Nimly's Adventures

Chapter 15 - Action and Attunement

15th of Mirtul, 1492 DR

Conversation concluded, Nimly thanks Captain Anara, redons his cloak and makes his way towards the Silver Marches Bank. He approaches Truefly with a dazzling smile, “Good afternoon! I’d like to withdraw 450 gold, two large gems and two small gems from my personal account.”

Truefly nods with a slightly puzzled look, “One moment please, Mr. Sparkleshine.” She turns and walks toward the vault near the rear of the bank. 

While waiting, he looks around. There is a dwarven family a few seats over, discussing the possibility of a loan for a farm. Their children sit restlessly, fiddling with everything within reach. A bit further along is a tall serious woman sitting calmly in long, dark blue robes, talking quietly with a banker. Little is being said and she is nodding with a serious expression. A large package is pushed across the table toward her. After looking at it for a moment, she nods, picking it up and leaving the bank promptly.

Nimly’s attention is brought back when Truefly returns, “Here we are.” She sets the items between them on the desk. “This will leave 50 gold safely in your account. Would you like me to keep your receipt here?” 

Nimly stows the items away inside his pack. “Yes, thank you Truefly. Take care.” Outside, looking up at the gray sky, Nimly decides he has plenty of time to run a few errands before nightfall. Flipping through his notebook, he decides to visit Northbank Realty. He turns to look at his friend, “A house of our own wouldn’t be so bad, eh Thorn? Yeah, we would miss Darian… but we could have him over for dinner!” 

The pair make their way along the cobbled streets away from the Bell Market. They come to a building nestled between the river and the walls of Everlund, sporting a large sign reading “Northbank Realty” above its door. The building appears to be an old one, repurposed from a bakery. Several extraneous chimneys jut out from the roof, hinting at its past life. The scent of flour and yeast lingers in the air, and the wide, inviting windows still bear the marks of long-removed baking displays.

Inside, Nimly finds a quiet cozy atmosphere. One of the chimneys is indeed still attached to a roaring fireplace, the glow attempting to push through the cold gloom of the day. There are several desks inside, and a few agents are busy with clients and paperwork. A friendly looking half-elf with neatly combed hair notices Nimly and Thorn enter. He quickly drops what he’s doing and approaches, “Good day, sir. Welcome to Northbank Realty. My name is Elaran. How can I assist you today?"

Nimly throws back the hood of his cloak near the door, attempting not to douse anyone with water. “Hello there. I’m Nimly, this is Thorn.” He motions toward his companion. “We are interested in purchasing property here in Everlund.”

Elaran nods eagerly, “Oh yes of course! We have a variety of listings. Come sit down for a minute and we can go over them.” The trio make their way to some chairs positioned around a short table near the fire. Nimly sits, and Thorn eyes the chair before curling up nearer the fire. “Now, what are your needs? We can start there!”

Nimly stretches his legs out and ponders a moment. “I’d like a property in Everlund with plenty of space inside. Perhaps three bedrooms and a workspace? It does not need to have extensive gardens, as I most likely will not have time to keep them up. What do you have, and what are the prices?” 

Elaran pulls out a portfolio and flips through a few pages. “I understand. Very good. We have a few properties that might fit your needs." He pauses on one page. "First, we have a spacious townhouse in central Everlund near the Bell Market for 1200 gold. It has three bedrooms, a large common area, a study, and a basement suitable for a workshop.” He turns the book to show Nimly a sketch of the property before continuing.

Flipping a few more pages, Elaran reads, “Next, we have a large apartment across town near the southeast edge of the city for 900 gold. You might adore the open floor plan. It has two bedrooms and one large dedicated room that could be used as a workshop.” He shows Nimly the sketch of this property as well.

Finally, Elaran flips two more pages. “The last option I see fitting your needs is a converted warehouse near the Silverymoon Gate. Now, it may not sound like much, but it has very large open spaces, high ceilings, and multiple storage rooms. We have this one listed for 1500.” He turns to show Nimly the warehouse. “Now, do any of these catch your eye?” 

Nimly nods, “I'd like to visit the townhouse. If you have any other options with more than two bedrooms, I would be interested in those as well."

Elaran rises smiling, “Of course, let me show you the townhouse first, and I'll check other listings within that criteria." They move towards the door to leave. With a mighty effort, Thorn pulls himself away from the fire to follow after.

Nestled between the trees on the northwest side of the Bell Market stands a charming two-story townhouse. The little walk leading through the front gate has a few flowers scattered here and there, adding a touch of color. The roof, though weathered and showing signs of age, stands sturdy against the gloomy onslaught of the day. The house is made of stone, giving it a rustic and solid appearance, with ivy creeping up one side. The windows are framed with dark wood shutters that can be closed to keep out the chill.

Just inside the front door, a small entryway offers a cozy place to store cloaks and traveling gear. The main floor exudes warmth, with wooden beams crossing the ceiling and a stone fireplace in the common area. In a small room off to the right, there is a study lined with bookshelves. A kitchen with an old-fashioned hearth is also visible near the back.

A wooden staircase leads up to the second floor, where three bedrooms can be found. Each room has a window that offers a view of the surrounding cityscape. The master bedroom includes a small balcony overlooking the Bell Market below. The basement, accessible from the kitchen, provides ample space for a workshop or storage.

After the tour is concluded, Elaran gives Nimly a moment before proceeding. “This is the only house on the market with three bedrooms currently. What do you think?”

Nimly looks around the house and back to the realtor. "Elaran, this has given me much to think about. I am interested, but with the price, I will need to give it more thought."

Elaran nods agreeable, “I understand, Nimly. Purchasing a home is a significant decision, and it's important to take your time. Should you have any questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help whenever you're ready.” The half elf hands Nimly a small square of parchment with the Northbank Realty logo on it, along with a short description and sketch of the townhouse listing.

With the raid this evening and the new home possibilities weighing on his mind, Nimly makes his way to the Gemcutters Guild. He sells them the remaining two large unworked gems and the two small unworked gems he has, as well as one large worked gem he’s been holding onto. He happily walks away with another 950 gold on his person. 

Rubbing his hands together in excitement, Nimly turns to Thorn. “Let’s go get that Ring of Protection. We’re going to need it tonight!” Nimly enters Robes, Rods, and Potions and walks up to Eben. “Good day, my friend. Do you still have that Ring of Protection you showed me?”

Eben’s lips turn up into a dazzling smile. “Yes, of course, the Ring of Protection, 1500 gold!” He turns, selects the item, and hands it to Nimly.

Nimly places a pre-counted bag of 1500 gold on the counter and takes the ring with a big grin.

Errands concluded, Nimly and Thorn find a peaceful grassy spot near the River Rauvin. The water’s flow creates a calming atmosphere, perfect for focusing on attuning to the new ring. Nimly sits comfortably by the riverbank, taking a few moments to relax and clear his mind. He slips the Ring of Protection onto his finger and closes his eyes, focusing on the magical properties of the ring. As he concentrates, he feels a warm sensation spread through his hand and up his arm, indicating that the ring's magic is beginning to attune to him.

After an hour and with the ring properly attuned, Nimly shifts his focus to preparing for the upcoming raid on the bandit hideout. He makes sure that he and Thorn are focused and ready for the mission. As dusk approaches, Nimly returns to the Barracks to find Captain Anara addressing her team. 

"Everyone, gather ‘round. We're about to move out. Let's make sure we execute this raid effectively and safely." Captain Anara nods to the approaching gnome. “Nimly has already scouted out our approach. He will lead us; let us be off.” 

As night falls, Nimly and Thorn lead the party out of Everlund, across the River Rauvin and deep into the woods. As they get close to the abandoned mine, Captain Anara calls for a halt. She whispers, "We will use the secondary entrance Nimly discovered to surprise the bandits. Everyone, stay alert and follow the plan."

Nimly looks to Captain Anara and nods with determination. They move through the forest, avoiding the main path and staying as quiet as possible. After a stealthy approach, the raiding party reaches the secondary entrance hidden by dense vegetation.  

The Captain nods at Nimly, “”I’ll take the lead from here. Good work.” 

Nimly casts Guidance on himself, feeling a surge of divine insight that enhances his readiness. With the spell in place, he follows the raiding party into the mine, ready to assist in any way necessary.

The interior is dimly lit, with flickering torches casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air is cool, damp, and smells as caves sometimes do. Distant voices can be heard echoing through the tunnels. The party advances, staying alert. They come across a large cavern where several bandits are gathered, discussing their plans and moving supplies. The party takes cover behind some rocks and observes the scene. The cavern is large, about 100 feet across and 15 feet high with a second tunnel leading out near the far end.  

As Nimly and the raiding party position themselves, they observe three bandits standing near the center of the cavern, engaging in idle conversation. 

“Have you noticed how much better this camp is compared to the last one?” the first bandit remarks, his voice tinged with satisfaction. He stands against a wooden crate, casually inspecting his sword.

“Absolutely,” the second bandit agrees, adjusting his leather armor. “The old camp was damp and cramped. Always felt like the walls were closing in on me. Here, we’ve got space to breathe and move around.”

The third bandit, a wiry man with a scar across his cheek, nods. “Not to mention the supplies. We’re much better stocked here. The boss really outdid himself with this place. Plus, being closer to the main road means more potential targets for us.”

The first bandit chuckles. “Yeah, and I’m not missing those nights of sleeping on wet ground. This cavern may not be luxurious, but it’s a step up for sure.”

Their conversation continues, punctuated by occasional laughter, as they remain blissfully unaware of the raiding party positioning themselves around the cavern, ready to strike at Captain Anara's signal.

Anara raises her hand, and the team prepares their weapons.

---

Intrepid adventurers and DMs, I hope you enjoyed this continuation of Nimly’s story.

May your rolls be critically high or dramatically low, adding flavor and excitement to your campaigns!