A5 Drown the 'Deep V2
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Waterdeep Revisited: Drown the ’Deep Turning of the tide Situated on the mount overlooking its deep harbor, the residents of Waterdeep feel they are a match for any threat from the sea. The Lords of SampleWaterdeep know better. But even their plans may not be enough file to counter the forces of elemental evil unleashed by the Cult of the Crushing Wave. 3 Waterdeep Revisited: Drown the ’Deep his is a suggested campaign This is especially true of humanoids; sequence for Dungeon Masters goblins, orcs, ogres, hobgoblins and bugbears who wish to follow the storyline can easily be used as substitutes. Remember, started in the DM’s Guild product, it’s all in the telling — no one has to see what’s TLuskan Gambit. behind your DM screen. The threat posed by the Cult of the However, for any campaign set in Crushing Wave to Waterdeep is real. The city’s Waterdeep, the maps and city guide from economy depends greatly on the sea trade. Waterdeep: Dragon Heist will prove invaluable. The cult’s activities will disrupt that trade So, without any further delay, here is a using pirate tactics. framework for your campaign. What is a campaign outline? THE ADVERSARY Keep in mind that a campaign outline is The Cult of the Crushing Wave has just that — an outline. As adventures evolve adherants up and down the Sword Coast. at your particular table, your players’ actions People whose livelihood comes from the sea will in all likelihood take the storyline in a are drawn to the cult’s teachings. That is different direction. That’s not only to be especially true of the rank-and-file of pirate expected, it is encouraged! crews, who seek a seafaring life free of the Use subsequent sequences only when constraints of civilization. they fit — and be enthusiastic about Waterdeep, as the largest city on the employing encounters of your own devising. Sword Coast, is the epitome civilization’s The campaign outline will make dominance. No wonder it is the primary suggestions for NPCs and monsters from a target of the cult’s ire. variety of official sources, especially those While the cult would like the city to be suited to nautical encounters. undone in one fell swoop, submerged by a tidal wave of the elemental princess Olhydra’s Useful supplements devising, it takes another approach. Like the Here is the list of supplements most ofen lapping waves that slowly erode the shore, the cited: cult is content, for now, to use small-scale Xanathar’s Guide to Everything assaults on the city to begin the process of Volo’s Guide to Monsters weakening its foundations. Princes of the Apocalypse Infiltrating the city’s political structure in Ghosts of Saltmarsh the hopes of overturning it is but one tactic. Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes But such an approach comes with some risk: The DM’s Guild Adept product Waterdeep spies who become immersed in the world of City Encounters can also be helpful, as can bureaucrats and merchants sometimes are puzzles found in Tasha’s Cauldron of seduced by its falsehoods and riches and Everything. cease their devotion to the Crushing Wave. Don’t fret if you don’t have access to all of Still, the cult’s message continues to find a them. When it comes to NPC and monster receptive audience among those people who substitutions,Sample the Monster Manual, in almost toil within sight of the sea —file yet are all instances includes an adversary of the downtrodden by the conventions of society. appropriate CR. 4 Waterdeep Revisited: Drown the ’Deep Obsession with magic Keravnos akontio is a javelin of lightning that is desired by the cult’s warrior At this time, the cult is preoccupied with champions. Ambitious cultists know that locating magic items it considers important possessing the javelin would elevate them to to its cause. Visions and auguries have a position of leadership and command. indicated that several powerful items sacred Legend holds there were originally six such to the cult are all within the vicinity of javelins made that bear the underscored X Waterdeep. symbol of the Crushing Wave, and that three The Patera de Reumate, which translated of them survive to present day. from the primordial language, is the Bowl of The cult also has an affinity for seeking the Rising Tide. This rare wondrous item is a out Quaal’s feather tokens, especially those of bowl of commanding water elementals, crafed the anchor, fan and swan boat varieties. For more than a thousand years ago by humans themetic reasons, some tokens in the cult’s devoted to the cause of the Elder Elemental possession are attached to the scales of Eye. The Crushing Wave’s prophetic aquatic creatures rather than to feathers. traditions proclaim that the bowl’s This document outlines suggestions as to rediscovery will herald a period of elemental when to incorporate these magic items into ascension, primarily as an instrument of the campaign, but feel free to introduce societal destruction. them when it best suits your purposes. Drown is the legendary steel trident that contains a spark of Olhydra, the Princess of Elemental Water (Princes of the Apocalypse). It THE CAMPAIGN was last seen in the possession of the water prophet Gar Shatterkeel in the vicinity of the SEQUENCE water node the Dessarin Valley; how it has returned to the Sword Coast is a mystery. Stash Island La-au fe-e is a rare tentacle rod fashioned Level: 2 by octopus-worshipping cultists and Properly known as Gildeggh’s Isle, this incorporated into Crushing Wave rites. The island in the Sea of Swords is approximate to item has the wicked property, which means Waterdeep and was a supply stronghold for when used in a selfish or malevolent way, it shipwright master Lhorar Gildeggh during heightens the bearr’s urge to do so. the War of the Guildmasters in the Year of Momi oka Mana, is a iridescent pearl of the Black Wind, 1262. power, considered something of a mythical Lantern lights and boat traffic in the sea item long sought afer by Sword Coast lanes near the island have alerted keen treasure hunters. To the Crushing Wave, its observers such as the adventuring party’s significance is greater because of how the patron that something foul may be afoot and item works when in proximity with the merits investigation. nigrum de potentia margarita, or the black A contingent of the Crushing Wave is pearl of power, which already is in the cult’s using the island as a staging area. They are possession. When the two pearls are also excavating the collapsed ruins of the together, each enables the attuned site’s underground temple in the hopes it Samplespellcaster to gain one extended spell slot of file might yield magic items of value. up to 5th level instead of just to 3rd level. 5 Waterdeep Revisited: Drown the ’Deep Stash Island 10 5 4 8 7 9 1 3 6 2 dysonlogos.com In the island’s sheltered cove, the bandits and 1d4 cultists at work or milling adventurers will discover small sailing boats about. at the dock, as well as dolphins that serve as 4. Snake queen. Lu’mottin, a female cultists’ aquatic mounts. gnome fathomer, is in charge of the 1. Landing quay. Guarded by a merrow excavation and supervises the work from this that lurks in the water. room. She is accompanied by her pet 2. Shrine. This area is curtained off, to poisonous snake shiver. Lu’mottin, if give 1d4 cultists a place to pray to the threatened, may change into serpent form elemental princess, Olhydra. Altar includes a and flee via the water. bowl of water. 5. Excavation. There are 1d4 cultists 3. Temple to Umberlee. Contains a statue working at removing rubble. They are 1d4 Sampleto the goddess of the sea, which has been hours from unearthing an elementalfile gem. defaced by the cultists. There are 1d4+2 6 Waterdeep Revisited: Drown the ’Deep 6. Common area. This is where the cultists take their meals and sleep. There are bedrolls. 7. Devoted. Female tiefling Crushing Wave reavers Criella and Seddit and their kuo-toa servant Dloop reside here. They respond quickly to any raised alarm. 8. Sea Lion roost. A family group of 1d6+1 sea lions roost here. They are not aggressive and will take to the water if anyone approaches. 9. Supply room. Area is filled with contraband. 10. Leader’s lookout. Erdan, a male elf dark tide knight possessing a cloak of the manta ray, uses this room carved from the rock as his lair. He will respond immediately if roused by allies and lead them down the pier planking to intervene. Otherwise, for each numbered location the adventurers enter, there is a 10% chance Erdan will sense something is amiss and jump aboard his giant sea horse mount Ren and wait to confront the intruders at the exit of the cover. If the merrow (at No. 1) still lives, it will coordinate its attacks with Erdan. Vision’s Vanguard Level: 3 The death of the venerable halfling ship captain Elias Bowsprit, retired, was met with little notice; most of his peers had long since Erdan, dark tide knight gone to Davy Jones’ locker, and in truth, he’d spent as many years in Waterdeep’s Dock Bodyguards were quietly dispatched. Ward as he had at sea. Still, the Watch noted The next person slain was Leocadia with curiosity that Captain Bowsprit died of Thann, a noblewoman associated with the drowning from no apparent cause.