The Estate Sale!

Game Played: March 2, 2024
GM: ThomJTK
==Synopsis:==
A wizard who vanished over 5 years ago is having their estate sold off, including multiple rare magical artifacts. But there's more than a few skeletons in the closet. Will the mercenaries hired on as guards and orderlies have more on their plate than a shopping frenzy?
==Mercenaries:==
* Darksteel, Fallen Aasimar Warlock
* Gobin Glowstep, Lightfoot Halfling Druid
* Krixx Sharptooth, Kobold Artificer
* Merdaer, Star Elf Rogue
* Shambellah, Astral Elf Druid/Monk, Reliquary Vanguard
* Xilon Starrati, High Elf Wizard
==Adventure:==
The Whispering Cutlass mercenaries, Darksteel, Xilon, and Vanguard Shambellah arrived to the mansion early. The mercenaries had been hired to provide additional security while the estate sale took place. The Vanguard had sent a member of it's Reliquary faction to inspect items to ensure no dangerous artifacts were included in the proceedings. Perkins, the halfling butler of the unnamed Wizard's Estate and grateful to soon be relieved of his duties, greeted them. Perkins introduced them to a kobold named Tiz, who would show them around. Tiz escorted them through the Manor including the foyer, main hall, a staffed kitchen, smoking parlor, and a locked back patio. Off the kitchen was the door to the root cellar where items for sale were stored. The upstairs was visible but would not be available to guests unless particularly wealthy clientele asked. The stables outside housed particularly well bred nasus and alce, but would not be part of the sale. The mercs and Vanguard discussed how to best keep an eye on the largest and most vulnerable areas. To keep an eye on the cellar, Darksteel positioned himself near the pantry, to the annoyance of the chef preparing gougères. Xilon moved to see a wide view of the Manor interior, sure to include the back door. He also chose paddle 21 for making his own purchases later. Shambellah took point and posted herself near the front entrance.
Buyers would arrive next. Gobin blew in dusty and disheveled. Perkins questioned if he was truly there for the estate sale. Gobin responded that he was, and was a proxy for Mr. Asher of Abishot. He is given paddle 23. A well-dressed orc, and then a dragonborn are also received by Perkins into the Manor. An older woman announcing herself as Lady Krissela arrived atop a mechanical mastiff, accompanied by the mercenary guard Merdaer. Krixx had informed Gobin, Merdaer, and Xilon that he would be attending the sale in a disguise as Lady Krissela. Perkins gave her a paddle and welcomed her. An older gentleman and then various other attendees arrived to take part in the auction. 
A bespeckled gentleman with a violet tiefling were the most notable, The Auctioneer and Bondsman. They spoke to Perkins firmly, "is everyone assembled?" and quickly reaffirmed the details of the sale in regards to the Kingdoms newest laws. 50% tax after the first purchase, and 100% tax after five items.
Bids began starting with mundane items, such as dinnerware. The patrons continued discussions and made offers. Tiz asked Darksteel to help carry items up from the cellar. Descending, he heard rumbling and scrapping. A large horned monstrosity had broken through the cellar wall and thieves were riffling through crates. Darksteel whispered to Tiz to get the other merc Xilon and Shambellah. Gobin thought he felt some shaking while watching the bidding and waiting for the item he knew Asher wanted to be available. Lady Krissela leaned over and told him he should go check out the disturbance. Gobin set his paddle down and excused himself.
Reflexively, Darksteel manifested a protective spectral frost around himself. A thief turned and ran up to stab him twice; and in return the thief was hit with retaliatory damage from his Armor of Agathys. Darksteel struck back with his quarterstaff and retreated.
Merdaer was the first to speed down the stairs, slaying the thief with his rapier. Shambellah cast Entangle under the strange horned monstrosity's feet and moved into the cellar. A thief caught in the spell-created vines cast a Fire Bolt but missed. Another thief hit Merdaer with a lightning charged Chromatic Orb. Gobin walked into the kitchen and cast Stone Shape to create a hole under the hot stove. The falling appliance barely missing Shambellah and Merdaer. Darksteel moved next to Merdaer and Hexed the entangled thief before blasting him with eldritch energy. The large horned monstrosity, an Rhinocerous-like Umberhulk, R/U, stamped its feet and charged at Darksteel; goring him and knocking him into a side room. Darksteel fell unconcious amongst smashed bottles of wine. Xilon sent a Psychic Lance at the R/U, wounding and incapacitating it. 
Merdaer hit a thief with Magic Missiles. Shambellah cast a Healing Word on the gravely wounded Darksteel. The entangled thief missed again with a Fire Bolt. Another thief climbed over the hot stove to stab Shambellah twice with poisoned blades, yet Shambellah maintained concentration on her spell. Gobin cast Plant Growth on the magical vines, making it even harder for those trapped to break free. Gobin then jumped down the hole he had created, landing on the hot stove with his cloak billowing majestically. Darksteel, slightly recovered, Eldritch Blasted a thief. The R/U recovered. Xilon got on some boxes and used a Misty Step to get out of harms way; then cast Mind Sliver at the R/U. At this point Krixx, as Lady Krissela, had joined the fray along with his steel defender Tourmaline. The mechanical mastiff hit with a Force Rend and Lady Krissela slammed the R/U with a warhammer that had been hidden in a bag of holding.
Merdaer, now also next to the R/U, stabbed twice between plates of it's steel-hard chitin. Shambellah used her Starlight Step ability to move behind the stove; then used Thorn Whip to pull a thief towards her and into the stove. The thief fell silent as a pot of boiling oil spilled over him. Another thief stabbed Gobin. Gobin turned and tried to Confusion the R/U. Unsuccesful he instead summoned a Monohorn (Unicorn) Spirit Totem next to himself. Darksteel recast Hex, but on the R/U this time, and Eldritch Blasted it. The R/U clawed Lady Krissela and slashed at Merdaer with it's mandibles. Xilon again assaults the R/U with a Mind Sliver, and down a hallway spotted a large ogre with a chest tattoo "GOREBAG," carrying an oversized pick. Lady Krissella and Tourmaline made two warhammer swings and a Force Rend at the R/U, weakening the shell further.
Merdaer pierced through cracks in the R/U's carapace, felling it; then ran after Xilon who warned him to be quiet. Shambellah followed, and with a "Magical Transform!" cast Enlarge on herself. The last thief disengaged and fled to Gorebag. Gorebad turned and threw two spears at Shambellah, breaking her concentration on the second throw. Gobin moved beside Darksteel and healed him while empowered by the Monohorn Spirit Totem. Darksteel advanced down the hall. Xilon summoned a Starlight Blade to attack with. Lady Krissela activated a Monocle of True Sight and began scanning the cellar for secrets.
Merdaer clicked his Boots of Speed to catch up to the party. Shalbellah stabbed Gorebag with her long sword. The thief swung with his short sword. Gorebag's swing of his pick, a battle mattock, missed both Shambellah and Merdaer; instead getting stuck in the wall. Gobin conjured a giant constrictor snake; which wrapped around and grappled Gorebag. Darksteel Eldritch Blasted and Xilon Lightning Magic Missiled. Lady Krissela continued her search.
Merdaer expertly stabbed and slashed; while Shambellah Wild Shaped into a brown bear to claw and bite. The two caused significant wounds. Gorebag wrestled free of the snake; then pushed himself to bash Merdaer with his shield and knock him down. The snake was unable to regain a hold on Gorebag. An arrow from Gobin's short bow flew wide. Darksteel Toll the Dead, weakening Gorebag. Xilon attempted a Mind Sliver. Krissela noticed the aura of something "charging" through a door at the end of the hall and called out to the others; but missed a crossbow shot at the ogre.
Merdaer stood back up and slew Gorebag with two final thrusts. Shambellah as a brown bear with preternatural speed hastened down the hall, she could smell a caster on the other side of the closed door. Gobin Wild Shaped, shifting into a Pterodon to fly down the hall. Darksteel tried to keep up. Xilon checked on the estate sale still happening upstairs through his Manifest Mind. Krissela determined that it might be someone trying to dispell something rather than someone trying to set a trap and says it's ok to open the door. 
Merdaer opened the door to see a man with an oil lantern. "NO! I need more time!," the man yelled. Merdaer fired a hand crossbow at him, but he continued to cast. Shambellah bit him and still the man persisted. Shambellah's claws slashed at the man, but he finished his ritual. A large elemental of earth appeared before them, a Dao. The Dao regarded the man, "for freeing me what is your wish?" Darksteel Misty Stepped to catch up. Xilon not far behind. Krissela exclaimed, "How dare you ruin my nice party!" and struck the man with a warhammer.
Merdaer and Shambellah slashed the man to ribbons with blades and claws. The Dao looked at the group and thanked them. Darksteel attempted to Spare the Dying on the man to turn him into the authorities later. Krissela appealed, "since we freed you from him, that counts for a wish right?" 
The Dao considered, "very well, what is YOUR wish?"
After a quick discussion, the party let Krixx, as Krissela, speak the wish. 
"Your wish shall be granted on the morrow," the Dao replied as it magically shifted back to the Plane of Eath.
The mercenaries collected any useful gear and belongings from the slain thieves and returned to the cellar and report to Tiz and Perkins. For preventing the robbery they were granted a choice of minor magical items.
The auction finished with the sale of the estates most valuable items, some were purchased by the mercenaries themselves.
==Conclusion:==
Mercenaries stopped an attempted burglary of thousands of gold's worth of magical items. They received thanks in the form of minor magic items; some also purchased items over the table as part of the auction.
==Rewards:==
* 1 Wish made by Krixx that those present gain power/advancement [meta: everyone gain a level]
** Actual Reward from Wish, +1 to any Ability Score and 1d4 HP
*5 Poisoned Darts - Merdaer
*Monk's Belt ( +1 AC and +1 ki point when worn by a monk) - Shambellah
*Pretty-Much Empty Decanter of Endless Water - Merdaer
*Scroll of Dispel Magic - Xilon
*Shortbow of Narcissism - Darksteel
*Streaker’s Ring of Invisibility - Shambellah
*Wand of Cabbage Creation - Gobin
*Wand of Tenser's Floating Disk (3 charges) - Darksteel
==Purchases==
*Amulet of Deception - Krixx
*Babel Stones - Gobin
*Cloak of the Elements - Shambellah (purchased and gifted by Merdaer)
*Dust of Darkness - Darksteel
*2 Healing Potions - Shambellah
*2 Healing Potions - Xilon
*Ring of Flickering - Krixx
*Scrolls (Contact Other Plane, Control Water, Magnify Gravity) - Xilon
*Staff of Tripping - Asher (purchased via Gobin)
*Sword of Guidance - Krixx
Estate Sale