Heist on Cassalanter Villa

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

 Contents
Contents ................................................................................. 2
Introduction ...................................................................... 3
Adventure Overview ................................................................. 3
Changes from Waterdeep: Dragon Heist .............................3
Running the game ..........................................................4
Step 1: Gather the Crew ..........................................................4
Step 2: Preparation .................................................................. 4
Step 3: Execution ......................................................................4
Step 4: The Twist ...................................................................... 5
Advice to the GM ............................................................. 6
Spotlight & Dramatic Tension ................................................6
Inspiration .................................................................................. 6
Entering the Villa ...................................................................... 6
Getting Caught ...........................................................................6
Spiking the Drinks ....................................................................7
Quantum Keys ........................................................................... 7
Character-specific Difficulties ................................................7
Playing the Cassalanters .........................................................7
Exposition ...................................................................................8
Story Chokepoint ......................................................................8
The Final Battle .........................................................................9
A Note on Carrying Gold .........................................................9
Appendix A: A Cast of Thieves .............................10
Appendix B: Character Secrets ..........................30
Appendix C: The Black Market ............................32
Appendix D: Villa Blueprints .............................. 34
Appendix E: Simplified Dungeon ..................... 35
Appendix N: Bibliography & Credits .............36
 Heist on Cassalanter Villa
Introduction

O
ne of the villains in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
is the Cassalanter family - am influential Changes from Waterdeep:
house that is guarding a dark secret. This
module is intended to help you run an Dragon Heist
encounter with the Cassalanters as a one- For simplicity’s sake, we take some diversions from the
shot heist adventure. It provides the source material. They are summed up here for
necessary player characters, handouts, and convenience:
advice to run the adventure for 3-7 players.
To use this module you need to own Waterdeep: Dragon We ignore the dragon hoard of former open lord Dagult
Heist. Neverember and the stone of Golorr. Instead, we
assume the Cassalanters were able to recover the funds
Adventure Overview by liquidating assets, calling in favors and taking out
loans.
In an alternate universe, where no heroes stand in the We reduce the amount of gold slightly (to 100,000), to
Cassalanters’ way of retrieving the money needed to buy make stealing it feasible.
their children back from the archdevil Asmodeus, a master We ascribe slightly less righteous characteristics to
thief known as the Black Viper plans to use the cover of Renaer Neverember and Barnibus Blastwind (although
Founders' Day to break into their vault and rob them of at the end of the day, it’s up to the players to decide
their riches, unaware of their terrible designs for the where these characters draw the line).
evening. We also assume lord Neverember left his son destitute
This module is set up to follow a typical heist scenario. upon being ousted out of Waterdeep.
Players, under the leadership of the Black Viper, gather a The Cassalanters’ plan to slay only the poor and leave
crew of thieves to rob one of the wealthiest families in the noble guests alive is replaced with a more radical
city. approach where all the wine at the party is poisoned. We
First, the Black Viper chooses her crew, based on a also remove the Cassalanters’ immunity to said poison,
roster of 6 possible accomplices. As she does so, players for dramatic purposes.
assume the roles of her chosen helpers. Also Caladorn's armor now grants the power of flight I
Then, the team plans the heist using a map of the villa guess?
and information about the vault’s defenses. They receive a
budget and a list of magic items that can be bought in the
black market to help formulate a cunning plan.
After this, the players perform their heist - they enter the
villa during the Founders' Day celebration, steal the keys to
the vault, learn the magic passphrase, and make their way
downstairs. As their plan progresses, the players uncover
clues that hint to nefarious goings-on within the
Cassalanter family.
Finally, the players discover that the vault is empty and
follow a hidden passageway into the Cassalanters’ secret
dungeon - where they have a final standoff with the cult of
Asmodeus.

3
 Running the game
T
his adventure takes around 5 hours to play. It
is broken up into four parts: gathering the
crew, preparing for the heist, executing the
heist, and finally a showdown with the
Cassalanters in their dungeon. Let's look at
these steps in detail.
Step 1: Gather the Crew
One player starts off playing the role of Esvele Rosznar (the
Black Viper). She is the mastermind behind the heist and
will need to choose the first recruit. Give the player the
character handout for the Black Viper (see appendix A), as
well as the handouts for the other characters.
Depending on how experienced the players are you can
decide to hand Esvele only the front page for each
character or their full details including spellbooks (but do
not give away any of the secrets from Appendix B).
Esvele selects a character to add to her crew. The players
choose who wants to play that character. When the
decision has been made, hand the remaining information
(spells, etc.) to the new recruit’s player, as well as that
character’s secret from appendix B.
Both players describe a short scene where the new
character is added to the team. If the description is
creative, award inspiration to the participating characters.
The players who are now part of the team choose a new
character to add, and repeat this procedure until all players
have a character.
Shorter Game. For a shorter game, skip this step and
hand each player a random character (Esvele should be
part of the gang). It is a good idea to start everybody off
with inspiration as well.
Nana. Laiba “Nana” Rosse is a special character who is
aware of the Cassalanters’ secrets but wants to use the
heist to sabotage them so that the ritual fails and
Asmodeus claims their children. If your players are less
experienced or not fond of intra-party secrets, you may
want to consider removing her from the options.
Barnibus & Saeth. Barnibus and Saeth come as a pair,
so whoever chooses this character gets to play both.
Step 2: Preparation
Now that the crew is complete it is time to plan the heist.
Give the players the villa blueprints from appendix D. As
they study them, make sure that Esvele Rosznar’s player
informs the others of the following:
A wealthy family has recently withdrawn all accounts
from the Bank of Waterdeep - meaning there is a
treasure trove of at least 100,000 gold coins in their
possession.
The family is holding a large celebration, open to the
public, on Founders’ Day - the perfect cover for a heist.
The vault is in the basement and requires three keys.
One is held by Victoro Cassalanter, the lord of the
house.
Ammalia Cassalanter, the lady of the house, has a
second.
The head servant, Willifort Crowelle, guards the third
key.
The vault is also trapped, requiring a passphrase to
enter safely.
4
The players can buy magic items to use in the heist.
Hand them the list of items from appendix C and 10
tokens. These represent their budget (a token represents
500 gold coins, but is easier to track). Most items cost 1
token, but some cost more.
Allow the players time to discuss their options, buy
items, and formulate a plan, but push them forward if they
are too indecisive. Be liberal with information if the players
ask about the family or the villa. Assume that the
characters spend some time gathering intel and spying on
the Cassalanters but that the Cassalanters are too shrewd
to give away their connection to Asmodeus.
The outcome of the preparation should be for each
character to have a rough idea of:
How they will enter the villa.
What their goal inside is (for example “I will get
Victoro’s key” or “I will cause a distraction”).
Renaer. Note that if the party contains Renaer
Neverember, the players have a budget of 14 tokens, but
you need to keep track of which items he buys.
Shorter Game. Give the players the following items
instead of allowing them to buy items themselves:
1 gloves of thievery
2 dust of disappearance
4 potion of greater healing
1 lantern of revealing
1 hat of disguise
1 medallion of thoughts
1 bag of holding
1 shingler's kit
1 pair of sending stones (unlimited uses)
And if Renaer is present, add:
3 dust of sneezing and choking
1 weapon +1
1 wand of secrets
2 philter of love
Step 3: Execution
It’s time to play Dungeons & Dragons! Play through the
events of the characters infiltrating the villa, procuring the
keys and password, and meeting up in the cellar to open the
vault.
Ideally, characters are successful in obtaining the keys
and reaching the vault as a group before opening it. See the
Advice to the GM section on how to handle players going
off-script.
Step 4: The Twist
The characters meet up, open the vault and discover that it
is empty! At this point, you subtly lead them into the
dungeon through the wine cellar’s secret door. There they
discover the evil cult at work, burning bags of silver in
sacrifice to Asmodeus, and have a climactic showdown
with the Cassalanters and their fanatics.
If you play your cards right, the statue of Asmodeus then
offers the party a final ethical dilemma of such epic
proportions that they succumb to infighting. But in reality,
they will probably just take the cash and let everybody die.
Shorter Game. The simplified dungeon floor plan in
appendix E helps speeding up the dungeon crawl. It is
probably worth using this map even if you are not strapped
for time, for pacing reasons.

5
 Advice to the GM
T
he following sections provide tips on
running the adventure, to ensure the heist
goes smoothly for you if perhaps not so
much for the players.
Spotlight & Dramatic
Tension
A scenario like this is tailor-made for splitting the party.
The following advice from Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad
Mage applies:
Splitting the Party
To ensure that every member of a split party gets
attention, think of yourself as a film editor
cutting scenes in a movie. Jump from one group
of characters to the next while spending no more
than a few minutes with any given group or
individual. Tense moments are great times to
"cut" from one group to another-don't be afraid
to leave them hanging!
In addition, in these confined quarters you can use jump
cuts between characters as a way to play with time and
force serendipity. For example, Brynn Hilltopple races
through the kitchen, disguised as a giant rat, but fails her
Dexterity (Stealth) check. At this point, shift focus to
Renaer, who is trying to swindle Victoro in a game of Five-
Dragon Ante. Just as he is about to steal Victoro’s key - the
game is interrupted by screams from the terrified kitchen
staff!
You can use time bending tricks to make things easier or
more difficult for the players, depending on the needs of
the situation, as well as ensure the players end up in the
cellar together.
Inspiration
As mentioned, it’s a good idea to start the players off with
inspiration. A heist scenario like this tends to have a lot of
make-or-break dice rolls, for example when pickpocketing a
major NPC, hiding at a crucial moment, or opening a
locked door. Inspiration reduces some of the randomness
(we are dealing with trained professionals after all) and
helps keep the game flowing, especially if you allow it to be
used after a player fails a roll.
Don’t forget that players can give their inspiration to each
other as well.
Entering the Villa
One of the two questions the players need to answer is
“how will my character infiltrate the party?”. Here are some
potential answers.
6
Front Door
Even though no personal invitations have been sent, the
festivities have been widely announced among the elite of
Waterdeep. Guards outside the estate will allow nobles
passage to the front entry. Esvele and Renaer are
welcomed by default, while other characters have to use
deception to pass as nobles, bodyguards or servants.
Stables
As a gesture of good faith towards the commoners of
Waterdeep, the Cassalanter family has graciously opened
their garden to the people. Drinks and food are served, and
hired bards provide music and entertainment.
Although the garden is open, only a finite number of
people are allowed in at a time, so characters need to be
early to get in line. The line starts outside of the estate’s
main gates and winds its way towards the stable entrance.
Inside, guards check prospective revelers and ask them to
leave weapons at an improvised cloakroom. Brynn has no
trouble blending in, as do Barnibus and Saeth (they might
even be allowed to keep their arms). Runagar and Rolling
Bones have a harder time entering here, especially if they
arouse suspicion in any other way.
Garden Wall
A character can enter the estate and try to climb the inner
wall that leads to the garden. Note that there are guards on
both sides of this wall, requiring multiple Dexterity
(Stealth) checks, plus Strength (Athletics) for the climb.
However, a detected character is assumed to be simply
trying to sneak into the party for free booze, so failure is
not disastrous.
The garden has about a dozen guards wandering around
to keep the peace and prevent commoners from entering
the main building through the garden mudroom, reading
room, or balcony. The foliage in the southern area is a good
place to hide.
Getting Caught
When a PC inevitably gets too cocky and fails a test while
pickpocketing one of the antagonists or is caught snooping
around, the Cassalanters’ go-to reaction is to isolate and
intimidate that character, temporarily breaking their own
facade and showing off a hint of their true power. Willifort,
for instance, grabs a character’s wrist with a speed that is
uncanny for a simple old man. Ammalia uses a magical and
vicious message while keeping up her superficial smile and
babble. Victoro enhances his visage with thaumaturgy or
mixes a magical command in with his words. The NPC
says something like this:
I don’t know what you think you’re trying to do here, but
you are meddling with forces far beyond your imagination. I
would strongly suggest you stay out of our affairs. There will
be no second warning.
After this, the character will be shadowed by an imp,
shown their way out or, if their transgressions are serious
enough, marked for death. In the latter case, Willifort is
summoned to inform the character that there is an urgent
matter that requires their attention outside, leads the
character to a quiet spot in the garden, and uses his
Surprise Attack ability to assassinate them.
Spiking the Drinks
A good way to get the Cassalanters to give up the
passphrase and their keys is to spike their drinks with a
philter of love, or so it would seem. However, since the
Cassalanters have poisoned all of the wine in the house,
both will staunchly refuse a drink, regardless of how
Charismatic (Persuasive) a character is. This is also a good
way to arouse suspicion in the players that something is
not right.
(Note that in the original module the Cassalanters are
immune to poison, but for this adventure it’s more fun to
remove that ability).
Quantum Keys
One way to tweak the difficulty and length of the heist is to
move keys around as the story demands it. The idea here is
that until a character finds a key, that key could be
anywhere, so you can cheat a little. For instance, if the
players roll particularly well and easily make their way into
Victoro’s office and Ammalia’s study, you may decide at that
point that actually the keys are not in these locations but
are being carried by the Cassalanters. Likely key locations
are:
Victoro’s Key. Either on his person (playing cards in the
family dining room, C9) or in his office, guarded by the
animated armor (C6).
Ammalia’s Key. Either on her person (entertaining
guests at the masked ball in the ballroom, C13) or in her
study (C22).
Willifort’s Key. On his person, but may be attached to a
chain, making pickpocketing difficult.
Character-specific
Difficulties
Here are some ways to make life miserable for the heist
crew:
Laiba
Entering the mansion seems easy for Laiba - she already
starts inside! However, as a member of staff she is expected
to keep to her duties.
You can start Laiba in the children’s bedroom, putting
them to sleep for the night. This is a good way to set up the
final dilemma by playing up their innocence. The kids are
also a great way to interrupt Laiba’s plans. They can start
running amok at the party, causing the Cassalanters to
seek Laiba and order her to stay with the children.
Renaer
As soon as Victoro spots Renaer from his game of Five
Dragon Ante, he insists that the young lord joins.
Unfortunately, Renaer is not quite as prosperous as he’d
like to be, especially after burning through his last cash to
buy (faulty) magic items, so coming up with the ante might
be difficult.
Rolling Bones
Any social interaction that involves Rolling Bones will be
awkward, so make sure to have lots of characters engage
him in small-talk or interrogation. The guards, Willifort,
random nobles or, if you can pull it off, Victoro’s card game
are great for this.
Rolling Bones and Runagar
These two characters stand out like sore thumbs. They will
be confined to the outside area, if the guards even allow
them in. Also note that anyone using the entrance through
the stables will be requested to leave their weaponry,
especially when that weaponry is a massive battle axe.
Esvele
As soon as Ammalia catches wind of Esvele she corners
her for an enthusiastic demonstration of her dancing robot.
Brynn
Brynn will probably create her own trouble trying to turn a
halfling to her cause. Here are some halfling names you
can use: Bernie High-hill, Franklin Tosscobble, Lyle
Goldfound, Cora Stoutman, Vani Tenpenny.
Brynn players seem to enjoy entering the villa through
the sewers. Ask for a Wisdom (Survival) or Intelligence
(Investigation) check and bend time depending on the
outcome. She can show up late which causes trouble for
whoever is waiting for her in the toilet area with a fresh
pair of clothes (C16b) as Crowelle sends servants to see
what’s up.
Barnibus & Saeth
These two have some bad blood with the Cassalanter
family and are not allowed into the party proper. If they
insist, they are confined to the library by Willifort.
Playing the Cassalanters
The Cassalanters have their own locations in the villa but
playing them as active and roaming agents can make for a
dynamic adventure. Here are some tips on having them
respond to players.
Victoro
Victoro is the center of a high stakes Five Dragon Ante
game in the family dining room. If he spots Renaer he
insists that he joins the table. Victoro is a talkative, good-
spirited host who makes a point of keeping everybody at
the table liquored up (with poison). He ribs on Renaer
incessantly about his absent father. If other characters join
the game, especially when in disguise, he will make a point
of asking them about their history, family, home, and
favorite pastimes.
7
 Cheating at cards is a great way to retrieve Victoro’s key. If
the stakes are raised high enough he drops his key on the
table and dramatically declares that this is a key to his
private vault. If a character wins the key, Victoro laughs and
explains that it is useless without the other two, quite
proud of his trickery.
Ammalia
The lady of the house is arranging a masked ball, and
particularly keen to show off her dancing man to the
guests. She will draw in Esvele in particular if she spots
her.
Terenzio & Elzerina
The children are in their room and can play a role if Nana
Rosse is part of the player characters. They require all
kinds of attention to be put to sleep.
They can be used later to call Nana from her business at
an inopportune moment - soon joined by Ammalia.
Willifort Crowelle
The head servant leads nobles in through the entrance and
shows them towards either the family dining room for the
card game or the upstairs area for the masked ball. He will
also be the first to check out any ruckus in the building.
Crowelle is a doppelganger, which means that he can
read surface thoughts. You may want to downplay this
ability, perhaps downgrading it to a heightened sense of
awareness and suspicion towards the characters. If
Crowelle has reason to distrust a character due to a poor
interaction, he will send an invisible imp after that
character to spy. If the players don’t have the lantern of
revealing the imp could also be polymorphed into crow
form.
He has quite a bit of antipathy towards Barnibus
Blastwind, as the inspector came close to figuring out the
Cassalanters’ secret and it took Willifort a lot of work to
cover that up. He will not allow Barnibus or his friend
Saeth access to the ballroom or card game but allows them
to stay in the library or garden, under the supervision of a
guard (and invisible imp).
Jandar and Tissina
The other named characters and co-conspirators can be
relegated to the background unless their existence proves
particularly useful. Tissina can be a roadblock to
investigating Ammalia’s study, as she is lounging in the
master sitting room (C19) which is on the way to the study.
Exposition
You’ll want to foreshadow the climax a little bit so that it
doesn’t come out of nowhere. The original module provides
plenty of clues in the Cassalanter residence, and we can
make a few tweaks to streamline the adventure.
Ammalia's Study
The text in the tome that describes how to summon
Asmodeus can be in Common. Make sure the vials have
obvious traces of the poison.
8
Victoro's Office
If the characters don’t need to go to Ammalia’s Study, be
sure to move the summoning tome into Victoro’s office.
Otherwise, the symbol of Asmodeus can be augmented
with one extra scroll tube - this one detailing the terms of
the contract with Asmodeus: a hundred thousand gold
coins and the blood of a hundred men.
The symbol of Asmodeus is three inverted triangles
arranged in a long triangle, by the way.
Statue of Asmodeus
If the characters defeat the Cassalanter family, Asmodeus
himself enters the scene, using the statue as his avatar. He
will gladly explain the arrangement he had with the family
and offer an alternative one.
Story Chokepoint
The transition between the heist’s execution and climax
can be tricky and involves a sleight of hand on the part of
the dungeon master. The Cassalanters, who were
previously complicating the players’ attempts to retrieve the
three keys, must now await them in their secret dungeon
below the villa. Here are some tips on pulling this off:
Grande Finale. Right as the players find the last key,
Victoro and Ammalia initiate the final stage of their plan.
They announce that dinner is being served in the banquet
hall (C15). The card game and masked ball are halted for
the big event. They usher remaining nobles towards the
banquet and declare that they will be joining them soon,
then head down towards the basement. If the characters
follow them, the Cassalanters are gone - having used the
secret door to witness the final act of the ritual.
Close One. If the characters beat the Cassalanters to the
cellar, you can create a tense situation where the two barely
pass by the party. This works particularly well with a group
of players that is sneaky, especially if they have access to
dust of disappearance. As the characters are opening the
vault, or just after they have opened it and learned that it is
empty, the door on top of the stairs opens and the voices of
Victoro and Ammalia can be heard making their way down.
The party can hide in the vault or in plain sight using the
dust, and the Cassalanters pass them by only to vanish
through the secret door in the wine cellar.
Cultist Giveaway. As the characters open the vault and
find that it is nearly empty, tell them that there are two bags
of silver lying in the wine cellar. Shortly afterward, the
secret door opens and a cultist pops out to retrieve the last
of the bags for the ritual. If the characters defeat and
question the cultist they learn that the rest of the money is
through the secret passage. When the players move down
and enter the underground ceremonial hall - Victoro and
Ammalia also enter the hall, but through the other
entrance. So if the player characters end up on the balcony,
the Cassalanters enter through the anterior vestibule, and
vice versa.
A Wizard Did It. As a last resort, simply have the
Cassalanters teleport to the statue of Asmodeus using
Victoro’s dimension door spell. This is a great way to
escape if the characters try to ambush the Cassalanters in
the cellar - make sure to bait out Barnibus’ counterspell
first with one of Ammalia’s spells.

The Final Battle
Into the Dungeon
As the characters find the vault empty they should not get a
lot of time to grieve over their wasted effort and head on to
the secret passage to the temple of Asmodeus. If they stall
or fail to search the wine cellar for clues, have a cultist
appear to gather the last bags of silver.
Simplified Floor Plan
This part of the original module contains some exploration
and encounters, but for pacing reasons you won’t want to
spend too much time here. Appendix E presents a no-frills
version of the temple that leads straight to the action. Use
the tomb area only if Rolling Bones is with the party, and
don't forget to give the magic armor the power of flight.
Tweaking the Difficulty
The Cassalanters
It would seem that Victoro and Ammalia, being CR 10 and
CR 5 enemies respectively, would be more than a match for
a group of level 5 adventurers. And indeed some of
Victoro’s abilities have the potential of ruining the
encounter, so this dungeon master would not use them:
His rod of rulership can end the fight instantly.
Dimension door can instantly save him and Ammalia if
the fight goes badly - which is terribly anticlimactic.
Divine word can take players out of the battle
completely, which is no fun.
Heal tends to just drag on a battle and prolong the
inevitable.
Having said that, it’s easy to underestimate how much
damage a hero can inflict on our antagonists. If Runagar
gets a lucky critical hit, he will deal 3d12 + 2d6 + 8 (avg 35)
damage in a single swing. Add in a fireball from Nana, a
stun-lock from Brynn, and Esvele’s sneak attack, and it’s
not inconceivable that a prepared party can bring Victoro
close to death in a single round, or one-shot Ammalia.
Here’s how the math works out:
Party size “Deadly” XP Cassalanters XP
3 3300 11550
4 4400 11550
5 5500 11550
6 6600 7700
7 7700 7700
Note that versus a 6 or 7-player group the two
Cassalanters are only just “Deadly”. In that scenario, this
writer advises using them to their full extent. As anecdotal
evidence, in one test game a party entered combat having
spent most of their resources, including both of Nana’s
spell slots, Runagar’s reincarnation, Brynn’s lunar points,
Renaer’s inspiration, and Barnibus’ third level spells, and
still easily wiped the floor with their adversaries.
For smaller groups, here are some ways to keep the
encounter level “Deadly”, but not overly so:
Party
size Tweaks
7 -
Remove the rod of rulership, dimension door,
6
divine word and heal abilities
5
Remove dominate person and summon demon
from Victoro's abilities
Use Ammalia’s stat block for Victoro, but keep
4
his increased hit points
3 Use Ammalia’s stat block for Victoro
A Murder of Cultists
The infernal cathedral in the Cassalanter dungeon houses
30 cultists. However, usually these are instantly incinerated
by a fireball. And if they are not, their paltry +3 to hit and 4
damage makes them more akin to difficult terrain than an
actual threat.
Midnight Tears
A great way to turn the tables mid-fight is by invoking the
midnight tears, especially if the party has already figured
out that the drinks in the mansion are poisoned. Inform the
players that the midnight hour has struck and have anyone
who’s had a drink roll their Constitution saving throw. Note
that the poison deals around 31 damage (15 on a save) so
many characters will survive even a failed save.
Devils
The cathedral features imps and bearded devils, and these
can be used to bog down the players. Use them sparingly,
as the action economy can quickly turn against the players.
Denouement
As the smoke clears and our heroes start collecting silver,
there is one final trial we can visit upon them.
The statue of Asmodeus comes to life and congratulates
the characters on a job well done. It then explains the
situation (the Cassalanters had a contract, it needs to be
paid or the children are doomed) and offers, as a sign of
good will, to allow the characters to fulfill the terms. If
anyone asks about the “deaths” part of the deal, Asmodeus
points out the smoldering corpses of the cultists. But as far
as coin goes, he sadly informs them that their hard-earned
wealth must be deposited into the brazier.
Ideally, this leads to some debate as the characters weigh
the value of the Cassalanter children’s lives versus their
own financial gains, perhaps even including a dramatic
battle if Nana feels her plot to ruin the ritual is in jeopardy.
It is this dungeon master’s experience, however, that
players are all too eager to take the money and run. In such
an event, make sure to have Asmodeus applaud the
characters’ lack of moral compass and tell them that he
looks forward to welcoming their eternal souls into his
domain.
A Note on Carrying Gold
Technically, the amount of silver needed for the ritual
requires a few trips to carry, or multiple bags of holding. It
is up to you how strict you want to be here, but in general
we can assume a single bag should be enough. If it was
Renaer who purchased said bag and it malfunctions, well,
that’s on him.
9
 Appendix A: A Cast of Thieves
The following handout can be given to Esvele's player, along with her character sheet.

Heist Rules
Gather a crew
Esvele has a list of contacts in and around the city. From these she can hire a crew to help her plan and execute the
heist.
Plan the heist
Once the crew is complete, planning can begin. Esvele has procured a simple map of the mansion and the following
information:
The safe is in the cellar of the villa.
To open the safe requires three separate keys. One is worn by lord Victoro Cassalantar, the other by lady Ammalia
Cassalantar, and the third by their head servant Willifort Crowelle.
The safe is magically trapped. Entering it safely requires a key phrase that only Victoro, Ammalia and Willifort
know.
Purchase equipment
Esvele has a budget of 5000 Dragons to buy specialized equipment for the operation. This means she can buy 10
items from the Black Market table.

10
Esvele Rosznar (The Black Viper)
A
s the only daughter of a noble family, lady
Esvele has been brought up to be the most
proper noble possible, partaking in lessons of
etiquette, dance, and poise as befits someone
of her station.
In her younger days, Esvele openly rebelled, but that
behavior led to locked doors and house guards, so she
taught herself how to pick locks, pluck keys from belts and
pouches, clamber up walls. and sneak past guards, playing
the perfect daughter by day while cutting loose at night. To
hide her identity from those she met, she wore a hood and
mask, exchanging her fine clothes for the kind of practical
clothing her parents would never let her wear.
These days the noble families of Waterdeep tremble at
the thought of being visited in the night by Esvele, even if
they do not know her identity: it is said no treasure is safe
from the Black Viper.
Esvele has learned that the Cassalanters, another noble
family, have recently withdrawn all of their gold from the
bank of Waterdeep and transported the coins back to their
villa, perhaps in preparation for a large business deal. The
loot is estimated to be at least 100.000 golden Dragons. As
luck would have it, the Cassalanters are hosting a party on
Founders’ Day - the perfect opportunity for a heist!
Black Viper
Medium humanoid (human), chaotic neutral
Armor Class 16
Hit Points 28
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
8 (-1) 18 (+4) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 14 (+2)
Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +5
Skills Acrobatics +7, Sleight of Hand +10,
Stealth +10, Investigation +5, Perception +4,
Deception +5, Persuasion +5, Thieves' Tools +7
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Thieves' Cant
Cunning Action. On each of your turns, you can
use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage,
or Hide action, perform a Sleight of Hand check,
use your Thieves' Tools, or otherwise interact with
an object.
Second Story Work. You can climb at your regular
movement speed.
Sneak Attack (1/turn). You deal an extra 3d6
damage when you hit a target with a weapon
attack and have advantage on the attack roll, or
when the target is within 5 feet of an ally that isn't
incapacitated and you don't have disadvantage on
the attack roll
Actions
Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5ft.,
one target. Hit: 1d8 + 4 piercing damage.
Hand crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit,
reach 30ft./120ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + 4
piercing damage.
Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach
5ft., one target. Hit: 1d4 + 4 piercing damage.
Inspiring Leader. You spend 10 minutes inspiring
your companions. Each friendly creature that can
hear and see you (including yourself) gains 7
temporary hit points.
Reactions
Uncanny Dodge. You halve the damage from an
attack that hits you. You must be able to see the
attacker.
11
 Laiba "Nana" Rosse (the insider)

L
aiba Rosse is one of the staff members of the
Cassalanter household, taking the duties of
caretaker and private tutor for the two
children Terenzio and Elzerina Cassalanter.
Like many of the family’s servants she is
tainted by an infernal bloodline, a condition
not uncommon in Waterdeep. Her heritage
presents itself through her purple skin-colour, small horns,
and penchant for the arcane.
Like many tieflings, Laiba grew up shunned by society
and in poverty. While she has some loyalty to the
Cassalanters, she feels that they do not sufficiently
appreciate their wealth, and the prospect of relieving them
off it sounds quite appealing to her.
Heist Rules
Nana knows many additional features of the house, which
can be of help during planning.

Nana Medium humanoid (tiefling), lawful evil

Cantrips (at will): thaumaturgy, prestidigitation,
Armor Class 11 friends
Hit Points 38 Spells (2 slots): fireball, stinking cloud, scorching ray,
Speed 30 ft. blindness/deafness, command, burning hands
Actions
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5ft.,
8 (-1) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 18 (+4) one target. Hit: 1d4 piercing damage.

Saving Throws Wisdom +3, Charisma +7
Skills Arcana +4, Religion +4, Medicine +3, Deception
+7
Damage Resistances fire
Senses passive Perception 10, Darkvision (60 ft.)
Languages Common, Infernal
Flames of Phlegethos. When you cast a spell that deals
fire damage, you can reroll any roll of 1 on the fire
damage dice. In addition, after casting the spell a
wreath of flames protects you until the end of your
next turn. Any creature within 5 feet that attacks you
suffers 1d4 fire damage.
Voice of the Chain Master. You can communicate
telepathically with your familiar, see through its eyes,
and speak through it in your own voice.
Dark One's blessing. When you reduce a hostile
creature to 0 hit points you gain 9 temporary hit
points.
Dark Ritual. Whenever you finish a short rest, you
recharge both your spell slots.
Spellcasting. You are a 5th level spellcaster (spell save
DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). Your patron
allows you to cast the following spells:
Eldritch Blast. Ranged Spell Attack: +7 to hit, reach
120ft., two beams. Hit: 1d10 + 4 force damage per
beam.
Mask of Many Faces. You can magically disguise
yourself to look like another person. You can change
your race, gender, height (+/- 1ft.), weight, as well as
clothing, armor, and other belongings on your person.
The effect is illusionary - your actual dimensions or
equipment do not change. To discern that you are
disguised, a creature can use its action to inspect
your appearance and must succeed on a DC 15
Intelligence (Investigation) check.
Darkness (1/Day). You create a magical 15 ft. radius
sphere of darkness as per the darkness spell.
Reactions
Hellish Rebuke (1/Day). You point your finger at a
creature that dealt damage to you and it is
surrounded by hellish flames. The creature must
make a Dexterity saving throw, taking 3d10 fire
damage on a failed save, or half as much on a
successful one.

12
Nana's Imp Shapechanger : The imp can use its action to
polymorph into a beast form that resembles a rat
Tiny fiend (devil, shapechanger), lawful evil
(speed 20 ft.), a raven (20 ft., fly 60 ft.), or a spider
(20 ft., climb 20 ft.), or back into its true form. Its
Armor Class 13 statistics are the same in each form, except for the
Hit Points 10 speed changes noted. Any equipment it is wearing or
Speed 20 ft., fly 40 ft. carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if
it dies.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Devil's Sight : Magical darkness doesn't impede the
imp's darkvision.
6 (-2) 17 (+3) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2)
Magic Resistance : The imp has advantage on saving
throws against spells and other magical effects.
Skills Deception +4, Insight +3, Persuasion +4,
Stealth +5
Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and
Actions
slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren't Sting (Bite in Beast Form) : Melee Weapon Attack: +5
silvered to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4 + 3 piercing
Damage Immunities fire, poison damage, and the target must make on a DC 11
Condition Immunities poisoned Constitution saving throw, taking 3d6 poison damage
on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11 successful one.
Languages Infernal, Common Invisibility : The imp magically turns invisible until it
attacks or until its concentration ends (as if
concentrating on a spell). Any equipment the imp
wears or carries is invisible with it.

13
 Laiba "Nana" Rosse (Spellbook)
Spellbook
Cantrips
Thaumaturgy
Transmutation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V
Duration: Instantaneous / 1 minute
You manifest a minor wonder, a sign of supernatural
power, within range. You create one of the following
magical effects within range:
Your voice booms up to three times as loud as normal
for 1 minute.
You cause flames to flicker, brighten, dim, or change
color for 1 minute.
You cause harmless tremors in the ground for 1 minute.
You create a sound that originates from a point of your
choice within range.
You cause an unlocked door or window to fly open or
slam shut.
You alter the appearance of your eyes for 1 minute.
If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to
three of its 1-minute effects active at a time, and you can
dismiss such an effect as an action.
Prestidigitation
Transmutation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 10 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous / 1 minute
This spell is a minor magical trick that novice
spellcasters use for practice. You create one of the
following effects:
You create a harmless sensory effect.
You light or put out a small fire.
You clean or soil an object no larger than 1 cubic foot.
You chill, warm, or flavor up to 1 cubic foot of nonliving
material for 1 hour.
You make a small mark appear on an object or surface
for 1 hour.
You create a nonmagical trinket or a hand-sized illusory
image. It lasts until the end of your next turn.
If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to
three of its non-instantaneous effects active at a time, and
you can dismiss an effect as an action.
14
Friends
Conjuration cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: S, M (make-up applied to face)
Duration: concentration, up to 1 minute
Using your action, choose a creature you can see that
isn't hostile toward you. You gain advantage on Charisma
checks toward it for the duration. When the spell ends, the
creature realizes you used magic on it and becomes hostile,
possibly attacking or getting other payback.
Spells
Fireball
3rd level evocation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 150 feet
Components: V, S, M (A tiny ball of bat guano and sulfur)
Duration: Instantaneous
A bright streak flashes from your pointing finger to a
point you choose within range and then blossoms with a
low roar into an explosion of flame. Each creature in a 20-
foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make a
Dexterity saving throw. A target takes 8d6 fire damage on a
failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
The fire spreads around corners. It ignites flammable
objects in the area that aren’t being worn or carried.
Stinking Cloud
3st level conjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 90 feet
Components: V, S, M (A rotten egg or several skunk
cabbage leaves)
Duration: Up to 1 minute
You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of yellow, nauseating
gas centered on a point within range. The cloud spreads
around corners, and its area is heavily obscured. The cloud
lingers in the air for the duration.
Each creature that is completely within the cloud at the
start of its turn must make a Constitution saving throw
against poison. On a failed save, the creature spends its
action that turn retching and reeling. Creatures that don’t
need to breathe or are immune to poison automatically
succeed on this saving throw.
A moderate wind (at least 10 miles per hour) disperses
the cloud after 4 rounds. A strong wind (at least 20 miles
per hour) disperses it after 1 round.
Laiba "Nana" Rosse (Spells, Cont'd)
Scorching Ray Burning Hands
3nd level evocation 3rd level evocation
Casting Time: 1 action Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet Range: Self (15-foot cone)
Components: V, S Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous Duration: Instantaneous
You create four rays of fire and hurl them at targets As you hold your hands with thumbs touching and
within range. You can hurl them at one target or several. fingers spread, a thin sheet of flames shoots forth from your
Make a ranged spell attack for each ray. On a hit, the target outstretched fingertips. Each creature in a 15-foot cone
takes 2d6 fire damage. must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 5d6
fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
Blindness/Deafness successful one. The fire ignites any flammable objects in
3nd level necromancy the area that aren’t being worn or carried.
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V
Duration: 1 minute
You can blind or deafen your foes. Choose up to two
creatures that you can see within range to make a
Constitution saving throw. If it fails, the target is either
blinded or deafened (your choice) for the duration. At the
end of each of its turns, the target can make a Constitution
saving throw. On a success, the spell ends.
Command
3nd level enchantment
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V
Duration: 1 round
You speak a one-word command to creatures you can see
within range. Choose up to three targets. A target must
succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or follow the command
on its next turn. The spell has no effect if the target is
undead, if it doesn’t understand your language, or if your
command is directly harmful to it. Some typical commands
and their effects follow. You might issue a command other
than one described here. If you do so, the GM determines
how the target behaves. If the target can’t follow your
command, the spell ends.
Approach. The target moves toward you by the shortest
and most direct route, ending its turn if it moves within
5 feet of you.
Drop. The target drops whatever it is holding and then
ends its turn. Flee. The target spends its turn moving
away from you by the fastest available means.
Grovel. The target falls prone and then ends its turn.
Halt. The target doesn’t move and takes no actions. A
flying creature stays aloft, provided that it is able to do
so. If it must move to stay aloft, it flies the minimum
distance needed to remain in the air.

15
 "Rolling Bones" (the specialist)
I
t is said that the kenku, a race of short, humanoid
crow-like people, once angered a god. As
punishment, the god took away their wings, their
ability to speak, and their creativity. Most kenku
wander the world as vagabonds and burglars who
live at the edge of human society.
Kenku can mimic the sound of anything they hear. A
kenku asking for money might make the sound of coins
clinking together, and a kenku referring to a busy
marketplace can reproduce the cacophony of hawking
vendors, barking dogs, bleating sheep, and the cries of
street urchins. When mimicking voices, they can only
repeat words and phrases they have heard, not create new
sentences. To converse with a kenku is to witness a
performance of imitated sounds and almost nonsensical
verse. Their talent for mimicry extends to handwriting, and
criminal organizations often employ kenku to forge
documents. When a kenku commits a crime, it might forge
evidence to implicate another creature.
Rolling Bones
Medium humanoid (kenku), chaotic neutral
Armor Class 11
Hit Points 25
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
8 (-1) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 15 (+2)
Saving Throws Constitution +5, Charisma +5
Skills Perception +5, Deception +5, Acrobatics +4,
Stealth +4, Forgery Kit +5
Senses passive Perception 15, darkvision (120 ft.)
Languages Common, Auran, but you can speak only
by using your Mimicry trait
Sorcery Points. You have 5 sorcery points that you can
use as follows:
Subtle spell (1 point): when you cast a spell, you
can spend 1 sorcery point to cast it without
somatic or verbal components.
Darkness (2 points): use your sorcery points to
cast the darkness spell without expending a spell
slot. If you cast the spell in this way, you can see
through the darkness.
Twinned spell (variable): when you cast a spell that
has a single target you can spend a number of
sorcery points equal to that spell's level to cast a
duplicate of the spell with a different target.
Cast a spell (variable): use your sorcery points to
cast one of your spells without expending a spell
slot. The point cost is equal to the spell's level + 1.
16
Rolling Bones is one of the rare kenku who are more
ambitious and daring than their fellows. Renowned for his
excellent skills of forgery and infiltration, he leads a small
flock in the Field Ward of Waterdeep, offering his services
to anyone ranging from the deranged Xanathar guild to the
wizards of the Blackstaff Academy.
Heist Rules
Rolling Bones has enough time to forge up to two items or
documents prior to the heist.
Lucky (3/Day). Reroll an attack roll, saving throw, or
ability check and take the best result. You can even
reroll attack rolls made by enemies against you.
Strength of the Grave (1/Day). When damage reduces
you to 0 hit points, you can make a Charisma saving
throw (DC 5 + the damage taken). On a success, you
instead drop to 1 hit point. You can't use this feature
if you are reduced to 0 hit points by radiant damage
or by a critical hit.
Expert Forgery. You can duplicate other creatures'
handwriting and craftwork. You have advantage on all
checks made to produce forgeries or duplicates of
existing objects.
Mimicry. You can mimic sounds you have heard,
including voices. A creature that hears the sounds
you make can tell they are imitations with a
successful Wisdom (Insight) check opposed by your
Charisma (Deception) check.
Spellcasting. You are a 5th level spellcaster (spell save
DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). Your know the
following spells:
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, mending, minor illusion,
shocking grasp, message
1st level (4 slots): charm person, sleep
2nd level (3 slots): darkness, see invisibility, gust of
wind
3rd level (2 slots): hypnotic pattern, major image,
enemies abound
Actions
Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft.,
one target. Hit: 1d4 + 1 piercing damage.
Recharge Sorcery. As a bonus action, you can expend
a spell slot to regain sorcery points equal to the slot's
level.
"Rolling Bones" (Spellbook)
Roleplaying a Kenku
If you're playing a kenku, constant attempts to
mimic noises can come across as confusing or
irritating rather than entertaining. You can just as
easily describe the sounds your character makes
and what they mean. Be clear about your
character's intentions unless you're deliberately
aiming for inscrutable or mysterious.
You might say, "Snapper makes the noise of a
hammer slowly and rhythmically tapping a stone
to show how bored he is. He plays with his
dagger and studies the Lords' Alliance agent
sitting at the bar." Creating a vocabulary of
noises for the other players to decode might
sound like fun, but it can prove distracting and
could slow down the game.
Spellbook
Cantrips
Fire Bolt
evocation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
You hurl a mote of fire at a creature or object within
range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a
hit, the target takes 2d10 fire damage. A flammable object
hit by this spell ignites if it isn’t being worn or carried.
Mending
transmutation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (Two lodestones)
Duration: Instantaneous
This spell repairs a single break or tear in an object you
touch, such as a broken chain link, two halves of a broken
key, a torn cloak, or a leaking wineskin. As long as the
break or tear is no larger than 1 foot in any dimension, you
mend it, leaving no trace of the former damage.
This spell can physically repair a magic item or
construct, but the spell can’t restore magic to such an
object.
Minor Illusion
illusion cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: S, M (A bit of fleece)
Duration: 1 minute
You create a sound or an image of an object within range
that lasts for the duration. The illusion also ends if you
dismiss it as an action or cast this spell again.
If you create a sound, its volume can range from a
whisper to a scream. It can be your voice, someone else’s
voice, a lion’s roar, a beating of drums, or any other sound
you choose. The sound continues unabated throughout the
duration, or you can make discrete sounds at different
times before the spell ends.
If you create an image of an object—such as a chair,
muddy footprints, or a small chest—it must be no larger
than a 5-foot cube. The image can’t create sound, light,
smell, or any other sensory effect. Physical interaction with
the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can
pass through it.
If a creature uses its action to examine the sound or
image, the creature can determine that it is an illusion with
a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your
spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it
is, the illusion becomes faint to the creature.
Shocking Grasp
evocation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: Insantaneous
Lightning springs from your hand to deliver a shock to a
creature you try to touch. Make a melee spell attack against
the target. You have advantage on the attack roll if the
target is wearing armor made of metal. On a hit, the target
takes 2d8 lightning damage, and it can’t take reactions until
the start of its next turn.
Message
Transmutation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S, M (a short piece of copper wire)
Duration: 1 round
You point your finger toward a creature within range and
whisper a message. The target (and only the target) hears
the message and can reply in a whisper that only you can
hear.
You can cast this spell through solid objects if you are
familiar with the target and know it is beyond the barrier.
Magical silence, 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a
thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood blocks the spell. The
spell doesn’t have to follow a straight line and can travel
freely around corners or through openings.
17
 "Rolling Bones" (Spells, Cont'd)
Level 1
Charm Person
1st level enchantment
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 hour
You attempt to charm a humanoid you can see within
range. It must make a Wisdom saving throw, and does so
with advantage if you or your companions are fighting it. If
it fails the saving throw, it is charmed by you until the spell
ends or until you or your companions do anything harmful
to it. The charmed creature regards you as a friendly
acquaintance. When the spell ends, the creature knows it
was charmed by you.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell
slot of 2nd level or higher, you can target one additional
creature for each slot level above 1st. The creatures must
be within 30 feet of each other when you target them.
Sleep
1st level enchantment
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 90 feet
Components: V, S, M (A pinch of fine sand, rose petals, or
a cricket)
Duration: 1 minute
This spell sends creatures into a magical slumber. Roll
5d8, the total is how many Hit Points of creatures this spell
can affect. Creatures within 20 feet of a point you choose
within range are affected in ascending order of their
current Hit Points (ignoring Unconscious creatures).
Starting with the creature that has the lowest current Hit
Points, each creature affected by this spell falls
Unconscious until the spell ends, the sleeper takes
damage, or someone uses an action to shake or slap the
sleeper awake. Subtract each creature's Hit Points from
the total before moving on to the creature with the next
lowest Hit Points. A creature's Hit Points must be equal to
or less than the remaining total for that creature to be
affected.
Undead and creatures immune to being Charmed aren't
affected by this spell.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell
slot of 2nd level or higher, roll an additional 2d8 for each
slot level above 1st.
18
Level 2
Darkness
2nd level evocation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, M (Bat fur and a drop of pitch or piece of
coal)
Duration: Up to 10 minutes
Magical darkness spreads from a point you choose
within range to fill a 15-foot radius Sphere for the
Duration. The darkness spreads around corners. A
creature with Darkvision can't see through this darkness,
and nonmagical light can't illuminate it.
If the point you choose is on an object you are holding or
one that isn't being worn or carried, the darkness emanates
from the object and moves with it. Completely covering the
source of the darkness with an opaque object, such as a
bowl or a helm, blocks the darkness.
If any of this spell's area overlaps with an area of light
created by a spell of 2nd level or lower, the spell that
created the light is dispelled.
See Invisibility
2nd level divination
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, S, M (A pinch of talc and a small
sprinkling of powdered silver)
Duration: 1 hour
For the Duration, you see Invisible creatures and Objects
as if they were visible, and you can see into the Ethereal
Plane. Ethereal creatures and Objects appear ghostly and
translucent.
Gust of Wind
2nd level illusion
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self (60-foot line)
Components: V, S, M (A legume seed)
Duration: Up to 1 minute
A line of strong wind 60 feet long and 10 feet wide blasts
from you in a direction you choose for the spell's Duration.
Each creature that starts its turn in the line must succeed
on a Strength saving throw or be pushed 15 feet away from
you in a direction following the line.
Any creature in the line must spend 2 feet of Movement
for every 1 foot it moves when moving closer to you.
The gust disperses gas or vapor, and it extinguishes
candles, torches, and similar unprotected flames in the
area. It causes protected flames, such as those of lanterns,
to dance wildly and has a 50 percent chance to extinguish
them.
As a Bonus Action on each of your turns before the spell
ends, you can change the direction in which the line blasts
from you.
"Rolling Bones" (Spells, Cont'd)
Level 3 Enemies Abound
Hypnotic Pattern 3rd level enchantment
3rd level illusion Casting Time: 1 action
Casting Time: 1 action Range: 120 feet
Range: 120 feet Components: V, S
Components: S, M (A glowing stick of incense or a crystal Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
vial filled with phosphorescent material) You force one creature you can see to make an
Duration: Up to 1 minute Intelligence save. It automatically succeeds if it's immune
You create a twisting pattern of colors that weaves to being frightened. On a failure, the target regards all
through the air inside a 30-foot cube within range. The creatures it can see as enemies, allies included. Each time
pattern appears for a moment and vanishes. Each creature the target takes damage, it can repeat the save, ending the
in the area who sees the pattern must make a Wisdom effect on a success.
saving throw. On a failed save, the creature becomes Whenever the creature chooses a target, it must choose
charmed for the duration. While charmed by this spell, the at random from among the creatures it can see within
creature is incapacitated and has a speed of 0. range. If an enemy provokes an opportunity attack, the
The spell ends for an affected creature if it takes any creature must make that attack if it's able to.
damage or if someone else uses an action to shake the
creature out of its stupor.
Major Image
3rd level illusion
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S, M (A bit of fleece)
Duration: 1 minute
You create the image of an object, a creature, or some
other visible phenomenon that is no larger than a 20-foot
cube. The image appears at a spot that you can see within
range and lasts for the Duration. It seems completely real,
including sounds, smells, and temperature appropriate to
the thing depicted. You can't create sufficient heat or cold to
cause damage, a sound loud enough to deal thunder
damage or deafen a creature, or a smell that might sicken a
creature (like a troglodyte's stench).
As long as you are within range of the Illusion, you can
use your action to cause the image to move to any other
spot within range. As the image changes location, you can
alter its appearance so that its movements appear natural
for the image. For example, if you create an image of a
creature and move it, you can alter the image so that it
appears to be walking. Similarly, you can cause the Illusion
to make different sounds at different times, even making it
carry on a conversation, for example.
Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an
Illusion, because things can pass through it. A creature that
uses its action to examine the image can determine that it
is an Illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation)
check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the
Illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the
image, and its other sensory qualities become faint to the
creature.

19
 Renaer Neverember (the conman)

R
enaer is the estranged son of Dagult
Neverember, the former Open Lord of
Waterdeep, who was famously ousted by the
council of Masked Lords as a result of his
corruption and disastrous policies. Father
and son detest one another, and Renaer is
least happy when he finds himself forced to
deal with some mess his father left behind. Qualities that
both share include striking good looks, a love of drink, and
a flair for diplomacy. What Renaer lacks is his father's
belligerence and ill temper.
Renaer owns Neverember House, a four story residence
in the Sea Ward, that he inherited from his mother. Renaer
spends as little time there as possible, however, since it’s
constantly under surveillance by spies loyal to his father.
His friends have an open invitation to use the house as they
please, while Renaer spends most of his free time in
taverns and festhalls.
Heist Rules
Renaer increases the funds for initial equipment by 2000
gp. He is also a well known and liked noble, allowing him
easy access to the Cassalanters’ party as well as advantage
on any Charisma based checks versus other nobles.

Renaer Neverember Medium humanoid (human), chaotic good

Armor Class 13 (breastplate), 14 when dual wielding
Hit Points 38
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 8 (-1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 16 (+3)
Saving Throws Dexterity +2, Charisma +6
Skills Athletics +10, Acrobatics +2, Perception +4,
Survival +4, Persuasion +10
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Common
Bardic Inspiration (3/Rest). You have 3 inspiration
points that you can use as follows:
Inspire other (bonus action): you inspire an ally -
once within the next 10 minutes, the target can
roll 1d8 and add it to an attack roll, skill check, or
saving throw.
Defensive flourish (on hit): you deal an extra 1d8
damage, and add 1d8 to your AC until your next
turn
Slashing flourish (on hit): you deal an extra 1d8
damage, and hit a second target within melee
range for 1d8 damage as well.
Mobile flourish (on hit): you deal an extra 1d8
damage, and move the target 10 ft. in any
direction. You may use your reaction to follow it.
Dual Wielding. When you fight using your
longsword in one hand and your shortsword in the
other, you gain +1 AC and may add your damage
bonus to both attacks.
Blade Flourish. Whenever you attack, your speed is
increased by 10 ft. for that turn.
Song of Rest. When taking a short rest, you increase
the hitpoints regained by your party by 1d6.
Jack of all Traits. You add a +1 bonus to any skill check
that you are not proficient in.
Spellcasting. You are a 5th level spellcaster (spell save
DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). Your know the
following spells:
Cantrips (at will): prestidigitation, vicious mockery,
light
1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, charm person,
heroism
2nd level (3 slots): heat metal, locate object,
invisibility
3rd level (2 slots): catnap, speak with plants
Actions
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach
5ft., one target. Hit: 1d8 + 3 slashing damage.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach
5ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + 3 slashing damage.

20
Spellbook Level 1
Cure Wounds
Cantrips 1st level evocation
Prestidigitation Casting Time: 1 action
Transmutation cantrip Range: Touch
Casting Time: 1 action Components: V, S
Range: 10 feet Duration: Instantaneous
Components: V, S A creature you touch regains a number of hit points
Duration: Instantaneous / 1 minute equal to 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell
This spell is a minor magical trick that novice has no effect on undead or constructs.
spellcasters use for practice. You create one of the At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell
following effects: slot of 2nd level or higher, the Healing increases by 1d8 for
each slot level above 1st.
You create a harmless sensory effect.
You light or put out a small fire. Charm Person
You clean or soil an object no larger than 1 cubic foot. 1st level enchantment
You chill, warm, or flavor up to 1 cubic foot of nonliving Casting Time: 1 action
material for 1 hour. Range: 30 feet
You make a small mark appear on an object or surface Components: V, S
for 1 hour. Duration: 1 hour
You create a nonmagical trinket or a hand-sized illusory
image. It lasts until the end of your next turn. You attempt to charm a humanoid you can see within
range. It must make a Wisdom saving throw, and does so
If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to with advantage if you or your companions are fighting it. If
three of its non-instantaneous effects active at a time, and it fails the saving throw, it is charmed by you until the spell
you can dismiss an effect as an action. ends or until you or your companions do anything harmful
to it. The charmed creature regards you as a friendly
Vicious Mockery acquaintance. When the spell ends, the creature knows it
cantrip cantrip was charmed by you.
Casting Time: 1 action At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell
Range: 60 feet slot of 2nd level or higher, you can target one additional
Components: V creature for each slot level above 1st. The creatures must
Duration: Instantaneous be within 30 feet of each other when you target them.
You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle
enchantments at a creature you can see within range. If the
target can hear you (though it need not understand you), it
must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or take 2d4
psychic damage and have disadvantage on the next attack
roll it makes before the end of its next turn.
Light
evocation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, M (A firefly or phosphorescent moss)
Duration: 1 hour
You touch one object that is no larger than 10 feet in any
dimension. Until the spell ends, the object sheds bright
light in a 20-foot radius and dim light for an additional 20
feet. The light can be colored as you like. Completely
covering the object with something opaque blocks the light.
The spell ends if you cast it again or dismiss it as an action.
If you target an object held or worn by a hostile creature,
that creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw to
avoid the spell.

21
 Renaer Neverember (Spells, Cont'd)
Heroism
1st level enchantment
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: Up to 1 minute
A willing creature you touch is imbued with bravery.
Until the spell ends, the creature is immune to being
frightened and gains temporary hit points equal to your
spellcasting ability modifier at the start of each of its turns.
When the spell ends, the target loses any remaining
temporary hit points from this spell.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell
slot of 2nd level or higher, you can target one additional
creature for each slot level above 1st.
Level 2
Heat Metal
2nd level transmutation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S, M (A piece of iron and a flame)
Duration: Up to 1 minute
Choose a manufactured metal object, such as a metal
weapon or a suit of heavy or medium metal armor, that you
can see within range. You cause the object to glow red-hot.
Any creature in physical contact with the object takes 2d8
fire damage when you cast the spell. Until the spell ends,
you can use a Bonus Action on each of your subsequent
turns to cause this damage again.
If a creature is holding or wearing the object and takes
the damage from it, the creature must succeed on a
Constitution saving throw or drop the object if it can. If it
doesn't drop the object, it has disadvantage on Attack rolls
and Ability Checks until the start of your next turn.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell
slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for
each slot above 2nd.
Locate Object
2nd level divination
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, S, M (A forked twig)
Duration: Up to 10 minutes
Describe or name an object that is familiar to you. You
sense the direction to the object's location, as long as that
object is within 1,000 feet of you. If the object is in motion,
you know the direction of its Movement.
The spell can locate a specific object known to you, as
long as you have seen it up close - within 30 feet - at least
once. Alternatively, the spell can locate the nearest object of
a particular kind, such as a certain kind of apparel, jewelry,
furniture, tool, or weapon.
This spell can't locate an object if any thickness of lead,
even a thin sheet, blocks a direct path between you and the
object.
22
Invisibility
2nd level illusion
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (An eyelash encased in gum arabic)
Duration: Up to 1 hour
A creature you touch becomes invisible until the spell
ends. Anything the target is wearing or carrying is invisible
as long as it is on the target’s person. The spell ends for a
target that attacks or casts a spell.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell
slot of 3rd level or higher, you can target one additional
creature for each slot level above 2nd.
Level 3
Catnap
3rd level enchantment
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: S, M (Sand)
Duration: 10 minutes
Up to three willing creatures you see of your choice fall
unconscious. The spell ends early if a target takes damage
or someone uses an action to shake or slap it awake. If a
target is unconscious for the full duration, it gains the
benefit of a short rest, and it can't be affected by this spell
until it finishes a long rest.
Speak with Plants
3rd level transmutation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self (30-foot radius)
Components: V, S
Duration: 10 minutes
You imbue Plants within 30 feet of you with limited
sentience and animation, giving them the ability to
communicate with you and follow your simple commands.
You can question Plants about events in the spell's area
within the past day, gaining information about creatures
that have passed, weather, and other circumstances.
You can also turn difficult terrain caused by Plant
Growth (such as thickets and undergrowth) into ordinary
terrain that lasts for the Duration. Or you can turn ordinary
terrain where Plants are present into difficult terrain that
lasts for the Duration, causing vines and branches to
hinder pursuers, for example.
Plants might be able to perform other tasks on your
behalf, at the DM's discretion. The spell doesn't enable
Plants to uproot themselves and move about, but they can
freely move branches, tendrils, and stalks.
If a plant creature is in the area, you can communicate
with it as if you shared a Common language, but you gain
no magical ability to influence it.
This spell can cause the Plants created by the Entangle
spell to release a Restrained creature.
Barnibus Blastwind (the veteran)
B
lastwind is a former law-enforcer of the city
who, after finding that his retirement fund left
something to be desired, decided to spend his
golden years on more.. lucrative.. ventures.
Barnibus is an alumnus of the Watchful Order of Magists
and Protectors, where he investigated crimes that involved
the use of magic. He comes across as prickly and secretive,
confiding only in Saeth Cromley, a retired sergeant of the
City Watch who assists in many of his investigations.
Barnibus still uses the spells that helped him during his
time as an investigator to pry secrets from the minds of
suspects and locate missing persons. He finds violence
appalling and would never use his magic to inflict harm on
others- even those who harm him.
His companion Saeth Cromley is a retired sergeant of
the City Watch, a likable fellow with a sharp, sarcastic wit,
who occasionally comes out of retirement at the request of
Barnibus Blastwind. Saeth he assists the mage in his
unusual ventures. He helps Barnibus relate to the common
folk, and he is good at coaxing information out of them.
Though Cromley was once a strict proponent of Watch
regulations and dress codes, he has grown lax in both
matters now that he's officially retired.
Heist Rules
Barnibus never goes on a mission without bringing his
partner Saeth along.
The two still have some sway over the local authorities.
When interacting with members of the City Watch or City
Guard, they gain advantage on any Charisma based checks.
Barnibus Blastwind
Medium humanoid (human), neutral good
Armor Class 11 (cloth)
Hit Points 17
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
11 (+0) 13 (+1) 9 (-1) 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 14 (+2)
Saving Throws Intelligence +7, Wisdom +5
Skills Arcana +7, History +7, Investigation +7,
Insight +5
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Common, Elvish, Draconic
Portent. At the beginning of the game, roll two
d20s and record the numbers rolled. Vou can
replace any attack roll, saving throw, or ability
check made by you or a creature that you can see
with one of these foretelling rolls. Vou must
choose to do so before the roll, and you can
replace a roll in this way only once per turn. Each
foretelling roll can be used only once.
Arcane Recovery (1/Day). When you finish a short
rest, you regain 3 levels worth of spell slots (i.e.:
one third level slot, or one first and one second
level slot, or three first level slots)
Spellcasting. You are a 5th level spellcaster (spell
save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). You
know the following spells:
Cantrips (at will): gust, mage hand, blade ward,
message
1st level (4 slots): detect magic, identify,
comprehend languages
2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts, suggestion
3rd level (2 slots): clairvoyance, sending,
counterspell, tiny servant
Actions
Staff. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5ft.,
one target. Hit: 1d6 bludgeoning damage.
23
 Saeth Cromley
Medium humanoid (human), lawful good

Armor Class 17 (splint)

Hit Points 30
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

16 (+3) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 14 (+2)

Skills Athletics +5, Perception +2, Intimidation +4

Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Common

Armored. Saeth has disadvantage on Dexterity

(Stealth) checks.
Dual Wielding. When Saeth fights using his
longsword in one hand and his shortsword in the
other, he may add his damage bonus to both
attacks.
Actions
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8 + 3 slashing damage, or
1d10 + 3 slashing damage if used with two hands.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + 3 piercing
damage.
Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to
hit, range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 1d10 + 1
piercing damage.

24
Barnibus Blastwind (Spellbook)
Cantrips
Gust
Transmutation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
You seize the air and compel it to create one of the
following effects at a point you can see within range:
One Medium or smaller creature that you choose must
succeed on a Strength saving throw or be pushed up to
5 feet away from you.
You create a small blast of air capable of moving one
object that is neither held nor carried and that weighs
no more than 5 pounds. The object is pushed up to 10
feet away from you. It isn’t pushed with enough force to
cause damage.
You create a harmless sensory affect using air, such as
causing leaves to rustle, wind to slam shutters shut, or
your clothing to ripple in a breeze.
Mage hand
Conjuration cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 minute
A spectral, floating hand appears at a point you choose
within range. The hand lasts for the duration or until you
dismiss it as an action. The hand vanishes if it is ever more
than 30 feet away from you or if you cast this spell again.
You can use your action to control the hand. You can use
the hand to manipulate an object, open an unlocked door
or container, stow or retrieve an item from an open
container, or pour the contents out of a vial. You can move
the hand up to 30 feet each time you use it.
The hand can’t attack, activate magical items, or carry
more than 10 pounds.
Blade ward
Abjuration cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 minute
You extend your hand and trace a sigil of warding in the
air. Until the end of your next turn, you have resistance
against bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage dealt
by weapon attacks.
Message
Transmutation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S, M (a short piece of copper wire)
Duration: 1 round
You point your finger toward a creature within range and
whisper a message. The target (and only the target) hears
the message and can reply in a whisper that only you can
hear.
You can cast this spell through solid objects if you are
familiar with the target and know it is beyond the barrier.
Magical silence, 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a
thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood blocks the spell. The
spell doesn’t have to follow a straight line and can travel
freely around corners or through openings.
Level 1
Detect Magic
1st level divination (ritual)
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes
For the duration, you sense the presence of magic within
30 feet of you. If you sense magic in this way, you can use
your action to see a faint aura around any visible creature
or object in the area that bears magic, and you learn its
school of magic, if any.
The spell can penetrate most barriers, but is blocked by
1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of
lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt.
Comprehend Languages
1st level divination (ritual)
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, S, M (a pinch of soot and salt)
Duration: 1 hour
For the duration, you understand the literal meaning of
any spoken language that you hear. You also understand
any written language that you see, but you must be
touching the surface of which the words are written. It
takes about 1 minute to read one page of text.
This spell doesn’t decode secret messages in a text or
glyph, such as an arcane sigil, that isn’t part of a written
language.
25
 Barnibus Blastwind (Spells, Cont’d)
Identify
1st level divination (ritual)
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (a pearl worth at least 100 gp and an
owl feather)
Duration: Instantaneous
You choose one object that you must touch throughout
the casting of the spell. If it is a magic item or some other
magic-imbued object, you learn its properties and how to
use them, whether it requires attunement to use, and how
many charges it has, if any. You learn whether any spells
are affecting the item and what they are. If the item was
created by a spell, you learn which spell created it.
If you instead touch a creature throughout the casting,
you learn what spells, if any, are currently affecting it.
Level 2
Detect Thoughts
2nd level divination
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, S, M (a copper piece)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
For the duration, you can read the thoughts of certain
creatures. When you cast the spell and as your action on
each turn until the spell ends, you can focus your mind on
any one creature that you can see within 30 feet of you. If
the creature you choose has an Intelligence of 3 or lower or
doesn’t speak any language, the creature is unaffected.
You initially learn the surface thoughts of the creature—
what is most on its mind in that moment. As an action, you
can either shift your attention to another creature’s
thoughts or attempt to probe deeper into the same
creature’s mind. If you probe deeper, the target must make
a Wisdom saving throw. If it fails, you gain insight into its
reasoning (if any), its emotional state, and something that
looms large in its mind (such as something it worries over,
loves, or hates). If it succeeds, the spell ends. Either way,
the target knows that you are probing into its mind, and
unless you shift your attention to another creature’s
thoughts, the creature can use its action on its turn to make
an Intelligence check contested by your Intelligence check;
if it succeeds, the spell ends.
Questions verbally directed at the target creature
naturally shape the course of its thoughts, so this spell is
particularly effective as part of an interrogation.
You can also use this spell to detect the presence of
thinking creatures you can’t see. When you cast the spell or
as your action during the duration, you can search for
thoughts within 30 feet of you. The spell can penetrate
barriers, but 2 feet of rock, 2 inches of any metal other than
lead, or a thin sheet of lead blocks you. You can’t detect a
creature with an Intelligence of 3 or lower or one that
doesn’t speak any language.
Once you detect the presence of a creature in this way,
you can read its thoughts for the rest of the duration as
described above, even if you can’t see it, but it must still be
within range.
Suggestion
26
2nd level enchantment
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, M (a snake’s tongue and either a bit of
honeycomb or a drop of sweet oil)
Duration: Concentration, up to 8 hours
You suggest a course of activity (limited to a sentence or
two) and magically influence a creature you can see within
range that can hear and understand you. Creatures that
can’t be charmed are immune to this effect. The suggestion
must be worded in such a manner as to make the course of
action sound reasonable. Asking the creature to stab itself,
throw itself onto a spear, immolate itself, or do some other
obviously harmful act ends the spell.
The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a
failed save, it purses the course of action you described to
the best of its ability. The suggested course of action can
continue for the entire duration. If the suggested activity
can be completed in a shorter time, the spell ends when the
subject finishes what it was asked to do.
You can also specify conditions that will trigger a special
activity during the duration. For example, you might
suggest that a knight give her warhorse to the first beggar
she meets. If the condition isn’t met before the spell
expires, the activity isn’t preformed.
If you or any of your companions damage the target, the
spell ends.
Level 3
Clairvoyance
3nd level divination
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: 1 mile
Components: V, S, M (a focus worth at least 100 gp, either
a jeweled horn for hearing or a glass eye for seeing)
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes
You create an invisible sensor within range in a location
familiar to you (a place you have visited or seen before) or
in an obvious location that is unfamiliar to you (such as
behind a door, around a corner, or in a grove of trees). The
sensor remains in place for the duration, and it can’t be
attacked or otherwise interacted with.
When you cast the spell, you choose seeing or hearing.
You can use the chosen sense through the sensor as if you
were in its space. As your action, you can switch between
seeing and hearing. A creature that can see the sensor
(such as a creature benefitting from see invisibility or
truesight) sees a luminous, intangible orb about the size of
your fist.
Barnibus Blastwind (Spells, Cont'd)
Sending
3nd level evocation
Casting Time: 1 action Tiny Servant
Range: Unlimited Tiny construct, unaligned
Components: V, S, M (a short piece of fine copper wire)
Duration: 1 round Armor Class 15
You send a short message of twenty-five words or less to Hit Points 10 (4d4)
a creature with which you are familiar. The creature hears Speed 30ft., climb 30 ft.
the message in its mind, recognizes you as the sender if it
knows you, and can answer in a like manner immediately. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
The spell enables creatures with Intelligence scores of at
least 1 to understand the meaning of your message. 4 (-3) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 2 (-4) 10 (+0) 1 (-5)
You can send the message across any distance and even
to other planes of existence, but if the target is on a Damage Immunities poison, psychic
different plane than you, there is a 5 percent chance that Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened,
the message doesn’t arrive. exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, patrified,
poisoned
Counterspell Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius),
3nd level abjuration passive perception 10
Languages -
Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when you see a
creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell Actions
Range: 60 feet
Components: S Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft.,
Duration: Instantaneous one target. Hit 5 (1d4 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of
casting a spell. If the creature is casting a spell of 3rd level
or lower, its spell fails and has no effect.
If it is casting a spell of 4th level or higher, make an
ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals
10+ the spell’s level. On a success, the creature’s spell fails
and has no effect.
Tiny Servant
3nd level transmutation
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: 8 hours
You touch one Tiny, nonmagical object that isn’t attached
to another object or a surface and isn’t being carried by
another creature. The target animates and sprouts little
arms and legs, becoming a creature under your control
until the spell ends or the creature drops to 0 hit points.
See the stat block for its statistics.
As a bonus action, you can mentally command the
creature if it is within 120 feet of you. (If you control
multiple creatures with this spell, you can command any or
all of them at the same time, issuing the same command to
each one.) You decide what action the creature will take
and where it will move during its next turn, or you can
issue a simple, general command, such as to fetch a key,
stand watch, or stack some books. If you issue no
commands, the servant does nothing other than defend
itself against hostile creatures. Once given an order, the
servant continues to follow that order until its task is
complete.
When the creature drops to 0 hit points, it reverts to its
original form, and any remaining damage carries over to
that form.

27
 Brynn Hilltopple (the wildcard)
B
rynn is part of an outfit called the Shard
Shunners, a group of halfling wererats
operating from a hostel in the spice district. If
one doesn’t want to deal with the insane
Xanathar Guild or the manipulative
Zhentarim, the Shard Shunners are the go-to
gang for enterprises that are not wholly
within the confines of the law.
Heist Rules
Brynn can be as congenial as any halfling, but don’t let her
friendly demeanor fool you. She can turn on a dime,
transitioning from pleasant conversation in one moment to
gnawing your face off in the next.
Brynn Hilltopple
Armor Class 15 (unarmored defense)
Hit Points 38
Speed 35 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
10 (+0) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 8 (-1)
Saving Throws Strength +3, Dexterity +6
Skills Acrobatics +6, Sleight of Hand +6, Stealth +6,
Animal Handling +5, Survival +5
Senses passive Perception 12, darkvision 60 ft. (Rat
Form Only)
Languages Common, Halfling
Lucky. When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability
check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and
must use the new result.
Halfling Nimbleness. You can move through the space
of any creature that is of a size larger than yours.
Frenzy (Hybrid Form Only). Whenever you take the
Attack action in hybrid form, you can make two claw
attacks instead of one. Then, you may use your bonus
action to make a third claw attack.
Keen Smell. You have advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Moontouched. You have 5 lunar points that you can
use to enhance your abilities.
Quick Shift (1 lunar point): You can spend 1 lunar
point and use your bonus action to shapechange
and immediately follow up with a claw attack if you
are in hybrid form.
Flurry of Blows (1 lunar point): Immediately after
you take the Attack action on your turn, you can
spend 1 lunar point to make two claw attacks as a
bonus action. As part of your Flurry of Blows, you
twist and turn quickly, you gain the benefit of the
Disengage action and your walking speed increases
by 10 ft.
Unnatural Defense (1 lunar point): You can spend
1 lunar point to take the Dodge action as a bonus
action on your turn.
28
In order to efficiently deal with a variety of situations,
Brynn’s lycanthrope allows her
to transform into a friendly
halfling, a sneaky giant rat,
or a terrifying hybrid
monstrosity.
Small humanoid (halfling, shapechanger), chaotic evil
Step of the Moon (1 lunar point): You can spend 1
lunar point to take the Dash action as a bonus
action on your turn, and your jump distance is
doubled for the turn.
Crippling Strike (1 lunar point): When you hit
another creature with a melee attack, you can
spend 1 lunar point to attempt a crippling strike.
The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution
saving throw or be stunned until the end of your
next turn.
Actions
Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5ft.,
one target. Hit: 1d4 + 3 piercing damage.
Shapechanger. You can use your action to polymorph
into a rat-humanoid hybrid or into a giant rat, or back
into your true form, which is humanoid. Your
statistics, other than your size, are the same in each
form. Any equipment you are wearing or carrying isn't
transformed. While in hybrid form you have
Resistance to nonmagical attacks not made with
silvered weapons.
Claw (Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to
hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + 3 slashing
damage.
Bite (Rat or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack:
+6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4 + 3 piercing
damage. If the target is a halfling, it must succeed on
a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with
wererat lycanthropy.
Reactions
All Fours. When you fall more than 10 ft., you may use
your reaction to shift into Rat Form and reduce the
fall damage by 25.
Deflect Missiles. You can use your reaction to deflect
or catch a missile when you are hit by a ranged
weapon Attack. The damage you take from the Attack
is reduced by 1d10 + 8. If it is reduced to 0, you
catch the missile in one hand, and you can spend 1
lunar point to make a ranged Attack (+6 to hit, range
20 ft./60 ft., Hit: 1d6 + 3 damage).
Runagar (the muscle)
R
unagar is a hulking half-Orc barbarian who
spent most of his life living in the wilderness
of the nearby Sword Mountains. He believes
that he has been chosen by Ilneval, the
orcish god of war, to do battle in his name
and that it is his holy duty to follow this
divine missive.
Runagar
Medium humanoid (half-orc), true neutral
Armor Class 14 (unarmored defense)
Hit Points 55
Speed 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
18 (+4) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 8 (-1) 13 (+1) 10 (+0)
Saving Throws Strength +7, Constitution +6
Skills Athletics +7, Nature +2, Perception +4,
Survival +4, Intimidation +3
Senses passive Perception 14, Darkvision 60 ft.
Languages Common, Orc
Danger Sense. You have advantage on Dexterity saving
throws against effects that you can see, such as traps
and spells. To gain this benefit, you can't be blinded,
deafened, or incapacitated.
Extra Attack. Whenever you take the Attack action on
your turn you can attack twice.
Savage Attack. When you score a critical hit with a
melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the
weapon's damage dice one additional time and add it
to the extra damage of the critical hit.
Runagar is completely devoid of morality, acting as a
mercenary for any who can afford his services. In one
famous court case, the high judges of Waterdeep declared
Runagar to exist outside of the law, classifying him as a
weapon rather than a willful actor. He is not without honor,
though, and will perform a job with the utmost dedication
and complete loyalty.
Heist Rules
So strong is Runagar’s faith in Ilneval, that not even death
deters him.
Reckless Attack. When you make your first attack on
your turn, you can decide to attack recklessly. Doing
so gives you advantage on attack rolls, but attack rolls
against you have advantage as well.
Relentless Endurance (1/Day). When you are reduced
to O hit points but not killed outright. you can drop
to 1 hit point instead.
Warrior of the Gods. Your soul is marked for endless
battle. If a spell, such as raise dead, has the sole
effect of restoring you to life (but not undeath), the
caster doesn't need material components to cast the
spell on you.
Rage (3/Day). As a bonus action you can fly into a
rage. While you are raging:
You have advantage on Strength checks and
Strength saving throws.
When you make a melee weapon attack you gain a
+2 bonus to the damage roll.
You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing damage.
The first creature you hit on each of your turns
with a weapon attack takes an extra 1d6 + 2
necrotic damage.
Actions
Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5ft.,
one target. Hit: 1d12 + 4 slashing damage.
Handaxe. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit,
reach 5ft. (or 20 ft./60 ft.), one target. Hit: 1d6 + 4
slashing damage.
29
 Appendix B: Character Secrets
Laiba "Nana" Rosse
Villa Properties
Nana Rosse has the following knowledge about the
mansion:
Victoro’s desk is guarded by an animated suit of
armor
The banquet hall is the lair of a mimic, which
the Cassalanters treat as a family pet
The linen closet contains enchanted guardian
items that attack anyone who’s not part of the
Cassalanter household
Secret Ritual
In addition, Nana Rosse knows the true nature of
the Cassalanters: Lord and Lady Cassalanter are
devil worshippers who have made a pact with the
archfiend Asmodeus, lord of the nine hells,
ransoming their children for power and fortune.
He has already taken the soul of their oldest son
Osvaldo, and the soulless abomination that was left
behind is locked in the attic.
To stop Asmodeus from taking their young son
and daughter, the Cassalanters must pay a tribute
of death and gold, which they plan to do during the
feast. They have laced the wine with poison, and at
midnight their cult will make an offering of 100,001
gold in a secret crypt below the cellar.
Laiba wishes this ritual to be disrupted. If the
Cassalanters fail to uphold their part of the
contract, their remaining children will be possessed
just as their firstborn was, and bring about a new
era of darkness and despair.
All she needs to do is steal the money before it
can be sacrificed and the Cassalanters will be none
the wiser.
30
“Rolling Bones”
Caladorn's Armor
Gold is nice, but it’s not what Rolling Bones is really
after. It is said that an ancient relative of the
Cassalanters, the hero and former Masked Lord,
Caladorn Cassalanter, had a magical armor that
granted its wearer the power of flight.
Caladorn was a devout follower of Siamorphe,
the demi-god of right and justful rule. He had the
villa built on top of a temple in her honor, and was
ultimately buried in the family crypts inside that
temple.
Barnibus Blastwind
Barnibus' Suspicion
During Barnibus’ time in the Watchful Order, the
Cassalanters were stricken by tragedy. On his 13th
birthday, their eldest son, Osvaldo, went
inexplicably missing. Barnibus spent considerable
time investigating the disappearance but the boy
was never found and the case was eventually
dropped. He always suspected that the
Cassalanters were hiding something, but his
requests for a full scale investigation were
repeatedly frustrated by the administration. Now
that he is operating as an independent agent, he
intends to use this opportunity to do some
investigating of his own.
Renaer Neverember
Ranaer's Fortune
Renaer’s fortune is not quite what it’s cracked up to
be. In fact, he is practically bankrupt. He has no
access to (nor would he want to be dependent on)
his father's’ riches, and his mother’s inheritance has
been all but depleted. He is terribly ashamed by this
state of affairs and will do anything to uphold the
illusion of wealth. What money he does have is
rapidly being spent on upkeep on his manor - which
he keeps in impeccable state as part of the ruse.
When preparing for the heist, keep careful track
of which items are bought with Renaer’s 2000 gp
share. In reality, he only had a fraction of this
amount to spare and had to cut some corners. For
each item bought by Renaer, when it is used for the
first time, roll 1d6 on the Item Quality table.
Item Quality (1d6)
Roll Effect
The item is cursed, performs the opposite
1
of what it’s supposed to do, and cannot
be unequipped unless a remove curse or
greater restoration spell is used
The item has no special properties (a
healing potion is just a colored drink, a
2-3
magic sword is a regular sword enchanted
with a cheap cantrip to make it glow)
4-6 The item works as expected
Brynn Hilltopple
Ratcruiter
The Shard Shunners are always looking to expand.
It’s not a successful operation unless some poor
halfling gets bitten and turned into a wererat.
Runagar
Fury of the War God
For Runagar it is essential that blood be shed on
this job. Disappointing his god will lead to eternal
torture.
Chosen of the War God
When Runagar dies, he is instantly reincarnated
somewhere nearby into a new half-orc body. The
new body is unique, although there is a striking
resemblance to his previous one. His reincarnation
carries the same (mundane) equipment and he
retains all memories of his former life. He regains
his hit points and recharges all abilities as if
finishing a long rest. He cannot resurrect again
until he has performed a special ritual during a
blood moon.
31
 Appendix C: The Black Market

Equipment
Price
Item Ability (x500 gp)
Spell scroll Any character can transfer a spell to the spell scroll before the mission. It can 1
be cast for free once by whoever carries the scroll.
Potions of greater
Each heals for 4d4 + 4 hp. 1
healing (2)
Potion of superior
Heals for 8d4 + 8 hp. 1
healing
Wand of secrets This wand can detect secret doors and traps within 30 feet of the user. 1
Potion of stone giant
Your Strength value becomes 23 (+6) for 1 hour. 1
strength
Philter of Love (2) Any who drinks this falls in love with the next person they see. 1
Dust of sneezing and Scattering this magical dust causes everyone nearby to burst into
1
choking (3) uncontrollable sneezing.
Wand of magic
This wand can detect any magic within 30 feet. 1
detection
Dust of disappearance Throwing this dust in the air causes everyone nearby to become invisible for
1
(2) 2-8 minutes. Attacking breaks the invisibility.
These magical gloves and ring grant a +5 bonus to Strength (Athletics)
Shingler's kit checks made to climb and allow you to jump three times your normal 1
distance (about 10 feet high or 30 feet far).
Medallion of thoughts Allows you to cast detect thoughts. It has 3 charges. 1
Grants a +5 bonus to Dex (Sleight of Hand) checks and Dex checks made to
Gloves of thievery 1
pick locks.
While you are holding this wand, you gain a +1 bonus to spell Attack rolls
War mage wand and to the saving throw DCs of your spells. In addition, you ignore half cover 1
when making a spell Attack.
Allows you to move silently, giving you advantage on Dexterity (Stealth)
Boots of elvenkind 1
checks.
While wearing this hat, you can use an action to cast the Disguise Self spell
Hat of disguise from it at will. This spell changes your appearance to any other person, but its 1
effect is illusory so your physical dimensions don’t actually change.
You have a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magical
Weapon +1 1
weapon.
Sending stones Two magical stones that allow the bearers to communicate with each other. 1
Bag of holding This magical bag can hold up to 500 pounds. 1
Lantern of revealing The light of this lantern reveals invisible creatures and items. 1
Immovable rod This rod can be locked in place, withstanding up to 8000 pounds of force. 1

32
Equipment (Cont'd)
Item
Potion of heroism
Potion of supreme healing
Potion of cloud giant strength Your Strength value becomes 27 (+8) for 1 hour.
Mace of disruption
Elixir of health
Potion of invisibility
Potion of speed
Weapon +2
Wand of binding
Ring of x-ray vision
Staff of charming
Cape of the mountebank
Staff of healing
Lord’s
ensemble
Price
Ability (x500 gp)
For 1 hour after drinking it, you gain 10 Temporary Hit Points and
2
add 1d4 to any attack rolls or saving throws.
Heals for 10d4 + 20 hp. 3
3
Deals an extra 2d6 damage to fiends and undead. 3
Cures any disease afflicting you, and removes all debilitating
4
conditions.
You become invisible for 1 hour. Attacking cancels the effect. 4
For one minute, you can act twice per turn. 4
You have a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this
5
magical weapon.
Allows you to temporarily paralyze enemies (costs 2 charges for a
humanoid and 7 for other enemies). It also allows you to escape 5
when bound (cost 1 charge). This wand has 7 charges.
Allows you to see into and through solid matter for 1 minute, up to
7
30 feet. You can use this multiple times a day, but risk exhaustion.
This magic quarterstaff allows you to cast Charm Person, Command,
or Comprehend Languages. You can also use it to defend against
7
Enchantment spells and turn them back on their caster. It has 10
charges.
This cape allows you and one friendly creature to teleport up to 500
8
feet in one direction, once per day.
This staff can Cure Wounds (1-4 charges depending on level), Lesser
Restoration (2 charges) or Mass Cure Wounds (5 charges). It has 10 9
charges.
The Masked Lords of Waterdeep don this ensemble when meeting
with one another. This raiment renders each lord indistinguishable 10
from the others. The ensemble consists of three pieces: a helm, an
amulet, and a robe.
33
 Appendix D: Villa Blueprints

Cassalanter Villa Blueprints

34
Appendix E: Simplified Dungeon
(This is not a handout)

Temple of Asmodeus

35
 Appendix N: Sources & Credits
Waterdeep Dragon Heist, by Christopher Perkins, et al.
          For the location and characters.
Waterdeep Dungeon of the Mad Mage, by Christopher Perkins, et al.
          For tips on splitting the party.
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, by Jeremy Crawford, Mike Mearls, et al.
          For additional character classes and halfling names.
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, by Steve Kenson, Jeremy Crawford, Mike Mearls, et al.
          The only book that actually shows you what Asmodeus’ symbol looks like.
Volo’s Guide to Monsters, by Mike Mearls, et al.
          Kenku roleplay tips.
The Discerning Merchant’s Price Guide, by Dave Eisinger.
          For prices on useful magic items.
GMBinder.
          For the layout of this adventure.
Dungeon Painter Studio, by pyromancers.com.
          For the map-making software.
This adventure features artwork by John Ullom.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, the dragon ampersand,
Ravnica and all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast
in the USA and other countries.
This work contains material that is copyright Wizards of the Coast and/or other authors. Such material is used with
permission under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.
All other original material in this work is copyright 2019 by Harald Maassen and published under the Community Content
Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.

36
 An
Impossible
Mission
The Black Viper is recruiting a team of thieves
for her greatest heist yet: emptying the
Cassalanter vault right under its owners' noses,
during their yearly Founders' Day feast.

Three separate keys and a secret codeword are

required to open the vault, but she has a team
of elite operatives and an arsenal of magical
gadgets on her side. This is your mission,
should you choose to accept it...

Design: Harald Maassen

Art: John Ullom

A DUNGEONS & DRAGONS standalone heist

for 3-7 players

For use with the fifth edition Player's

Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon
Master's Guide

Requires the Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

adventure

WWW.GMBINDER.COM