C2 E22: Unraveling the Enigma

This episode begins the morning of Tarsakh 6th, the day after Xanathar's Goldenight Bash and the subsequent heist. The PCs have all pieces of the Stone of Golorr and are ready to uncover the mystery.

* Current Secrets

## Last Time

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

Last time, the PCs moved quickly to plan and execute a heist for the third and final Eye of Golorr. Xanathar, the beholder crime boss, hosted a large fight night. The PCs secured invitations, and Kaavu was given a spot in the fights themselves thanks to his successes at Fearless Frank's. They also collaborated with the mercenary Zhentarim, the noble Cassalanter family, and the adventuring team known as Force Grey to cause chaos.

During the event, Tom spotted Zhentarim agent Vevette Blackwater lounging about the area. Ladro talked early in the evening with Manny Bigwater, a charming and well-dressed elf who then mysteriously disappeared. As Vevette's team started a fight, Ladro, Tom, and Tovarish took advantage of the distraction to search for a secret passage that Mirt, the Harper spymaster, alerted them to. Unfortunately, the secret passage was going backwards through an escape route, and the hatch was in the ceiling. With some effort, Tom moved the hatch and the team continued through.

Meanwhile, Kaavu and Petunia were participating in the tournament. Kaavu survived the first round of melee, but not before an unusual dwarf bit him. They also discovered that the favored fighter was Ghaveith the Bloody, who seemed to have history with Kaavu. Unfortunately, the chaos created by three separate heists caused the tournament's cancellation before they could come to blows, and the two agreed to a fight the next evening at Fearless Frank's.

Tom, Ladro, and Tovarish made it eventually to Xanathar's private chambers. They discovered the beholder's pet fish, Sylgar, and its keeper Ott. Vevette Blackwater and her team of ex-Xanathar thugs burst into the room, and moments later so did a number of current-Xanathar thugs. Ladro deftly plucked Sylgar the Fish out of its tank, and attempted to extract the Eye of Golorr as they fled. He did so, at the cost of the fish's life. At the same time, Tom threw a fireball at all the intruders and Tovarish covered the team's tracks with roots.

As the three were returning, they came upon a hole in the hideout where Xanathar's vault used to be. Tom guessed that someone used an experimental spell to teleport all objects in a cube away, which ended up bringing parts of the vault along as well as its contents. The would-be gangster Prepsqueak warned them that Xanathar was approaching, and they teleported away. In the stress, Tom teleported to a similar area, and the trio (plus new recruit Prepsqueak) found themselves in a metal Apparatus of Kwalish in a dangerous area of the docks.

Petunia and Kaavu were locked in the competitor's arena for some time and witnessed the beginnings of the beholder's rampage, until a sympathetic guard let them out. They fled up the stairs to Waterdeep. Eventually, the whole party escaped and reunited.

## Offscreen Events

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

* Cassalanter family is bringing their haul in via caravan. This includes the Dryad Mechanism
	+ The family also is securing loans and gathering 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.

### Waterdeep Wazoo Morning Edition: "Chaos Beneath the City"

"Thieves and murderers derailed the much-anticipated Goldenight Bash hosted by Xanathar the beholder last night deep beneath the city. According to multiple reports, the ruffians started fights, disabled or suborned security measures, and made off with over 250,000 dragons worth of valuables and relics. Not content with grand larceny, these interlopers also murdered Xanathar's prize fish, Sylgar, in cold blood. Several members of the Xanathar Guild were also killed in the fracas. Further reports from the beholder's lair are muddled. The Wazoo understands that the vindictive, paranoid, and above all powerful eye tyrant lost control. Little is known about the current state of the hideout, or indeed the Guild. Anyone with information is encouraged to speak to Gaxly Rudderbust."

### 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 in the day, a coach and a team of guarded footmen will appear at the A Nu Start tavern. They will leave a 3,000gp "finder's fee" for the PCs. A note: "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. 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 tomorrow, 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."

### Fight with Ghaveith Wandersmasher

Stats: Ghaveith Wandersmasher.

Fearless Frank is happy to open up his establishment and sends out word that he is hosting a title match for the fighting rings in the city. Ghaveith the Bloody, the current belt holder, against out-of-nowhere newcomer Kaavu Icestrider.

At the fight:

* Renaer Neverember & some friends. They are excited about the fights
* Doom Raiders (Davil Starsong & Yagra Stonefist). They are concerned about the power vacuum that has opened without Xanathar
* Esvele Rosznar, the Black Viper. She is following the trail of a mysterious device, evidence of which was last seen in the farms outside of town
* Savra Belabrante. She is stiff and uncomfortable in a den of sin, but is here to see the fight between her two most promising recruits.
* Mirt the Merciless. He is happy to see something that isn't the opera, but says "it's too public to discuss business here".

### Brandath Crypts

See Remix Notes for further information. Then see DH.

## Todo / Happenings

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

* PCs awaken on their submarine
	+ worried about the stone summoning an ancient evil when re-completed
	+ Tovarish puts the third eye in and learns that the stone needs Legend Lore materials
	+ PCs go immediately to get the magic supplies and return to the submarine to complete the ritual
* Tovarish learns where Neverember's Enigma is, and PCs look for information about Brandath Crypts or "Anri" (the tomb's original occupant)
	+ Petunia sends a bird to Mirt: "Mirt, I'm curious if you're familiar with a place called Brandath Crypts. A little bird whispered it in our ears."
	+ The PCs ask Vincent Trench about the Brandath Crypts as well
		- Learn that Anri was the ringleader of the Maroon Brotherhood, a fraternal order dedicated to mummification by ancient dwarven rituals
		- No idea where the rituals were learned
		- Also learned that Lady Alethea Brandath is the mother of Renaer Neverember and is buried in the crypts
* Petunia wants to cast Remove Curse on Kaavu but he doesn't want it
* PCs head to Fearless Frank's Knitting Emporium & Underground Fight Club
	+ Frank hands them a copy of the Waterdeep Wazoo morning edition
	+ They are early, Kaavu practices one liners
	+ Mirt hands Petunia a map of the City of the Dead
	+ Tovarish puts 30g on Kaavu (5:1 odds)
* The fight!
	+ with the help of a web spell, Kaavu clobbers Ghaveith on a critical overhand strike
	+ Ghaveith says he will be ready for the next one
	+ Kaavu wins the giant WWE-style title belt
		- Nickname: Kaavu Hammerarm