C2 E13: Sea Maidens' Heist

The PCs have surrounded the Sea Maidens' Faire and are considering how to get in. They've discovered the Scarlet Marpenoth below the Eyecatcher and Ladro is infiltrating above ground to talk to Captain Zord.
* Current Secrets
== Last Time ==
Last time, the PCs pursued various leads across the city in the wake of the Shipwrights' Ball. 
Tovarish and Ladro went to Cassalanter Villa to warn their patrons against purchasing a nimblewright. They successfully convinced Lord Vittoro that the Cassalanter family should be "a trailblazer, a thought leader, a maverick", and not a follower. 
Meanwhile, Kaavu, Tom, and Petunia went to the Surveryors', Charts-, and Map-Makers' Guild to investigate the rumors of a temple to Asmodeus beneath the city. They discovered old expedition records indicating it is below the Cassalanter Villa!
Tovarish & Ladro went to the House of Inspired hands to talk to Nym, the nimblewright. There they confirmed that the nimblewrights all have some sort of surveillance device embedded in them that feeds back to the Sea Maidens' Faire. 
All the PCs regrouped and investigated a house on Aveen Street which was determined to be a front for the Cult of Asmodeus. Tovarish turned into a spider to explore, and discovered a demonic shrine as well as a glowing red orb in the basement. 
As the day drew to an end, the PCs all received water breathing and went to find Zelifarn, the dragon. Along the way, they discovered a submersible vehicle beneath the Eyecatcher, flagship of the Sea Maidens' Faire. Tovarish recognized it as the Scarlet Marpenoth from a model in the House of Inspired Hands earlier. Ladro talked his way into a meeting with Captain Zord aboard the Eyecatcher as the rest of the crew treads water, waiting to infiltrate. 
== Offscreen Events ==
Previously, a Bregan D'aerthe Response Team stole one of the Eyes of Golorr from the Cassalanters. 
== Onscreen Events ==
=== Sea Maidens' Faire Heist ===
PCs are in the water outside the Scarlet Marpenoth. The crew is in high spirits and a party is happening on the upper decks. Zord meets Ladro on the top deck, offers him a drink, and ushers him down to dinner. 
Dinner with Captain Zord
* "Is this visit for business or pleasure?"
* Treats Ladro to a fine dinner in his quarters, then invites him to the sauna
* Overall
** in a very good mood, business is "looking up"
** inquires about Ladro's business
** "heard about an attack in the North Ward, was that you? are you ok? what were they after?" etc
** Knows that the PCs have the Stone of Golorr but no Eyes
** Will cut a deal with the PCs to work together if they offer to split the prize 50/50
* Will bring out a sextant if Ladro asks about Brass Mechanisms
** Does not want to reveal the existence of the Eagle Mechanism
** If pushed or if Ladro tries to threaten, Zord will bring in his guards and ask Ladro to take "an extended stay" in the brig (J15)
=== Investigating Dryad Mechanism ===
Farmers outside of the city have reportedly gone missing, but trees with disturbing shapes have been discovered inside their houses. 
A quick investigation will find a house where this has happened recently. The farmhouse looks like it would in mid-evening time. In the middle of the kitchen is a large tree that has broken through the roof. Close investigation reveals the trunk to be in the shape of a screaming man. Locals believe the house is cursed and have not gone in. A Xanathar Faction Response Team broke in to test the device. Hidden somewhere in the house is A Directive from N'arl, instructing the team to get "properly outfitted" by Grinda Garloth in Mistshore. The note is signed "N'arl". 
If the PCs follow to Grinda, she is happy to direct them onwards to Xanathar Sewer Hideout 2, below "Orb Confectionary" in the Southern Ward (p. 86—Autumn Cellar Complex). She does not know the password, though.
== Todo / Happenings ==
What did those fools get up to this time?
* Ladro met with Captain Zord 
** Sat down to a bottle of wine, and Ladro pressed that he knew the Eagle Mechanism was on board and functioning
** Captain Zord = Bond Villain, so took Ladro belowdecks to show it to him
** Spied on Esvele Rosznar, the Black Viper, sneaking out in her costume
** Ladro saw Zord as Jarlaxle Baenre and tried to blackmail for the Mechanism and his life
** Jarlaxle did not cave, but Ladro seized a momentary distraction to shoot the captain of the Eyecatcher aboard the Marpenoth and escape
** Ladro ran away and started a fire belowdecks in the Eyecatcher and the tunnel to the Marpenoth
* Kaavu, Petunia, Tom, and Tovarish were stationed around the ship
** Tom peered through a porthole and saw the crew celebrating, but one saw him
** The crew mistook Tom for an overboard crew member because he is a nondescript human
** Kaavu threw a mate overboard and used Command to send two sailors overboard as well
** Tovarish summoned a rhino onto the main deck of the ship, causing the deck to pitch slightly
** Tom cast Web to prevent further crew members from coming out from belowdecks
* Ladro ran into the Web spell, and yelled "Captain Zord is a Drow!"
** unbeknownst to PCs, the crew is all drow as well and now knows what's up
**Spiders are also climbing up onto deck
*Tom casts a fireball in the aft of the ship, killing many drow and setting the rigging on fire
**Eventually the fire has spread to the decks and threatens some tar stores
**PCs flee into the water as the deck catches fire and look for the Eagle Mechanism
**Jarlaxle flees belowdecks to get the Eye of Golorr and the Eagle Mechanism
*Fire spreading on Scarlet Marpenoth is extinguished, Jarlaxle and lieutenants have moved onto it and attempt to sail away
**PCs grab on to the Marpenoth and attempt to enter through the hatch
**Ladro opens the doors to start flooding the ship
***Discovers Jarlaxle in his stateroom, exits the room again and attempts to hold the door shut
***Jarlaxle locks himself in the stateroom
**The water level rises to the upper deck as the doors in the lower deck are all sealed
*City Watch is coming up after hearing gunshots and seeing the fireball
*Scarlet Marpenoth is flooding
**Kaavu, Ladro, & Petunia have cornered Jarlaxle
***Jarlaxle attempts to barter his way out—hands over the Eagle Mechanism and triggers a trap
***Submarine begins emergency resurface & mechanical spiders pour from the walls
****Almost everyone fell to the floor
***Jarlaxle takes the opportunity to attempt to run away to the lower deck
***As Jarlaxle goes through the hatch, he trips! Tovarish catches him with a tentacle and restrains him as the rest of the party beats him up
***Eventually the PCs kill Jarlaxle Baenre and loot his equipment, including the Cassalanter's Eye of Golorr
**Tom & Tovarish (giant octopus) dealing with the crew
***Tovarish drowns a drow elite warrior
***Rock Gnome crew escapes to a cabin
*PCs search the Scarlet Marpenoth
**Some rock gnomes are hired to work at the tavern
**Eyecatcher has burned down, drow crew is being rescued
**PCs loot the submarine fully
*Tom begins to pilot the Marpenoth back to the harbor
**PCs dump the bodies in the harbor
to do:
* Waterdeep Wazoo's articles about this
* Cassalanter's response
* City Watch response
* Open Lord / Blackstaff response—likely an emergency hearing
* rumors about town
*What will PCs want to do with the Eagle Mechanism?
Category:Campaign 2
Category:Episodes