Working as secret agents for the Lords of Waterdeep, you were tasked with finding out as much as you could about the Xanathar, and the creature's organization, without engaging hte beholder crime boss in conflict. That, of course, would be tantamount to suicide.<br/>You've spent the last several weeks hunting for leads inside the seedier wards of Waterdeep, hoping that the constant ebb and flow of the transient population in these parts of the city might bear fruit... and evidently you weren't wrong.<br/>despite being dressed in fine clothes, the dwarf you spoke with ... what was his name again? ...was certainly a tough customer. And smart, too. he knew a thing or two, and it wasn't long before you found yourselves standing in a dark alleyway, looking down a short set of steps at hte entrance of an alleged "safehouse of the Xanathar's organization.<br/>You took<em>every</em>precaution when breaking and entering, but as the door swung wide, there was a bright flash and then everything faded to black.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>You regain consciousness and find yourselves lying inside a large cavern on a rocky shore. On the beach nearby, a milky orb - a little bigger than a human fist - rests in the middle of a magic circle, pulsing slowly with light. it is the only light in the chamber. A large pool of dark water dominates nearly half of the cavern.<br/><br/>Now what?<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Your characters</div><div class="spoiler_body"> How did you come into this mission? Are you trained agents for the Lords? Renowened investigators in your own right? Expendible lackeys sent on a wild goose chase? You could all share an origin, or come into the lords' service from different ways.<br/><br/>• Everyone has all the gear listed on their sheets.<br/>• Everyone is at full Hit Points and spell slots.<br/>• You have no idea how long you were out for.<br/>• The four of you have been working together for a few weeks now and are at least somewhat familiar with each other.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Waterdeep</div><div class="spoiler_body">Waterdeep is a major port city on the Sword Coast. It's ruled by a council known as the Masked lords, whose identities and exact number are unknown. There is also the Open Lord, who - unmaked - is basically the voice of the council and generally seen as "the ruler" in most regards (The current Open Lord is lady Laeral Silverhand, a mage of great renown.) The city is very cosmopolitian and has essentially whatever resources a person could need, provided they have the coin to part with. </div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">The Xanathar</div><div class="spoiler_body">The Xanathar is both a criminal organization, and the name of the beast that heads said organization. As an enterprize, the Xanathar are smugglers, traffickers, and slavers, ferrying illicit goods through waterdeep through unknown channels. They're fairly good at keeping htemselves hidden, which is surprising given the, erm, "quality" of most members that have been apprehended. The crime boss itself is a beholder; basically a floating mass of eyeballs that shoot death, and certainly well above <em>your</em> pay grade. Little else is known except that apparently it's equal parts crime boss and cult leader.</div></div>