The party returns to Trollskull Manor, and discusses their next move.
As they recover from their look into the Nine Hells, the group begins to question their recent behavior. Are they any more rightous than those they oppose? Though their motives are good, are their actions… evil? Regardless of individual opinions, they all agree that they still need to take advantage of the opportunity afforded to them by the High Coin Ball–both the Cassalanters and the drow from the Sea Maiden’s Faire will be occupied with the festivities. They need to act swiftly.
With the Seamaiden’s Faire scheduled to entertain at the ball, and the reduced crew that means aboard their ships, the party decides to target the lead ship of the drow flotilla, “The Eyecatcher”. Shining Brow casts a water breathing spell on the entire group, and the party heads to the docks. After deciding against the theft of a boat, the group begins the long swim out into the bay. They stay underwater for most of the distance, and approach “The Eyecatcher”.
From their underwater vantage point, they discover a large “craft” of some sort, shaped like a manta ray, attached to the bottom of the drow vessel. Through the front “window”, Shining Brow sees levers, wheels, and dials. Unable to find a way in, the party continues up the side of the ship. Mantis locates the anchor chain, and begins to climb
The ship itself has a main deck, foredeck, and a two-deck aft castle. Mantis climbs to the aft side, and invisibly moves around to a better vantage point. He only sees a few crew members on deck, and lets the rest of the group know by leaving a message in chalk by the anchor chain.The group tries to sneak on board, they alert the crew when Tang, strangely impatient, leaps directly into combat. His martial arts prowess allows him to easily drop his first opponent, and he mutters “Asmodeus says ‘Kill them All’”.
As a nearby sailor sounds the alarm, the battle is truly joined. The group drops the sailors on the aft deck, and Mantis, Tang, and Shazuu leap from the upper deck to the next level down, crushing their opponents. Shining Brow begins to search for the Eye on the upper aft deck cabin. Inside, he finds a richly appointed captain’s cabin. Inside are a drow and a nimblewright. Shining Brow blasts the drow with a lightning bolt from his wand. Meanwhile, on deck, Mantis and Shazuu drop several drow masquerading as sailors. Dark hands again take Shazuu’s opponent’s spirit. The deck is cleared as Shining Brow begins his search for the Eye.
The party searches the top half of the ship, finding some loose coin, a treasure chest with a sack of gold, a vial of blue liquid, a pouch with five pearls, and a bottle of “One Eyed Jax” wine. In a nook in the aft castle, they find a spellbook full of powerful magics.
The party regroups and heads below deck. They find what looks to be circus gear, and a large safe. When Shining Brow opens the combination lock, they find several pistols, gear to use them, and a sack of 500 gold pieces. They take the gold, and Shining Brow takes a pistol and some supplies. Below, they find an open deck space filled with broken floats and other carnival supplies. Mantis notices there are several huge spiders in the darkness behind the floats, and the party hurries down the stairs, avoiding the arachnids. Shazuu and Tang spread out to search the rooms around the hall.
Tang checks a side room, and emerges a few moments later, claiming that the female humans on the bed were dead and beaten when he found them. He also found a pouch containing some kind of reptile scales. After finding a costume closet and a bedroom, Shazuu emerges and moves forward, intent on destroying the drow. He is ambushed by two drow swordsmen, but the party comes to his aid, and they defeat them, leaving one alive. Mantis and Shining Brow move to the front of the ship, and open a door, releasing a torrent of stream from what appears to be a sauna.
Shazuu tries the handle of another cabin, and as he does so a set of lips resolve on the door. The face of the screams “By Lloth, do you have no manners?” After a tense moment, all remains quiet. Inside is another bedroom, covered in royal trappings, and housing an inactive nimblewright. Could this be Zardoz Zord’s room? They assess the area, and Tang and Mantis realize there are spatial disparities between the rooms they have entered and what they can see. They investigate, and discover a hidden chamber.
This chamber contains fancy clothing, and a mannequin wearing silks, an eye patch, and a large hat with a feather. This is obviously Zardoz’s…no, Jarlaxle’s… private chambers. The group finds some piles of jewlery and separates out what’s easily identifiable as real vs costume jewelry: a diamond ring, a string of pearls, and a bracelent. Shazuu takes the Jarlaxle’s eyepatch, either out of spite or jealousy. As they prepare to leave the room, Shining Brow leaves an assassin’s marker from the Xanathar on the bed.
Manits’ keen eyes spot a trap door in the floor. Could this lead to the submersable? They still haven’t found the eye, and time is running short. What will they do next?
Things to consider for next time:
- Finish ransacking “The Eyecatcher” looking for the Eye of the Stone of Golorr
- Recover the Eye from the Cassalanters
- Deal with the Xanathar Smokepowder delivery on the 1st
Reminders:
- The Drow faction is supplying the Nimblewrights to Waterdeep, and apparently can spy through them (“We now have eyes in the Watchful Order”)
- Rongquan Mystere is somehow involved with the Drow
- Smokepowder is being delivered to Xanathar via the ‘Staircase of Eyes’ on the 1st at 11pm. The sewer tunnels will mark the way to Xanathar’s lair
- Next Arena fight in the Xanathar’s lair is on the 6th. The players have the pass-phrae and the address if they wish to participate.