Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8) - Campaign Thread

Gerrard:

Increasingly realizing there is little he can do to either investigate the cultists or better the lot of the regular citizens of Seaton, a frustrated Gerrard joins the others on the boat at the appointed departure time, ready to take his turn at the oars if needed.  He is wearing new armor, a fine leather graced with shiny opalescent studs accentuating the embossed wave pattern in the supple but protective material.  A matching knapsack is securely belted at his waist as if made to fit there with his armor--the top flap appears to be capable of opening quite widely at need, or closing tightly against the wind and waves.

"I am ready to sail when you are, Captain Fenwader," says Gerrard, already looking ahead to some fresh air on the open water.

(Feel free to make any purchases of ordinary equipment and supplies at standard PHB prices at the bazaar. Keep track of your coins! For ease, feel free to record the gems at their coin value; there are jewelers at the bazaar who can cash out the gems at stated prices - their commission was cooked into the stated value - and you may assume merchants can make change here.)

As for charts, there is little here but navigational maps of the immediate bay and broad, general maps of the regions. (I'll post one when I get a chance.)

Boko spies the usual assortment of vessels here - offering passages to Port Torvin (via Saltmarsh) in one direction and to the Styes in the other; there are two dwarven mining vessels here, as it is a distribution point for their silver and other ores extracted from their mine to the west. At the military wharves to the north are a number of warships being overhauled and readied -  Gerrard understands that this suggests preparations for war - the assault on the Sahuagin is coming within weeks.

Peri finds a number of vessels for sale. There is a 60' keelboat equipped with a ballista (3 crew + 4 passengers), sails, and oars that looks solid. It has a modest hold, and a small cabin with a couple of bunks and is painted bright red. Usually crewed by three sailors, it can be sailed by a single mariner. Cost: 3000gp.  There is also a 100' sailing ship (the "Junior") for sale for 10,000 g.p. by a lively peg-legged gnome. The Junior requires a minimum of 20 crew to fully operate, but comes fully equipped with multiple weapons systems and lots of cargo space for a merchant's trade.

Peri:

Peri looks over the ships for sale, comparing them to the Sea Ghost and hoping to get a firmer idea of what he's looking for. He appreciates the simplicity of the keel boat and its ability to navigate up rivers, but it's not stable enough for deep water. The Junior is bigger than what he's envisioning, a full cargo ship when he's thinking more of a light, quick little cutter. He doesn't think he'll be content with a normal sailor's life after the excitement of the last few weeks. Traveling from port to port and seeing strange new cities had seemed quite the adventure, but the thought of hanging up his spear and going back to the forecastle as a deckhand now feels like resigning himself to a dull life of tedium. He'd still like to travel and see more of the world -- Gods, get me outta Saltmarsh! -- but maybe he could convince his friends to join him if they could find some worthy adventure. Wrongs that need righting for Gerrard, the promise of treasure for Kei. He wasn't sure what he could offer to bring Dwal along, but he might come just to knock Kei's and Peri's heads together; it did seem to be his chief source of joy. Judging by the way Boko was looking out to sea, he didn't figure it would take more than the promise of the open ocean to entice her along, assuming she could tolerate their dysfunction.

As they reach the slip where their skiff is tied up, he makes a grand flourish for Boko's sake. "Here she is, the Pride of Saltmarsh!" he says, coming up with the name on the spot. "She's tiny, barebones, uncomfortable, and she stinks like fish, just like her namesake, but she's what we've got." He climbs aboard and inspects the work done by the refitters. Finding it all done to his satisfaction, he'll see to stowing any gear and prepare to cast off.

(Any other business before we head to sea in the skiff? Where to?)

Dwal doesn't have any other business. 

Gerrard:

Standing up to acknowledge his companion's arrival, Gerrard states, "Captain on board!" with a smile.  Already having settled in, he helps Peri and Boko as needed to get settled and prepare to make way.  "Welcome aboard, Mistress Boko," he says kindly, greeting Dwal and Kei as well when they join.  Looking to Peri when they are in place, he says, "At your order, Captain," and waits.

As an aside to Boko, he says, "Oh, by the way, we have a sea elven ally who has gone to entreat his people to join us in our struggle against the Sahuagin.  His name is Oceanus and he has fought well by our side...I just wanted you to be aware in case he returns unexpectedly."

Boko's eyes travel along the Pride of Saltmarsh, and she also observes the easy manner in which Peri inspects the work done. She also gives it a close look. "I do not think she stinks," she says, and her eyes become a bit less hard as she sees Peri's comfort onboard. "I can be of some use above decks, and below," which seems an odd thing to say because there is not a deck per se, until she steps up onto and drops over the port side with an easy dive. She swims around easily underwater, ignoring the cold and the murk, inspecting the hull for any damage, repairing anything she sees that's minor enough. She resurfaces starboard and gives a report on the state of things below the surface, and offers to help launch the skiff. "Cold does not bother me, and neither does water. I can slip under from time to time on the journey to ensure we encounter no trouble we cannot see."

She'll use her swimming speed and shape water to help ease the boat off the dock, which was a trick she turned aa few times in her previous employ that made launching even larger ships go faster.

She's fine to go - she picked up three sets of the augury sticks for later ritual use.

The party sets off in the skiff - a small, open boat with little shelter from the brisk winter wind gusting from the east. The skiff is newly caulked and repaired, with a brand-new (and removable) mast and sail - small but quite effective. Four of you have traumatic reminders and muscle memories of your days lost and adrift at sea, and your long row home.

The harbor is active, with trade ships and customs officers busy. Your party is given no attention whatsoever as you depart. Several warships are quite evident further down the bay as you approach the open ocean.

The trip out of Seaton is uneventful. The only thing out of the ordinary is a large bit of fresh graffiti on a boulder on the bay shore opposite the city, and further to the south. It is a painting of a face; it looks an awful lot like Dwal.

Spying the artwork Dwal scratches his chin.
"Wonder what thats all about?" he asks outloud. "Can we get a bit closer ta take a better look?"

Dwal writes:
wait...is it a satire or an attempt to make a good depiction?

Investigation check: 16

Upon close examination, the drawing appears to be more flattering than satirical, although something is definitely off about it. The style is weird, and not particularly well-executed to your eyes.

OCC: Is there land around the boulder or is it surrounded by water? If so Dwal would like to take a look at the ground around it to see if there are tracks. 

Investigation: 23

It's on a rocky, desolate shore. Beaching the boat, getting your feet wet in the freezing water, you can see a few jumbled footprints in the drifting snow. They appear clawed and webbed, and lead in and out of the water.

Boko sets down to ritually cast speak with animals and then drops over the side and freezes, moving not at all, and slowly begins enticing any crustaceans, birds, anything closer with promises of food, asking what’s been nearby, what’s different, have they noticed anything odd or interesting or fun. Above abs below the waves.

 Boko drops into the water, unperturbed by the icy temperatures. She looks around for any animals who may help her. Survival check: 6

... 

(I'll give Boko the benefit of Schrödinger's Dice, here.)

A pair of crows lurking nearby, hungry and distracted but quite observant, tell Boko a strange tale of three bipedal creatures matching the description of kuo-toa, who exited in the bay in the pre-dawn twilight with rags and a bottle of pigment, painting the boulder with haste, finishing just before sunrise and returning to the cold waters. They ask for food, and something shiny.

Looking under the water, Boko sees nothing helpful; the edges of the bay are as desolate and lifeless as the rocky shores here.

Boko relays this to the group, and offers two shiny copper pieces and some dried meat and nuts to the crows. She thanks them and returns to the boat, and keeps a steady watch, while also making herself very useful. She's still very obviously happy to be minding lines, checking the horizon, and helping adjust course.

"So what happened to you that made them want to draw your face on the boulder?" she says to Dwal.

Kei 

Travelling quietly, which to all but Boko seems unusual, Kei watches in wonder as their new travelling companion jumps ship - deliberately. The image immediately conjures memories from the deck of Emperor. He visibly shudders at the thought. And here we are headed back to sea in hopes of taking on an island covered in who knows what! 

Boko's question snaps Kei out of his stupor. "He probably bored them to death with one of his Moradin  speeches or something" his usual tongue in cheek tone directed squarely at his Dwarven friend. "So they've painted a warning on the rocks to all fellow fishheads to watch out for him!"

The party returns to the boat as the crows fly off, satisfied with their rewards. Boko and Dwal are soaked from the icy water, but Boko seems unphased by it. (Dwal, fortunately, has Prestidigitation at hand.)

Any further business before heading to Abbey Isle?

(You recall your long, nerve-wracking row that took you uncomfortably close to the eastern side of the so-called abbey island. It was forbiddingly steep and rocky, ringed with high cliffs, with a rocky offshore sandbar that looked extremely dangerous to seagoing vessels. You recall the struggle it took to avoid the offshore rocks as you rowed past, but you did get a good look at the sides of the steep island. The top appeared forlorn and wild and weathered, covered with thick grass, shrubs, and stunted trees. There was no sign of life at the time, nor of any buildings or signs of inhabitants. There were no ships in sight, nor anywhere a ship bigger than your skiff could even approach the island safely. Peleg said the wharf was on the south shore, which you only got a very distant view of. Presuming this is your next stop, how do you want to approach the island?)

What can Dwal recall about the Kou-toa?

History: 20

Nature: 6

Quote from leapingmountain >>

What can Dwal recall about the Kou-toa?

History: 16

Nature: 12

Not a whole lot. He's read of such foul creatures, long ago driven from the surface world. They supposedly live underground or underwater or both. Known to be rather mad, and for their religious fervor. He's read stories of their mass enslavement by very evil forces deep below. They are creatures of the dark - of slimy wet places ruled by powerful evil forces. Mostly footnotes in Dwal's old books - they were never lead characters in any of the old stories he's read; just pawns of much more powerful forces.