Page 66 - Tomb of Annihilation

The third ship is always at sea, usually prowling for They'll do whatever it takes to get strangers off their
victims. You can randomly determine which ships are guard, then kill or capture them.
where. The captain of whichever ship is docked com- The roof of the cave looms 60 feet above the water, on
mands the anchorage from aboard his ship. average (this varies a bit with the tide). It's 50 feet above
The anchorage is sheltered inside a sea cave. It's ground level and 20 feet above the top of the watch
damp and echoing, but at least the cave keeps out the tower and gantry. Two natural stone columns sit across
daily rain. The pirates outfitted it with a pier and a the mouth of the inlet with only a 25-foot gap between
ramshackle fort built from scavenged planking, old them, so that ships must be carefully towed into the
barrels, deck grates, spars, and whatever else they cave by small boats and maneuvered with ropes once
could scrounge. It incorporates a warehouse where they they're inside.
stash their stolen booty until it can be sold (area 4), a Thanks to its sheltered position and the perpetual
cell where captives are held until they're ransomed or mist in the bay, the cave is difficult to find unless a per-
sold (area 5), and a tavern where the pirates carouse son knows where to look. An alert lookout spots the
(areas 6A- 6C). structures and docked ship inside the cave automati-
The three pirate captains are in league with Liara Por- cally if passing within a half-mile of shore. At a distance
tyr of Fort Beluarian, who gives them information about up to 2 miles, a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception)
vessels sailing into and out of Port Nyanzaru and helps check is needed. Lookouts at the anchorage notice a
the pirates sell their stolen cargoes. Ships flying the ship within 2 miles automatically.
ensign of Baldur's Gate are usually left alone, as a con- The pirates' first line of defense is a ring of submerged
dition of Portyr's cooperation. The Flaming Fist com- rocks a quarter-mile from shore. The captain of a ship
mander is kept apprised of upcoming naval patrols orig- trying to sail though must make a DC 10 Intelligence
inating from nations on the mainland, and she passes check. If the check succeeds, the ship gets past the
this information to the pirates via a sending stone. rocks safely. If it fails by 4 or less, the ship strikes a rock
Even more than their deal with Liara Portyr, the and springs a few leaks but suffers no serious damage
pirates' most imporcant asset is this hidden base, and and can continue seeking a passage through. If the
every pirate must swear a blood oath to protect its secret check fails by 5 or more. a rock causes significant dam-
location. Any ship that sails within visual distance of age; the ship lists badly and its speed is halved until the
the anchorage is attacked and chased. if necessary. The hull is repaired. Striking a third rock causes the ship to
Brazen Pegasus (see "Harbor Ward," page 21) has a sink. The pirates, of course, know where the rocks are
good chance to escape because she's so fast; other ships and avoid them.
are unlikely to get away. The watchtower (area 6) and the entire elevated walk-
Anyone who wanders into the anchorage from the way from the tower to the warehouse (area 4) have cren-
jungle or from the bay is unlikely to be allowed to leave. elated parapets for defense. These provide half cover.
Jf characters stumble into Jahaka Anchorage, the pi- Aside from the pirate crews,Jahaka Anchorage is
rates claim it's a trading post or an exploratory base home to a handful of pirates who answer to the tavern-
established by the Flaming Fist or a merchant consor- keeper, Bosco Daggerhand (area 6A)- and only because
tium, and they'll put up a convincing front to that effect. he's master of the ale.

ELOK .JAl-IARWON
ZAROUM AL·5ARVA~
CHAl'TER 2 I THE LAND Of° CHULT