets, making notes in her notebook as she did so, the distracted Mirasanna had collided with a low hanging support arch, knocking her forehead against it with a hollow 'clonk'. She was only five foot three but that might as well have been giant sized compared to the gnomes. Still it reminded the dazed artificer she had somewhere to be and she turned and made hasty tracks towards the Patisserie's Guildhall.

<"Sorry! I didn't mean to be so late but I'm working on a way to control the flow of time and give me ten or twenty years and I can fix it so I was never late at all!"> she said in rapid Gnomish the direction of the doorgnome at the Guildhall. She managed to avoid hitting her head again on the door frame as she entered and was feeling proud of the fact when she straighted up a little too quickly. 'Clonk' "Ow."

Rubbing her sore head Mirasanna looked around and broke into an enthusiastic smile as she saw a friend of hers. The young human waved her hand at the dwarf cleric. "Hi Thorrig! Are you here too? Well I suppose you must be since I can see you, though I did hit my head pretty hard so I suppose it is possible you are a concussion induced hallucination. Uh, you would tell me if you were a hallucination right?"

[Wooloo]

Dr. Irael
Irael goes into the shop with the sign Tinker-mail, and is welcomed by a smiling young gnome worker.
“Which picture do you prefer?” The selection includes:
A nice picture of you near a gnome garden
A big scary Owl Bear
A picture of the Castle in the Capital, against a beautiful sunset

The worker takes Irael’s postcard and puts it inside a tiny mailman construct. He winds the gear on it’s back and the mailman goes off on its way. Slow and steady steps, making strange crackling noises and letting out a few colorful sparks now and then.

“Thank you for your patronage! We hope to serve you again.”

Irael earns 1 inspiration point for doing something nice to his mom.

The cost of Tinker mail:
Assuming Irael’s mom lives in the capital, it costs: 9 copper pieces.
If she lives elsewhere, use the list below:
Another town nearby: 1 silver and 2 copper
Faraway town: 2 silver pieces
Remote corner of the real: 5 silver pieces
Another part of the world: 1gp

---------

Thorrig, Mirasanna, and Dr. Irael:

As Thorrig steps inside this beautifully furnished hall, he is greeted by one of the assistants.
“The cake master will be here shortly. Would you be kind enough to wait a moment, Sir Thorrig?” It seems that the spinning flower decorations already had a positive effect on Thorrig’s reputation, he’s being treated with a hint of adoration.
The assistant serves the dwarvish cleric tea and biscuits, while he waits.
He is soon joined by Mirasanna and Dr. Irael.

============
Thorrig, Dr. Irael and Mirasanna are at the Guildhall.
The game will move forward when the others arrive.

[Pyrophilios]

"I think I'll take the gnome garden, thank you very much." Irael replied and paid the silver and 2 copper pieces.
"Thank you, I will."

With that out of the way, Irael made his way over to the guild hall. Taking off his hat before entering, he avoided squashing it flat - again - and instead bonked his head.
"Good day, oh thank you, yes please, for me please with only a slice of lemon." Irael took the tea gratefully, having not gotten yet his fill today.
He turned to the others: "If I may introduce myself, Dr. Irael Craftylove of the Citywatch, special service department." He had pulled out a little notepad and a piece of writing lead.
"Are you also involved in this mess here?"

[The Outsider]

"Say, did I ever tell you about the time I won a gnomish invention contest?"

Confidence stretched his joints a bit as he walked into town, trying to shake out the stiffness from his night in the dungeon. "It was a real masterstroke on my part, if I do say so myself," he said to his escort, a group of town guards who seemed to be less than politely ignoring him. "See, I thought to myself one day, 'wizards can go places on command thanks to their magic, and I can go places on command thanks to a little infernal know-how, but the common man just can't do that unless they pay to rent a carriage.' I then saw the contest was happening, and knew it was my chance to make a difference in the world. So, I did a little magical research, and I created the very first self-driving carriage, with the help of a little artificer's knowledge passed down by my grandma. The gnomes were so impressed with my ingenuity, they called the contest when it was halfway done!" He smiles at the guards, whose only response is to scowl a little deeper as they continue to march him past a sign that says "Welcome to the village of Gnoblabloob, home of gnomes!" ""Oooo, I've always wanted to visit this place! Do we have time for sightseeing, or- no, no, straight to the point, I see. I can respect that, though I really do need to try some of that green ale I keep hearing about." As they pulled up in front of the Patisserie Guildhall, the guard undid his shackles and said to him in no uncertain terms, "Go in there and wait. Try any funny business, and your punishment gets upgraded to execution. Got it?" "Yes, yes, understood. Oh, by the way, you stepped in some horse apples on the way here. I'd check your boots if I were you."

And with that, Confidence smiled and ducked into the guildhall, taking off his hat as he did so. Inside, he saw three people of varying height and garb already conversing. He smiled wider-definitely the group the king had put together, especially in a gnomish town-and strode up to them. "Let's see, a member of the city watch, a member of the artificer's guild, and... a stonemason? Quite a bunch we've got here."

[dariathalon]

Thorrig - Dwarf Cleric

Thorrig's frown melted away as the gnomish assistant brought a snack. It was good to be appreciated. While he was still upset about the missing cake, this took a little of the edge off. "Thank you. I'll wait as needed."

Mirasanna - Human Artificer

Rubbing her sore head Mirasanna looked around and broke into an enthusiastic smile as she saw a friend of hers. The young human waved her hand at the dwarf cleric. "Hi Thorrig! Are you here too? Well I suppose you must be since I can see you, though I did hit my head pretty hard so I suppose it is possible you are a concussion induced hallucination. Uh, you would tell me if you were a hallucination right?"

Thorrig almost dropped his cup when he heard Mirasanna's excited voice behind him. He turned around with a big smile. "Good to see you," he said, waving his scone in her direction. "And no fear, I'm not a hallucination. I'd certainly tell you if I was... but then again, if I was a hallucination, then I wouldn't really be me, now would I? So in that case, maybe the hallucination me wouldn't do the same thing as the real me. A confusing state of affairs, but I am willing to say with at least a 90% degree of certainty that I'm not a hallucination. If I was a hallucination, my own head wouldn't have this lump from hitting it on the way in."

He turned to the others: "If I may introduce myself, Dr. Irael Craftylove of the Citywatch, special service department." He had pulled out a little notepad and a piece of writing lead.
"Are you also involved in this mess here?"

"Which mess are you referring to? The cake's creation? Then, yes, I was. Did you see the little spinning flowers on the second tier? They were mine. Or are you referring to the cake's theft? No, I had nothing to do with that. Though now I'm beginning to think I should have been a little more more prepared for the possibility. Maybe a barbed-wire garnish around the edge of the tray next year. Or did you mean the cake's retrieval? I hope to be involved there. Unfortunately, I don't have the foggiest idea where to begin. Maybe the cake master will have some leads."

And with that, Confidence smiled and ducked into the guildhall, taking off his hat as he did so. Inside, he saw three people of varying height and garb already conversing. He smiled wider-definitely the group the king had put together, especially in a gnomish town-and strode up to them. "Let's see, a member of the city watch, a member of the artificer's guild, and... a stonemason? Quite a bunch we've got here."

"I may be a dwarf, but I'm certainly no stonemason? A scone-mason perhaps, on occasion," he raises his scone in the air, letting out a snort of laughter at his own joke. "I mostly consider myself a chef, primarily a baker, but I'll make any food or drink that tickles the fancy. And what are you doing here, placing an order?"

[RossN]

Mirasanna - Human Artificer

Mirsanna nodded along to Thorrig's quandary about it being hard or impossible to tell whether he was real or not. "Well until I can lay my hands on an mago-aetherscopic wand to detect the reality or non-reality of any individual person I agree that we should treat each other as real." She paused, her large green eyes widening and a smile blossoming on her face as she noticed something distracting. "Oh biscuits! Can I have a biscuit too? One of the pink ones please!"

At that point the arcanist became aware of the others and swivelled around to greet them, rattling off a perky greeting: "Hello Dr. Craftylove, I'm Mirasanna of the Artificer's Guild. I love your notebook! I have one just like it. Well, actually I have five. I keep running out of space. What are you a doctor of?"

Turning finally to the Tiefling she smiled and held out a slender hand. "Hello, I'm Mirasanna! Pleased to meet you! What do you do?"

[Pyrophilios]

Irael was busily writing down what information the others provided to him:
"Charmed meeting all of you, even though the circumstances are dire.
I was awarded the doctor of natural philosophy after defending my thesis on the effects of natural selection in regard to the development of the humanoid and elvish races. A topic that is quite dear to my heart. My 1500 year old grandfather was quite helpful in the research...
Ah, ah, ah, you got me distracted with my favorite topic.
So I gather you all are here in aid of the investigation - it certainly seems as if this case can use all the help it can get."
Irael took a look at the mechanical clock in the corner.
"The high quality of the tea and biscuits nonwithstanding, I'd rather hoped we'd get on with things. Not the least, as I'm getting a cramp from this low roof."
He turned to the latest arrival:
"Sorry, I seem to have missed your name and specialty - and why you warranted an armed escort to deliver you."

[The Outsider]

Confidence turned to face everyone as best he could, his smile still prominent upon his own face. To the dwarf, he said, Ah, that makes sense. You'll have to forgive me, you reminded me of an old stonemason I used to know, one who did some work designing buildings in the Capital, actually. And I suppose you could say I'm placing an order, but it's more accurate to say I'm delivering an order on behalf of the king. In fact, I'm pretty sure we're all here to help deliver that order, if you catch my drift." He took a deep breath, then kept talking, this time addressing the group in general. As far as who I am, call me Confidence. I'm something of an expert in criminal retrieval and psychology- frankly, I'm surprised you haven't heard of me. The king was so impressed by my reputation, he made sure to send some guards with me, to ensure I wasn't harmed along the way." He shook Mirasana's outstretched hand then turned to Irael. "And I can't help but agree, even for someone as lithe as myself this room is a little... stooped. Though I wouldn't say no to some tea while we wait."

[TheNotoriousSMP]

Being of the opinion that 'business before enjoyment' was an important philosophy, Othokent made his way through the (in his view) too small village towards the Guildhall he'd been told to report to. He'd been essentially shanghai'd into looking into the disappearance of the princess' cake, and being pulled away from his books had made him a bit irritable.

Stepping inside the building he immediately noticed the motley crew of other beings present. Undaunted, Othokent approached them with unblinking eyes, testing their mettle to an extent by seeing how they reacted to his appearance. "Ah, it seems that I am not the first to arrive. How fortuitous." Ducking slightly to keep his frill from dragging on the ceiling, the Lizardfolk looked between them all and heard a few of them mention just why they were here. "I am Othokent. To put it simply, I am here because I did not move quick enough when the guards came looking for a wizard to solve their problems for them."

He turned to look at the tiefling, Confidence apparently, and mentally approved of the name. Being named for one's traits was, after all, much better than being named because one's parents liked one arbitrary set of sounds over anything meaningful. "I will take tea," he commented after a moment, not caring for the small pastries that were also offered, "But I agree, I would like to know exactly why I am here. The guards who gathered me were not...Forthcoming."

[Wooloo]

Shortly after the entrance of the unusual lizard mage, Othokent, a gnome with a purple colored pointy hat rushes over to you with tears in his eyes:

“It’s a disaster, I’ll tell you! My career is ruined!! The king will have my head on a platter and my children will be banished from the realm!!”

You presume this to be the Cake Master.

“Have you come to help..? Will you save my cake..??”

[Wooloo]

The gnome explains that the cake was taken in the middle of the night, two days ago. The thieves also took rare bottles of brandy, perfectly aged wheels of cheese and many smaller cakes that were meant for less distinguished guests.

The town guards tried to chase them, but they managed to get away. It was a gang of Derros known as the Weasel Band.

Their lair is at an abandoned keep to the northeast of here.

“Please hurry! I’m so worried about the cake!! The other things they stole can be replaced, but I spent the entire year baking this magical cake. It is irreplaceable!”

[Pyrophilios]

"Pleased to make your acquaintance Mr. Othokent."
Irael set down the delicate cup as the cake master entered and told his tale of woe.
With very calm movements, he got up, crouching down as to not hit his head on the ceiling:
"So you want to say, you know who took the cake and where they went... and it is quite time sensitive... and yet you let us wait here instead of sending this - if you pardon me saying so - quite vital information directly to the authorities.
Not to make too fine a point, I think we have to leave. Now. This. Very. Instant."
The last words he said through clenched teeth, clearly trying to keep his temper.
"My compliments to the kitchen. Those biscuits and your tea are fabulous."
Despite the emotions he felt, he nevertheless knew his manners.

[RossN]

Mirasanna - Human Artificer

Mirasanna hastily swallowed the pink biscuit she had been eating and helped out a hand for the lizardman to shake. "Mirasanna! I'm from the Artificer's Guild!"

The young woman had noticeably winced when Othokent had introduced himself as a wizard, but she was clearly making a real effort to stay civil, especially with their hosts. In any case her goldfish like attention span was quickly diverted by the Cake Master. Her green eyes widened in horror at the tale of woe and she found herself nodding in agreement at Irael's words.

"Don't worry Cake Master, we'll get it back for you!"

[The Outsider]

Confidence nodded to Othokent as he introduced himself, muttering under his breath "A wizard lizard. There's one for the books." Upon hearing the Cake Master's tale and Irael's subsequent near outburst, he smiled and said "Now now, doctor, don't be too short with the man. He's clearly not in a great state right now, it's understandable that he'd be a bit addled. But the artificer is right, Cake Master. If I could track down and return the Notorious Nightgaunts to justice with nothing but a dagger and a copper piece (and I did, remind me to tell you about it some time) then we can certainly retrieve your cake from these Weasels." He sipped his tea to punctuate his point. "My my, that's quite good."

[dariathalon]

Thorrig - Dwarf Cleric

Thorrig walks over to the gnome, putting his thick hand on the gnome's shoulder. "You know me, I may have only been brought in to assist with the decoration stage, but I understand the work you've put into this cake. I WILL see the cake brought back if at all possible," Thorrig says with finality. "I'm proud of the work we all put into the project, and it really burns my biscuits to see this cake in the hands of thieves... especially derro. I'll admit, I've never met a derro, but I have read a little about their cuisine. Let me just say this, it leaves a lot to be desired. It is no wonder they were jealous of our culinary endeavors." Thorrig's mouth twists into a grimace at the thought.

"I agree we should be off soon. Is there anything else you can tell us about this band of hooligans though. It might help us be successful if you know anything more about them. How many derro are there? What tactics do they usually employ? Should we be on the lookout for traps or poisons, for example? Anything you know could help."

[Wooloo]

In response to Dr. Irael comments, the Cake Master defends himself with a saddened voice, speaking in between sobs:

“I sent word to the castle at the very night of the theft! But you know how the wheels of bureaucracy grind slowly. The higher-ups were more worried about keeping this matter hidden from the public than taking action to solve the crime…”

Answering Thorrig’s questions, the gnome says:

“I’m afraid I wouldn’t know anything about their tactics, but you’re right about their terrible cousine.

Everyone knows Derros don’t eat cake.

They might have eaten the cheese and drank the brandy. But they won’t touch a cake. It’s just their underdeveloped taste buds can’t stand the fine flavours of life.

No, they certainly didn’t eat the cake. They want to sell to the rival kingdom, I’m sure! The evil Lord Bergassos of Myrlakia is likely already on his way to the keep.

That’s why you need to hurry. Get the cake before a foreign delegation arrives!"

-------------

When the heroes agree to help, the Cake Master cheers and exclaims:

"Oh, thank the gods! Thank you!! Your deeds will not be forgotten!!
Please, take this pumpkin pie to aid you on your quest!"

Spoiler: Magic Pumpkin

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(The pie has six slices. Each slice is the equivalent of a common healing potion)

House rule: In combat, drinking a potion (or eating a slice of pie) takes only a bonus action.

-----------------


Leaving the village:

With a map provided by the Cake Master, you cross the nearby woods and arrive at the keep. The trip took 1 day, so please remove 1 portion of rations from your inventory, or at least half-portion if you want to be more frugal.


---------------

The Keep:

This old keep belonged to a local lord who died in a shipwreck nearly a hundred years ago. Since he left no heirs, it has been vacant ever since. The king often offered it to lesser lords or even distinguished merchants or scholars. But none would take ownership for three main reasons:

1) It was built in a smelly plot of swampland.
2) It is rumoured to be haunted by the distraught ghost of the previous owner.
3) The keep is gradually and steadily sinking into the swamp.

Nowadays it serves as the lair of The Weasel Band.

-----

And so The party stands at the gates of the keep!

It would be a pleasant summer morning, but the skies are covered in heavy clouds, giving the old stone building an eerie appearance. It is a relatively small construction and most of its original rooms seem to have sunk into the foul-smelling swamp.

The original entrance is entirely flooded and impossible to cross.

The only way in seems to be a small service door on the left side of the building. Checking for traps, none are found. The door seems safe, but locked with a simple lock.

Spoiler: Lock picking

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Lock picking - only if you have thieve’s tools: Dex check DC 12, only one chance or the lock jams. Help action not possible, but magical help (guidance, etc, is ok)

Spoiler: Kick it down!

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Kicking down the door - Will be quite loud and alert anyone inside. Automatic success if your Strength is 13 or higher. Otherwise, Strength check DC 20 - Help action is possible to roll with advantage.

Spoiler: Automatic checks for traps

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Automatic checks for traps, spells, etc:

In order to make the game move a bit faster, I’ll presume the characters are always actively searching for traps, spells, etc, so I roll all the proper skill checks in secret (perception, arcana, investigation..). Or I don’t even roll when there’s nothing to find.

Spoiler: Inspiration Reminder

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Inspiration Reminder:

Dr. Irael has 1 inspiration point.

[Pyrophilios]

Irael nods and thanks the cake master for the pie: "Thank you very much. This will certainly come in handy later. Until then I'll keep it in my pie pocket."
And just as he said, Irael revealed a neat little leather pouch on his belt into which - safely wrapped with a white handkerchief - the piece of pie fitted quite snug and nicely.

--- Later in the swamp ---

"It seems your talents are in demand, Confidence. I'd prefer getting a warrant, but it seems we are outside my jurisdiction and in any case, this building appears to be both not up to health and safety, as well as lax on fire protection. And with the cake in this environment we can at the moment argue for clear and present danger - mainly from rats and bugs."
While he spoke, he had drawn his bow and held it at the low ready.

[The Outsider]

"Ugh, bureaucracy. Terrible business, that. Always had a talent for evading bureaucrats myself, but some days you just can't sidestep them." He nods appreciatively as the Cake Master hands out the pie. "Magical pie, you say? Well, if it's half as good as this tea, I'm sure it'll be a great help. To our spirits, if nothing else." He takes the slice of pie, wraps it in a handkerchief of his own, and secrets it away somewhere on his person.
----------------Swamp Time-----------------
Confidence grins as Irael addresses him. "You remind me of a young man I once knew, a constable who ended up becoming chief of the City Watch. Well, a different City Watch than yours, but he was chief nonetheless. But I digress. Let's see if this lock can hold up against a master of the craft." With that, he treads quietly to the lock, pulling out a small satchel from his person. "Let's see, the rabbit goes in the hole..." he mutters to himself as he goes.

[RossN]

Mirasanna - Human Artificer

"Don't worry, we'll do our best. The cake will be back before they so much as touch the frosting!" Mirasanna told the Cake Master, giving him a reassuring smile. While her own endeavours in the kitchen had tended to result in fires, explosions and accidental poisonings she did admire the creative craft in others and as a woman with a pronounced sweet tooth she was outraged at the cake theft.

Taking her own piece of the pie, she carefully wrapped it up and snuggled it away in one of the numerous internal compartments in her back pack (a model she'd designed herself.)

--- Later in the swamp ---

"We could try and enter the keep disguised as Derro?" Mirasanna suggested brightly at Irael's comment. "I have a concoction distilled from among other things doppelganger sweat, one drop of which will allow the user to change their appearance as if by magic. Oh, wait there is only enough for me so... um... could you pretend to be short and wear fake beards?"

At that point Confidence had set to work on the lock. Mirasanna watched him with perky interest. "A master of the craft? Oh! You are a professional locksmith?"

[dariathalon]

Thorrig - Dwarf Cleric

Thorrig rubs the handle of his warhammer. "Don't you worry, the good name of Thorrig Flamebeard is twice on the line for this cake. There is no way I'll let these thieves dishonor me further by getting away with their devilish plan. We will bring back that cake." He removes his hand from the gnome's shoulder and steps back among the party. He gets a slightly dreamy look on his face as he quietly mutters to himself, "And perhaps some deviled eggs too. Nothing goes with a devilish plan like some good deviled eggs. Perhaps there will be an accommodating hen along the way. I think I've got the spices I need..."

---

Upon reaching the keep, Thorrig stands to one side of the door, watching as Confidence and then Mirasanna take turns messing with the lock. He knew he wouldn't be of much use making a quiet entrance. He wasn't much good at doing anything quietly.

At Mirasanna's suggestion of going in disguise, Thorrig snorts out a friendly laugh. "I think I can handle looking short and bearded pretty well, Mira. But still I don't think they'd take me for one of their own." As he speaks, he checks the straps on his shield and readies his warhammer, expecting trouble will soon find them.

[TheNotoriousSMP]

"An audacious theft," Othokent comments after the gnome has explained just what happened to his creation, a little irritated by the sheer emotion he's putting on display. So unsightly. "I suppose that we are in agreement that we should recover it, however I have one question for you..."

Here Othokent looks the gnome right in the eye, almost alien yellow meeting the gnome's own pair before he speaks up again. "What is...Cake?"

---At the swamp---

As their trek out to the bandit's base continues Othokent finds himself in a much better mood than he'd been in back in Gnoblabloob. Perhaps it was the more fresh air, or the fact that the swamp reminded him a bit of home. Either way, it put him more at ease than in the cramped quarters of the gnome village.

He looks to Mirasanna as she explains her potion. "I think any attempt to disguise me as anything other than a rather small dragon isn't likely to succeed," he comments before turning to keep an eye on the area behind them as the tiefling gets to work on the lock.

[Wooloo]

Skillfully and with magical aid, Mirasanna picks the lock.

The party enters through a small service corridor leading into a room that would be originally a pantry or mess hall for the keep’s servants.

As you enter the keep you hear loud chattering and laughter coming from what appears to be a mess hall. Four small sized humanoids are sitting around a table playing cards and talking in the undercommon tongue. Two others are sitting at a second table plucking the scales off a large fish. They seem distracted and don’t notice the party of heroes.

=====OOC=====
Surprise round!

You can all act in any order during the surprise round, but go ahead and roll initiative for the second round, when the derros get to act. also, choose a tile to start, near the entrance on the lower right corner.

Spoiler: Map

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Spoiler: What a Derro looks like

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They are small sized. About as tall as an average halfling.

[Pyrophilios]

Spoiler

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Shoot arrow from I10 at Foe 2
(1d20)[19]+6, damage (1d8)[6]+4

Ini: (1d20)[15]+4

Repeating the attack should I get to act before one of the enemies (1d20)[6]+6, damage (1d8)[4]+4

Irael stepped in and called out: "City Watch, everybody on the ground now!", nocking an arrow and letting it fly as a warning shot into the head of one of the creatures.

[RossN]

Mirasanna - Human Artificer

Mirasanna had used a tiny brass clockwork 'insect' to retrieve the broken lockpick, before using a tiny yet bewilderingly complicated looking magical tool to do her own lockpicking.

---Inside---

Inside Mirasanna's green eyes widened at the scene before and for a moment she was struck by a terrible thought: had the derro thieves magically turned the cake into a fish so they could sneak it away without suspicion? Then she realised that they probably wouldn't be scaling it if so and relax.

Drawing an ornate brass wheelock-dragonpistol from her belt she loaded it with a tiny pinch of red powder (dehydrated demon blood mixed with dragon tears and paprika) hefted it in one smooth motion and sent a firebolt at one of the thieves.

"What he said!" she explained, echoing Irael's statement, before feeling the urge to clarify a possible misunderstanding. "I mean I'm not City Watch and neither are the others but he is and you should listen to him!"

OOC:

Spoiler

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Mending was 'cast' using Thieves Tools as a spell focus.

Mirasanna starts at I10. Initiative: (1d20+2)[17]

Firebolt was 'cast' using Alchemist's Supplies as a spell focus.

Attack: Firebolt at foe #4: (1d20+5)[12]
Damage: (1d10)[10]

[dariathalon]

Thorrig - Dwarf Cleric

Thorrig rushes into the room ahead of many of his compatriots. Being of one the heaviest armored in the group, he felt like he should stand between the Derro threat and his allies. He muttered a quiet prayer to his god, and a brilliant beam of light blasted down on one of the derro from above.

Spoiler

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Init - (1d20)[7]

Thorrig will move in to G9 and cast Sacred Flame on #1. He needs a DC 13 reflex save (no benefit for cover with this spell). If he fails, he'll take radiant damage - (1d8)[6].

[The Outsider]

Confidence, still slightly flustered at his inability to pick a simple lock ("I'm telling you that lock must have been made by a master locksmith before the derro stole it, that's the only explanation.") quickly darted into the room and surveyed the scene. Seeing that everyone was firing shots, he did the same, peeking around the corner to shoot a nearby derro before retreating back to cover.

Spoiler: OOC

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Confidence will start on H11, with a brief foray into H10 to shoot derro #6
Attack: (1d20+5)[9], advantage: (1d20+5)[24],
Damage: (1d6+3)[5] plus (1d6)[2] from sneak attack.
Initiative: (1d20+3)[14]

[Wooloo]

What happens in the surprise round:

Dr. Irael shoots an arrow at Derro #2. “Gaaaahh!” It shouts in pain and surprise!
When commanding the enemies to stand down, Dr. Irael discovers that they don’t seem to understand the common tongue. Sadly, the undercommon language is not one of the eight different languages the young half-elf doctor speaks fluently.

The Artificer, Mirasanna, shoots a bolt of fire against Derro #4, but she misses by an inch!
The enemies don’t seem to understand what she said.

The dwarven cleric, Thorrig, casts his sacred flame spell against Derro #1!
He discovers the enemies are slightly resistant to magic, but the radiant flames burn the enemy all the same!

The lizard wizard, Othokent, casts the firebolt cantrip against Derro #1.
(1d20+6)[22], damage: (1d10)[8]

---Round 1---

Seeing the invasion of heroes, Derro#2 reaches for the lamp at his table and snuffs the flame!

Spoiler: Combat Round 1 - It’s Mirasanna’s turn!

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Inspiration Reminder:
Dr. Irael has 1 inspiration point.

Character	Initiative	Conditions
Derro #2	21	hurt
Othokent	20	-
Derro #1	19	severely wounded
Mirasanna	17	-
Dr. Irael	15	-
Confidence	14	-
Derro #3	12	-
Derro #5	10	-
Thorrig	7	-
Derro#6	7	-

Spoiler: updated map

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