Session 59: M Report

General Summary

M, also known as Muertio the Magician, laughs as the four enter the new layer of the dungeon. He begins to speak;

"Welcome, welcome. I was wondering when you four would get down here; watching you struggle with that hatch was quite amusing. Honestly it is a marvel how much you have acomplished. I really have to thank you. Sure it was quite the pain when our little plan with the Sahuagin and Lizardfolk didn't go as planned, and yes, Sir Sylvenne, you certainly stopped our plans for taking over the town council with that election stint, by Gods if you haven't been helpful. If it weren't for that job you four did for Mr. Drallion, we'd still think these islands were in the Above World! This place is a bitch to find, and the Above World isn't easy to get to either; we had to slaughter so many of those littlefolk to get a Spirit Conduit, only for that rascal Melody to run off with it! And who did she entrust it to? Captain Fireborn of all people! Oh it shows her; he exiled her in the end. Fitting.

You know this Empire of yours, it's quite the stain on the world. But the Dwarves, they got one thing right; the Tənas Palach/Jan Pana sure as Hells didn't build Old Harbor. I mean come on, Virion--can I call you Virion?--Virion, your people barely used copper tools before the Empire came around. Did you really think all that stonework was theirs? The Keoish claimed it was their ancestors, but that's a bold-faced lie and they know it. They popped out of the mountains centuries ago and started killing shit, they weren't up North in Saltmarsh before the Imperial Age. Oh no; that was us."

Selina shoots Muertio with her bow, but the arrow sails right through him. He's an illusion!

"Ah-ah, that won't work. Did you really think I would stand here myself? Oh no no no, you four will sit and listen or I'll have to let my helpers here (he gestures to the ogres) deal with you. Now, as I was saying...

Us, Mystan, us. The people we were before, before our ancestors fled the power Keraptis and his Chiefs had, before they swore themselves to some Dragon only to end up vassals of another. We were a wizardly empire, with the greatest cities and magics and pyramids the continent had ever seen! We built Old Harbor. We conquered the world. We were everything! A paradise free from labor thanks to the tireless undead, a world of just leaders and enemies who knew their place. When one such leader tried to cheat death, Keraptis fled, and sought to usurp the monster and make a better world. But he was cast out and passed away, and now we can choose; will we be inheritors of the cowardly Raanites, or the heirs to Keraptis's grand vision! I understand why you're here, Mystan, you're here because your Senior Talon says you have to be, you're here to serve your Master-General and his Emperor. But you don't have to. You want to make the world just? Join me.

As for the rest of you, I'm really not sure why you are here. I guess you just want to do some other hoarding lizard's bidding, Selina, and take what Aryz stole, but Bubbles? Virion? What in the Abyss's Bottom are you here for?! What, do you want Wave Bubbles? Are you still honoring some sort of Aquatic Alliance contract? Do you think the Lizardfolk or the Merfolk care what the Sea Princes, Sea Elves, and Keoish do?

And Virion, Virion! A knife-eared knight of the Crown, a wizard valued for his sword, a yougest brother named heir. You truly are a marvel. What could the Empire possibly have that you would want so badly you would go to such lengths to support them? Time and again you fight their battles, suffer their losses, do their bidding, all for what? Them to press another dozen or so of your brethern into service building another military outpost? Surely you must understand, like I understand, that the dwarves have to go, right? Right!?

Maybe you don't. After all, the actions you four--especially you two knights--have taken this past year have rapidly militarized Saltmarsh, just like her sister city Seaton. But you know, maybe that's a good thing. With so much imperial presence, the Primewaters and the Silverstand and the Sea Princes and the Lizardfolk won't tolerate the Empire's encroachment. And that bastard Zuggtmoy did a number on your food reserves; conflict seems inveitable. Who better to impose order on a chaotic world than us, the people who are willing to submit to the wonders of magic and do what is necessary, not rule through some nonsensical "divine right" or some arbitrary measure of wealth.

Ah well, the world went mad long before any of you came around, and unless I can fix it it will stay mad long after. I give you four one last chance; return the weapons to me so I might finish my work in remaking Keraptis and his long-lost dream, and you may leave or join as you wish. Refuse, and you will die."

Fireballs. Spiritual weapon, Seklyn lost an eye. Skerrin is scary as fuck.

Bubbles killed Skerrin, but as everyone was leaving Muertio, a mage, and a beholder zombie popped out of being invisibile!

Campaign

Ghosts of Saltmarsh Dungeons & Dragons 5e Campaign

Protagonists

Bubbles

Virion Sylvenne

C/N Wood Elf (Noble)
Wizard 2

7 / 12 HP

STR
12

DEX
16

CON
13

INT
16

WIS
14

CHA
14

Co'oquilan Mystan

Bronze Dragonborn (Acolyte)
Cleric 3

10 / 24 HP

STR
14

DEX
11

CON
14

INT
13

WIS
16

CHA
13

Seklyn/Selina

Report Date

29 Nov 2023