The Cave of Echoes - Ghosts of Satlmarsh, Chapter 52

Captain Alot, Aella, Father Craig, Cai'luin, and Corvid climbed the paved path up the hill overlooking Niole Dra, the capital city of Keoland. They were searching for the Cave of Echoes, an underground temple to Olidammara, god of music and trickery, built in ancient times by the proto-Suloise tribesmen who settled the area. The entrance to the cave had been sealed by a boulder and hidden until it was recently discovered by a woman named Genevieve Woodstock. She and four kenku hirelings had opened the ancient cave and had unleashed the Cadenzas - deadly musical elementals that now sowed havoc and death in the city below.

The crew soon found the entrance to the cave and stood at the threshold to a long series of stone stairs that led deep under the hill. The haunting musical melody that accompanied the attack of the cadenzas echoed out of the cave below. They could hear a waterfall. 

Captain Alot addressed his crew, "Okay, gear up. Corvid, why are you putting wax into your ears?"

Corvid was breaking a candle into quarters, shaping the wax, and stuffing it into his ears, "It will protect me from the mind control music."

Alot said, "That's a good idea, do you have more candle?"

Cai'luin the bard said, "Okay, but be aware, you have to actually be able to hear me play to get any benefit from my musical magic."

Corvid looked momentarily confused, then loudly blurted, "WHAT??"

CHAPTER 52

"THE CAVE OF ECHOES"

The Crew of the Sea Ghost:

• Alot Aname - Neutral Good Warforged Fighter, ancient sentinel of a wizard's fortress, spent several decades deactivated underwater, Captain of the Sea Ghost.
• Avastana "Aella" Kádár - Neutral, Half-Elf  Outlander and Storm Sorceress from Ket, daughter of the king of the sea elves, deck sorceress and first mate of the Sea Ghost.
• Craig "Blunderbuss" Oxworth - Lawful Good Dwarven Priest of St. Ogden (Cleric), sailor and shipwright, bosun of the Sea Ghost.  
• Cai'luin Manaan - Chaotic Good Sea-Elf Bard, member of the royal family of the tribe of Manaan. Cook of the Sea Ghost.
• Corvid Ravenson - Neutral Good Fallen Aasimar Paladin of Vengeance and Divine Soul Sorcerer, sent to Oerth to avenge those who wronged his angelic "brother", Auric Ravenson. Second mate of the Sea Ghost.

DM Note-

I'm running the adventure "Sing a Song of Sonant Spells". Its a nice short adventure to fill that 8th level dead zone between the Final Enemy and Tammaraut's Fate. It's also fairly light fare and not a deep time or brainpower commitment. 

Note also that this was my first time using an isometric dungeon map in Roll20. The experience was a bit of a learning curve at first but we all adapted to it quickly and it worked out great.

Descend the Stairs

Alot entered first and began descending the ancient stone stairs. He moved towards an alcove on the right. A small music elemental emerged and attacked the armored automaton. Alot's magical dragon-hammer smashed the invisible force. He continued down the stairs. Another elemental emerged from the next alcove. Once again, Alot's dragon-hammer made short work of the entity.

The Cave of Echoes

The rest of the crew descended the stairs and entered into a large grotto. The cave had a sixty foot ceiling and was bisected by a small subterranean stream. The sound of falling water could be heard from the tunnel from which the stream emerged. The music of the cadenzas echoed throughout the cave. A set of stone stairs were carved into the left wall of the cave. The cave was L-shaped towards the left and the stairs turned around the corner and disappeared from sight. 

Two kenku armed with short bows stood on the landing of the stairs where it turned around the corner. They launched arrows at Alot as he entered the cave. The arrows bounced harmlessly off his armored shell. 

Alot called up to them, "Hey! We're here to help! Boots-and-Cats and Pocket-of-Coins sent us!"

The kenku ignored him and prepared to loose more arrows. Alot grunted in frustration and dashed towards the stairs. One of the next volley of arrows struck him in the shoulder.

Aella, Corvid, Father Craig, and Cai'luin descended the stairs. The hypnotic music emanated from the roof of the cavern. The cadenza was up there somewhere - invisible. As they entered the cave they each felt the music creep into their brain. 

Father Craig concentrated all his effort into fighting back and music and drove it from his mind.  Father Craig said, "Cai'luin, start playing the music backward." When he heard no reply he turned around. Cai'luin stood still at the bottom of the steps. He stared vacantly off into the distance. 

Craig said to Aella, "I thought you elf-types were immune to this sort of thing!"

Aella shrugged and ran into the cavern after Corvid. 

DM Note-

Everyone had to make a Wisdom save vs. 15. As a sea-elf, Cai'luin had Advantage on saving throws vs. Charm. He rolled an 8 and a 2. Father Craig's Blessing added another 3, so he got an 11. He was stunned.

Craig grumbled something about bloody elves before saying a prayer to dispel any magic that might be affecting. The prayer had no effect. Father Craig spat a curse and said, "Sorry. You're on your own. I have to go help the others!"

DM Note-

Dispel Magic only cancels any ongoing spells affecting the character, it doesn't do anything to alleviate conditions. Father Craig's player asked me what he needed and I said, "Look, what you really need is Greater Restoration". The other players scoffed, "Yeah, like we got 5th level spells just lying around!" As a result, poor Cai'luin's player missed pretty much this entire fight.

Tubes and Crystals

There were a series of twenty-one hollow tubes standing vertically erect in the center of the stream. The tubes extended into the small tunnel in the cavern wall from which stream flowed. The four tubes in the tunnel would glow in sequence every twelve seconds. Each time a tube glowed it played a musical note. 

Scattered across the gravel bank of the stream were seventeen clear crystals of various sizes. 

Alot charged up the stairs and pushed his hammer into the stomach of one of the kenku. The blow knocked the kenku off his talon-feet and the avian fell off the stairs and landed on the floor of the upper area of the cavern around the corner. The kenku was unconscious and gasping for breath but otherwise unharmed. Alot did the same with the other kenku, knocking it unconscious and off the stairs. 

Alot could see runes carved into the stone on the wall beneath teh stairs and a small alcove on the far wall. 

Alot jumped off the stairs and saw that there were twenty-one runes in total. The last four runes glowed with magic whenever the last four notes of the crystals in the stream played. When that happened, he witnessed a glow emanating from the alcove and a new music elemental was formed. 

Two more kenku descended the stairs and stood on the next landing where the stairs turned right, following the far back wall of the L-shaped cavern. Alot climbed back up onto the first landing and continued up the stairs. He struck the next two kenku with his hammer, knocking them down and unconscious. He continued up around the corner up a passage out of the cavern and out of sight.

Witch Bolt

The cadenza attacked Aella, siphoning her spirit. Aella grit her teeth. That one hurt. 

She scanned the air until she felt she had a good idea of where the large invisible cadenza was located. She cast a continuous bolt of lightning at the area and managed to strike the musical entity! The continuous lightning bolt gave the other members of her crew something to target. Now they knew where to attack! 

The cadenza was hovering ten feet off the ground - out of reach from any sword or axe. Father Craig told Corvid to stand still and not move. He prayed to Tristan and a five foot by five foot cube of stone rose from the floor beneath Corvid. The cube elevated Corvid to a point where he was close enough to attack the cadenza with his magical sword. 

Corvid smote the cadenza with righteous vengeance. The musical entity blared its displeasure and retreated to the top of the room, out of range of the witch bolt.

DM Note-

I had to quickly google a PNG file of an isometric grey cube to upload to Roll20. I put it under Corvid's token.

The Musical Runes

Alot reached the top of the stairs and ran into a woman dressed like a musician. She had a bow and loosed an arrow at Alot ineffectually. Alot, assuming the woman was Genevieve, once again tried to communicate reason. When she attacked again he knocked her unconscious with a hammer to the stomach. There was a short corridor to the left, an ancient bronze door in front of him, and an ancient bronze door to his right.

The sound of rushing water came from the corridor to the left so he took the ancient door to his right. Within was a room decorated with bas relief carvings. The carvings depicted strange round shapes marked with runes emerging from a cave to torment the Suloise tribesmen by the river. A group of priests bearing musical instruments made of crystal defeated the creatures and sealed cave. There were twenty-one priests, each bearing a crystal identified by one of five runes. The runes matched those carved on the wall beneath the stairs.

DM Note-

Alot's player said, "Great, I go back and I tell everybody else which order the runes go in."

I replied, dubiously, "How do you do that? How do you describe the runes to them?"

He said, "Good point. Okay, I write them down."

Again I asked, "Okay, on what? Check your inventory for paper and writing equipment."

Alot's player checked his inventory, then said, "Okay, Plan-B."

Alot poked his head out from the top of the stairs and shouted, "Hey! I need one of you with paper and pen to come up here and write down these runes in order!"

Father Craig shouted, "I'll be right up!"

Witch Bolt Again

Aella had moved halfway up the stone stairs. To her shock, the invisible cadenza once again drained her life force. She scanned the room and located the source of the music. She once again cast a witch bolt spell at the cadenza which gave a target for the others.

Corvid pointed at the spot identified by the lightning bolt and a tiny bolt of fire streaked across the cavern. It hit the cadenza and it died with an audible boom like a brass bell. 

Aella and Corvid quickly moved to the upper part of the cavern and spotted the alcove where the smaller cadenzas were emerging. Corvid's blade flashed as he did battle with two of the smaller cadenzas surrounding him. 

After dispatching the smaller ones, Aella and Corvid created magical bonfires at the entrance to the alcove. As cadenzas formed, they would move through the bonfires and be destroyed.

Cai'luin Regains Consciousness

The disappearance of the cadenza's hypnotic music allowed Cai'luin to break out of his reverie. He finally entered the cavern and heard Aella and Corvid battling smaller cadenzas just around the corner. He took in the tubes and the crystals. He immediately recognized the four musical notes played by the crystals in the stream as being the last four notes played by the cadenzas but in reverse order. 

Father Craig, who was ascending the stairs to record the runes on the bas relief, told him, "Hey! Start putting the crystals in the tubes!"

Cai'luin said, "Got it!" before immediately ignoring the dwarf and climbing the stairs after him. Father Craig paused and said, "What are you doing? The crystals are down there!" Cai'luin looked confused and replied, "No. Got it. Right." before turning around and descending the stairs. He scoured the stream bed for the crystals while Father Craig and Alot recorded on paper the runes above.

A moment later, Father Craig and Alot descended the stairs but saw Cai'luin already inserting crystals into tubes.

"Don't you need the order?" inquired Craig.

"Nope. I already figured it out. There are five sizes of crystals. Each corresponds to a musical note. They go in to the tubes in reverse order and will play the reverse of the tune the cadenzas play. Want to help?"

Craig and Alot looked at each other, impressed, "Sure." Cai'luin gave Father Craig crystals. Alot told Craig into which tubes each crystal went. 

After a moment, all the tubes were filled with crystals in the correct order. The music played in reverse and no more cadenzas emerged from the alcove. 

DM Note-

I was really impressed with Cai'Luin's player. Since he was the bard, I gave him the musical notes that made the melody. 

bAbG AFGG bbCb AGFA bAGG G

Then I told him the four tubes with crystals played, in order:

1. Tube 1 plays musical note G
2. Tube 2 plays musical note G
3. Tube 3 flute plays musical note G
4. Tube 4 plays musical note A

Once he gathered up all the crystals, I gave him a list of how many of each size crystal he found.

• size 1
• size 2
• size 2
• size 2
• size 2
• size 2
• size 2
• size 3
• size 3
• size 3
• size 4
• size 4
• size 4
• size 4
• size 5
• size 5

Cai'luin's player glanced at the information and said, "I've figured it out." and started telling me which sizes when into which tube. And he got it on the first try. 

What Happened?

Genevieve and the four kenku eventually regained consciousness. They were free of the hypnosis of the cadenzas. Genevieve was very confused. She had no memory of the intervening time. 

When questioned she revealed that she had performed her music at the festival of Olidammara for years hoping to be good enough to channel the blessings of the god - but she had yet to attain that honor. So she sought out the aid of- a friend. She had learned about music elementals called cadenzas and had learned that rituals would allow one to bind and control a cadenza in order to become a master musician. She obtained books and information from her friend and learned about the ancient temple in the Cave of Echoes where one could find a natural portal through which cadenzas emerged into our world. The crew knew immediately that she was trying to protect her friend - the monk Brother Blanc.

In order to bind the cadenza she would first need to disable the ancient crystal device that played the cadenza melody backwards, forever blocking cadenzas from entering our world, then she would need to perform a perfect five part harmony to bind the cadenzas that emerged - and for that she needed four kenku who could precisely mimic her singing. Armed with this information she hired four kenku and trudged up the hill to the ancient hidden shrine.

She removed the crystals, the cadenzas emerged, she and the kenku performed the ritual - and that was the last thing she remembered.

The crew informed her that the ritual failed, she had been hypnotized, and the cadenzas kept emerging through the portal. The music elementals descended the hill and disrupted the festivities and have killed dozens of innocent people.

Genevieve was despondent. She never meant to hurt anyone. She would cooperate willingly and be punished for her crimes.

The crew were suspicious of Brother Blanc and demanded to know how he was involved. Genevieve continued to try to protect her friend which served only to heighten their suspicions.

They bound Genevieve and took her down the hill and back to town. The kenku were paid pawns in this scheme. They were allowed to leave. The sun was rising behind them.  

Confessions

The coterie marched to the monastery of Oldimmara and banged on the door. A meek initiate opened the door but was thrown aside as Father Craig burst in demanding to see Brother Blanc. The initiate fled down a corridor with Alot and Corvid close behind. As expected, the initiate ran directly to Brother Blanc's cell to warn him. Corvid and Alot grabbed the gnome monk and carried him like a sack of potatoes back to the entrance of the monastery.

The initiate was sent to fetch Captain Vaud of the city watch. Vaud soon appeared with several guardsmen. 

Father Craig and Captain Alot laid out all that transpired. They demanded Blanc confess to his crimes, warning him that they would subject him to a holy zone of truth. 

Brother Blanc confessed to helping Genevieve against his better judgement. He provided her with the books she sought and answered her questions. When she disappeared, he went to Pocketful-of-coins to look for her. He learned that she had hired four kenku and Pocketful-of-Coins was worried about what she was going to do. The guilt-ridden monk told the kenku leader not to worry and that the temple of Olidammara owed their people a great debt and that he would take care of it if anything bad happened.

Father Craig, still suspecting some deeper nefarious plot, was dumbfounded, "Wait, that's IT? This wasn't some religious plot?"

"No, I am guilty of helping my friend when I shouldn't have."

Father Craig rolled his eyes. He would have no religious conspiracy. 

Having heard confessions from both Genevieve and Brother Blanc, Captain Vaud took both into custody. The magistrate would decide what to do with them.

Celebrations

For their role in stopping the cadenzas and saving the capital city, the crew of the Sea Ghost were hailed as heroes. They were granted an audient with King Skotti who personally congratulated them - their victory was received as their personal gift to the king on his "birthday". Statues would be erected in their honor in Remo Square. They were awarded a vial of Keoghtom's Ointment and two potions of healing from the herbalist Fineser. Cai'luin the bard performed and was successful at himself channeling the spirit of Olidammara - earning for himself a Blessing of Protection. 

Next Week - 

• Spending time in the city.
• Shopping at Cimbri Carrion's magic store.
• Meeting the Ambassador from the Sea-Elf Kingdom of Manaan.
• Hunting Lost Treasure
• And More!

DM's Thoughts on Sing a Song of Sonant Spells - 

Things that were great:

1. The Music Files were a nice touch and really added an extra layer to the adventure for the players.
2. I like the musical theme. It really allowed the bard to shine. 
3. I liked the assortment of NPCs.
4. The music puzzle was pretty good. My players enjoyed solving a puzzle for once!

Things that not as great:

1. Genevieve's motivation wasn't very clearly communicated. I had no idea WHY she wanted to break the seal on the cadenza cave. What did she hope to accomplish? What was her goal?
2. Likewise, its never explained what was meant by Brother Blanc telling the kenku "Don't worry, we'll fix it." That line alone drove a lot of my players' suspicions of some deeper conspiracy, but there was no payoff.
3. Likewise, there was no clear timeline of events of what really happened given to the gamemaster. The GM has to deduce what happened based on the clues provided just like the players. There's no omniscient explanation.
4. The rooms of the Cave of Echoes were poorly described in the text. The descriptions could have been more specific or detailed.
5. In the original adventure, Genevieve and the kenku are already dead and turned into zombies by the time the PCs arrive. That's a very depressing ending. I changed it so that Genevieve and the kenku were alive and mind controlled, thus giving the players someone to actually save. 
6. The title. "Sing a Song of Sonant Spells" is a terrible title.

Most of the descriptions and explanations and motivations above were my own, so its not that the module can't be saved - it definitely is a good start - but it could have used another pass to tighten up the details and get more feedback and revision. 

The King's Birthday - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Chapter 51

 

The sun was setting in Niole Dra, capital city of Keoland, and the mood was festive. The King's Birthday, a week-long celebration, was about to commence. There would be music and merriment and celebration. Later, aristocrats from across Keoland and diplomats from the farthest reaches of the Flanaess would present their gift to the king. 

Stevedores were busily unloading the cargos of tribute from the river barges that had been drawn 225 miles up the Sheldovar river. No sea-going ship could navigate against the wind and current and several shallow fords and marshes this far upriver.

Imagine then the surprise of those along the city's barge docks when a breeze picked up from the south, the river's water level began to rise, and a sea-going ship with a stylized raven painted on its main-sail, faintly glowing lightning bolts burned into its hull, and a dragon's skull affixed under its bow sailed its way upriver against the wind and against the current!

Standing on the forecastle of the ship was a half-elven sorceress and a dwarven priest wearing a skull mask. They were waving their hands and arms as if directing the movement of the wind and the water. 

It was the Sea Ghost, a cargo ship out of Saltmarsh. It deftly maneuvered up to the barge dock and pushed barges aside as it squeezed into an open spot. The wind suddenly died down and the upwelling of water dissipated. The ship lowered itself before settling onto the river's bottom. It listed slightly to port before coming to a rest against the dock with an audible clunk.

The captain of the ship, a mechanical automaton from a bygone age, called out to the dumbstruck longshoremen, "Hey! Ahoy! Could you throw us a line and tie us off? We've got some cargo to unload for the king's birthday!"

CHAPTER 51

"THE KING'S BIRTHDAY"

The Crew of the Sea Ghost:

• Alot Aname - Neutral Good Warforged Fighter, ancient sentinel of a wizard's fortress, spent several decades deactivated underwater, Captain of the Sea Ghost.
• Avastana "Aella" Kádár - Neutral, Half-Elf  Outlander and Storm Sorceress from Ket, daughter of the king of the sea elves, deck sorceress and first mate of the Sea Ghost.
• Craig "Blunderbuss" Oxworth - Lawful Good Dwarven Priest of St. Ogden (Cleric), sailor and shipwright, bosun of the Sea Ghost.  
• Cai'luin Manaan - Chaotic Good Sea-Elf Bard, member of the royal family of the tribe of Manaan. Cook of the Sea Ghost.
• Corvid Ravenson - Neutral Good Fallen Aasimar Paladin of Vengeance and Divine Soul Sorcerer, sent to Oerth to avenge those who wronged his angelic "brother", Auric Ravenson. Second mate of the Sea Ghost.

DM Note-

I'm running the adventure "Sing a Song of Sonant Spells". Its a nice short adventure to fill that 8th level dead zone between the Final Enemy and Tammaraut's Fate. It's also fairly light fare and not a deep time or brainpower commitment. 

Shore Leave

The city of Niole Dra lies on the banks of the Sheldovar river. Behind it looms a hill atop which is the temple-amphitheater of Olidammara, God of Music. Today begins the King's birthday and the city is filling fast with bards, traders and nobles from across the realms, bringing strange songs and wonderous treasures with them.

The hard cobbles underfoot are warmed by the summer sun as a humid late afternoon breeze blows from the north. The Sea Ghost's arrival coincided with the first night of festivities. Captain Alot granted all the officers and four of the crew of seven shore leave for the night. 

DM Note-

The module was originally written for the city of Rex Tumon and the festival of Milil, god of Music. I adapted it for use in Greyhawk. The first part of the module is very loose - the players decide what they do for the festival. Its presented as a skill challenge. The player describes what they do and make a skill check appropriate for that activity vs 15. The idea being if they chose to play instruments they should make a Perform skill check. If they chose to pick pockets they should make a Sleight of Hand skill check. If they chose to drink they should make a Constitution saving throw - that sort of thing. After which I tally up the successes and failures and the results determine how many NPCs they meet, how many rumors they hear, and how many rewards they are offered, or complications encountered. So I asked my players what they wanted to do. Aella and Cai'luin wanted to attend a fancy party, Craig and Corvid attend a religous observance, and Alot does some people watching.

Aella and Cai'luin Attend a Fancy Party

Aella and Cai'luin donned their finest attire and attended an aristocratic ball. They lacked formal invitations but Cai'luin's introduction of PRINCESS Aella of Manaan, along with the notoriety of her ship's entrance, gained them entry. Cai'luin served as Aella's herald through the evening. Aella even ran into some old acquaintances from Seaton - Lord Westland, Lady Moontha, and Lord Woodchild. 

While mingling she accidentally bumped into a devil-touched merchant, spilling his drink. The merchant was appalled but a quick introduction and apology by Cai'luin on Aella's behalf calmed the situation. The merchant introduced himself as Cimbri Carrion, a dealer in artifacts and curiosities. Aella told Cimbri of the devil-touched merchant Captain Xendros in Saltmarsh. Cimbri said that he knew her well as they were a part of a vast network that traded and exchanged goods across the Flanaess. 

Cimbri complained that this year's festival was a pale imitation of what it used to be. It began as a celebration of the music of Olidammara, god of music and revelry. But in recent years the music has become so boring and predictable. Cimbri invited Aella and her companions to pay a visit to his shop in the morning. It was located in a plaza known as Remo Square. 

DM Note-

Aella rolled a natural-1 on her Persuasion skill check and failed pretty badly. The scenario allows one other player character to pick up the slack of a failed roll so Cai'luin stepped in and saved the day with an absurdly high 27 on his Persuasion skill check. 

Father Craig and Corvid Attend a Religious Celebration

Father Craig and Corvid decided to attend one of the local religious festivities - a celebration of the god Olidammara with performances of music and song along with a ritual blessing performed by the priests. After the ceremony Father Craig met one of the local monks, a gnomish scribe named Duose Blanc. Duose listened to Father Craig describe the Raven King and was genuinely interested in the rituals and doctrines of this new religious addition to the Flanaess. In return, Father Craig learned about Olidammara and the annual celebration of the king's birthday. 

Brother Blanc confided with Father Craig that he was looking forward to hearing a performance by Genevieve Woodstock. She had performed at the last twelve festivals but had declined to be included in the blessing of the performers. This year she was nowhere to be seen. Indeed, her music shop was located next to his scriptorium and she seemed to have locked up her shop and left town. As her friend, he was quite concerned for her. Brother Blanc was so impressed with Father Craig that he offered him a blessing of heroism from Oldimmara. In exchange Father Craig gave Brother Blanc an expensive gift. 

DM Note-

I can't remember the gift now. I'll update the blog when I ask Craig's player about it.

Corvid, meanwhile, loomed over the other festival attendees - glowering at their celebratory mood. There was no time for celebration when there was VENGEANCE to be had! Corvid managed to attract the attention of a half-orc captain of the watch. She introduced herself as Captain Cantonal Vaud and asked Corvid if there was going to be any trouble. Corvid began to stare her down as the pair tried to intimidate each other. Father Craig intervened and diffused the situation. Captain Vaud pointed two fingers at her eyes and turned her fingers towards Corvid as if to say "I'll be watching you."

DM Note-

Craig rolled an 18 on Religion. Corvid rolled a 16 for Intimidation. 

People-Watching for Alot

Alot spent his evening wandering the streets of Niole Dra observing the revelers and performers. He wandered into a bar and stood in the corner for a while - watching. Eventually, the brusque owner of the bar, a man named Freddy, confronted Alot. Freddy was upset. Apparently, Alot had spent over an hour standing perfectly still and the regular clientele had become wary of the mysterious mechanical warrior standing sigil near the entrance. Alot was scaring away customers. Freddy shouted at Alot and told him to leave. Alot apologized and walked out into the nearby plaza. There he stood a while longer - watching.

DM Note-

Alot rolled a 7 on his Insight skill test. 

To Beat the Band

Aella and Cai'luinn were returning to the ship around midnight when they came across Father Craig and Corvid returning from the amphitheater. They were passing a small plaza lit by torches and filled with people even at this late hour. At the center of the plaza was a fountain surrounded by revelers singing in unison. They saw Alot nearby and joined him in observing the late night festivities.

They spoke to one another and compared stories of the night's experiences. The people around the fountain were singing a strange wordless tune that repeated every twelve seconds or so. No one seemed to notice that within a few moments everyone in the plaza was singing the wordless tune in perfect unison, swaying back and forth. 

Suddenly someone screamed. More screams followed and the crew stopped talking to investigate. The first two rows of people around the fountain had collapsed and more were falling as if some invisible force was moving through the crowd killing everyone it passed. By this time people on the outside of the plaza were screaming in horror and fleeing in panic. Frightened people cried for help as they ran through the city.

Corvid drew his magic sword and ran into the crowd where the most recent person had collapsed. That person was dead. Strange music emanated from the air nearby with no discernable source - as if someone was playing an invisible flute ten feet away. Corvid moved towards the music and swung his sword through the invisible air. The music became discordant for just a moment. He had done something! He called out to his companions, "It's here! It's some kind of invisible force!"

Aella waved her hands and a magical storm of ice and snow briefly appeared in the spot indicated by Corvid. Father Craig did his best to direct the fleeing townsfolk to safety but few could hear him over the cries of panic. 

Alot charged forth and swung his mighty magic dragon hammer at the invisible music. He could feel the resistance as his hammer passed through - something. The invisible thing let out a loud blatt and faded away to silence. It was gone.

A Sour Note

More music could be heard from the nearby tavern and marketplace and people were still streaming out, running for their lives. 

Corvid and Cai'luin ran into the tavern to the right. Aella and Father Craig looked at Alot for direction. Alot hesitated, watching the open doorway to the marketplace to the left, "I'm waiting for whatever it is to come through that doorway."

Aella and Craig looked at the doorway and and heard screaming inside the markplace. They nodded to each other and together charged towards the doorway. Alot called after them in exasperation, "No! Wait for it to- let it- let it come to us! Dammit!" He followed a beat behind them, frustrated that his plan was ignored.

Aella encountered the invisible source of the strange music just inside the doorway. She stopped and threw her hands up - creating a bonfire beneath the spot occupied by the music. Craig, meanwhile, prayed to the Raven King to provide blessings to Alot and Aella in their fight. The music moved towards Aella and she could feel the repetitive tune draining her life energy.

Alot caught up to them but Aella blocked the way. He couldn't get close to the music to attack it. He grabbed her arm and physically moved her out of the way, then took her place in the doorway. There, with Father Craig's blessing, he silenced the music with his hammer. More music could be heard in the hallway to the left.

Meanwhile, in the tavern, Corvid and Cai'luin found themselves confronted by three invisible musical - "things" - one loud and two softer.

DM Note- 

I said "They're like air elementals that make music - invisible but you can feel their presence in the air near you. They're music elementals."

Corvid soon found himself surrounded while Cai'luin stood on a nearby table and played his own music on his lute. The sea-elf bard peppered his song with stern rebukes towards their opponents.

The paladin of vengeance was a whirlwind of death as his blade sliced the air - destroying the two smaller musical creatures. His fight against the larger one was more desperate but with Cai'luin's musical help and encouragement he was able to finally defeat the invisible force. 

So too had Alot destroyed the reaming musical elemental in the marketplace and the crew reunited in the plaza.

Investigation

The plaza was silent and littered with a dozen dead townsfolk. One could more music and frightened screams in the distance in other parts of the city. 

Captain Cantonal Vaud, the half-orc captain of the city watch, arrived with a squad of watchmen but they were too late. Alot and the crew told her what had transpired. Freddy the tavernkeeper verified their story. Captain Vaud said that there were outbreaks of these "killer melodies" throughout the city and her guard were stretched thin. She had to run and respond to another situation. She asked Captain Alot and his crew to try to figure out what was going on, if they could. 

The crew started with Freddy the Tavernkeeper. Freddy said that the tune kind of sounded like something he'd heard his friend Genevieve practicing in her shop. Except she never played it in public and no one else heard it. Yet it had been everywhere tonight and no one could remember where they heard it.  It was just so infectious, you couldn't help but hum it. 

Then those "killer melodies" appeared! 

Father Craig asked Freddy about Genevieve. Freddy said that she runs a music shop in the marketplace and was a regular at the tavern. He was really worried about her because she had been missing for several days and her shop had been padlocked from the outside. It was highly unusual for her to go missing during the king's festival. 

"Where's her shop?" asked Alot.

Freddy escorted the crew into the marketplace - a small indoor alley just off the plaza and adjacent to his tavern. He pointed out Genevieve's music shop, Cimbri Carrion's curio shop, Fineser Galanodel's herbistry, and Brother Blanc's scriptorium. 

A thick padlock on the door to Genevieve's music shop prevented entry. Freddy excused himself and said he'd return in a moment He had to help with removing the bodies of the dead.

Left alone, Alot took out his crowbar and easily busted the lock off the door. 

Inside they found a music shop with racks of musical instruments. There was a table with loose papers covered in musical compositions. A cabinet displaying a banjolele and some bagpipes. 

A look a the papers revealed a note: 

Repetition=control Need 5+ singers (kenku?)

Kenku murder ruins

RESIST THE CREATURES’ MAGIC

Reverse=seal/banish

"Did someone named Kenku get murdered in the ruins?" asked Cai'luin.

Corvid looked at the bard dispassionately, "If only we knew someone who studied history and natural science at the bardic college." 

Cai'luin replied, "Oh, right! Let me think. Right, Kenku are crow people! Got it!"

Cai'luin looked at the note, "Reverse equals seal slash banish huh." He absentmindedly began playing the magical tune backwards on the lute. 

Cai'luin closely examined the cabinet and found that it swung open, revealing a hidden compartment. Within were some gold coins, some scrolls, two potions, and a journal. Father Craig said, "Take the journal but touch nothing else. We are not thieves."

A quick perusal of the journal revealed a great deal of research on "Cadenzas" - a type of mysterious musical elemental - including rituals meant to summon them into existence. Many of the notes were prefaced with, "Duose says..."

"Who's 'Duose'?" asked Cai'luin.

"I know who he is," said Father Craig, "It's Brother Blanc."

Also within was a map of the city and five thin sheets of velum. On each sheet was drawn a single line with a few letters of text: 

T     V     C

C     F     E

E     O     O

H     E     H

A     E     S

When stacked together, the lines and letters overlapped. All five lines converged on the hill overlooking the city. The letters of text formed the words - "THE CAVE OF ECHOES".  

Alot said, "I think we should pay Brother Blanc's scriptorium a visit next."

The Scriptorium

They exited the music shop and magically mended the padlock - Good as new. They moved towards the scriptorium and were preparing to break in when they heard music within.

It was the strange music of the cadenza!

Corvid busted open the door and the crew rushed inside. They found Brother Duose Blanc in the psychic thrall of one of the smaller musical cadenzas - his life ebbing away! Corvid's sword and Alot's hammer soon banished the musical elemental. Brother Blanc faltered but Father Craig caught his fall. 

Brother Blanc regained his composure and thanked his rescuers. 

Father Craig politely asked Blanc about Genevieve and her plan. Blanc denied any involvement.

Father Craig became impatient and grabbed the arms of Blanc's chair, looming over the gnome. "People are dead! For all we know Genevieve might be dead too! Tell us where she is so we can save her!"

Suitably intimidated and shamed, Blanc revealed that Genevieve had become despondent that despite her talent and abilities she had never received the favor of Olidammara for her music. She came to him asking about summoning and binding cadenzas to make her a better singer. Blanc admitted that he gave Genevieve the information she sought and taught her the secrets to bend the music elementals to her will. Enough people singing in perfect unison could open a portal and release a cadenza into this world where it could be bound. But it didn't matter because all the voices needed to sing in perfect unison.

Cai'luin pointed out that kenku are able to perfectly replicate anything they hear. Alot conjectured that Genevieve enlisted the aid of the kenku to perform the ritual. 

"Anything else?" growled Craig.

"Yes, she said she found the Cave of Echoes, the site of an abandoned temple to Olidammara, buried on the hill."

Craig rolled his eyes, "We already figured that out, idiot!"

Boots-and-Cats

The crew tied Brother Blanc up so they could give him to Captain Vaud later. The brought him to Freddy and asked him to make sure he didn't escape. They asked Freddy where they might find the kenku.

Freddy said they lived in an decrepit warehouse down by the barge docks. 

Alot asked Freddy if he could take them. Freddy said that he couldn't but he knew someone who could. He called out into the darkness, "Hey! Boots-and-Cats! Get your feathered butt over here!"

"Boots and Cats?" asked Alot.

"Yeah, that's his name. You'll see."

A moment later a dark figure warily approached from the gloom. It had the head of a crow on its black feathered humanoid body. It wore tattered clothes and a leather hood. Freddy introduced them, "This is Boots-and-Cats." The kenku repeated a strange noise that sounded like a trap drum, "boots-and-cats-and-boots-and-cats-and-boots-and-cats.."

Alot told Boots-and-Cats they were looking for Genevieve and hoped to save her. He asked if Boots-and-Cats could introduce them to his murder. They had some questions. They knew it was late but it was urgent. 

Boots-and-Cats spoke only in repeated phrases and snippets of sound effects but pantomimed for the crew to follow him. 

Murder in the Ruins

The kenku led them to a ruined warehouse. Boots-and-Cats knocked on the rotten wooden door. He made three sound effects - a bird, a storm gust, and a bell. The door opened and Boots-and-Cats led them inside.

Within was a broken table resting on a barrel - around which were several kenku playing cards for money. Musical instruments in various states of disrepair lay scattered about. 

Father Craig asked, "Which of you is the leader."

One stood up and approached Father Craig. When asked his name the kenku made the sound of coins jingling in a pocket.  Craig asked Pocketful-of-Coins about Genevieve. Pocketful shook his head and wagged his talon-like finger. He pointed to the cards on the table. He picked up the deck and dealt five cards to Father Craig and five cards to himself. They compared hands. Father Craig had a losing hand. 

Using pantomime and sound effects, Pocketful-of-Coins made it clear that Father Craig had to put up some stakes. If Father Craig won, he would answer questions. If Pocketful-of-Coins won, he would win the stakes. 

Father Craig took fifty gold coins out of his purse and put them on the table. Pocketful-of-Coins made a sound of pleasure and applause. 

They were each dealt a hand.

Father Craig looked nervous and drew additional cards, giving Pocketful-of-Coins a false sense of confidence in his hand. They showed their cards. Father Craig was bluffing. He had a great hand and Pocketful-of-Coins lost. 

Pocketful-of-Coins bowed. The kenku replayed a conversation with Genevieve asking the kenku for help. Four kenku agreed to accompany her.  He then replayed the voice of Brother Blanc saying, "If anything goes wrong, leave it to me. The temple of Olidammara has an eternal debt to your people."

At the mention of Genevieve the other kenku began humming the tune of the cadenzas. 

Cai'luin asked Captain Alot, "Where to now?"

Alot said, "We head up the hill to the Cave of Echoes."

Corvid said, "FINALLY!"

Cai'luin said, "Should we invite a few of them to come with us?"

Alot said, "Why?"

Cai'luin said, "I'm fairly confident that to close the portal, we need to sing it in reverse, so we need five of us to sing. I know I'm a good singer, but can YOU sing?"

"No, lets leave them here. No need to endanger them. We'll figure it out."

Cai'luin was unconvinced, "Okay."

It was now an hour past midnight. With the sound of fighting and panic and elemental music scattered throughout the city the crew of the Sea Ghost left the city and followed the ancient path towards the Cave of Echoes and the hidden temple of Olidamarra. 

To Be Continued...