Tide of Retribution

Trouble darkens the shores of the Vezdali Peninsula when an earthquake hits, sending part of the village of Palma Flora down into the sea. “Tide of Retribution” is an adventure that takes characters from 1st to 3rd level. It introduces them to the Menagerie Coast—a tropical region filled with monstrous abominations, mysterious curses, and ancient temples. This setting is ideal for nautical and jungle-exploring adventures. If your players use the heroic chronicle to create their characters, talk to them about creating characters who grew up on the Menagerie Coast to give them a closer connection to this region. For characters not from the Menagerie Coast, the players should think about why those characters were drawn from across the continent to an idyllic village by the sea.

Plot points/Scenes

The village of Palma Flora is known for its vibrant green foliage, its competitive Shark Hunting Tournaments, and a sweet cocktail that shares the village’s name. Lurking in the Sharkfeather Abyss, an ocean trench just west of the village, is a small clan of some dozen Sahuagin that has grown weary of the shark hunters of Palma Flora. Year after year, the sea devils have attacked the shark hunters in an effort to spoil the tournaments, but their small numbers have seen them consistently defeated by the hunters and the village’s hired mercenaries. However, things have recently changed. When a young Sahuagin named Selachai lost her parents in a raid against the shark hunters during last year’s tournament, her distraught prayers for vengeance touched the fathomless consciousness of Uk'otoa, an ancient leviathan trapped beneath the ocean. Selachai beseeched her new patron for the power to destroy the shark hunters and all who exploit the sea. She received that power in the form of a magic scepter tipped with a crystalline amber eye. Transformed by the scepter into a conduit for Uk'otoa's might, Selachai now leads the Sharkfeather clan on a path of dark retribution, and it’s up to the adventurers to stop it.

Adventure Summary

In the first part of the adventure, the characters are enjoying a day of relaxation or invigorating shark hunting on the sunny shores of Palma Flora when a ground-quaking tremor rocks the coast. Before their eyes, the island-based portion of the village begins to sink into the depths. Sahuagin prowl the waters, eviscerating those who try to swim to safety. The characters must fight to survive and have a chance to save as many villagers as they can before Palma Flora is overrun. In the end, the characters must leap aboard a ship fleeing the sinking village before they are overwhelmed. If they survive this attack and make it to the open water, they reach 2nd level. While aboard the ship, the characters interact with the crew and their mysterious tabaxi captain as they plan their next moves. In the last part of the adventure, characters who want to save Palma Flora and unravel the mystery of the sinking village are faced with several options. Captain Three Earrings is keen for them to undertake the quest, and many of the nearby islands offer resources for underwater adventuring that might help them. Returning to the watery ruins of Palma Flora, the characters face off against their sahuagin foes. The battle is vicious, as many of Palma Flora's shark hunters have been twisted by eldritch power into half-humanoid, half-shark abominations. No matter the outcome of the final battle, the adventurers are set up to continue their nautical adventures along the Menagerie Coast.

Setup and Starting Points

Before beginning the adventure, work with your players as they talk about why their characters are in Palma Flora. You can provide players with some details regarding the village as it’s described in chapter 3. This can help the players get into character and help you establish why the party has come to this remote coastal village. This is also a good time to figure out if the characters already know each other or if this adventure is the first time they’ve met.

Subplots