The rain finally stops mid-morning and Amici Noctia head back through Saltmarsh to the eastern gate. The same guards are there and nod at you leaving. There are a few travellers and merchants coming in through the gate from the east, mostly from Hillsfoot and other halfling and gnome communities in the Southern Moorfoot Hills, but also from further east and north. No one from Seaton, of course. Anyone who could escape from that ruined, criminal and monster-haunted city would have done so long ago.
There are no crabs on the beach this time, but the pile of seaweed is still there. The body is gone, possibly removed by the guards after Yakeerk made his report.
Makaster House looked the same, and the party decide to methodically sweep through the garden, then the house itself, then explore the lower rooms thoroughly.
The garden had two giant poisonous snakes to contend with, and then a small family of giant weasels. These were dispatched or driven off fairly easily with spells and ranged weapons.
The house interior proved to be similar to the first room the party had been in - dilapidated, damp, moldy, rotten woodwork, cobwebs, dust, rubbish. There was plaster on the floor, along with shattered furniture, and fireplaces that showed no sign of use. Firebolts from Zaerra and Irob despatched swarms of spiders, and four giant centipedes were found lurking in the kitchen, giving everyone a fright by emerging immediately after a cupboard was opened. Susk and Rask chopped them up expertly. The upper floor was similar, and in the attic the party disturbed a small colony of stirges. The bigger stirges were killed, and the smaller ones escaped through the window, probably heading back to the Hool Marshes.
Some treasure was found along the way. In the library there were three books of small value that could be salvaged:
The Magical Properties of Gemstones by the archmage Tenser,
The Magical Properties of Herbs and Flowers by the archmage Tenser,
The Metaphysics of Mathematics by the mage Nystul. Inside this one was a piece of parchment, ruined by dampness, with only two words legible: "beyond skeletons".
These books are worth 7gp each to the right buyer (selling them on Saltmarsh's weekly market day would find the right buyer).
In addition the study held two potion of healing, a cavity inside a fireplace hid two pieces of blue quartz (worth 10gp each), finding a hidden compartment in a chimney (which got Yga very sooty) resulted in a wooden box containing 30gp and two pouches of alchemical powder (5gp each) - this was also where the swarm of spiders were, making Yga exit in a hurry and a cloud of soot. In the attic (where the stirges were) a porcelain sailor doll with jade eyes was found. This can be sold for 20gp (probably at the market).
Now it is time to head below. A set of stairs leading down is found at the main entrance hall. You can go down there, or go down through the trap door you went down before.
You note the bodies on the upper floor - your very first battle - have been removed. Town Guard again probably.
Zaerra turns to the group., "We have two ways into the basement now. I guess the first is, we go back down the same way knowing where it leads or do we head down this new entrance and see if we can't find our way back to the area we know. What choice will it be then??"
Yakeerk ruffles his neck feathers in a way that you recognise as amusement. He draws an arrow and holds it ready on his bow but does not draw yet. Yga casts light on a piece of debris and she tosses it down the stairs so it lights up the room at the bottom. Yakeerk precedes everyone down the stairs.
The smell of death is quickly obvious here, only rotting meat makes that stench. The buzz of blowflies can be heard also.
Shoulder-height wooden bottle racks line the north and west walls of this 30 x 45ft room, which was obviously once a wine cellar. There appear to be no intact bottles left in the racks and shattered bottles cover the floor.
Against the east wall, at the foot of the stairs, rest two large metal storage bins that appear to be empty.
In the center of the room lies a human corpse clad in plate mail; a longsword lies by the corpse’s right side, and a large shield lies nearby.
Yga figures that it may be too late for "Spare the Dying", but will edge her way towards the corpse looking for any possible booby traps, and to gauge how the person died (without making contact with the body).
Flies rise from the body as Yga approaches. The bloated body is that of a tall, solid young human male in his 20s who looks like he died from violence. The armour is plate mail, good quality, with some dings and scratches at the front indicating it has seen use. But, judging by the pool of dried blood which had come from under the body near the head, it seems someone got a blade in under the helmet at the back. So possibly found himself surrounded by enemies, who probably blocked his escape, and no armour could protect him forever. Judging by the condition of the body, Yga estimates the man has been dead about 7 days.
Yga will skirt around the perimeter of the room behind the bins and double check that they are empty (perception check 14) and then continue on to do a lap of the room giving a cursory glance to all else (and keeping alert for any danger).
It looks like the smugglers emptied the wine cellar a long time ago, though one full bottle remains, having rolled under a rack after it was jostled loose. Yga spots the bottle, its label bearing the image of a jauntily dressed unicorn.
The two metal storage bins are definitely empty.
Yga discovers some faint bootprints which lead to the south wall. She concludes there is likely a secret door here, based on previous experience. And also that it is likely the other side of the secret door she and Irob discovered in the north of the other cellar room - the one they didn't investigate.
Yga will grab the bottle and see if the label of the jauntily dressed unicorn rings any bells with the rest of the party - maybe it comes from a particular tavern that could lead to more information.
Rask ventures over to search the body to see if there is any insignia or markings which might indicate who he was working for or who he was- fine plate armour doesn't grow on trees, he likely had an employer or independent wealth to fund him. (Perception check 10).
Rask ventures over to search the body to see if there is any insignia or markings which might indicate who he was working for or who he was- fine plate armour doesn't grow on trees, he likely had an employer or independent wealth to fund him. (Perception check 10).
Rask finds a griffon rampant design on the chestplate of the fallen warrior. The plate mail is in good condition, although might need a good wash and airing.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rask continues to search, not expecting to find anything the smugglers have already taken. Maybe a letter, or some other clue.
As she does so Rask touches something that moves under the armour. She draws her hands away and spilling out of every crack and gap in the armour are swarms of finger sized grubs, all with a ringed mouth of sharp teeth. They move quickly towards anything that moves.
There are two swarms - one will attack Rask, one will move slowly towards another random character of flesh and blood (Irob will NOT be attacked).
Rot grub swarm attack on Rask - 16.
If it is a hit, Rask will be infected by 3 rot grubs that will burrow under the skin quickly.
Rask stands up quickly, brushing off grubs from her arms before they can get into the armour gaps. But she is surrounded by grubs with nasty, pointed teeth!
Rask, surrounded by grubs, will turn to face away from the party. She will use her breath weapon to inflict Lightning Damage on the grubs in a 30ftx 5ft line
(Dex DC 11, half damage on success. 7 damage).
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Identify from Zaerra reveals the magical scale mail armour to be Mariner's Armor and the smoking pipe found on Sanbalet to be pipe of remembrance.
The rain finally stops mid-morning and Amici Noctia head back through Saltmarsh to the eastern gate. The same guards are there and nod at you leaving. There are a few travellers and merchants coming in through the gate from the east, mostly from Hillsfoot and other halfling and gnome communities in the Southern Moorfoot Hills, but also from further east and north. No one from Seaton, of course. Anyone who could escape from that ruined, criminal and monster-haunted city would have done so long ago.
There are no crabs on the beach this time, but the pile of seaweed is still there. The body is gone, possibly removed by the guards after Yakeerk made his report.
Makaster House looked the same, and the party decide to methodically sweep through the garden, then the house itself, then explore the lower rooms thoroughly.
The garden had two giant poisonous snakes to contend with, and then a small family of giant weasels. These were dispatched or driven off fairly easily with spells and ranged weapons.
The house interior proved to be similar to the first room the party had been in - dilapidated, damp, moldy, rotten woodwork, cobwebs, dust, rubbish. There was plaster on the floor, along with shattered furniture, and fireplaces that showed no sign of use. Firebolts from Zaerra and Irob despatched swarms of spiders, and four giant centipedes were found lurking in the kitchen, giving everyone a fright by emerging immediately after a cupboard was opened. Susk and Rask chopped them up expertly. The upper floor was similar, and in the attic the party disturbed a small colony of stirges. The bigger stirges were killed, and the smaller ones escaped through the window, probably heading back to the Hool Marshes.
Some treasure was found along the way. In the library there were three books of small value that could be salvaged:
These books are worth 7gp each to the right buyer (selling them on Saltmarsh's weekly market day would find the right buyer).
In addition the study held two potion of healing, a cavity inside a fireplace hid two pieces of blue quartz (worth 10gp each), finding a hidden compartment in a chimney (which got Yga very sooty) resulted in a wooden box containing 30gp and two pouches of alchemical powder (5gp each) - this was also where the swarm of spiders were, making Yga exit in a hurry and a cloud of soot. In the attic (where the stirges were) a porcelain sailor doll with jade eyes was found. This can be sold for 20gp (probably at the market).
Now it is time to head below. A set of stairs leading down is found at the main entrance hall. You can go down there, or go down through the trap door you went down before.
You note the bodies on the upper floor - your very first battle - have been removed. Town Guard again probably.
Zaerra turns to the group., "We have two ways into the basement now. I guess the first is, we go back down the same way knowing where it leads or do we head down this new entrance and see if we can't find our way back to the area we know. What choice will it be then??"
Yakeerk says he'd like to try the unexplored (by Amici Noctia) stairs.
Lead on Yakeerk
Yakeerk ruffles his neck feathers in a way that you recognise as amusement. He draws an arrow and holds it ready on his bow but does not draw yet. Yga casts light on a piece of debris and she tosses it down the stairs so it lights up the room at the bottom. Yakeerk precedes everyone down the stairs.
The smell of death is quickly obvious here, only rotting meat makes that stench. The buzz of blowflies can be heard also.
Shoulder-height wooden bottle racks line the north and west walls of this 30 x 45ft room, which was obviously once a wine cellar. There appear to be no intact bottles left in the racks and shattered bottles cover the floor.
Against the east wall, at the foot of the stairs, rest two large metal storage bins that appear to be empty.
In the center of the room lies a human corpse clad in plate mail; a longsword lies by the corpse’s right side, and a large shield lies nearby.
Yga figures that it may be too late for "Spare the Dying", but will edge her way towards the corpse looking for any possible booby traps, and to gauge how the person died (without making contact with the body).
Need a perception check from Yga, please.
Perception ck 7
Flies rise from the body as Yga approaches. The bloated body is that of a tall, solid young human male in his 20s who looks like he died from violence. The armour is plate mail, good quality, with some dings and scratches at the front indicating it has seen use. But, judging by the pool of dried blood which had come from under the body near the head, it seems someone got a blade in under the helmet at the back. So possibly found himself surrounded by enemies, who probably blocked his escape, and no armour could protect him forever. Judging by the condition of the body, Yga estimates the man has been dead about 7 days.
Yga will skirt around the perimeter of the room behind the bins and double check that they are empty (perception check 14) and then continue on to do a lap of the room giving a cursory glance to all else (and keeping alert for any danger).
It looks like the smugglers emptied the wine cellar a long time ago, though one full bottle remains, having rolled under a rack after it was jostled loose. Yga spots the bottle, its label bearing the image of a jauntily dressed unicorn.
The two metal storage bins are definitely empty.
Yga discovers some faint bootprints which lead to the south wall. She concludes there is likely a secret door here, based on previous experience. And also that it is likely the other side of the secret door she and Irob discovered in the north of the other cellar room - the one they didn't investigate.
Yga will grab the bottle and see if the label of the jauntily dressed unicorn rings any bells with the rest of the party - maybe it comes from a particular tavern that could lead to more information.
Yakeerk looks at the label and pronounces it to be a rare vintage worth 50 gp to the proper buyer. The Snapping Line sells it, but not exclusively.
Rask ventures over to search the body to see if there is any insignia or markings which might indicate who he was working for or who he was- fine plate armour doesn't grow on trees, he likely had an employer or independent wealth to fund him. (Perception check 10).
Rask finds a griffon rampant design on the chestplate of the fallen warrior. The plate mail is in good condition, although might need a good wash and airing.
Rask continues to search, not expecting to find anything the smugglers have already taken. Maybe a letter, or some other clue.
As she does so Rask touches something that moves under the armour. She draws her hands away and spilling out of every crack and gap in the armour are swarms of finger sized grubs, all with a ringed mouth of sharp teeth. They move quickly towards anything that moves.
There are two swarms - one will attack Rask, one will move slowly towards another random character of flesh and blood (Irob will NOT be attacked).
Rot grub swarm attack on Rask - 16.
If it is a hit, Rask will be infected by 3 rot grubs that will burrow under the skin quickly.
The other swarm makes a double move towards Susk.
Rask stands up quickly, brushing off grubs from her arms before they can get into the armour gaps. But she is surrounded by grubs with nasty, pointed teeth!
Party's turn to act!
Irob will maneuver himself between the swarm and Susk if able, putting his metal body in their path.
He will then unleashed a firebolt at the swarm travelling towards Susk:
17 to hit, 10 damage
Rask, surrounded by grubs, will turn to face away from the party. She will use her breath weapon to inflict Lightning Damage on the grubs in a 30ftx 5ft line
(Dex DC 11, half damage on success. 7 damage).