Ghosts of Saltmarsh

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MALEVOLENT DWELLERS OF THE DEEP

The sahuagin are cruel and vicious in equal measure. Al-

though they are humanoid in form, they have a mindset

closer to that of predatory sharks than the outlook of hu-

mans or other land dwellers.

Like sharks, sahuagin are at their most aggressive when

their prey spills blood in the water. Their Blood Frenzy trait

represents this increased ferocity. Though it can prove a

significant edge in a fight, it also saddles them with a crit-

ical tactical challenge. Sahuagin affected by Blood Frenzy

are at best reluctant to disengage from combat. Rather

than withdraw in the face of defeat and find reinforce-

ments, they might instead press the attack.

As an optional rule to reflect this ferocity, a sahuagin

that comes within 30 feet of a hostile creature that doesn't

have all its hit points must use an action to make a DC^13

Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the sahuagin's

Blood Frenzy takes over as normal, and the creature either

stands its ground or advances to attack in melee. On a

successful save. the sahuagin retreats or escapes if pos-

sible, temporarily fighting off the influence of the trait. If

the sahuagin's move takes it farther than 30 feet from all

hostile creatures, the situation resets, and another saving

throw is called for whenever it again comes within^30 feet

of an injured enemy.

ILLUMINATION

No permanent light sources exist inside the stronghold.

since the sahuagin have no need of them. In areas

where slaves work, light is often necessary for their

sake. If an area must be illuminated temporarily, the

sahuagin fasten torches to the walls that produce light

throughout the room. When the adventure begins. area

19 and area 37 are the only places in the fortress not

shrouded in darkness.

FuRNrTURE AND SEAWEED BEDS

Items of furniture in the fortress are made of smooth.

dressed stone unless otherwise specified. Coffers are^3

feet long by 2 feet wide and stand 2 feet high; they are

used to store personal possessions.

Many of the area descriptions in levels 2 and 3 contain

references to seaweed beds. These beds consist 10-foot-

square patches of seaweed. growing from the Aoor and

rising through the water to a height of 7 feet or more. An

area occupied by a seaweed bed is heavily obscured.

Remember that the three-dimensional space in which

a seaweed bed appears extends from floor to ceiling,

and the seaweed occupies only the bottom half of that

space. Thus, ifs possible for a creature to be in the same

space as the seaweed without being inside the seaweed.

THOSE WHO RULE

The following sahuagi n rule the fortress, oversee its

armed forces. and direct its worship of Sekolah.

BARONESS SEKLAZ

The initial attack against the lizard folk and the subse-

quent occupation of the fortress were the baroness's do-

ing. She is a cunning war strategist and has a measure

of patience that serves her well. She has an excellent

relationship with the high priestess. with whom she

shar es an unwavering devotion^10 Sekolah.

r 11 \ I' l"E R G I ll f fl N \I I· ~ F M \

BARON KEPMAK

The baron (spouse of the baroness) is a young and

ambitious sahuagin who has worked to increase his

reputation in sahuagin society. He is clever but hasty,

and prone to sulking when things do not go his way. The

fortress and the forthcoming sahuagin invasion on the

coastal area represent his opportunity to make history.

HIGH PRIESTESS THADRAH

Through the high priestess. Sekolah's will is done in the

fortress. She is a tested disciple who recently performed

the great ritual that lowered the seabed under the for-

tress. She and her priestesses have summoned an ava-

tar of their god. who swims inside the temple.

BLADEMASTER MAKAHT

Makaht is a hulking brute responsible for leading the

sahuagin army in the impending campaign. He takes

orders directly from the baroness and the baron, though

he prefers the former over the latter.

INHABITANTS

The sahuagin fortress is not full to capacity. A sparse

crew of slaves labors on the topmost level, which con-

tains several chambers being prepared for occupation.

The submerged levels are home to many sahuagin and

several of the armored sharks they use as war beasts.

The sahuagin force and the other denizens of the for-

tress are summarized on the Sahuagin Roster table.

which also provides information on how the occupants

of various areas might react as the mission unfolds. On

this table, sahuagin is abbreviated as "sah.''

PATROLS IN THE FORTRESS

The sahuagin routinely send patrols out on level^2 of the

fortress as a security measure. Unless the characters

are extremely stealthy and careful. they are bound to en-

counter a patrol at some point. A guard patrol attacks on

sight. unless the characters are disguised or have some

other way to make it appear they deserve to be here.

A patrol consists of five sahuagin, one sahuagin coral

smasher (see appendix C), and one sahuagin cham-

pion (see appendix C) drawn from the roster in area

24. If that area is depleted of sahuagin, no more patrols
    are sent out.
    For every 10 minutes the characters spend traveling
    the corridors on level 2. roll a dl2. On a 12. the charac-
    ters come upon a guard patrol.

The Mission B egins

Once the characters are ready to depart, be sure to take

a moment to prepare your notes. Since this adventure

provides plenty of chances for stealthy infiltration, note

the characters' Dexterity (Stealth) check modifiers and

their passive Perception scores. When a fight breaks

out. check the Sahuagin Roster table to determine if the

noise of combat in an area attracts reinforcements.

ARRIVAL AT THE ISLAND

When the characters· transportation first arrives within

sight of the island fortress, read: