Page 121 - ghosts-of-saltmarsh

SLAVES OF THE SAHUAGIN
The man's eyes suddenly widen, and he grasps at the air.
The slaves are all unarmed and in a weakened state (half
hit points, disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks). He turns away from some imagined horror. "The teeth ...
They do not attack the party and flee the fortress at the teeth in the temple," he wails, before collapsing dead on
first opportunity. The slaves do not join or otherwise aid
the stone floor.
the characters; they cower and yell if threatened or re·
strained. They have no useful information, and their minds
are scattered from abuse. They defend themselves if at-
Elmo's mind is as clouded in death as it was in life, and
tacked, but they have escape foremost on their minds.
any attempts to communicate with him magically reveal
nothing new.
The trough stops 10 feet from the northern wall. Ln
the northeast corner of the room, the sahuagin have in- 14. UNFINISHED GUEST ROOM
stalled very rudimentary sanitary facilities which, how-
ever crude, are kept surprisingly clean. Dark green tiles cover the floor and ceiling of this room, '
One human slave (commoner) named Elmo lies dying
in the northwest corner of this room. Elmo is too weak forming an incomplete mosaic that depicts sahuagin
to call out to the characters, though he can speak with warriors defending an underwater city from a tentacled
them if they approach. monster. A table stands in the center of the room, with
small, ornately carved benches to either side. Two coffers
ELMO THE EMACIATED
Elmo is the sole survivor of a party of adventurers that are propped against the north wall, their lids closed.
penetrated the lair weeks ago. Tn a weak and raspy
voice, he tells his story. Relate the following details:
This room and its completed twin (area 15) will serve as
He is a wizard and the leader of a party of adventurers guest quarters for sahuagin notables once this level is
from the Hold of the Sea Princes, sent by the Prince complete and flooded.
of Monmurg to investigate the strange goings-on in The coffers are empty.
the former lizardfolk lair.
He and his companions were equipped to explore un- 15. GUEST ROOM
derwater but never got that far. As soon as they gained
entry (at area 1), they were immediately attacked by
Pale blue tiles cover the floor and ceiling of this room.
large numbers of sahuagin. l
• All his comrades were killed in the battle that fol- Mosaics on the wall depict sahuagin warriors sinking
lowed. He was taken prisoner. Since then, he has large sailing ships. A table in the center of the room is
worked as a slave, laboring on the building efforts. flanked by two ornate benches. Two coffers stand against
• He and his companions had several magic items to
the north wall, their lids leaning against their sides.
aid them with underwater exploration, but these items •
were confiscated by the sahuagin (see area 18). He
does not believe the sahuagin know of their magical This room and its incomplete twin (area 14) will serve
properties. as guest quarters for sahuagin notables once this level is
He recently witnessed the performance of a terrible complete and flooded.
ritual in which many slaves were sacrificed. The coffers are empty.
Close to death, Elmo can no longer work or even walk.
16. LARDER
The sahuagin have not even bothered to kill him for
food, considering his sparse frame not worth the effort.
Elmo's mind is too damaged to recall any useful infor- The air is distinctly colder than outside. This room con·
mation about the layout of the lower levels. He does re- tains no furniture, but around the walls hang various car-
member a tremendous earthquake occurring some time
casses. Some spare hooks attached to the wall are unoc-
ago. (The earthquake was caused by the high priestess's
cupied. White bones lie heaped in the northeast corner.
ritual, though Elmo does not know this.)
Elmo's Secret. Tf the word "secret" is used in conver- •
sation, it triggers a memory and Elmo relates that he
Unless work has been stopped and the slaves that were
helped build a secret door (leading to area 18). He re-
working in area 19 have been confined in that area, the
members that concealing the door required great skill.
characters hear hammering coming from the east.
He describes where the room is and how to access it. By instinct or observation, the sahuagin have selected
Healing Elmo. Elmo's body and spirit have suffered the coldest part of level 1 in which to construct their
terribly. Spells, potions, and medicine ease his pain but larder. The natural temperature here allows dead crea-
do little to reverse his body's deterioration. tures to be stored for extended periods of time without
Elmo's Death. Elmo dies as the conversation con- risk of significant decomposition.
cludes.just before he passes, he recalls the summoning Carcasses. The carcasses include a normal octopus,
of the avatar of Sekolah in the temple below. two giant eels, a male dwarf, a male human, and eight
lizard folk. All are fresh or reasonably well preserved.

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120
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