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Previously on Call from the Deep
Starring:
Gotwald Ironhorn, level 2 minotaur Fighter
Mac, level 2 tortle Ranger
Savra Akkedis, level 2 lizardfolk School of Necromancy Wizard
Torrel, level 2 kenku Fathomless Warlock
By the skin of their teeth the Zoo Crew survived the nasty battle of the Sea Ghost. Exploring the ship will prove far simpler, and more intriguing.
Below deck, the party finds the few survivors of the battle: the deck wizard gnome Punketah and a single random pirate. Both quickly surrender. Torrel naturally attempts to convert them to the Fathomless with his hilariously deadpan delivery.
Savra helps herself to the gnome’s spellbook and a sack of gold. Gotwald pokes around the captain’s quarters, discovering some healing potions, a letter, and a map.
The map has a nearby island circled in red. The letter is addressed to Captain Sigurd, instructing him to gather weapons and deliver them to an old mine in Gunderlun, the name of the island.
The letter is signed by “T”. Gotwald believes that could be Tentrix, his old pirate captain. A ruthless, cruel figure who drove his former crew into increasingly unspeakable acts. He motivated Gotwald to attempt a mutiny, which ultimately failed. Gotwald has vowed a vendetta against pirates ever since.
The party finds another crew member in a different captain. Frithoff the bosun is a massive man-mountain with a hook from a hand. Yet his demeanor is innocent and child-like, and they find him sitting by a cage feeding his pet parrot.
Savra warms up to the man and compliments the bird. Frithoff isn’t too concerned over the changing of the guard, provided he still has work and his bird is safe. Savra agrees, and he reveals the existence of a prisoner in the room beyond.
Savra opens the small storage door and finds a captured triton woman. She introduces herself as Harley Finn, a scout sent by Commander Gillian Flounderson (seen in War for the Lost Plane and Tomb of Annihilation!) to spy on the sahaugin.
The tritons have noticed that the hated sea devils have recently become more organized and powerful. She reveals to Savra that they’ve even attacked a lizardfolk tribe and taken over an entire lair.
Gillian sent Harley to investigate, which led her to this ship, where a group of sahuagin climbed aboard. Not to attack, but to help reinforce the crew, and nearly ended the Zoo Crew’s short career.
Harley asks to join their crew, and they accept.
With the three others, that brings their total crew up to eight. Gotwald knows a ship of this size takes at least 10 to operate normally, and three of their party have zero sailing experience.
The crew takes a rowboat back to Saltmarsh to check in with merchant noble and town councilor Gellan Primewater and Captain Fireborn.
The party carefully gets their story straight. They report their success at cleansing the haunted house, and transforming it into a Church of the Fathomless. They also mention Ned’s betrayal and attempted murder.
They do not mention the smugglers, nor the ship, nor all the smuggled goods on the ship and caverns beneath the house.
Primewater offers to reward the party with 50gp each.
Savra’s insight check notices that Primewater gets a little twitchy upon mentioning Ned. The party recalls that it was Primewater who introduced them to Ned in the first place.
Savra uses this leverage with a fun back and forth of threatening-while-smiling, and ultimately extracts an additional hazard pay fee of 25g each from the agitated noble.
After a long rest in town (and a level up to three), the party receives a mysterious package. Inside is 100gold in payment (25g each!) and a letter that simply states, “follow the trail.” To Gunderlun then!
Before they leave, the party stops to shop in Saltmarsh with their bulging pockets, picking up some healing potions and healer’s kits. Torrel has his eyes on some scale mail, though can’t wear it as a warlock, yet….
They also check in with Sanbalet. The smuggler confirms that Primewater owns everything in town, and even has his hands in the smuggling operation.
The party grabs some hirelings to help fill out their crew, including a pair of hard-working hobgoblins recommended by Sanbalet. Another random smuggler who doesn’t hold a grudge against her murdered co-workers brings our total crew to 11.
They row back to the Sea Ghost and decide on a new name. After much joking, the name of their ship is inevitably a meme: Noah’s Ark Too: Zoo Crewz; There Can Be Only One: [lightning bolt thunder sound].
Better than Boaty McBoatface!
With clear skies and calm waters, the journey to Gunderlun should take about three days.
Toward the end of the first day, they spot another ship barreling towards them. The hull has been painted red, and it sports a black flag with a red triangular symbol.
On the deck steering the ship is an ogre with an anchor for an arm. The captain is a flamboyant tiefling in a tricorn hat, who holds up a horn to his mouth and shouts,
“Hear ye, ya tremblin’ minnows! Ye have the great honor of witnessin’ the lord of the seas himself, Captain Callous, and the crew of the Devil’s Fin! In the name of me dear lord father Asmodeus, I call for ye to slow yer vessel and invite us aboard, so’s we may take our duly ‘lotted toll for travelin’ in me waters.”
MVPC – Torrel
Live post-session discussion:
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