Ghosts of Saltmarsh

A human body is sprawled in a depression at the cen-

ter of the stone floor, its torso torn open and its heart

missing. The base of what was once a metal framework

surrounds the depression. Above the body, a large

bronze bell engraved with symbols of peace and serenity

hangs from a crossbeam, with a pull rope dangling from

the rigging above. Across the floor next to the body,

a message is scrawled in chalk: "BEWARE THE SEA

KILLERS."

The belfry was originally Firewatch Island's signal bea-
con. The depression in the ftoor once held the large oil
receptacle that fueled the beacon (this now sits in area
7). The metal framework extended above this receptacle
and held the lenses that focused the light of the beacon's
ftame. The hermitage disassembled the beacon and
installed the bell for sounding at mealtime and to signal
the start of meditation sessions.
Aaron's Last Message. A surviving hermit named
Aaron spotted the characters approaching the island
and ran here to ring the bell and call for aid. Unfor-
tunately for him. the ringing bell attracted Rasp back
to the belfry. Aaron saw the monster's approach and
quickly scrawled his message on the floor before at-
tempting to ftee back downstairs, but he wasn't quick
enough. It is his body that now adorns the center
of the room.
Rasp, the monstrous peryton (see appendix C), has
established a temporary lair in the belfry while it scours
the island to feed. The creature is present here only if

THIRD FLOOR

FOURTH FLOOR

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M11P 7 4· liERMlt/IGE UPPER FLOORS llNO CELL/IR

the characters have not already faced it, or if it is feeding

on one of the party members after besting that character

in combat (see "Look Out Above" on page 145).

25_ BOLT-HOLE

j A rickety ladder leads down from the larder into a musty

subterranean chamber enclosed by rough masonry walls.

Three trembling figures are huddled against t he far wall,

sharing the chamber with the dusty, deteriorated remains

of an armored corpse. The body's sightless eye sockets

stare up blankly, and a small silver disk is clutched in one

of its skeletal hands. A horizontal crevice between two

blocks in the south wall glows with faint daylight, mark-

ing a narrow opening that leads outside the fortress.

The builders of the fortress created this hidden cellar as

a refuge. Only the officers, the chaplain, and the resident

wizard knew of its existence. The crevice served as both

an arrow slit and as a method for those with access to

spel Is such as gaseous form to escape the room.

Survivors. The three surviving residents of the her-

mitage have taken refuge in this chamber:

• Janore Stormswake (priest), a human female
  cleric of Procan


• Barret Gloffrin (commoner), a very ill male human


• Morley Tobe (commoner), a slightly ill and heavily
  indebted male dwarf (see the "Morley's Debt" ad-
  venture hook)

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