The Sornyn festival has come to an end, and thus things return to normal (relatively speaking) in Waterdeep. Enigma has left the tavern for the day to investigate a lead into his mission with the Lord's Alliance - to track down someone recruiting kenku in the Dock Ward for the Xanathar's Guild and inciting violence This left Yuan, Ray and Sigurd to fend for themselves for the time being, but it looks like they were going to receive some help from an unexpected source. Marcellus, feeling unusually adventurous, approached Ray and asked if he could tag along on this somewhat rainy day in the City of Splendors. Ray of course agreed, but it appeared Marcellus had ulterior motives aside from getting outside for a while. On the way to Skeemo's shop to tend to Yuan's job, he explained to Ray that he thinks Mirt, one of the leaders in the Harpers, might be considering attempting to adopt a truce with many of the other major factions in Waterdeep in light of things that have been going on. It wouldn't be the first time it has happened - he explained that during the crisis with Tiamat and the Cult of the Dragon, these same factions joined together to beat back a common enemy. While it might not be quite on the same grand scale as that incident was, the premise is the same. He explains that the Harpers and Zhentarim generally have some pretty bad blood historically, but in the interest of preserving safety in the city, they might consider working together to help bring an end to the violence. Setting that aside for now, the team made their way to Weirdbottle's Concoctions, where Skeemo beckoned Yuan forth and begrudgingly handed him a silk-lined coffer, and ordered him to deliver it to the client, who will be waiting at the Godcatcher statue today for collection, and to not dilly-dally or waste time before sending him on his way. Sigurd, ever the curious one, though, asked Yuan if he could inspect the potions, having started his own venture into alchemy himself, and Yuan agreed. Sigurd's magical acumen told him that something seemed a bit off with these potions, and spent some time using an Identify ritual on them. As it turns out, they were not in fact the Potions of Mind Reading they thought they were, but actually Potions of Poison! Yuan was a bit hesitant at this - should he go back and ask Skeemo if he gave the wrong potions? He concluded Skeemo wouldn't be that stupid, though, and decided instead to take the information to Davil to figure out what's going on. On the way, though, the party was unknowingly being tailed by thieves, and in a quiet street, got ambushed by a pair of strange-looking kobolds and a gang of bugbears popping out of the sewers! The kobolds used psionic powers to blast the team and make it difficult for them to fight back, seemingly targeting Yuan specifically - it looks like they were trying to take something of his. Perhaps the potions? Fortunately, the others were there to aid him and help fend off the brigands despite their best efforts, with even Marcellus getting into the mix with a flaming sword of his own creation and getting into the fray to help defend Ray from attackers. Yuan had trouble dealing with the barrage of magical attacks being thrown his way, showing that even he couldn't absorb everything. Sigurd's steel defender, Io, unfortunately fell apart again, but it was better than someone else taking the fall, as they managed to finally beat back their attacks, killing most of them and knocking out the rest save for one bugbear who managed to duck back into the sewers after realizing they were getting overwhelmed. The team managed to put a stop to the ambush! Sigurd managed to discern that the psionic kobolds were apparently altered in some way, bearing resemblance to the psionic powers common to that of mind flayers. He suggested that this likely stemmed from Nihiloor, the mind flayer that the team ran into early on while rescuing Floon Blagmaar from a terrible fate. It seems that the dastardly illithid's influence could be felt even when he wasn't present. What other sick experiments might he have gotten up to? Setting that aside for now, the team opted to turn the single captured kobold over to the Watchful Order, hoping they might be able to get some more information, while resting in a small tavern en route back to the Yawning Portal. Getting their bearings back, the team completed the trip to the YP, with Yuan meeting Davil there and explaining the situation. Davil was taken aback and less than pleased. It seemed he genuinely wasn't expecting something like this, but in order to keep appearances to Skeemo and avoid tipping him off, he instructed Yuan to carry out the delivery as instructed while Davil tried to figure out what was going on - with the exception to inform the client that the potions were not as they appeared. Yuan agreed, and Davil sent him on his way. With that said, the team made their way to the Godcatcher statue, meeting the client, a woman in a purple robe sitting in the back of a hire coach. She silently took the coffer from Yuan, who did mention the true contents of the delivery. She said nothing, but simply offered a nod of apparent thanks and a black pouch containing fifteen platinum pieces as payment, before speeding off in the coach down the street. Yuan seemed surprised she took the potions with no questions asked, but figured she must know what she is doing, and felt satisfied he had done his duty, but the lingering question of what was really going on behind the scenes bothered him... Having a bit of spare time, the team headed down to the Docks to go follow up on Ray's quest. Marcellus told him on the way that he had some additional info - that the dragon was last seen in Mistshore, a largely derelict area. Several years ago, Mistshore had suffered a terrible fire, which sank many ships and burnt several buildings to ash. It's still in terrible shape, and largely abandoned. However, it's the perfect spot for a dragon to be in - the many sunken ships likely had a trove of valuable goods still lurking at the bottom of the sea. On the way, they noticed that the Sea Maidens' Faire trio of ships had left port for parts unknown. Yuan was quietly grateful for this news. At the docks, though, Ray handed over his potion of water breathing to Marcellus (since he already could breathe underwater), and the team consumed their own potions, and got into the water to begin the search for the dragon. Ray got an idea though and communicated with the local wildlife to help point him in the right direction - quite literally at that. A dragon would easily stick out and be noticed in this area. Finding their target, the team found a large mass swimming deftly through the drink when Ray approached and found himself face to face with none other than a bronze dragon, who introduced himself as Zelifarn. The dragon explained that he was simply scouring the deep for lost treasures. Perhaps because of their own draconic connections, Sigurd and Marcellus were able to discern that the dragon was being truthful - it was in their nature to seek treasure and this was no different. They concluded that the dragon posed no threat to Waterdeep. While he had the chance, though, Ray asked some questions about his own potential heritage, which Zelifarn noted that he could see a draconic lineage in Ray. Zelifarn explained the bronze dragon's love of warfare and testing their strength and mettle for a good cause, which might explain his family's dedication to martial talents and warfare. When Ray asked what he should do, Zelifarn explained that he doesn't need to change anything - if he is destined for greatness, then that destiny will unfold itself before him naturally, for that is what he is fated for, as someone who is descended from the pinnacle of creation - that being dragons, of course. Before leaving, Marcellus asked Zelifarn if he'd noticed anything else interesting, and Zelifarn, taking a liking to the draconic bloodline sorcerer, explained that he saw a peculiar shaped craft mounted under one of the ships of the Sea Maidens' Faire, but had no luck talking to any of the crew about it. When Zelifarn explained the oblong shape and propeller attachment of the vessel, Sigurd concluded that it is likely a Lantanese submarine. Why it was attached to the ship, nobody knows - but Zelifarn proposed that if the characters could sate his curiosity about it without drawing attention to themselves, if the ships ever came back to port, he would offer them a reward, showing off a barnacle-covered chest he found recently. He hasn't opened it yet, so the contents are unknown, but he can definitely smell gold inside. Accepting this quest, the team bid the dragon farewell, who swam off with his newly-hauled bounty. Feeling rather pleased with himself, Ray climbed out with his team onto the docks. They began to make their way out of Mistshore when suddenly out of the streets came a loud roar and shout of Sigurd's name, and barreling toward them was an angry minotaur, heading at them horns-first! It looks like Sigurd's rivalry has caught up with him. Making matters worse, though, is the small army of kenku following behind the minotaur. Looks like she brought insurance! How will the team deal with 'Rushing Raisha'? Has Enigma turned up any leads of his own? What was Skeemo's real intention? And what's with the submarine under the Sea Maidens' Faire? Perhaps some of these mysteries can be solved, next time, on Waterdeep: Dragon Heist!!