The sea elf walked ashore just outside the fishing village of Saltmarsh. Water drained from the lute strapped to his back. His hair was wet. His human clothes were dripping. It was just past dawn. The sky was overcast and mist clung to the cliffs and rocky beaches around him. The morning was cool and foggy. He was standing in a shabby run-down collection of abandoned houses. Crabs scuttled over every empty edifice. One crab scurried away from his feet while menacingly brandishing a rusty knife.
He followed the crab a bit as it retreated towards a nearby shack. He bent over in an attempt to communicate with the aquatic creature, "Hello. Can you point me towards the nearest inn or tavern?"
All of the crabs lurking in, on, or around the house replied in hissing unison, "Free me. FREE ME!"
The sea elf staggered back, horrified. He stumbled as he fled up the gravel path towards the awakening village of Saltmarsh.
CHAPTER 48
"THE SEA GHOST SETS SAIL"
The C-Team:
- Avastana "Aella" Kádár - Neutral, Half-Elf Outlander and Storm Sorceress from Ket, daughter of the king of the sea elves, Deck Sorceress of the Sea Ghost.
- Alot Aname - Neutral Good Warforged Fighter, ancient sentinel of a wizard's fortress, spent several decades deactivated underwater, Bosun of the Sea Ghost.
- Craig "Blunderbuss" Oxworth - Lawful Good Dwarven Priest of St. Ogden (Cleric), sailor and shipwright.
Introducing:
- Cai'luin Manaan - Chaotic Good Sea-Elf Bard, member of the royal family of the tribe of Manaan.
- 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.
DM Note-
I'm running the adventure "The Kraken's Wake" so that we can get some actual use out of the naval rules in Ghosts of Saltmarsh. It fits perfectly in that 8th level dead zone between the Final Enemy and Tammaraut's Fate. It's also fairly light fare and not a deep time or brainpower commitment. Also DM Note-
Cai'luin's player said, "Do crab have a swim speed?"
I said, "Yes they do."
Cai'luin's player said, "Great, I speak with them and ask them where I might find the nearest tavern."
I said, "Okay. They reply by hissing - 'Free me!'"
Cai'luin's player said, "Ha ha. Wait, really?"
"Yes."
Cai'luin's player said, "Ah! I get the hell out of there!"
Craig Oxworth
A year had passed since the invasion of the Fortress of the Sahuagin. Craig Oxworth, high priest of The Raven King in Saltmarsh, as far as he knew the ONLY priest of the Raven King in all of Oerth, had acquired the structure near the cemetery to serve as the residence for himself and the three Sisters of Tristin and hospice for the dying. Years ago Craig had received a vision from a dwarven spirit named Saint Ogden who told him to give up ox herding and become a priest of Tristin Ravenson - the Raven King, the God of Death, Guardian of the Underworld, and Judge of Souls. Craig had never heard of Saint Ogden or Tristin but who was he to question the commands of an otherworldly spirit.
Craig had traveled to Saltmarsh to meet Auric Ravenson - the holy manifestation of one of Tristin's avatars on Oerth. Craig arrived in Saltmarsh but he was too late. He learned that Auric had died at the hands of an ancient black dragon that lived in the Drowned Forest. Auric had left behind a small temple, still under construction, and one follower, the cemetery's groundkeeper, a half-orc named Krag.
In the intervening time the sisters arrived in Saltmarsh and joined the temple. The sisters were strange pale-skinned women with dark eyes. They acted as nurses, assistants, and temple prostitutes. Craig had prayed and meditated and had, himself, learned more about the god to whom he had devoted his life.
Tristin Ravenson was once a legendary hero whose memory had been lost. Tristin was the half-mortal son of the immortal Raven Queen - goddess of death and guardian of the underworld. Orcus, the demon-prince of Undeath, killed the Raven Queen and usurped her throne. Tristin and his band of legendary heroes confronted Orcus. Tristin himself wrested the dreaded Wand of Orcus away from the demon-prince and slew the foul terror with his own weapon! Thus did Tristin Ravenson achieve apotheosis and become himself the god of death, fertility, resurrection, and the afterlife. Tristin appointed his trusty companion Ogden as Guardian of the Gate and Magistrate of Souls and the lowly goblin Splug as Auditor. It was Splug who kept the tally of a mortal soul's deeds for judgement by Ogden at the gates to the Afterlife.
The sisters represented the fertility aspect of Tristin's worship - that in decay there is rebirth, in death there is fecundity. Also, as a mortal, Tristin Ravenson was famously rapacious in his promiscuity with every creature that crawled, walked, flew, or swam. The accounts of Tristin's offspring are themselves legendary.
It was Craig's duty as priest to prepare the living for judgement at the gates to the Afterlife - to provide blessings, absolution, and mercy to the dying as well as condolence and assistance to their families.
Convalescing into Existence
Soon after Craig taken over and set up the hospice he was visited by a new apparition. While praying at the temple two skeletons began to form out of the air before him - one a human and one a horse. The skeletons began to form muscles and organs and eventually skin. Both beings collapsed onto the floor. Their bodies were frail, emaciated, and weak.
Craig rushed to the being's aid. He had ashen gray skin and long black hair. The man glared at Craig with purple eyes and growled, "VENGEANCE!" before losing consciousness.
Craig rushed the frail figure to the hospice while Krag took the horse to Ingo the Drover. For the next several months Craig and the Sisters of Tristin nursed the man back to health.
The man recuperated quickly. His muscled filled out surprisingly quickly and soon he was tall and strong - though his skin remained pallid and his hair dark.
The strange visitor said little but he revealed that he was called Corvid Ravenson. He had been sent by a vengeful Raven King to seek retribution for the death of Auric Ravenson - the first avatar of the Raven King on Oerth who had died before fulfilling his holy mission.
When asked about the nature of Auric's and now Corvid's holy mission, Corvid said that, like Auric before him, his memory after taking form on Oerth had become unreliable and that he could not recall. Auric had spent many months as an amnesiac shipwright before recalling his purpose. So, too, would Corvid need time to find his purpose. In the meantime, all that he could remember, the only thought that occupied his mind during every waking hour, was VENGEANCE!
DM Note-
Corvid's player had meant to say he "coalesced" into existence but what he actually said was he "convalesced" into existence. It was a funny slip of the tongue and we joked about it but in the grandest nature of "yes, and-" he went with it.
A Chance Meeting
It was raining when Craig and the mysterious Corvid met the dwarven crew of the cargo ship Spirit of Winter on the docks. Captain Windrune lamented that he could find no cargo leaving Saltmarsh so he was stuck. He said that there was some dreaded pirate ship attacking all ships that left port and no one in the Azure Sea was safe. Craig tried to cheer Captain Windrune and his crew up by offering to buy them drinks at the Snapping Line, a tavern for fisher-folk from Saltmarsh. Corvid followed the group sullenly.
Corvid, Craig, and the other dwarves entered and found a table. Although they faced no outright hostility it was clear that the locals did not welcome the presence of the dwarves or the pale-skinned stranger. Craig knew this was the case for two reasons:
1) The dwarven miners who had come to town had brought unwelcome attention from the crown to their little lawless backwater.
2) It was a stereotype that dwarves made terrible sailors and the crew of the Spirit of Winter were notably incompetent at their jobs.
Captain Windrune could sense the animus in the room. He rose from his seat and said, "Perhaps we should go to the Wicker Goat. I hear the dwarves from Copperlock's mines go there."
Craig put his hand on the captain's shoulders and said, "Nay! We'll stay right here. The Wicker Goat is a boring tavern frequented by town guard. This tavern has live music!"
Corvid grimly scanned the room and muttered under his breath, "Vengeance."
Hanna Rist, the proprietor of the Snapping Line, called for the attention of the small crowd gathered in the tavern. She announced a special musical performer for the evening - straight from the College of Bards - Cai'luin the Sea Elf!
Craig became suddenly concerned. Prince Aegon and Princess Nyx of the sea elf tribe of Manaan wished to kill his friend Aella whom they saw as a threat to their power. Could this sea-elf be an assassin sent to kill her?
The blue-skinned elf played his lute for half-an-hour but few paid him much attention. Later, after the crowd had thinned a bit, Cai'luin announced that he would recite some elven poetry.
Most of the remaining fisher-folk got up and left. Craig became interested and ordered another round for his dwarven companions.
Cai'luin spoke in elvish and recited a hauntingly beautiful tale of lost love and death and redemption. The poem was half verse and half song. Craig didn't know the language but was still moved by the beauty of the elf's recitation.
Craig overcame his emotion and approached the sea-elf. He introduced himself and asked Cai'luin his intentions.
Cai'luin said he was here looking for a half-elf named Aella.
Craig became even more suspicious and suggested the pair speak outside.
They stood under the overhang covering the entrance - an upturned boat supported by columns. Craig grilled Cai'luin about why he wanted to meet Aella.
Cai'luin insisted that his intentions were honorable but said that the reasons were private and were meant only for Aella.
This did not sit well with Craig and the dwarf became even more suspicious.
The pair resolved their impasse when Cai'luin revealed part of his story to Craig. In exchange, Craig offered to set up an introduction for the following morning at the temple to Tristin overlooking the cemetery.
DM Note-
Cai'luin's player wanted the revelation of his backstory to be a surprise for Aella's player so he was reticent to recount it to Craig's player first. I warned them that this impasse was beginning to disrupt the group getting together and asked them to work it out so that the story could proceed.
Afterwards, Craig crossed the Sharkfin bridge and trudged up to Aella's house. He banged on her door, despite the midnight hour and the rain. She opened the door and before she could ask him in the dwarf barged past her. Rain dripped from his cloak and his boots left muddy prints on the nice floor. Aella signed. Craig told her what happened. He asked if she'd be willing to meet with this sea-elf the next morning. She agreed.
"Oh, by the way," he continued, "We got a summons to the town council tomorrow at noon. The baron has a mission for us."
"I know," she replied. "We'll go there after after our meeting."
The Mission
By morning the rain had stopped. The town was wet and humid. Aella was walking towards the council hall when she heard Alot, the automaton, call out to her.
She greeted Alot and asked how he'd been.
Alot said that he was now Captain Alot. Baylore had left the ship in order to concentrate on building his secret stronghold on Leper Island. The Sea Ghost had been in Saltmarsh for several days but Alot had spent his time tending to his oyster beds off shore. He had only recently learned that he had been summoned to the town council hall along with the others.
They entered the hall where Craig was already standing. They were met by Commander Eliander Fireborn who escorted them into a meeting with Baron Anders Solmor. Skerrin, the baron's creepy right-hand man, loomed behind him.
Baron Solmor greeted the trio warmly. He told them that King Skotti's birthday was approaching. The king's birthday - not his actual birthday by the way, it's celebrated on the same day for every king of Keoland for convenience - is a major festival throughout the kingdom. Every noble and member of court sends gifts and tribute to the king. Solmor, having only recently been appointed baron by King Skotti last year, wished to make a good impression on the king by sending a big gift!
Unfortunately, Few ships were willing to leave port, and the ones who were could not be trusted with such a delicate and dangerous mission.
"Why is it dangerous? I'm literally thrilled you asked! Commander Fireborn, please tell them."
Commander Fireborn explained that for the past several weeks, the Azure sea has been plagued by the Vengeful Tempest!
The Vengeful Tempest
Aella looked confused, "What's a Vengeful Tempest?"
Craig explained, "It's a ship of cursed souls. They are doomed to sail the seas of Oerth, killing and robbing anyone who cross its path. Some say they're ghosts. Some say they're demons."
"That's right," said the baron, "and its attacking any un-escorted ship that sails the Azure sea! We sent a request to Seaton for a naval escort but all ships are currently occupied. Ordinarily, with good wind it's a two day journey to Gradsul at the mouth of the Sheldomar river, one if you brave the sail through the night. Then five days up-river to the capital in Niole Dra. The King's birthday is fourteen days away! Time is of the essence!"
Commander Fireborn continued, "We want to hire the Sea Ghost to take the baron's tribute to the king. Your primary mission will be to make it past the Vengeful Spirit. However, we'd like you, if you can, to destroy the Vengeful Spirit once and for all! So we want you to be bait. Lure them in. Let them try to board you. Then destroy them! In exchange for getting the cargo to Niole Dra, we will pay each of you 3000 gold pieces. If you destroy the Vengeful Tempest, we'll pay you an additional 5000. We'll pay you half up front and half upon your return."
"We don't have the luxury of a naval escort," he continued, "so instead we direct the shipwrights of Saltmarsh to make a modification to your ship to make it battle-worthy. Unfortunately, we only have time for one such modification so you'll have to choose: hull reinforcement, a ballista, or a naval ram. You will be fully supplied for your journey, of course."
The baron stood from his chair, "What do you say? Will you take the job?"
After a brief consultation with Aella and Craig, Captain Alot took the job.
The Introduction
After the mission briefing with Baron Solmor and Commander Fireborn, the trio, along with the brooding Corvid, went to the temple of the Raven King. Krag, the half-orc groundskeeper of the cemetery, was digging a new grave nearby.
Cai'luin approached the party standing on the steps of the temple. He took one look at Aella, wielding the ancient Trident of Manaan which once belonged to the grandfather of King Pelagius which was used to defeat the Lizard King Sakatha a hundred years ago, and he was in awe, "You. You must be the one known as Aella!"
Aella nodded to confirm her identity and demanded that Cai'luin explain his intentions.
"Princess Aella, Lo, I am Cai’luin Manaan, of the Tribe Manaan. I am the 4th son of Karnasus, the younger brother of King Pelagius of Manaan. I am your cousin. I am a member of the royal family but there will never be a path for me to be King. As a small boy, I remember hearing of King Peagius’s adventures with the nomads of the north and it inspired my soul to one day walk above the waves.
"I have a know fancy words and possess a glib tongue. This talent gets me into trouble far more often than it should. However, I have a quick mind and quick fingers, and I learned to play several musical instruments – I had heard of these amazing music makers that travelled from place to place to share their music, song, and stories – and that was what I wanted to do most of all. I left the sea and studied story and song at the college of bards.
"Upon the king's escape from the slavers in the north and return to Manaan, I would pester him to distraction for stories of his times above the waves. Some he would share gladly but his times with the nomads was never discussed. All of my training that I had learned told me there was a story to be had. I pried and pandered to any that would listen within the court who were around at the time of King Pelagius’s return. I finally was able to guess that his freedom came from the help of a human woman, a human woman with whom he may have been romantically involved. My conjectures were confirmed when the King’s retinue returned from the Lizard Man Games. They met a half-elf sorceress named Aella from Ket and they knew right away that she was the offspring of King Pelagius.
"If it is true then you would be the first born of his children, even if illegitimate, and would be due rights and position as a Princess of Manaan. It is right and just that you should be able to stake that claim and take your place with the family, if you should so choose.
"I decided then and there, against my families wishes, at least I assume, for had I asked them they certainly would have said “No”, to meet you, Princess Aella, and be your escort and guide back to the Clan Manaan and the City under the Sea."
Aella interrogated the sea-elf, "You say you are from Manaan. Do you know Oceanus?"
"I do."
"How is he?"
"He is well. He was punished for participating in the raid on the Sahuagin stronghold last year but in light of his heroic actions his punishment was a token. He was banished from the court and is prohibited from leaving the city. He spoke highly of you."
Aella nodded, "He is a dear friend of ours."
Cai'luin spoke, "My princess, in what way may I serve you?"
Aella held up her finger. She huddled with her companions to confer in private.
DM Note-
I muted Cai'luin so he couldn't hear the other players talking.
Aella returned and addressed Cai'luin, "Understand that right now I have no interest in the throne of Manaan. I would, however, like to know more about this trident. I understand that in the hands of a descendant of Manaan it possesses special powers. Do you know what they are?"
Cai'luin replied, "No, princess. That knowledge is secret and known only to the druids who serve the king."
"Would you help me discover this secret?"
"I would, gladly, your highness." said Cai'luin, smiling.
"Excellent. But first, we are about to set sail on a dangerous mission. Will you help me when we return?"
"Your highness, it would be my fondest wish to accompany you and be the chronicler of your tale. Even should you never wish to return to Manaan, I would like to be the one who tells your story."
Aella looked at the others. Alot and Craig nodded in agreement. "Fine. We set sail on the Sea Ghost tomorrow. Welcome to the crew."
Preparing the Ship
That night every shipwright in Saltmarsh went to work modifying the Sea Ghost. The ship was a cargo vessel, ill-suited for fighting, so extra timbers were added to reinforce its hull. Although it was originally thought that there would be time only for that, Craig Oxworth, a former shipwright himself, stayed up all night to oversee the installation of a stout ram jutting out from the bow just under the water line.
Meanwhile, each of the crew's positions were assigned.
Alot was the ship's captain, obviously. Alot would also serve as the ship's quartermaster and navigator.
Aella was assigned as First Mate.
The intimidating Corvid was made Second Mate.
His background as a shipwright made Craig Oxworth the obvious choice as bosun and his miraculous abilities as a cleric also qualified him to serve as the ship's surgeon.
Cai'luin, for his part, would serve as the ship's cook.
The crew gathered on the deck at dawn the next day. Captain Alot, Aella, and Corvid addressed the crew about their mission. Aella's inspirational crew failed to make an impression so Corvid stood forward, glowered, and demanded their obedience and fealty. Corvid's intimidating presence was enough to snap the crew to immediate attention.
Meanwhile Cai'luin did his best to prepare the first meals. His efforts were less than stellar and the crew grumbled about their new cook.
Setting Sail
The Sea Ghost set sail just after dawn the next day with the following crew:
- Erving 'Two Toes' Charles - Megan Fox thumbs
- Zelda 'Phantasm' Outerbridge - wispy and mysterious
- Katharine 'Pirate' Stratford - honest forthright
- Minna 'Devil's Grin' Reeks - filed teeth wicked scar
- Winter 'White Hair' Ward - Gordon Liu as Drizzt
- Torr 'The Fierce' Theodoric - always holding hands with twin
- Trudy 'The Fierce' Amarant - always holding hands with twin
- Anita 'Four-Teeth' Chrom - fantasy meth addict
- Radburn 'Mad Eyes' Trollope - crazy eyes
- Ewing 'Shark Bait' Archer - meek nerd red-shirt, incompetent, lovable, tries hard but always fails
- Hockney 'Crew Member' Seth - generic
Unfortunately, the wind was blowing in an unfavorable direction so going was slow. What would normally be a twenty-six hour trip to Gradsul now looked to be several days. They would be cutting it close.
DM Note-
Following the rules for sea travel in Ghosts of Saltmarsh, we started the day with the Quartermaster/Navigator making a Wisdom (Survival) check. Captain Alot got an 18. The Sea Ghost was on course.
Second the first and second mates worked on the crew's morale. The pep talk before setting sail gave the crew a quality rating of 1. Aella gave another encouraging speech and got a 24 on her Charisma (Persuasion) roll while Corvid enforced discipline with a Charsima (Intimidation) roll of 22. The crew's quality was increased to 2.
There was no damage to repair so the bosun has nothing to check.
I then rolled the first of the day's random encounters.
The Desperate Trader
The Sea Ghost was a few hours out of port when they came across a galley adrift - its masts missing, its oars motionless.
Captain Alot ordered the Sea Ghost to come along side and strike sails. He hailed the galley. The captain replied that they had been attacked the several nights previous and asked to come aboard. A line was thrown and the two ship's were brought together.
The captain of the other ship, the Kingfisher, told Captain Alot that they had been attacked by the Vengeful Tempest several nights ago. The captain was a wreck, a shell of a man wracked by fear. When asked about the attack, the captain withdrew, clutching his face, muttering only, "I- I dare not recall that night! It was- it is too horrid to think about! My crew! The fiends slew my crew! They cut down my masts and took my cargo. Only a handful of us survived." The captain's demeanor turned from fear to desperation, "I- I don't want to stay out here! What if they come back? I need to get back to a safe harbor! Please, can you take me back?"
Captain Alot thought about his options. He could bring the captain and his crew aboard but the poor wretch was afraid for his life. He dared not take him into harm's way. He could take him back to Saltmarsh or stop off in Seaton but that would be a delay that they couldn't afford.
Alot asked Craig to evaluate the Kingfisher's condition. Could it be repaired?
Craig told Captain Alot that with the masts gone. They could possibly effect some repairs but it would take days - days they didn't have.
"I'm sorry, I can't help you." replied Alot.
The captain of the Kingfisher became even more desperate, "I- I just need to get my ship back to a safe harbor! Please, please I beg of you, can you lend me some of your crew to row my ship to a harbor? I- I'm willing to trade! I have some supplies that weren't taken by the Vengeful Tempest. I have some spare timber and pitch which could be used for repairs. I've got some quality rum hidden away. I've even got a mangonel I'd be willing to give you! Can't you do anything?"
Captain Alot asked the captain of the Kingfisher, "How many rowers do you need?"
The captain's eyes lit up with hope, "Eight! I need at least eight rowers!"
Captain Alot rubbed his mechanical chin with his two-fingered hand, "Hmm. That I can't do. I've only got a crew of eleven so eight is right out. But look, I'm willing to help. How about four? For in exchange for the rum."
The captain of the Kingfisher nodded in desperate agreement, "Yes! Four would do! Thank you! Thank you! May you be blessed by Procan!"
Alot put it to the crew and four volunteered to join the Kingfisher.
- Anita 'Four-Teeth' Chrom - fantasy meth addict
- Radburn 'Mad Eyes' Trollope - crazy eyes
- Ewing 'Shark Bait' Archer - meek nerd red-shirt, incompetent, lovable, tries hard but always fails
- Hockney 'Crew Member' Seth - generic
In exchange, Cai'luin took possession of a crate of excellent rum.
DM Note-
As written, this encounter is supposed to be a simple choice - do you lend any of your crew to help this wretch in exchange for a trade? They really wanted to help but they didn't want to sacrifice any of their crew. So they started trying to come up with alternatives.
This quickly devolved into the players trying to brainstorm ways to help without paying the price. Could they do repairs? I said yes but it would add days to their journey. Can they do magic? Not really. Can we tow the ship? No. Etc. Etc. Etc. It became a game of a hundred questions. I would have entertained an alternative solution if it were truly novel and creative but really they were just trying to find a workaround . I finally had to just lay it out - "Look, I've given you the choice to make. Please decide what you want to do." They selected the four crew members from the list and took the rum.
The Wyrmskull Warriors
That afternoon as the ship prepared to make their turn to the east. Suddenly the sea around them began to churn and small storm clouds formed overhead. Lightning strike the sea around them as three massive blue-skinned giants rose from the sea. Each of the giants wore dark blue matching tabards adorned with a symbol of a white dragon's skull flanked by twin white lightning bolts. Beneath them scrambled dozens of aquatic trolls who swam in circles and reached up towards the giants as if trying to touch them.
Captain Alot, Aella, Craig, Corvid, and Cai'luin rushed to the forecastle and stood ready for battle.
One of the giants looked around as if confused before looking down at the puny beings below.
"Uh, hi there little dudes! We, uh, we seem to be lost and we were hoping you could help us."
Alot was frozen with astonishment. "Uh, what?"
"Yes, hello! My brothers and I are known as the Wyrmskull Warriors. We are three exhibition fighters trying to find the city of- Niole Dra? Have you heard of it? We were hired to perform an exhibition bout for the king of Kolland or something. We were trying to teleport there but we seem to be off course. We asked these Skrag but apparently they're fans. They keep trying to grab us and rip our clothes off and bite off bits of our skin. We're really lucky you sailed by. Can you point us in the right direction? I mean, if it's not too much trouble. We could offer a trade, I guess?"
Alot relaxed a bit, "What do you have?"
The giant searched himself and directed his brothers to do the same. One produced a small metal tube from a pocket that in his massive fingers was no longer than a the length of one knuckle. "Um, this thing? I think its a map. I couldn't tell. It was too small."
He handed it to Aella. She opened the tube and found a roll of vellum within upon which was drawn a map to an island in the Azure sea. Notes indicated the location of a hidden treasure. Aella nodded to Alot.
Alot said, "We'll tell you in exchange for the map- and for an autograph. I mean, you're kind of famous."
The storm giant gave him a big thumbs up, "You got it, brohampton!"
Aella, who had a keen mind for directions and maps, gave specific directions for finding Niole Dra from their current location.
In exchange, one of the giants used his electric spear to burn twin lightning bolts in the style of the Wymskull logo onto the hull of the Sea Ghost.
Alot said, "We, too, are going to Niole Dra for the king's birthday. Would you wish to accompany us? We would welcome your presence in these dangerous waters."
The storm giant inhaled sharply, "Yeah, uh, thanks bro but, you know, we can, you know, teleport there, so- you know."
Alot became excited, "Oh, then perhaps you can take us with you."
Again the storm giant looked awkward, "Oh, uh, no can do, broheim. We can only teleport us three. But- anyway, thanks for the directions! Good luck in your journey! Later, broskis!"
With that, one of the storm giants produced a giant scroll which he read aloud. The trio were engulfed in a massive sphere of lightning and wind and disappeared.
The sea-trolls, disappointed, returned to the deep.
DM Note-
Alot's player got a hoot out of that encounter.
Sharknado x2!
Night fell on the Azure Sea. A slight wind propelled the Sea Ghost sluggishly through the calm seas. The ship made little progress. Captain Alot, an automaton who had no need to eat or sleep and wore goggles that gave him excellent night vision, manned the helm.
Suddenly there blew a strong wind from behind. Alot looked behind him and was surprised to see two waterspouts curling and writhing their way towards the ship. They had appeared without warning in the darkness with no hint of cloud or storm.
He rang the ship's bell and called for all hands to batten the hatches and prepare for a storm. Within seconds the water spouts were upon the ship. These were no natural phenomena, they moved with intent!
To Alot's horror, within each of the waterspouts were swarming masses of sharks - massive man-eating sharks!
To Be Continued...
DM Note-
The Voyage of the Kraken's Wake is written for Forgotten Realms so I had to adapt it to Greyhawk/Ghosts of Saltmarsh on the fly. The module suggested I roll randomly to determine how many days of sail/random encounters happen before being attacked by the Vengeful Spirit. I did this and went with it.
Unfortunately, later I looked at the map of Greyhawk and saw that with good wind a ship from Saltmarsh can make it to Gradsul in about 26 hours. Whoops. So I had to throw in poor wind after the fact to explain the long journey.
Also, although it wasn't asked during the game, a plot hole occurred to me - if there's a pirate ship menacing shipping, the navy would send escorts with the cargo ships. If navy warships couldn't handle the Vengeful Spirit, then how can the crew of the Sea Ghost? So after the fact I came up with the line about the Vengeful Spirit avoiding escorted ships and as a result not enough escorts to go around. The baron is a low man on the totem pole in the kingdom and wants to make a good impression, so instead he employs the Sea Ghost.
