Page 115 - ghosts-of-saltmarsh

MALEVOLENT DWELLERS OF THE DEEP BARON KEPMAK
The sahuagin are cruel and vicious in equal measure. Al- The baron (spouse of the baroness) is a young and
though they are humanoid in form, they have a mindset ambitious sahuagin who has worked to increase his
closer to that of predatory sharks than the outlook of hu-
mans or other land dwellers. reputation in sahuagin society. He is clever but hasty,
Like sharks, sahuagin are at their most aggressive when and prone to sulking when things do not go his way. The
their prey spills blood in the water. Their Blood Frenzy trait fortress and the forthcoming sahuagin invasion on the
represents this increased ferocity. Though it can prove a coastal area represent his opportunity to make history.
significant edge in a fight, it also saddles them with a crit-
ical tactical challenge. Sahuagin affected by Blood Frenzy HIGH PRIESTESS THADRAH
are at best reluctant to disengage from combat. Rather Through the high priestess. Sekolah's will is done in the
than withdraw in the face of defeat and find reinforce- fortress. She is a tested disciple who recently performed
ments, they might instead press the attack. the great ritual that lowered the seabed under the for-
As an optional rule to reflect this ferocity, a sahuagin tress. She and her priestesses have summoned an ava-
that comes within 30 feet of a hostile creature that doesn't tar of their god. who swims inside the temple.
have all its hit points must use an action to make a DC 13
Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the sahuagin's BLADEMASTER MAKAHT
Blood Frenzy takes over as normal, and the creature either Makaht is a hulking brute responsible for leading the
stands its ground or advances to attack in melee. On a sahuagin army in the impending campaign. He takes
successful save. the sahuagin retreats or escapes if pos- orders directly from the baroness and the baron, though
sible, temporarily fighting off the influence of the trait. If
the sahuagin's move takes it farther than 30 feet from all he prefers the former over the latter.
hostile creatures, the situation resets, and another saving
throw is called for whenever it again comes within 30 feet INHABITANTS
of an injured enemy.
The sahuagin fortress is not full to capacity. A sparse
crew of slaves labors on the topmost level, which con-
ILLUMINATION tains several chambers being prepared for occupation.
No permanent light sources exist inside the stronghold. The submerged levels are home to many sahuagin and
since the sahuagin have no need of them. In areas several of the armored sharks they use as war beasts.
where slaves work, light is often necessary for their The sahuagin force and the other denizens of the for-
sake. If an area must be illuminated temporarily, the tress are summarized on the Sahuagin Roster table.
sahuagin fasten torches to the walls that produce light which also provides information on how the occupants
throughout the room. When the adventure begins. area of various areas might react as the mission unfolds. On
1 9 and area 37 are the only places in the fortress not this table, sahuagin is abbreviated as "sah.''
shrouded in darkness.
PATROLS IN THE FORTRESS
FuRNrTURE AND SEAWEED BEDS The sahuagin routinely send patrols out on level 2 of the
Items of furniture in the fortress are made of smooth. fortress as a security measure. Unless the characters
dressed stone unless otherwise specified. Coffers are 3 are extremely stealthy and careful. they are bound to en-
feet long by 2 feet wide and stand 2 feet high; they are counter a patrol at some point. A guard patrol attacks on
used to store personal possessions. sight. unless the characters are disguised or have some
Many of the area descriptions in levels 2 and 3 contain other way to make it appear they deserve to be here.
references to seaweed beds. These beds consist 10-foot- A patrol consists of five sahuagin, one sahuagin coral
square patches of seaweed. growing from the Aoor and smasher (see appendix C), and one sahuagin cham-
rising through the water to a height of 7 feet or more. An pion (see appendix C) drawn from the roster in area
area occupied by a seaweed bed is heavily obscured. 24. If that area is depleted of sahuagin, no more patrols
Remember that the three-dimensional space in which are sent out.
a seaweed bed appears extends from floor to ceiling, For every 10 minutes the characters spend traveling
and the seaweed occupies only the bottom half of that the corridors on level 2. roll a dl2. On a 12. the charac-
space. Thus, ifs possible for a creature to be in the same ters come upon a guard patrol.
space as the seaweed without being inside the seaweed.
THE MISSION BEGINS
THOSE WHO RULE
Once the characters are ready to depart, be sure to take
The following sahuagin rule the fortress, oversee its a moment to prepare your notes. Since this adventure
armed forces. and direct its worship of Sekolah. provides plenty of chances for stealthy infiltration, note
the characters' Dexterity (Stealth) check modifiers and
BARONESS SEKLAZ their passive Perception scores. When a fight breaks
The initial attack against the lizard folk and the subse- out. check the Sahuagin Roster table to determine if the
quent occupation of the fortress were the baroness's do- noise of combat in an area attracts reinforcements.
ing. She is a cunning war strategist and has a measure
of patience that serves her well. She has an excellent ARRIVAL AT THE ISLAND
relationship with the high priestess. with whom she
shares an unwavering devotion 10 Sekolah. When the characters· transportation first arrives within
sight of the island fortress, read:

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