diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 97c2817de4..9c0490023d 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ url = "1.7"
 env_logger = "0.6"
 node-runtime = { git = "https://github.com/paritytech/substrate/", package = "node-runtime" }
 srml-balances = { git = "https://github.com/paritytech/substrate/", package = "srml-balances" }
+srml-contracts = { git = "https://github.com/paritytech/substrate/", package = "srml-contracts" }
 substrate-keyring = { git = "https://github.com/paritytech/substrate/", package = "substrate-keyring" }
 tokio = "0.1"
 wabt = "0.9.0"
diff --git a/src/error.rs b/src/error.rs
index fce89cc311..9557bcb6a2 100644
--- a/src/error.rs
+++ b/src/error.rs
@@ -14,22 +14,28 @@
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 // along with substrate-subxt.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-use crate::metadata::MetadataError;
+use crate::{
+    events::EventsError,
+    metadata::MetadataError,
+};
 use jsonrpc_core_client::RpcError;
 use parity_scale_codec::Error as CodecError;
 use std::io::Error as IoError;
 use substrate_primitives::crypto::SecretStringError;
 
 /// Error enum.
-#[derive(Debug, derive_more::From)]
+#[derive(Debug, derive_more::From, derive_more::Display)]
 pub enum Error {
     /// Codec error.
     Codec(CodecError),
+    /// Events error.
+    Events(EventsError),
     /// Io error.
     Io(IoError),
     /// Rpc error.
     Rpc(RpcError),
     /// Secret string error.
+    #[display(fmt = "Secret String Error")]
     SecretString(SecretStringError),
     /// Metadata error.
     Metadata(MetadataError),
diff --git a/src/events.rs b/src/events.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fbfe863d36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/events.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,236 @@
+// Copyright 2019 Parity Technologies (UK) Ltd.
+// This file is part of substrate-subxt.
+//
+// subxt is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// subxt is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with substrate-subxt.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+use crate::{
+    metadata::{
+        EventArg,
+        Metadata,
+        MetadataError,
+    },
+    srml::balances::Balances,
+    System,
+    SystemEvent,
+};
+use log;
+use parity_scale_codec::{
+    Codec,
+    Compact,
+    Decode,
+    Encode,
+    Error as CodecError,
+    Input,
+    Output,
+};
+use srml_system::Phase;
+use std::{
+    collections::{
+        HashMap,
+        HashSet,
+    },
+    convert::TryFrom,
+    marker::{
+        PhantomData,
+        Send,
+    },
+};
+
+/// Top level Event that can be produced by a substrate runtime
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum RuntimeEvent {
+    System(SystemEvent),
+    Raw(RawEvent),
+}
+
+/// Raw bytes for an Event
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct RawEvent {
+    /// The name of the module from whence the Event originated
+    pub module: String,
+    /// The name of the Event
+    pub variant: String,
+    /// The raw Event data
+    pub data: Vec<u8>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, derive_more::From, derive_more::Display)]
+pub enum EventsError {
+    CodecError(CodecError),
+    Metadata(MetadataError),
+    #[display(fmt = "Type Sizes Missing: {:?}", _0)]
+    TypeSizesMissing(Vec<String>),
+    TypeSizeUnavailable(String),
+}
+
+pub struct EventsDecoder<T> {
+    metadata: Metadata, // todo: [AJ] borrow?
+    type_sizes: HashMap<String, usize>,
+    marker: PhantomData<fn() -> T>,
+}
+
+impl<T: System + Balances + 'static> TryFrom<Metadata> for EventsDecoder<T> {
+    type Error = EventsError;
+
+    fn try_from(metadata: Metadata) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+        let mut decoder = Self {
+            metadata,
+            type_sizes: HashMap::new(),
+            marker: PhantomData,
+        };
+        // register default event arg type sizes for dynamic decoding of events
+        decoder.register_type_size::<bool>("bool")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<u32>("ReferendumIndex")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<[u8; 16]>("Kind")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<[u8; 32]>("AuthorityId")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<u8>("u8")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<u32>("u32")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<u32>("AccountIndex")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<u32>("SessionIndex")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<u32>("PropIndex")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<u32>("ProposalIndex")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<u32>("AuthorityIndex")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<u64>("AuthorityWeight")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<u32>("MemberCount")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<T::AccountId>("AccountId")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<T::BlockNumber>("BlockNumber")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<T::Hash>("Hash")?;
+        decoder.register_type_size::<<T as Balances>::Balance>("Balance")?;
+        // VoteThreshold enum index
+        decoder.register_type_size::<u8>("VoteThreshold")?;
+
+        // Ignore these unregistered types, which are not fixed size primitives
+        decoder.check_missing_type_sizes(vec![
+            "DispatchError",
+            "OpaqueTimeSlot",
+            "rstd::marker::PhantomData<(AccountId, Event)>",
+        ])?;
+        Ok(decoder)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: System + Balances + 'static> EventsDecoder<T> {
+    pub fn register_type_size<U>(&mut self, name: &str) -> Result<usize, EventsError>
+    where
+        U: Default + Codec + Send + 'static,
+    {
+        let size = U::default().encode().len();
+        if size > 0 {
+            self.type_sizes.insert(name.to_string(), size);
+            Ok(size)
+        } else {
+            Err(EventsError::TypeSizeUnavailable(name.to_owned()))
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn check_missing_type_sizes<I: IntoIterator<Item = &'static str>>(
+        &self,
+        ignore: I,
+    ) -> Result<(), Vec<String>> {
+        let mut missing = HashSet::new();
+        let mut ignore_set = HashSet::new();
+        ignore_set.extend(ignore);
+        for module in self.metadata.modules() {
+            for event in module.events() {
+                for arg in event.arguments() {
+                    for primitive in arg.primitives() {
+                        if !self.type_sizes.contains_key(&primitive)
+                            && !ignore_set.contains(primitive.as_str())
+                        {
+                            missing.insert(primitive);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        if missing.is_empty() {
+            Ok(())
+        } else {
+            Err(missing.into_iter().collect())
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn decode_raw_bytes<I: Input, W: Output>(
+        &self,
+        args: &[EventArg],
+        input: &mut I,
+        output: &mut W,
+    ) -> Result<(), EventsError> {
+        for arg in args {
+            match arg {
+                EventArg::Vec(arg) => {
+                    let len = <Compact<u32>>::decode(input)?;
+                    len.encode_to(output);
+                    for _ in 0..len.0 {
+                        self.decode_raw_bytes(&[*arg.clone()], input, output)?
+                    }
+                }
+                EventArg::Tuple(args) => self.decode_raw_bytes(args, input, output)?,
+                EventArg::Primitive(name) => {
+                    if let Some(size) = self.type_sizes.get(name) {
+                        let mut buf = vec![0; *size];
+                        input.read(&mut buf)?;
+                        buf.encode_to(output);
+                    } else {
+                        return Err(EventsError::TypeSizeUnavailable(name.to_owned()))
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn decode_events(
+        &self,
+        input: &mut &[u8],
+    ) -> Result<Vec<(Phase, RuntimeEvent)>, EventsError> {
+        let compact_len = <Compact<u32>>::decode(input)?;
+        let len = compact_len.0 as usize;
+
+        let mut r = Vec::new();
+        for _ in 0..len {
+            // decode EventRecord
+            let phase = Phase::decode(input)?;
+            let module_variant = input.read_byte()? as u8;
+
+            let module_name = self.metadata.module_name(module_variant)?;
+            let event = if module_name == "System" {
+                let system_event = SystemEvent::decode(input)?;
+                RuntimeEvent::System(system_event)
+            } else {
+                let event_variant = input.read_byte()? as u8;
+                let module = self.metadata.module(&module_name)?;
+                let event_metadata = module.event(event_variant)?;
+                log::debug!("decoding event '{}::{}'", module_name, event_metadata.name);
+
+                let mut event_data = Vec::<u8>::new();
+                self.decode_raw_bytes(
+                    &event_metadata.arguments(),
+                    input,
+                    &mut event_data,
+                )?;
+                RuntimeEvent::Raw(RawEvent {
+                    module: module_name.clone(),
+                    variant: event_metadata.name.clone(),
+                    data: event_data,
+                })
+            };
+
+            // topics come after the event data in EventRecord
+            let _topics = Vec::<T::Hash>::decode(input)?;
+            r.push((phase, event));
+        }
+        Ok(r)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 42e7fbe6f5..166e8a2fab 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -37,8 +37,11 @@ use runtime_primitives::{
     generic::UncheckedExtrinsic,
     traits::StaticLookup,
 };
-use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use sr_version::RuntimeVersion;
+use std::{
+    convert::TryFrom,
+    marker::PhantomData,
+};
 use substrate_primitives::{
     blake2_256,
     storage::{
@@ -51,43 +54,39 @@ use url::Url;
 
 use crate::{
     codec::Encoded,
+    events::EventsDecoder,
     metadata::MetadataError,
     rpc::{
+        BlockNumber,
+        ChainBlock,
         MapStream,
         Rpc,
-        ChainBlock,
-        BlockNumber
     },
     srml::{
+        balances::Balances,
         system::{
             System,
+            SystemEvent,
             SystemStore,
         },
         ModuleCalls,
     },
 };
-pub use error::Error;
 
 mod codec;
 mod error;
+mod events;
 mod metadata;
 mod rpc;
-pub mod srml;
+mod srml;
 
-/// Captures data for when an extrinsic is successfully included in a block
-#[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct ExtrinsicSuccess<T: System> {
-    /// Block hash.
-    pub block: T::Hash,
-    /// Extinsic hash.
-    pub extrinsic: T::Hash,
-    /// List of events.
-    pub events: Vec<T::Event>,
-}
+pub use error::Error;
+pub use events::RawEvent;
+pub use rpc::ExtrinsicSuccess;
+pub use srml::*;
 
 fn connect<T: System>(url: &Url) -> impl Future<Item = Rpc<T>, Error = Error> {
-    ws::connect(url)
-        .map_err(Into::into)
+    ws::connect(url).map_err(Into::into)
 }
 
 /// ClientBuilder for constructing a Client.
@@ -150,7 +149,7 @@ impl<T: System> Clone for Client<T> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: System + 'static> Client<T> {
+impl<T: System + Balances + 'static> Client<T> {
     fn connect(&self) -> impl Future<Item = Rpc<T>, Error = Error> {
         connect(&self.url)
     }
@@ -186,15 +185,24 @@ impl<T: System + 'static> Client<T> {
     }
 
     /// Get a block hash. By default returns the latest block hash
-    pub fn block_hash(&self, hash: Option<BlockNumber<T>>) -> impl Future<Item = Option<T::Hash>, Error = Error> {
-        self.connect().and_then(|rpc| rpc.block_hash(hash.map(|h| h)))
+    pub fn block_hash(
+        &self,
+        hash: Option<BlockNumber<T>>,
+    ) -> impl Future<Item = Option<T::Hash>, Error = Error> {
+        self.connect()
+            .and_then(|rpc| rpc.block_hash(hash.map(|h| h)))
     }
 
     /// Get a block
-    pub fn block<H>(&self, hash: Option<H>) -> impl Future<Item = Option<ChainBlock<T>>, Error = Error>
-        where H: Into<T::Hash> + 'static
+    pub fn block<H>(
+        &self,
+        hash: Option<H>,
+    ) -> impl Future<Item = Option<ChainBlock<T>>, Error = Error>
+    where
+        H: Into<T::Hash> + 'static,
     {
-        self.connect().and_then(|rpc| rpc.block(hash.map(|h| h.into())))
+        self.connect()
+            .and_then(|rpc| rpc.block(hash.map(|h| h.into())))
     }
 
     /// Subscribe to events.
@@ -267,7 +275,7 @@ pub struct XtBuilder<T: System, P, V = Invalid> {
     marker: PhantomData<fn() -> V>,
 }
 
-impl<T: System + 'static, P, V> XtBuilder<T, P, V>
+impl<T: System + Balances + 'static, P, V> XtBuilder<T, P, V>
 where
     P: Pair,
 {
@@ -316,7 +324,7 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: System + 'static, P> XtBuilder<T, P, Valid>
+impl<T: System + Balances + 'static, P> XtBuilder<T, P, Valid>
 where
     P: Pair,
     P::Public: Into<<T::Lookup as StaticLookup>::Source>,
@@ -355,7 +363,12 @@ where
         );
 
         let extra = T::extra(account_nonce);
-        let raw_payload = (call.clone(), extra.clone(), version, (&genesis_hash, &genesis_hash));
+        let raw_payload = (
+            call.clone(),
+            extra.clone(),
+            version,
+            (&genesis_hash, &genesis_hash),
+        );
         let signature = raw_payload.using_encoded(|payload| {
             if payload.len() > 256 {
                 signer.sign(&blake2_256(payload)[..])
@@ -388,11 +401,19 @@ where
         &self,
     ) -> impl Future<Item = ExtrinsicSuccess<T>, Error = Error> {
         let cli = self.client.connect();
+        let metadata = self.client.metadata().clone();
+        let decoder = EventsDecoder::try_from(metadata)
+            .into_future()
+            .map_err(Into::into);
+
         self.create_and_sign()
             .into_future()
             .map_err(Into::into)
-            .and_then(move |extrinsic| {
-                cli.and_then(move |rpc| rpc.submit_and_watch_extrinsic(extrinsic))
+            .join(decoder)
+            .and_then(move |(extrinsic, decoder)| {
+                cli.and_then(move |rpc| {
+                    rpc.submit_and_watch_extrinsic(extrinsic, decoder)
+                })
             })
     }
 }
@@ -514,8 +535,21 @@ mod tests {
             .contracts(|call| call.put_code(500_000, wasm))
             .submit_and_watch();
 
-        rt.block_on(put_code)
+        let success = rt
+            .block_on(put_code)
             .expect("Extrinsic should be included in a block");
+
+        let code_hash =
+            success.find_event::<<Runtime as System>::Hash>("Contracts", "CodeStored");
+
+        assert!(
+            code_hash.is_some(),
+            "Contracts CodeStored event should be present"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            code_hash.unwrap().is_ok(),
+            "CodeStored Hash should decode successfully"
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -529,9 +563,8 @@ mod tests {
     #[ignore] // requires locally running substrate node
     fn test_getting_block() {
         let (mut rt, client) = test_setup();
-        rt.block_on(client.block_hash(None).and_then(move |h| {
-            client.block(h)
-        })).unwrap();
+        rt.block_on(client.block_hash(None).and_then(move |h| client.block(h)))
+            .unwrap();
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/metadata.rs b/src/metadata.rs
index 4ec1cb9316..6553f725d5 100644
--- a/src/metadata.rs
+++ b/src/metadata.rs
@@ -13,16 +13,21 @@ use runtime_metadata::{
     META_RESERVED,
 };
 use std::{
-    collections::HashMap,
+    collections::{
+        HashMap,
+        HashSet,
+    },
     convert::TryFrom,
     marker::PhantomData,
+    str::FromStr,
 };
 use substrate_primitives::storage::StorageKey;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, derive_more::Display)]
 pub enum MetadataError {
-    ModuleNotFound(&'static str),
+    ModuleNotFound(String),
     CallNotFound(&'static str),
+    EventNotFound(u8),
     StorageNotFound(&'static str),
     StorageTypeError,
     MapValueTypeError,
@@ -31,15 +36,31 @@ pub enum MetadataError {
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct Metadata {
     modules: HashMap<String, ModuleMetadata>,
+    modules_by_event_index: HashMap<u8, String>,
 }
 
 impl Metadata {
-    pub fn module(&self, name: &'static str) -> Result<&ModuleMetadata, MetadataError> {
+    pub fn modules(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &ModuleMetadata> {
+        self.modules.values()
+    }
+
+    pub fn module<S>(&self, name: S) -> Result<&ModuleMetadata, MetadataError>
+    where
+        S: ToString,
+    {
+        let name = name.to_string();
         self.modules
-            .get(name)
+            .get(&name)
             .ok_or(MetadataError::ModuleNotFound(name))
     }
 
+    pub fn module_name(&self, module_index: u8) -> Result<String, MetadataError> {
+        self.modules_by_event_index
+            .get(&module_index)
+            .cloned()
+            .ok_or(MetadataError::EventNotFound(module_index))
+    }
+
     pub fn pretty(&self) -> String {
         let mut string = String::new();
         for (name, module) in &self.modules {
@@ -55,9 +76,9 @@ impl Metadata {
                 string.push_str(call.as_str());
                 string.push('\n');
             }
-            for (event, _) in &module.events {
+            for (_, event) in &module.events {
                 string.push_str(" e  ");
-                string.push_str(event.as_str());
+                string.push_str(event.name.as_str());
                 string.push('\n');
             }
         }
@@ -67,14 +88,19 @@ impl Metadata {
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct ModuleMetadata {
-    index: Vec<u8>,
+    index: u8,
+    name: String,
     storage: HashMap<String, StorageMetadata>,
     calls: HashMap<String, Vec<u8>>,
-    events: HashMap<String, Vec<u8>>,
+    events: HashMap<u8, ModuleEventMetadata>,
     // constants
 }
 
 impl ModuleMetadata {
+    pub fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.name
+    }
+
     pub fn call<T: Encode>(
         &self,
         function: &'static str,
@@ -84,7 +110,7 @@ impl ModuleMetadata {
             .calls
             .get(function)
             .ok_or(MetadataError::CallNotFound(function))?;
-        let mut bytes = self.index.clone();
+        let mut bytes = vec![self.index];
         bytes.extend(fn_bytes);
         bytes.extend(params.encode());
         Ok(Encoded(bytes))
@@ -95,6 +121,16 @@ impl ModuleMetadata {
             .get(key)
             .ok_or(MetadataError::StorageNotFound(key))
     }
+
+    pub fn events(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &ModuleEventMetadata> {
+        self.events.values()
+    }
+
+    pub fn event(&self, index: u8) -> Result<&ModuleEventMetadata, MetadataError> {
+        self.events
+            .get(&index)
+            .ok_or(MetadataError::EventNotFound(index))
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
@@ -158,11 +194,86 @@ impl<K: Encode, V: Decode + Clone> StorageMap<K, V> {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct ModuleEventMetadata {
+    pub name: String,
+    arguments: HashSet<EventArg>,
+}
+
+impl ModuleEventMetadata {
+    pub fn arguments(&self) -> Vec<EventArg> {
+        self.arguments.iter().cloned().collect()
+    }
+}
+
+/// Naive representation of event argument types, supports current set of substrate EventArg types.
+/// If and when Substrate uses `type-metadata`, this can be replaced.
+///
+/// Used to calculate the size of a instance of an event variant without having the concrete type,
+/// so the raw bytes can be extracted from the encoded `Vec<EventRecord<E>>` (without `E` defined).
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Hash)]
+pub enum EventArg {
+    Primitive(String),
+    Vec(Box<EventArg>),
+    Tuple(Vec<EventArg>),
+}
+
+impl FromStr for EventArg {
+    type Err = Error;
+
+    fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        if s.starts_with("Vec<") {
+            if s.ends_with('>') {
+                Ok(EventArg::Vec(Box::new(s[4..s.len() - 1].parse()?)))
+            } else {
+                Err(Error::InvalidEventArg(
+                    s.to_string(),
+                    "Expected closing `>` for `Vec`",
+                ))
+            }
+        } else if s.starts_with("(") {
+            if s.ends_with(")") {
+                let mut args = Vec::new();
+                for arg in s[1..s.len() - 1].split(',') {
+                    let arg = arg.trim().parse()?;
+                    args.push(arg)
+                }
+                Ok(EventArg::Tuple(args))
+            } else {
+                Err(Error::InvalidEventArg(
+                    s.to_string(),
+                    "Expecting closing `)` for tuple",
+                ))
+            }
+        } else {
+            Ok(EventArg::Primitive(s.to_string()))
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl EventArg {
+    /// Returns all primitive types for this EventArg
+    pub fn primitives(&self) -> Vec<String> {
+        match self {
+            EventArg::Primitive(p) => vec![p.clone()],
+            EventArg::Vec(arg) => arg.primitives(),
+            EventArg::Tuple(args) => {
+                let mut primitives = Vec::new();
+                for arg in args {
+                    primitives.extend(arg.primitives())
+                }
+                primitives
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum Error {
     InvalidPrefix,
     InvalidVersion,
     ExpectedDecoded,
+    InvalidEventArg(String, &'static str),
 }
 
 impl TryFrom<RuntimeMetadataPrefixed> for Metadata {
@@ -177,10 +288,22 @@ impl TryFrom<RuntimeMetadataPrefixed> for Metadata {
             _ => Err(Error::InvalidVersion)?,
         };
         let mut modules = HashMap::new();
+        let mut modules_by_event_index = HashMap::new();
+        let mut event_index = 0;
         for (i, module) in convert(meta.modules)?.into_iter().enumerate() {
-            modules.insert(convert(module.name.clone())?, convert_module(i, module)?);
+            let module_name = convert(module.name.clone())?;
+            let module_metadata = convert_module(i, module)?;
+            // modules with no events have no corresponding definition in the top level enum
+            if !module_metadata.events.is_empty() {
+                modules_by_event_index.insert(event_index, module_name.clone());
+                event_index = event_index + 1;
+            }
+            modules.insert(module_name, module_metadata);
         }
-        Ok(Metadata { modules })
+        Ok(Metadata {
+            modules,
+            modules_by_event_index,
+        })
     }
 }
 
@@ -216,18 +339,30 @@ fn convert_module(
     let mut event_map = HashMap::new();
     if let Some(events) = module.event {
         for (index, event) in convert(events)?.into_iter().enumerate() {
-            let name = convert(event.name)?;
-            event_map.insert(name, vec![index as u8]);
+            event_map.insert(index as u8, convert_event(event)?);
         }
     }
     Ok(ModuleMetadata {
-        index: vec![index as u8],
+        index: index as u8,
+        name: convert(module.name)?,
         storage: storage_map,
         calls: call_map,
         events: event_map,
     })
 }
 
+fn convert_event(
+    event: runtime_metadata::EventMetadata,
+) -> Result<ModuleEventMetadata, Error> {
+    let name = convert(event.name)?;
+    let mut arguments = HashSet::new();
+    for arg in convert(event.arguments)? {
+        let arg = arg.parse::<EventArg>()?;
+        arguments.insert(arg);
+    }
+    Ok(ModuleEventMetadata { name, arguments })
+}
+
 fn convert_entry(
     prefix: String,
     entry: runtime_metadata::StorageEntryMetadata,
diff --git a/src/rpc.rs b/src/rpc.rs
index 4d731f7622..b3eec928f3 100644
--- a/src/rpc.rs
+++ b/src/rpc.rs
@@ -16,8 +16,15 @@
 
 use crate::{
     error::Error,
+    events::{
+        EventsDecoder,
+        RuntimeEvent,
+    },
     metadata::Metadata,
-    srml::system::System,
+    srml::{
+        balances::Balances,
+        system::System,
+    },
 };
 use futures::future::{
     self,
@@ -29,6 +36,7 @@ use num_traits::bounds::Bounded;
 use parity_scale_codec::{
     Decode,
     Encode,
+    Error as CodecError,
 };
 
 use runtime_metadata::RuntimeMetadataPrefixed;
@@ -107,22 +115,29 @@ impl<T: System> Rpc<T> {
     }
 
     /// Get a block hash, returns hash of latest block by default
-    pub fn block_hash(&self, hash: Option<BlockNumber<T>>) -> impl Future<Item = Option<T::Hash>, Error = Error> {
+    pub fn block_hash(
+        &self,
+        hash: Option<BlockNumber<T>>,
+    ) -> impl Future<Item = Option<T::Hash>, Error = Error> {
         self.chain.block_hash(hash).map_err(Into::into)
     }
 
     /// Get a Block
-    pub fn block(&self, hash: Option<T::Hash>) -> impl Future<Item = Option<ChainBlock<T>>, Error = Error> {
+    pub fn block(
+        &self,
+        hash: Option<T::Hash>,
+    ) -> impl Future<Item = Option<ChainBlock<T>>, Error = Error> {
         self.chain.block(hash).map_err(Into::into)
     }
 
     /// Fetch the runtime version
-    pub fn runtime_version(&self, at: Option<T::Hash>) -> impl Future<Item = RuntimeVersion, Error = Error> {
+    pub fn runtime_version(
+        &self,
+        at: Option<T::Hash>,
+    ) -> impl Future<Item = RuntimeVersion, Error = Error> {
         self.state.runtime_version(at).map_err(Into::into)
     }
 }
-
-use crate::ExtrinsicSuccess;
 use futures::{
     future::IntoFuture,
     stream::{
@@ -132,17 +147,22 @@ use futures::{
 };
 use jsonrpc_core_client::TypedSubscriptionStream;
 use runtime_primitives::traits::Hash;
-use srml_system::EventRecord;
 use substrate_primitives::{
     storage::StorageChangeSet,
     twox_128,
 };
 use transaction_pool::txpool::watcher::Status;
 
+use crate::{
+    events::RawEvent,
+    srml::system::SystemEvent,
+};
+use srml_system::Phase;
+
 type MapClosure<T> = Box<dyn Fn(T) -> T + Send>;
 pub type MapStream<T> = stream::Map<TypedSubscriptionStream<T>, MapClosure<T>>;
 
-impl<T: System> Rpc<T> {
+impl<T: System + Balances + 'static> Rpc<T> {
     /// Subscribe to substrate System Events
     pub fn subscribe_events(
         &self,
@@ -205,9 +225,10 @@ impl<T: System> Rpc<T> {
     }
 
     /// Create and submit an extrinsic and return corresponding Event if successful
-    pub fn submit_and_watch_extrinsic<E>(
+    pub fn submit_and_watch_extrinsic<E: 'static>(
         self,
         extrinsic: E,
+        decoder: EventsDecoder<T>,
     ) -> impl Future<Item = ExtrinsicSuccess<T>, Error = Error>
     where
         E: Encode,
@@ -267,16 +288,71 @@ impl<T: System> Rpc<T> {
                         bh,
                         sb.block.extrinsics.len()
                     );
-                    wait_for_block_events::<T>(ext_hash, &sb, bh, events)
+
+                    wait_for_block_events(decoder, ext_hash, sb, bh, events)
                 })
         })
     }
 }
 
+/// Captures data for when an extrinsic is successfully included in a block
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct ExtrinsicSuccess<T: System> {
+    /// Block hash.
+    pub block: T::Hash,
+    /// Extrinsic hash.
+    pub extrinsic: T::Hash,
+    /// Raw runtime events, can be decoded by the caller.
+    pub events: Vec<RuntimeEvent>,
+}
+
+impl<T: System> ExtrinsicSuccess<T> {
+    /// Find the Event for the given module/variant, with raw encoded event data.
+    /// Returns `None` if the Event is not found.
+    pub fn find_event_raw(&self, module: &str, variant: &str) -> Option<&RawEvent> {
+        self.events.iter().find_map(|evt| {
+            match evt {
+                RuntimeEvent::Raw(ref raw)
+                    if raw.module == module && raw.variant == variant =>
+                {
+                    Some(raw)
+                }
+                _ => None,
+            }
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Returns all System Events
+    pub fn system_events(&self) -> Vec<&SystemEvent> {
+        self.events
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|evt| {
+                match evt {
+                    RuntimeEvent::System(evt) => Some(evt),
+                    _ => None,
+                }
+            })
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    /// Find the Event for the given module/variant, attempting to decode the event data.
+    /// Returns `None` if the Event is not found.
+    /// Returns `Err` if the data fails to decode into the supplied type
+    pub fn find_event<E: Decode>(
+        &self,
+        module: &str,
+        variant: &str,
+    ) -> Option<Result<E, CodecError>> {
+        self.find_event_raw(module, variant)
+            .map(|evt| E::decode(&mut &evt.data[..]))
+    }
+}
+
 /// Waits for events for the block triggered by the extrinsic
-fn wait_for_block_events<T: System>(
+pub fn wait_for_block_events<T: System + Balances + 'static>(
+    decoder: EventsDecoder<T>,
     ext_hash: T::Hash,
-    signed_block: &ChainBlock<T>,
+    signed_block: ChainBlock<T>,
     block_hash: T::Hash,
     events_stream: MapStream<StorageChangeSet<T::Hash>>,
 ) -> impl Future<Item = ExtrinsicSuccess<T>, Error = Error> {
@@ -292,49 +368,39 @@ fn wait_for_block_events<T: System>(
         .into_future();
 
     let block_hash = block_hash.clone();
-    let block_events = events_stream
+    events_stream
         .filter(move |event| event.block == block_hash)
         .into_future()
         .map_err(|(e, _)| e.into())
-        .and_then(|(change_set, _)| {
-            match change_set {
-                None => future::ok(Vec::new()),
-                Some(change_set) => {
-                    let events = change_set
-                        .changes
-                        .iter()
-                        .filter_map(|(_key, data)| {
-                            data.as_ref().map(|data| Decode::decode(&mut &data.0[..]))
-                        })
-                        .collect::<Result<Vec<Vec<EventRecord<T::Event, T::Hash>>>, _>>()
-                        .map(|events| events.into_iter().flat_map(|es| es).collect())
-                        .map_err(Into::into);
-                    future::result(events)
-                }
-            }
-        });
-
-    block_events
         .join(ext_index)
-        .map(move |(events, ext_index)| {
-            let events: Vec<T::Event> = events
-                .iter()
-                .filter_map(|e| {
-                    if let srml_system::Phase::ApplyExtrinsic(i) = e.phase {
-                        if i as usize == ext_index {
-                            Some(e.event.clone())
-                        } else {
-                            None
+        .and_then(move |((change_set, _), ext_index)| {
+            let events = match change_set {
+                None => Vec::new(),
+                Some(change_set) => {
+                    let mut events = Vec::new();
+                    for (_key, data) in change_set.changes {
+                        if let Some(data) = data {
+                            match decoder.decode_events(&mut &data.0[..]) {
+                                Ok(raw_events) => {
+                                    for (phase, event) in raw_events {
+                                        if let Phase::ApplyExtrinsic(i) = phase {
+                                            if i as usize == ext_index {
+                                                events.push(event)
+                                            }
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                }
+                                Err(err) => return future::err(err.into()),
+                            }
                         }
-                    } else {
-                        None
                     }
-                })
-                .collect::<Vec<T::Event>>();
-            ExtrinsicSuccess {
+                    events
+                }
+            };
+            future::ok(ExtrinsicSuccess {
                 block: block_hash,
                 extrinsic: ext_hash,
                 events,
-            }
+            })
         })
 }
diff --git a/src/srml/contracts.rs b/src/srml/contracts.rs
index a9d7b843d9..12873156d2 100644
--- a/src/srml/contracts.rs
+++ b/src/srml/contracts.rs
@@ -115,3 +115,10 @@ where
             .call("call", (dest, compact(value), compact(gas_limit), data))
     }
 }
+
+/// Contracts Events
+#[derive(parity_scale_codec::Decode)]
+pub enum Event<T: System> {
+    /// Contract code stored
+    CodeStored(T::Hash),
+}
diff --git a/src/srml/system.rs b/src/srml/system.rs
index 5226af1724..f377682486 100644
--- a/src/srml/system.rs
+++ b/src/srml/system.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@ use crate::{
     codec::Encoded,
     error::Error,
     metadata::MetadataError,
-    srml::ModuleCalls,
+    srml::{
+        balances::Balances,
+        ModuleCalls,
+    },
     Client,
     Valid,
     XtBuilder,
@@ -114,7 +117,7 @@ pub trait SystemStore {
     ) -> Box<dyn Future<Item = <Self::System as System>::Index, Error = Error> + Send>;
 }
 
-impl<T: System + 'static> SystemStore for Client<T> {
+impl<T: System + Balances + 'static> SystemStore for Client<T> {
     type System = T;
 
     fn account_nonce(
@@ -152,7 +155,7 @@ pub trait SystemXt {
         ) -> Result<Encoded, MetadataError>;
 }
 
-impl<T: System + 'static, P, V> SystemXt for XtBuilder<T, P, V>
+impl<T: System + Balances + 'static, P, V> SystemXt for XtBuilder<T, P, V>
 where
     P: Pair,
 {
@@ -178,3 +181,12 @@ where
         self.module.call("set_code", code)
     }
 }
+
+/// Event for the System module.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, parity_scale_codec::Decode)]
+pub enum SystemEvent {
+    /// An extrinsic completed successfully.
+    ExtrinsicSuccess,
+    /// An extrinsic failed.
+    ExtrinsicFailed(runtime_primitives::DispatchError),
+}