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, , 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 diferent direction. That’s not only to be especially true of the rank-and-fle of pirate expected, it is encouraged! crews, who seek a seafaring life free of the Use subsequent sequences only when constraints of civilization. they ft — 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 ofcial 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 Infltrating the city’s political structure in Ghosts of Saltmarsh the hopes of overturning it is but one tactic. ’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 fnd a them. When it comes to NPC and monster receptive audience among those people who substitutions,Sample the , 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 afnity 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 selfsh 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 trafc 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 signifcance 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

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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 of, 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 fee 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 tiefing 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 flled with contraband. 10. Leader’s lookout. Erdan, a male 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 halfing 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. House’s shipping business, but who, in her The eyes and ears of Harpers perked up later years, devoted a great deal of time as a when in the Trades Ward, the dragonborn “quiet counselor” to many people believed to tradesman Ildrex died — also of drowning. be masked lords. A city collectively grieves Quiet inquiries were made, information was this loss, for the open lord is a kinswoman to Samplepassed on, and in Castle Waterdeep, a public file the victim. The Watch remains puzzled as to servant with a long memory brought the how someone could drown so far from water. matter to Open Lord Laeral Silverhand. 7 Waterdeep Revisited: Drown the ’Deep

In the palace, they wonder how somone committee members to learn the defense could overcome the security detail, who were secrets. Now, the remaining committee also killed (a fact being kept out of the members all have heightened security. But if broadsheets, for now). the adventurers could identify and stop the At this point, the adventurers’ patron killers before they strike next, they would connects the dots and engages them in the have done a great service to the city. mystery. The three who were slain all served The culprit is Dardanos Drago, a water together on a secret committee to formulate genasi who is acting on behalf of a vision the plans of defense for the city against threats Crushing Wave received: that of Olhydra from the sea. It was decided some time ago herself raising a tidal wave to drown the city. that just as the walking statues could defend Drago is interrogating and then killing those the walls and magic could repel dragons, that who hold the secrets of Waterdeep’s coastal something had to be done to protect that defenses. Drago has learned that there are a which faced the Sea of Swords. While the series of activation keys located in each of jagged, rocky coastline, the Sea Ward wall the wards that will raise magical defenses in and Mount Waterdeep itself were deemed concert with one another. (Bowsprit died sufcient against conventional attacks, the without revealing anything; Ildrex was committee was tasked with stopping magical compelled to divulge the outline of the plan; threats. Clearly, someone is killing and Thann died without identifying any of the activation keys). While Drago is not deterred by personal security details, he isn’t foolhardy despite his zealous devotion to elemental evil. He intends to retrace his steps, assigning a team to ransack the homes of those he killed and see if they lef any clues as to the plan within their books, ledgers and personal diaries. (Each committee person was wise enough to keep a record of only a portion of the plan as it afected their ward, so their records are pieces of the whole. Even so, this is valuable information for the Crushing Wave). This should correspond to the adventurers’ logical frst step, investigating the scenes of the crime. The adventurers, of course, might want to protect the next likely targets, despite whatever extra security has been assigned. To date, Drago has only attacked “sof” targets, the elderly, those without adventuring abilities, etc. Three more such Samplepersons are on the list of survivingfile committee members: Leshanna, female Elf Crushing Wave Reavers bureaucrat from the City of the Dead, Vani

8 Waterdeep Revisited: Drown the ’Deep female halfing academic from Underclif, In addition to the adventurers, there are Dreali male Elf, launderers’ guild ofcer 20 other dignitaries, all nobles, and for the from the Field Ward. Leshanna is important most part, they are all noncombatants. because she is the only one from the frst six The Lhestyn has a crew of 30 (a captain, to possess one of the activattion keys, which Shianna Vestibule, and four ofcers, all is a ring of swimming. nobles, and 25 sailors, all commoners. (To The adventurers should engage the make room for the dignitaries, the marine following Crushing Wave teams in sequence complement of 15 guards and one priest before the showdown with Dardano Drago remain on shore). and his Crushing Wave cultist assistant Gilda During the course of this cruise, the ship Blackrope. will be subjected to a two-pronged attack. Ransack team Coastal raiders devoted to the Crushing Wave 4 Crushing Wave Reavers (from Princes of can make the windward assault on the the Apocalypse) At least one carries a Quaal’s Lhestyn from the single-masted longship Reef feather token anchor. Shark. It’s crewed by a cult fanatic captain, Neutralize security team “Red” Rum Reginald, fve cultist ofcers, a 2 brine darters (from Waterdeep Revisited: pirate deck wizard (Ghosts of Saltmarsh) and Whitecap Shark and other terrors of the Sea on 30 commoner sailors. DM’s Guild) The other assault comes from the 4 bandits. Each wears a cap of water Crushing Wave’s sahuagin allies, who will breathing. board the Lhestyn when she passes over their Interrogation team territory. Vlestik, a sahuagin baron, and Dardanos Drago. Water genasi. Use the Selida, a sahuagin priestess, lead the statistics for Shoalar Quanderil from Princes boarding party of 10 sahuagin. A dozen giant of the Apocalypse. Possesses a javelin of sharks will encircle the Lhestyn, preventing lightning. anyone from thinking of escaping by Gilda Blackrope. 1 cultist jumping ship. The Crushing Wave wants the ship while Maiden Voyage the sahuagin want revenge on the captain and ofcers of the Lhestyn for past wrongs. Level: 4 If the adventurers carry the day, the Waterdeep is prearing the cutter Lhestyn Lhestyn returns to port with news that the for its maiden voyage. The sailing ship (see sahuagin and the Crushing Wave have Ghosts of Saltmarsh) will be tasked with escort declared war on Waterdeep shipping. duty for merchant ships bound for It is entirely possible that in this fght the Neverwinter and Candlekeep. This frst Crushing Wave and/or the sahuagin take the voyage, a shakedown cruise, is to test her Lhestyn by dispatching its ofcers. Reginald seaworthiness. or Vlestik will call for terms, leaving it to the The adventurers, based on recent adventurers to negotiate on behalf of the heroics, have been invited on board as passengers. While neither the cultists nor the dignitaries — a sign of thanks from well- sahuagin are above hostage-taking, it doesn’t placed persons within the palace of serve their immediate purpose — they wish SampleWaterdeep. file to make way with their prize and need for vengeance sated. The deal: The surving

9 Waterdeep Revisited: Drown the ’Deep passengers of the Lhestyn will be put ashore ingested a potion of water breathing and in longboats, but the remaining crew will be having a spare potion on their person. put to the sword. However, Reginald will The assassin will fee if the assassination make an appeal for any sailors to join the attempt fails. Tracking him down through his ranks of the cult, now that all have seen the various Dock Ward hidey holes is one power of the Crushing Wave. Those that outcome. agree will be spared. Cyclone will not fght to the death either, The sahuagin baron is in possession of abandoning the cultists on the beach. She the Momi oka Mana, the iridescent pearl of will seek refuge in the sewers, aided through power. If the combined forces of sahuagin a shaky alliance with 2 skum (Ghosts of and Crushing Wave take the Lhestyn, then the Saltmarsh) servitors of the Savants of the baron presents the pearl to the cult as a Dark Tide and their master aboleth, symbol of their alliance. Otherwise, it is a Galumthrik. prize the adventurers might secure for themselves. Search for the Trident Level: 6 Danger on Deepwater Beach Presanna Paravane is the new prophet of Level: 5 the Crushing Wave (use statistics for Gar Catlina Cyclone, a Kraken priest, leads a Shatterkeel from Princes of the Apocalypse). To cell of 12 Crushing Wave cultists. Her plan is secure his position as prophet, he must to carry out an assassination of the female secure the trident Drown, which visions have Dragonborn Deepwater patrol captain Sulina, led him to believe is in the shallow waters of a Watch veteran (to clear the way for the the Dock Ward neighborhood of Miststore. next person in line for the post, someone (In fact, it is located in the sandy waters aligned with the Crushing Wave). To assist in beneath one of the ships “permanently this plot, she has hired an assassin named docked” along Mistshore, as depicted on Map Gero. 4.2 from Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. It is up to The assassination is to take place when the DM to select which one.) Sulina makes her inspection of the seaward- Rumors of Drown’s location have also facing Deepwater Beach in that location that reached the adventurers. It is believed to be the terrain serves to make a blind spot from somewhere near shore. They know almost all the Outer Fort. Sulina will make her the dockside buildings and the permanently inspection in the company of 3 guards. docked ships all have access trapdoors to the What Cyclone and the Crushing Wave water. But that is a lot to search. does not know is that Sulina arranged for a Paravane’s agents with the Crushing Wave meeting with the adventurers at that same are being led to the correct location by cult moment. She wished for them to describe the symbols scratched upon the hulls of ships or attack on the Lhestyn, perhaps to provide metal implements or even being delivered by some insight into the nature of the forces creepy pairs of deep scions who relay cryptic arrayed against the city. But she wanted this messages in rhyme. The deep scions are meeting to be secret, so the adventurers will unaligned and will do the same for anyone Samplehave arrived by boat in anticipation of else they encounter on the filedocks. Sulina’s arrival. The assassins will emerge D1. A shipwreck guardian (from from the sea, each one requiring it having Waterdeep Revisited: Whitecap Shark and other 10