The Waiting Game

The Waiting Game

Mission Board

**Recommended Level:1-5**
**Quest Start Location:** #newholm-streets
**Questgiver:** Reggie?  Who's Reggie?
**Rewards:** As per the terms of the contract, (1) fee not to exceed (50) gp per person.  (1) Subcontract of Regdrazul, signed in triplicate, to be used only by the bearer.  Cannot be exchanged, sold, or in any other way transferred to anyone else.  See physical contract for further details.

**Description:** Word around town is that there are fiends wandering the Fey Grove...but they aren't stirring up trouble as one would expect.  They seem to be wandering, searching...waiting.  A letter has been posted for any to respond to that might just be able to lend a hand and figure out what these strange creatures are waiting for.

Quest Script

.npc regdra *Standing in the shadows of the street, the contact waits for any who would answer his post on the mission board, hoping against hope that the rewards offered would be sufficient to attract support. He waits off to the side, scanning the crowd with an odd and calculating glance towards each person, as if he is sizing them up and determining how best to...manipulate them.*

.npc regdra "Ah, thank you for coming. I know that I am not what you might call a...usual suspect in offering rewards for jobs completed, but I hope that I can convince you for your help. My name is Regd...you can call me Reggie, let's leave it at that. You see, there are a group of fiends, looking for something in the Fey Grove. I believe quite whole-heartedly that they are there for nefarious reasons. Would you mind, if it's not too much trouble, and offering a reward commensurate with the application of your abilities, removing them from that location? Preferably in a violent and permanent manner?"

(As a DM note, insight checks would certainly be expected given his appearance and manner of communication. If the players ask questions, feel free to ask for an insight check.)

(If attempting Insight) .npc regdra *Reggie is most assuredly telling the truth. He knows that they are the enemy without doubt, though he doesn't seem to want to reveal how or why he knows this.*

(If pressed:) .npc regdra "Listen, I assure you, I have the best of intentions here, though in a way they are self serving as well. If you have no confidence in my desire to assist, then have confidence at least in my self service. I will not reveal more."

.npc regdra "I do thank you for agreeing to assist me. The contracted rate, non-negotiable in any way, is a fee not to exceed 50 gold pieces. An additional addendum, a subcontract, will be made available for services rendered upon successful completion of the objective. Please, head to the #fey-grove-🧚🏻 to begin your investigation."

.npc dms *Arriving in the Grove, it is quite heavily distracting as it always is. The details provided by Reggie are scant, of course, but perhaps you might be able to put enough of them together with a `!c survival` or a `!c nature` to get a better feel of where to go?*

(DC 13) (Success:)

.npc dms *Ah, there it is. That's the point referenced by Reggie. Heading towards that, you find your way towards a clearing, a beautiful woven wooden arch over the entrance and the sound of a small babbling brook filling your senses. But...there is most assuredly something else there. Roll `!c perception` to figure out how many and what they are, or `!c insight` to get an idea of what they are doing. ONLY ONE PER CHARACTER.*

(Fail:)

.npc dms *Lovely to try to make sense of directions from someone that has never been out here before. It takes far too long, but you are able to find your way to a clearing, a beautiful woven wooden arch over the entrance and the sound of a small babbling brook filling your senses. But the enemy is waiting for you. Combat will begin evenly.*

(Checks from above, DC 14.)

.npc dms *The perceptive among you see multiple fiends, several near the back, and a battle line of protection of others near the front. Amongst them, there are several humanoid robed figures in the middle, magic users of some kind most likely, of various races. The insightful of you notice that the figures in the back are searching, the ones in the front are protecting, and the ones in the middle don't really want to be there but are being compelled to do so. You may attempt a `!c stealth` to try to get the drop on the enemy. unless you wish to discuss or try a different course of action*

(DMs are welcome to allow persuasion, deception, or intimidation checks against the wizards. They are under contract with the Brothers of the Poised Hammer. The DC is 15 and must be rolled at disadvantage. This is only an option if someone passes the Insight check and will negate the stealth chance.)

.npc dms *The wizards nod along, agreeing to leave the battlefield. They refuse to join the fight, though, for fear of the contract still held.*

(Stealth checks, DC 12, everyone must pass

.npc dms *The enemy is not aware of your presence...combat will begin with a surprise round.*

.npc dms *The enemy is aware of your presence...combat will begin evenly.*

Combat Start

!multiline
!init begin
!i add 0 DM -p 40
!i madd "brother of the Poised Hammer" -n 2 -name BPH# (add an additional 1 for 5+ people)
!i madd dretch -n 2 (increase to 3 for five people or if average level is 3, 4 for six people or if average level is 5)
!i madd "apprentice wizard" -n 2 (increase to 3 for five people or if average level is 3, 4 for six people or if average level is 5)
-!i madd "Bearded Devil" (only if average level 4)

!map -bg https://images.mysoulco.com/albums/Maps/Fey-Clearing.jpg -under square,20,blue,f14 -t DM -mapsize 15x15 -t aw1|e7 -t aw2|h7 -t aw3|j5 -t aw4|c5 -t dr1|f9|s -t dr2|i9|s -t dr3|d11|s -t dr4|k11|s -t bph1|f3|m|r|$54ppa -t bph2|k3|m|r|$54ppa -t bph3|h4|m|r|$54ppa

Wrapup

.npc dms *The enemies now slain, you each receive 150 xp and a small smattering of items that appear to have been barter implements for them. But...there's something else...a written order, in flowing infernal script. To those that know the language, it reads ||"Find the sword. Bring it to me."||. As you read the words, successful or not in their translation, the page burst into flames and incinerates itself. Curious...*

Return Rewards

.npc regdra "I commend you for your capabilities, my friends. Their continued presence unnerves me...I shall do my best to ascertain why they are there and to communicate such to the powers that be here. As promised, here is your reward."

`!g coins +50` `!bag BAGNAME + "Subcontract of Regdrazul"`