After a recap of the between-session bluebooking and a discussion of financial options, the crew (minus Grimm, out on a date) decide to investigate an underground gladiator competition Manu has heard about, which turns out to be run by the Xanathar Thieves' Guild!  Manu, Dax, and Baldr fight for their lives and (barely) defeat an Orog, a drow, and a bugbear!  They nearly pull off a second victory against a swashbuckler, a bandit captain, and a minotaur, but they fall in battle and lose the bout, barely escaping with their lives while Evangeline watches in horror and yells encouragement from the bleachers!  Back in Waterdeep after a rest-up, Evangeline investigates a rumor about the Black Viper spread by the Waterdeep Wazoo, and Dax accepts a mission from Force Grey to investigate a brass dragon in the harbor!  Manu gets a mission from Joroth Brighthelm to kill a notorious criminal who's recruiting kenku for the Xanathar's Guild, but he and Evangeline let the miscreants escape!