Chapter 1: The Haunted House
General Summary
In Which We Meet
Day 1, morning
My name is Frikki and I am going to tell you the tale of how I met my friends.
I left Yartar in a bit of a hurry but I didn't like it on the road. I am only used to Yartar. I was very lonely and very hungry and, eventually, I hitched a ride in the back of a wagon with some people. On the way I overheard some interesting conversations about the town of Saltmarsh. Apparently that is where we were going. Just before arriving, I quietly left the wagon, so as not to disturb the kind people. I decided to look for alternative entry into the walled town.
While I was looking, a fancy looking man talked his way through the main gate. He was followed a short while later by a big, ugly man who didn't do so well with the fancy talking. The fancy man felt sorry for the big, ugly man and came back and said the big, ugly man was a man servant of his. They both got in and went to The Wicker Goat Inn. I saw a big lady looking suspicious, as if she also wants to go over the wall. I took advantage of the big lady's clumsy attempt to climb the wall by nipping over quickly. The big lady fell down. I decided to help her as she obviously has no clue. I threw a rope over but the big, stupid lady ignored it and climbed over by her stubborn self. We went into the trees and I tried to make friends with the big, ugly lady but the lady just pushed my face into the dirt. There is a possibility that I told her she was ugly, by mistake. The lady was looking for a temple. I went to check out a nearby building. There are lots of dwarves coming in and out of it. It is not a temple. I went to the Inn. Big lady fell down a cliff and continued to look suspicious but somehow eventually made her way to the temple where they set her to digging graves.
In the Inn, I heard the pretty man tell a wondrous tale of an amulet being stolen in Yartar. The amulet belonged to the Lord Protector and he is real mad about it. He says the "Lady of the Night" who is a succubus has stolen it and he is tearing the town apart looking for her. This is pretty confusing because I think I stole it and I don't know who the other lady is. I hope the other lady won't be too upset that she is getting blamed. I stayed in the Inn, trying to hear if the fancy man is working for the Lord Protector but it sounds like he has come from Triboar, not Yartar. An older, local guy came in. He muttered about ghosts and Fancy Pant's ears pricked up. He chatted to the old guy and heard about an old haunted house on the cliffs just out of town, where there might be gold or wine or something in the cellar. That bit was confusing. Anyway, the old guy is Ulaine McGuyer or something. The haunted house belonged to some old alchemist or so.
There's a change in the handwriting where Frikki leaves off. It's flourished and dainty...
Oooh, a book, marvelous! My father binds these. Such a novelty really, though I am seeing more and more of them as I travel...maybe Skald Ragnar was wrong when he said that they were a passing fad...
Regardless I can't read the chicken scratch above me, but this is really such a wonderful opportunity.. Hmm what shall I write?
There are some small doodles in the margin at this point, excited little scrawls of someone musing...
Today I wandered upon the town of Saltmarsh. I'll be honest, I am still hideously lost, I don't recall any of these places on my maps. Whatever. I figured this town was as good as any to spread some news in and ply my trade, and with such an interesting bit of information, scandalous and all, that I snagged in Triboar I should make a decent wage telling it. Now that we're on the road to a "haunted" house (pah) and I have a little time to fill I might just write what I've told down for further study and....embellishment. After all, a good Skald never lets facts get in the way of a good story.
Come all and hear...
Scandal in the town of Yartar I say, where the Lord Protector madly tears the town asunder!
An amulet! Passed down through generations of the Lord Protectors family stolen from the neck of his dear Grandmother.
Shocked was she so, that she passed into a state between death and life; a "coma" if you believe the musings of some radical clerics who choose to call themselves "doctors."
And there she lies. So mournful and enraged is the Lord Protector that no home, no tavern, no barrel in Yartar is safe.
And who is responsible for such a dreadful, heinous act you ask?
Why it's none other than a daemon! The Lady of the Night, who stalks the town! A hired hand is she, slayer of your enemies.
For a sum of gold she'll suck the sparkle from a man's eye, or sap him of his strength and essence for a day or two.
A Mercenary daemoness is who the town thinks responsible! And the Lord Protector shall have her head to get the amulet back.
There's some more doodling in the margins...
That's pretty good... but I think I can make it better by the next telling.
Who's been writing all fancy in my book??? Anyway Fancy Pants and Ugly Face decide to go and see if they can find the funny red gold. I followed them. They go right through the centre of town! They have no idea of hiding or anything. We saw.. or maybe I should say smelled... a tavern called The Snapping Line. It is made from old boat timbers. There is also a Council Hall built from stone, and another stinky place I overheard was a Fishmonger. The next house was much more interesting. It was Oweland House and it is definitely worth checking out carefully, if you know what I mean. It is old and fancy and there was also some new building happening there. The town was quite busy. There is a general store called Winston's Store. After that is some temple with a cemetery. The temple is dedicated to some guy called Savras. Fancy Pants spoke to some elf guy hanging out near the temple. He told the elf to get him a horse and cart and gave the elf guy some gold. Fancy Pants then went into the general store and tried to arrange selling this stuff he hasn't got. The trader guy, Winston Millbridge was very suspicious.
When we first met by Sophie-Alice Riches
In Which We Explore the Old House
Day 1, late afternoon
We found a sitting room with an cobwebby fireplace. Lots of spiders came out of it and attacked! Darius tried 'Stop, drop & roll' while I stomped on them. Fancy Pants cast some fancy spells - Fire Bolt and then Magic Missile! They worked really well on the spiders but also knocked Darius out. The Ugly Lady touched him with her hands and he came around.
The next room was an old dining room but with broken furniture. There were some mushrooms(?) growing there and Mir'ek ate one. There was also another fireplace with cobwebs. Mir'ek scared the spiders with Mordy's torch. That worked well but the room got smokey so Mir'ek smashed a window and Mordy used a not-so-impressive-but-useful spell to blow the smoke out. I looked inside the fireplace and found a little stash of 31 gem. TheyIt is worth 20gp.
I found a wet and mouldy bathroom and Mir'ek found a bedroom with 3 beds, 3 wardrobes and 3 chairs. Only boring stuff there.
We then went into a kitchen area and 2 of the biggest centipedes EVER attacked us! Mir'ek and I killed one easily while the boys miss theirs. Then Mir'ek kills theirs too. She is pretty awesome sometimes. I opened a door to a REALLY STINKY room. Mir'ek went in and another enormous centipede attacked her. Darius helped her. Mordy went through the room to the stairs going down. When he got there, there was loud scream! It frightened the woosy boys but they came down the stairs cos us girls were with them.
There was a creepy cellar with bottle racks, sacks, barrels and other stuff. Mordy thought the red gold stuff would be in the barrels. He thought they were full. For a while we pretended not to notice the body on the floor but it is really there. Looks like he was a fighter as he had dented armour and a sword. There were a lot of broken bottles nearby.
Back at the barrels, Mir'ek split one open, there wasn't much in it. It looks like the end barrel is on runners and could move.
by Sophie-Alice Riches
Day 2, morning
We heard some creepy noises in the night but we are all feeling better and braver. I thought I saw a flashing light in the night. I cleaned the window in the morning but I can't work out where it came from.
This time we went up the stairs. Something screamed and we saw a shadow at the top of the stairs. Mordy cast Light on a piece of bread (does anyone else think that is weird???). We then saw a face embedded in the wall. Mir'ek punched it. She put a hole in the wall but stopped the screaming. We find a couple of rooms with fireplaces.
We went to the other side of the house and I heard a noise behind a door. Mordy looked inside - there is someone tied up!
In Which We Fall for Ned
Mordecai tried to talk to the guy but he was gagged so couldn't talk back. Mir'ek started to walk across the room but she fell through the floor! I had a careful look and I don't think it was a booby trap, just rotten floor boards so I tried to walk across very carefully, but even I went through! Don't worry, I didn't hurt much! Mir'ek and I were just going up the stairs when we heard another almighty crash as Darius made another hole and soon after that, Fancy Pants! We all went back up and Fancy Pants tied a rope to his crossbow bolt and shot it into the far wall and then into the wall outside the door so then we had a guide rope. He then went across to give the guy, whose name is Ned, a really hard time. Ned said he came into the house for shelter but there were screams, lights and he was beaten up, tied up and dragged here. He is convinced the house is haunted. He only has his undies on and wants his clothes. I decided to look for his clothes in the room next door. I picked the lock real easy, the lock wasn't as old and decrepit most of them. There were several tables in this room and more floor boards that looked rotten. I made my way carefully around but most of the stuff was ruined. I did find 2 vials with something in them. Meanwhile, Mordy stopped being so mean to Ned and helped him across the room. Mir'ek found another bedroom that would have been nice once but now it was old and smelly. We did find Ned's clothes but not his gear. He is happier now. We had a bit of a rest there. I noticed that you could actually see out of this window and there was a clear view of the ocean. We went back down to the cellar and moved the barrel on rails. Mir'ek found a panel and opened it - it's a secret room! There were lots of beds, little chests, a table, stove and a ladder in one corner. The stuff here is newer and looked after than the furniture in the house. There was something burning on the stove. Mordy climbed the ladder and opened the trapdoor. A voice boomed out threatening stuff so Mordy popped back down again. He said the trapdoor was in the house. Mir'ek then climbed the ladder and got the same result. I looked through the chests. there was just junk but I took a few notebooks in case they say anything interesting. We went along the corridor at the far end of the room. There was a really nice bedroom with a desk with:- an illustrated book of erotic poetry
- an Almanac of the coast and tides for the surrounding area
- a treatise about a demigod called IUZ
- a lantern
- papers with jottings
- when I looked through the almanac, I found a parchment with some strange code on it
In Which Mir'ek Looks for a Ladder
Day 2, afternoon
We went back into the house for a short rest.
Mordy & Mir'ek wanted to go downstairs again, so we did. The stairs shrieked (again!). It's the SECOND step we need to avoid! The secret panel was open behind the barrel and there were people there! They were very unfriendly and started to shoot at us. They have jammed the barrel in place so it was very difficult for us to get close to them and hard for us to shoot them. Mordy told Mir'ek to flank them by using the ladder. She wandered off.
Meanwhile we weren't doing very well. Darius went down. Mordy cast Sleep, which helped, and he then stabilsed Darius.
Mir'ek sounded like she had no idea where she was going so I went up and showed her the trapdoor.
Down below, the nasty people closed to secret panel. The boys join us at the trapdoor and I took the hinges off. We peeped in but didn't see anyone. Mordy and Mir'ek go down. Mir'ek jumped down but her foot got stuck in the ladder and she face planted. She was then shot with an arrow and collapsed. I foolishly jumped down to try and help Mir'ek but I didn't land well and knocked myself out. Darius used some Goodberries to get Mir'ek and then I up again but I was really tired and hid under the bed trying to get a crossbow shot off.
We have a long and frustrating battle with a couple of bandits. Mir'ek keeps trying to hug them rather than hit them with her big axe-thingy. Mordy was very good with his Shocking Grasp and dagger skills. Mordy & Darius found a 1gp trinket on one of the bandits.
I went up the ladder to check on Ned and we went to the ground floor bedroom to rest up. The others went to the fancy bedroom in the secret area. I thought that was a bit silly. I was too tired to argue, I just stayed with Ned. In the downstairs bedroom, they had an interesting night, with people knocking and trying to get in. They barricaded up the door but in the morning found it was barricaded from the other side as well and they couldn't get out! Ned & I very bravely went down. There were no bandits about. Ned pulled some of the barricade down and the others were able to get out. I still felt really tired, even after a good sleep.
Day 3, morning
We left the house again and were discussing what to do when I found a well. Mordy tossed a lit rock down it.
In Which Saltmarsh is Explored
Something moved in the bushes surrounding the well. Snakes! They are big and nasty and they attacked Mordy and I. Mordy was bitten. Darius killed one but the poison got Mordy. Then the big one chased me and bit me really hard. I passed out. Mir'ek used her special hands and I came around but I was feeling really weak and tired. Mordy looked down the well. There was water about 20' down and something was glistening but I was too tired to even think about going down there. After much discussion (again) we went back to town. I got a room and rested up at the Snapping Line Inn. Mordy went to Winston from the General Store and tried to talk him into financing our next expedition to the haunted house, but Winston offered a different deal. He said the town council had bought in extra law enforcement and this was restricting businesses. He wants us to discourage/reduce the influence of this law enforcement and wants us to be cautious and circumspect in achieving this. Back at the Snapping Line, Darius and Mir'ek were offered some claw wine. Mir'ek tried it and chucked up everywhere, including over Darius. Not to be put off, she tried again - with the same result! Mordy came back and started telling one of his tales... INSERT TALE HERE It was really good and he earned 12gps, 5 of which went to cleaning up Mir'ek's mess. Mordy divided the rest of the gold between us all. Mordy talked to the barmaid, asking about where to exchange gold for gems. She told him about a trade delegation at the Empty Net (N side of bay), led by Captain Xendros. He also learnt that the head of Law & order in the village was Eliander Fireborn, who lives on the N coast. Mordecai and Darius went off to the Empty Net. It looked like a makeshift tavern and was pretty grotty. There was a bouncer there. They went in and Mordecia was rude to the guy running it (Kreb) so he got thrown into the ocean by the bouncer. I wish I had been there to see that! After that success, they went to find Eliandor Fireborn. They asked at a house with a tower that turned out to belong to a wizard/sage named Keledek. His maid gave directions to Eliander. Eliander was quite posh but polite, especially since Mordy was wet and stinky. Mordy dobbed in Winston. Eliander wanted proof but appreciated the warning. Eliander said the Almanac we found would be useful to someone conducting shipping operations in the area. Mordy spent the night at the Wicker Goat because it wasn't as smelly as the Snapping Line. They made him have a bath. He studied Sanbalet's spell-book for a good while. While I was resting, I studied the vials I found in the Alchemist's room. They weren't potions but ingredients.
Day 4, morning
The next day, Mir'ek was feeling much better. I was still really tired. I managed to rest until lunchtime but then that all wanted to go back to the house. On the way, I stopped at Winston's and sold the quartz and the vials. Mordy is quite generous.
We arrive back near the house in the early afternoon.
In Which We Capture a Smuggler
Day 4, early afternoon
We found a spot just outside the SW corner of the surrounding wall where we were hidden but could see the house and the sea. We chatted while we waited for the sun to go down, except Darius, who slept. We took turns keeping a lookout through the night. At the end of Darius' watch he noticed some flashing lights from the house and then from a ship at sea. He missed some of the house signal but caught all of the ship's signal - it matched the second line of the code on the note we found in Sanbalet's room.
I then told them that I had heard people talking about smugglers in this town.
We sneaked carefully and quietly back into the house and down the stairs. The panel was closed but we quietly opened it and Fancy Pants cast Sleep on two of the smugglers. The third one was already asleep. I bravely went in first and tied up the third one while the others secured the other two. We took our prisoner out of the house and into the woods.
Mordy questioned him and we learn:
- His name is Dimas.
- His job is to protect the shipments that come in from the ship. The ship stays out to see and goods are transferred via longboat.
- The boat lands in a cavern in the cliff that is at the end of a tunnel.
- The tunnel starts from a secret door near the cellar panel, in the barracks room. You must push a panel in the wall to open the door.
- The smugglers bring in goods such as cloth, wine and send out contraband - weapons such as spears, javelins and spiky things.
- There are about 18 workers plus Sanbalet plus the boat crew.
- He doesn't know who or where the weapons are going to but they have been moving a lot of them.
- The Zhentarim are involved.
In Which We Ambush Ourselves
Day 5, morning
We wander around town and check out several buildings:
- The Dwarven Anvil is a blacksmith run by Mafeera, an elderly human woman. She employs 4 smiths: 1 dwarf, 1 gnome, 1 human and 1 indeterminate. There is a small shrine to Moradin by the smithy. The Smithy is very busy and seems mainly concerned with boat/fishing related items. We ask them to repair Mir'ek's dented shovel.
- Hoolwatch Tower is fortified with a tall tower. It is the base of the Constabulary.
- Copperlock HQ is the base for a Dwarven mining operation. Mordy chatted to some dwarves later at the Wicker Goat and found out that there are lots of dwarves recently arrived in town. They are being recruited for a proposed Silver Mine in the cliffs S of town. Not everybody in town is happy about this. It is being funded by commercial interests in Waterdeep.
Day 6, morning
We went to the Town Council Hall. There was a market near there so I went there instead. The others went inside and Mordy found out lots of things:
- The building is nicely appointed and constructed of local stone.
- There is a small tower with a (storm?) warning horn.
- There is also a gallows.
- Prominent Councillors:
- Manustrad Copperlock has been sent to get the mining operation up and running; recruited primarily dwarves
- Eliander Fireborn supports her; from Waterdeep and is possibly paid by them to take over policing; local Constabulary are very loyal to him; supports mine
- Eda Oweland is very popular locally; has fishing interests; against mine
- Gellan Primewater is also popular; Merchant family; has a trading fleet; holds parties, events, etc; against mine
- Andres Solmore has family trade ties; has a very profitable trade fleet; undecided on mine
- Mordy tells the clerk about the arms smuggling. He says it is known but to a large extent ignored - except by Eliander.
Day 6, afternoon
We went back to The Leap again. We learn the call of the Magnificent Orc-tusked bird from Mir'ek. The call is not magnificent so I hope the plumage is good.
Day 6, evening
We set up a guard roster through the evening and night. Mir'ek was last watch. I think she must have fallen asleep (dreaming about magnificent orc-tusked birds) because she didn't see the party of smugglers until they were really close. She then did the bird call but it is not very loud and we were all asleep. So the smugglers got closer. Eventually Mir'ek came over and woke us up. There was a big group - Sanbalet, Dimas and about 4 others.
I think Mordy has a hero complex because he went and waited for them and cast Light. The Darius and I hid. Big girl sensed that there were no undead or fiends there. I guess that was good? The smuggler archers started shooting. Mordy put a guy to Sleep and Darius Entangles a couple. But the arrows took their toll and Mordy goes down, closely followed by Darius. Oh this is bad! I think that I should run away!
In Which Mir'ek is Song-Worthy
I bravely snuck over to Darius, found one of those tasty berries in his pocket and popped it in his mouth. That brought him around and he then Cured his Wounds. Down at the other end of the battle, Mir'ek finally pulled out one of her enormous weapons and attacked! I shot one dead with my little crossbow. Darius healed Mordecai but then got shot again, himself. Mir'ek finally started hitting bad guys and one shotted two in a row. She was crying all over them. I don't know if there was more blood or tears! Meanwhile, I had to give Darius another one of his berries because he was out cold again. Some of the bad guys seem to be running away - or regrouping? I'm all for making the most of this opportunity and skedaddling but the others clean up some of the stragglers. I though both of my big greenish friends were in trouble but they shrugged and kept going. Mordy was determined to get the traitorous Dimas and eventually succeeded. I did some looting. They didn't have much but I got a few GPs to share with the group.
Day 7, noon
We then went back to our respective Inns. Mordy wanted to write a song while he was bathing??? I wanted to see if the girls in the local brothel knew anything. I had a very strange conversation with Mir'ek about brothels. I don't know if she knows nothing or comes from somewhere really strange but she has it all back to front. I thought maybe I came from somewhere strange but the brothel here was much the same as mine. Darius went to the Kiorna, a male human leather-worker and sold the horrible ferret skin. I'm pleased it was good for something. Kiorna was keen to buy any unusual hides we might find.
Later I went to Keledek, the local Wizard/wise guy. I left the ingredients I found at the house with him. Hopefully he will buy them. I need to go back tomorrow. I also picked up Mir'ek's shovel.
Day 7, early afternoon
We all met up at the Wicker Goat. Darius bought us all a drink with his ferret money and we tried to work out a plan. Mordy suggested getting some help. We then went to see Eliander but he was in a bad mood or something because he wanted proof. I said I would try and find Ned. I looked all over for Ned and asked everywhere I could think of but no-one knew Ned.
Later on Mordy sang his song about Mir'ek. It went down real well and he earned some gold. Maybe I should try making up stuff like that? Or Maybe I should stick to picking pockets while the punters are listening to Fancy Pants.
Day 8, early morning
Next morning I got everyone up and going early, before light. We headed back to the house and carefully looked for guards. We got down into the cellar and I couldn't find the fiddling secret door! Eventually Mordy found it and opened it. There were the guards!
In Which We Venture into the Smuggler's Den
Day 8, morning
A smuggler scout shot Mir'ek. I bravely rushed in and saw the scout going down some stairs and calling out for reinforcements. Mir'ek came down too. I got shot with an arrow and then I got a whack on the back of the head and I was out cold! I have no idea how they got me in the back of a head with a stone! It must have been weird magic. Mordy found me on the stairs.
Meanwhile, poor Big Girl copped her second crit arrow. Darius Cured and we continued down the steps and into the cavern area. Mir'ek went off to our left even though Darius had pointed right. I was hiding by the bottom of the steps when Mordy threw one of his brightly lit coins down just a little way from me. Tymora's tits! How was I supposed to hide in bright light??? Mir'ek found some green slimy stuff. It was really slippery and she fell over but she said it tasted delicious she she was happy. No way was I going to eat it though!
While several of us were watching Mir'ek and her green slime, Mordy walked down the other tunnel and got an arrow in the chest. I finished the scout off and then Mir'ek came and gently patted Mordy. She is very good with her hands! Then a bandit shot her and she went down! Mordy almost killed the bandit with his Magic Missile while Darius Cured Mir'ek. Darius finished off the bandit and we came to an open area with a table, chairs, a barrel and another passage. I scouted the passage but saw more smugglers so I retreated to tell the others. Mordy tried taunting them. Mir'ek opened the barrel and it was full of rum. That kept Mordy and Mir'ek busy. I went off to check if Mir'ek's green slime passage met up with the other one. It did and I saw two more smugglers and Sanbalet. Not too many!
However things went downhill while I was away. Mordy walked up the passage and became a pincushion. Mir'ek grabbed him but copped a third crit arrow!
We retreated, just managing to keep ahead of the scout with his nasty arrows. We got back to the barracks then closed and barricaded the door with beds. We high-tailed it back to town for some rest & recuperation. On the way in, Mir'ek and I bought some Healing Potions and Healing Kits from the temple. I shared them out.
In Which We Go Sailing
Day 8, noon
We went to The Wicker Goat to recuperate and make plans. Planning is hard work. Maybe we are not very good at it. Darius kept buying us food and drinks until he fell asleep. I went and found a fisher-woman called Mara who agreed to take us down the coast in her boat, tomorrow, for 5gp.
Day 9, 8:00 am
We all met with Mara and went sailing. I had never been on the sea before. It was okay. We found a cave at the base of the sea cliff, sort of behind the old house. We went closer and closer and then we went in the cave. Mara seemed to get a bit scared 'cause she wanted 5gp extra. But we were in the cave and we could see two smugglers. We went swimming. Mordy & I went to the left and hid behind a boat. The big ones went to the right. I started things off by shooting one of the bandits. It was a good shot! He came to attack me but Mir'ek hit him really hard. Then she got upset because he was dead. She is really weird. While I was seeing what the bandit had on him, I noticed some drag marks from something really heavy, heading to the water.
We killed the other bandit and headed further in. Mir'ek kept putting out the torches so Mordy couldn't see and had trouble keeping up with us. Mir'ek and Darius were up front and they found another bandit which shot Mir'ek. She doesn't like arrows so she hit him hard and that was the end of him!
Then it happened again! Just like last time! I was standing there with my friends and I copped this big stone to the back of the head! It really hurt! I think this wizard must have it in for me! Mir'ek & Darry are hanging around the passage to the table and barrel room so I decided to go the other way. I got past the green stuff and there was an injured bandit! I bravely drew my sword and dagger and went in close. I am a bit rusty with the sword cos I missed both times. But he missed too. Then there was another, also injured but two is one too many. But I killed the first one and the Darry finished the other. there was one more going up the stairs. Darry and I teamed up. The scout shot us both but we killed him! Mir'ek had been to find Mordy, which is a good thing because he was really lost. She did that thing with her hands and it made me feel a bit better.
We haven't seen that pesky wizard. Maybe he is in his fancy bedroom?
In Which We Catch a Wizard
Day 9, midday
We continue up the stairs and I pulled the door to the barracks open but it was trapped! Flames leapt out and burnt poor Fancy Pants. Those pants are not so fancy now. There were a scout, a bandit and Sanbalet. Once Mir'ek started crying, she started doing massive damage to kill the bandit. Mordy pulled out some daggers to finish off the scout. The Wizard was a tricky punter. He cast some spell on Fancy Pants who then started acting all strange, getting in our way, putting Mir'ek and I to sleep and even attacking Darius! Luckily he started to come back to his senses. When he was supposed to tie us up he only did it loosely so we were able to escape and pursue Sanbalet into his bedroom. He cast a nasty Scorching Ray spell but luckily his aim was out and he missed us all. Mir'ek gave him a thump and then he started begging for his life. He wanted terms and all funny things. We got him to talk a lot. What we found out:
- Gellan Primewater is very involved with the smuggling operation.
- The smuggler's ship is the Sea Ghost. It is next due in 4 days. The smugglers signal that they are ready to go to it with 3 long flashes.
- The ship's route is up and down the coast.
- Lizardfolk are buying the weapons. They are based near Mere of Deadmen, about 30-40 m S of Saltmarsh.
- Sanbalet says he doesn't know why the Lizardfolk want the weapons.
- He says he doesn't know what the code is about and that it was found in the house gardens. He thinks it may be for a chest or something, perhaps in the skeleton room.
Level 2
In Which We Find the Alchemist
Day 9, evening
We spend the night resting in Sanbalet's bedroom.
Day 10, morning
We unbarred and open the door to the skeletons. Darius immediately copped an arrow and Big Girl was a bit of a Big Girl's Blouse about it all. Eventually we persuaded her and we opened the door, again. We charged in to find 6 skeletons. It was a tough fight but some of our new tricks were displayed. Mir'ek Divine Smited a skeleton and Darius Shapechanged into a bear! Mordy seemed to be casting some different spells while I disengaged between moving and attacking. A strangely dressed skeleton appeared in a weird glowing pink cloud in one corner and started throwing acid at us. We eventually managed to (re)kill all of them. We did use both of our Healing Potions. The last skeleton was dressed in rags that would've been very fine once. They were like a wizard would wear. We think it was the Alchemist who used to live in the house. He had a leather bag and a necklace with a white and gray flecked stone. The bones of the other skeletons are a bit shiny and feel oily. There is a very fine layer of dust or sand or something over everything.
After much searching, Mir'ek found a hidden panel and opened it. There was another laboratory behind it! There were tables with lots of stuff, including a book with notes and formulae on alchemy and several objects that we think are gold: discs, mouse, apple, flower and a skull! There were also some more bottles that may contain ingredients like the ones I found upstairs. We took all that stuff.
We went back to the bedroom and our prisoner had escaped. Oh well. We then went back to town. I traded some of our loot for 2 Healing Potions from Winston. I wanted to sell some of the gold stuff but Mordy doesn't want to sell it in Saltmarsh. I think it would make us rich and we could buy lots of Healing Potions. We experimented with the leather bag and it is a small Bag of Holding! I pleaded to have it since I am not very strong and can't carry much more than my thieves tools. They are nice and let me have it. We also think that the pendant is magic but we don't know what it does. Mordy and Mir'ek don't seem to want to have anything to do with it and I have the bag so Darius carried the pendant. When we wore the pendant, it made us feel tingly or buzzy inside.
In the afternoon I cleaned up the old bottles and jars of ingredients.
In Which We Become Smugglers
Day 10, late afternoon
I then took them to Keledek. I also checked out the Primewater mansion. Gellan Primewater is a well spoken, dapper, older gentleman. He has a fancy beard and is wearing clothes even more outlandish than Mordacai!
Darius and Mordecai were at the Wicker Goat, studying the Alchemy book and the pendant... well that's what they said. Knowing Darius, he would've been eating and drinking. Mir'ek didn't know. Later on we had some dinner at The Goat and then I went back to The Line for an early night, after seeing that there were quite a few lights on at the Primewater Mansion.
Day 11, morning
I went back to Keledek and this time I got 76gps for the old jars! I went to The Goat to meet the others for breakfast and to see how Mordy's study was going. He didn't really have a clue about the book but that's okay cos I know we should sell it. He said the pendant didn't do much so he should keep it. Sounds like a story to me. He said it tells you about sharks or chakras or something. I think he just wants to keep it for himself.
I went to the church and bought a Healing Potion... Tymora's tits! It was pricey! They musta thought I was Waukeen herself!
We all then went back to the house to check out the stuff in the cavern. Mordy noticed that the bodies in the barracks had been moved. That's weird. There may also have been some stuff taken from Sanbalet's room. We thought it was probably him. There were no weapons in the cavern, just sacks of personal valuables, barrels with liquid and some nice cloth. Darius wanted to check the rest of the house. Ground floor was all good but there was a Fire Trap at the top of the stairs. It was quite funny really. I set it off but jumped out the way and the others all got singed! I noticed footprints near the window in the upstairs bedroom. Probably Sanbalet.
We decided to stay and wait for the ship to come but then we didn't have the Almanac or the signalling lantern so back to town we went. We picked up the lantern from the In but had lost the Almanac so I went to see my fisherlady friend and she said there was a full moon tonight and that meant it would be a good night for the ship to come close to shore. That meant Sanbalet was fibbing. Can't believe a word he told us!
So back to the house where we set up in the upstairs bedroom. I kept watch and around midnight I saw a signal! It was exciting! The signal was the first line on the code sheet so we replied with the second line and they replied back with the third line! Your lies didn't hinder us, Sanbalet! We went down to the caverns, took a few goods with us and rowed out to the ship.
In Which We Board the Sea Ghost
Day 12, very early
We approached the boat and ropes were dropped down to us. We sent up a sack but they were expecting crates of weapons. Mordy asked to board and they sent down a rope ladder so we climbed aboard. Mordy spun a magnificent tale. It was luminous! Sigurd the captain got this tattooed fellow called Punketah out to check out his story and they all seemed to believe him. Galad! We helped the crew stash our goods and they gave us a cabin. All of the crew we have seen are human.
Mir'ek and I had a bit of a scrute around the decks. The front part has a long bow sprit and a big wheel for the chain. That back bit had a big steering wheel and a grumpy boatswain called Bjorn.
Captain Sigurd called Mordy into his cabin with a Lizardman. They discuss what's to be done . Mordy did a glim job of buying us some time. They plan to drop us off at this place called Thornhold, about 1 day S. Mordy got a map from the First Mate.
Day 12, morning
After breakfast I did some scouting. I have so far seen 7 crew, + Sigurd, Punketah, Bjorn, First Mate and 1 Lizardman. I scouted the kitchen, pantry and a storeroom behind our cabin. Under us were the crew quarters and a door to the hold. I hadn't a chance to get to the back cabins yet.
On Mordy's map, Thornhold is marked as a fort, S of the Mere of Deadmen.
Day 12, midday
They put our rowboat in the water with two crew and then 3 lizardmen got in and were taken to land. We must've been near their village. The 2 sailors and boat came back sometime later.
In Which We Disembark
Day 12, afternoon
There are rats on this ship. Mordy was in our cabin and a big rat came in and started threatening him on the table! Mordy flipped the table over and it landed on the rat. Mordy couldn't find Darius. He got the crew looking for him, and tried to get them to take me, so I could get a peak in the hold, but they weren't having any of that. I did get a quick look in from the crew end. There were 2 doors at the stern end. We were all really worried about Darius as he had been gone some time and no one had seen him. The crew reckon he had fallen overboard. Mordy reckon someone probably pushed him.
The Captain told we were near our drop off point. It was nearly dusk and we could see the shore. A skiff came out to collect us. We took Darius' gear. They transferred some boxes both ways and we were off with the 3 crew of the skiff. We were roughly heading for what looked like a castle on a rocky headland.
Mir'ek and I heard a strange horn. The crew get worried when we asked them about it and they tried to go faster. Shortly after we were attacked by these fish-like humanoids. They have spears attached to ropes. A battle followed. We lost one crewman. Mir'ek smote one of the creatures straight to its God! Mordy saved another crewman. We killed a couple of these Sahuagin creatures and the last couple swam off. The crew said these creatures have been getting more aggressive lately.
We arrived in a small bay. The crew (Burgess and Marland) needed help so after camping the night just up the beach, we set off to try and meet their contacts. They gave us their password: Fishcakes.
Sometime during the night, Darius turned up! He told us he can now turn into a rat and it had been him that Mordy had trapped under the table. Although we were pleased to see him safe & sound, we were upset that he hadn't told us what was going on as we had thought he was dead!
Day 13, morning
We headed S along the beach and not long after we could hear noises of fighting inland. I went to investigate and saw about 20 Dwarves involved in a spat but I couldn't see who they were fighting. We decided to have a closer look. It was Dwarves & Lizardmen. Mordy & I went quietly through the trees to investigate but our large green friends were NOT quiet. Close by were 2 unarmed lizardmen fleeing from some Dwarves. Darius threw some rations at the lizardmen and Mordy attacked (and missed) them. Mir'ek tried to stop the dwarf.
In Which We Interfere in a Battle
Day 13, late morning
The lizardmen continued running away. Mir'ek grappled the dwarf, knocking him over and questioning him. He said the lizardmen were prisoners and that the dwarves were ambushed. I sneaked further in to see the big battle and saw dwarves executing unarmed lizardmen prisoners. Mordy was wild that Mir'ek is sticking up for the lizardmen. He slapped her and then she broke his nose.
Meanwhile, I started shooting at the dwarves while hidden among the trees. The others eventually came over to the main melee. Mordy & Mir'ek roughly shouldered passed each other. The main melee consisted of dwarves, armoured lizardmen and crocodiles. It was confusing. I was shooting dwarves, Darius attacked crocodiles and Mordy attacked lizardmen and crocs. Mir'ek couldn't decide who to sit on.
Mir'ek & I tried to get everyone to stop fighting. When there were only a two lizardmen left, it seemed to work. The lizardmen shaman started gathering the lizardmen bodies, and I gathered the dwarves and made them a little lighter. The dwarves are soldiers and have an insignia like a castle. Maybe they were from Thornhold? Mir'ek goes back to the dwarf. He said there was a bounty on lizardmen so they killed them rather than have them escape. Mir'ek then bright him over near us and the shaman went ballistic. He summoned crocodiles to attack the dwarf. The Dwarf was tied up. Mordy was mad with pretty much everyone by then so he Thunderwaved. Mir'ek tried to keep the dwarf from the crocs and I tried to get the shaman to stop. Then Mordy attacked the other lizzie and it was all on again. A bear appeared out of nowhere but they may have been Darius playing tricks again. At one stage Mordy made lots of pretty butterflies and flower petals. It was the best bit of the whole fight. Mordy does manage to break the shaman's concentration and the crocs vanish. Mir'ek grapples Mordy and they enjoy some together time, until Mordy loses consciousness.
Eventually the shaman & I came to an arrangement. He will stop if he can have the dwarf prisoner. I haven't told the others that bit yet.
In Which We Hunt Crocodiles
I talked to the lizardman shaman. This was pretty tricky because his common was only slightly better than my lizard-hiss. What I got was:- The dwarves are from the nearby castle (Thornhold?)
- His Queen speaks better common
- He REALLY wants to take the dwarven prisoner
- For us to even accompany him and the prisoner, we must prove our worth by taking a gift to the Queen
- The gift should be either the heads/teeth of lots of crocs or the head/teeth of one very large croc. We think it's the latter.
- The croc(s) is/are further into the swamp to the NE.
- The Shaman's name might be Shizluk
- Shizluk gave us 2 vials of healing salve. Each vial has 2 doses.
Day 13, midday
We set off on our crocodile hunt. It was not hard to find crocodiles. There were lots of them in varying sizes. We killed quite a few but did take a few bites so we had to use all the salve. The salve worked quite well but did seem to make Mir'ek a bit woozy.
Then we spied Thousand Teeth, the Devourer. This is the one! He was VERY large. Darius tried Faerie Fire but the giant creature shrugged it off.
In Which We Meet a Queen
Things were going poorly until Mir'ek thwopped him with her tetsubo!
by Sophie-Alice Riches
Day 13, very late afternoon
We carefully made our way out of the swamp and were met by a party of Lizardmen. 
- Sahuagin attack all creatures in the area
- The dwarves think the lizardfolk are, or are in alliance with, the sahuagin
- The lizardfolk have tried mediating with the dwarves, with no success
- The weapons are to fight the Sahuagin
- The lizardfolk are not interested in fighting the dwarves
In Which We Go to Thornhold
Day 14, morning
We had a safe night in the Lizardfolk cave. In the morning, Minister Sauriv visited. He explained that nearby human settlements such as Saltmarsh will also be under threat of the Sahuagin.
As the page turns the handwriting and ink change, though the writing seems panicked.
Dammit, dammit, dammit all to the Nine blasted Hells!
It's bad enough we sided with those savage, scaly, cattle poaching beasts, but now their "High Minister" or whatever those reptilian fools call their "governmental" head knows about the "weapons shipment" and that "I" am to organise it for them!
Tymora and Hlal must be laughing at me right now! First, the stupid gecko on the boat, then the stupid geckos on the land, and THEN those bleeding hearts just HAD to help "those poor little defenseless lizards". Yeah, they're so defenseless they're single handedly responsible for the increase in meat and porridge prices in taverns anytime those stupid scalebacks want to have a party! So now, NOW they know my face, the other three's faces, and know that we're supposed to bring along a weapons shipment that I spun up just to get us on a boat and away from that pain-in-the-arse smugglers den and town where EVERYONE, including the head of the den who is very much not dead KNOWS what we LOOK LIKE!
ARRRGGHHH!
Now the lizardmen's high-ups are gunae be riled up at no-peace treaty and no weapons. Another target on my back. It doesn't help that I am not sure at all if Frikki understands that the weapons (and my ability to obtain said imaginary weapons) was just a ruse, considering she's now suggesting we obtain said weapons for the farm raiding ne'er do wells. At least Big Green and Darius seem to be compliant with the idea of getting as far away from here as possible and that our heads are on the executioners block the longer we hang around here.
This forgery kit is starting to look more and more enticing. I don't like using it anymore, but maybe a port passage paper to the Archipelagos is looking mighty useful right now.... Maybe a communique will throw them off our scent for a while...
The Page turns again and the handwriting returns to the usual.
Day 15, morning
We walked back along the edge of the swamp for a few hours until I found a lizardman scouting party to give my letter to. It was my mate from the first battle. We then made our way back to the main road and headed to N towards Saltmarsh.
Day 15, evening
We spent a pleasant evening at Carnath Road House. It was quite busy. We did find out that Mere of Deadman (where the Lizardmen are) is also known as Dunwater and maybe this was the DW in Gellan Primewater's letter. I won a little bit of gold at cards. We also chatted and heard about Mordy's love. It sounds to me like she tricked him somehow but he doesn't believe it. I even had a nice bath like the girls in the brother used to have on Sundays. We had a good sleep, breakfast and then set off. We probably should have asked around about the Sea Devils.
Day 16, morning
On our way we came across a group of scruffy looking possible bandits. They seemed to have captured someone. We bravely went to the rescue. There were some in the trees and I had a tough fight with one of them. I thought I was pretty sneaky but he was sneakier! I had to use my Healing Potion to beat him. Mordy Slept some but later he killed one of the sleeping ones and Mir'ek went all crazy at him. I think we killed or frightened them all away but it was hard to tell because Mir'ek & Mordy were at logger heads again.
In Which We Argue
Mir'ek gave Mordy a lecture on the morals of stabbing sleeping people. Darius couldn't see any enemies so he went to the captive. She is small and has black skin and silver hair but when he turned her over, she is not old. In fact she was quite pretty. Mir'ek searched her but didn't find anything except tatty robe and boots. She was terrified. We tried talking to her and eventually Darius realised she was speaking a dialect of Elvish. Her name is Ilivartha. She was part of a scouting party that was captured and her companions were killed. She doesn't come to the 'Overworld' very often. She was captured about a ten-day ago. She said she was kept alive because there is a price on her head. We started to move back to the road when Darius noticed that the top of her robe was torn. She said her family brooch had been stolen. She asked if we found it on the dead bandits. I got the fine bronze carving from my bag and she said that was it and wanted it back. I asked Mir'ek if it was magic it was. Hmm, more than a family brooch! Mir'ek and Mordy studied Mordy's map for a while, including the back of it. I did a rubbing of the brooch. We argued about what to do and where to go. Mordy kept on about wanting to go to Yartar and see if this item is the thing that was stolen from The Lord Protector a few weeks ago. I DON'T want to go back to Yartar! I tried to tell them that this wasn't the thing that was stolen but then Mordy says we can clear her name. Aaagghhh!!! Anyway, we argued until we started getting hit by arrows! The bandits had regrouped and come back. They said they wanted their captive and their loot back. I tried to get away from the middle of the road but I fell flat on my face, which was good because the arrows missed me. Darius turned into a bear and went for the bandits. Mordy cast Magic Missile and even Mir'ek joined in without crying. We eventually killed 2 bandits and 1 scout. Another scout was still shooting at us and although Darius went towards him, Mordy & Mir'ek decided to retreat, with Ilivartha over Mir'ek's shoulder. I covered Darius and we all retreated.
Day 16, early evening
We arrived back in Saltmarsh. We went to the Wicker Goat and got a room while Mordy went to visit Keledek to ask about the brooch. Darius removed our body piercings.
Keledek said it is an ancient drow item. He warned Mordy about the Dark Elves and that it is best not to interfere with them. He offered to buy the brooch for an unspecified large amount of gold.
We continued to argue over what to do next. Yartar and brooch vs Weapons for lizardmen vs selling brooch vs returning brooch to Ilivartha. It was endless!Session Index
Chapter 1: The Haunted House72: In Which We Meet
73: In Which We Explore the Old House
74: In Which We Fall For Ned
75: In Which Mir'ek Looks For a Ladder
76: In Which Saltmarsh is Explored
77: In Which We Capture a Smuggler
78: In Which We Ambush Ourselves
79: In Which Mir'ek is Song-Worthy
80: In Which We Venture Into the Smuggler's Den
81: In Which We Go Sailing
82: In Which We Catch a Wizard
83: In Which We Find the Alchemist
84: In Which We Become Smugglers
85: In Which We Board the Sea Ghost
86: In Which We Disembark
87: In Which We Interfere in a Battle
88: In Which We Hunt Crocodiles
89: In Which We Meet a Queen
90: In Which We Go to Thornhold
91: In Which We Argue
Chapter 2: The Secrets of Saltmarsh
Chapter 3: The Lees of Leilon
Chapter 4 : The City of Splendours
Characters Interacted With
Report Date
04 Nov 2019
Primary Location
Related Characters
Comments