Following the dragon's announcement that his mother's crystal ball is on the submarine, the Batmen proceed to investigate it. Sneaking up to the fore windows, they see a control room where three rock gnome engineers keep the sub running under the watchful eye of their drow guards. Dagrim looks around the ship for air bubbles, but doesn't find any. The party tries to chip away at the docking mechanism, but the wood is too hard and it is difficult to get leverage underwater. Hank swims up to the surface and sees that the colors of the ship the submarine is docked to match the colors of the Hellraiser and Heartbreaker attached to the Sea Maiden's Faire pier.
The party swims aft, and Graycie and Essex climb nimbly to the the aft castle where they silently murder the two sailors. Upon their death, the illusion fades, revealing their true identity -- drow! The Batmen rain missile fire down on the two sailors on the aft deck, again killing them swiftly and silently. But their success may have made them overconfident. Essex picks the lock to the captain's chamers, and Rasool attempts to open it quietly. Unfortunately, Rasool was not quiet, and the occupants of the room, the ship's captain and a nimblewright are not taken by surprise. The captain blasts Rasool, Hank, and Chip with a lightning bolt, striking them all down. Dagrim is able to heal Chip, who takes over healing duties from there. Once revived, Rasool is a machine with his glaive, while Marty with his acrobatics and crossbow puts in a number of well-aimed shots. Graycen taunts the nimblewright to lure it from the door, but she is a little bit too successful, and takes a grievous blow to her side. The captain blasts Rasool again with a lightning bolt even as Hank is able to send the nimblewright into the Arms of Hadar. The captain lets loose with a flurry of magic missiles, but Marty Crane lands an arrow through his throat, ending his threat.
Using the ring of keys they found on the captain, the party searches the room. There is a bookshelf and a locked trunk. Opening the trunk, they find gold, pearls, and a bottle of wine with the label "One-Eyed Jax". Essex throws the body of the nimblewright overboard, hoping the remaining crew will assume it went crazy, killed the captain and the sailors, and fled. The party reports back to the dragon, and offer to share the wine, an offer which the dragon declines. They return to land to lick their wounds after dismantling the ship's rudder. Dagrim suggests getting Zhent help to raid the ship, and they walk over to the Yawning Portal. They don't recognize anyone there, so they decide to spend some time looking for nimblewrights before returning to the Manor. There are no 'wrights in the Dock Ward other than those on the ships, but they find one in the Southern Ward. Back at Trollskull Manor, Istrid Horn, Master of Trade for the non-Manshoonian Zhentarim, those associated with the Doom Raiders. She says the guards are running down known Zhents, and Davil was arrested. Hank offers his room to the dwarf, but she says it's creepy until Hank clarified that he'll sleep with Chip.
The next day, the Batmen go to the Seven Masks Theater. It is Ches 27. There, they are greeted by the ghost of Malkolm Brizzenbright. In the stage manager's office, they find a letter to "J" reading “There have been strange eyes fixed upon the house of Fenerus Stormcastle and flights of black snakes have been seen flocking the skies of the Trades Ward. Greater care should be taken when messengers approach the house, and we may want to find an alternative asset. I leave it to your judgment whether or not Fenerus himself should be warned. -K”
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