With the mate downed and subsequently shoved into a Bag of Holding, the team had to move quickly. Valetta had Yuan simply rip the unicorn off from its float, under the effect of Enigma's Silence, while Ray went to warn Sigurd about what had happened, and everybody quickly gathered into the head of the ship. Sigurd had just finished carving a hole into the privies. They were almost interrupted, as one of the carnies on the ship had come down to use the restroom, but Ray managed to convince him not to come inside with some, um, well timed use of Minor Illusion. The team dumped the unicorn into the ocean, and watched it slowly sink into the water... before a large shadow quickly zoomed by and grabbed it in the water and raced off with it. Looks like Zelifarn was already in position! It was up to the rest of the team to make it off the ship now. They gave Valetta the option of talking her way out, but she resolved herself and decided to go with the rest of the team through the privies - she had already come this far, and there was no way she was backing out now! Having said that, Sigurd decided it was time to make use of his secret weapon, a scroll of Water Breathing he had purchased from Rishaal the Page-Turner back in Trollskull Alley. While it was a bit out of his league in terms of spell power, he was able to fluently cast the spell from the scroll without issue and grant everybody in the party the ability to breathe both in and out of water. The team began jumping in one by one into the hole, though Sigurd slipped and smacked his face into the water with a less than graceful landing. Enigma was less than enthusiastic about the prospect, but faced with either dealing with the entirety of the Bregan D'aerthe or his intense dislike of water, he chose the latter. It wasn't an easy escape bid - the team somehow had to manage to escape the notice of the crew as they were heading into the water. Somehow, though, it managed to work out, perhaps either because of the Dock Ward's generally busy ambience or some other stroke of luck, the team was able to evade the notice of the crew and escaped unhindered. Unfortunately, they weren't completely out of the hot seat yet, as a giant shark was prowling the area for prey nearby... Ray got an idea to distract it with an illusion of delicious fish while the rest of the team made an escape bid, and he would catch up with his naturally higher swimming speed. Once again, somehow, luck was on the team's side as they were able to elude the massive predator and leave it in their collective dust, while it snapped confused at a bunch of fake fish wondering how it had been bamboozled. They managed to clamber aboard one of the docks elsewhere and disappear into the city thereafter, making their way to Mistshore to meet up with Ray's Harper contact... who happened to be none other than Mirt, enjoying a good suntan out on the beaches. He was quite impressed with the team's work and said Ray sure had some interesting friends - alluding to Zelifarn, of course - but that the 'precious item' was secured in his manor and being taken care of. He packed up his things and lead the team there, where they found Marcellus and Renaer cleaning up the unicorn and another figure the team had only vaguely spotted once before, but Yuan was well acquainted with, Jan the tortle. Mirt introduced him as the leader of the Guild of the Watermen, whose job in Waterdeep was to handle cargo coming in and out of Deepwater Harbor, along with claiming lost inventory if anything fell overboard. Anything that comes into Waterdeep by boat would have to go through his team, one way or another. Jan mentioned that Laeral was responsible for keeping Jarlaxle away from his ship, and Jan was the one doing the negotiating. He stated that if there was even the slightest notion that Laeral might accept Jarlaxle's offer, he'd almost certainly jump at the chance, and he sure did. Jan made sure to leave him hanging on the prospect, but assured the team that Laeral had absolutely zero intention (as she had stated previously) of actually taking Jarlaxle's proposal seriously. However, the deception was long enough to give the team enough time to secure the thing they were looking for. Jan had greeted Yuan warmly, and the two revealed the fact they had worked together before for a 'mutual friend', which annoyed Ray a bit since it meant Yuan was keeping more secrets from the team. Regardless, the team was allowed to bask in their victory and lay low at Mirt's for the afternoon as he would prepare the unicorn to be secured away until it was needed. Mirt and Jan also assured Valetta that thanks to her work, the House of Inspired Hands would be protected by the city for her involvement in the heist - and ensure that no retaliation from Jarlaxle or the Sea Maidens' Faire would be had. If anybody could find a way to make it so, Laeral Silverhand definitely would be the one. Jarlaxle couldn't risk being fully exposed - but he might find some other underhanded way to get back at the team for their shenanigans, if not openly... The team did dispose of their captive - who was revealed to be a drow, as there was apparently some kind of illusion magic aboard the ships that made the crew appear to be human - and Jan said he'd take 'good care' of him. Later on, the team would return to the tavern and remove their disguises, recovering their equipment. Valetta thanked the team for joining her on this expedition, though Sigurd showed some concern for her, and asked if she would like to stay at the tavern. She politely declined, though - she was needed at the temple and she was going to put faith in Mirt and Jan that they would be true to their word and protect the House of Inspired Hands from retaliation by the Sea Maidens' Faire. At Ray's suggestion, though, Valetta did make Sigurd walk her home, though, before the day was done... Later that evening, Yuan had received word from Davil Starsong, leader of the Doom Raider Zhentarim, that the preparations for 'relocating' Skeemo's shop was complete, thanks to some quick paperwork and city contacts. He decided to move the entire shop elsewhere due to the fact that Manshoon was well aware of Skeemo's original shop and would be able to act against it if it had simply been refurbished, so he had a new place opened somewhere else in the Trades Ward discretely, Dr. Strange's Alchemy. Inside was a fairly short human wearing a hunter's vest with a longbow, and named himself Greyfeather - revealing himself to be another contact of Yuan's, which annoyed Ray further! Greyfeather offered to Yuan to discretely 'remove' Ray if he needed it, which Yuan declined of course. Oh well... In any case, Greyfeather said that he had taken over this business for the time being as his handling of potions and alchemy were top-notch, and that Yuan can expect the same business he had before. He'd even extend his discount to his friends if they needed anything, as they had been helping Yuan out this whole time. Yuan did indeed avail himself to a Potion of Fire Breath. Could be handy for spicing up an encounter! It was time to reflect back on what the team had done in their downtime though, and to see what the results were from it... What lies ahead for the team? The Annual Garden Parties began in two days - would the team use that approach to infiltrate Cassalanter Villa? Find out next time... on Waterdeep: Dragon Heist!!