The Calm Before the Storm - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Chapter 79

Aella, Alot, Corvid, and Craig disembarked from the Sea Ghost on the evening of their arrival in Seaton. Cai'luin had disappeared - he had left to go help his friend Oceanus rescue the sacred polyp from the koalinth. 

The rest hired a carriage - one suitable for a wealthy merchant or visiting noble - to take them to the citadel. The guards at the gate waited for a herald to announce their arrival but no herald emerged from the carriage. Aella looked towards Corvid. Corvid grimaced and shook his head. She looked to Craig. The dwarf scratched his beard and spat. Aella shook her head. Aella looked towards Alot. The cold lenses of the armored automaton's emotionless visual sensors stared back at her. She sighed and exited the carriage herself.

"Please tell Duke Feldren and his daughter Lemundo that Aella, presumptive queen of Manaan, has arrived and seeks an audience."

 

CHAPTER 79

"THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM"

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- I had originally planned for this session to be the climax but two things got in my way - Cai'luin's player was absent and I didn't really know how to get the story towards the climax I wanted. The player characters were at point A. The climax was at point B. I was at a loss for how to connect those dots. So we spent this week role-playing, planning, researching, and otherwise preparing for the final battle to come. In so doing I was better able to move from that point A to point B in a more logical way that still allowed the players some agency in their own story. 

The Citadel of Seaton

Aella and her entourage were escorted into the duke's manor house but were met at the entrance by Lady Lemundo, daughter of Duke Obertus Feldren, Lord Marshall of the citadel of Seaton. 

Lady Lemundo was ecstatic to see her old friend Aella. Lemundo escorted Aella into the mail hall where the duke's advisors were sitting to share a meal. Lemundo introduced Aella and Alot to those present but relied upon Aella to introduce the rest for she had not yet met Patriarch Craig or Corvid.

In attendance were the military commanders of the king's navy and army stationed in Seaton as well as the priests and patriarchs of the local temples of Heironeous, Saint Cuthbert, and Procan. 

Aella told Lemundo that she and her crew had come to speak to the duke about a very important matter.

"What matter is this?" inquired the bold and commanding voice of the duke as he descended the stairs from the upper floors of the manor house.

Aella and Alot told the duke of the impending surprise attack by forces amassed by the Scarlet Brotherhood, about the planned assassination of the king, and of the resurrection of the dragon Aulicus in order to attack the citadel. All of these events were scheduled to transpire on the night of the Solstice  when the tides were highest and the townsfolk would be distracted with celebrations - eleven days hence.

Duke Feldren shook the hands of Aella and Alot and was introduced to Craig and Corvid. He acknowledged that he had received a messenger from Commander Fireborn in Saltmarsh informing him of this news. "These are bold claims. Do you have evidence to support this?"

Alot produced the coded correspondence between the Scarlet Brotherhood and the Serpent's Tooth. The duke nodded and said that this confirms his own suspicions. His own military intelligence told him that the Scarlet Brotherhood had been importing ship-loads of slaves from Hepmonaland into the city of Monmurg over the past several months.  It was now clear that these so-called slaves were, in fact, soldiers being covertly transported across the Azure Sea and that the Brotherhood was preparing for a major attack along the southwest coast of Keoland.

The dinner became transformed into a planning session as tables were cleared and large maps were produced. Alot suggested the redeployment of the king's navy to protect the towns of Saltmarsh, Angleburg,  and Redshore.

DM- There was a lot of great non-important role-playing that happened here as Corvid and Craig were introduced to the other priests and talked dogma and ritual. Lots of friendly conversation with the duke and his daughter. 

 

Searching for Scrolls

The next eleven days were spent preparing for the battle to come. Aella and Corvid returned to Saltmarsh to visit Angela and Rosalee's Herbs, Potions, Teas, etc. in the hope of acquiring some magical potions that would allow them to fly. They needed some way to meet the dragon in the air. Unfortunately, that was not a concoction that the shop offered. The pair considered seeking the aid of the wizard Keledek but dismissed the option.

DM- The players asked about any wizards in the area. I suggested Keledek - the only wizard in the region as magic is supposed to be rare and unpopular in Greyhawk. 

Alot's player asked, "Wait, isn't he evil?"

I replied, "I mean, you guys labeled him as evil but I'm not sure why. He has an agenda that was different than yours and, so far, anyone with a different agenda than you tends to be immediately labelled ad 'evil' for some reason."

Alot's player said, "Yeah, but didn't he have some arrangement with the Loyal Quartermasters of Iuz?"

And I said, "Insomuch as you all also had the same arrangement. He purchased magic items from her, same as you. Does that make him evil?"

Alot's player said, "Good point. Huh. I always just assumed he was a bad guy for some reason."

"Well, he's not exactly a GOOD guy. Like I said, he just has his own agenda."

I explained how he hired the smugglers to obtain the black dragon egg - his goal being to use the egg as a hostage or a bargaining chip in case Aulicus the dragon attacked Saltmarsh. And how, once they stole the egg and framed the smugglers, he got revenge on the leader of the smugglers for the betrayal. Oh, he also used his invisible imp to spy on people around the town. But that was the extent of his "villainy". 

Aella and Corvid then spent the next week scouring shops and sellers for magical scrolls. They were able to find a map shop in Seaton that happened to have three magical scrolls, each containing a spell of flying, rolled up within a map. 

The Scrying

Patriarch Craig became friends with Doran Serpentwing, priest of Heironeous in Seaton. Serpentwing was a barrel-chested man in his fifties, bald with a stout muscular frame of someone who was a powerful warrior in his prime and yet still formidable in middle age. Craig told Serpentwing how Aella had defeated Aulicus and returned later to face the cult of Tiamat that dwelled in the ancient tomb of Sakatha. He described Orgmond, one of the assistants to the high priest of Tiamat, and how he escaped death and stole the book known as the Liber Draconis.

Serpentwing, in turn, told Craig how he was familiar with the Liber Draconis and the cult of Tiamat. Forty years ago, Serpentwing was a member of an expedition into the jungles of the south that discovered an ancient temple to Tiamat. They defeated the monsters that dwelled there and returned with many treasures - including the Liber Draconis which for many decades was kept well-protected. Then, just over a year ago, one of the priests of Heironeous tasks to guard the Liber Draconis - an acolyte named Ul-Lon. Ul-Lon betrayed the temple of Heironeous and joined the cult of Tiamat. He was relieved to hear that Ul-Lon met justice in the bowels of the Tomb of Sakatha - but he was saddened to hear that the Liber Draconis was in the hands of the cult ot Tiamat.

Patriarch Craig asked Serpentwing where they found the temple. Serpentwing described a mountain-top temple deep in the jungles of Amedio. He showed him on a map.

On the seventh day prior to the impending solstice, Craig used this information to perform the scrying ritual and remotely observe the location indicated by Serpentwing. He observed Orgmond the dragon priest of Tiamat making preparations for a dark ritual in an ancient mountain-top temple fortress overgrown with jungle. He repeated the scrying ritual at midnight and observed Orgmond removing a heart from an ornate metal box. The heart was the size of a man's entire torso. It was the dead heart of Aulicus. Orgmond placed the heart in the center of a large circular altar. Craig then saw Orgmond remove a black dragon egg from another box. Orgmond placed the egg on a sacrificial pedestal. Orgmond was wearing black robes and a golden symbol of Tiamat. He caught a glimpse of Orgmond's features. The dragon priest had taken a more draconic visage - he had begun to slowly transform into a dragon.

Orgmond raised a dagger with a curved blade high over his head. He began chanting ancient words of power. Orgmond plunged the dagger into the egg, slicing it open and withdrawing the dormant dragon hatchling within. He cut out the heart of the hatchling and threw it into a burning brazier. It flashed and sparked and the smoke began magically pouring onto the ground, snaking its way towards the massive heart of Aulicus. The magic smoke enveloped the heart. The smoke took on the form of a prone dragon. 

Tendrils broke free of the heart and snaked outward, forming a phantom circulatory system. Bones grew from the smoke. Muscles and tendons formed. Scales began to grow on the freshly materialized skin. Aulicus took a breath! Aulicus was reborn! 

A bound and frightened Amedi slave was presented as an offering to the dragon. The dragon grabbed the offering and bit off his head. He swallowed before finishing off the rest. The dragon then collapsed, exhausted. It was weak and needed to recuperate.

DM- MAN I loved describing that scene. It was great! Very visual and sensory. Alot's player said, "Wait, we're not fighting an undead dragon?" I said, "No, just a resurrected dragon." He was sad, "Aw, I was kind of hoping to fight a cool dracolich or something. Now I'm disappointed."

Craig shared this information with Alot. 

Alot cursed, "If only there was some way we could get there! I mean, we have a ship right? How long would it take?"

Craig explained that the dragon needed only four days to recuperate. It would take three days to reach the nearest port in Amedio. From there they'd have to go overland through the jungle for over a hundred miles. It took Orgmond's expedition at least a week. 

Alot said, "The solstice is in seven days. How are they going to get here in time?"

Craig pointed out - the dragon would not need to return the way they came.

Craig continued scrying every day for the next week. For the first four days he saw the dragon recuperating, eating living sacrifices and regaining his strength. On the fifth day, two days before the solstice, he saw Orgmond riding the dragon like a mount, using a special saddle, as the dragon flew across the sea. 

On the sixth day, the day before solstice, he saw the dragon sleeping in a city. Craig could not identify the city but there were many ships in the harbor. 

The Solstice Feast

At dawn the following morning - the morning of the solstice, Craig wore his finest clerical vestments. He gathered the crew of the Sea Ghost together with the Duke of Seaton, his daughter, his advisors, and the leaders of his military. He produced a fabulous golden bowl encrusted with gems. He said a prayer to Tristin, Saint Ogden, and Saint Splug. A wondrous feast miraculously appeared before all present. They ate from the feast and were emboldened. 

Towards sunset Craig performed the scrying ritual one more time. He saw the dragon flying north with a coast to the east. He was coming.  

They knew from the correspondence that the attack would come during the high tide near midnight. The duke had positioned his ships along the coast. Anyone unable to fight or support the fighters were sent inland to Burle. Every fishing boat had been transformed into signal ships, ready to light signal fires to warn the towns of the incoming raiders. Armored roofs had been constructed for the towers of the citadel to protect the ballistae and trebuchets and their crews from dragon attacks from above.

Captain Alot, Princess Aella (Presumptive Queen of Manaan), Patriarch Craig - High Priest of Tristin, and Corvid - Champion of Tristin, stood on the parapets of the citadel of Seaton. The sun had finally set. It was near midnight. The tide was near its zenith.

Signal fires began to light up in the darkness out at sea. The ships of the Scarlet Brotherhood were on their way. 

Somewhere out there in the darkness of the night sky was a black dragon. Aella had faced and defeated Aulicus once before. That Aulicus was old, injured, decrepit, incapable of flight, and even still managed to kill all who stood against it save herself. This was not that dragon. This was Aulicus Reborn. This was to be a dragon at full strength - with all its power. 

Aella sighed, "I wish Cai'luin was here."

Patriarch Craig peered into the impenetrable darkness of the midnight sky. "Aella?"

"Yes?" she answered.

"Prepare your scrolls of Daylight."

To Be Concluded...

DM- We ended early. Cai'luin's player was absent that week and I really want him to be present for the finale. The Scrolls of Daylight reference, which Craig's player actually said right at that moment, was a reference/joke to the scrolls of Daylight she's had since the beginning of the campaign. For many months she kept offering to use it but the others said, "NO! Save them for fighting vampires!" Then, later, when they were actually fighting tough vampires, she forgot she had them. 

(sneak preview)

Must be a Slow Day - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Chapter 32

Baylore bent over and took the magic ring off the finger of Captain Horatio Vile. He held it in his hand. He looked at Marik. He looked at the ring. With this ring he could control Marik Feldren. He'd have to kill Duke Obertus Feldren. He looked at Obertus. The only other people in the room were Baylore's allies. He held the ring between his fingers. Guards were coming. If he was going to do anything, he'd have to act fast.

CHAPTER 32

"MUST BE A SLOW DAY"

The B-Team:

• Avastana "Aella" Kádár - Neutral, Half-Elf  Outlander and Storm Sorceress from Ket.
• Alot Aname - Neutral Good Warforged Fighter, ancient sentinel of a wizard's fortress, spent several decades deactivated underwater.
• Baylore - Neutral Human Pirate and Pugilist (Monk). 
• Brenna Myrasdottir - Chaotic Good Human Sailor and Divine Soul Sorceress, long-lost daughter of Whaler.
• Bordar Graniteshaper - Lawful Good Dwarven Bearer of Grudges (Barbarian), on a quest to rescue the son of the leader of his clan.

Two Weeks in Seaton
Baylore slipped the ring into a pocket. He then took advantage of Marik Feldren's momentary confusion to take the ring's matching companion off the nobleman's finger. The two magic rings formed a set - a master ring and a slave ring. Whoever wore the slave ring was under the complete control of whoever wore the master ring. Baylore discreetly tucked them away for future use.

He checked on the body of Captain Horatio Vile. He was still alive.

Palace guards soon arrived in the throne room.

There was much shock and confusion regarding the seeming resurrection of the Duke Obertus and the overthrow of the usurper, Duke Marik. Everything was eventually made clear by the Obertus' daughter, Lemundo, and verified by the divine insights of priests of Heironeous.

For their help in restoring him to his position, Duke Obertus Feldren rewarded each member of the B-Team with one thousand gold pieces as well as ownership of a recently confiscated ship called the Sea Ghost. There was some discussion among the team regarding who should occupy each of the ship's positions. Baylore assumed the role of captain with the consensus of nearly the entire team - only Alot dissented but he accepted the result. Brenna "The Sea Witch" was chosen as first mate while  Alot took on the role of bosun, though it was agreed that either Alot or Brenna could easily switch between their positions. Aella would be the ship's deck wizard. Bordar, as a dwarf and therefore ill-adapted to a life at sea, would occupy the role of "ballast" in the ship's bilge.

The subsequent two weeks were a blur as those loyal to Marik - both as part of his original plot to usurp Obertus and as part of his abrupt shift towards alliance with Gellan Primewater - were identified and punished. The mercenaries, pirates, and brigands who had made themselves at home in Seaton during the latter abrupt shift quickly abandoned the city, though they managed to do some looting and pillaging on their way out. The rule of law and order is quickly reestablished in Seaton.

Duke Obertus recalled many of the dismissed sailors and soldiers in order to re-man and re-equip the ships of the navy that had sat empty in the Axe River. Marik was imprisoned along with Captain Horatio Vile. Vile was tried and sentenced to execution. His sentence was to be carried out in six weeks.

Bordar Graniteshaper escorted Dorgan Forgetender back to their dwarven home. Bordar's mission was a success though Dorgan, the spoiled son of the clan leader who had abandoned his dwarven heritage an an attempt to become more like his human hosts in Seaton, complained of Bordar's attitude and actions. Though Bordar was secretly praised and thanked by the elderly clan leader,  the leader had no choice but to banish Bordar from the clan as punishment as a political move to appease his son.  With nowhere else to go, Bordar took his meager belongings and headed to Seaton.

Brenna Myrasdottir went to the temple of Heironeous and offered her services as a healer and miracle worker. Her manner and bearing caused the conservative priests of Heironeous to deny her offer but politely suggest she might offer her services to the sailors down by the docks. This she did and she spent several days healing the injured.

Brenna also explored many of the abandoned and recently looted buildings and homes of Seaton. She chose a nice empty villa on the east side of town and made herself comfortable.

Brenna spent her nights seeking the insight and wisdom of the only source of knowledge she respects - old sailors. She wanted to know why this accursed swallow was constantly flying around her head. The sailors had never heard of such a thing but suggested that the priests of Heironeous could pray to remove any curse that might be afflicting her.

Brenna repressed her pride and went back to the temple. They told her that the prayers would be said in exchange for a donation to the temple of 80 gold coins and a sacrifice of 25 goats. She provided the donation and the priests performed the rituals and sacrifices. When they were done, the annoying swallow was still there. She screamed in frustration and stormed out.

She spent the next week drowning her sorrows in the seediest dive in Seaton. There she became friends with a boorish rogue named Hobbes "the Cruel" Indigo who, despite his name, always wore gold.

DM Note-
We use the down-time rules in Xanathar's Guide. Brenna spent a week doing research. Since she wanted to do it in bars with old sailors, I allowed her to make a Charisma roll instead of Intelligence. She spent the second week carousing - she earned one new allied contact. 

I used the following websites to randomly generate the NPCs on the fly.

Personality: http://marnok.com/content/_adventure/101npcs.php
Names: https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/

Aella spent a week seeking sources of knowledge in Seaton. She wished to know more about her father, the king of the Sea Elves. Unfortunately, none of the sages were willing to speak with her. Lemundo found Aella feeling depressed at her lack of progress. Lemundo cheered Aella up by reminding her that, technically, she was a princess and was to be treated as such by the court of the duke. Lemundo dressed Aella in attire appropriate for a princess and invited her to several parties as the high-born and wealthy merchants of Seaton returned from their brief exile.

Aella made three new friends. She met Lord Westland, who was charming yet careless, though he expressed some extremist political views. She enjoyed the company of Lady Moontha, who needed a staff to walk. She was learned and articulate and enjoyed a good debate. And finally she met and tolerated Lord Woodchild who was greedy and hard-hearted with a taste for exotic food.

DM Note-
Aella spent her first week doing research to no avail. She spent her second week carousing and made three allied contacts.

Alot Aname, legendary Sentinel from olden days, offered his service to Duke Obertus Feldren. Alot aided in the reestablishment of law and order in Seaton since many of the town guard had been dismissed. Alot helped to root out pirates and mercenaries who had come to Seaton in the two months prior to Marik's downfall. In the second week he was called upon to remove a "Sea Witch" who had illegally taken up residence in a villa in the eastern part of town.

DM Note-
The players got excited when I said, "A 'Sea Witch' was occupying a villa." They loved it and were ready for that adventure. I then said, "You find Brenna." and they were disappointed. Although, they started called Brenna "the Sea Witch".  

Baylore, for the most part, was little seen in Seaton. When he was seen in town he was aloof and mysterious, telling no one where he had been or what he was doing.

DM Note-
Baylore's player sent me a whisper with his idea. I said sure but with a condition. He said "Sold!" I won't reveal what he was doing here in order to save the surprise for the other players. 

A funny moment came when I told the others that Baylore had been out of Seaton for much of the two weeks. Bordar's player laughed and said, "I can only imagine all the whispers [Baylore's player] was sending to you."

Baylore's player and I both laughed. Baylore's player said, "You're not wrong!"

An Audience with the Duke

After two weeks, the members of the B-Team were summoned to an audience with Duke Obertus Feldren about a job.

The night before their audience, Bordar returned to Seaton and found Brenna tending to the sick on the docks. Bordar explained the situation that led to his banishment. Brenna told Bordar that they were to be summoned to an audience with the duke about a job and suggested that Bordar join them.

The next day the B-Team were meeting with Duke Obertus Feldren. He said that he had heard rumors of the return of the lizard king Sakatha to the Drowned Forest. Lemundo had told him that Aella and Alot had once gone into the Drowned Forest and defeated the black dragon Aulicus and that they had barely survived the encounter while the rest of their companions had died.

He wanted to hire them to go back. He was too busy rebuilding the forces of Seaton to send any kind of military force to deal with the situation. He hoped that a small strike force could eliminate Sakatha which would, in turn, dissolve the growing army of followers he was amassing. He offered them each 2500 gold upon the successful completion of their mission: kill Sakatha and any other leaders of his bandit army and otherwise disrupt his forces.

The team took the mission.

"Also," added the duke, "I hear something about some inter-tribal games the lizardfolk are organizing near Saltmarsh. Given my friendship with King Kosj, I'd love to know more. Find out what you can."

An Afternoon in Saltmarsh
The next morning the B-Team assembled before the notice board in the center of Seaton and, having not yet assembled a full crew for the Sea Ghost, began their overland walk to Saltmarsh. The day was humid but otherwise sunny and warm and the trek was uneventful.

It was a seven hour walk from Seaton to Saltmarsh and they arrived in the mid-afternoon. The first place they visited upon their return was the Faithful Quartermasters of Iuz. They paid the "membership fee" and Captain Xendros escorted the group into her secret back room. Alot inquired about the magical shield he had ordered two weeks prior. Captain Xendros apologized and said her sources were still looking for one but admonished the automaton to be patient. The others inspected her current inventory but found nothing to their liking.

Aella walked over to the Fishmonger Plant to ask Eda Oweland about the Lizardfolk games. She found Eda sitting on a chair smoking a long-necked pipe, an open jug of rum lay in her lap. Eda was unusually idle. None of her workers could be seen in the plant.

Aella attempted to get Eda's attention. Eda responded, "Oh, it's you lot!"

Aella asked if she knew anything about the lizardfolk games. Eda squinted one eye and spit, "Those fucking scalies! I'll tell you about their fucking games! Their fucking games are keeping me from putting my boats in a prime fishing spot! If it weren't for those fucking gods-be-damned games I'd be bringing in a bumper catch, and from right in me own back yard! But oh no! That little cold-blooded princess decides to play some kind of game! So for that, Eliander fucking Fireborn orders me to dock me fucking boats and stay out of her fucking way! SO LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FUCKING SCALIE FRIENDS, MISSY! You and your cold-blooded mates can GO FUCK YOURSELVES WITH AN ANCHOR!"

Aella held out her hands and backed away slowly.

When she rejoined the others they asked if she had learned anything. She said, "No. I suddenly remembered, 'Oh right. She's a racist!'".

The team went up the hill to Eliander Fireborn's house. The inquired about the games. Eliander said that Princess Orthokent had arranged the games as a way to recruit more lizardfolk tribes to attack the Sahuagin and regain their home. She sent five invitations to me here. According to the invitations, it looks like the games will be held just off the coast of the cliffs beneath the tower of Zenopus at something called a 'Warthalkeel'.  The invitations also came with five bottles of what I'm told is potions of water breathing. I'm too old for this and have only one leg. No one else in town was willing to attend. If you want these invitations, you're welcome to take them. But know that you'll be representing Saltmarsh, so be on your best behavior!"

They took the invitations, "When are the games?"

"In three weeks."

Baylore looked Aella, "Plenty of time."

DM Note-
Prior to the session I asked my players what they wanted to do and gave them several options. The group decided to finish Tomb of the Lizard King, though there was some interest in the lizardfolk games. So I prepared for the Tomb and didn't do much prep for the games. While in Saltmarsh they suddenly became interested in that plotline. I scrambled to shift gears, read up on that mini-adventure, and prepare something for Roll20. Alot's player eventually said, "Hey, don't worry about it. Lets just say its in a few weeks and we can do it on the way back. That will give you more time to prepare." I thanked him profusely and we carried on. 

Must be a Slow Day
The team spent the night in Saltmarsh. The next morning they gathered together near the north gate and began their trek up the road towards Burle.

They arrived at the bridge over the small Dreadwood River at around noon. They decided to stop in at the Robin's Breast Inn to get some lunch.

They walked in and found the establishment empty.

"Huh," said Aella as she walked in to secure a table, "It must be a slow day."

Baylore became suspicious. He moved behind the bar to look more closely. There were half-full mugs and tankards on the table. There was cooked pork in a big pot by the bar. The fire was still going. Yet there was no innkeeper. There were no patrons.

There was no sign of a fight. Not a chair was out of place. It was like everyone was hiding.

Brenna looked out the back door. She saw the houses of the farmers nearby. There were no farmers. No children. Yet animals were still safe in their pens. Wood fire smoke rose from chimneys.

Suddenly two groups of men armed with maces and crossbows emerged from hiding places behind the inn. One group charged Alot and Bordar at the front entrance with two attackers hanging back and readying crossbows. The second group charged Brenna at the back where two attackers likewise hid behind tree trunks with crossbows.

Several of the thugs swarmed Brenna at the back door, smashing her over the head with their maces. In response, Brenna cast a spell and the small sparrow flying around her head magically split into thousands, then tens of thousands, of glowing blue birds. The mass of blue birds swarmed around her like a tempest, pecking and tearing at everything around her. The birds ripped into her opponents but spared Baylore who came running to her aid.

Baylore punched his way through the door, knocking out one of his opponents unconscious while the other was ripped to shreds by Brenna's celestial sparrows. Brenna moved outside, engulfing one of the crossbowmen within her swarm then the other while Baylore finished them off.

Meanwhile, Alot and Bordar engaged four thugs in the front entrance. Aella moved behind them and did her best to send chaos bolts between her allies towards her enemies outside. Likewise the crossbowmen took careful aim to avoid targeting their allies.

Brenna moved over to a nearby window. A firebolt spell smashed through the glass as she sent the attack spell outside towards one of the crossbowmen.

Alot and Border eventually defeated their enemies. One of the crossbowmen turned and fled. Alot gave chase and cut him down with his short sword.

In the distance, Alot saw a lizard man covered in dried mud indicating allegiance to the lizard king Sakatha standing on the bridge over the river. The lizard man had been observing the proceedings. Now that the battle was over, the lizardman dove into the water and swam away.

The Implication
Baylore tied up their prisoner and propped him up on a chair. Upon regaining consciousness the prisoner proved of little help. He stared glassy eyed into the distance. The prisoner behaved as if he had brain jellies. Unusually ,these thugs seemed to be able to fight despite their brain jellies. 

Brenna whispered something to Baylore.

Baylore replied, "No, I don't want to waste it on something trivial."

She urged him again and he acquiesced. Baylore produced the two magic rings. He put the master ring on his finger and the slave ring on the prisoner.

The prisoner still had brain jellies but was now under Baylore's complete control.

"Well, that didn't work."

Bordar interrupted, "Wait, maybe he can be useful. How much weight can he carry?"

Baylore reprimanded the dwarf, "No!" and took the ring off the prisoner.

The tavern keeper and his wife Robin soon returned to check on their tavern. They told the team that the thugs had arrived less than an hour before they arrived and had ordered them and the rest of the town to remain hidden. He reported that these thugs and brigands seemed vacant and distant yet no less threatening.

This meant that the thugs knew the B-Team was coming and was able to predict their arrival to within the hour. They were being monitored remotely. Perhaps a scrying spell or some other sort of divination.

"Or perhaps," said Brenna, eyeing Aella and Alot suspiciously, "perhaps its one of us."

"What do you mean?" asked Alot.

"Well, you said it when we first met you," explained Brenna, "Do you remember how you escaped the Lizard King?"

"No," admitted Aella.

"Do either of you remember the entire month afterward?" pressed Brenna.

There was a moment of strained silence.

Alot said, "Oh. Oh shit."

To be Continued...

Showdown in Seaton - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Chapter 31

Alot opened the door.

Within was a vaulted room with a tiled recessed area that was once filled with water. The bathing pool had been drained and the room had been converted into a barracks for hobgoblins. The room was lit by braziers and lanterns. A cage in the center of the room contained a human prisoner - a middle-aged nobleman. A handful of hobgoblin mercenaries were sitting on their cots sharpening their weapons. They looked up at Alot's unexpected intrusion.

CHAPTER 31

"SHOWDOWN IN SEATON"

The B-Team:

• Alot Aname - Neutral Good Warforged Fighter, ancient sentinel of a wizard's fortress, spent several decades deactivated underwater.
• Baylore - Neutral Human Pirate and Pugilist (Monk). 
• Brenna Myrasdottir - Chaotic Good Human Sailor and Divine Soul Sorceress, long-lost daughter of Whaler.
• Bordar Graniteshaper - Lawful Good Dwarven Bearer of Grudges (Barbarian), on a quest to rescue the son of the leader of his clan.

Brain Jellies:

• Avastana "Aella" Kádár - Neutral, Half-Elf  Outlander and Storm Sorceress from Ket.

NPCs:

• Duke Obertus Feldren - rightful duke of Seaton after having been imprisoned by his duplicitous twin brother Marik. 
• Lemundo Feldren - daughter of Oberus. She hired the B-Team to rescue her father and to help her restore him to his title.

The Battle of the Bathing Chamber

Two hobgoblins sprang up from their cots, grabbed their nearby weapons, and charged the door. A third moved towards the side of the bath pool, a fourth moved next to a large cauldron of boiling water. 

Baylore's fists became a blur as he quickly dispatched one of the hobgoblins. He moved forward to allow Alot space to move behind him and into the room. 

Alot quickly ran straight across the room, down the steps into the pool, past the prisoner cage, and up the steps on the far side, in order to prevent any hobgoblins from escaping. To his surprise, instead of escaping, the hobgoblin by the cauldron tipped it over and poured its steaming contents into the pool. The pool began filling with scalding hot water. The barefoot man in the cage began screaming as his feet were immersed in boiling water. 

Brenna sent a icy blue magical hands racing across the room but was the hobgoblins were able to deflect her arcane attacks.

Baylore left the remaining hobgoblin to Bordar and ran over to the hobgoblin covering the cage. Lemundo dispatched that goblin with a timely arrow from her bow which allowed Baylore to leap onto the top of the cage.

Bordar dispatched the hobgoblin mercenary in front of him before moving into the room to engage a second. After killing the second hobgoblin with his whirling axes, Bordar used his magical boots to leap over the boiling pool and slay the remaining hobgoblin.

Baylore clutched the side of the cage and tried to smash the lock with his fists. It took him two tries to demolish it. He quickly pulled the suffering prisoner out and leaped from the cage to the tiled floor surrounding it. 

Admiral Kovensky
The prisoner thanked Baylore for saving him. Duke Obertus Feldren rushed forth to greet the prisoner, addressing him as "Admiral".

The prisoner was confused, "Duke Feldren, why do you dress as a monk of Procan?"

"For I am not my twin brother, Marik. Admiral Kovensky, I am Obertus Feldren."

The prisoner was silent for a moment as he processed this information, "Duke Feldren? You are alive? We were told you had died! I attended your funeral! Tell me what happened!"

Baylore observed Admiral Kovensky carefully. He silently noticed that the admiral's display of surprise was feined. He was sure the admiral had known that the duke was alive.

Duke Feldren began to explain the story of his twin bother's treachery. How his brother had poisoned him and faked his death before imprisoning him within a magic mirror held by a cadre of corrupt monks on Leper Island.

Baylore cleared his throat and interrupted, "Your dukeness. If I may speak with you privately." The duke acquiesced and moved to a corner of the room with Baylore. Baylore continued, "Your brother had many allies. Perhaps some discretion is in order. Who is this man?"

Duke Feldren said that the prisoner was Admiral Kovensky of the King's Navy of Keoland. Duke Feldren had known Admiral Kovensky in the king's court. Admiral Kovensky had lobbied the king to strengthen the naval presence in the Azure Sea in order to put more pressure on the Holds of the Sea Princes to the southwest. Duke Feldren resisted, worried that such provocative actions would provoke a war with the Sea Princes.

Baylore nodded and replied, "Well, lets find out what he knows before we tell him more about us." As an afterthought, he added, "Sir."

Duke Feldren nodded and apologized. He returned to Admiral Kovensky, "Admiral, I will tell you all  about my adventures soon but our first task is to infiltrate the palace and confront my brother. What has happened since my disappearance?"

Admiral Kovensky told the duke that after his "death" over a year ago, Duke- that is- his brother Marik had requested the admiral come to Seaton to oversee the construction of a fleet of ships and the strengthening of the king's navy in the Azure Sea. Admiral Kovensky did exactly that. He served as admiral of the new fleet and was the architect of a new more aggressive strategy in the Azure Sea. He became a close friend and confidante of his brother Marik. Marik had strengthened the walls around the palace. He conscripted hundreds more soldiers and sailors. He razed the unauthorized structures outside Seaton's walls that would have provided cover and supplies to any siege. He raised taxes to pay for the new navy and for the defensive engineering projects.

Baylore noticed how the Admiral's eyes began to gleam with pride with every detail of his story. He cleared his throat again.

The duke noticed and interrupted Kovensky, "Yes. But why are there hobgoblin mercenaries in my bath chambers?"

Admiral Kovensky was shaken out of his reverie, "Oh, my apologies. Of course. About two months ago Marik had been sailing on a secret mission  when his ship was attacked by pirates. He was captured but subsequently rescued by some band of ruffians from Saltmarsh called the 'A-Team'. He returned to Seaton with one of his would-be kidnappers in chains - someone named Captain Horatio Vile."

The duke gritted his teeth but allowed Kovensky to continue.

"The incident had changed Marik somehow. His first act was to pardon Captain Vile of all crimes! Then he dismissed me from his court. Furthermore, he began dismantling the navy he had spent the past year constructing. He decommissioned each ship as they returned to port and dismissed their officers and crews."

Baylore rubbed his chin.

"On top of all that, he installed some former merchant from Saltmarsh as his new chancellor. I did not catch his name. What I do know is that he immediately replaced the palace guards with hobgoblin mercenaries. I objected and tried to talk some sense into my friend Marik. Marik became angry and had me arrested. That was a week ago. I've been held down here ever since!

The Secret Stairs
Having finished their rest in the bathing chamber. Admiral Kovensky was equipped with armor and weapons scavenged from dead hobgoblin mercenaries.

Baylore confided his thoughts to his team-mates, "Admiral Kovensky was probably in on the deal to have the duke poisoned and imprisoned. He was all about the militarization. However, he seemed genuinely surprised by the recent changes."

They exited the bathing chamber through the far doors. Duke Obertus Feldren led them a short distance down a long subterranean corridor. He pulled aside a heavy tapestry on one wall to reveal a hidden alcove. The alcove contained a narrow spiral staircase leading upwards.

"These stairs lead directly to a hallway near the palace throne room and my apartments. It was my shortcut to the bathing pool."

The team ascended the narrow stairs in single file.  Duke Feldren was separated from Admiral Kovensky.

Admiral Kovensky whispered to Lemundo the Lovely who walked in front of him, "Your ladyship. You disappeared from the palace about two months ago. Where have you been in this time?"

Lemundo, clad in armor and bearing both a short sword and longbow, demurred, "Oh, you know us palace girls. We like to sneak out."

Kovensky pressed, "Have you any insight on his recent changes? They were so sudden and mysterious! Is it some magical enchantment?"

Lemundo awkwardly tried to think of a believable answer.

Alot, walking in front of Lemundo, interrupted, "Lemundo, your father wishes to speak with you. Please step ahead of me."

DM Note-
At first, Alot was going to give Lemundo a story to tell the admiral. I replied, in character as Lemundo, "I will not. I refuse. Not because it's a bad story, but because I'm an NPC and NPCs interacting with other NPCs is the WORST kind of role-playing game and I will have no part of it! How about YOU talk to him!"

Lemundo coughed her relief and moved past and Alot now walked in front of the admiral.

The admiral cleared his throat, "Sir, if you don't mind me asking, but what are you?"

The laconic automaton Alot explained that he didn't really know. He had no memory of his creation or his original purpose. He became aware of himself underwater. He came ashore about ten years ago. He was a curiosity at first but was eventually put to work as a sailor on one of the king's ships.

The admiral asked him if he had heard of the Sentinels. He explained that the Sentinels were legendary warrior automatons constructed by powerful magicians over a hundred years ago. At one time there were over a hundred. Now they are lost. Admiral Kovensky said that he believed Alot to be one of these sentinels and that he had never before seen another.

With that they arrived at the top of the stairs.

Baylor stopped and instructed the others, "Okay, gear up. Lets get ready for anything."

Throwdown in the Throne Room
Baylore and Bordar threw open the large double doors leading into the throne room. Beyond was a long hall with a tall vaulted ceiling supported by twelve pillars. Windows located in alcoves lining the hall were concealed by heavy tapestries. At the other side of the hall was an raised area like a stage elevated above the main hall about three feet. A long stair connected the main hall to the elevated area. At the far end was a raised dais upon which sat the large throne of the duke of Seaton. Eight burning braziers provided illumination to the room. A long blue rug ran up the center of the hall to the duke's throne.

Marik Feldren stood by his throne. He was speaking with two confidantes- Captain Horatio Vile and Gellan Primewater! Gellan Primewater's face was hideously scarred from burn wounds!

DM Note-
This shocking surprise would have had more impact to the original characters of the A-Team. As it happened, only Alot would even know who Captain Vile and Gellan Primewater were. Aella's player was absent this night. Unfortunately, Alot had little interaction with the two NPCs and they would have no direct animosity towards him unlike the rest of the A-Team. On top of that, Alot's player had himself missed a lot of those sessions so the player really didn't know much about the NPCs other than by reading this blog. Ah, c'est la vie.

One additional note - It was Brenna's player who asked me "Is Gellan Primewater's face all burned like he barely escaped the fireball that destroyed his house?" It was such a good idea I replied, "Absolutely! I love it!"

Four heavily armored hobgoblin mercenaries stood at the ready atop the elevated area.

Marik Feldren and his companions were taken aback at the intrusion.

Duke Obertus Feldren stepped forward, "Marik! Your reign of treachery has come to an end! Surrender yourself and I may show you mercy!"

DM Note- 
At the time I think I actually said, "Marik! I'm saying something cool and menacing to start this battle! But I can't actually think of anything, so just imagine I'm saying it!"

Marik shouted, "So you've managed to escape! Guards, kill the intruders! Capture my brother alive!"

The two hobgoblin guards by the king shouted a loud order in their dark language. The two closer hobgoblin guards drew their weapons and advanced slowly, cautiously.

Likewise did the intruders enter with caution. The two sides steadily advanced upon each other, eyeing either others tactics, carefully planning their next moves.  Careful of any ambush from behind the hanging tapestries. Alot and Baylore took the left side of the corridor with Brenna following about ten feet behind. Bordar, Duke Feldren, and Lemundo moved to the right.

Captain Vile moved to make a covert escape through the side corridor.

Admiral Kovensky made a mad dash right up the center of the room, "My duke! These fiends have you under some kind of mind control! I'm here to save you!"

Alot made the comment, "Huh, okay. I didn't expect that."

Brenna pointed her magical harpoon point Hearth Spoon towards the rear of the hall and uttered an arcane word. A small flame shot out of Hearth Spoon and sped to the rear of the hall where it exploded into a massive ball of fire, consuming all those standing around the throne. The fireball instantly killed Gellan Primewater!

Marik Feldren, scorched by the fireball, appeared light headed. He swooned but remained standing by gripping tightly onto his throne, "What's happening? Where? What?"

Captain Vile stopped and shouted an order to a nearby hobgoblin captain, "Get the ring off Primewater's finger! Hurry!"

Admiral Kovensky made it to the throne. He heard Vile's command and saw that Gellan Primewater was wearing an ornate ring identical to the one on the same finger of the same hand as Marik Feldren. He realized what was happening. Admiral Kovensky bent over took the ring. He put it on his finger.

Marik Feldren immediately rushed to the admiral's side.

The admiral said, "Quickly, my duke. We must escape this place!"

Marik nodded and said, "Of course. Absolutely. I'll go wherever you go!"

A moment later, the doors leading to side corridors by the throne were thrown open as six hobgoblins came rushing in. Nearly simultaneously four additional hobgoblins appeared by the entrance to the hall behind the B-Team.

Additionally, a human appeared. It was the deck wizard of the Sea Ghost - Punketah!

DM Note-
I had originally planned for all the hobgoblins to be hiding behind the curtains. I even placed their tokens there hidden on the GM layer in Roll20. But no one was surprised. Everyone expected there to be hobgoblins hiding behind the curtains. Baylore's player even pointed out, "I'd hate to be the hobgoblins who pulled that duty - having to stand back there all day long IN CASE something happened."

He was right of course, so I quickly scrambled and moved my tokens to a more sensible position out in the halls and down the side corridors. 

Two hobgoblin archers loosed arrows from the raised dais while two other archers attacked from behind. The four hobgoblin swordsmen in the front  split up. Two attacked Alot and Baylore while two attacked Duke Feldren and Lemundo. Two moved in from the entrance and attacked Brenna and Bordar.

The two sergeants moved behind the swordsmen to support the attack on Baylore.

Brenna sent another fireball towards the throne, sending everyone diving for cover as it exploded.

Marik Feldren shielded his face from the blast but was surprised to find himself unaffected. Brenna had spared him in the hopes of capturing the false duke alive.

Admiral Kovensky was dead. Marik Feldren was once again surprised to find himself in his throne room in the middle of a battle.

Captain Vile abruptly changed plans. He ran back towards the fallen body of Admiral Kovensky. He reached down and took the ring off the admiral's hand. He put the ring on and told Marik to come with him.

Marik no longer appeared confused. He nodded and dutifuly followed Vile towards the exit.

Punketah the deck wizard threw up a wall of fog to obscure visibility and protect the surviving hobgoblins as they all tried to escape. Brenna's eyes narrowed and she threw one more fireball into the fog. It exploded. The fog fell. The blast had killed Punketah, the hobgoblin archers, and had badly burned the hobgoblin captains leading from the rear.

Captain Vile was badly burned but alive.

Bordar the dwarf was a whirlwind of death. His axes cleaved the enemies before him and he moved to aid Duke Obertus and Lemundo. After destroying the two hobgoblins plaguing them Bordar rand to the entrance and cut down the hobgoblin archers in the doorway.

Once he was done there, he activated his magic boots and sped towards the throne.

Baylore and Alot eliminated the hobgoblins and their sergeants before making their way to the throne.

The surviving hobgoblin mercenaries, both commanders, were badly burned and sensed their imminent defeat. They fled towards the exit. Alot ran towards them while Brenna sent icy magical hands flying through the air. Alot cut down the hobgoblins with his short sword before they could escape.

Meanwhile Duke Obertus Feldren and his daughter made their way to the throne. Duke Feldren threw away his disguise and stood ready to defend the position.

Baylore confronted Captain Vile. Before Captain Vile could even turn and lift his sword, Baylore punched him. Captain Vile fell to the ground.

Marik Feldren was once again confused, "What is this? What's happening?" He looked at the throne, "Obertus? How did you escape?"

From the throne, Obertus Feldren declared, "You're finished, Marik. Don't be a fool! You've lost! Give yourself up!"

Marik looked bewildered at the pirate Baylore.

Baylore bent over and took the magic ring off the finger of Captain Vile. He held it in his hand. He looked at Marik. He looked at the ring. With this ring he could control Marik Feldren. He'd have to kill Duke Obertus Feldren. He looked at Obertus. The only other people in the room were Baylore's allies. He held the ring between his fingers. Guards were coming. If he was going to do anything, he'd have to act fast.

To be Continued...

DM Note-

Literally, at that moment, Baylore's player said, "I bend over and pick up the ring."

I said, "Holy shit! Are you going to put it on and control Marik?"

There was a long pause. Baylore's player finally said, "I don't know yet."

And I said, "Okay then. TO BE CONTINUED." And we stopped playing for the night. It was EPIC!!!

Secret Mission to Leper Island - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Chapter 25

Alot Aname looked around. He was underwater.

He was standing in his oyster bed at the bottom of the sea off the coast of Keoland near the fishing village of Saltmarsh. A bag made from a fishing net was draped over his neck and shoulder. The triangular oyster dredge was  harnessed to his shoulders. He had apparently been dragging it behind him to harvest oysters.

He had no idea what day it was. The last thing he remembered was fighting trolls in the Drowned Forest.

He unharnessed himself from the dredge and returned to Saltmarsh.

Alot found his friend, the half-elven sorceress Avastana Kádár, known as "Aella". It was mid-day. The sun was out and a warm breeze blew in from the sea. He asked her what happened.

Aella blinked as if only just now realizing where she was. She was standing outside a market in the Old Town of Saltmarsh where she had just purchased some vegetables. She said the last thing she remembered was defeating Aulicus, the venerable black dragon of the Drowned Forest. She suddenly stopped and looked at Alot.

"Oh Alot. They're all dead! I couldn't save them! Auric, Annor, and Marlin were all killed by the dragon! The last thing I remembered was getting captured by bandits!"

"Where was I?" inquired the warforged sentinel.

"You had the brain jellies. You just sort of stood there on the skiff," she replied.

"Damn brain jellies! How long have we been out?"

The pair checked with a few people in town - the guard at the gate, the messenger boy, some dock people. They discovered that it had been three weeks since they left Saltmarsh on their mission to the Drowned Forest - which means it had been two weeks since the battle with Aulicus. Aella and Alot had returned from their mission, saying only that the others had died. They reported that they had found no bandits and had returned empty-handed.

Alot still possessed all his belongings. His magical short sword hung in its sheath.

Aella went to her house. She had all of her possessions too. If she had been captured by bandits, either they failed to take her belongings or she was able to retrieve them when she escaped. She had apparently recovered nothing from her fallen companions or the dragon's hoard. She did, however, find a sack with 1650 gold coins embossed with the image of Iuz. She had apparently sold something to the Loyal Quartermasters of Iuz.

Alot was looking out the window across the street, "Aella, you better look at this."

"What is it?" Aella drew aside the curtain to see at what Alot was looking.

The Whalerson house and the goat farm had been burned to the ground. Only charred ruins were left.

"Well, shit." She muttered.

There was a knock at Aella's door.

She opened the door and saw a woman wearing a traveler's cloak, her hood drawn despite the sunny skies. The woman withdrew the hood. It was Lemundo, daughter of the Duke of Seaton.

"Lemundo?"

"Sh!" admonished the woman, "I'm incognito. Call me Lemony Butterscotch. I need your help!"

CHAPTER 25

"SECRET MISSION TO LEPER ISLAND"

The A-Team:

• Avastana "Aella" Kádár - Neutral, Half-Elf  Outlander and Storm Sorceress from Ket. 
• Alot Aname - Neutral Good Warforged Fighter, ancient sentinel of a wizard's fortress, spent several decades deactivated underwater.

Introducing the B-Team:

• Baylore - Neutral Human Pirate and Pugilist (Monk). 
• Brenna Whalersdottir - Chaotic Good Human Sailor and Divine Soul Sorceress, long-lost daughter of Whaler. 

Special Guest Star:

• Bobert the Red - transient Halfling Druid with a drinking problem. 

DM Note-
It was Friday - Valentine's day. I am married and my wife and I feel VD is pretty much corporate BS, so we decided we'd celebrate on Saturday. Likewise Brenna's player (who is formerly Marlin's player) and his wife as well as Baylore's player (who is formerly Auric's player). Annor's player DID go out with his wife. Aella's player is single so she was okay to hang out with us.

But because it was Valentine's Day, we had a special guest player! We were joined by a very good friend who is single and didn't want anything to do with VD. Also, her regular Friday D&D group wasn't playing. So I invited her over to play and she said yes! So welcome Bobert!

The Secret Mission of Lemony Butterscotch
Lemundo, using the alias Lemony Butterscotch, brought Aella and Alot to a local tavern - the Empty Net. She told them that she thinks she located where her father, the true Duke of Seaton, was being held prisoner. She wanted to hire a team to take her to the location and help her free him. She was sad to learn of the fate of the A-Team but was happy that Aella and Alot had survived. In order to assemble a new team, she posted a recruitment offer on the town notice board.

They found three people waiting for them at the Empty Net.

One was a human woman with gold hair and gold eyes and red clothes. With her was a human man in a black loose fitting shirt and black pants with high boots. His face bore a long scar and he was missing an eye. Despite his intimidating countenance he carried no weapons. In a nearby chair dozed a halfling with long matted hair. The halfling wore dirty tattered rags and bits of fur.

Lemundo addressed the group, "Greetings. Thanks for responding to my advertisement. Before we begin we should do a round of introductions. My name is Lemony Butterscotch. This is Aella and this is Alot. And you are?"

The one-eyed man replied, "My name is Baylore. That's all you need to know."

"Oh, well, thank you. And you?"

The golden-haired woman spoke in a strange foreign accent. She seemed full of defiant energy, "My  name is Brenna Whalersdottir and I don't give a flying fuck about your advertisement! I'm looking for man who makes this cheese!" She produced a small wheel of Ten Goats of Cheese and shoved it in Lemundo's face.

Lemundo became flustered, "I- what?"

Aella gave the sad news, "I'm sorry to report that the man you are looking for, Annor Whalerson, recently died. He was torn apart by-"

Brenna interrupted her, "I don't fuckin' care! Just point me towards his house! I came to claim me birthright!"

Alot pointed towards the House of Whalerson, "I'm afraid the house burned down.

Brenna angrily declared, "I don't care about the fuckin' hoose! I want what was IN the hoose! Did anyone search the ashes?"

Aella shrugged.

Brenna slammed the table with her fist, "Just point me to where the house USED t' be then!"

Alot pointed up the hill, "Take this street up the hill, its the fourth house on the right past the old stone bridge. At least it used to be."

Brenna furrowed her brow and sniffed defiantly. She made a small grunting sound and burst out of the pub.

There was a moment of silence before Lemundo continued, "Well, I guess that just leaves our halfling friend. You are, sir?"

The halfling started and woke up. He had bloodshot eyes and looked hung over. "What?"

"Your name?"

"My name is Bobert. Am I in trouble? Do I need to leave already?"

"No sir. Thank you for answering my advertisement."

Bobert blinked in confusion. "The what now?"

Homecoming
Brenna marched angrily up the street to the former site of the House of Whalerson, now a pile of ash and charred timbers. She sifted through the remains near what was left of the fireplace.

She pulled out a silver harpoon tip. It was a metal rod about two feet long that ended in a sharp barbed tip. The wooden handle had burned away with the house. The silver tip had miraculously survived.

She muttered to herself, "The Hearthspoon. I found it, right where Uncle Gillian said."

The silver harpoon tip glowed magically in her hand. She smiled.

She then looked around at the ashen ruins, "Sorry I didn't get to meet you, brothers. We probably wouldn't have gotten along anyways."

She shoved the harpoon tip into a leather holder and marched back to the Empty Net. She found Lemundo still addressing the others.

"I got what I was looking for. Now, as it happens, I'm low on coin. Are you still hiring?"

Sea Trip to Leper Island
Bobert woke on a sailboat at sea. He had no idea how he got here. He had a terrible hangover and the bobbing of the boat in the waves wasn't helping. The sun was setting in the west.

He got the attention of the woman in the cloak. She seemed to be in charge. "What? Where am I? What day is this? What's happening?"

"Good evening, Bobert. It's the same day. We're on our way to Leper Island!"

"We're WHAT?" the halfling replied incredulously.

"Leper Island! Like I said earlier in the briefing. My father is being held prisoner there!"

Lemundo continued, "You see, I am, in truth, Lemundo Feldren, daughter of Obertus Feldren, the Duke of Seaton. And before you ask - No! Duke Obertus did not die from natural causes as reported by my uncle Marik. My uncle Marik faked my father's death and assumed the title of Duke. I later learned that Captain Horatio Vile, a fiendish pirate, had been secretly transporting my uncle to an unknown location to gloat over my father!"

"I tried to stow away on Captain Vile's boat to find where my uncle had imprisoned my father. But Captain Vile betrayed my uncle! He took my uncle prisoner and handed him to Gellan Primewater, a smuggler from Saltmarsh, so that the wizard Keledek might use some mind control magic on him! In doing so, I was discovered and captured."

"Luckily, Aella and Alot helped save me. They captured Captain Vile and freed my uncle, not knowing what else to do with such a high ranking nobleman. Since then I've been trying to find where my uncle had my father hidden. I eventually determined he was being held by corrupt priests of Procan on Leper Island!"

"Baylore here said that he knew about those corrupt priests. They allowed pirates to use the island and their abbey to smuggle stolen goods to the Sea Princes to the south. He said that after Captain Vile was imprisoned, his remaining crew attacked the island hoping to sack it and raid it of its stored treasures. He said that no one had heard from the pirates since, so he had no idea if they succeeded or not."

"So we're going to Leper Island, which is forbidden for obvious reasons. We're landing after dark to conceal our approach. We're going to find the abbey, enter it, find my father, and rescue him. Any questions?"

Bobert blinked wearily. He groaned, laid back down in the boat, and went to sleep.

A Long Walk on the Beach
The sun had set. It was now dark. A bright full moon rose over the eastern horizon. The island loomed before them. The island was oblong, a mile wide and just over three miles long. The island was a long flat slab perched at an angle. The far side was a cliff almost a hundred feet tall. The near side dipped into the sea and was covered by a sandy beach and hundreds of feet of windswept dunes.

Baylore possessed excellent night vision. He could see in the moonlight the remains of a pinnance smashed and broken and half buried by the sand. "That's the pirate landing craft. They never left the island."

They landed their launch near the remains of the pinnance. A clear path made by dozens of boots led away from the beach. The path was nearly three weeks old. Baylore had the best night vision so he led the way. The sand was loose and difficult to walk on. He followed the tracks through the towering dunes for about six hundred feet. To his surprise, the tracks veered sharply to the right. He shrugged and continued on, leaving the path of the tracks.

As they climbed the dune before them, a cold wind blew from the center of the island. The loose sand blew over the dune. Then more sand began to shift. It soon became apparent that humanoid figures wearing scraps of armor and carrying old rusted short swords and short bows were rising from the sands.

They were surrounded by the animated skeletons of the long dead!

The five of the skeletons charged the party and engaged in hand-to-hand combat while the remaining four loosed arrows from decrepit short bows.

Alot Aname slashed and stabbed at the skeletons with his short sword. Meanwhile Baylore waded into a throng of skeletons with nothing more than his bare fists. To everyone's surprise, Baylore would punch a skeleton in the skull and it would explode. He'd punch the next in the rib-cage and it would explode. He moved swiftly through skeleton after skeleton while Alot struggled.

The skeletons were soon destroyed. Brenna approached Alot and offered him a belaying pin, "Take this. They'll do more damage against yon skeletal beasties."

Alot sheathed his short sword, took the wooden implement, and thanked the sorceress.

The team pressed on. Baylore soon found the trail of footprints. It led from the right and made a turn directly ahead. They followed the path for three hundred feet before the path turned sharply to the left. Baylore once again shrugged and pushed on.

Once again they were beset by nine animated skeletons that rose from the sands! Once again they made relatively short work of the clattering fiends. Bobert was injured from some of the arrows but his wounds were tended by Brenna.

The Juggernaut of Bone
As they continued straight ahead the air became completely still and all was silent but the crashing waves of the Azure Sea. They were near the center of the dunes. The silence gave way to the sound of sliding sand all around them. Bones were rising from the dunes in all directions. They were surrounded by a clattering army of skeletons marching towards them. Before them rose a great pile of bones. The pile was twenty feet tall and took on an amorphous roughly humanoid form as it heaved towards them.

They were surrounded and squeezed together from all sides. Aella cast a witch-bolt spell at the juggernaut of bone and rose on a gust of wind that blew her backwards away from the crushing mass of skeleton warriors.

Alot shouted, "Stay away from the juggernaut! If it crashes down on you its bad news!"

Bobert managed to call upon the spirits of nature for help and a mass of weeds and vines sprang from the sand beneath the skeletons and the heaving juggernaut. The skeletons moved through the vines with east but the juggernaut became impeded. Bobert ducked low and scurried to safety away from the scrum of skeletons. Likewise did Brenna, Baylore, and Alot manage to maneuver away from the juggernaut while crushing skeletons.

DM Note- 
All the player characters managed to stay or be more than ten feet away from the juggernaut. The range of its tidal wave of bone is ten feet. Alas, its primary attack was neutered!

The juggernaut of bone was ensnared by the net of vines and weeds that had overgrown it. The sustained lightning bolt from Aella's witch-bolt continued to burn away the juggernaut and bones began to slough away from the mass. Soon the juggernaut lost all cohesion  and fell apart into a mass of bones. The bones soon reformed into separate humanoid skeletons.

Once the juggernaut was defeated the party made relatively short work of the remaining skeletons.

A few members of the party had taken a beating so they decided to rest for an hour before continuing.

The Ruins of the Abbey
The party continued their march towards the center of the island. They emerged from the dunes onto a grassy field. The moon shone high overhead and the wind blew through the tall grass in undulating waves. Small clumps of short trees were visible here and there.

They arrived at the site of the old Abbey. It was in ruins - burned to the ground. A pile of rubble, debris, and charred timbers were all that was left of what was once a tower. The ceiling of the attached refectory and leper hospital had collapsed and burned.  The pirate raiders had sacked the abbey and left nothing standing.

However, the ruins appeared to have been moved. Stones were piled up. Areas had been cleared. There were several small piles of items that had been salvaged from the rubble - utensils and tools mostly. Someone had survived and someone had been trying to clean up the remains.

More importantly, the rubble had been cleared around what was once a trap door in the floor of the refectory.

Baylore looked at Lemundo. Lemundo nodded. Baylore said, "Right, let's go in, shall we?"

Bobert backed away, "I'll- I'll just wait out here." The scruffy halfling sat down on a block and uncorked a bottle. "Have fun though!"

To Be Continued...