Campaign Stormwreck Isle; Curse of Compass Rose (1-3)

Part 3 - Curse of the Compass Rose
View attachment 357_Promontory.mp3

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MAP:

Maps - D&D Beyond

www.dndbeyond.com

THE STORY SO FAR:

Stormwreck Isle: Journey to Stormwreck Isle (1-P)
Stormwreck Isle: Welcome to Dragon's Rest (1-1)
Stormwreck Isle: Spores of Seagrow Cave (1-2)​

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THE QUEST:

• The party seeks the wreck of the Compass Rose, a ship that went down decades ago and may be linked to the undead incursion.

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THE LOCATION:

​

Local Party Map​

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THE PARTY:

ITEM GLOSSARY:

Image	Name	Value (per)	Weight (per)	Description
	Wind Spore Mushrooms​	30	0.06 lbs	A rare fungus with a unique magical property. When a creature squeezes a wind spore mushroom's cap, it releases a small cloud of spores. For 1 hour, the creature doesn't need to breathe, as the spores provide it with oxygen.
	Obsidian Chunk​	10	1 lb	An uncut opaque black gemstone.
	Heart Cap Mushrooms​	30	0.2 lbs	These mushrooms bear an unsettling resemblance to human hearts.
	Potion of Healing​	50	0.5 lbs	This potion's red liquid glimmers when agitated. You regain 2d4+2 hit points when you drink this potion.
	A Fine Lute
	Boots of Elvenkind			While you wear these boots, your steps make no sound, regardless of the surface you are moving across. You also have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks that rely on moving silently.
	Spell Scroll of Command

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THE STORY CONTINUES:

Having departed from Dragon's Rest for the second time, your band of adventurers slowly make their way down the mountain paths towards the shore where you first landed. The journey is uneventful and peaceful, a welcome contrast to the carnage the party has faced since arriving on the island. Songbirds flutter across the path ahead of you as they dart back and forth between bushes, hunting the insects they harbor. Your walk down to the water does not take more than a half hour however, so the ramble through nature is fleeting.

Returning to the beach where you had fought the zombies, the party find the scene just as you left it. The battered corpses of the drowned sailors lay immobile where they were slain, the putrid grey flesh not appealing to any scavengers and having been left untouched. Your group moves cautiously past the bodies, one by one each battling the anxiety that the monsters will spring up again and attack.

The five of you convene on the short wooden dock. There is an old fishing net dangling over the edge and trailing in the water, where it appears to be tangled within a clump of seaweed. Several short lengths of aging rope are knotted here and there around the thick posts, some having been cut free in haste rather than untied. A rowboat not dissimilar to the one you arrived in is tethered to the dock, and you see a pair of oars laying across the seats. The boat appears big enough for 4 medium sized passengers.

North of your position, you can see a long spur of sharp rocks jutting from the ocean waves, extending several miles out.​

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INITIATIVE:
https://improvedinitiative.app/p/e88bk48y

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Aims lets out a small grunt as he walks to west side of the boat near where Zesty is chilling in the row boat.

Well, this side of the boat is a bust. Unless you want to get completely wet. It's all underwater in the captains cabin area and whatever else there is. Maybe this captain kept all his stuff... not there.

 

[Dungeon Master]

---

Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

|You navigate the stairs without peril, as they've managed to fare relatively well being somewhat sheltered from the elements.

As you move down the steps cautiously, you realize the lower deck here is incredibly dark. You can see thanks to your darkvision, but it is difficult to make out much detail in the hold from this placement. Your standing in the sunlight is not helping your eyes adjust to the dimmer hold at all.

You do hear a faint clinking of chain somewhere deeper in the wreck.

|

---

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((

))

((I'm now convinced Ben's purposely cursed our dice rolls and we're never going to pass a check again.

EDIT - Also, there's a reason I went back to the boat. My guy would have rolled himself into drowning by now.))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((Wait until we get to our next boss fight and fucking paste it with karmic good rolls *fingers crossed* ))

Nac moves out of the light to let his eyes adjust a bit before investigating the noise.

 

[Dungeon Master]

((I'm now convinced Ben's purposely cursed our dice rolls and we're never going to pass a check again.

EDIT - Also, there's a reason I went back to the boat. My guy would have rolled himself into drowning by now.))

((I resent that remark. I would never curse any dice.

Expend my own karmic luck to roll a 1:6 to make Aims shit himself?... Maybe.))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Aims leans against the railing of the boat, being careful not to snap it and dunk himself into the drink in case it's rotted out completely. For a brief moment he enjoys the view, closing his eyes to feel the breeze and nice salty smell of the water. Even bloodlusty creature enjoy smaller things in life. Although squirrels are really cute too!

He can barely make out Moonsprout and Short sitting around on the sand bar and building something. Just look at them kids. Them ugly stinky little kids. Life's great.

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

Aims leans against the railing of the boat, being careful not to snap it and dunk himself into the drink in case it's rotted out completely. For a brief moment he enjoys the view, closing his eyes to feel the breeze and nice salty smell of the water. Even bloodlusty creature enjoy smaller things in life. Although squirrels are really cute too!

He can barely make out Moonsprout and Short sitting around on the sand bar and building something. Just look at them kids. Them ugly stinky little kids. Life's great.

((This is turning into Full House D&D. 3 Fathers raising the kids.))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Wait until we get to our next boss fight and fucking paste it with karmic good rolls *fingers crossed* ))

Nac moves out of the light to let his eyes adjust a bit before investigating the noise.

---

Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

|You step into the ship a little. Behind you water laps at the broken section of the deck, falling away into darkness. Towards the front of the ship, the area seems fairly empty with most of the cargo or whatever was here before having spilled out. You see some shattered pallets and overturned furniture but nothing noteworthy at a cursory glance.

You still hear the clinking from further up in the ship.

|

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((Took me forever to manage to get a map for this part together, on top of working. Oy.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Took me forever to manage to get a map for this part together, on top of working. Oy.))

((Sounds like your job is getting in the way of D&D. I think one needs to go.))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Sounds like your job is getting in the way of D&D. I think one needs to go.))

((If my bosses knew how much time I spend here instead of doing work... I imagine one would.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((If my bosses knew how much time I spend here instead of doing work... I imagine one would.))

((That's fair. I definitely have watched more YouTube today than work. And yet... I'm done with this job in less than two weeks, so I don't care.))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

The salty see and good feelings are doing good stuff for Aims. So much so that he forgot where he was, undoes his belt, and takes a good piss over the side. Luckily a good several feet behind Zesty.

After doing the deed, Aims shuffles to the front of the stern portion, just far enough to dip his feet into the water.

Hey dwarf! Having fun there?! Did you happen to spot any kegs there? I've uhh... managed to make room for a good drink!

 

[Nac McWeeble]

Nah, mate nothin' yet! I do hear some noise I'm going ta check out! Nac yells back to Aims, as he moves further on into the ship.

 

[Dungeon Master]

Nah, mate nothin' yet! I do hear some noise I'm going ta check out! Nac yells back to Aims, as he moves further on into the ship.

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Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

| You creep further in.



You cross the creaking planks, though your nimble feet do manage to stick to the sturdier beams for the most part. As you draw closer to the front of the ship you begin to notice a number of chains hanging from the solid rafters above, and a few chains hang from the walls.

You close in on the back wall and find an opening gaping at you in the darkness like a forgotten lover. The remains of the door lay broken in the threshold, shattered from the inside.

You approach the doorway.



Two zombies in slave-style clothing groan and rise to their feet. Their lunge towards you in the doorway, but their assault is halted by thick chains that hold them tethered to the walls at their wrists.

|

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((@Nae'blis They're chained up for now and cannot get you where you currently stand. What you do is your choice.))

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Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd
@Jawneh​

| You sit down and your toes touch the water.

|

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((@Jawneh - Roll me a charisma saving throw.))

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Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

| Sitting in the rowboat feeling useless, you start to notice markings along the side of the vessel's still intact hull, a means of ship identification you've neglected to consider until now.

The ship harbors the crest of a known slaver-nation, one notorious for trafficing souls from their homelands across the ocean to serve the whims of others, all for the love of gold coin. The crest is some arrangement of stripes and stars.

|

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((@Jon - If you want to see if you can remember anything more about anything, it'd be a history check. I also mostly wanted an excuse to post the cool image I got.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((@Jon - If you want to see if you can remember anything more about anything, it'd be a history check. I also mostly wanted an excuse to post the cool image I got.))

((Sure, why not... lol. This is what I'm SUPPOSED to be good at... How quickly can we get to Nac if he calls to us, btw?))

As the crest enters Zesty's mind, the spark of something poking at the back of his mind starts to take hold. He knows he's seen this symbol, and tries to think back to his studies.

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Sure, why not... lol. This is what I'm SUPPOSED to be good at... How quickly can we get to Nac if he calls to us, btw?))

(( At this point your characters have no idea what's going on with Nac.))

As the crest enters Zesty's mind, the spark of something poking at the back of his mind starts to take hold. He knows he's seen this symbol, and tries to think back to his studies.

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Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

| You think back. You'd read a book once, you believe on warfaring nations and how they're driven by capitalism. Honestly it was probably something Moonsprout would enjoy. It noted this up-and-coming nation, forged on the backs of species that didn't manage to run fast enough when their doors were broken in during the night.

You think it probably of note that the nation was relatively young, only a century or two old. Fairly new, all told.



The chances that this ship would be the Compass Rose, which was many centuries older, are slim.|

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((Note; that quiver is full of boat oars.))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

Hey, lads! I found some chained up zombies down 'ere! Nac shouts up to his fellow adventurers.
What do ye think we should do with them?

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

Edit: nm lol

 

[Dungeon Master]

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Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

| No one can hear you, deep in the ships guts.

The zombies heave against their chains, old wood creaking under the effort, but they remain tethered. |

---

 

[Nac McWeeble]

Nac retreats out to topside, and repeats what he said.

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

Edit: nm lol

((This, but what I originally said))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

Zesty stands up and looks to Nac. His confirming what he remembered about this being a slaver's ship all but confirms this isn't the Crimson Rose they seek.

This ship is far too young to be the Crimson Rose. It's a slave ship. Those zombies chained up are likely the last souls the ship was carrying to be sold.

Zesty ponders this thought for a short moment.

I fear there may be more poor souls chained up in there. But, perhaps it best if we eliminate them. The Dragon's Rest folks did say zombie attack had become more frequent, and leaving them may eventually cause them to hurt the people of Dragon's Rest, and that I cannot live with.

The nation to whom this ship belonged were also gold driven for their slave trade. It's possible there is more gold in there as well. I vote we eliminate the zombies to help the future of Dragon's Rest.

Zesty hops out of the boat and ascends the ship up to Nac, ready to follow him to the zombies. His uselessness momentarily fading at the thought of protecting Runara, Myla and the others.

C'mon, you apes... you wanna live forever!?

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

C'mon, you apes... you wanna live forever!?

Nah, me and Short are having fun building sand sculptures. You guys go have your fun. And hey! Sounds like they're tied up, so you should be able to hit them this time!

Moonsprout offers a well-meaning grin and goes back to sculpting a perfect sandsphere in his hands.

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((LOL! Sprouty trying to make a decision for the most homicidal one of us! ))

 

[Short Order]

I don't get to kill? Hmphf

Short Order uses Mold Earth to create sand zombies.

Short Order attacks sand zombies with quarter staff

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

((LOL! Sprouty trying to make a decision for the most homicidal one of us! ))

((The thought may have crossed Moonsprout's minds that you might all be safer with the bloodthirsty zombies if Short Order didn't go with you ))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

((@Jawneh - Roll me a charisma saving throw.))

((Aye aye.))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Aye aye.))

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Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd
@Jawneh​

| You feel a breeze on the water as your feet dangle into the sea, but nothing more. |

---

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

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Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd
@Jawneh​

| You feel a breeze on the water as your feet dangle into the sea, but nothing more. |

---

((what darkness stirs within the deep recesses of your cruel and twisted mind this time, ben ))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((what darkness stirs within the deep recesses of your cruel and twisted mind this time, ben ))

((

Spoiler

))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

Nac takes Zesty and Aims down into the hold to where the two zombies are chained up.

So, let's do this!

Nac cracks his knuckles.

 

[Short Order]

I need some more fun

Short Order makes another sand figure, but this one like a stack of balls that gets smaller as it gets higher, 3 balls tall

That almost...hm.

Places a carrot in the middle of the top ball


Moonsprout, anything you can do here to help?

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

Moonsprout grabs some starfish and assembles a starfish bikini on the snow person.

Beautiful!

 

[Dungeon Master]

Moonsprout grabs some starfish and assembles a starfish bikini on the snow person.

Beautiful!

I need some more fun

Short Order makes another sand figure, but this one like a stack of balls that gets smaller as it gets higher, 3 balls tall

That almost...hm.

Places a carrot in the middle of the top ball


Moonsprout, anything you can do here to help?

---

Dungeon Master
(Ben)​

||

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[Zesty Zapcrackle]

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Dungeon Master
(Ben)​

|View attachment 11311|

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((

Spoiler

))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Aims listen to what Nac found under the deck. He's starting to get a bit excited, though slaughtering tied up beasts not much of a challenge.

Hmmm... i hope theres some bigger zombies somewhere down there. Just having the couple chained up seems... odd. Maybe theres a really strong zombie captain there! Maybe it still has its hat around for me to grab.

 

[Dungeon Master]

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Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

|You bring your friends to the party.

The zombies remain where they are, chained to the wall. The iron shackles hang to thin withered limbs, and their hollow eyes survey you as you reappear at the threshold. Their hands reach outwards, blank expressions holding almost holding a note of confusion and wonder at the sudden appearance of something in the doorway after their bones lay dormant for years.

Their momentary docility does not last, and the pair of undead throw their emaciated forms at the doorway, intent on consuming your succulent ass. The rusted bolts holding the chains to the walls rip free and the zombies collapse to the floor. They haul themselves up on gaunt arms and shamble towards the group.




Roll for initiative! ((I feel like making you guys roll yourselves for once rather than doing it auto, so... Roll.))|

---

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Short Order
@A Pineap-Alu-zer​

|

2 sand zombies rise out of the ground, intent on consuming your succulent sand.


Roll for initiative! |

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[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Please tell me after all that the sand zombies are fucking real and my incoming 2 initiative roll will be worth it. ))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Hey look, back to shit rolls!))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Nice! The zombies broke free! This'll be a better fight now!

 

[Short Order]

Sandnitiative

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

((are those ACTUAL zombies rising from the sand, or just more of SO's creations?))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Please tell me after all that the sand zombies are fucking real and my incoming 2 initiative roll will be worth it. ))

((are those ACTUAL zombies rising from the sand, or just more of SO's creations?))

---

Dungeon Master
(Ben)​

| I. Said. Sand zombies. |

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[Zesty Zapcrackle]

I. Said. Sand zombies.

((Hey that was in character!

Also, I think the question is can the sand zombies actually kill them?))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Hey look, back to shit rolls!))

((You aren't alone.))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Hey that was in character!

Also, I think the question is can the sand zombies actually kill them?))

((I know what the question was.

Look, they were made by Short Order. Would Short Order ever make something magical that could kill some/everyone?))

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

((I'm so fucked))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((I know what the question was.

Look, they were made by Short Order. Would Short Order ever make something magical that could kill some/everyone?))

((

))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

((I imagine he'd prefer to kill us with his own hands.

Or spells.

.... or teeth/claws of his shape-shifting animal. ))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((Pretty much what I imagined would happen. ))