The Cult of Tharizdun - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Chapter 75

The next morning, the crew prepared themselves to return to the rotting hulk beneath Frother's Lamp. They took a gondola to the ramshackle city built of layer upon layer of shacks and shanties atop pilings and piers. 

It was soon after dawn. The wooden walkways were covered in trash and sleeping drunks. Many inhabitants were starting their daily chores - tossing out trash and night soil, preparing merchant carts, and scurrying around trying to catch dogs and rats for food. 

As the crew made their way through the twisting labyrinthine canyons of the Low Quarter, a thrown bottle crashed near them. Then a crossbow bolt struck a building's wall, narrowly missing them. Suddenly they were under assault from attackers in every nook, cranny, window, and door. 

Cai'luin shielded his face, "Why are these people attacking us?"

Patriarch Craig replied glumly, "Who do you think is in the cult?"

Ahead of them they saw a rope bridge connecting the upper levels of a shanty on one side of the "canyon" to the upper levels of a shanty on the opposite side. The rope bridge was over a hundred foot long and was forty feet above the boardwalk and seventy feet above the water far below. 

Standing on the rope bridge were a group of robed men carrying scimitars. At their center was Constable Jute. Jute was bound and had a noose tied around her neck. The other end of the rope had been tied to the rope bridge. 

One of the robed figures shouted out, "Turn back, outsiders! Turn back or the constable will pay the price for your interference!"

CHAPTER 75

"THE CULT OF THARIZDUN"

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.
• Patriarch 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-
Instead of resolving every attack from every thrown bottle and loosed crossbow bolt, I decided to have the players make a DC 15 Dexterity Saving Throw at the beginning of every round. They took 1d8 damage on a failed save, half damage on a successful save. Alot had an ability that allowed him to use a reaction and take no damage on a successful save. This represented that with dozens of attacks, one or two might actually hit. This worked really well.

Rescue Jute

Cai'luin sprang into action, playing a tune on his magic lute that hypnotized everyone on the rope bridge - including Jute. 

Aella pointed her magical trident at the rope bridge. Patriarch Craig shouted, "What are you doing?" 

Aella replied that she was going to take out the bad guys on the bridge with a tidal wave. Craig said, "Your tidal wave will bring that bridge crashing down! We're trying to save Jute, remember?"

Aella quickly scanned the surrounding area looking for attackers. Craig asked, "What are you doing?"

She replied, "I'm trying to avoid civilian casualties." She found two attackers mixed in with some commoners. With a wave of her magic trident she caused a tidal wave to magically appear, crushing the attacker and commoners alike. 

Corvid said, "I thought you were trying to avoid civilian casualties?"

Aella shrugged, replying, "Okay, I'm trying to MINIMIZE civilian casualties then."

Corvid pointed to a spot on the boardwalk above their destination - the prow of an old galley at the bottom of the artificial canyon below, "Everyone try to get over there. I can cast a feather-fall spell and we can jump off!"

Craig and Aella moved in that direction but were quickly cut off by some robed figures armed with scimitars. Around their necks were amulets bearing the spiral symbol of Tharizdun. 

Alot activated his flying boots and took to the sky to rescue Jute. He was quickly cut off by Corvid who flew in front of him and grabbed the constable. Corvid carried Jute down into the canyon and disappeared from view.

Alot turned around and flew back to help Craig, Aella, and Cai'luin fight off the cultists that had converged upon them. Alot sheathed his sword and let go of the hand grip on his shield in order to wrap his arms around Aella and Craig. He checked on Cai'luin, "Are you going to be okay?"

Cai'luin winked and said, "It's all right. I can fly too."

Alot, carrying Craig and Aella, flew down into the canyon to join Corvid, followed by Cai'luin.

The Galley Pier

Cai'luin hovered above the exposed bow of the half-buried galley. The deck of the bow was covered in deep piles of trash and debris. Cai'luin cast a Depth Charge spell onto the deck. The area exploded with force and sound, blowing away the trash and revealing two humanoids with blubbery jellyfish-like skin. The creatures were armed with tridents and they moved towards the ladder to intercept Alot carrying Craig and Aella. Two more creatures clambered over the side of the rotting hulk onto the mid-deck. 

Corvid deposited Constable Jute in a side passage, safe from the bottles, crossbow bolts, and other debris hailing from above, and rejoined his companions on the mid-deck of the galley. 

A fierce battle ensued. Aella created a tidal wave that washed over the jelly-men on the fore-deck, knocking them over. Alot and Craig engaged with the two that climbed over the side. They were soon joined by Corvid. The four jelly-men were quickly defeated by the five heroes working together.

The Chuul-Haunted Hallway

The bow of the old galley jutted out of ramshackle buildings that had been constructed over it long ago. A wide door was marked with the spiral pattern of Tharizdun. The door refused to budge. Cai'luin simply smiled and played a bardic spell on his magic lute. With a loud sound of cracking wood, the spell keeping the door locked was broken and the door magically popped open. 

The crew carefully made their way into the dark corridor beyond. The floor looked rotten with gaps between the boards wide enough to slip fingers through. They formed up at the door at the end of the hallway. Alot pushed the door open.

Suddenly there was a loud splashing and the sound of bursting wood and massive crustacean claws burst through the floor, causing the entire corridor to collapse. Alot and Aella managed to grab hold of something to prevent their fall but everyone else plunged into the dark waters of a large tank hidden below. Cai'luin had not yet entered the corridor - he remained safe on the galley's deck. 

Four large crustacean shapes swam beneath them. 

Corvid wasted no time. He quickly grabbed Patriarch Craig and flew out of the water, depositing the dwarf in the room beyond. Alot, too, swooped down and grabbed Jute, dropping her off safely in the room at the end of the corridor before retrieving Cai'luin.

The Dark God's Chapel

The crew entered a large room supported by columns constructed from stout wooden beams. At the far wall of the room opposite the entrance was a side-chamber, a kind of apse, with a set of stairs that led down. The stairs were flooded up to the floor boards around it. Hanging above the flooded stairs was the body of a humongous dead shark suspended by old nets. Severed human heads were affixed to the shark like offerings. The heads showed various states of putrefaction ranging from two weeks to several months. 

Alot and Corvid cautiously made their way towards the apse to more closely inspect the shark and the flooded stairs. The floor boards creaked under their weight.

Cai'luin began playing an inspiring tune, invigorating his companions, while Patriarch Craig said a prayer to enhance their fighting spirit.

DM Note-

Cai'luin cast Bravery as a fifth-level spell, granting everyone 6 temporary hit points. In addition, Patriarch Craig cast Aid, increasing the maximum hit points of all his companions by +5 HP. They were JUICED UP!

Suddenly the shark shuddered and broke free from its netting. It thrashed about and turned towards Alot and Corvid. Alot threw up his magic shield but no avail - the shark bit him on the shoulder, sinking its massive teeth into Alot's mechanical body! 

The animated shark continued to tear into Alot. Alot counterattacked with his magic sword with Corvid stabbing at the beast from its flank. Cai'luin protected Jute who screamed in horror and retreated to a corner. Aella took cover behind a wall and sent a powerful lightning bolt into the beast.

The crew continued attacking the beast, striking it easily. In exchange, the shark continued to tear into the normally invulnerable Alot. Corvid slashed at the beast, cutting it to ribbons. To his horror, it simply reformed into a whole shark and continued to attack.

Corvid paused when he saw this. Something didn't look right. He stayed his attack and called out to the others, "I- I don't think the shark is real!"

The others paused to examine the shark. It seemed very real and continued to bite into Alot, thrashing as it did so.  Cai'luin was unconvinced, "It looks real enough!" the sea elf bard said as he played another magical bardic attack song on his magical lute. 

Patriarch Craig walked slowly towards the shark, "No, he's right! Stop!" He reached out to touch the shark. His hand passed through it. The shark vanished.

The True Enemy

The shark was still hanging from the nets over the flooded stairwell. It had never actually come to life. 

A voice whispered into the mind of everyone in the room, a thick syrupy voice, "You have seen through my little game. You have passed the first test of Sgothgah. Let us see if you survive the second."

Long ropy tentacles emerged from the flooded stairwell. The water welled up, spilling over onto the floor as it was pushed up and out of the stairs. The water poured out and was replaced by an upwelling of slime and mucus. A large fish-like body rose out of the mucus. Three baleful red eyes formed a straight row across the top of its wide head. The tentacles revealed themselves to be long coiling prehensile barbs like those of a cat-fish. 

Cai'luin quickly played a dissonant tune on his lute and the fish-beast recoiled in annoyance. It retreated into its watery pit leaving a sloshing watery mess as mucus poured out onto the floor. 

After a quiet moment of anticipation, Sgothgah returned. It was angry. Cai'luin could feel the cold alien touch of its mind as psychic tentacles wrapped around his brain. Cai'luin shut his eyes and shouted, "No!" 

DM Note-

Cai'luin rolled a 3 on his Wisdom Saving Throw, then spent his Inspiration point to re-roll. He rolled a natural-20 on his second attempt. 

Patriarch Craig said a loud prayer and all his companions felt a rush of hope wash over them. 

DM Note-

Beacon of Hope, Advantage to all Wisdom Saving Throws. 

Alot, emboldened, plunged his sword, Defender, deep into the aquatic aberration! He withdrew and stabbed it again before pinning it awkwardly against the wall. 

DM Note-

Natural 20, critical hit, 23 points damage. Second attacks hits for 22 points of damage. Followed by a shield shove. Extra action, another hit for 18 damage, then another hit for 14 damage. 

Aella cast a chaos bolt into the creature. 

Sgothgah once again telepathically sent a message, "Excellent! You will do nicely! You may be able to defeat my brothers and end their apocalyptic scheme!"

Corvid paused to consider the creature. Was it lying? It seemed to be telling the truth.

Corvid twisted his magical sword Faithkeeper in his grip and slapped the flat of the blade down hard onto the creature. It sent a blast of buzzing static indicating its pain. Corvid slapped it again as hard as he could.

Sgothgah telepathically called out, "You have proven your worthiness! I yield! Have mercy!"

Corvid held out his hand to the others. They ceased their attacks. 

DM Note-

Stupid thing didn't last one whole round! But, of course, I forgot about its chuul back-up. They should have crawled out and joined their master. Totally spaced them. 

The Bargain

The telepathic whisper said, "I have a proposal for you. I wish to rid myself of two of my kind who want to return me to their world. I have no desire to return with them. I am called Sgothgah. I hail from the Endless Nadir, the deepest darkest trench in the ocean that reaches into the center of this world. There we worship no gods for there we ARE gods. One day I received a vision - a vision of spiral perfection - a vision of Tharizdun - a being more powerful than I. I learned then what it meant to have fear of and devotion to a divine power. I fled my world and sought shelter. I found myself here, in this place, and hid."

"To my surprise, the people of this place likewise felt as I did about Tharizdun. They, too, felt his power and influence. Like me, they knew what it was to worship in secret. In time they joined me in offering sacrifices to my master."

"Unfortunately, my kindred sent two of my brothers to find me and return me to the Endless Nadir. I have no wish to join them. But if I fear that they will destroy this city in their search for me. I am in need of champions to defeat them - to drive them back to the Endless Nadir! Will you do this for me?"

Alot and Corvid looked at each other and shrugged, nodding. "Yeah, sure, I don't see-"

Patriarch Craig became incensed, "YOU ARE AN ABOMINATION AND YOU WORSHIP A DEVIL FROM HELL! Your very existence is a threat to these people. They only worship your dark god because of your psychic influence! If we defeat these pursuers, will you promise to leave this city and never approach this or any other city ever again?"

Sgothgah considered this, "Yes, this is agreeable."

Sgothgah told his new allies that his kindred are currently residing in an abandoned temple a few miles off-shore. The temple was known as Landgrave's Folly. It had sunk beneath the waves after an Oerthquake caused the entire island to sink several decades ago. 

After giving Jute a magical short sword and a potion of invisibility so that she could return safely to her home they set off down the long underwater tunnel at the bottom of the submerged stairs as Sgothgah directed. 

To Be Continued...

The Styes - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Chapter 74

The crew of the Sea Ghost formed up behind Captain Alot on the plank. Alot threw open the door to the aft cabin and rushed into the cabin.

The cabin contained a large tun-sized barrel with no lid and a desk. Exotic yellow plants hung from pots in every corner of  the room. There was a wicker platter on the desk containing alien-looking fish that had burst as if they had exploded from within. A translucent green lantern sat on the otherwise bare desk.  The cabin was slick with slime and algae. 

Alot held his sword read and moved around the desk, exploring the room, searching for any invisible occupant.  Patriarch Craig entered the cabin behind him. Craig moved to the desk and began opening drawers. 

Patriarch Craig felt an invisible presence close to his face. Craig stood up and a man appeared.

The man was bald and overweight. He was naked save for a dirty cape tied around his neck. He was bald, completely hairless. His skin was thick like blubber and slightly translucent. You could see his veins under the jelly-fish like flesh. His eyes bulged. He gave Craig a strange smile and little maggots crawled out of his lip like spittle. 

The disgusting jellyfish man pointed at his eyes and for a split second Patriarch Craig felt compelled to look. 

CHAPTER 74

"THE STYES"

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.
• Patriarch 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-
We pick up where we left off last week with the aft cabin, Mister Dory, and the Flesh Golem. I got some great reactions from my players this week with my descriptions of squicky events and characters. 

So Alot moved into the room and tried to move into every square trying to run into the invisible Mister Dory. I rolled really high on Mister Dory's Stealth check thanks to Advantage. I told Alot's player that Dory could use his reaction to simply keep out of his way so his strategy wouldn't work - but if he wanted to use his action to actively search - which is what is another way to describe what he was doing - he could make his Perception check versus Mister Dory's Stealth check. He failed. 

Mister Dory

A massive humanoid form burst out of the dark water of the large tun. It was the body of an overweight human woman. Her body looked like her limbs had been removed and stitched back together. Her naked torso looked bloated and lumpy as if it were haphazardly crammed full of meat and parts. She had a vacant glassy stare as she mindlessly attacked Alot with her massive ham-hock fists.

Cai'luin immediately strummed on his lute and created a magical aura of tiny glowing notes that whirled through the air, slashing at the fleshy construct. 

Alot stabbed the gruesome humanoid monster with his magical sword. Instead of blood, out of the wound poured dozens of small wriggling eels that poured onto the slippery floor of the cabin and wriggled disgustingly. Alot recoiled in horror. 

Corvid entered the room and slashed at the construct with Faithkeeper. Patriarch Craig said a prayer of healing for the crew and summoned a holy hammer to attack Mister Dory.

Mister Dory opened his mouth and a noxious yellow cloud poured out. Corvid immediately waved his hands in a dismissive gesture and Mister Dory began to cough as the cloud became vomit that poured harmlessly onto the floor. 

Corvid wagged his finger at Mister Dory, "None of that!"

Mister Dory then inhaled a deep breath. A small spark of flame formed inside his mouth and he prepared to hurl the gaseous fireball at his opponents.

Once again Corvid dismissed the manifestation, leaving Mister Dory choking and sputting, and said, "Stop it!"

Having slain the fleshy monster, leaving a pool of wriggling eels and other small fish in the open barrel, Alot and Corvid turned their ire against Mister Dory. Mister Dory tried to shield his face and body with his arms but it soon became clear - he was going to lose.

Mister Dory threw up his hands in surrender, begging for mercy and promising to cooperate with the crew in their investigation if they promised to let him go. 

Patriarch Craig pointed at the green lantern on the desk, "Nobody touch that!"

Guardians of the Warehouse

After having bound the hands of their prisoner and replacing the plank so that they could cross from the suspended boat to the crane platform, the team led Mister Dory to the warehouse. 

Mister Dory said that the only way down to the ground level was an mechanical platform that can be raised and lowered form the second floor. 

Patriarch Craig reminded the others that, in his clairvoyant vision of second floor, he saw three winged lions and a large red toad-like creature. When confronted about this potential treachery, Dory said that he would command his guardians to allow safe passage.

The team entered the warehouse and traversed the iron walk-way that ran around the perimeter of the warehouse near the ceiling, twenty feet above the second floor. Down below they could see piles of freight and wooden crates. Among them were the three winged lions and the toad-like creature. They were resting sleepily. The toad-like creature opened its eyes just a bit and glanced up at the walkway. He saw that Dory was being led about by strangers with his hands bound. The toad-creature grimaced and slowly stood up. With a motion and a hiss from the toad-creature the three bat-winged lions slowly roused from their slumber and looked around.

They entourage descended a wrought-iron spiral staircase in the far corner of the warehouse. Dory pointed to the heavy winch and cable system on the other side of the twenty-foot square opening in the floor, "Someone has to turn the winch to draw the platform up."

Patriarch Craig said confidently, "I'll take care of it!" and marched round the opening to the winch. As he did so, the red toad-thing leaped over the crates to confront the dwarven priest. The three bat-winged lions likewise pounced onto nearby crates revealing round fat human faces with strangely translucent skin. The faces looked eerily like that of Mister Dory. 

Craig curled his lip in disgust under his skull-mask and turned to Dory, "THAT is disgusting!"

Alot told Mister Dory to call off the guardians. Mister Dory in turn ordered the red toad-thing to withdraw.

The red toad-thing considered the scene, noting Mister Dory's current incarceration. The toad-thing sneered with vile derision, "Well, I would, except that it certainly appears like I don't work for you any more, do I? Get 'em, boys!"

With a gesture from the toad-thing, one of the manticores hurled spikes from its porcupine-like tail at Patriarch Craig while the other leaped onto the dwarf. The third snarled menacingly at the others still standing on or near the spiral staircase. 

The red toad-thing hurled himself at Patriarch Craig, stabbing him with long spike-like claws that extended from its obscenely long forearms. 

Holy Vengeance

Cai'luin played a chord on his lute and sang a song that created a burst of psychic static among the toad-thing and the manticores. Unfortunately, it also affected Patriarch Craig.

Corvid flew into battle to assist the dwarven priest. Alot hesitated, unsure whether he should release his grip on Dory. However, as the battle intensified he jammed a short sword through a gap in Dory's manacles and pinned them to the floor. He looked at Cai'luin and said, "Watch him!" 

Cai'luin replied, "Got him!" Alot left his prisoner to the sea elf and joined the fray. 

No sooner had Alot let go than Dory tore pulled the short sword free from the floor. Cai'luin quickly kicked at Dory, hoping to knock him over but missed. The bald man hurled himself into the opening and fell twenty feet to the main warehouse floor below. He landed with a wet thud.

Alot sighed and flew down to the main floor. He was surrounded by workers who had gathered to stare in surprise at the battle happening in the opening above them. Alot smashed their employer on the back of his head, knocking him unconscious. He then picked him up and flew back to the second floor. He deposited the unconscious Dory next to Cai'luin, "try harder this time!"

The toad-thing and the manticores fought with difficulty until they were able to shake off their psychic impairment. By this point the crew had managed only to kill one of the manticores. As it died it began to melt into noxious jelly.

The red toad-thing mocked Corvid for his failure and demanded he take good care of the little one for he would one day bear his offspring!

Corvid became enraged. He thrust Faithkeeper into the toad-thing's heart, impaling the beast. The toad-thing looked shocked as Corvid's body began to radiate righteous vengeance. 

DM Note-

Corvid rolled a natural 20 and amped up his damage with Hunter's Mark and Smite for a total of 30 points of damage. The slaad was already bloodied and I was pretty sure he was going to die from this attack. But after the math, he had three hit points left.

The toad-thing looked down at his wound and saw that he wasn't dead. He began to laugh. He would begin to heal this wound and soon he would be able to continue the fi-

A second magic sword impaled the toad-thing from behind as Alot added his own sword to Corvid's. 

The look on the toad-thing's face changed from relief to resignation, "Well, shit!"

He began to melt into a noxious puddle on the floor. 

The second manticore tried to flee into the dark corner of the warehouse but Alot chased it down and killed it. The third manticore flew up to a perch on the walkway overlooking the warehouse. It turned and hissed like a frightened cat. 

Patriarch Craig told the others to let it go. Craig then got up, said a prayer of healing, and began turning the winch to raise the lift platform to the second floor.

Birsk Chumwell

Cai'luin heard shouting from the floor below. Someone had taken charge and had begun issuing orders, telling people to go summon the city constables. Cai'luin then noticed that the spiral staircase on which he stood continued down to the first floor.

DM Note-

The players all said, "Wait, the stairs keep going down? We didn't have to use the elevator? Was Dory just leading us into a trap so we'd have to fight the manticore?"

I said, "Yup!"

That was my intention but, honestly, I did forget to mention that the stairs kept going down.

Cai'luin ran downstairs and saw a woman in her forties with a tough leathery face shouting orders to the others. 

The woman told the other workers to stand back and said to Cai'luin, "Who are you? What do you want?"

Cai'luin put on all his charm and introduced himself - sort of, "We are merchants from another town. We're the new owners of this building. What's your name?"

"I am Birsk Chumwell, I am the manager of this warehouse. I work for Mister Dory. I just saw you kick Mister Dory off the second floor, then your - whatever that is - flew down, attacked him, KILLED him for all I know, grab him, and fly back up! I demand you tell me what's happening!"

Cai'luin grimaced as he watched a handful of workers flee out the freight entrance. He knew they'd be running to get the constables.

Cai'luin started inching his way from the spiral stairs to the center of the room. He was surrounded by warehouse workers but they kept their distance. He slowly prepared his lute. "I ASSURE you that we are here on official business and that we mean none of you any harm. In fact, if I could just get your attention for just a moment, I'll be able to FULLY explain our actions and our intentions. Everyone, your attention please!"

He began playing a hypnotic tune on his lute and a wave of confusion and euphoria washed over all of the warehouse workers, including Birsk. They stood swaying in an ecstatic fugue. 

"Thank you," said Cai'luin as he hurried past them and into what appeared to be the main office. He quickly looked around and saw an open safe. Inside the safe was a mahogany box containing what appeared to be damp parchments, a book, and a pouch. He grabbed the box and ran back upstairs.

"I think I got it. But we should get out of here. They'll be like that for less than a minute and some of them ran away to get the constables."

Alot nodded, "Right. Okay, I'll carry Dory and Cai'luin. Corvid, you carry Craig. Let's take this guy to Master Refrum's laboratory."

Cai'luin looked around, "What about Aella?"

Alot gestured behind him, "Oh, she left a while ago. She said she had to go set up for the party or something."

DM Note-

In case you hadn't noticed, Aella's player missed this week.

The Interrogation

The party flew through the yellow foggy air over Poniard. It was only a few hundred feet from Dory's Warehouse to Master Refrum's shop. It was clear from the looks of the people below that they were unused to seeing people flying overhead. 

They landed on the roof and broke open a locked door into the attic. There they found a workshop filled with fabulous half-finished inventions in various states of design and construction.    They took Dory down to a small room on the first floor where Refrum's apprentice Jarme once lived.

Alot and Craig looked through the box they removed from the warehouse office. The pouch contained six rubies. The book was old with tattered pages. The cover of the book was decorated with a strange spiral design - a symbol associated with the dark god Tharizdun. The manuscript was written in various dark and evil languages. Corvid could recognize some of the writings as prayers and curses. 

Corvid left to retrieve the green lantern from Dory's office, wrapping it in a burlap sack and careful not to touch it.

Cai'luin left to get Constable Jute - the only constable - the only PERSON - they trusted in this city.

Within the book was a note - the same note that Craig had seen in his vision.

This book contains all the invocations and prayers you'll need to learn the truth, Mr. Dory. The dark god's faithful are wary of new converts. But learn the words, and they should accept you soon enough. Seek their pulpit in the evening shadow of Frother's Lamp. Praise Tharizdun!

The other loose sheets were crudely drawn pornographic images depicting indescribable acts between man and beast.

Dory regained consciousness. Once he realized he had been captured he became silent and sullen. Alot demanded Dory tell them everything he knew about the cult and the murders.

Dory said, "Promise to release me and I will tell you everything. I have no love for this city or what happens to it. Allow me to leave and I'll tell you what you want to know. Otherwise, I will tell you nothing."

Alot said, "That's not going to happen. We're bringing the constables. You're going to pay for your crimes."

Dory smiled confidently, "Yes! Perfect! Summon the constabulary! They work for me, you know. I'll explain to them how a group of pirates stormed my warehouse and took me hostage. We'll see how well that works for you. Or, alternatively, you can set me free and you can get what you want."

Patriarch Craig said a prayer of silence and the area around Mister Dory was cut off from all sound.

Constable Jute

It took over an hour for Cai'luin to secure a gondola, cross the lagoon, and find Constable Jute at the garrison. She was off-duty but agreed to accompany Cai'luin.

On their return to Refrum's workshop, Cai'luin explained why they summoned her. They had captured Council Member Dory and wanted to implicate him in the Ghost Lantern murders - as well as expose a secret cult operating in the Styes.

Once they arrived at Refrum's workshop, Cai'luin and Alot showed Jute the collected evidence. Jute was horrified! Not only had they invaded Dory's warehouse without cause or provocation, they had kidnapped a sitting member of the city council! 

Jute explained to the others that she was bound by her code to report what she had seen just now to her commander. Although she believed them, she wasn't sure what she could do to help them. She lacked the clout to make an accusation against a member of the city council, especially one so involved in the funding and operation of the garrison. What they really needed was the involvement and backing of another member of the town council. 

Madame Thornwell

As if on cue, the front door to Refrum's workshop burst open. Constables poured in. Mister Dory smiled smugly to his captors. 

Behind the constables strode Madame Thornwell, member of the city council of Poniard. She wore a long red leather cape over her red and black leather dress. She commanded the constables to arrest Council Member Dory on suspicion of conspiracy.

The smile on Mister Dory's face vanished. He looked around desperately.

Madame Thornwell's constables collected the gathered evidence. Thornwell thanked Alot and his crew for their assistance in this matter. She assured them that Mister Dory would be punished. For his conspiracy he would lose his seat on the city council and would likely face banishment from the city. 

As the constables picked up Dory to drag him away, he began to struggle, shouting insults and hurling curses at Thornwell for this political maneuver. Thornwell smiled politely. 

Thornwell and her constables left the workshop in as big a hurry as they arrived. 

In all the whirlwind of activity, Patriarch Craig stopped to think, "How did Thornwell know where we were?"

He felt something heavy tied to his belt. He looked down to find a pouch that had not been there before. It was a pouch that fit in the palm of the hand. When he poured out the contents he was surprised to find that the punch contained 500 platinum coins - far more than one would expect a small pouch to contain! In it was a note written in red ink, "For your trouble."

More Thornwell

Cai'luin watched Thornwell and her entourage go. He suddenly thought of something and ran off after them. Guards moved to intercept his approach. Thornwell waved them aside to speak with the sea elf.

"Madame Thornwell, if I could have a moment of your time."

"Yes, but please hurry."

"Madame Thornwell, in addition to Mister Dory's conspiracy mind-control Jarme to commit the Ghost Lantern murders, we have become aware of a secret cult in the Styes. The cult worships the dark god Tharizdun and are planning some great catastrophe to the city."

Thornwell looked annoyed, "Yes, so? What do you want me to do about it?"

"Well, um, I guess we figured you'd kind of want to take care of that."

She sighed, "Look. I have only a handful of loyal constables to work with, and I'm going to need them if I'm going to get Dory removed from the council. I appreciate your assistance in that regard. Frankly, I don't care what happens in the Styes. They can worship- whatever. I'm very  busy and I have a lot of work to do. What exactly are you asking me to do?"

"I don't know Can we have some kind of official sanction or something to take care of this ourselves?"

"A- what? I have no idea what you are asking for. How about I just not send any constables into the Low Quarter for a day. Would that suffice?"

"Yes. Perfect. Understood. We'll take care of it. "

She was already walking away. She waved her hand dismissively over her shoulder, "Sure. Whatever. Its the Styes. I don't care!"

The Rest

The crew spent the night resting in Refrum's workshop. Cai'luin lamented that Madame Thornwell wasn't the ally he hoped she would be. Craig distributed her reward and said, "No. Her help was just a part of a political maneuver. She had no interest in Jarme or the murders. She just saw the murders as a way to get rid of her political opponent."

Corvid grit his teeth, "Do we really have to save this city? Can't we just let the- whatever- destroy the town?"

Craig looked at him sternly.

Corvid relinquished the idea with a heavy sigh, "No. No. I didn't really mean that." 

The Raid

The next morning, the crew prepared themselves to return to the rotting hulk beneath Frother's Lamp. They took a gondola to the ramshackle city built of layer upon layer of shacks and shanties atop pilings and piers. 

It was soon after dawn. The wooden walkways were covered in trash and sleeping drunks. Many inhabitants were starting their daily chores - tossing out trash and night soil, preparing merchant carts, and scurrying around trying to catch dogs and rats for food. 

As the crew made their way through the twisting labyrinthine canyons of the Low Quarter, a thrown bottle crashed near them. Then a crossbow bolt struck a building's wall, narrowly missing them. Suddenly they were under assault from attackers in every nook, cranny, window, and door. 

Cai'luin shielded his face, "Why are these people attacking us?"

Patriarch Craig replied glumly, "Who do you think is in the cult?"

To Be Continued...

Dory's Warehouse - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Chapter 73

 

Alot crossed the thick gangplank across the trash-strewn waterway at the bottom of the canyon-like narrows of slums and stacked structures of Jetsam. He approached the bow of an old rotting hulk jutting out from the mass of ramshackle buildings build around and atop it. The deck of the ship was covered in trash.

As he neared the ship the trash shifted. Three figures- vaguely humanoid but with lumpy blubbery translucent skin like that of a disgusting jellyfish - rose from the trash. They lifted cheap javelins which they hurled at Alot. 

Alot nodded and retreated from the bridge. Javelins bounced harmlessly off his thick armor plating. 

"Well, this looks like the place. We should come back at sunset. There's a greater chance more cultists will be here."

The party left and returned to the docks on the outer edge of the slums.

CHAPTER 73

"DORY'S WAREHOUSE"

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.
• Patriarch 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-
We begin the mystery of the Styes in earnest. But first, I needed to back up and give the players some more detail about what happened to them during the week they spent in Poniard.

Hopen'er Asylum

On their way to the docks they ran into Constable Jute whom they had met the previous morning. Jute was cordial but professional. She informed the crew that she and the other constables were barred from further inquiries regarding the Ghost Lantern murders and that she was officially obliged to ask them to end their inquiry. She looked around nervously as if she were being watched. 

When asked who gave the constables that order, she informed them that it was Mister Dory of the city council. Alot nodded sagely.

Before saying goodbye, Jute informed the crew that, the night before he was executed, Jarme drew unusual chaotic patterns on the wall of his cell in Hope'ner asylum and further informed them that the cell was scheduled to be painted over today - again on orders from Council-person Dory.

The crew thanked her and hired a gondola to ferry them to the High Quarter. They disembarked and entered the imposing stone structure of Hope'ner Asylum. 

The building was originally built as a prison and it still resembled one architecturally. Several decades ago it was turned into a hospital filled with patients suffering from chemical burns, blindness, and withered limbs caused by pollution from the Alchemist's Quarter and those suffering debilitating mental illness.   

The hospital was woefully understaffed and the crew were unable to summon the attention of someone from the staff. They were eventually greeted by a peculiar individual - a young man with bulging eyes. 

The young man stood in the middle of the room intently staring at them. When Patriarch Craig asked the young man if he could help them, the man just stared in silence with a strange grin. Eventually the young man blurted, "I am Brey!"

Patriarch Craig struggled to keep his polite composure, "Yes, is there anyone around here in charge of-"

Brey blurted, "You want Doctor Trantor! I'll get her!" Before anyone could respond he spun around and ran off into the crowded hospital.

A few minutes later Brey returned dragging a harried woman of middle age wearing a long white robe. She protested Brey's handling of her. Brey dragged her to the crew and blurted, "Trantor! These are the ones! Just like I said."

Doctor Trantor sighed and said, "Yes, thank you Brey." The woman looked tired and overworked. Her face was a picture of stress and compassion. "Hello, I am Doctor Trantor. I oversee this facility. How can I help you?"

Aella said that they had heard that Jarme, the Ghost Lantern killer, had drawn on his cell wall the night before his execution. He asked if they could study it. She explained that they were a delegation from Saltmarsh and wished to learn more about how someone might become a killer like Jarme.

Trantor said that they'd have to hurry. Council-person Dory had ordered that the cell be cleaned and painted today. Trantor led them down some steps into the underground dungeon. She led them to a long corridor lined with heavy iron cell doors. She explained that they kept the most dangerous subjects in these cells. Jarme didn't seem dangerous but the cell was requested by the city council. 

The smell of sweat and feces and rotting meat was oppressive. Even Trantor held a scented cloth over her nose and mouth. She led them to the last cell. 

The walls of the small cell were covered in smeared drawings and patterns made with charcoal from a burned stick. The drawings were a chaotic mess of swirls and lines and shapes.

Cai'luin knelt down and studied the patterns up close. He said, "Hmmm-"

"What is it?" asked Alot.

"Well, it looks like a mess but its actually three different drawings overlaid on top of each other. See here - these spirals are like flailing arms or tentacles from some octopus with three eyes - or perhaps a fish. Its shackled at the bottom of a deep pit and dragging down these little people. Yes, those are people. These shapes look like buildings, this long one here kind of resembles the old lighthouse, Frother's Lamp - see, these buildings match specific buildings in the Styes - sorry, Poniard. Anyway, over here there are more of those tentacle things and they're destroying the city."

"Aboleths" said Aella.

"What?" said Alot.

"I recognize them. The fish things are called Aboleths."

Rashlen Manor

Outside the hospital, the crew gathered to plan their next move. They decided that they wanted to confront the members of the town council. Aella said, "I think I have an idea on how to do that."

The crew crossed a marble bridge over a canal towards the walled compound belonging to Rashlen, the member of the town council whom Aella had become acquainted with earlier in the week. The villa's ground-level windows had been bricked up so the outer perimeter gave the appearance of a walled fortress. Statues of elven warriors made of terra-cotta stood guard along the roof-line.

It was late morning, towards noon. The elven servant, Cirdaere, answered the door and led Aella and Cai'luin to the sitting room while he summoned Master Rashlen. The rest of Aella's "servants" would have to wait in the servants' area.

Rashlen Manor was once on opulent villa made of fine marble and imported wood. The current state of the manor showed several decades of decay and neglect. It was clear that much of its valuable décor had been long ago sold off leaving a bare almost spartan appearance. It was also clear to those waiting in the servants' area that the villa, once served by a staff of dozens, was reduced to a skeleton crew staff of butler, cook, and scullery maid.

A few moments later, the flamboyant elven aristocrat, Rashlen, burst into the sitting room to greet "Princess" Avastana Kádár and Lord Cai'luin, his "water-breathing elven cousins from Manaan".

Rashlen was friendly and outgoing, lavishing Aella and Cai'luin with personal attention and praise while showing subtle disdain for "the lower classes". He ordered Cirdaere to make tea and finger sandwiches for his guests. Cirdaere sighed and went to the kitchen.

Aella informed Rashlen that she wished to throw a dinner party and hoped Rashlen could host it in his manor. She wanted to invite the wealthy merchants and aristocrats from Poniard and especially wished to invite the members of the city council. 

Rashlen was thrilled at the prospect of hosting a party, especially if he didn't have to pay for it. However, he warned Aella that the other members of the city council would be reticent to attend. Madame Sliris is never seen in the evening, Madame Thornwell detests such frivolities, and Mister Dory, well, he has that skin condition.

Aella and Cai'luin thanked their host for his hospitality and promised to return to see to the party details. Rashlen insisted they take their uneaten sandwiches with them - a suggestion that made the servant Cirdaere subtly wince for he and the remainder of the staff were looking forward to the leftovers - and take a gift bag. Cirdaere reminded Rashlen that they had no gift bags to offer at the moment. Rashlen flashed his servant a stern look of outrage before genially apologizing to his guests. As they were leaving, Aella and Cai'luin were certain that the terra-cotta statues of elven warriors flanking the entrance were not present when they arrived.

Aella and Cai'luin rejoined their "servants" on the street outside the fortified villa. Patriarch Craig eyed the statues on the roofline suspiciously. They huddled in a circle to plan their next move.

Madame Thornwell

Aella told the others about her conversation with Rashlen and the group brainstormed about the best way to contact Madame Thornwell of the city council.

An unfamiliar voice in the circle replied matter-of-factly, "Madame Thornwell has no interest in parties."

There were a startled moment as everyone suddenly realized an unfamiliar woman had joined their huddle. She was a severe woman with slick straight hair. She wore a black and red leather cape over her black and red leather.

The mystery woman's tone became more accusatory, "While you stand here debating and wasting time, Mister Dory is aware of your investigation and is at his warehouse taking steps to obfuscate his corruption and obstruct your inquiries. Instead of standing around planning a party, you should be stopping the destruction of important evidence." 

Alot, Aella, Cai'luin, and Craig exchanged glances. Corvid never took his eyes off the mysterious woman in red leather.

"Um, who are you?" inquired Alot.

She backed away from the huddle, "That is not important. In fact, I was never here. I never spoke to you. Do you understand?" She walked around the corner of Rashlen Manor and vanished.

"Um, was that Madame Thornwell?" asked Alot.

Aella shrugged, "I- I think so."

Mister Dory's Warehouse

The crew quickly made their way over to the Alchemist's Quarter. They paused around the corner and out of sight from Dory's Warehouse and formulated their plan. They decided to go straight to the boat suspended from a giant crane over the muddy lagoon of the Hemlock Pit. Captain Alot sprinkled a packet of magical dust over them and they became invisible. Alot then wrapped his arms around Aella and Cai'luin while Corvid held on to Patriarch Craig. Alot and Corvid then activated their magical flying boots and zoomed through the mustard yellow sky to land on the deck of the suspended boat.

Their landing caused the boat to rock slightly and kick up some powdery yellow dust. The door to the shack located at the base of the crane opened and a humanoid figure wearing a long coat and wielding a spear emerged. The figure had strange rubbery translucent skin and three red eyes. It left the shack and approached the plank leading from the shack to the deck of the boat. It obviously sensed something was off and it studied the deck intently. Two other translucent creatures, each wearing long coats and hats to hide their identities, warily emerged behind the first. 

DM Note-

I had everyone in the crew make Stealth checks with Advantage. Some wore heavy armor so their rolls were normal. There were some real stinkers, well below the Passive Perceptions of the skum guards on watch duty. So I had the skum come out to make an active roll and they rolled incredibly well! 

Aella used her magical storm powers to create a tidal wave that washed over the three mysterious guards, knocking them back and over. Corvid leaped across the gap to land on the platform surrounding the shack at the base of the crane. He impaled one of the skum on his holy sword - "Faith Keeper".

DM Note-

Natural 20 with smite damage! Total of 55 damage in one attack!

Alot likewise leaped across onto the platform and engaged in the strange guards with his magical sword "Defender". 

The translucent humanoids responded by forcing Alot over the railing. Alot was flung into the air. The other translucent humanoids fought with Corvid and Aella. 

Suddenly Alot rose up in mid-air, rising above the railing on the platform. He was suspended by his magical flying boots. He re-engaged the translucent enemy. 

After an intense battle the three translucent humanoids were eventually defeated. Their bodies raplidly disintegrated into liquid leaving nothing but bare human skeletons.

The Pendent Vessel

By this time all members of the party were now visible but their battle atop the crane platform had gone unnoticed.

Patriarch Craig opened the hatch on the side of the boat leading into its super-structure. A burst of hot steam emerged that stung the eyes. The cabin was located near the stern of the boat and was filled with foggy steam. There was a large metal cauldron placed on top of a gas-flame boiler. Water was constantly delivered into the cauldron via a pipe connected to a nearby building that hung over a grate in the ceiling of the cabin. The walls and floor of the cabin were slick with disgusting slime and mold. The slippery floor was treacherous to cross. Craig entered the cabin and made his way towards the door in the back.

Three naked translucent humanoids emerged from the cauldron and attacked Craig with tridents. 

Patriarch Craig summoned forth a spiritual war-pick to attack the creatures while Aella created a magical swarm of snowballs that pummeled the creatures in the back of the cabin.

Cai'luin looked inside the cabin and cast a Shatter spell upon the cauldron. There was a tremendously loud bang as the large metal cauldron split down the side. Hot water began to spray out of the crack and fill the cabin. Corvid immediately took the elven bard to task, "That was too loud! What part of stealth mission do you not understand?!" In response, Cai'luin simply smiled and shrugged. As punishment, Corvid ordered Cai'luin to help him pull the gang-way away from the platform, separating the boat from the warehouse.

Alot made his way into the cabin to help defend Craig. A pitched battle ensued with hot water spraying at high pressure against the wall of the cabin. 

Corvid and Cai'luin soon returned. Corvid created a magical bonfire behind the creatures fighting Alot while Cai'luin sang bardic songs of vicious mockery.

After another long and pitched battle, the three translucent creatures were defeated - their bodies rapidly decaying to liquid and bone. 

The Flooded Hold

Alot opened the door in back of the cabin. Water that had flooded the cabin began to pour into the next section. The deck of this section had been removed revealing an open chasm down to the ship's bilge. The entire bilge was flooded ten feet deep with dark cloudy water. The water from the cabin poured into the water of the flooded bilge. A long plank crossed the chasm and connected the door to another door leading into the aft cabin. Once again the air of the section was foggy with acidic steam.

A human body floated face down in the water in one corner of the section. Dark forms swam menacingly under the water.

DM Note-

I rolled Stealth checks for the skum with Advantage but I rolled miserably.

Aella poked her head into the room and created a magical ice storm that whipped up the water and pummeled the area with heavy hailstones. The frost and hail floated on the surface and made the icy plank treacherous to cross.

Patriarch Craig and Alot carefully made their way out onto the plank towards the aft cabin. Translucent hands reached up and grabbed Craig's ankle, pulling him off the plank and into the cloudy water. Craig and his opponent were little more than dark nebulous colors under the surface. Alot jumped into the water and was soon attacked by another translucent enemy. 

The floating body suddenly sprang to life and attempted to assassinate Alot from behind. The assassin soon found Alot's magical armor impenetrable. 

Alot, would had no problems fighting underwater, engaged his two opponents while Craig, wearing a magical helmet that allowed him to breathe normally underwater, fought valiantly against his lone foe. Aella, standing in the doorway, would pepper the  opponents with small attack spells as she could. 

Alot and Craig soon dispatched the two translucent enemies. The human assassin surrendered and begged for mercy!

The assassin said his name was Harid and that he was sent by his dark lord, the Whisperer in the Dark, Servant of Tharizdun, to spy on Dory. His dark lord lacked confidence in Dory and that he was sent to kill Dory if he proved incompetent or disloyal. Harid was willing to sell out the city council if they allowed him to leave. 

He told them that Dory was in the aft cabin packing up. Dory knew about the investigation and was panicking and preparing to leave the city. He told them that Dory was defended by some kind of automaton made of flesh and that he commanded special abilities granted by their dark lord, but he was no spell-caster in the traditional sense. 

Harid then made an attempt to flee past Cai'luin in the forward cabin. Cai'luin, who had not heard the conversation in the flooded hold, whispered a magical incantation and the assassin retreated back into the hold.

Alot swam up to the assassin and knocked him unconscious.

The crew then gathered together and prepared to  open the door to the aft cabin where Mister Dory was waiting.

To Be Continued...

The Ghost Lantern Murders - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Chapter 72

 

After a few days in which Master Refrum and his assistant failed to show to work on the alchemical weapon, Alot sought out the alchemist. The laboratory looked like it had been closed for several days. He eventually found Master Refrum scurrying down the street covering his head as a group of children were throwing rotten vegetables, trash, and cobblestones at him. The children were shouting insults and accusing Master Refrum of harboring a killer. Onlookers refused to intervene and watched the proceedings with tacit approval.

Alot stepped in and frightened the children away. Master Refrum was in a desperate panicked state and clutching a holy symbol he had previously concealed under his shirt. Alot asked him what happened. Master Refrum explained that his assistant, Jarme, had been arrested by the city guard and accused of multiple murders!"

Alot held the man's shoulders to calm him down, "Yes, I know. He was hanged two days ago."

"I- I know," stammered the alchemist, "I felt so ashamed. How could I have been so wrong about the boy? But Captain Aname, to my horror, today I learned an awful truth!"

"What is it?"

"Captain Aname - there has been another murder! Jarme was not the killer! They sent an innocent boy to his death! Captain Aname, I fear that the town guard is taking steps to keep the killings a secret! Captain Aname, I am at my wits end! I do not know how to proceed!"

Alot reassured him, "You should have come to us. We're here to help."

CHAPTER 72

"THE GHOST LANTERN MURDERS"

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.
• Patriarch 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-
We begin the mystery of the Styes in earnest. But first, I needed to back up and give the players some more detail about what happened to them during the week they spent in Poniard.

Also, throughout this week we could never remember the name Ghost Lantern Killer. The players called him the Red Faced Killer and even I kept calling him Ghost Face Killa.

A Week in the Styes

The crew of the Sea Ghost had a week to kill in the city of Poniard, also known as the Styes. The Sea Ghost itself was to be hoisted out of the water and suspended by a crane to allow workers to make repairs and install modifications. During that time they would have to find temporary quarters within the city.

Aella and Cai'luin obtained lodging in the Ritz, the nicest hotel in Poniard - a title that meant little in this city of waning fortune - and spent their days calling upon the wealthy and powerful. As representatives of the town council of Saltmarsh they hoped to make mercantile contacts as well as develop relations with members of the town council. In time Aella made the close acquaintance of three aristocrats.

• Audwin: Shipping business owner, wants to avoid Brotherhood as much as possible and tax collectors
• Rai: Elf, Member of old upper class, sad about what has happened to city, don't like current political situation
• Rashlen: Elf, lives in secretive manor, on the City Council

Cai'luin spent the week performing music in venues throughout Poniard from the High Quarter to the Low Quarter. He made three allies of his own:

• Eduardo: Upper Class Merchant - be careful of the time in the city; it corrupts the lungs and causes rashes.
• Fira Drake: Former Grave Digger - now works for the Crematorium.
• Wrezu Yeben Kelbar Xalbis: Gnome (Former) Pirate - owns a dry dock and ship repair business. 

Patriarch Craig and Corvid spent the week among the poor residents in the Low Quarter in a neighborhood known as Flotsam. There they healed the sick and taught the masses about the Raven King and his judgement of the dead. The practice of religion was heavily taxed and fined within Poniard so the pair conducted their ceremonies and lessons in secret. There they observed that many of the residents of Flotsam were afflicted with a malady called redface. Those so afflicted developed red itchy rashes on their face and their skin became swollen, especially around their eyes, eventually resulting in blindness.

Despite their healing services and circumspection, the pair found it difficult to make contact with the people of the Styes. They were furtive and wary of outsiders. They would soon learn that the neighborhood was gripped by a collective paranoia over a recent spate of unsolved killings.

Captain Alot spent his days overseeing the repairs and improvements to his ship while taking time to tour the city and inspect any local news or posted bulletins. 

During their time in the Styes, the crew experienced a high level of anxiety among the residents of the Low Quarter. The neighborhood had experienced a series of 26 killings over six months. A mysterious figure known as the Ghost Lantern Killer had slain with impunity, taking his victims in the night only to return them a day later, mutilated, and gruesomely posed in a public location as if on display for all to see.

On the third day of their stay came the big news. It swept through the street like a flood. The killer had been caught! It was some alchemist's assistant. It was Jarme! Rumor had it that a constable of the city militia had caught the killer in the act of mutilating his latest victim. He was arrested and taken to a special cell in Hope'ner asylum to await trial.

Before the third day was over the four-member town council of Poniard had already met and tried the case. The evidence of the killer's guilt was overwhelming and he was sentenced to death. 

Alot saw Master Refrum on that day. Jarme was Refrum's assistant. Refrum was horrified that his assistant might be capable of such terrible acts of carnage but the evidence seemed irrefutable. 

Justice was swift and Jarme was hanged at dawn on the fourth day. His remains were immediately taken to the crematorium for disposal. 

On the fifth day, Master Refrum failed to show up to work on the Sea Ghost. Alot decided to look for him. He soon found the alchemist being harassed on the street by children. 

Another Murder

Alot chased away the street children and heard Refrum's story. Refrum told Alot that he had learned that another mutilated body had been discovered just this morning. The victim had disappeared AFTER Jarme was caught, yet the victim had been mutilated in the same fashion as the others! 

The discovery convinced Master Refrum that the Ghost Lantern killer was still on the loose. If so, then perhaps Jarme was, in fact, not responsible for the murders! The idea that his assistant may have been wrongly executed weighed heavily on the alchemist's mind.

In addition, the body was quickly taken to the crematorium for destruction and there has been no official announcement from the town council. Refrum fears that the town council may be attempting to suppress the knowledge of this new murder. 

However, since Jarme's execution, it had become common knowledge that Jarme worked as Refrum's assistant. Refrum was facing vigilante punishment from the townsfolk of Poniard, especially from his fellow alchemists and inventors. Most believed that Jarme was killing in order to harvest organs for Refrum to use in a foul experiments without lawfully purchasing them from the crematorium - an illegal and unethical act that Refrum would never contemplate! 

Fearing for his safety, Refrum told Alot that he would be leaving Poniard for two weeks. He apologized that he would be unable to complete the modifications to the Sea Ghost on schedule.

Alot assured Refrum that, in his absence, the sentinel and his colleagues would get to the bottom of this mystery and clear the alchemist's name of any wrong-doing. Refrum expressed his gratitude and said that if Alot could do that, the alchemist would reduce the price of the modifications by one-third. 

Refrum asked Alot what he planned to do. Alot replied, "First thing I'm going to do is go to the crematorium to try to inspect the latest victim."

DM Note-

The adventure has Refrum suggest that the characters look for clues in Jarme's cell at the asylum. I accidentally neglected to do that because I got so caught up in Alot's confident plan to go straight to the crematorium. So they may have missed some important context for the mystery.

Madame Sliris

Captain Alot crossed the broken stone bridge and went straight to the crematorium. There he once again encountered the proprietress, Madame Sliris. 

Madam Sliris wore an all dark-brown mourning dress. Her long nose and prominent front teeth gave her the countenance of a brown rat. Her gold eye shadow and lipstick matched the golden jewelry she wore and hinted at her opulent position as a member of the city council of Poniard.

She greeted Alot as he entered and once again enquired whether he was depositing or withdrawing. 

Captain Alot asked to see the body of the most recent murder victim. 

Madame Sleris replied that the most recent victim was found four days ago and had already been cremated. 

Alot corrected her. "Not that one. The victim found this morning."

Madame Sleris coyly replied, "I am not aware of any murder victims that have been deposited in the last four days. There was an unfortunate accident victim brought in just this morning but, seeing as no one purchased the body, the remains have already been cremated per our custom."

Alot stepped closer and pointed his stubby metal finger at Madame Sleris, "That's funny. I was under the impression that you kept the bodies for several days in case you could sell them to an alchemist. I'm know you are covering up the truth of a murder this morning and I'm going to figure out what's going on."

Madame Sleris' patronizing smile never wavered as she watched the automaton turn and leave.

The City Militia

Captain Alot left the crematorium and ran into Patriarch Craig and Corvid, the Paladin of Vengeance. Craig looked like he was going to confront Madame Sleris over the city's lack of funerary rites. Alot stopped him and told him they had a bigger issue - they needed to join him and the rest of the team at the Ritz for a meeting.

The trio reunited with Aella and Cai'luin at the Ritz and the team adjourned to a nearby tea house. There Alot told him everything Refrum said and described his encounter with Madame Sleris. They decided that their next step would be to interview the constable that found the body. To do this they passed through the High Quarter to the militia garrison. 

The garrison was a poorly maintained three story stone building. A wooden gallows stood out front. They knocked on the door. A moment later a confused young man opened the door while holding a leathern jack of ale. The interior of the garrison was untidy. The sound of raucous laughter carried from another room, as did the sound of furniture breaking in some kind of brawl or rowdy hijinks. 

The young guard that opened the door was in the middle of laughing at something funny that had recently happened. He was still laughing as he asked "Yeah, what do you want?"

Aella and Cai'luin adopted their most official and diplomatic tone, "I am Avastana Kádár, member of the town council of Saltmarsh. This is ambassador Cai'luin, representative of the sea elf tribe of Manaan. These are our associates. We are researching municipal law enforcement practices pertaining to the investigation of murders and other heinous crimes. We would like to interview the constable that

captured the murderer Jarme."

The young guard became wary, "You mean Jute? Why would you want to talk with her?"

Aella replied, "We simply hope to learn from her expertise."

Another guard came stumbling out of another room. He was also drinking from a leathern jack. He put his arm around the first guard, "Hey! What's going on?"

"These- representatives- want to talk to Jute about Jarme."

The second guard became suddenly serious. He looked directly at Aella but spoke to the first guard, "Tell her there's nothing to talk about." He turned and disappeared into the garrison.

The first guard coldly said, "Jute is out on patrol. She won't be back for another three hours. If you want to find her, she's probably over in the Low Quarter rescuing a puppy or whatever." He closed the heavy iron door and locked it.

Officer Jute

"Should we go look for her?" asked Alot.

"I've got a better idea. Lets find a place to sit for a bit." said Patriarch Craig.

They found a nearby table at another tea house. Patriarch Craig produced a crystal orb the size of an eyeball and said, "I've been wanting to try this. I'll look for her without having to move."

He closed his eyes and held the orb to his wrinkled dwarven forehead. He began muttering a prayer. A moment later he said, "I think I've found her. I see a city guard, a woman, in the Low Quarter. She's checking on people, talking with them, giving them food. Everybody seems to like her. I bet that's her."

Alot said, "Quick, let's hire a gondola and get over there."

About twenty minutes later they exited the gondola onto the rotten wooden boardwalk of Flotsam in the Low Quarter. The entire area was built of ramshackle structures stacked on top of other ramshackle structures four to five layers deep and connected by rope bridges, gang-planks, and cat-walks. 

They soon found the woman they sought applying salve to a beggar blinded by redface. She saw a motley assortment consisting of a mechanical warrior, a pale avatar of vengeance, a dwarf wearing a mask that resembled a skull, a half-elf woman, and a blue-skinned elf coming towards her at a rapid pace. She quickly picked up her bardiche and prepared to defend herself.

Alot stopped and held out his tri-digit mechanical hands. He thought about talking but called Aella and Cai'luin to the front instead. Aella and Cai'luin explained that they were friends and only wanted to ask her some questions. 

The constable confirmed that she was Jute and that she was the one who caught Jarme several nights previous. 

Aella gave Jute the same story she gave the other guards. Jute proceeded to politely answer her questions.

Jute described how she found Jarme in the Alchemist's Quarter carrying the mutilated body of a murder victim. He carried a bloody knife in his belt that appeared to be the murder weapon. Jarme's body was covered in blood. He was carrying a lantern that emitted an eerie green light with no flame. Jarme at first looked like he was ready to pounce like an animal but to her surprise he suddenly changed. It was as if he had just woken up. Jute apprehended him and he willingly surrendered. She was surprised at how quickly justice was meted out.

When asked about the more recent murder victim found this morning, Jute confirmed that she had heard about it and thought it was odd. From what she heard it was obviously a murder and that the victim had been mutilated in a manner similar to the other victims. When told about the immediate cremation she, too, thought it was very strange. Jute admitted to having her suspicions that the city council was involved in some sort of cover up.

Aella asked if Jute knew where the recent victim had been found. Jute replied, "Yah, sure. I take you there." 

The Scene of the Crime

Constable Jute took the crew to the industrial Alchemist's Quarter. The neighborhood consisted of heavy stone buildings that were, in more prosperous times, temples. Decades ago the temples were re-built and re-purposed into factories, laboratories, and warehouses.  Metal chimneys spewed mustard-yellow smoke and a coarse salt-like particulate covered most surfaces. She led them down a alley clogged with trash and light yellowish mud to a spot that appeared to have recently splashed with a few buckets of water. Rats, large insects, and seagulls were swarming the area picking it clean of any remaining offal.

Jute said that the victim was a dock-worker named Jaif. His body was decapitated and dis-embowelled, just like the others. His head and guts were not found. Unlike the previous victims, the killer did not pose and display the body to be seen by the public. In fact, the town council ordered the body to be immediately cremated and the constables of the militia were told that Jaif died in an accident.

Cai'luin and Alot closely examined the alley. Cai'luin identified several sets of boot-prints that apparently belonged to the constables that found and removed the body.  In addition, Cai'luin saw several sets of bare footprints belonging to webbed feet - the feet did not match those of a sea elf, locathah, sahuagin, or koalinth. The appeared to be of a humanoid with fat splayed feet. 

The Hemlock Pit

Cai'luin tracked the webbed prints out of the alley and towards a lagoon at the center of the Alchemist's Quarter - a lagoon of fetid mud known as Hemlock Pit. 

"Did they go into the mud?" asked Alot.

Cai'luin looked closer, "I don't think so. They sort of get lost between these two buildings - Dory's Warehouse and Chaucer's Industrial Alchemy."

The team, along with Constable Jute, gathered nearby to converse discreetly and observe the two buildings. 

Dory's Warehouse was three stories tall. The back face of Dory's Warehouse, that facing away from the Hemlock Pit, had large open barn doors and stevedores were unloading a wagon that was backed up to the entrance. A heavy crane was attached to the roof of the building. The crane jutted out over the lagoon on the far side of the building and supported a medium sized boat suspended by a thick chain and secured with steel cables. The boat looked decrepit and was covered in dangling moss. A metal pipe ran from a water tank atop the alchemist's laboratory next door to the suspended boat. A small exhaust-pipe at the bow of the boat, just under where the water pipe entered the boat, emitted a constant cloud of white steam. 

Captain Alot asked constable Jute if she could arrange a search of the warehouse. She informed them that Mister Dory was a member of the town council and was a very powerful individual in Poniard. Under no circumstances would she contemplate searching Mister Dory's warehouse. Alot then asked if maybe she could possibly look the other way for a while then. Jute gave him a stern look and told him that she would be obligated to report his actions as a crime.

"In fact," she continued, "I do not like where the implications inherent in this conversation. My shift is over and I must return to the garrison. If you need me for anything - anything that does not compromise my position as a constable of the watch - you can find me there! I would warn you against doing anything that might get you in trouble with the council. Good day!" She gave pointed at her eyes with two fingers and pointed at them as she left - a warning to stay out of trouble.

Patriarch Craig watched her leave with admiration in his dwarven eyes, "I like her."

"Agreed," said Alot. The others nodded in unison.

"Okay, what do we think is happening here?" asked Alot.

Patriarch Craig rubbed his bearded chin, "Flesh golems. I mean, they're alchemists right? Probably used some kind of mind control potion on Jarme. Probably bought bodies from the crematorium when they could and had Jarme kill people to get whatever else they needed."

Corvid nodded, "I concur."

Cai'luin said he was going to look around. He walked away from the group to get a closer look at the warehouse. He sauntered around the perimeter looking as casually as was possible for a noble-born sea-elf bard while whistling nonchalantly. 

A group of stevedores took notice and approached him, "Can I help you sir?"

Cai'luin held out his hands, "No, no. Just a humble merchant looking around. Sorry." before walking on. 

He returned to the group and said, "Well, what do we want to do? Do we want to sneak in and look around?"

Patriarch Craig, who had been walking around the area inspecting the old structures that were once temples, trying to identify the gods to which they were originally dedicated, said, "We should return to the tea-house. I have a plan."

A Clairvoyant Inspection

Back in the High Quarter Patriarch Craig once again produced the glass orb that served as a focus for his miraculous out-of-body travel. He held the orb to his forehead and spoke the prayer. His consciousness left his body and he found his perception hovering over the roof of Dory's Warehouse.

As he suspected, the roof consisted of large windows to let light in and to provide air circulation. It was around mid-day and he could see down into the warehouse.

On the top floor he saw a catwalk that ran the perimeter of the warehouse.

The second floor had a large square area on one end that was open to the first floor. He could look down onto the first floor and see a platform connected to winches that could be raised and lowered to the second and third floors. The second floor contained many crates in long term storage. From his angle high above he could just make the form of several sleeping creatures - lions with leathery wings and long spiked tails. They were manticores - the second floor was guarded by the manticores! He also saw a large red-skinned frog-like humanoid crouched in waiting, watching the stevedores below. Was that the creature that made the webbed foot prints? No, its feet were too large.

DM Note-

I had been describing the clairvoyance as if he was watching drone camera footage. The way Craig's player described the spell it sounded like he could move it around. So he moved the "drone" down to the first floor to look around. He wanted to look into a room with a closed door. It was at this point that I asked, "Can clairvoyance do that? What's the speed of clairvoyance? Does it have Darkvision?" Craig's player checked the spell and admitted he had been unintentionally cheating. Clairvoyance is stationary, it could not move. We were both confusing it with the Arcane Eye spell which CAN move. 

He apologized and, as penance, marked off one of his higher level spell slots.

Patriarch Craig broke the prayer and started over, this time he found his invisible eye inside the bow of the suspended boat. It was dark. The cabin contained a large boiler. The entire compartment was flooded waist-deep in cloudy brown water and was filled with steam. The walls dripped with condensation. 

Patriarch Craig once again ended the prayer and started over. His invisible eye was within the mid-deck compartment. It, too, was flooded like the bow and filled with steam. A dead body floated in the water face down. Two humps of cloudy water lurked in the corners, moving slowly. They appeared to be humans with smooth blubbery skin, nearly translucent like that of a jellyfish.

Craig once again said his prayer and he found himself in the stern compartment. Once again, the cabin was flooded and filled with steam. The cabin was an office with a desk that rose out of the water. Strange plants hung from the ceiling. He saw a tall humanoid form hanging from a hook in the corner - it was a human body composed of various mis-matched parts stitched together - a flesh golem!

"I knew it!" he murmured to himself, "Flesh golems!"

He could see some papers on the desk along with a mahogany box and a large book. He read as many of the notes and papers on the desk as he could could. Most were hand-scribbled bits of disturbing erotica, badly-drawn doodles of spirals and tentacled monsters, and a half-folded note on top of the large book that read: 

This book contains all the invocations and prayers you'll

need to learn the truth, Mr. Dory. The dark god's faithful

are wary of new converts. But learn the words, and they

should accept you soon enough. Seek their pulpit in the 

evening shadow of Frother's Lamp. Praise Tharizdun!

"Frother's Lamp," said Craig, "Does that mean anything to anyone?"

After some asking around they soon learned that Frother's Lamp was a local landmark in Flotsam - an old lighthouse that has sat empty and ruined for decades. It's the tallest point in the neighborhood and used as a landmark. 

It was getting late in the day and Patriarch Craig was feeling drained so they decided to rest and return in the morning. 

Frother's Lamp

The next morning they hired a gondola to take them to Flotsam. 

It was about an hour after sunrise when they exited the gondola onto the decrepit and ramshackle shanties of Flotsam. At the center of the mass of old buildings built layer on top of layer was a stone tower - the remnants of an old lighthouse - Frother's Lamp.

The team was immediately beset by a mass of dirty-faced children wearing rags. The children grabbed their hands and pulled, offering to act as guides. Little fingers tugged at coats and belts. Tiny bodies wriggled underfoot and swarmed around them. 

Aella complained, "Oh hell, we're getting fleeced!"

Corvid stood rigid and began to glow with dark purple energy. Ethereal skeletal raven wings appeared to sprout from his back and his eyes glowed with power. The children screamed and fled.

DM Note-

I opened character sheets and just started deleting small items - bottles of ink, daggers, rations, any small random thing. I deleted about 4-6 things from each character - except Corvid. 

They reached the base of Frother's Lamp, built upon the highest point of the small rocky island that formed the solid bedrock of Flotsam. The lighthouse was an empty shell. Only sea birds and weeds living in the empty stone cylinder. 

The team looked around but found nothing.

While they were looking, Craig asked the others about Tharizdun. Corvid told Craig what he knew- 

 Tharizdun, the Dark God, He of Eternal Darkness, is an evil deity of decay, insanity and darkness. 

Tharizdun's followers are united by a single ancient creed, found inscribed within one of his dark pyramids:

"Light must be snuffed, perfection decayed, order dissolved, and minds fragmented."

The rest of his religion consists of a sporadic collection of terrible holy texts, secretly guarded even from other sects and detailing terrible rituals and extraplanar horrors.

The clergy of Tharizdun preach that all things eventually crumble, and in time Tharizdun's victory over the gods will be complete.

Followers place great importance on the number three. For example, there are believed to be 333 Gems of Tharizdun, each an minor unholy artifact. Tharizdun's clerics cannot draw power from him unless they are in contact with an artifact such as these.

Tharizdun's few followers are almost all insane, and those who are not are extremely dangerous. Contact with the imprisoned Dark God is only possible in proximity to one of his remaining artifacts or forgotten unholy sites, and even then his blessings come at the cost of madness.

Many cults are unaware that the entity that they worship is Tharizdun. Unable to act upon the world directly, he dispenses his power from cover identities and aspects, such as the Elder Elemental Eye responsible for the infamous Temple of Elemental Evil.

Tharizdun's followers are highly secretive, and his temples are well hidden. Many follow him in the optimistic belief that he will spare his loyal servants when he destroys the multiverse. Their goal is to bring together all of his artifacts, and to free the Ebon God from his imprisonment, where he will destroy the multiverse. Although the cult's leaders are fully aware of this, many low-ranking members merely seek revenge against society, and are unaware with the full extent of the Dark God's destruction, should he be freed.

Tharizdun is followed by the Black Brotherhood, a dangerous sect of the Suloise Scarlet Brotherhood.

DM Note-

Corvid rolled a 22 on his Religion check so I just info-dumped on them from the Greyhawk Wiki.

Captain Alot looked to the west. It suddenly occurred to him. He looked to the east towards the sun. He looked up at the lighthouse and quickly calculated the angle of the shadow of the lighthouse during the setting sun. He looked down across the slum at a narrow canyon-like alley among the layered structures and gangplanks. 

"I think I found it."

DM's Note-

Everyone was looking around. Alot's player said, "Hey, if the sun were setting, about where would the shadow be? We should look there."

They crossed several rope-bridges and gang-planks and climbed down sets of rickety stairs and decaying ladders and poles to reach the very bottom of the alley. 

Here the many layers above had flattened the strata beneath to form a kind of artificial sedimentary substance. The brown water stank and was choked with garbage from the alley above. Jutting out from the layered strata across the narrow alley was the prow of an ancient ship. The bow was covered in heaps of trash. A plank crossed the alley to the ship.

The team readied their weapons and began crossing the plank. Alot led the way followed by Corvid and Aella.

As Alot reached the deck of the ship, the piles of trash shifted and three humanoid forms with smooth translucent skin like that of a jellyfish rose from their hiding places. The brandished javelins and prepared to throw. 

To Be Continued...