Ghosts of Saltmarsh

(Nancy Kaufman) #1

101
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residents can be persuaded to leave peacefully, however,
especially if the characters create a ruse to make it
appear that Ozymandius or the cult leaders have given
permission for them to do so.
If a fight does break out after negotiation, most of
the survivors are not eager to die. If Ozymandius and
Ogmund a re defeated, the veterans will surrender if Bay-
leaf is alive and capable of counseling them to do so. He
also throws down his weapons or attempts to flee.

TREASURES UNTOLD
The Winding Way, a series of trapped passages leading
to the abbey's treasure chamber, is a well-kept secret.
The senior clerics were slain by the pirates, and with
them went knowledge of the abbey's riches. Now only
Bayleaf knows about the Winding Way. He was in-
formed of the tunnels by the overlord who led the abbey,
who wanted him ready to defend them if needs arose.
The elf does not know the actual layout of the place, nor
does he know about its guardians. He uses his knowl-
edge of the place's existence as a bargaining chip for get-
ting off the island. Bayleaf has not told any of the other
sur vivors about the Winding Way.

LOCATIONS IN THE RUINS


The following locations are identified on map 5.3. Areas
1- 10 represent the ruined cellar, and areas 11-14 repre-
sent the Winding Way. Access between the two is found
in area 6.

THE RUINED CELLAR
The abbey's remaining clerics and guards spend their
days here in charred. uncomfortable quarters.


  1. RUBBLE AND CELLAR ENTRANCE



  • All that remains of the abbey is a great square of stones
    filled with burned and blackened rubble. As you approach
    the sooty stones, it is obvious someone has been sorting
    through the debris. Assorted oddments are piled inside
    the scorched square of the foundation stones. Ruined
    cooking utensils, crushed pots and pans, mangled ket-
    tles, and less identifiable metal objects lie in one pile.
    Broken crockery, p latters, plates, porcelain, and pottery
    are heaped in another.
    A great deal of wood has been sorted into one large
    mound of badly burned scraps. In the center of the ruins
    is an opening, and as you move nearer, you see a stone
    staircase leading down into darkness.


If the characters investigate the piles of rubbish, they
find nothing of value. The survivors have sorted through
the remains of the abbey, and all valuable or usable ob-
jects have been removed. The pile of charcoal is used
as fuel for cooking and heating. The stairs lead down to
a charred wooden door (AC 15, 30 hit points, damage
threshold 5), which can be forced open by a character
who makes a successful DC 14 Strength check.

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  1. COMMON AREA


'.
This combination dining hall and gambling den reeks
of greasy, soured food. The main feature of the room
is a makeshift table made of burned planks supported
at either end by upended barrels. Beneath the table are
several small kegs that serve as chairs. Scraps of food are
strewn across the table and on the floor nearby.
Three weary-looking humans look up, startled, as
you appear.

Ogmund (gladiator) and two disciples (one acolyte, one
cultist) sit at the table gambling.
This is the dining and recreation area for the survi-
vors. The guards and clerics have a standing argument
over who should keep the area clean. As a result, no one
is willing to clean the place.
Development. The moment the characters are spot-
ted, Ogmund takes a defensive posture and questions
why they are there. The commotion is certainly heard
by the rest of the survivors, who soon poke their heads
out of their quarters. See "The Survivors' Response"
for guidance on the party's initial encounter with the
survivors.


  1. KITCHEN




  • A large cauldron filled with smoldering charcoal burns
    in the center of the room. Assorted cookware and sea-
    sonings rest on the floor and on shelves. There is also an
    ornate scroll tube on the shelf. The room is fairly clean,
    but the air is humid and greasy. A large tub of dirty water
    stands in the corner, surrounded by dirty dishes.


The cauldron was originally used in the abbey laundry,
but the survivors rescued it from the ruins and now use
it for cooking. Meals prepared here consist of boiled veg-
etables and fried meat. Characters can find little of value
here except three large butcher knives (treat as dag-
gers). The scroll tube on the spice shelf contains a scroll
of simple recipes (ftatbread, fish stew, and seagull loaf).


  1. 0GMUND'S QUARTERS


This chamber reeks of wine. Small kegs are scattered
everywhere. A floor-to-ceiling wine rack filled with bottles
dominates the southern wall. A crudely made pallet of
rags and sacks covers the center of the room.

T

The old w ine cellar serves as Ogmund's private quar-
ters. All the kegs and bottles are empty. A careful search
of Ogmund's foul-smelling pallet reveals a pouch con-
taining 25 gp and a dagger with a laminated whalebone
handle and scabbard. worth 50 gp. Ogmund has also
stashed a backup high-quality suit of studded leather ar-
mor and a pair of sturdy leather boots in one of the kegs.
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