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]

((I'm fine with letting us know! Especially because I wasn't 100% familiar with cover rules. I'm ok switching targets to Zombie 2. The overall hope was 2 seems a bit more damaged than 3, so I was going to try to kill 3 with my crossbow and have Ur'kokk try to take down 2. I can just reverse course on the order and try that way.))

(( ))

---

Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

|You level your crossbow at the zombie, sights wavering slightly and your crosshairs dipping over Nac's skull. You focus and hold your aim steady, and squeeze the trigger.

The bolt whistles past the Monk's ear and plunges deep into the forehead of Zombie 2. It reels tries to grasp at the shaft protruding from it's skull, but cannot find purchase. It falls to its knees as its eyes roll back in its head.

You deal 7 points of piercing damage to Zombie 2.

Zombie 2 has been defeated. |

---

((@Jon Finish him? Also, Ur'kokk is up.))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

I suppose in truth I shouldn't be giving you chances to rethink actions when they wouldn't work out, as that perhaps detracts from the realism, but I felt just playing it "lol no you fail" was a bit harsh. I guess that's up to you guys though, whether you want the tips/suggestions still or want to go a bit more hardcore.))

((I think it's good for baby's first campaign. Next one, unless there's complete newbies as well, you can get more ruthless with what we do.))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((@Jon can I just assume you're going to Force Strike the fella with Ur'kokk?))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((Yeah, @Jon make Ur'kokk shoot his load!))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Yeah, just assuming that's what we're doing here. I can't see what else you'd be doing with Ur'kokk on its turn so... Hope this works for you!))

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Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

|

Realizing you're asleep, Ur'kokk acts of it's own volition and flies through the doorway into the cabin. It flits past Nac, only briefly becoming tangled in his beard, and hovers on mechanical wings above the hole in the floor next to the bed.

Ur'kokk uses Force Strike on Zombie 1.

The concussive force of Ur'kokk hits the zombie in the torso, and the blast sends the zombie flying shoulder-first into the wall of the cabin. Its legs remain standing upright on the bed. The upper body slowly slides down the wall and lands in a heap on the ground, with the undead fiend's skull cracked open like a gourd.

Ur'kokk hits Zombie 1.

Ur'kokk deals 5 points of force damage.

Zombie 1 has been defeated.

Ur'kokk barks a tinny little bark, and whirrs it's way back to your shoulder.|

---

((I figured the chances of Ur'kokk rolling well enough to finish this were high. ))

 

[Short Order]

You lot can look through the bodies if you'd like - I'm going to join Moonsprout through the other door.

Short Order goes into the other open door and looks around to try and find anything of note.

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Aims wipes some of the rotten zombie bits on the zombie's rotting clothes.

Well, that all sucked. I at least chopped off an arm, but it's no head. Sigh.

Hmm.... There's a little hole here. And a desk of some sort.

Aims goes rummage through the desk in the room, and after that going over to peek below through the hole in the floor.

 

[Nac McWeeble]

Don' worry Aims. Ye'll get head sooner or later!

Nac rummages through the zombies bodies to see if he can find some good loot. Then he goes to the last unopened door to check if it opens.

 

[Dungeon Master]

You lot can look through the bodies if you'd like - I'm going to join Moonsprout through the other door.

Short Order goes into the other open door and looks around to try and find anything of note.

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Short Order
@An Obligatory Name Change​

|
You enter the doorway that Moonsprout breached, finding the ships' mess hall. Even among the glassware scattered across the floor, you cannot find a single piece that seems intact. There is nothing of value or of note in this room. |

---

Aims wipes some of the rotten zombie bits on the zombie's rotting clothes.

Well, that all sucked. I at least chopped off an arm, but it's no head. Sigh.

Hmm.... There's a little hole here. And a desk of some sort.

Aims goes rummage through the desk in the room, and after that going over to peek below through the hole in the floor.

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Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd
@Jawneh​

|
You move your bulk behind the desk and pull out all of the drawers, then begin pawing through them.

You find;

• A small pouch holding 50gp.
• A set of cartographer's tools.
• A dagger.

There is a compass set into the desktop.

You look over into the hole in the floor boards. It descends into the darkness of the lower decks, and you can see the dancing reflection of water in the gloom. |

---

Don' worry Aims. Ye'll get head sooner or later!

Nac rummages through the zombies bodies to see if he can find some good loot. Then he goes to the last unopened door to check if it opens.

---

Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

| You dig through the corpse's shit but find nothing of value on the drowned sailors.|

---

((There are 2 rooms left on the upper deck. Pick one.
))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((Sorry, I thought we had opened three! ))

Nac heads to the closest door (A) and tries to open it

 

[Short Order]

Short Order walks over to door B and knocks on it, without opening it, to see if there's any response from anything inside (undead or otherwise)

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Sorry, I thought we had opened three! ))

Nac heads to the closest door (A) and tries to open it

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Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

| You try the door to the neighboring cabin, and the handle turns freely albeit against the years of rust. You open the door and find a mess of pans, ladles, etc. as you survey the ships kitchen. A long-dead, headless skeleton sits propped up against a counter to the right, but the galley is otherwise empty. Unless… did the skeleton just move? |

---

Short Order walks over to door B and knocks on it, without opening it, to see if there's any response from anything inside (undead or otherwise)

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Short Order
@An Obligatory Name Change​

| Serendipitously, you find the other door unlocked as well, as if some cosmic being had grown tired of making you break through them.

Inside you find the crews' quarters. Six double bunks line the edges of this cabin. Personal effects are strewn about the room, and a faded, painted portrait hangs on one wall. |

---

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

Moonsprout wanders over to where Short Order is.

Oh, sick, beds. Maybe we can post up for a bit here, dudes. This place isn't so bad once you get over the smell of rotting flesh and the scenes of grisly murder, like, everywhere.

 

[Short Order]

It's not the worst idea you've ever had, that's for sure. And the place does smell better than you do at the very least.

Short Order looks into the personal affects throughout the room to see if anything useful is around, and then at the portrait to see if he can come up with any information on it


((do I need to roll anything for the portrait? History/Arcana/etc?))

 

[Dungeon Master]

It's not the worst idea you've ever had, that's for sure. And the place does smell better than you do at the very least.

Short Order looks into the personal affects throughout the room to see if anything useful is around, and then at the portrait to see if he can come up with any information on it


((do I need to roll anything for the portrait? History/Arcana/etc?))

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Short Order
@An Obligatory Name Change​

| The portrait shows a young couple smiling and embracing. Written across the bottom of the portrait are the words "Aleitha and Brastos—together forever." The black-haired woman wears a sailor's uniform similar to the tatters worn by the zombies aboard this ship. The blond-haired man wears a merchant's fine clothes.

|

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((Roll me a perception check if you wish.))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

Nac gives the skeleton a kick, just in case

 

[Dungeon Master]

Nac gives the skeleton a kick, just in case

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Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

| The skeleton falls over. Small, harmless crabs are crawling over the remains, giving the illusion of movement. |

---

 

[Short Order]

Short Order Perceives

 

[Nac McWeeble]

Yeh, tha's what I thought. Good riddance.

Seeing the empty kitchen, Nac leaves and heads out to the deck. He chats with the others to see what they found.

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((@Jon can I just assume you're going to Force Strike the fella with Ur'kokk?))

((Thanks for taking care of it so as to not slow us down. That was the intent yes. Been really busy the last couple days, sorry.))

As the others continue rummaging through the upper decks, Zesty feels drawn downward. With Ur'kokk planted firmly on his shoulder, Zesty instead turns and makes his way down the cargo hold in the center of the ship.

Zesty heads down the cargo hold in the middle of the ship.

 

[Dungeon Master]

Short Order Perceives

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Short Order
@An Obligatory Name Change​

|
You find various uniform items, now moth-eaten and decayed, hanging from hooks along the walls of the crews' quarters. You find a number of personal effects, but none of them seem particularly poignant or valuable.

Your searching does not find anything of interest here. |

---

((Thanks for taking care of it so as to not slow us down. That was the intent yes. Been really busy the last couple days, sorry.))

As the others continue rummaging through the upper decks, Zesty feels drawn downward. With Ur'kokk planted firmly on his shoulder, Zesty instead turns and makes his way down the cargo hold in the center of the ship.

Zesty heads down the cargo hold in the middle of the ship.

---

Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

|You move down through the open hatch and down the wet wooden steps.



The descent to the lower deck is chilly, wet, and unsettling. Seawater obscures the floor and sloshes against the hull. Decaying crates and barrels are scattered around, some floating freely and others stacked into corners. You hear splashing as two walking corpses lumbers toward you, wading in water that doesn't quite reach their knees.

|

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[Zesty Zapcrackle]

Oi, gents! Two more deadites down here! Water just below their knees for our shorter members.

((@Ben - Can I take some sort of initiative shot against them? Perhaps with the bolas attachment from Myla?))

 

[Dungeon Master]

Oi, gents! Two more deadites down here! Water just below their knees for our shorter members.

((@Ben - Can I take some sort of initiative shot against them? Perhaps with the bolas attachment from Myla?))

((Well no sneak attack, they know you're there already. But they're too far away to reach you in one round, so you could act before they get to you.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Well no sneak attack, they know you're there already. But they're too far away to reach you in one round, so you could act before they get to you.))

((Yeah, I wasn't thinking anything like a sneak attack or stealth. More of a "I got the jump on you" sort of thing. Why I was thinking the bolas. It doesn't do damage, but may tie up one of their legs and maybe make them prone or something before the others get here.))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Yeah, I wasn't thinking anything like a sneak attack or stealth. More of a "I got the jump on you" sort of thing. Why I was thinking the bolas. It doesn't do damage, but may tie up one of their legs and maybe make them prone or something before the others get here.))

((Oh yah. You could use the bolas. I don't think I ever gave a stat block for it... I'll say you can apply your proficiency bonus and we'll just do a to-hit, as opposed to the enemy getting a saving throw. So 1d20+2.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Sweet, here's hoping!))

While waiting for him companions to join him, Zesty remembers the device Myla gifted to him back in Dragon's Reach. While not a damaging device, it could prove useful if he's able to tie up a zombie at the start of combat.

He quickly and deftly attaches the bolas device to his crossbow and takes aim at the nearest zombie's legs.

Zesty attempts a bolas tie up of zombie 1.

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Sweet, here's hoping!))

While waiting for him companions to join him, Zesty remembers the device Myla gifted to him back in Dragon's Reach. While not a damaging device, it could prove useful if he's able to tie up a zombie at the start of combat.

He quickly and deftly attaches the bolas device to his crossbow and takes aim at the nearest zombie's legs.

Zesty attempts a bolas tie up of zombie 1.

---

Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

| The bolas attachment drops one of the orb-like objects onto the bolt-track of your crossbow. The spiked portion sits securely loaded in the weapon. As you aim and pull the trigger, the string propels the device forward and the momentum unlatches part of the orb housing. The bolas housing slides apart and the now two orbs spring away from each other, creating a rotational force around the central spike.

The projectile whistles softly through the air and the strong tethers wrap themselves around the closest Zombie's (1) shins. The orbs swing around the monster several times, binding its' legs together. The zombie slowly falls forward and with a large splash, disappears beneath the surface.

|

---

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Dungeon Master
@Ben​

| Zombie 2 wades forward through the water. The knee-high seawater makes it's progress slow however.

|

---

((This is difficult terrain.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Is this a combat at this point? Like is it my turn now?))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Is this a combat at this point? Like is it my turn now?))

((They're not close enough to hit you yet and you could always just go back upstairs, so... I was kinda waiting to see what everyone else did.

If you're ready to start blastin' though, I can roll initiative on you and the zombies, then everyone else if they join in.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((They all seem to still be looting. I THINK I may be ok to take on one zombie at the moment if you want to roll initiative. I have a couple ways to hit him from a distance that may be able to take him out before it gets here provided I don't utterly whiff.))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((They all seem to still be looting. I THINK I may be ok to take on one zombie at the moment if you want to roll initiative. I have a couple ways to hit him from a distance that may be able to take him out before it gets here provided I don't utterly whiff.))

---

Dungeon Master
@Ben​

|

|

---

((@Jon you're moving first.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

All right, no time like the present to get the shindig started! Ready, Kokky? Time to make a zombie 'splode!

Zesty raises his crossbow for a shot at zombie 2 sloshing towards him. Ur'kokk will follow up with a Force Strike on his turn.

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Just while I'm working through that, I added a new feature for you.

I added ambient music into the first post. You should be able to start it without expanding the page on desktop. Might be below the initiative table on mobile.

But enjoy this, while fighting drowned sailors.

))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Immersive and cool, my man! Cheers!))

 

[Dungeon Master]

All right, no time like the present to get the shindig started! Ready, Kokky? Time to make a zombie 'splode!

Zesty raises his crossbow for a shot at zombie 2 sloshing towards him. Ur'kokk will follow up with a Force Strike on his turn.

---

Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

|Your bolt strikes the Zombie in the chest, scoring a clean hit. A small burst of slime shoots off of the undead monster, but it does not slow it's progress.

You deal 5 points of piercing damage to Zombie 2.

Ur'kokk fires from your shoulder.

Ur'kokk deals 3 force damage to Zombie 2. |

---

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Dungeon Master
@Ben​

|Zombie 2 keeps coming.

|

---

 

[Dungeon Master]

((@Jon That means it's your turn again.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

As the zombie lurches closer, Zesty chants an elvish phrase and fire begins forming in his hand.

Zesty attempts a fire bolt at zombie 2. Ur'kokk will again attempt a Force Strike.

 

[Dungeon Master]

As the zombie lurches closer, Zesty chants an elvish phrase and fire begins forming in his hand.

Zesty attempts a fire bolt at zombie 2. Ur'kokk will again attempt a Force Strike.

---

Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

| Your magical heat scorches and blackens the skin across the zombie's right shoulder.

You deal 1 point of fire damage to Zombie 2.

It keeps coming.

Ur'kokk squeezes one out towards the foe.

Ur'kokk deals 4 points of force damage to Zombie 2.

It keeps coming.|

---

---

Dungeon Master
@Ben​

| Zombie 2 moves forward and slashes with gnarled hands.



Zombie 2 misses. |

---

((@Jon again))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Dunno if the homunculus can technically flank, but...))

With the deadhead now uncomfortably in Zesty's grill, he mutters an even stronger elven incantation and a ball of fire begins forming again in his hands.

HADOUKEN!

Zesty again tries a fire bolt. Ur'kokk flies off Zesty's shoulder and behind the zombie. Ur'kokk inserts a force strike from behind.

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Dunno if the homunculus can technically flank, but...))

With the deadhead now uncomfortably in Zesty's grill, he mutters an even stronger elven incantation and a ball of fire begins forming again in his hands.

HADOUKEN!

Zesty again tries a fire bolt. Ur'kokk flies off Zesty's shoulder and behind the zombie. Ur'kokk inserts a force strike from behind.

---

Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

|Your spell collides with the rotting seaman's torso, engulfing it momentarily in flame. Hot air shoots from the zombie's open mouth as it howls and writhes, splashing around in the water noisily.

You deal 9 points of fire damage to Zombie 2.

It looks incredibly damaged.

But it just won't go down.

Ur'kokk flits behind the zombie.



Its force blast hits the smoking corpse in the back of the neck, knocking it down onto one knee.

Ur'kokk deals 3 points of force damage to Zombie 2.

It still refuses to die (again.) |

---

---

Dungeon Master
@Ben​

|The zombie, steam billowing from its chest cavity as the seawater within is super-heated, levels its gaze on Zesty and frantically swipes for the Tiefling, finding no purchase.

Zombie 2 misses its attack. |

---

---

Dungeon Master
(Ben)​

| Zombie 1, who was crawling beneath the surface of the water, manages to break free of the bolas and stands, water streaming off of it's decayed form.

|

---

((@Jon you up again.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

Tough sunnava bitch I'll give you that. It's like a divine intervention keeps saving you from death. No matter, third time's a charm!

Zesty charges another Fire Bolt with an Elven incantation. This one sounds something like "Fuck your mother and the horse that rode in on her." Something may have been lost in translation.

Ur'kokk tries to fly safely to the north to the wall to avoid the two zombies, then fires a force strike at zombie 1.

 

[Dungeon Master]

Tough sunnava bitch I'll give you that. It's like a divine intervention keeps saving you from death. No matter, third time's a charm!

Zesty charges another Fire Bolt with an Elven incantation. This one sounds something like "Fuck your mother and the horse that rode in on her." Something may have been lost in translation.

Ur'kokk tries to fly safely to the north to the wall to avoid the two zombies, then fires a force strike at zombie 1.

---

Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

|Using the ancient Elvish art of smack talk, you cast another volley of magic at the monster.

The mote of flame catches finally, and the zombie briefly bursts into vivid orange flames, illuminating the room but for a second.

Zombie 2 takes 9 points of fire damage.

The necrotic flesh crackles and spits as the heat cooks the moisture out of it. The zombie drops into the water with a sizzling hiss, motionless.

Zombie 2 has been defeated.

Ur'kokk moves to the North wall as you'd commanded.



It turns and, with Zombie 2 no longer being present, fires at Zombie 1 and hits it in the legs.

Zombie 1 takes 4 points of damage. |

---

---

Dungeon Master
(Ben)​

|Zombie 1 sees movement as Ur'kokk moves across the cabin. It takes a few steps forward, predator instinct telling it to chase that which runs. But when Ur'kokk stops and it sees only a shiny silver thing hovering there, it halts, confused.



The zombie does not attack, for a moment being unable to see Zesty due to the bottom of the main mast blocking line of sight. |

---

((@Jon))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

Nac, hearing Zesty's shout and the commotion from downstairs, rushes down to help.

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Gonna assume the blocking of the LOS went both ways, but safe to say I have LOS again without having to move into the water? If not, please correct me.))

With zombie 1 having his attention on Ur'kokk, and honestly, who can blame him, it's shiny and cute, Zesty returns his crossbow to shouldered and nocks and arrow, aiming for zombie 1.

Zesty attempts to shoot zombie 1 with a crossbow. Ur'kokk moves west 10 feet and tries to use the force to blow his load on zombot 1.

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Gonna assume the blocking of the LOS went both ways, but safe to say I have LOS again without having to move into the water? If not, please correct me.))

With zombie 1 having his attention on Ur'kokk, and honestly, who can blame him, it's shiny and cute, Zesty returns his crossbow to shouldered and nocks and arrow, aiming for zombie 1.

Zesty attempts to shoot zombie 1 with a crossbow. Ur'kokk moves west 10 feet and tries to use the force to blow his load on zombot 1.

((You do not have line of sight from where you are. For all intents and purposes it's fully obscured.

So I'll wait and see how that changes what you're gonna do, 'cause you cannot shoot it at present.

))

 

[Dungeon Master]

Nac, hearing Zesty's shout and the commotion from downstairs, rushes down to help.

((I assume Nac's just going to move to the zombie?))

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

((Can you turn off the feature where opening the thread forces you to view the initiative chart instead of the latest new post you haven't read? Makes browsing a bit cumbersome))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((I assume Nac's just going to move to the zombie?))

((Yeppers))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((You do not have line of sight from where you are. For all intents and purposes it's fully obscured.

So I'll wait and see how that changes what you're gonna do, 'cause you cannot shoot it at present.

View attachment 12186))

((Ok, given that, I'll try to trudge the waters down near the barrels on the lower part of the map south of the zombo. Then everything else will remain the same.))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((About to head off to work, so pretend I wrote some cool passage where Nac attacks, and apply it when/if appropriate. To keep things in motion if needed. ))

Nac attacks Zombie 1 twice