Haunted Mansion of Saltmarsh
The Haunted Mansion of Saltmarsh was a two-story manor that stood a few hours outside of Saltmarsh for decades before its destruction on Monster's Eve in 1496. It served as both the home for an alchemist and a base for smugglers throughout its history.
Purpose / Function
The manor was originally built to be the home for an alchemist fleeing from the squalid conditions of the Styes. He built a home a few hours walk from Saltmarsh, so as to avoid any close scrutiny by the townsfolk, but close enough that he could still receive supplies from the town.
The manor doubled as both the alchemist's home and laboratory, which was located in a hidden room in the basement.
Alterations
In the early 1490's, a group of smugglers based out of the Styes discovered the old manor and realized that the rumors of undead inside were (almost) entirely unfounded. The smugglers, led by Sanbalet, created a series of underground tunnels, connecting the mansion's basement to an underwater cavern through which they could import and export goods.
History
The mansion was built over the course of 1467 by an alchemist fleeing the Styes. Over the next several years, the alchemist would remain almost entirely secluded in his home, engaged in his experiments. The alchemist's ultimate goal was to create a philosopher's stone, a stone that will allow any material to be turned into any other, particularly gold.
In 1475, the alchemist's experiments turned into disaster when he was killed while in his secret laboratory. However, the alchemist was preserved as a skeleton in death, unmoving from his workstation. In the years following the alchemist's disappearance, the people of Saltmarsh avoided the mansion, believing it be haunted or cursed. The stories often changed but the fear was genuine.
In the early 1490's, a group of smugglers from the Styes working for Mr. Dory, led by Sanbalet, discovered the mansion and realized its potential as a new base for themselves. The smugglers discovered the undead alchemist and his small retinue of skeletons when they were exploring the basement. After losing a few of their members to the undead, Sanbalet ordered the hidden laboratory sealed.
During a trip back to the Styes in late 1494, Sanbalet was brought by Mr. Dory to meet the aboleth S'gothgah. Sanbalet was given a Banesmark, and the smuggler was instructed to use his operation for the aboleth's purposes.
In mid-1496, the mansion smugglers began contracting the blockade runner The Sea Ghost to smuggle weapons to the Sunny Shore Tribe, as part of S'gothgah's plan to inflame the conflict between the lizardfolk and the sahuagin that had captured the tribe's home. However, this operation was stopped by Necian Arrzen, Micah Pierce, Lyra, Keyleth, and Reyna Moonflower, who were hired by Crab to put an end to the rumors about the mansion once and for all. Sanbalet, and his second-in-command Ned Shakeshaft, were both killed.
Months later, on Monster's Eve, the old mansion was destroyed by Gideon Mistmoor and replaced with Mistmoor Mansion, which the crazed wizard had teleported from its original resting place in Cormyr. Following the massive destruction, only the basement and the smuggler tunnels remained of the original mansion.
RUINED STRUCTURE
1475
1475
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