C2 E21: Ocean's Eleven

This episode begins the morning of Tarsakh 4th. The PCs, having struck a deal with Manshoon to get two of the three eyes, are preparing their heist on the Xanathar Guild.

The heist happens on Tarsakh 5th.

* Current Secrets

## Last Time

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

Last time, the PCs planned and executed a raid on Kolat Towers, the headquarters of the Zhentarim organization. With some wiles, they hired henchpeople from the rival Xanathar Guild. They used this force to fight through the outer defenses and even into Manshoon's inner sanctum. There, they discovered Manshoon had barricaded himself behind a Wall of Force and struck a deal: If they dealt a decisive strike against the Xanathar Guild, he would give them the Eye of Golorr they sought.

The PCs accepted and raided the vault in the sanctum for the Eye (and a few other goodies).Despite their best efforts, some hired Xanathar Guild members survived. Ladro gave an inspired speech to the remainders that Xanathar had sold them out, and turned them into Zhentarim recruits to replace the forces they had just killed. Also, on their way out, they hired the cook Manafort.

The PCs spent the night on the submarine *The Scarlet Marpenoth* and plot their next move, while also shopping.

## Offscreen Events

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

* Cassalanters are sending messages around to their agents and will prep a heist against the Xanathar Guild
* Blackstaff is preparing to send a SWAT team to the Xanathar Guild heist night
* The Zhentarim have planned a heist against the Xanathar Guild

Not-Heist-Related

* The Emerald Enclave has stopped hearing reports of
* The necromancer continues to trouble the City of the Dead (they are employed by the Cassalanters to find the Vault by brute force)

### Upcoming Events

* Tarsakh 7th, Guildsmeet. On this holiday, guild members gather in their halls for the announcement of new policies and a celebration of business concluded for the year. These gatherings culminate in a gala festival and dance sponsored by several guilds, which lasts from dusk till dawn and overruns the Market, the Cynosure, the Field of Triumph, and all areas in between.
* Tarsakh 10th, Leiruin
	+ In times long past, Waukeen caught Leira, the goddess of illusions and deception, attempting to cheat her in a deal, and buried her under a mountain of molten gold as punishment. A commemoration of that event, Leiruin is the day for guild members to pay their annual dues and for guildmasters to meet with the Lords of Waterdeep and renew their charters for another year. In the evening, the Leiruin Feasts are held, in which gold coins (and other golden treasures) are baked into random items of food to be won by those who are lucky enough to receive them.
	+ The Cassalanters are throwing a birthday party gala celebrating their children's 11th birthday on this day.
		- "The Master of Villa Cassalanter has received The Lady & Lordship's commands to invite *the A Nu Start Tavern owners* to the Feast of Leiruin on the evening of Tarsakh the 10th, 1492 D.R., at the 8th evening bell."
		- A personal note in Lady Cassalanter's hand: "Please, you must complete your mission before the 10th, or our children are doomed. Send word of your progress soon."

## Onscreen Events

*Where do we expect the players to go?*

PCs are shopping to begin with.

Xanathar's Goldenight Bash will happen this episode! See that page for information.

* What amount of planning ahead/reconnasaince can the PCs do?
* What amount of planning will the NPC factions do?

### NPCs visiting

Fearless Frank will pay a visit to make sure that Kaavu is still going to the fight. Kaavu is not at the bar, so he leaves a note with the

## Todo / Happenings

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

* planning the heist
	+ during the fight, can the non-fighters sneak past?
	+ Petunia will be the in-ring coach for their team
	+ How do they delay giving the pebble to Xanathar immediately?
		- Potentially disguise everyone but Kaavu & Petunia?
	+ PCs going to scout entrances to the hideout
		- Petunia asks Mirt and learns about the staircase from the Castle Ward
			* PCs go find the staircase with the help of the urchins, go down a bit and then turn around
		- Mirt tells Petunia to keep an eye out for Thorvin Twinbeard "who is also a friend of mine"
* communicating to allies
	+ Blackstaff/Force Grey
		- balance will shift in Vajra's favor
		- Immense gold and resources will be exchanged
		- Need to turn up in order to knock both down
		- do not take action until after they've cleared the fighting area
	+ Zhentarim/Manshoon
		- strike a decisive blow against your enemies
		- Xanathar will be weakened after Kaavu's fight in the arena
		- Promise the city to him
	+ Xanathar—said they were double-crossed by his henchpeople and will deliver the stuff on the 5th
	+ Cassalanters
		- Xanathar is sitting on a huge mound of cash, you should get it
		- Finally found a source for the gold you require to save your children
		- Exhibition fight on the 5th where lots of gambling will happen
		- Plan to infiltrate the event posing as a fighter, but expect the fights will be disrupted
		- Need your agents to ensure that the handoff goes smoothly so you can get the cold
* Fearless Frank paid a visit to Kaavu and Tovarish
	+ Gave Kaavu a scarf and told them about another goliath that's been winning the fighting circles

### The Heist

* Kaavu and Petunia go in the boats, and Tovarish/Ladro/Tom go down the stairs
	+ Kaavu/Petunia go to the fighting area, and meet Ghaveith Wandersmasher (who taunts them)
	+ Tovarish and Ladro are disguised as guards
	+ Ladro talks to Manny Bigwater at the start of his incursion
	+ Tom spots Vevette Blackwater
* Mesym the Impure wins the first round
* Kaavu's fight comes up, and he wins fairly easily
	+ Kaavu is bitten by a werewolf and fails constitution saving throw: lycanthropy inbound
* Tom and Tovarish try to stir up shit by pointing out Vevette Blackwater and her team
	+ they take the guards' posts and then start exploring X22/secret area
	+ Unknowingly, they start the Zhentarim plan
	+ Tom pushes the escape hatch in X21 open. Ladro throws a smoke bomb to distract
* Ladro plucks Sylgar the Fish out of the bowl as Vevette Blackwater walks into the room
	+ Tovarish pins Ott under the bowl
	+ Tom casts a fireball, killing parts of Vevette's team and drawing the guards in from outside
	+ They run, putting spike growth down behind them
	+ Ladro kills Sylgar as he gets the pebble out, draws a Zhentarim symbol on the ground
* Vevette continues in her escape route & gets out
* Ladro, Tom, and Tovarish encounter the results of Manny Bigwater's operation (giant empty space where there should be a room)
	+ Prepsqueak comes by and tells them the Boss is coming
	+ The three run into X25, Prepsqueak follows him and asks to come along
	+ Ladro, Tom, Tovarish, and Prepsqueak teleport away
		- Tom gets "Similar Area" and they end up in the Kwalish Apparatus that Grinda Garloth has in Mistshore. They are chased away by Grinda
* Meanwhile Kaavu, Petunia, Ghaveith, and the last fighter are interrogated
	+ The last fighter cracks and reveals he was a Force Grey plant to be a teleportation beacon and is taken away
	+ He throws a Barlgura from a vault of amber and is killed by Xanathar
	+ Kaavu, Petunia, and Ghaveith leave via the staircase
* Outcomes:
	+ Cassalanters got 100k and anything in the vault (Dryad Mechanism)
		- Where did the vault end up?
	+ Xanathar is going crazy bc Sylgar is dead
	+ PCs have all three Eyes of Golorr
	+ Force Grey did not attack