Merrow Mayhem - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Chapter 54

Relzagon slept with four other merrow in the cargo hold of a sunken ship, confident that the three guards she posted outside with two fighting sharks would be sufficient to defend their slumber from any interruption. 

Relzagon woke with a start as the water in half of the cargo hold suddenly drained away! Half of the cargo hold was now filled with air. A vertical wall of water divided the normally flooded hold from the air of the surface! One her merrow was caught in the air side. He gasped for a second as he woke up. He quickly moved over to the water-filled half of the hold.

Something odd was happening. She heard fighting outside the ship. Her warriors were engaged with intruders! The entire aft section of the wrecked ship was exposed to air. It was as if someone had lowered the surface of the ocean fifty feet, but only in a sharply defined area!

Suddenly the wall of air shifted further towards the bow, pushing Relzagon and her merrow warriors up against the bulkhead of the cargo hold. She heard the sound of battle and the screams of dying merrow. The wall of water moved further towards the bow. Now the entire hold was filled with air. The body of a massive shark fell on top of the grate in the ceiling of the hold, blocking their view of the action above. The shark flopped ineffectually before it was killed by a mighty blow and became still. Her warriors became nervous. She quickly ordered them to take up their harpoons and prepare for anything.

There was a moment of relative silence. She could hear surface dwellers speaking and walking over the deck of the rotten timbers of the deck. She signaled her warriors to be ready. Something heaved the shark off of the grate. Light poured into the cargo hold. A shadowy figure with glowing eyes loomed above. It reached down and lifted the wooden grate. 

It called out in the hideous language of the surface dwellers, "Hey! There's more merrow in here!"

CHAPTER 54

"MERROW MAYHEM"

The Crew of the Sea Ghost:

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

DM Note-

Still filling in the 8th level gap between the end of the Final Enemy and the beginning of Tammeraut's Fate with small mini-adventures. This time I decided to use the Merrow Scenario in the Wreck of the Marshall in Ghosts of Saltmarsh. It seems to me that my players always have more fun with these smaller adventures. 

Fight in the Hold

All five merrow hurled their harpoons at the armored figure above. The harpoons bounced uselessly off its impervious armor. The merrow warriors quickly pulled the chains attached to the harpoons and retrieved their weapons.

Suddenly a shadow loomed over the ship. Everyone looked up. Father Craig had created a void of air from the surface to the sea floor so that he could join his companions in battle. Unfortunately, he had done so underneath the bow of their ship, the Sea Ghost. The Sea Ghost now began to creep forward, threatening to crash down onto the wrecked ship on the sea floor which was now exposed to the air of the surface.

Alot looked up and said, in a moment of uncharacteristic panic, "Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!"

Father Craig turned towards the Sea Ghost and held out his open hands. He reconfigured the shape and position of the zone of air so that less of the bow was exposed. This slowed the advance of the ship but did not stop its momentum. However, in doing so he had made water more accessible to the floundering merrow in the hold. 

Corvid leaped down from a nearby coral reef and entered the hold through a breach in the hull on the starboard side. The breach was too small for a merrow but just large enough for Corvid to gain entry. Corvid engaged with the leader of the merrow and one of the warriors. Corvid was pierced by a harpoon but not impaled.

One merrow warrior fled down the corridor towards the wall of water in the stern of the ship. Another merrow smashed into the port hull, bursting through and creating a large breach. A third merrow dragged himself across the dry ground with his hands towards the breach in an effort to reach the edge wall of air/water beyond.

Aella, still standing on the quarterdeck of the wrecked ship, heard the crash below and looked over the port railing. She saw the merrow bursting through. She waved her arms and created a magical tornado just outside the breach. The two escaping merrow were caught up in the maelstrom and found themselves unable to escape the high winds and battering debris.

Alot leaped down into the hold and chased after the merrow fleeing towards the stern. He was soon followed by Cai'luin who climbed down the ship's ladder into the hold and began to play his lute to provide some bardic encouragement to his companions. 

Corvid meted out divine vengeance against the two merrow that attacked him, quickly dispatching them. 

Aella, likewise, let her spell do the work of killing the two merrow trying to flee through the breach.

Meanwhile Alot caught up with the final merrow in a water-filled section of the wreck as the massive beast tried to smash an exit through the hull with his harpoon. He turned to face Alot too late as Alot swung an arc of bloody destruction onto the merrow, repeatedly smashing the merrow's skull with a large dragon-shaped hammer until the creature was dead. 

The Cave of Lost Souls

Corvid examined the ship's hold. A large marble statue of Saint Cuthbert lay tied down on its side. There was a door leading to a cabin towards the ship's bow. The ship's hull was badly breached on the port side where it crashed into the reef. Corvid spotted a cave in the coral. He entered the cave and soon came across a small cavern illuminated by green glowing phosphorescent coral. The cave was filled with air still from Father Craig's miracle. The air suddenly became supernaturally chill. 

Two supernatural figures appeared before Corvid. They were the ghosts of two nuns of Saint Cuthbert who died as the ship sank - Sister Calimara and Sister Alina. They told Corvid that the ship sank when the harpies song overwhelmed the senses of the crew. The two sisters, along with the high priest and another priest, tried to save the ship but the crew locked them in a cabin below decks in the stern of the ship. Thus did they perish when the ship struck the reef. 

The two sisters implored Corvid to recover their remains and inter them in sacred ground at a temple of Saint Cuthbert. They warned him that should he refuse to do so he would be cursed for eternity. 

Corvid, himself a living avatar of the god of death and guardian of the gates to the afterlife, agreed to the task.

Corvid went directly to the aft section of the ship which was outside the area of Father Craig's miraculous zone of air. There were two doors - both were reinforced with iron bars. He chose the door on the right. It was locked shut. He shoved and kicked and the door broke off its frame. Within he found the remains of four individuals wearing the habits and robes of nuns and priests of Saint Cuthbert. He gathered them up and placed them on the door for transport. In one of the robes he found a jade amulet in the shape of a cross within two concentric circles - the symbol of Saint Cuthbert.

Bess the Crab

While Corvid gathered the remains of the dead, Cai'luin explored one of the cabins amidships. The center of the lower deck was still exposed to air. Cai'luin opened the door and a woman's voice cried, "Oy! Can't a girl get a little privacy while she's taking her nap?"

Cai'luin immediately blurted, "Oh, sorry!" and closed the door. Then he realized there was no one in the room. He paused to consider this before reopening the door and looking more closely. The room was covered waist high in detritus and broken wood. He said, "I'm sorry to bother you, but is someone in here?"

The flotsam and jetsam shifted and a humongous crab emerged, its claws held high.The crab said, "Of course there's someone in here! I'm in here! And I was trying to get some sleep, if you don't mind! It's bad enough with those fishy brutes lying around, you lot 'ave to come in here and start smashing things up and rifling through a girl's belongings!"

Cai'luin became suspicious, "And you are?"

"My name's Bess! I live here." Bess explained that she was given intelligence by a song from a bard named Clergol. He sang a hymn of Saint Cuthbert that was so beautiful that she miraculously gained a soul! "You, uh, you got a lute there. You wouldn't happen to be a bard would you?"

"Well yes I am," replied Cai'luin. 

"You wouldn't happen to know any hymns of Saint Cuthbert, would you?" inquired Bess.

"I think I remember a few from the bardic college." Cai'luin played a hymn dedicated to the saint.

"Oh, yes," declared Bess, "I think you and I are going to be VERY good friends!"

DM Note-

I voiced Bess as close as I could to Phoebe Waller-Bridge from Fleabag.

The Iron Door

Captain Alot asked his crew, "Anyone found any treasure yet?"

Craig said, "No." Cai'luin, still playing his lute to an enamored giant crab, shook his head. Corvid hauled a collection of wet bones towards the breach in the hull.

Alot considered the iron door in the stern section of the cargo deck. He examined the door closely. It was a reinforced door, the kind used to protect valuable cargo. He ran his two-fingered mechanical hands around it. He took out a crowbar and tried to wedge it open using his super-human strength. It wouldn't budge. He tried again but it was stuck fast. He rubbed his metal chin. 

Corvid, exiting through the breach in the hull, said, "Forget about it. Come with me up to the island. The ghosts said there might be treasure up there.

Alot said,  "Ghosts? There's ghosts?" and followed Corvid up to the island. 

Aella, still standing on the deck, called out, "Hey! Wait for me!"

The Iron Cobra

Father Craig opened the door leading to the cabin in the bow of the ship. Within he found a shrine dedicated to Saint Cuthbert. A large painting on a wood panel the size of a door was placed up against the very inside-bow of the ship. He looked around but found nothing. 

He called out to Cai'luin, "Come up here! I need you to check something out!"

Cai'luin entered the cabin followed by Bess the crab. 

"Who's that?" inquired Craig.

"Oh, that's Bess," replied Cai'luin, casually.

"You stay away from me elven pritt'y-boy, dwarfie! He's mine!" Bess waved her snapping claws around menacingly. 

Father Craig narrowed his eyes menacingly, "You'd be very nice with some butter and garlic."

"Wotch it!" she said. The two inched closer together.

Cai'luin separated them, "Father Craig, what did you need?"

"I think there's something hidden behind that shrine. I'd like you to take a look."

"I will, now if YOU could please go search the cargo hold, I would appreciate it."

Craig nodded and left the room, glaring at Bess as he departed.

"Thought he'd never leave," said the crab.

Cai'luin rolled his eyes and turned to examine the panel. 

Bess told him that the passengers on the ship all worshipped Saint Cuthbert and made this shrine during their voyage. She said, "Now what was it they used to say about that shrine?" She rubbed her maxilliped mouthparts with her claw as someone might rub their chin trying to remember something important.

The sea-elf bard found a hidden latch and the panel opened wide like a door, revealing a small niche. The niche contained a circular depression about nine inches wide where a disk or amulet might be placed.

The inside of the panel contained a large mirror. Cai'luin caught a glimpse of himself as he was about to close the panel. 

Instead of his own reflection he saw a segmented iron hooded cobra! The iron cobra launched itself out of the mirror and attacked Cai'luin's face. Cai'luin cried out in alarm as he staggered back, the iron cobra's metal fangs had pierced the flesh on his face. He threw the thing onto the deck and drew his rapier.

Bess pointed at Cai'luin with her claw, "That was it! Something about 'beware he who is vain' or something like that!"

Father Craig came running in. He brought his mallet down onto the cobra. The iron cobra was fixated on Cai'luin. The mechanical snake continued to bite the bard over and over again. Cai'luin, for his part, was unable to pierce the iron carapace of the iron cobra. Father Craig shouted, "Are you okay? Have you been poisoned?"

Cai'luin grit his teeth. "Not yet! WHY- WON'T- THIS- DAMNED- THING- DIE??!!" he spat as he continued to stab at the mechanical guardian with no success. Father Craig brought his mallet down and finally destroyed the creature.

Cai'luin glanced in the mirror. He could now see his own reflection. He shot an exasperated look at Bess, "Maybe next time try to remember a little sooner!" 

Salvage

Father Craig knew his zone of air wouldn't last much longer so he and Cai'luin returned to the Sea Ghost and allowed the sea to once more cover wreckage of the Marshall.

The crew that were able to breathe underwater spent the next several hours spent recovering all they could from the wreck. On the island of the harpies they were able to find a holy symbol of St. Cuthbert made with gold and sapphires worth 150 gp, a jasper gem worth 50 g), a piece of obsidian worth 10 gp, a tiger eye worth 10 gp, 12 platinum coins, 164 gold coins, 641 silver coins, 320 electrum coins, and over a thousand copper coins which they left on the beach.

The crew rigged a block and tackle system to raise the statue of Saint Cuthbert from the hold. Father Craig assisted by controlling the water to help direct the statue and lift it onto the deck. Their plan was to return the remains and the statue to the temple of Saint Cuthbert in Seaton. The ghost nuns, visible only to Corvid, nodded their stern approval.

Aella, wearing her magical gauntlets of ogre power, was able to force open the stuck door in the cargo hold. They recovered fifteen sealed boxes. They brought them onto the deck and opened one. Within was a dozen copies of the book St. Cuthbert and Common Sense, a short book used to explain the tenets of the deity's faith to nonbelievers, as well as a small golden statuette of Saint Cuthbert intended to purchase the favor of local chieftains and tribal leaders.

The crew also recovered the shrine to Saint Cuthbert. Corvid, upon learning of the mirror, explained that he had found a jade amulet in the shape of the symbol of Saint Cuthbert that would fit it perfectly. He said that the mirror was likely a miraculous device that allowed the priests to perform scrying spells. 

Return to Saltmarsh

The Sea Ghost returned to Saltmarsh, arriving a few hours after sunset. The city was dark and its townsfolk had gone to bed. Aella spent the night in her house on the hill. She allowed Cai'luin and Bess to sleep in a guest room. Father Craig and Corvid returned to their quarters in the clergy house they had purchased. Alot returned to his gazebo on the site of the mansion he was building to replace the former residence of the smuggler Gellan Primewater that had burned down over a year ago. There he stood, motionless, for the rest of the night.

The Runaround

The following morning, the crew of the Sea Ghost began unloading the cargo of vegetables they had picked up in Niole Dra. Captain Alot, Aella, Father Craig, Corvid, and Cai'luin reported to the mansion of Baron Anders Solmor to report on the success of their mission to the capital and receive their payment.

They were met at the entrance by Skerrin, Baron Solmor's butler and secretary. Skerrin informed them that the baron was too busy to speak with them. The crew provided Skerrin with the receipt proving delivery of the baron's gift to the king by the allotted deadline.  They also reported that they had destroyed the Vengeful Tempest which had terrorized the Azure Sea. 

Skerrin sniffed with disdain and demanded proof of the destruction of the ship. Alot said that they had the figurehead of the ship - a red dragon, as well as a book that belonged to the ship's captain. Skerrin demanded to see it. Alot said that those were back on the ship but assured him he could bring it.

Skerrin rolled his eyes, "Very well. It seems you have met the terms of your agreement. Bring the proof to receive your compensation."

Alot said, "Okay, we'll be right back."

"Not HERE! Take it to the baron's warehouse. Be there in two hours. I will need time to prepare the payment. Three thousand gold pieces."

"Each." said Alot.

"What?"

"Three thousand gold pieces. EACH. That was the arrangement." The other crewmembers nodded.

Skerrin paused, "Are you sure? That seems like a lot."

"I'm sure you wrote it down."

Skerrin had them wait while he retrieved his ledger. 

Skerrin sighed, "It seems you are correct. But only for three of you."

"What?" said Alot.

"The arrangement was made between the baron and Commander Fireborn and you, you, and you," said the secretary, pointing at Alot, Aella, and Father Craig.

"Fine. Plus five thousand for the Vengeful Tempest. That was the deal."

Skerrin once again checked his book. He sighed.

"I will verify the agreement and bring you the appropriate amount in two hours. If you are late, you forfeit your reward."

"We'll be there!"

The Note

Alot and Corvid returned to the ship to deliver the prizes to the appropriate warehouse at the appropriate time for the appropriate payment. 

Aella and Cai'luin were walking back to her house to check on Bess when Aella noticed a folded piece of paper in her pocket. She opened it. It said, in fresh ink, "I know a secret way into Manaan. Meet me at the Empty Net at Midnight and I will tell you. Come Alone. Ask the bartender for the Serpent's Tooth."

She looked around but no one was nearby. She showed the note to Cai'luin. He read it and said, "Do you think its a trap?"

She replied, "Of course it is."

He looked at her, "Are you going to go anyway?"

She looked back at him, "Of course I am. Are you coming with me?"

Cai'luin smiled, "Of course I am!"

The Raven's Message

Meanwhile, suspecting treachery, Father Craig bought his magical silver raven figurine to life. He gave the raven a brief message to deliver to Baron Solmor inquiring about his safety and requesting a face to face meeting at the town council chambers at noon.

A few minutes later the raven returned from its mission and relayed that the baron was busy but would be happy to meet with Father Craig. It would literally be the best thing about his day.

Father Craig and Corvid went to the council chamber. The baron failed to appear. A short time after noon a messenger boy from the village ran up and reported that the baron was too busy to join them. He said something about remembering his schedule right after sending the raven back and hoping for the raven to return to provide an update, but the raven never returned. Whatever that meant. He apologized on behalf of the baron. 

Father Craig told the boy to relay his understanding to the baron and paid the boy a silver piece, five times the usual amount for the boy's service.

A Visit to the Loyal Quartermasters of Iuz

That afternoon, flush with coin after receiving their payment, the crew paid a visit to the devil-touched Captain Xendros at the Loyal Quartermasters of Iuz. 

Captain Xendros was her usual cheerful self, happily greeting the crew as friends and asking about their adventures.

"Did you deliver your cargo to the capital in time for the king's birthday?"

"How did you destroy the Vengeful Tempest?"

"Where are you going to take the statue of Saint Cuthbert?"

"Are you willing to sell the magical Javelin of Lightning you recovered from Captain Morgana?"

It soon became apparent that Xendros possessed knowledge beyond what reputation and scuttlebutt would know. Captain Alot asked her how she knew all these things.

"Oh, you know, words get around." she quickly changed the subject, "Now, would you like to see my current inventory?"

They paid her fee and she allowed them entrance into her special storage room containing her assortment of magical items for sale. 

They purchased a few items and left - except for Father Craig and Cai'luin who stayed behind to inquire about her ability to obtain special order items.

DM Note-

I had been allowing my group to make special orders through Captain Xendros for a while. Upon re-reading her chapter that night I discovered that she can only special order items from Table F and G. Well, that was a HUGE restriction. Father Craig really wanted a Cloak of the Manta Ray, which had been previously available but was no longer in her catalog. So those two players spent some time looking over what was available on those tables to see what they could use. 

The Empty Net

That night, Aella took her companions - Captain Alot, Father Craig, Corvid, and Cai'luin - to the Empty Net, the seedy inn on pilings over the Kingfisher river. The Empty Net was a den of thieves, smugglers, and cutthroats. Aella was a member of the town council. She and her companions were responsible for the downfall of Gellan Primewater and his smuggling organization. She was also responsible for Anders Solmor becoming a baron and bringing the attention of the king's tax collectors to Saltmarsh. The last time she and her friends had come to the bar over a year ago, there was a brawl and several men died.

Needless to say, when Aella entered the inn without any hint of costume or discretion, all conversation stopped and every patron stared at her in contempt.

Aella cleared her throat. The bartender, a burly thug named Kreb Shenker, spat on the floor, "What do ye want?"

Aella approached the bar and said, "I'm here to see the Serpent's Tooth."

Kreb said, "You were supposed to come alone. They'll have to stay down here."

Aella looked at Cai'luin and the others and nodded. She turned back to Kreb, "Very well."

Kreb led her behind a curtain to a concealed door. The door led up a flight of narrow stairs to a small room with a bare table and two chairs. The walls were lined with heavy burgundy curtains. A hoarse voice said, "Greetings princess. Please have a seat."

She sat down. 

A hooded figure in thick red robes emerged from a curtain. It sat in the other chair. Red gloved hands pulled back the hood just enough to reveal that the figure wore a silver mask concealing his entire face. The mask was carved to resemble a snake's head with fangs. 

"Hello, your highness. I have information that can help you."

To be continued...

The Wreck of the Marshall - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Chapter 53

 

Nearly a week had passed since the crew of the Sea Ghost defeated the music elementals and closed the gate through which they had emerged. The crew were hailed as heroes. They were given an audience with King Skotti of Keoland and were celebrated in his court. 

It was there that they learned that there was an ambassador from the sea-elf kingdom of Manaan located in Niole Dra. Aella, illegitimate daughter of King Pelagius of Manaan, requested a meeting with the ambassador.

The crew found the embassy in a three-story building near the king's palace. The embassy was guarded by two of the king's guards. After an introduction by her "herald", Cai'luin, himself a nephew to King Pelagius, the guards escorted the crew to the ambassador.

They were brought into an office with a large window with a view of the palace a few hundred feet away. The office was a made from a rich dark wood and smelled of parchment and ink. On one wall were several bookshelves lined with books and ledgers. On the other wall was pinned dozens of maps and charts 

In front of the window was a desk, a large plant, and a globe of Oerth. Behind the desk sat the ambassador.

The first to enter was their escort who announced their arrival. Cai'luin, wearing his finest regalia, then entered and loudly proclaimed the presence of Princess Aella, heir apparent of the monarchy of Manaan. The ambassador shot up from his chair. Aella, wearing a beautiful silk outfit from Ket, entered followed by Alot - who as an automaton wore no clothing, Father Craig in his formal raiment, and Corvid - wearing leather pants with a massive black belt buckle and no shirt. 

The ambassador's chair fell over backwards.

"My princess, my friends, it is so wonderful to see all of you!"

It was Oceanus.

CHAPTER 53

"THE WRECK OF THE MARSHALL"

The Crew of the Sea Ghost:

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

DM Note-

Still filling in the 8th level gap between the end of the Final Enemy and the beginning of Tammeraut's Fate with small mini-adventures. This time I decided to use the Merrow Scenario in the Wreck of the Marshall in Ghosts of Saltmarsh. It seems to me that my players always have more fun with these smaller adventures. 

Ambassador Oceanus

Alot and Aella exchanged greetings with their old friend Oceanus. Oceanus likewise paid his respects to Cai'luin, nephew to King Pelagius and member of the royal house of Manaan. He greeted Father Craig, whom he had met previously at the Lizardfolk Games and the assault on the sahuagin fortress. He was introduced to Corvid, whom he had not yet met.

Aella and Alot asked Oceanus how he was doing. They had become concerned when they learned that Oceanus had been exiled from the Monarchy of Manaan by King Pelagius after Oceanus defied the king's orders and helped Princess Orthokent's coalition against the sahuagin. Oceanus had been hailed as a hero by the coalition so the king tempered his punishment and assigned Oceanus as ambassador far away from the sea. In addition, Oceanus had no staff or guard. He was all alone in this strange city far from home. His orders were to establish trade between Manaan and the kingdom of Keoland. Oceanus admitted that he had as yet been unsuccessful.

Aella and Alot promised to leverage their newfound status as friends of the court of Keoland to arrange a meeting between Oceanus and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other ministers of state. Oceanus became effulgent with gratitude.

Oceanus expressed how impressed he was that Aella carried with her the Trident of Manaan, the magical weapon that was once carried by King Manaan, her great-grandfather. Aella informed Oceanus that the trident was why they had come today. She had heard that the trident imbued special magical powers upon the descendants of Manaan but that only druids could unlock its secrets. She was hoping to find a druid who could unlock it without having to travel to the undersea city of Manaan and possibly confront her half-siblings who wished to do her harm.

Oceanus confirmed her suspicion. He told her that the bearer of the trident, should they be the descendant of Manaan, would be immune to magic! Only the druids knew the secret rituals to bind the trident to its wielder. The druids of the kelp forests of Manaan were notoriously reclusive and never left the safety of their grove. She would need to go to the grove. There was no other way. 

Aella asked Oceanus if he could send a communication to the druids to let them know of her intention so that should she ever go there it would not be a surprise. Oceanus agreed. 

DM Note-

Aella's player was desperately trying to find an alternative way to activate the secret powers of the trident without having to go to the Kingdom of Manaan. I told her, as Oceanus, "No, I'm sorry. There's no way to get around it. It's not like the entire campaign from the very first session hasn't been leading up to that moment or anything."

Recruitment

Before leaving Niole Dra, Aella and Cai'luin made good her promise to arrange a meeting between Oceanus and the Chancellor of the Exchequer while Alot and Father Craig recruited new crew for the Sea Ghost. 

Being 225 miles inland, their pool for recruitment was limited. The new recruits included:

1. Elston 'One Eye' Derane - a half-cyclops lookout.
2. Maxwelle 'Rambling' Shell - a crab centaur
3. Christena 'Riot' Thackeray - an anti-social anarchist
4. Geraldine 'Landlubber' Alistair - a farmer with no nautical experience

With their crew complement now at eleven and the festivities of the King's Birthday celebration winding down the Sea Ghost set sail down the Sheldomar river towards the Azure Sea.

DM Note-

Alot's player asked about taking on a cargo for their return trip to Saltmarsh. I was unprepared for that question. I quickly looked through the DMG and Ghosts of Saltmarsh for any random cargo tables are Traveller-style rules for transporting cargo but could find none. I did a quick internet search and could only find rules and tables for Traveller and Star Wars. We had to let it go but I told him I'd be ready for the question next time. 

Sailing Home

The Sea Ghost set sail down the Sheldomar river assisted by Father Craig's miraculous control of water and Aella's magical control of winds. It took four days to navigate the shoals and fords of the river to arrive at the port city of Gradsul. 

The next day they ventured forth into the Azure Sea following the coastal trade route along the coast. On the way they noticed a large pod of whales breaching the surface as if trying to escape the ocean. It was definitely odd and a continuation of the strange occurrences they witnessed on the way to Gradsul.

As they  neared Redshore and Angler Island, instead of turning west towards Seaton and Saltmarsh, Captain Alot took the ship to the southeast. 

"Where are we headed, Captain?" inquired Cai'luin.

"The treasure map we got from the storm giants. It shows a map of the local sea with instructions to find the Wreck of the Marshall. It said to go to the Tyrant's Rocks. There we need to find Harpy Island. The wreck should be located nearby."

"And there's treasure?" asked the sea elf.

"There should be. The Marshall was a ship transporting a cargo of golden idols of St. Cuthbert. It disappeared before it ever reached its destination. If these instructions are accurate, then we should find the treasure."

Tyrant's Rocks

The area known as Tyrant's Rocks are a shoal of rocks and coral reefs that make travel to the Holds of the Sea Princes difficult. The rocky shoals have protected the Sea Princes and the city of Monmurg for generations. Many Kings of Keoland have sent ships to their dooms in foolhardy attempts to attack the Sea Princes, thus the name.

Alot took extra caution navigating the safe passages and narrow lanes in search of the "Island of the Harpies".

DM Note-

Alot failed his navigation roll and got lost so according to the DMG they spent 1d6 hours navigating back to the last known hex. Luckily he only lost two hours. He failed again and lost four hours. He finally made his navigation roll and found the Island of the Harpies, six hours later than planned.

The Island of the Harpies

The ship's lookout spied an small island ahead , no more than fifty feet across, populated with what appeared to be large birds with human heads. Once the ship sailed within three hundred feet of the island they could hear haunting music. 

Aella wasted no time. She waved her hands and arms in complex arcane movements and a tsunami wave rose up out of the sea and washed the island, knocking many of the winged beasts out of their treetop perch before they could take flight.

Cai'luin followed up with a rapid strum on his lute and a massive explosion of water and air slammed the island. The two surviving harpies looked confused by the sudden explosions of water. They took flight away from the island. One sang its siren song in the hopes of pacifying the incoming attackers. Half the crew became hypnotized by the harpy's enchanting song. Father Craig ran around the deck gathering up the affected crew before they could hurl themselves overboard. 

 

Corvid pointed his finger at the singing harpy and a thin bolt of fire struck the creature. It screeched and fell dead into the sea. The other harpy flew away.

Wreck of the Marshall

Alot and Father Craig boarded the ship's boat and went to search the small island, landing on the far side with a sandy beach. 

Corvid donned his magical cloak of the manta ray. He, Aella, and Cai'luin jumped off the side of the ship into the water. 

The water was blue and clear. Fifty feet below they could see the wreck of a rotting cargo ship resting on the rocky bottom.  Swimming nearby were two massive sharks. Accompanying the sharks were three large creatures with torsos, arms, and heads like aquatic ogres and the lower body of giant eel-like fish. Their faces were covered in fins and long barbels like a catfish. 

The mer-ogres shouted, in Aquan, "Lookit! A Sea-Elf! Gettim!"

Corvid had already swam close to the island so Aella swam as quickly as she could to join him but without a magical cloak of her own she could not catch up. Cai'luin wasted no time. He strummed his lute underwater.

There was an explosion!

Depth Charge!

Alot and Craig were pulling the boat up onto the sandy shore when the water around the Sea Ghost erupted in white foam and spray. Some kind of underwater explosion had caused the sea around the ship to heave upwards. The ship momentarily bobbed as sea-water rained down. 

Alot cried, "What was THAT?!"  He dropped the boat onto the shore, ran up onto the rocks, and dove into the water.

Craig sighed. Of all the officers of the Sea Ghost, he was the only one who could not survive underwater. He prayed for a miracle and was blessed with the ability to part the water. He created a dry path down off the island and around. 

DM Note-

I had two maps in Roll20- one for above water and one for underwater. I only moved the underwater character tokens to the underwater map so the above water players could see what was going on but had no token to control. Once they knew something was up I moved their tokens to the underwater map. 

Also, Cai'luin's "Fireball" spell does force damage instead of fire damage. He describes it as a "water-ball explosion" and calls it "Water-hammer." 

When I said it exploded underwater and looked like a depth charge exploding, I said, "Oh! Oh! You should call your spell 'Depth Charge'!" and he said, "That's even better!" So that's the spell's name now.

Under the Sea

Underwater, two mer-ogres, also known as "merrows", and one giant shark ganged up on Aella just above the quarter-deck of the wrecked ship. One of the merrows used his harpoon attached to a chain to grab Aella and draw her back as she tried to escape. Cai'luin hovered above the poop deck and continued to case his bardic spells using his lute. 

Corvid was fighting the thrid merrow and his pet shark on the other side of the ship. Alot swam quickly to provide aid. 

Father Craig ran around the island on wet ground suddenly exposed to air surrounded by canyon-walls of made of water.  He saw Aella getting worked over by two merrow so he offered a prayer to St. Ogden and reconfigured the shape of the water.

Exposed to Air

Father Craig pushed the water back, creating a cube of air 100-feet on a side. The entire area was exposed to the air above. The bow of the Sea Ghost stuck out into the air and the ship teetered precariously. 

The two merrow fighting Aella were suddenly in mid-air. One fell onto the deck while the other began to plummet. He caught himself on the side of the deck of the wrecked ship and pulled himself onto the deck!

The shark, however, had been momentarily disengaged from the fight and was swimming in the water around the cube of air. 

The merrow fighting Corvid fell to the ground on the other side of the ship landing on the ground with a wet splat! The shark fell onto the shelf of rock. Alot dropped onto the shelf and crushed the shark with his magical draconic hammer. 

The two merrow lifted themselves off the deck of the ship and reared up awkwardly. One stabbed at Aella with his harpoon, killing her. He bit her head with his shark-like teeth and she fell to the deck unconscious. 

Father Craig moved quickly, saying a prayer of healing that revived Aella from the brink of death. 

Aella dashed to the mid-deck She and Cai'luin continued to fight the merrow using chaos spells and depth-charges. They were eventually successful in dispatching the two merrow.

Father Craig, meanwhile, had repositioned his cube of air to encompass more of the wrecked ship. This time he managed to envelop the swimming shark in air and deposit it flopping and gasping impotently onto the deck of the ship. Father Craig then prayed for the appearance of a spiritual hammer to eliminate the surviving merrow crawling away on the ground. 

The Deck Below

Once all of the attackers had been eliminated, the officers of the Sea Ghost prepared to enter the wreck of the Marshall. Cai'luin explored the cabins beneath the poop deck but found them empty. Aella positioned herself near a gaping rend in the hull of the ship towards the port stern. Corvid stood on the rocks above a massive rend in the starboard stern. 

Alot killed the shark on the deck and heaved its dead bulk off of the entry into the hold.

He opened the gate-like hatch cover and looked into the cargo hold. Like the rest of the ship, it was exposed to air. In the hold was a massive marble statue of St. Cuthbert, patron god of the army of Keoland. Around the edge of the hold, clutching to the walls and confused by the sudden introduction of air to their hiding place, were four additional merrow.

They were very confused and very angry.

To be Continued...

The Cave of Echoes - Ghosts of Satlmarsh, Chapter 52

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHAPTER 52

"THE CAVE OF ECHOES"

The Crew of the Sea Ghost:

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

DM Note-

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

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

Descend the Stairs

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

The Cave of Echoes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aella shrugged and ran into the cavern after Corvid. 

DM Note-

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

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

DM Note-

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

Tubes and Crystals

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

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

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

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

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

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

Witch Bolt

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

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

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

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

DM Note-

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

The Musical Runes

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

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

DM Note-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Witch Bolt Again

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

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

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

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

Cai'luin Regains Consciousness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DM Note-

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

bAbG AFGG bbCb AGFA bAGG G

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

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

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

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

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

What Happened?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Confessions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Celebrations

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

Next Week - 

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

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

Things that were great:

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

Things that not as great:

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHAPTER 51

"THE KING'S BIRTHDAY"

The Crew of the Sea Ghost:

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

DM Note-

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

Shore Leave

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

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

DM Note-

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

Aella and Cai'luin Attend a Fancy Party

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

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

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

DM Note-

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

Father Craig and Corvid Attend a Religious Celebration

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

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

DM Note-

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

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

DM Note-

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

People-Watching for Alot

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

DM Note-

Alot rolled a 7 on his Insight skill test. 

To Beat the Band

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Sour Note

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

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

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

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

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

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

DM Note- 

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

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

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

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

Investigation

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

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

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

Then those "killer melodies" appeared! 

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

"Where's her shop?" asked Alot.

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

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

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

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

A look a the papers revealed a note: 

Repetition=control Need 5+ singers (kenku?)

Kenku murder ruins

RESIST THE CREATURES’ MAGIC

Reverse=seal/banish

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

T     V     C

C     F     E

E     O     O

H     E     H

A     E     S

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

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

The Scriptorium

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

It was the strange music of the cadenza!

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

Brother Blanc regained his composure and thanked his rescuers. 

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

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

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

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

"Anything else?" growled Craig.

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

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

Boots-and-Cats

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

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

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

"Boots and Cats?" asked Alot.

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

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

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

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

Murder in the Ruins

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

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

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

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

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

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

They were each dealt a hand.

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

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

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

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

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

Corvid said, "FINALLY!"

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

Alot said, "Why?"

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

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

Cai'luin was unconvinced, "Okay."

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

To Be Continued...