Session 49: The Secrets of Saltmarsh Report
Who are the real Ghosts of Saltmarsh?
General Summary
Deep in the Underdark, Keledek the Unspoken waits in a room within the Fungal Grotto. In his hand is a glass of water, and tied to a living chair opposite him is Skerrin Wavechaser. The elder man stirs, and Keledek splashes the water in his face, ruining Skerrin's nightwear.
For an old man who just woke up tied to a living chair of fungus, he seems weirdly unaffected. No cricks in the neck, just a sputtering from the water and a groggy groan. Looking up at Keledek, he speaks.
"So, you gonna interrogate me or something?" He says, his voice just a bi too smooth.
Keledek fiddles with his rings and tells him that he will not in fact be interrogating Skerrin, and then proceeds to threaten Skerrin with an array of spells. Skerrin rightfully points out that this seems an awful lot like an interrogation, and asks what Keledek wants.
"What do you even want? The last thing I remember, I was fending off a group of ruffians who had broke and entered into my master's house! I don't even know where we are or who in Hells you are!"
Keledek is taken aback; he is familiar with Skerrin. Being the most powerful wizard in Saltmarsh means he has had some dealings with Anders Solmor, and as such has met Skerrin at least a handful of times. Besides; Keledek isn't exactly an easy face to miss in town. If this "Skerrin" doesn't know him, then it likely isn't actually Skerrin - just as that shapeshifter was another fake.
Keledek calls "Skerrin"'s bluff, and the old man hangs his head in defeat. "Ugh, the briefing never mentioned a local wizard!"
In one moment, Keledek is looking at an elderly human man in nightclothes. In another, there is a younger half-elf woman in Sea Prince attire.
The mysterious woman is wearing a pendant that Keledek recognizes as an Amulet of Disguise Self. He removes the amulet, and the woman complains, calling him rude. He simply asks what she did with Skerrin Wavechaser.
She admits that she kidnapped Skerrin for the Queen-Captain in order to gain leverage over Saltmarsh due to recent political changes; the real Skerrin is likely halfway to the Isla de Amaya by now.
Keledek asks about the shapeshifter, and she confirms that they were also working for the Sea Princes. She continues, however, to greatly annoy Keledek; lamenting the bonds, trying to break free, dodging questions, going in circles, etc.
Frustrated, Keledek leaves the room (which was guarded by Mordeknainen's Private Sanctum, though given the Great Mushroom can hear all within itself that likely did little. He heads to the bar, refusing one of Gyro's gyros, and instead has a drink with Lumier, lamenting the slow going. Lumier commiserates, and Keledek then has a realization; he can check if her story makes any sense! He hurries to a side room to set up a scrying pool, and casts Scrying, naming Skerrin Wavechaser.
Rather than seeing a captive Skerring aboard a ship, he finds himself watching Skerrin and several other robed figures, all wearing fake katchina masks, wading through foot-deep water in some subterranean network. One of Skerrin's compatriots has a bundle of something, and for a moment Keledek glimpses a glint of metal and a hint of stars; the bundle likely contains Wave, Whelm, Blackrazor, and Frostbite.
The image is fuzzy, however, as if interfered with magically. Wherever they are, it is both the same plane and not; it reminds Keledek of when he and Co'oquilan Mystan tried to communicate via Sending while he was traveling to the Obsidian Isles. This, of course, can mean only one thing: These are agents of the Brotherhood of Keraptis.
As the image and sound clear, Keledek can make out that they are discussing their goings-on. Skerrin mentions that what happened to Mr. Dory will not happen to them, and with this comment he reaches for the floor beneath the water. he finds something, and pulls, lifting a great trapdoor up. The water begins to drain, and once it finishes the group begins to descend into wherever the trapdoor leads.
In the darkness, they are pressed single file. A few men ahead of Skerrin is suddenly dragged into the darkness, as a humongous crab claws at the Brotherhood. On it's claw is an ornate metal band, and it seems to be unstoppable. As the Brotherhood panic and begin to scatter, the crab snaps up the bundle of weapons and tosses it to the trapdoor.
With cat-like reflexes, a pale white hand from above snatches the bundle through the trapdoor. The Brotherhood look on in fear as this newcomer draws the bundle up and, through the interference and darkness, Keledek can make out a mangy pale face with yellow eyes looking down from the trapdoor.
The pool turns dark and echoing screams are heard as the spell ends. Keledek, shaken, returns to the traitorous prisoner, opting to question her further once united with Talon Delmirev Adrex and Castellon Kiara Shadowbreaker.
Meanwhile, Talon Delmirev has arrived in the early morning on the northern edge of town. With him are six of his most trusted soldiers, however Talon Serrano is not among them. She has been tasked with keeping watch over Seaton as the Fleet of Monmurg advances on the port.
Delmirev casts Sending to inform Keledek of his arrival, and the two agree to meet at Keledek's tower. As the Knights of Raan march through the town, people are beginning to awaken. Between the fighting last night and the arrival of new Knights of Raan, the people of Saltmarsh are beginning to grow wary. They may not know what is happening yet, but they know something is very wrong.
The unease in town only grows as the Knights reach Sharkfin Bridge, where Lieutenant Johnny stops them. He demands to know where Talon Co'oqulian is. Talon Delmirev tells the Lieutenant that that is confidential, but Johnny isn't having it. According to him, Mystan is wanted for murder as there was a fight last night. Mystan and his party was seen in the fight, and a body was found near the scene. He needs Mystan in custody before Captain Fireborn wakes up to this mess! Delmirev still refuses, and Johnny continues his stonewall. The Talon then orders Johnny to move, dispatching two of his clerics to examine the body to identify the cause of death. Johnny, however, insists. He "knows the cause of death was being attacked by a crazy war cleric due to claw marks found on the body."
Delmirev is unimpressed by this evidence, and reiterates the order to his soldiers. The two clerics obey and make for the Saltmarsh Barracks and Jail. The Senior Talon then returns his attention to Johnny and apologizes for being forceful, promising that if Mystan is found guilty he will be dealt with.
Johnny mentions that he is hesitant to trust internal investigations these days, but still lets Delmirev pass. The Lieutenant of the Guard then follows Delmirev, asking what he is there for and offering to help. The Talon says he'll ask kfor help if he needs it, but Johnny is persistent, and refuses to leave untl Delmirev orders Johnny to leave.
Back in the Underdark, Keledek threatens the hostage woman with Polymorph or Bag of Holding to get her to walk with her to the lift up to the Tower of Zenopus, and she still tries (and fails) to make a break for it once on the surface.
Finally, both groups have rendevoused at Keledek's Tower. Just then, Delmirev gets a Sending from his soldiers, indicating that Talon Mystan didn't kill the stranger found dead this morning; he was exsanguiated. Delmirev confirms that it looks like what the soldiers are implying, and hurridly rushes Keledek inside.
The hostage asks if something is wrong, and Keledek tells her to shut up. He then introduces himself to Talon Delmirev, and chains the Sea Prince spy up in his summoning circle. She is still not afraid, either being very dumb or very stupid.
Delmirev ignores Keledek's questionably legal arcane contraband, and listens as Keledek explains what he knows. Delmirev then drops the bomb that there is a vampire in town, and Keledek lazily responds that he knows, explaining how Bubbles freed the vampire for information without knowning what it was.
Delmirev is dumbstruck, but regains his composure and the two agree that the immeidate problem to deal with is capturing the vampire. It is then when Captain Eliander Fireborn knocks on the door, demanding to know what is going on.
Keledek instructs an Unseen Servant to make some non-poisonous tea for the Captain, and then fetches some wooden stakes, as the two begin to fill Eliander in.
While the three men are catching one another up to speed in Keledek's Tower, Castellon Kiara Shadowbreaker along with twelve guards have arrived on horesback at the western gates of town. Guards at town ask what the occassion is, but she blusters past. Her cavalry of six elven rangers from the Silverstand Chiefdom and six mounted knights from Burle raise even more eyebrows in town. They cross the bridge (eliciting shivers from the elves) and make straight for the Solmor House. Shadowbreaker herself pounds on the door, and a servant answers. The maid is terrified, and fetches Solmor for Kiara after she demands his presence.
When Anders arrives, tired but otherwise well, Castellon Shadowbreaker immeidately arrests him and asks if he knows where Skerrin Wavechaser is or anything about the Brotherhood of Keraptis. He sputters confused, having no idea of anything. Shadowbreaker is unconvinced, and she orders four knights to round up Solmor's staff and question them.
She then marches through town with Anders in tow to Keledek's tower, creating far more concern and panic around town. Lt. Johnny once again tries to find out what is happening, but the Castellon harshly brushes him off.
As she approaches the tower, Keledek, Fireborn, and Delmirev are coming up with a plan to peacefully confront Anders, when Kiara nearly busts down the door (somehow avoiding the wards) and dissapointing them all with a captured Anders Solmor. She is let in and her guards join Delmirev's four as staking out the perimeter. A Zone of Truth is cast on Anders, and he willingly and truthfully divulges that he has never heard of the Brotherhood of Keraptis, that he is unaware of any conspiracy other than polticial ones to win over voting blocks, and he doesn't know Skerrin's current whereabouts if he isn't at the house.
Keledek takes this opportunity to tell Anders that Skerrin is likely on the Obsidian Isles and was attacked, possibly dead. Anders sis shocked and betrayed, and Keledek lets him speak with the captured Sea Prince who must've been impersonating Skerrin for the past few days.
The four leaders then brainstorm what to do. Keledek offers that they could try to get the vampire to be on their side, but nobody else is going along with that plan. They review what they know of the conspiracy, and realize that Lankus Kurrid is almost certainly a member, as is a member of the Primewater staff. Kiara sends her stealthiest ranger to tail Kurrid, with instructions to report back once he arrives at the meeting place. Keledek then sends out his familiars to find the vampire as he takes a nap to swap spells and prepare for a vampire hunt.
Fireborn and Delmirev then head to the barracks so Delmirev can confirm the vampire attack and Fireborn can gather Lt. Johnny and his most trusted men.
Meanwhile, Castellan Shadowbreaker makes for the Primewater Estate after arresting four of Ander's bodyguards. She is greated by a servant who fetches Maria Primewater, and Kiara questions her. Maria is nervously fiddling with her earrings, but is helpless as the Castellan's soldiers gather and question her staff. Of the women on staff. five are light and have a notable accent that Xolec (a vampire from the south) wouldn't recognize; all are jan pana. This includes the Primewaters' cook, Feliza.
Kiara takes Feliza and the others up to Maria to quesiton her further, and Maria finally cracks. Her brother is not ill; he was kidnapped shortly after she won the election. Her earrings were enchanted with a Message or Sending enchantment, and Maria has been recieiving orders from the kidnappers since. They've been using Tomas as a hostage to manipulate her on the council.
This causes Kiara to arrest Maria too, dragging her and her five servants back to the tower. While this is going on, Delmirev confirms that the dead man was a Sea Prince thug who has been scratched up and exsanguaiated. His body is pale and he has a vampire bite. He tells Johnny this, who really isn't listening, and he then assigns two more soliders to stake out Crabber's Cove.
When the rest of the group arrives at Keledek's tower in the late afternoon, Keledek awakes. His familiars have news: while they haven't found the vampire, something strange is happening; Hannah and James Rist are missing. The tavern is open, but only a few of the staff are nervously working. Furthermore, the cllar door is locked from the inside. When Keledek scries Hannah Rist, the spell fails; Hannah Rist is either under some sort of ward, not on this plane of existence, or dead.
Maria is sent to the barracks while the earrings are given to Keledek. He sends a final imp (named bj) to keep an eye on crabber's cove, as the reluctant party's forces converge on The Snapping Line...
For an old man who just woke up tied to a living chair of fungus, he seems weirdly unaffected. No cricks in the neck, just a sputtering from the water and a groggy groan. Looking up at Keledek, he speaks.
"So, you gonna interrogate me or something?" He says, his voice just a bi too smooth.
Keledek fiddles with his rings and tells him that he will not in fact be interrogating Skerrin, and then proceeds to threaten Skerrin with an array of spells. Skerrin rightfully points out that this seems an awful lot like an interrogation, and asks what Keledek wants.
"What do you even want? The last thing I remember, I was fending off a group of ruffians who had broke and entered into my master's house! I don't even know where we are or who in Hells you are!"
Keledek is taken aback; he is familiar with Skerrin. Being the most powerful wizard in Saltmarsh means he has had some dealings with Anders Solmor, and as such has met Skerrin at least a handful of times. Besides; Keledek isn't exactly an easy face to miss in town. If this "Skerrin" doesn't know him, then it likely isn't actually Skerrin - just as that shapeshifter was another fake.
Keledek calls "Skerrin"'s bluff, and the old man hangs his head in defeat. "Ugh, the briefing never mentioned a local wizard!"
In one moment, Keledek is looking at an elderly human man in nightclothes. In another, there is a younger half-elf woman in Sea Prince attire.
The mysterious woman is wearing a pendant that Keledek recognizes as an Amulet of Disguise Self. He removes the amulet, and the woman complains, calling him rude. He simply asks what she did with Skerrin Wavechaser.
She admits that she kidnapped Skerrin for the Queen-Captain in order to gain leverage over Saltmarsh due to recent political changes; the real Skerrin is likely halfway to the Isla de Amaya by now.
Keledek asks about the shapeshifter, and she confirms that they were also working for the Sea Princes. She continues, however, to greatly annoy Keledek; lamenting the bonds, trying to break free, dodging questions, going in circles, etc.
Frustrated, Keledek leaves the room (which was guarded by Mordeknainen's Private Sanctum, though given the Great Mushroom can hear all within itself that likely did little. He heads to the bar, refusing one of Gyro's gyros, and instead has a drink with Lumier, lamenting the slow going. Lumier commiserates, and Keledek then has a realization; he can check if her story makes any sense! He hurries to a side room to set up a scrying pool, and casts Scrying, naming Skerrin Wavechaser.
Rather than seeing a captive Skerring aboard a ship, he finds himself watching Skerrin and several other robed figures, all wearing fake katchina masks, wading through foot-deep water in some subterranean network. One of Skerrin's compatriots has a bundle of something, and for a moment Keledek glimpses a glint of metal and a hint of stars; the bundle likely contains Wave, Whelm, Blackrazor, and Frostbite.
The image is fuzzy, however, as if interfered with magically. Wherever they are, it is both the same plane and not; it reminds Keledek of when he and Co'oquilan Mystan tried to communicate via Sending while he was traveling to the Obsidian Isles. This, of course, can mean only one thing: These are agents of the Brotherhood of Keraptis.
As the image and sound clear, Keledek can make out that they are discussing their goings-on. Skerrin mentions that what happened to Mr. Dory will not happen to them, and with this comment he reaches for the floor beneath the water. he finds something, and pulls, lifting a great trapdoor up. The water begins to drain, and once it finishes the group begins to descend into wherever the trapdoor leads.
In the darkness, they are pressed single file. A few men ahead of Skerrin is suddenly dragged into the darkness, as a humongous crab claws at the Brotherhood. On it's claw is an ornate metal band, and it seems to be unstoppable. As the Brotherhood panic and begin to scatter, the crab snaps up the bundle of weapons and tosses it to the trapdoor.
With cat-like reflexes, a pale white hand from above snatches the bundle through the trapdoor. The Brotherhood look on in fear as this newcomer draws the bundle up and, through the interference and darkness, Keledek can make out a mangy pale face with yellow eyes looking down from the trapdoor.
The pool turns dark and echoing screams are heard as the spell ends. Keledek, shaken, returns to the traitorous prisoner, opting to question her further once united with Talon Delmirev Adrex and Castellon Kiara Shadowbreaker.
Meanwhile, Talon Delmirev has arrived in the early morning on the northern edge of town. With him are six of his most trusted soldiers, however Talon Serrano is not among them. She has been tasked with keeping watch over Seaton as the Fleet of Monmurg advances on the port.
Delmirev casts Sending to inform Keledek of his arrival, and the two agree to meet at Keledek's tower. As the Knights of Raan march through the town, people are beginning to awaken. Between the fighting last night and the arrival of new Knights of Raan, the people of Saltmarsh are beginning to grow wary. They may not know what is happening yet, but they know something is very wrong.
The unease in town only grows as the Knights reach Sharkfin Bridge, where Lieutenant Johnny stops them. He demands to know where Talon Co'oqulian is. Talon Delmirev tells the Lieutenant that that is confidential, but Johnny isn't having it. According to him, Mystan is wanted for murder as there was a fight last night. Mystan and his party was seen in the fight, and a body was found near the scene. He needs Mystan in custody before Captain Fireborn wakes up to this mess! Delmirev still refuses, and Johnny continues his stonewall. The Talon then orders Johnny to move, dispatching two of his clerics to examine the body to identify the cause of death. Johnny, however, insists. He "knows the cause of death was being attacked by a crazy war cleric due to claw marks found on the body."
Delmirev is unimpressed by this evidence, and reiterates the order to his soldiers. The two clerics obey and make for the Saltmarsh Barracks and Jail. The Senior Talon then returns his attention to Johnny and apologizes for being forceful, promising that if Mystan is found guilty he will be dealt with.
Johnny mentions that he is hesitant to trust internal investigations these days, but still lets Delmirev pass. The Lieutenant of the Guard then follows Delmirev, asking what he is there for and offering to help. The Talon says he'll ask kfor help if he needs it, but Johnny is persistent, and refuses to leave untl Delmirev orders Johnny to leave.
Back in the Underdark, Keledek threatens the hostage woman with Polymorph or Bag of Holding to get her to walk with her to the lift up to the Tower of Zenopus, and she still tries (and fails) to make a break for it once on the surface.
Finally, both groups have rendevoused at Keledek's Tower. Just then, Delmirev gets a Sending from his soldiers, indicating that Talon Mystan didn't kill the stranger found dead this morning; he was exsanguiated. Delmirev confirms that it looks like what the soldiers are implying, and hurridly rushes Keledek inside.
The hostage asks if something is wrong, and Keledek tells her to shut up. He then introduces himself to Talon Delmirev, and chains the Sea Prince spy up in his summoning circle. She is still not afraid, either being very dumb or very stupid.
Delmirev ignores Keledek's questionably legal arcane contraband, and listens as Keledek explains what he knows. Delmirev then drops the bomb that there is a vampire in town, and Keledek lazily responds that he knows, explaining how Bubbles freed the vampire for information without knowning what it was.
Delmirev is dumbstruck, but regains his composure and the two agree that the immeidate problem to deal with is capturing the vampire. It is then when Captain Eliander Fireborn knocks on the door, demanding to know what is going on.
Keledek instructs an Unseen Servant to make some non-poisonous tea for the Captain, and then fetches some wooden stakes, as the two begin to fill Eliander in.
While the three men are catching one another up to speed in Keledek's Tower, Castellon Kiara Shadowbreaker along with twelve guards have arrived on horesback at the western gates of town. Guards at town ask what the occassion is, but she blusters past. Her cavalry of six elven rangers from the Silverstand Chiefdom and six mounted knights from Burle raise even more eyebrows in town. They cross the bridge (eliciting shivers from the elves) and make straight for the Solmor House. Shadowbreaker herself pounds on the door, and a servant answers. The maid is terrified, and fetches Solmor for Kiara after she demands his presence.
When Anders arrives, tired but otherwise well, Castellon Shadowbreaker immeidately arrests him and asks if he knows where Skerrin Wavechaser is or anything about the Brotherhood of Keraptis. He sputters confused, having no idea of anything. Shadowbreaker is unconvinced, and she orders four knights to round up Solmor's staff and question them.
She then marches through town with Anders in tow to Keledek's tower, creating far more concern and panic around town. Lt. Johnny once again tries to find out what is happening, but the Castellon harshly brushes him off.
As she approaches the tower, Keledek, Fireborn, and Delmirev are coming up with a plan to peacefully confront Anders, when Kiara nearly busts down the door (somehow avoiding the wards) and dissapointing them all with a captured Anders Solmor. She is let in and her guards join Delmirev's four as staking out the perimeter. A Zone of Truth is cast on Anders, and he willingly and truthfully divulges that he has never heard of the Brotherhood of Keraptis, that he is unaware of any conspiracy other than polticial ones to win over voting blocks, and he doesn't know Skerrin's current whereabouts if he isn't at the house.
Keledek takes this opportunity to tell Anders that Skerrin is likely on the Obsidian Isles and was attacked, possibly dead. Anders sis shocked and betrayed, and Keledek lets him speak with the captured Sea Prince who must've been impersonating Skerrin for the past few days.
The four leaders then brainstorm what to do. Keledek offers that they could try to get the vampire to be on their side, but nobody else is going along with that plan. They review what they know of the conspiracy, and realize that Lankus Kurrid is almost certainly a member, as is a member of the Primewater staff. Kiara sends her stealthiest ranger to tail Kurrid, with instructions to report back once he arrives at the meeting place. Keledek then sends out his familiars to find the vampire as he takes a nap to swap spells and prepare for a vampire hunt.
Fireborn and Delmirev then head to the barracks so Delmirev can confirm the vampire attack and Fireborn can gather Lt. Johnny and his most trusted men.
Meanwhile, Castellan Shadowbreaker makes for the Primewater Estate after arresting four of Ander's bodyguards. She is greated by a servant who fetches Maria Primewater, and Kiara questions her. Maria is nervously fiddling with her earrings, but is helpless as the Castellan's soldiers gather and question her staff. Of the women on staff. five are light and have a notable accent that Xolec (a vampire from the south) wouldn't recognize; all are jan pana. This includes the Primewaters' cook, Feliza.
Kiara takes Feliza and the others up to Maria to quesiton her further, and Maria finally cracks. Her brother is not ill; he was kidnapped shortly after she won the election. Her earrings were enchanted with a Message or Sending enchantment, and Maria has been recieiving orders from the kidnappers since. They've been using Tomas as a hostage to manipulate her on the council.
This causes Kiara to arrest Maria too, dragging her and her five servants back to the tower. While this is going on, Delmirev confirms that the dead man was a Sea Prince thug who has been scratched up and exsanguaiated. His body is pale and he has a vampire bite. He tells Johnny this, who really isn't listening, and he then assigns two more soliders to stake out Crabber's Cove.
When the rest of the group arrives at Keledek's tower in the late afternoon, Keledek awakes. His familiars have news: while they haven't found the vampire, something strange is happening; Hannah and James Rist are missing. The tavern is open, but only a few of the staff are nervously working. Furthermore, the cllar door is locked from the inside. When Keledek scries Hannah Rist, the spell fails; Hannah Rist is either under some sort of ward, not on this plane of existence, or dead.
Maria is sent to the barracks while the earrings are given to Keledek. He sends a final imp (named bj) to keep an eye on crabber's cove, as the reluctant party's forces converge on The Snapping Line...
Character(s) interacted with
- Unknown Sea Prince Woman
- Gyro
- Lumier
- Skerrin Wavechaser
- Lt. Johnny
- Captain Eliander Fireborn
- Anders Solmor
- Maria Primewater
- Feliza
Report Date
14 Jul 2023
Primary Location
Secondary Location
Related Characters
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