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

 

[Dungeon Master]

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

((

))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((

))

 

[Dungeon Master]

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Dungeon Master
@Ben​

|


The zombies snarl but the party acts first.

|

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((Being lazy and just screenshotting this shit instead of updating my spreadsheet thing, for now.))

((@Jawneh you're up))

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Dungeon Master
@Ben​

|


Sand Zombie B surges across the sandbank, closing the 20 foot distance to Moonsprout at a slow yet methodical pace. The restless undirt creature hisses with the sound of an hourglass, and strikes.

Sand Zombie B attacks Moonsprout with its sand hands.


Sand Zombie B misses. |

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((@Smacktard))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Zombies zombies, lob their heads! That's all you can do, cause they already deads! Hahahaa!

Aims charges Zombie A attempting to cleave its head off with a smooth sweeping chop.

 

[Dungeon Master]

Zombies zombies, lob their heads! That's all you can do, cause they already deads! Hahahaa!

Aims charges Zombie A attempting to cleave its head off with a smooth sweeping chop.

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Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd
@Jawneh​

|Your axe blade scrapes along the walls as you try to swing in a big enough arc. You connect with the zombie, but your weapon glances off it's clavicle and across the side of it's chest. The monster recoils slightly from the impact but keeps coming

Zombie A takes 4 points of damage. |

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((@Nae'blis))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

It's time for the Nac Attack! ((sorry, I couldn't help it... ))

Nac runs up to Zombie B and delivers a punch to it's undead body and with the bonus action a swift punch to the head

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((Extra dice for the crit, woo!))

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

Moonsprout picks the mini sand zombie up by the scruff of its neck and let's it swing wildly and its companion

 

[Dungeon Master]

It's time for the Nac Attack! ((sorry, I couldn't help it... ))

Nac runs up to Zombie B and delivers a punch to it's undead body and with the bonus action a swift punch to the head

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Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

|

As you round the corner, your shoulders pivot and you bring your fist around in a wide haymaker, catching the long imprisoned corpse square in the sternum. A cloud of dust poofs from holes in its cheeks as you force the shriveled lungs into forgotten action and expel stale air from the monster.

Your right hand rockets up and catches the zombie under its chin, which snaps in the middle and hangs apart like two gaping mandibles.

Zombie B takes 12 points of damage. It's looking quite battered already.|

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((@Jon))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((F%^&... here we go...))

Watching Aims' and Nac connect with their respective zombies brings an aura of semi-confidence about Zesty. But his hand is shaking. He's been virtually useless in fights and hasn't contributed anything of value. His mind races in the moment. His eyes glance from his left hand, empty, but with a spart of fire glowing in it, to his right hand, clutching his crossbow, equipped with an infusion and the special bolas attachment Myla gifted him.

Recognizing the tight quarters and the increased likelihood of hitting a teammate, Zesty tries to weigh his options. If he uses his bow at this close a distance, it may come at a disadvantage and he risks Aims' or Nac being caught in the crossfire. If he fireballs and misses his target, the same fate may lie upon his compatriots.

Mired in indecision Zesty raises his left hand, speaks an elvish incantation, and losses a fireball at the zombie he has a clearer line of sight on, near Aims'.

Zesty casts Fire Bolt at Zombie A (near Aims'). No whammies.

 

[Dungeon Master]

Moonsprout picks the mini sand zombie up by the scruff of its neck and let's it swing wildly and its companion

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Moonsprout Beandirt
@Smacktard​

|You wrestle with the miniature sand-sculpture, finally managing to overpower it and finding good purchase on its neck, holding the odd being out towards the other one. It showers sand as it wriggles.

Sand Zombie B is grappled. |

---

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Dungeon Master
@Ben​

|Sand Zombie A lurches forwards, moving around the danging companion and towards your feet. Even in undirt, the monster moves with surprising speed, and before you can act you can feel the weight of its malicious intent bearing down upon your sole.

Sand Zombie A bites your big toe.

Sand Zombie A deals 1 point of damage to your callouses. |

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((@A Pineap-Alu-zer

I'll get to Jon's once I've got my daughter from school. Yay half-days. ))

 

[Short Order]

Short Order uses mold earth to make tiny versions of himself and Moonsprout to fight the Sand Zombies.

Miniature Short Order uses his miniature quarter staff (1/64 staff?) to beat the shit out of sand Zombie A

 

[Dungeon Master]

((F%^&... here we go...))

Watching Aims' and Nac connect with their respective zombies brings an aura of semi-confidence about Zesty. But his hand is shaking. He's been virtually useless in fights and hasn't contributed anything of value. His mind races in the moment. His eyes glance from his left hand, empty, but with a spart of fire glowing in it, to his right hand, clutching his crossbow, equipped with an infusion and the special bolas attachment Myla gifted him.

Recognizing the tight quarters and the increased likelihood of hitting a teammate, Zesty tries to weigh his options. If he uses his bow at this close a distance, it may come at a disadvantage and he risks Aims' or Nac being caught in the crossfire. If he fireballs and misses his target, the same fate may lie upon his compatriots.

Mired in indecision Zesty raises his left hand, speaks an elvish incantation, and losses a fireball at the zombie he has a clearer line of sight on, near Aims'.

Zesty casts Fire Bolt at Zombie A (near Aims'). No whammies.

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Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

|Magical energy kindles in your hand as the words pass your lips. Infernal heat crackles into existence in your palm and you cast forward the small dancing flame. It spirals through the air and bursts across Zombie A's torso, showering embers that sizzle on the wet floorboards. The zombie howls as the searing heat cauterizes it's rotting flesh.

You deal 7 points of fire damage to Zombie A. |

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Dungeon Master
@Ben​

| Zombie B swipes a bone-clawed hand towards Nac, but it's limb becomes tangled in an overhanging chain.

Zombie B misses. |

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Dungeon Master
@Ben​

| Zombie A snarls, faint trails of smoke coming from the smoldering mark on it's chest. The milky white eyeballs slip around in their sockets to face Aims, and the abomination lets out a rattling growl.

The monster lashes out with unexpected speed, the talon-like fingers puncturing through Aims side and forcing their way into his flesh. The zombie's gnarled talons twist and burrow into 50%-Orc-meat, and hook around the bottom rib. The zombie makes a high-pitched screech and hauls backwards, snapping the smaller rib bone and rending it from the wound.

Zombie A critically hits Aims!

Spoiler: ((Bam))

Aims takes 7 points of damage from Zombie A's attack.

The zombie clamps its teeth on the rib-bone and begins to gnaw off pieces of meat.|

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((@Jawneh))

Short Order uses mold earth to make tiny versions of himself and Moonsprout to fight the Sand Zombies.

Miniature Short Order uses his miniature quarter staff (1/64 staff?) to beat the shit out of sand Zombie A

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Short Order
@A Pineap-Alu-zer​

|
You'll sand for this nonsense no longer! At your command, Sand Order viciously bludgeons the sand-zombie into dirt... ((Into sand? Is sand dirt?))

You deal any points of damage to Sand-Zombie A. Sand-Zombie A is defeated. |

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Dungeon Master
@Ben​

|Sand-zombie B attempts to break free of the grapple.

Spoiler: ((Yikes))

Sand-Zombie B twists a little too hard while attempting to struggle free and removes its own head.

Sand-Zombie B is defeated. |

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((Long-ass post.))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Arrrrgghhh, you jack-off! That was my favorite rib! GIVE THAT THING BACK! I GOT IT WHEN I WAS BORN!

And with that Aims goes to slap the zombie back, and with slap he means mercilessly sending the sharp edge of his ax into the rotting flesh dripping off the ribcage.

 

[Short Order]

Mini Short Order (AKA Sand Order) looks for precious sand loot among the piles of sand where the sand zombies once were

 

[Dungeon Master]

Mini Short Order (AKA Sand Order) looks for precious sand loot among the piles of sand where the sand zombies once were

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Sand Order
@A Pineap-Alu-zer​

| You find a sand-dollar. |

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[Short Order]

Good job Sand Order. Split that dollar with Sandsprout and celebrate.

Sand Order uses mini-mold earth to create even smaller versions of himself and Sand Sprout

 

[Dungeon Master]

Arrrrgghhh, you jack-off! That was my favorite rib! GIVE THAT THING BACK! I GOT IT WHEN I WAS BORN!

And with that Aims goes to slap the zombie back, and with slap he means mercilessly sending the sharp edge of his ax into the rotting flesh dripping off the ribcage.

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Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd
@Jawneh​

|Your axe plunges through the decomposing meat and with a "schlucrk" it bursts from the other side of the monster. Its hollow eyes roll back and the weight of the undead creature slumps against the axe in your hands.

You deal 10 points of damage to Zombie A.

You have defeated Zombie A.
((How do you want to do this??))|

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((@Nae'blis ))

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

Hey SO, how many mini-Moonsprouts would it take to carry me around the beach?

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

As Aims cleaves straight into the ribcage of the zombie, he steps in an extra step, puts all his weight behind his axe, and with a fire burning behind his eyes due to the stolen rib of his, a slight wisp of air rings as his ax has already completely cut the zombie in half. The zombie's feet still move fortward another two steps while its torso section falls backwards onto the ships deck. Even though the zombie is already dead, something primal still stirred in its confusion of sudden inability to move itself forward, as the world fell over for him. Aims spares no moment as he walks on over to the fallen over zombie, grabs it by the neck to lift it up high, and as the zombie did to him, he buries his own teeth onto the bottom rib of it and rips it out from it with a loud roar.

Aims then turns towards the other zombie, holding the zombie torso up still and pointing his finger at it at the same time. He growls as his bursts through the rib bone with his own teeth, tightens his grib to break the neck of the zombie in his hand, he spits the bone splinters onto the ground and with fiery death in his eyes he yells:

YOU ARE NEXT!

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Hard to believe this is the same person who shit his pants not long ago. ))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Hard to believe this is the same person who shit his pants not long ago. ))

((I certainly wouldn't make fun of someone for shitting themselves, if they could break all of my bones and eat them.))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

Nac, drunk on success, fists the zombie twice!

 

[Short Order]

((Almost as effective as Sand Order fighting the Sand Zombies...but hell of a lot of damage right there!))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((

))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((In my defense I've been drinking for six hours.. like constantly.. ))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((Also

))

 

[Dungeon Master]

Nac, drunk on success, fists the zombie twice!

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Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

|You bounce back lightly on your toes, ready to deliver a punishing blow to the necromantic menace. You spring forward and f...

((

))|

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Dungeon Master
(Ben)​

| The zombie reads the script.



The zombie throws down the script, calls the director a passionless cunt, and walks off set.



The zombie calls its agent from the parking lot.



The zombie quits.

You have defeated Zombie B. |

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((Victory, but at what cost?!))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

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Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

|You bounce back lightly on your toes, ready to deliver a punishing blow to the necromantic menace. You spring forward and f...

((

))|

---

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Dungeon Master
(Ben)​

| The zombie reads the script.

View attachment 11359

The zombie throws down the script, calls the director a passionless cunt, and walks off set.

View attachment 11360

The zombie calls its agent from the parking lot.

View attachment 11361

The zombie quits.

You have defeated Zombie B. |

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((Victory, but at what cost?!))

((My drunk ass thought this was hilarious))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((My drunk ass thought this was hilarious))

((

))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((I'm not drunk and I thought it was fucking hilarious.))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

((Honestly, that was the correct call co siderimg what happened to zombie A.

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

With the zombies dead, Zesty relaxes a bit and begins a search of the inner hold in earnest.

Zesty searches the area for anything worthwhile.

 

[Dungeon Master]

With the zombies dead, Zesty relaxes a bit and begins a search of the inner hold in earnest.

Zesty searches the area for anything worthwhile.

((Gimme dat perception check.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Grumble grumble shit rolls sumthin sumthin))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Yup, as expected. I've gone blind and find nothing but dead carcasses... ))

 

[Short Order]

Short Order does a perception check of where Zesty is looking from the beach because he thinks he has a better chance from here

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Grumble grumble shit rolls sumthin sumthin))

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Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

|You poke around the dark cabins, cautiously clearing corners with your crossbow. The area seems devoid of other undead as far as you can tell, so you begin investigating what cargo remains. Copious amounts of chains hang around this area, with pairs of manacles awaiting new captives. The ship probably once carried anything they'd be able to sell, including the souls you just ended.

Pushing aside some crates, you find a colorful flag, which matches the crest on the outside of the ship, draped over a stack of framing nails. The vivid hues have barely faded with their being out of the sunlight, but the fibers are fairly brittle.

|

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[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Thanks for not embarrassing me again... lol))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Aims stretches after a nice little battle after eating, shitting, and rowing.

Well then, that was nice, although I need to patch up this hole.in my side now. Bah. Not like a little sleep wont fix it.

We want to go check up anywhere else? Either of you want to swim anywhere else here?

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((Do we think it will be worth the hassle to go check out the eventual captain's quarters or should we just head on to point A?

I can go swimming if we deem it a good idea, I think my move speed is one of the best now after the level up))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((I’ll leave it up to you guys. I’m down for whatever. Zesty is following the group. ))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((

))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

((Nac can live for many minutes underwater. He could do a quick loop around the captains quarters and come back up. If there's anything there, we can plan using the mushrooms if they're needed to get to anything.))

 

[Short Order]

Hey guys it would be cool if you came back from the boat and picked us up so we could head to the next one

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((Sure thing, Nac'll swim down and have a look!))

Sure thing, my gnomish friend! I'm just going ta check this other part of the ship, might have some good stuff!

Nac takes a deep breath and dives under to take a quick look under the stern part of the ship

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Aims pats around hist vest and pants pockets. He then freezes as a realization hits him.

.... I don't got a watch on me. I got no idea how long a few minutes is. Hope the dwarf don't need assistance.

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Sure thing, Nac'll swim down and have a look!))

Sure thing, my gnomish friend! I'm just going ta check this other part of the ship, might have some good stuff!

Nac takes a deep breath and dives under to take a quick look under the stern part of the ship

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Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

|You dive down.




((You're underwater and can hold your breath for 4 minutes. You move at half speed, so 18ft rounded up.))

You swim inside the southern submerged part of the shipwreck.

It is very dim inside the ship, with the deck above blocking most of the light. Still, algea and other plant-life has begun growing across the deck, and colorful crabs scuttle around before disappearing between cracks in the boards. You find plenty of broken timber from where the ship fractured, with some barrels containing heavier goods still not having floated away.

At the very end of this large open hold area, about 25 feet in front of you, you see a double-door.

|

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[Nac McWeeble]

Nac swims over and tries the door

 

[Dungeon Master]

Nac swims over and tries the door

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Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

| You swim forward through the gloom. The ornately decorated door appears to be barricaded from the inside and does not budge as you try to yank on the handles. It is locked. |

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