Gods, Monsters, and Poor Life Choices // D&D

Session 22, I Was Mermaid For This

SESSION 222026-07-17

Date: 2026-07-17

Summary

The evening at the Blushing Mermaid wound down slowly, the crowd thinning as the music softened and guests retired to their rooms. Velessa amused herself by clinging upside down to the ceiling above the lower hall, a vampiric trick that drew more than a few bewildered stares, while Talya made the most of the inn's pool despite the obvious challenge her hooves presented. The night took a more serious turn when Talya, swimming near the bottom of the pool, noticed hidden underwater channels along the walls — passages through which mermaid servers slipped in and out without ever surfacing. She watched one mermaid descend, exchange an identical-looking bag with someone lurking in the depths, and return to her duties as if nothing had happened. The party quietly discussed the possibility of a smuggling operation running beneath the inn, perhaps connected to the shadowy network beneath the city known as Skullport, and agreed to keep it in mind as their investigation into the dock bombing continued.

The night grew stranger still around two in the morning, when every light in the Blushing Mermaid was extinguished without warning. Staff moved through the darkened corridors carrying soft, ghostly handheld lights, while guests took the opportunity to scamper through the halls. Shane, however, heard something more unsettling — the sound of movement behind the wooden panels of his own walls. He methodically moved every piece of furniture in his room, checked behind paintings and curtains, and eventually found a false wall panel that popped free with ease. Behind it lay a narrow corridor running the length of the guest rooms, with a stairway ascending into the darkness above. He crept through the passage far enough to confirm that nearly every room had its own hidden access panel before deciding to alert the group. He made his way to Vagnfríður's room through the secret corridor, only to be met with a flat, sleepy command to go back to bed. In the morning, he shared his findings with the full party, and they agreed to leave nothing of value unattended in their rooms until they had a chance to explore the passages properly.

The following morning, the party made their way to the Durninbold Villa in the North Ward, a stately estate marked by the family crest on its iron gates. Guards at the entrance asked the party to surrender their weapons, which most of them did without complaint — Talya producing an improbably long spear from her small bag of holding — though Vagnfríður flatly refused to part with her axe. The guards, apparently experienced in such matters, simply wrapped her in leather straps and padlocked the axe to her back before showing them all inside. In the Grand Hall, they were received by Valerana and Caith Durninbold, both of them remarkably tall. When Séantal presented the family diadem, a crack appeared in Valerana's stern composure — a brief, unguarded look of grief — before she carefully placed the heirloom in an ornate jewelry box and rewarded the party with a generous purse of platinum coins.

The conversation turned to the 99, and Valerana described a pattern of harassment directed primarily at the Cassalanters — graffiti bearing a bastardized version of their family crest, vandalized gardens, and servants accosted in the streets. She described the Cassalanter children: an eldest son named Osvoldo, now in his mid-to-late twenties, and a pair of twins around eighteen or nineteen, all reportedly studying abroad. When Velessa offered to open a magical communication to check on Osvoldo directly, Valerana declined, noting the family had their own magical staff for such things. Before the party departed, Valerana arranged an intimate dinner that evening at six o'clock, promising to invite the Cassalanters so the party could meet them in person.

With hours to spare before the dinner, the party made their way to the Seven Masks Theater in the Dock Ward, drawn by Velessa's long-standing fascination with Shou Lung culture. She noticed almost immediately that something was off — the guardian lions out front were both male when tradition called for one of each, the decorative writing in the Shou Lung script was largely gibberish, and the dishes advertised outside the neighboring Laughing Dragon restaurant were not authentically Shou Lung at all. Their tour guide, an elderly man who introduced himself as Rong Kwang Mystere, greeted the group warmly but froze the moment his eyes landed on Velessa, staring at her in prolonged, unsettling silence. As the tour progressed, Velessa peppered him with increasingly specific cultural questions he could not answer, and when she finally revealed the illusion magic blazing from his hat, the old man's disguise fell away entirely. He straightened, bowed deeply, and introduced himself as Jarlaxle Baenre.

Velessa's deadpan response — "Never heard of you" — fooled absolutely no one, least of all Jarlaxle, who narrowed his eyes and pressed her on whether she had come to expose him on behalf of a drow matron. She assured him she had been away from Menzoberranzan for twenty years and had no interest in drow politics, worshipping Eilistraee rather than Lolth. Jarlaxle, apparently satisfied, admitted he had no stake in the conflict surrounding the 99, though he described them as "plucky little freedom fighters" and confirmed their animosity was directed squarely at the Cassalanters. He also mentioned, almost in passing, that the Cassalanters had recovered from near financial ruin with suspicious speed roughly a decade ago — a turnaround he had never seen matched in his long life. He refunded the party their tour fee, asked them to keep his sisters away from the theater, reapplied his illusion, and walked away.

The party settled in at the Laughing Dragon for a meal that was, as Velessa put it, a Sword Coast approximation of Shou Lung food — enjoyable enough, if not authentic. Over egg drop soup and chopsticks that gave Shane a splinter, they discussed Jarlaxle's significance and divided for the afternoon. Shane headed to a gambling hall on Nyle's Way to gather information, while Velessa, Talya, and Séantal made their way to Blackstaff Academy, the premier magical institution in Waterdeep. The tower was considerably larger on the inside than its exterior suggested, with a vast cavernous library, an observatory at the top, and classrooms buzzing with students. Velessa browsed books on spellcrafting while Séantal searched for information on planar travel, and Talya took in the spectacle of a place where people had to study to do what she simply did by instinct.

They stumbled upon a class just letting out, taught by none other than Professor Gale Dekarios — a polished, self-assured man in an elaborate gold-leafed robe who greeted Velessa by kissing the back of her hand, much to her visible bewilderment. He confirmed that the 99's activities were largely concentrated in the Dock Ward and that their graffiti seemed aimed at the Cassalanters, though he admitted he had little personal knowledge of the noble families of Waterdeep, preferring to keep to his books. Velessa informed him that Minthara Baenre was still in Baldur's Gate, and Gale asked the party to pass along a message on his behalf — that he was alive, well, and unsinged. He then turned and walked away down the corridor, leaving the party to make their way back to the inn to prepare for the evening.

Meanwhile, Shane had spent the afternoon at the gambling hall playing it straight and keeping his ears open. He came out roughly even on coin but considerably richer in information — he overheard members of the 99 discussing that their cell reported to two unknown, potentially wealthy individuals at the top of the organization. More importantly, he learned that those same members were gambling on money provided by the 99 itself, and that a meeting with their boss was scheduled later that week at the Blushing Mermaid. He rejoined the party with his findings before they all gathered outside the Durninbold Villa for the evening dinner.

The feast hall was intimate and elegantly appointed, and the Cassalanters made their entrance with practiced grace. Victoro Cassalanter was tall and silver-tongued, his responses to questions about the 99 flowing a little too smoothly — as though he had given the same speech before, word for word. He spoke of charitable donations to the dock wards, of feeding the hungry and housing the cold, and expressed bafflement at why anyone would target his family. His wife Amalia sat beside him with a sour, tight expression that grew darker as the conversation continued, though she said little. When Séantal raised the matter of the Cassalanters' rapid recovery from financial ruin a decade ago, Victoro attributed it to shrewd investments and wise decisions, but the explanation felt rehearsed and hollow.

Victoro insisted that his son Osvoldo was alive and well, studying herbology in Neverwinter, and that all three of his children were safely abroad. He declined Velessa's offer to open a magical communication with Osvoldo, citing their own on-staff magic users. Amalia, for her part, showed a pointed and specific curiosity about whether Séantal's warlock patron was infernal in nature — a question that stood out sharply against the otherwise polished dinner conversation. The meal concluded with a fine bottle of fortified wine from the Cassalanter vineyards, which Velessa proceeded to drink nearly in its entirety while Amalia looked on with barely concealed disapproval. As the evening wound down, Velessa quietly attempted to reach Osvoldo through magical means, sending a brief message into the ether — and received nothing in return. She passed the news to her companions in a whispered telepathic message: she didn't think Osvoldo was alive.

Short

The party's stay at the Blushing Mermaid proved eventful even before morning. Talya discovered a suspected smuggling operation through hidden underwater channels in the inn's pool, possibly tied to Skullport, while Shane uncovered a network of secret passages running behind the guest room walls — findings he shared with the group the next day, prompting them to keep valuables close. The morning also brought a visit to the Durninbold Villa, where Valerana and Caith Durninbold received the returned family diadem with barely concealed grief and rewarded the party handsomely. Valerana described a pattern of harassment by the 99 targeting the Cassalanter family and arranged a dinner that evening for the party to meet them directly. In the afternoon, the group visited the Seven Masks Theater, where their tour guide's illusion magic was exposed by Velessa, revealing him to be Jarlaxle Baenre. After a tense exchange, Jarlaxle confirmed the 99's focus on the Cassalanters and noted their suspicious recovery from near financial ruin a decade prior. A stop at Blackstaff Academy yielded a brief encounter with Professor Gale Dekarios, who corroborated the 99's Dock Ward activity, while Shane spent the afternoon at a gambling hall and learned that the 99 is led by two unknown wealthy figures, with a meeting planned at the Blushing Mermaid later that week.

The evening dinner at Durninbold Villa brought the party face to face with Victoro and Amalia Cassalanter. Victoro was polished and charitable in his answers — perhaps too much so — attributing his family's financial recovery to shrewd investments and expressing bewilderment at the 99's animosity. He insisted his son Osvoldo was alive and studying herbology in Neverwinter, and declined Velessa's offer to magically contact him. Amalia said little but grew visibly tense throughout the meal, and raised a pointed question about whether Séantal's warlock patron was infernal in nature. As the evening concluded, Velessa quietly attempted to reach Osvoldo through magical means and received no response. She passed a chilling message to her companions: she didn't think Osvoldo was still alive.

Classic

Last we left off, our party found themselves settling into the Blushing Mermaid — though the inn proved far less restful than its name might suggest. Beneath the waters of its pool, Talya uncovered evidence of a hidden smuggling operation, with mermaids exchanging identical bags through submerged passages that hinted at a connection to the shadowy underworld of Skullport. And as if that weren't enough, the inn's lights went dark in the dead of night, and Shane discovered a network of secret corridors running behind the walls of every guest room — passages that could mean the party's every move had been observed since their arrival.

The following day brought new faces and fresh intrigue. The Durninbold family received the party with cool aristocratic grace, rewarding the return of their stolen diadem with platinum and information — painting a picture of the 99 as a group whose harassment was aimed squarely at the Cassalanter family. A visit to the Seven Masks Theater led to an unexpected encounter with the legendary Jarlaxle Baenre in disguise, who confirmed the 99's fixation on the Cassalanters and raised a troubling detail: the family had clawed their way back from the brink of financial ruin with suspicious, almost impossible speed. Meanwhile, Shane spent the afternoon at a gambling hall and returned with word that the 99's leadership was meeting at the Blushing Mermaid later that very week.

The evening's dinner at the Durninbold Villa brought the party face to face with Victoro and Amalia Cassalanter — charming, polished, and deeply unconvincing. Victoro's answers came too smoothly, his charitable explanations too rehearsed, and Amalia's pointed interest in the nature of Séantal's patron struck a dissonant note against the otherwise elegant affair. But it was after the meal that the most chilling revelation came. Velessa, quietly reaching out through magical means to contact the Cassalanters' eldest son Osvoldo — reportedly safe and studying abroad — received nothing but silence in return. As she passed the news to her companions in a whispered telepathic message, the implication hung heavy in the air: Osvoldo Cassalanter may no longer be among the living.

Memorable Moments

"Go back to fucking bed."
— Vagnfríður

Vagnfríður's deadpan reaction at 3 in the morning when Shane emerged from a secret wall panel in her room to alert her about hidden passages

Velessa casts Detect Magic on the theater owner mid-tour, revealing him to be blazing with illusion magic, and Jarlaxle Baenre drops his disguise and bows deeply to the stunned party.

After Velessa spent the entire tour poking holes in Rong Kwang Mystere's cultural knowledge, she finally cast magic to confirm her suspicions

"Never heard of you."
— Velessa

Velessa's deadpan response after Jarlaxle Baenre dramatically revealed his legendary identity — she was absolutely lying and everyone knew it

"Oh, those plucky little freedom fighters, huh?"
— Jarlaxle Baenre

Jarlaxle's casual, amused response when Shane asked him about the 99, suggesting a more complex view of the group than 'terrorists'

Velessa's attempt to magically contact Osvoldo Cassalanter fails entirely, leading her to whisper to the party via telepathy that she doesn't think he's alive — while still sitting at the dinner table with his parents.

The failed sending spell at the end of the formal dinner cast a dark shadow over the Cassalanters' insistence that their son is safely studying abroad

"You've got real third son energy."
— Velessa

Velessa's blunt assessment of Gale Dekarios delivered to his face, despite him being an only child — a Menzoberranzan insult meaning he is superfluous

Amalia Cassalanter's pointed and specific curiosity about whether Séantal's warlock patron is infernal in nature stands out as deeply suspicious during an otherwise polished dinner.

Amalia's sour demeanor cracked into focused interest the moment infernal pacts were mentioned, raising questions about the Cassalanters' own dealings

Scenes

Evening at the Blushing Mermaid

The party unwinds at the Blushing Mermaid after their arrival in Waterdeep, discussing the recent dock explosion and observing suspicious activity among the mermaid staff.

The party gathers in the common area of the Blushing Mermaid as the evening crowd thins and the atmosphere becomes calmer.
Velessa demonstrates her vampiric abilities by standing upside down on the ceiling above the lower area.
Talya uses her ring of swimming to enjoy the pool despite her hooves, while Velessa's daughters are scolded by staff for being too rambunctious in the water.
Talya notices hidden underwater channels used by mermaids to move bags secretly between the surface and cavernous tunnels below, observing one mermaid exchange an identical-looking bag with someone in the depths.
The group discusses the possibility of smuggling operations connected to Skullport or the Zhentarim and how it might relate to the '99' group that bombed the docks.
The party agrees to visit the Durninbold family in the morning to deliver an heirloom and investigate the Cassalanters.
Velessa gives Shane one of her sending stones to maintain communication between them.

The Secret Passages of the Blushing Mermaid

During a strange 'lights out' event at the inn, Shane discovers a network of hidden corridors behind the guest rooms.

At two o'clock in the morning, the inn's lights are extinguished, replaced only by ghostly handheld lights carried by staff, lasting about an hour before the lighting is restored.
Shane hears scampering sounds behind his walls and investigates, moving all the furniture and checking behind paintings and curtains.
Shane discovers a false wall panel and finds a narrow corridor running behind the guest rooms, noting that almost every room has a hidden access panel and a stairway ascending within the passage.
Shane uses the secret passage to enter Vagnfríður's room to alert her, but she tells him to go back to bed.
In the morning, Shane informs the full party about the hidden corridors, and the group decides to keep their belongings secure and explore the passages later that night.

The Durninbold Villa

The party visits the Durninbold estate to return a family diadem and learns about the family's troubles with the 99.

The party arrives at the Durninbold Villa in the North Ward and is asked to surrender their weapons by the guards.
Vagnfríður refuses to hand over her axe, leading the guard to 'peace bond' it to her back with leather straps and a padlock.
The party meets Valerana and Caith Durninbold in the Grand Hall.
Séantal returns the family diadem, which Valerana accepts with visible emotion before placing it in an ornate jewelry box.
The Durninbolds reward the party with a heavy purse of platinum coins for their service.
Valerana expresses disgust upon learning a Red Wizard of Thay was responsible for her cousin's death.
The conversation shifts to the 99, with Valerana noting that while the Durninbolds have been spared, many neighbors — particularly the Cassalanters — have suffered vandalism, graffiti bearing a bastardized Cassalanter crest, and harassment of servants.
Valerana describes the Cassalanter children: eldest Osvoldo in his mid-to-late twenties, and twin youngest around 18 or 19, all reportedly studying abroad.
The Durninbolds invite the party to a formal dinner that evening at 6 p.m. to meet the Cassalanters in person.
Velessa considers casting a spell to contact Osvoldo to verify his status after hearing a physical description of him.

The Seven Masks Theater Tour

The party visits the Seven Masks Theater for a tour and encounters a suspicious guide claiming to be from Shou Lung.

The party arrives at the Seven Masks Theater in the Dock Ward, noting the Shou Lung architectural style and the Laughing Dragon restaurant next door.
Velessa notices several cultural inaccuracies in the theater's exterior, including incorrectly paired pi xiu lions (both male instead of one male and one female), gibberish Shou Lung writing, and advertised dishes that are not authentic to the region.
The group pays four gold for a guided tour of the theater's interior.
An old man named Rong Kwang Mystere greets the party and becomes visibly fixated on Velessa upon seeing her, staring in silence.
Velessa attempts to speak to the guide in Shou Lung's language, but he responds with confusion, unable to even say hello in the tongue.
Rong Kwang becomes inquisitive about Velessa's family and her connection to House Xilraen in Menzoberranzan.
Velessa questions the guide about his sword and jade jewelry, exposing his lack of specific cultural knowledge.
The guide abruptly ends the tour, claiming he left a kettle on, and begins ushering the party toward the exit while citing cockroaches, rats, and bedbugs as reasons to stay away.

The Revelation at the Seven Masks Theater

The party confronts the theater owner, whose suspicious behavior leads to the revelation of his true identity as the legendary Jarlaxle Baenre.

Velessa casts Detect Magic and discovers the owner is heavily wreathed in illusion magic emanating from his hat.
Confronted with the magic, the owner drops his disguise to reveal himself as the legendary drow swashbuckler Jarlaxle Baenre, who bows deeply.
Jarlaxle questions the party's motives, specifically asking if Velessa is an agent of a drow matron from Menzoberranzan.
Velessa claims she has been away from the Underdark for twenty years and worships Eilistraee, which Jarlaxle finds surprising.
Velessa attempts to bluff that she has never heard of Jarlaxle, but fails to convince him.
The party questions Jarlaxle about the '99' gang; he describes them as 'plucky little freedom fighters' and notes their specific animosity toward the Cassalanter family.
Jarlaxle mentions that the Cassalanters recovered from financial ruin with suspicious speed about a decade ago.
Shane asks Jarlaxle if he keeps his ear to the ground, and Jarlaxle confirms he is well-informed about the city's happenings.
Jarlaxle admits he used the excuse of cockroaches and rats just to usher the drow party members away from his theater.
The group receives a refund for their tour before Jarlaxle reapplies his illusion and departs, asking the party to keep his sisters away from the establishment.

Lunch at the Laughing Dragon

The party enjoys a meal of Shou Lung-style cuisine at the Laughing Dragon while discussing Jarlaxle and their next steps.

The party eats at the Laughing Dragon, noting the food is a Sword Coast approximation of Shou Lung dishes with no authentic Shou Lung staff.
Velessa explains Jarlaxle's significance as a prominent and troublesome figure from the Baenre family in Menzoberranzan.
Shane struggles with cheap, mass-produced chopsticks, getting a splinter in his hand during the meal.
The group plans their afternoon: Shane heads to a gambling hall while Velessa, Talya, and Séantal decide to visit Blackstaff Academy.

Touring Blackstaff Academy

Velessa, Talya, and Séantal explore the prestigious Blackstaff Academy, visiting its massive library and observing a lecture by a famous professor.

The party arrives at Blackstaff Academy, observing the lively atmosphere of students and faculty and noting that the decorative elements seem to move in response to the Weave.
The group enters the massive, cavernous library filled with books in many languages, statues of former Blackstaffs, and giant green crystals used for magical apparatuses.
Velessa peruses books on spellcrafting and the invention of new spells while Séantal looks for information on planar travel.
The group finds a classroom where Professor Gale Dekarios is finishing a lecture on the importance of communing with the goddess Mystra.
Velessa explains the mechanics of wizardry to Talya, describing how incantations act as prayers to Mystra to manipulate the Weave.
Séantal reveals that their parents are still alive — their mother was a fiend and their father an elf — leading to a humorous discussion about Velessa's impulse to 'adopt' them.
Gale Dekarios introduces himself to the group and greets Velessa with a kiss on the back of her hand, much to her bewilderment.
The group questions Gale about the '99' group; he confirms their activities are largely centered in the Dock Ward and that their graffiti seems directed at the Cassalanters.
Velessa teases Gale about his past relationship with Mystra and his 'third son energy,' despite him being an only child.
Gale asks the party to deliver a message to Minthara Baenre in Baldur's Gate, confirming he is alive, well, and unsinged.

Shane's Intelligence Gathering

While the others visit Blackstaff Academy, Shane visits a gambling hall to gather information on the 99.

Shane visits a gambling hall on Nyle's Way in Coif Alley, betting at the same level as other patrons to avoid drawing attention.
Shane comes out roughly even on his gambling while prying for information about the dock explosion and the 99.
Shane overhears members of the 99 discussing that their cell leaders report to two unknown, potentially wealthy individuals who run the organization.
Shane learns that the 99 members present are gambling on money provided by the organization itself.
Shane overhears that the 99 are supposed to have a meeting later that week with their boss at the Blushing Mermaid.
Shane rejoins the party to share his findings before the evening dinner.

Dinner with the Cassalanters

The party attends an intimate formal feast at the Durninbold Villa to meet the prestigious Cassalanter family and probe them for information.

The party arrives at the Durninbold Villa for the dinner, with Shane hiding a rapier and bow in Talya's bag of holding rather than surrendering them.
The party is introduced to Victoro and Amalia Cassalanter in the feast hall.
Séantal raises the topic of the 99, and Victoro responds with a practiced, rehearsed-sounding speech about his family's charitable donations to the dock wards.
Séantal uses their insight to notice that Victoro's explanations feel rehearsed and word-for-word repeated, while Amalia appears increasingly sour during the conversation.
Victoro claims his son Osvoldo is alive and studying herbology in Neverwinter, though his answers feel practiced.
Séantal questions the Cassalanters about their rapid recovery from financial ruin and whether anyone might feel wronged by their business dealings during that period.
Victoro dismisses the 99 as uneducated rabble and denies knowing of any event where 99 people died.
Velessa offers to magically contact Osvoldo, but Victoro declines, claiming they have their own on-staff magic users.
Amalia Cassalanter shows a specific, pointed interest in whether Séantal's warlock patron is infernal in nature.
Victoro enthusiastically discusses his family's vineyards and a bottle of fine fortified wine is served; Velessa proceeds to drink nearly the entire bottle.
Velessa attempts to reach Osvoldo via a magical sending at the end of the evening, but the spell fails to connect.
Velessa discreetly informs the party via a telepathic message that she believes Osvoldo may not be alive.

NPCs

Valerana Durninbold

A noblewoman of Waterdeep who is exceptionally tall and maintains a stern demeanor. She showed genuine, momentary grief when receiving her deceased cousin's diadem, placing it carefully in an ornate jewelry box. She rewarded the party generously with platinum and arranged a dinner with the Cassalanters.

Caith Durninbold

A member of the Durninbold family who joined Valerana to receive the party and the returned family heirloom, also notably tall.

Jarlaxle Baenre

A legendary drow figure who was disguised as an elderly Shou Lung man named Rong Kwang Mystere, operating the Seven Masks Theater as a hobby and cover. He is observant, theatrical, and well-informed about the city's political undercurrents, including the activities of the 99 and the Cassalanters' suspicious financial recovery.

Gale Dekarios

A professor at Blackstaff Academy and a hero of the Absolute Crisis, known for his fancy gold-leafed robes. He teaches lessons on the Weave and Mystra, maintains a polished gentlemanly demeanor, and asked the party to deliver a message to Minthara Baenre in Baldur's Gate confirming he is alive and well.

Victoro Cassalanter

The patriarch of the wealthiest family in Waterdeep, described as approaching his sixties and very tall. He speaks in a rehearsed, polished manner, claiming his family's wealth comes from shrewd investments and that they are victims of unprovoked vandalism by the 99. He is passionate about his family's vineyards.

Amalia Cassalanter

Victoro's wife, about a decade younger than her husband. She maintains a sour and unamused demeanor throughout the dinner, growing increasingly displeased as the 99 are discussed. She displays a specific, pointed curiosity about whether Séantal's warlock patron is infernal in nature.

Osvoldo Cassalanter

The eldest son of the Cassalanter family, described as tall, blonde, lean, and studious. His parents claim he is studying herbology in Neverwinter, but Velessa's attempt to magically contact him at the end of the evening failed, suggesting he may not be alive.

Locations

The Blushing Mermaid, Waterdeep

A luxurious inn, tavern, and festhall in the Dock Ward featuring a lavender-tinted bath hall. During the evening, the party observed mermaid servers engaging in suspicious bag exchanges through hidden underwater channels. The inn also features a network of secret corridors hidden behind wood-paneled walls in the guest rooms, discovered by Shane during a late-night 'lights out' event.

Durninbold Villa

An impressive noble estate in the North Ward of Waterdeep, marked by the family crest on its gates and guarded by disciplined sentries. The party visited to return a family heirloom and were received in the Grand Hall.

Seven Masks Theater

A magnificent theater in the Dock Ward of Waterdeep built in a Shou Lung style, featuring unique acoustics and architecture. Velessa noted several cultural inaccuracies in its design. It is revealed to be a front for Jarlaxle Baenre's activities in Waterdeep, with a performance of 'The Lusty Kobold Maid' advertised for the evening.

The Laughing Dragon

A restaurant located right beside the Seven Masks Theater serving a Sword Coast interpretation of Shou Lung cuisine, with no authentic Shou Lung staff. The party ate lunch here after their encounter with Jarlaxle.

Blackstaff Academy

The premier magical institution in Waterdeep. The tower is much larger on the inside than the outside, featuring an observatory, a massive cavernous library lined with statues of former Blackstaffs, and active classrooms. The party visited the library and observed a lecture by Professor Gale Dekarios.

Gambling Hall (Nyle's Way, Coif Alley)

A gambling den located on Nyle's Way in Coif Alley where Shane gathered intelligence on the 99, overhearing members of the gang discuss their leadership structure and a planned meeting at the Blushing Mermaid.

Items

Tar-soaked Fabric

A piece of sailcloth used as a blast shield for the bomb that damaged the Waterdeep docks. It was collected by the party as evidence during their investigation into the explosion.

Ring of Swimming

A magical ring worn by Talya that allows her to swim effectively despite having hooves, preventing her from drowning while she relaxes in the Blushing Mermaid's pool.

Sending Stones

A pair of smooth stones that allow for magical communication between their holders. Velessa gave one to Shane so they can stay in contact with each other while the party splits up.

Durninbold Diadem

An elven family heirloom passed down through the elven side of the Durninbold line. It was recovered by the party and returned to Valerana, who accepted it with visible emotion and stored it in a small ornate jewelry box.

Bag of Holding

A magical satchel used by Talya to store her long spear and other equipment. She surrendered the spear to the villa guards upon entry to the Durninbold estate, and later used the bag to discreetly store Shane's rapier and bow before the Cassalanter dinner.

Jarlaxle's Hat

A magical item worn by Jarlaxle that maintains his illusionary disguise as an elderly man from Shou Lung without him actively casting a spell. Velessa's Detect Magic revealed the illusion magic emanating from it.

Silver Point Trainers

Velessa's formal footwear for the Cassalanter dinner, designed for ballet and crafted from silver. She noted she cannot straighten her foot, making these a practical choice.

Cassalanter Fortified Wine

A high-quality vintage from the Cassalanter vineyards, served during the formal dinner at the Durninbold Villa. Velessa found it particularly enjoyable and proceeded to drink nearly the entire bottle herself, drawing disapproving stares from Amalia Cassalanter.

Spells

Detect Magic

Cast by Velessa during the tour of the Seven Masks Theater. She opened an aperture into a new dimension of sight, revealing that the theater owner was glowing brightly with the aura of illusion magic, exposing Jarlaxle Baenre's disguise.

Sending

Velessa attempted to use this magic at the end of the Cassalanter dinner to contact Osvoldo Cassalanter in Neverwinter to confirm his safety. The spell failed to reach its target, leading Velessa to suspect he may no longer be alive.

Message

Used by Velessa at the dinner table to discreetly inform her companions that she believed Osvoldo Cassalanter may not be alive, without alerting their noble hosts to her suspicions.