C2 E15: Raid on Kolat Towers

After a broadly-successful heist on the Sea Maidens' Faire, the PCs regroup and try to figure out what this stone is.

This episode begins the evening of Ches 27th.

* Current Secrets
* Alexandrian - Clues & Timelines

## Last Time

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

* PCs go to ask Davil about Kolat Towers & "Sylgar" the fish
	+ Learn that those who enter use pass-amulets & about the force field
	+ Assume that the stolen Eye from Jarlaxle was from the Cassalanters
	+ Learn about Skullport and Undermountain a bit
* Tovarish attunes to the Stone of Golorr and learns how it works
* Kaavu asks the three new rock gnomes to update the taps
	+ Wants them to be updated and "voice activated"
	+ Work for room & board and free ale
* Blackstaff's animal messenger arrives for Tom
* Kaavu and Tovarish take a walk to Aveen Street
	+ Kaavu charges into the cultists' den and starts smashing up, Tovarish follows
	+ They kill everyone, find the book leading to the Windmill, and set the house on fire
	+ Tovarish has a sketch of the sigil on the back of the mirror
* Petunia reverse engineers the *Salve of Hill Giant Strength* from the cultists
* The team surveys people coming and going from Kolat Towers
	+ Avareen Windrivver & Zorbog Jyarkot leave but sight Tovarish following them. They lose him and he stops following
	+ Agorn Fuoco also leaves the tower but sets up an ambush for the PCs
	+ PCs handle the ambush, take Agorn's amulet & report, and send him off to live a new life on the UFFR
		- Report leads to Xanathar Sewer Hideout 2, underneath the Orb Confectioners
	+ Agorn was heading for **Yellowspire**, a ruined tower in the Castle Ward

## Offscreen Events

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

* City Watch has secured the pier and is keeping everyone associated with the carnival under investigation for spying
	+ **Has now discovered** that Ladro was the last person seen heading to the ship and did not return
	+ Will recover dead bodies of Jarlaxle and others from the ship at **the end of the 28th**
	+ **Has now learned** everything the crew is described to know (DH 132)
* Avareen Windrivver and Zorbog Jyarkoth (two mid-level Zhent agents) have kidnapped Fenerus Stormcastle (Bregan D'aerthe associate) and brought him to the Zhentarim Interrogation House in Brindul Alley.
* Vajra Safahr, the Blackstaff, has discovered that Jarlaxle had a spy high up in the Xanathar Guild

## Onscreen Events

* cassalanters want their eye back
* Open Lord holds emergency hearing about the findings on the 29th and "invites" the PCs to come
* Eagle Mechanism workings
* *Jarlaxle's Report on the Grand Game*: here

### Waterdeep Wazoo Morning Edition (28th)

#### Open Lord Calls Emergency Hearing

Laeral Silverhand, the Open Lord of Waterdeep, has called an emergency hearing tomorrow about the fire and Drow spy revelation. The Blackstaff will announce the status of their investigation at this point, and civic leaders will be appraised of the situation. The Wazoo will be there to report on any news.

#### Fire in Aveen Street

A house in Aveen Street has mysteriously burned to the ground. The City is unable to locate the owner but has found a number of burned bodies, apparently killed before the fire. The structure and cellar collapsed and investigators were not able to find any evidence. Could this be linked to the fire and Drow spy ring at the Sea Maidens' Faire?

### Eagle Mechanism

* Once per day, can cast Scry for free.
	+ there is a slot for an object to be inserted to view through the specific eyes of receiver circuits
	+ Other characters who own nimblewrights:here
	+ Nym (at the House of Inspired Hands) can figure this out if the PCs trust it & the temple
* Current Secrets
* Clues & Revelations

### Dryad Mechanism

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.

### Fearless Frank's Invitation

Fearless Frank is hosting a competition to determine the best fighter in his network. He has been asked to send his top three fighters to a Waukeentide celebratory tournament hosted by Xanathar himself.

### Other Eyes

The Stone of Golorr will talk to whoever has attuned to it. It is not happy to talk, though it is glad to have one of its Eyes returend.

The PCs can investigate the Xanathar Eye through the Cassalanter Report, Manshoon's report (unlikely), Grinda Garloth, asking about Sylgar (the fish), or finding a gladiator game. Send them to a faction outpost if in doubt.

### Missions

**Tom** needs to report back to Vajra Safahr, the Blackstaff, about Jarlaxle and Bregan D'aerthe.

* A paper bird with tonight's opera tickets is waiting at A Nu Start Inn for Petunia & Ladro
	+ "This was not a Harper's hit. I need to know who did this before Laeral's hearing tomorrow. I thought Jarlaxle was running the competitor spy ring, but clearly he was a pawn or there is a third ring."
	+ "Find out who did this. We need to know who our competition is so we can make them...irrelevant."

### Kolat Towers

PCs can break in to Kolat Towers, if they really want to!

### Yellowspire

PCs may prefer going to Yellowspire, which will lead them to Kolat Towers' back door.

### Orb Confectioners

PCs may follow Agorn Fuoco's previous mission, which was to investigate the Orb Confectioners shop to see where Xanathar's duergar come and go from. Underneath is a Xanathar Sewer Outpost (DH p 86). They will learn about the Waukeentide tournament there, or this may lead them to Xanathar's Lair!

### Terasse Estate

Located on Elsambul's Lane in the Castle Ward, this rowhouse is a Xanathar front for gladiator games. PCs may investigate after Grinda Garloth's information, or they may find out through rumors.

## Todo / Happenings

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

* Light rain
* PCs send Agorn Fuoco packing off to the UFFR and discuss their next moves
	+ Petunia and Ladro miss appointment with Mirt on the 27th
	+ Get tattoo kits from theatrical supply shop for infiltrating Kolat Towers
	+ Tom tells Vajra "We burned down the ship. Investigating Nimblewrights. Captain and crew were drow. Fireball is fun." Blackstaff says she is going to bury the information
* Petunia messages Mirt to explain absence, he asks them to investigate Jarlaxle's death
	+ Petunia replies with paper bird: "We are aware of who unmasked Jarlaxle and caused the fire. They are regulars at the opera and not a threat. If further conference is needed, send tickets."
* PCs go to check in with the Cassalanters, who are preparing for the Highcoin Ball on Ches 30th
	+ Lady Cassalanter tells the PCs that Xanathar is trying to smear the noble families with demon accusations
	+ Lady Cassalanter also says that the Zhentarim are blackmailing several noble families
	+ She requests the PCs give updates to her husband or to Williford
	+ TODO: PCs will get an invitation to Highcoin Ball?
* PCs infiltrate Kolat Towers: Ladro is in disguise as Agorn Fuoco, other PCs have Zhentarim tattoos on their wrists
	+ PCs story: new recruits, some of whom are "fire inspectors" (Zhent will take this as code for mob extortion payments)
	+ Kaavu opens the real chest in K6 and triggers the mimic next to it
		- He carries the chest full of arcane focuses with him
	+ Tom and Tovarish find the "Flumph Mating Rituals" fake cover on the spell book, fight the gargoyle
	+ PCs work their way to the portal and step through the teleportation circle to the inner sanctum

**DM TODO: seed backstories for Tom (where is 18-year-old Ralston Highpike?) and Kaavu (is Ghaveith Wandersmasher in the city?)**