C2 E12: Finding the Eyes

The PCs had a very productive time at the Shipwrights' Ball last night, and wake up on Ches 26th with several new leads and many new questions.

* Current Secrets
* Outpost & Lair Revelations
* Clues and Timelines

## Last Time

Last time, the PCs attended one of the fanciest parties in Waterdeep, the Shipwrights' Ball. While Ladro accompanied Renaer Neverember for safety, the other PCs scoped out the party and enjoyed appetizers. After warning several people that drow agents had infiltrated the Sea Maidens' Faire, everyone seemed to be on high alert, especially as the Faire was the main entertainment through the evening. However, no brazen threat materialized, and the PCs conducted business through the party, along with everyone else.

The PCs talked about Neverember's Enigma with Esvele Rosznar, Lady Ammalia Cassalanter, and Mirt, discovering that popular consensus placed them in the lead. They also learned that there seems to be a new player on the scene, trying to catch up—Mirt's Harpers have encountered a rival spy group, and recent tabloid articles imply accusations against the Cassalanters & other noble families.

The PCs investigated these recent allegations of devil worship presented in the *Waterdeep Wazoo* tabloid. Rumors of an ancient worship site beneath the city have abounded, but never been substantiated. They learned any records would be with the Surveyors' and Map- & Chart-Makers' Guild. Also, they learned that one of the houses on Aveen Street in the North Ward is a front for the worship.

The PCs discussed the mysterious Sea Maidens' Faire with a number of guests. Meloon Wardragon, an adventurer, noted that the ship did not sail correctly for the weight it should have had—"as if there were more buoying it up than the ship". No one seems to know Captain Zord's origins beyond the Faire, either. Based on Mirt's rival network, the Black Viper's analysis of information flow, and the sudden influx, the PCs deduced that the nimblewrights have some sort of surveillance device embedded in them.

Finally, the PCs discussed the Brass Mechanisms which seem to have appeared recently in Waterdeep. Three of the four known mechanisms have been seen, but the Eagle mechanism has not yet been discovered. Tovarish learned from Esvele Rosznar that the Dryad Mechanism seems to have been used in some of the outlying farms—there are reports that farmers have disappeared, and large trees have replaced them.

## Offscreen Events

Jarlaxle's team will attempt to raid the Cassalanter Villa during the demonstration. Though he does not sell the nimblewright, the heist is successful because the Cassalanters feel they must keep the appointment out of politeness.

## Onscreen Events

### Leads to Follow

* Prevent the Cassalanters from purchasing a nimblewright (demo is today, the 26th)
* Investigate the Dryad Mechanism events outside the city (farmers being turned into trees)
* Sneak onto the Eyecatcher and investigate suspicious cargo
* Talk to Nym, the nimblewright at the Temple of Gond/House of Wonders
* Investigate Vincent Trench and any ties to a rival spy network
* Explore the Surveyors', Charts-, and Map-Makers' Guild records for rumors of a lost worship site below the city
* Talk to the young bronze dragon, who seems to have returned

#### Cassalanter Nimblewright Demo

Jarlaxle/Captain Zord knows this is a big sale, so he spends the first half of the day getting ready in his cabin on the Eyecatcher and rehearsing his pitch. He leaves the Eyecatcher at noon exactly so that he has plenty of time to get to the Cassalanter mansion.

* If PCs directly oppose Jarlaxle, Persuasion checks
* PCs can get an appointment with either Cassalanter, but not both, to warn them ahead of time.
* the appointment is scheduled for 1:30pm at the Cassalanter mansion

The Cassalanters want to see how well the nimblewright performs tasks such as carrying drinks without spilling, folding clothes, and how their kids react. It is exceptionally good at all of these. They have a member of the Watchful Order of Magisters and Protectors on hand to examine the nimblewright as well for any hostile enchantments or curses, but Jarlaxle has paid them off to ignore the surveillance crystal. Unless the PCs bring it up, the Cassalanters will not know about it.

While he is here, a team is raiding the Villa for an Eye of Golorr. The heist succeeds without a hitch unless the PCs get involved.

#### Dryad Mechanism Usage

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.

#### Talk to Zelifarn

Zelifarn has returned because he recently learned about a magical brass statuette of an eagle and wants to add it to his hoard. He is happy to talk to the PCs, because they've helped him previously, and wants them to bring him the statue if they find it. The dragon doesn't know what it does, just that it looks expensive and magical. He has tracked it to Waterdeep but doesn't know where it is. However in his harbor explorations he noticed there is a second boat underneath one of the other boats, and thought that was odd

#### Interview Nym

See p 46. Nym (the nimblewright at the House of Wonders) is now more willing to talk and has recently taken the Surveillance Crystal out of his body. He will not give it to the PCs as he wishes to study it more and as such can't deactivate it. It is being kept in a small bag of holding in his room. He says he has backtracked it to a ship in the harbor, anchored near Sternpost Street. Nym was originally a gift from the Sea Maidens' Faire.

#### Sneak onto the Eyecatcher

Jarlaxle is on the Eyecatcher until noon, when he leaves for his appointment at the Cassalanter Villa. He takes a few guards with him. Separately, a team goes to the Cassalanter Villa to perform a heist in the upstairs. See Sea Maidens' Faire. Use the Parade adversary roster.

The heist team returns at 2:30pm, and Jarlaxle returns at 3pm.

#### Investigate Vincent Trench

Member of the Most Prescient Order of Bounty Hunters, Private Eyes, and Auditors

Vincent Trench is not in his office during the day, though it is locked.

#### Explore the records of the Surveyors', Charts-, and Map-Makers' Guild

The guild house is a large but functional building in the Trade Ward. Members can bring a guest, or anyone can pay 5g for a day pass to access their official Hall of Records. If the PCs mention one of their faction affiliations, the fee is only 1g per day per person.

Good investigation (14+) will reveal the Temple of Asmodeus is somewhere underneath the Sea Ward. Very good investigation (18 or higher) will reveal that the temple is underneath Diamond Street, at the bend near the intersection of Delzorin Street. 22+ will reveal the map. Researching half a day gets one roll.

#### Investigate the house on Aveen Street

Finding the house / surveilling the house:

The indicated section of Aveen Street contains many houses. If PCs spend an hour watching the street, they learn one has unusually high traffic from multiple people through the front door—many disparate people come and go, not the same people on repeat.

Inside the house: See More Faction Outposts for details. Door is the broken-in section of 1.

## Todo / Happenings

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

* NOTE: tomorrow, p1 of *Waterdeep Wazoo*: "BREAK IN AT CASSALANTER VILLA". Thieves stole precious jewelry stones from the Cassalanters in broad daylight, early in the afternoon while the family was considering purchasing a nimblewright. Ultimately it "was not as good as everyone said".
* Go to the Cassalanter Villa to warn about the nimblewrights (Tovarish, Ladro)
	+ Convince Lord Vittoro that the cityfolk would not like him to follow the trend
	+ Vittoro should be a trailblazer, thought leader, not a follower
	+ Gralhunds were embarrassed by theirs
	+ Vittoro decides to not buy it and will talk to Lady Ammalia to convince her as well.
	+ **They do not buy a nimblewright**
* Surveyors', Charts-, and Map-Makers' Guild (Kaavu, Tom, Petunia)
	+ Tom puts the 15g charge on the Cassalanter's tab
		- PCs will need to explain at some point what map they were looking at
	+ Tom discovers the temple is underneath the Cassalanter Villa
* House of Inspired Hands (Tovarish, Ladro)
	+ Speak to Nym about the "Bird Mechanism" they've heard
	+ Turns out to be the surveillance crystal embedded in the nimblewright
* House on Aveen Street
	+ PCs recognize the house after some tie
	+ Tovarish scopes it out as a spider, discovers the Hell Cyst in the basement but does not investigate it
	+ PCs spend a lot of time debating whether to attack or not, then get plans for the Cassalanter Villa cellar
* PCs go to talk to Zelifarn
	+ Kaavu notices the Scarlet Marpenoth on his way over, PCs investigate the outside
	+ See it is crewed by drow
	+ Talk to the dragon and learn he is after the Eagle Mechanism
* PCs wait until nightfall and then begin their infiltration
	+ Ladro requests a meeting with Captain Zord (which will be over dinner) and is in a rowboat over
	+ Other PCs are hanging out in the water, waiting for a signal to infiltrate
	+ goal: get the eagle mechanism, learn what they can about the Sea Maidens' Faire operations and the enigma