C2 E11: The Shipwrights' Ball (episode)

The PCs have hidden the Stone of Golorr away—to an extent—and know that something is amiss with the Sea Maidens' Faire. They are heading to the Shipwrights' Ball the evening of Ches 25th, where the carnival provides the entertainment.

* Current Secrets
* Outpost & Lair Revelations
* Faction Outposts (Bregan & Cassalanters)

## Last Time

Last time, the PCs took some time to recover after their action packed night at the Gralhund Villa. They pretended to stash the Stone of Golorr in a safety deposit box at the First Waterdeep Bank and also at the Second Bank of Waterdeep. They actually keep it in a bag of holding that Ladro carries with him.

They took some time to talk to Davil Starsong of the Doom Raiders about the Brass Mechanisms, only to find that he was willing to pay them to hear about their recent experience. He also gave them some work related to a noble halfling family with a missing child.

Next the PCs followed up on a lead from the drow attack team and investigated the house of Fenerus Stormcastle, a lamplighter. As it turns out he collects dead drops for a mysterious organization and handed over the current letters after some brief intimidation, saying that they are eventually delivered to the Sea Maidens' Faire.

Their friend Vincent Trench told them some about the Brass Mechanisms, too, including the names of the four known ones: Basilisk, Eagle, Dryad, and Phoenix. Ladro's mysterious benefactor sent a mission, asking him to deliver a specific exposé to the *Waterdeep Wazoo* tabloid without being discovered. The other PCs tracked down the missing halfling child and learned he'd run away from home to join a gang and didn't want to return.

Finally, the PCs sent word to Savra Belabrante and Vajra Safahr that drow are infiltrating the Shipwrights' Ball. Vajra said she would warn Captain Zord of the Sea Maidens' Faire that they believe the drow have infiltrated his organization to gain access to the event.

## Offscreen Events

* Vajra warned Captain Zord that the drow may be infiltrating the Shipwrights' Ball through his carnival. He, of course, said he would be ever vigilant and was only bringing his most trusted people
	+ Captain Zord posted increased security at the carnival itself
* The PCs got fancy clothes
* *Waterdeep Wazoo* published the exposé on demon worship
	+ Infiltrates the highest strata of Waterdhavian Society
	+ Secret fronts are scattered around the city

## Onscreen Events

### NPCs visiting

* Rishaal Page-Turner
	+ reading *Duke Avanice's Vile Poems*
	+ was very intrigued to see the exposé on demon worship in the *Wazoo*
		- knows that Asmodean cultists existed over a hundred years ago in the city
		- Some documentation he's seen indicates that the long-rumored ancient worship site beneath the city does exist and it's under the Sea Ward
		- Will happily connect the PCs to his friend in the Surveyors', Map-, and Chart-makers' Guild. Cartography is an old hobby of Rishaal's!
* Yagra Stonefist
	+ Has developed a crush on one of the other patrons in the bar and is trying to take them home
	+ Occasionally meets with people in the corner of the bar, most of them sporting Zhentarim tattoos

## Todo / Happenings

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

* Before the ball
	+ PCs buy the tabloid article on demon worship
		- Temple of Asmodeus is under the city
		- Demon worship pervades the highest strata of society—nobles protect it
		- There are fronts for the cult all around the city
	+ Display new formalwear
	+ Discuss arrival & strategy at the ball
	+ Renaer asks Ladro to accompany him on the Grand Promenade
* Arrive at the ball
	+ All but Ladro arrive early
	+ Mirt talks to Petunia about a rival spy network in the city
	+ Kaavu gets a portrait of himself
	+ Ladro arrives with Renaer and Vajra
* Sea Maidens' Faire arrives with splendor
	+ Nimblewrights emerge and distribute drinks
* Rubino's speech
	+ Kaavu talks to Savra and Udaya
	+ Ladro is wandering around the band looking for weapons—finds none
* Elra, Esvele, and Lord Wands are at dinner with the PCs
	+ Esvele talks about the Brass Mechanisms and reveals the PCs are "leading" the race for the enigma
* Dancing begins
	+ Ladro dances first with Petunia
	+ Lady Ammalia Cassalanter approaches Tom and asks for progress on the Enigma
	+ Tovarish dances with Esvele and discusses the devil worship
	+ Ladro talks to Mirt about devil worship and the Enigma (new player on the scene trying to draw the Cassalanters' attention away from Enigma)
	+ The group talks to Captain Zord about his ship and the nimblewrights
* Vajra Safahr will come by soon to debrief the party
* Lord Vittoro Cassalanter will demo the nimblewright tomorrow at his estate
* PCs want to follow these leads:
	+ Tovarish to the Cassalanters to prevent purchase of nimblewrights
	+ Kaavu wants to follow up on the Dryad Mechanism events outside the city (people being turned to trees)
	+ Ladro wants to sneak onto the Eyecatcher and check out the suspicious cargo
	+ Tovarish wants to talk to Nym, the other nimblewright
	+ Petunia has concerns about Vincent Trench—is he on their side? Especially if someone is establishing a rival spy network
	+ Kaavu wants to look into the Surveyors', Charts-, and Map-Makers' Guild
	+ Tom wants to follow up on the young dragon's return

PCs level up to 5