C2 E14: One Eye Acquired

After a broadly-successful heist on the Sea Maidens' Faire, the PCs regroup and try to figure out what this stone is.

This episode begins the morning of Ches 27th.

* Current Secrets
* Alexandrian - Clues & Timelines

## Last Time

*What happened in the previous episode? Probably smart to link it as well.*

Last episode, the PCs launched a heist on the Sea Maidens' Faire. As Ladro took a boat to dine with Captain Zord—really the drow agent Jarlaxle Baenre in disguise—the rest of the crew waited in the water for a signal. As Ladro played his hand to force Jarlaxle into revealing information, he was taken belowdecks to see the Eagle Mechanism in a secret submarine attached to the ship. The situation turned against Ladro, who took a distraction as an opportunity to escape abovedecks.

Meanwhile, Kaavu, Tom, Petunia, and Tovarish were trying to figure out what was happening. While spying, Tom was spotted by a crew member and mistaken for a man overboard. As he was being rescued, the others climbed aboard and started sowing chaos across the ship. Around this time, Ladro appeared on deck, revealing Jarlaxle's identity. The PCs soon discovered the entire crew were drow agents in disguise and a large-scale fight broke out. Tom turned the battle with a well-placed fireball, but also set the rigging and ship on fire.

As the ship burned, Jarlaxle fled belowdecks and the PCs chased him into the submarine, the *Scarlet Marpenoth*. The PCs were able to grab hold of the submarine before it sailed away and entered through a hatch in the top, starting to flood the ship. The fight continues amidst the rushing water until Jarlaxle attempts to bargain, then fight his way out. At a pivotal moment, Jarlaxle attempts to barricade himself behind an airlock, but trips in the rushing water and is caught by Tovarish (as a giant octopus). The PCs are eventually able to kill him and deal with the crew by letting the engineers go, hiring some, and killing the remaining guards. They then sail the waterlogged submarine back to the harbor and return to their tavern late.

## Offscreen Events

*Did anything happen offscreen before this episode? Will anything happen offscreen during this episode?*

* The flagship *Eyecatcher* burned to a crisp floating platform and sank
	+ Other ships in the harbor were not able to help
	+ Drow presence was revealed
* City Watch has secured the pier and is keeping everyone associated with the carnival under investigation for spying
	+ Will discover at **the end of the 27th** that Ladro was the last person seen heading to the ship and did not return
	+ Will discover dead bodies of Jarlaxle and others from the ship at **the end of the 28th**
	+ Will learn everything the crew is described to know (DH 132)

## Onscreen Events

* cassalanters want their eye back
* Waterdeep Wazoo headlines about the fire and demon worshippers
* Blackstaff investigation (into the Drow presence)
	+ also overseeing City Watch investigation into the fire
	+ Ladro was the last person seen heading to the ship and was not seen returning
* Rock gnomes show up to the tavern to work
* Open Lord holds emergency hearing about the findings on the 29th and "invites" the PCs to come
* Eagle Mechanism workings
* *Jarlaxle's Report on the Grand Game*: here

### Waterdeep Wazoo's Morning Edition

#### Sea Maidens' Faire Burns, Reveals Drow Network

Late last night, something violently caught fire on the deck of the *Eyecatcher*, the flagship of the Sea Maidens' Faire. The crew was unable to extinguish the inferno in time, and the ship is a burned shell this morning. Good Samaritans who rushed to help fleeing sailors were shocked to pull heavily-armed Drow out of the water! The Blackstaff herself is investigating the elves and the cause of the fire.

The Wazoo understands that the Drow were part of a spy ring, though the Blackstaff has refused to comment on the situation.

#### Break in at Cassalanter Villa

Thieves stole precious jewelry from the Cassalanters yesterday in broad daylight while the family was considering a purchase from the presumed-dead Captain Zord. They ultimately turned down the purchase after close inspection, declaring it a "dead end trend" and those who owned one "gauche petty bourgeois pretenders". The Wazoo is investigating whether this theft is related to the fire at the Sea Maidens' Faire.

### Waterdeep Wazoo Afternoon Edition

#### Open Lord Calls Emergency Hearing

Laeral Silverhand, the Open Lord of Waterdeep, has called an emergency hearing about the fire and Drow spy revelation. The Blackstaff will announce the status of their investigation at this point, and civic leaders will be appraised of the situation. The Wazoo will be there to report on any news.

### Eagle Mechanism

* Once per day, can cast Scry for free.
	+ there is a slot for an object to be inserted to view through the specific eyes of receiver circuits
	+ Other characters who own nimblewrights:here
	+ Nym (at the House of Inspired Hands) can figure this out if the PCs trust it & the temple
* Current Secrets
* Clues & Revelations

### 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.

### Other Eyes

The Stone of Golorr will talk to whoever has attuned to it. It is not happy to talk, though it is glad to have one of its Eyes returend.

The PCs can investigate the Xanathar Eye through the Cassalanter Report, Manshoon's report (unlikely), Grinda Garloth, asking about Sylgar (the fish), or finding a gladiator game. Send them to a faction outpost if in doubt.

### Missions

* The Blackstaff sends an Animal Messenger to Tom: "I am working through official channels, which will take time. I need you to look into this Drow incursion through unofficial means. What did they want? How far did they get? Who eliminated them? Do not take unnecessary risks. Report back through Sending or other secure means."

* Mirt sends a paper bird with tonight's opera tickets to Petunia & Ladro
	+ "This was not a Harper's hit. I need to know who did this. I thought Jarlaxle was running the competitor spy ring, but clearly he was a pawn or there is a third ring."
	+ "Find out who did this. We need to know who our competition is so we can make them...irrelevant."

## Todo / Happenings

*What did those fools get up to this time?*

* PCs go to ask Davil about Kolat Towers & "Sylgar" the fish
	+ Learn that those who enter use pass-amulets & about the force field
	+ Assume that the stolen Eye from Jarlaxle was from the Cassalanters
	+ Learn about Skullport and Undermountain a bit
* Tovarish attunes to the Stone of Golorr and learns how it works
* Kaavu asks the three new rock gnomes to update the taps
	+ Wants them to be updated and "voice activated"
	+ Work for room & board and free ale
* Blackstaff's animal messenger arrives for Tom
* Kaavu and Tovarish take a walk to Aveen Street
	+ Kaavu charges into the cultists' den and starts smashing up, Tovarish follows
	+ They kill everyone, find the book leading to the Windmill, and set the house on fire
	+ Tovarish has a sketch of the sigil on the back of the mirror
* Petunia reverse engineers the *Salve of Hill Giant Strength* from the cultists
* The team surveys people coming and going from Kolat Towers
	+ Avareen Windrivver & Zorbog JFyarkot leave but sight Tovarish following them. They lose him and he stops following
	+ Agorn Fuoco also leaves the tower but sets up an ambush for the PCs
	+ PCs handle the ambush, take Agorn's amulet & report, and send him off to live a new life on the UFFR