C2 E23: The Crypts

This episode begins the morning of Tarsakh 7th, the day after Kaavu's fight with his rival, Ghaveith. The PCs have all pieces of the Stone of Golorr and are ready to uncover the mystery, possibly before the Cassalanter's party.

* Current Secrets

## Last Time

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

Last time, the party laid low after a surprisingly successful heist. After regrouping and sleeping on the submarine, Tovarish put the third eye into the Stone of Golorr and spoke to it. They learned they can cast Legend Lore with the stone to uncover its secrets (either directed or at its whim). He immediately does this and learns that Neverember's Enigma is located in the City of the Dead, at a place called Brandath Crypts. He also sees a barrage of imagery: underground tunnels, a field of corpses, a dragon aging rapidly, the sound of a hammer. Finally, the stone left him with a riddle: "Where laid his wife to rest 'midst bones of son's blood sealed, there where Anri laid himself to rest lies that which Open Lord concealed."

Petunia sent a bird to Mirt to ask him about the Crypts. The PCs also go to talk to Vincent Trench, the local private eye, about the name as well. There, they learn that "Anri" was the ringleader of an old cult called the Maroon Brotherhood, a fraternal order dedicated to mummification by ancient dwarven rituals. He doesn't know where they learned the rituals, though he tells them that "Brandath" is the family name of Renaer Neverember's mother: Lady Alethea Brandath. She is buried in the crypts.

While exploring the city, the PCs notice an increased amount of violence as the Zhentarim, City Watch, and Force Grey all move to secure territory previously controlled by the Xanathar Guild. The Waterdeep Wazoo reported that "thieves" stole over 250k dragons' worth of valuables and relics, and that the beholder went on a rampage.

Finally, the PCs went to Fearless Frank's Knitting Emporium & Underground Fight Club for Kaavu's fight with Ghaveith. Though he was quickly set back by his rival, Kaavu pulled a victory from defeat by casting a web spell and landing a critical hit with a divine smite. Tovarish was able to win 150 gold by betting on Kaavu. He was the only one to collect a winning bet. Fearless Frank then brought out a large title belt with his face on it and nicknamed him "Kaavu Hammerarm".

Now, leaving a city-wide power vacuum in their wake, the PCs are closer than ever to uncovering Neverember's Enigma.

## Offscreen Events

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

* Cassalanter family finished bringing in haul in via caravan. This includes the Dryad Mechanism
	+ The family also secured loans and gathered the cash in their vault, as described in DH sections
* Xanathar has gone mad in his hideout and it has become a full dungeon. Only the mind flayers are left, and they are moving in to control or kill Xanathar.

### Kaavu Lycanthropy

The moon was last full on Tarsakh 1st. It is currently waning to half on Tarsakh 8th, new on Tarsakh 16th. Then it will wax to half on the 24th and full again on Greengrass, the festival of Spring. Kaavu will experience first changing on Greengrass.

Ways to remove Lycanthropy, once detected: remove curse, wish

### Stone of Golorr Restored

See Stone of Golorr page. Reminder: the Stone knows the greatest desires of the creature attuned to it. The information it provides is cryptic and comes in an alien form. It has 3 charges of Legend Lore.

### Cassalanter reward

Late on the 6th, a coach and a team of guarded footmen appeared at the A Nu Start tavern. They left a 3,000gp "finder's fee" for the PCs. A note reads: "Dear friends, we greatly appreciate your help. While you weren't able to acquire the legendary Enigma, the money you've helped us find is just enough to save our children. You also helped us acquire a new toy—please come visit us soon to see how it works. We dearly hope you will join us on Tarsakh 10th for Leiruin and the children's birthday party. Here is a token of our appreciation, a finder's fee. Regards, Vittoro and Ammalia Cassalanter"

### Force Grey aftermath

Vajra Safahr is trying to keep a hold on the city. Zhentarim agents have made moves on traditionally Xanathar areas all over, and are cleaning up. Force Grey and the City Watch are doing the same, often coming into clashes with the Zhentarim forces.

### Zhentarim message

A flying black snake will appear today, Tarsakh 7th, from Vevette Blackwater: "Thanks again for your help. Seems like your plan worked—the beholder is on a rampage and his organization is in ruins. The city will be ours shortly."

### Brandath Crypts

See Remix Notes for further information. Outside the crypts is the Necromancer with the Phoenix Mechanism. Then see DH.

Maroon Brotherhood history: front-facing part of the Rosewind Society.

## Todo / Happenings

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

* PC payroll
	+ Manafort (cook) from the Zhentarim
	+ Prepsqueak (former guard) from the Xanathar
	+ Gnomes (engineers) from Jarlaxle's crew
* The PCs first head over to the tavern
	+ chaos reigns as the employees and urchins are chasing a winged snake with a Zhentarim messenger
	+ after a lot of attempts the PCs pick it up and get Vevette's message
	+ the urchins lead the PCs to an ornate chest that "fancy people" left. The PCs receive the message from the Cassalanters
* Then the PCs head to the Brandath Crypts
	+ Tovarish discovers there are recent tracks between area D (the original crypt) and area F (where the most recent construction is)
	+ The Brandath Guardian treant attacks them for intruding and "profaning the grounds"
		- after some fighting, the PCs convince the treant to stand down (by threat)
	+ Ladro picks the lock to the newest tomb for Lord Anri Brandath
		- PCs investigate thoroughly and find nothing of interest except the pair of dice
		- The skeleton in the sarcophagus has been disturbed and the crypt has already been searched thoroughly
	+ Petunia casts "speak with dead" on Lord Anri Brandath
		- What were your children's names? Broderick, Stanberry, and Vanessa
		- Where did you bury your children? I did not bury them
		- Where is Alethia Brandath buried? I do not know who that is
		- Where is "that which the open lord concealed"? The Open Lord Cael does not trust me
		- What were you to be buried in? I was to be buried in my noblest clothes, with my sword and my herald above me
	+ Tovarish finds Lady Alethea's crypt
		- flowers have a note that says "for mom, and my baby bro" from Renaer Neverember
		- Petunia discovers that the woman is about 40 and died two years ago in childbirth
		- PCs realize that the crypt is where the Enigma is located
		- Petunia notices there is a false wall concealing something in the chamber, that a gem is missing from the body's
	+ Eventually the PCs make it to the arch of the vault... where we will pick up next time