Curse of the Bone Ship

In a bustling portside town, sounds of trade fill the docks. But under every word, every chuckle, every creaking rope lurks a palpable tension. For, as of late, rumors of the old curse abound, and wary eyes turn to the horizon, fearing that they might catch a glimpse of those fabled black sails. The following adventure is suitable for 5 characters of level 4 to 5. The party is hired by a gnomish merchant in a port town in hopes of protecting his ships from a wave of piracy but there is more going on than first meets the eye.

Bone Lord

This unholy walking ossuary is comprised of several skeletons, sporting four arms and a reinforced rib cage to help shield it from harm. These vicious undead creatures make full use of these features in combat using their myriad limbs to slash and tear foes apart. Lord’s call. The bone lord is not just a simple creature of reanimated bone. Its very being is suffused with death, allowing it to call on the undeath of others to reinvigorate its own undead body.

X Marks the Plot

In a busy port town on a jungle-swathed island, a stranger comes forward bearing a map that they promise will lead to buried treasure. “X Marks the Plot” is a hard adventure suitable for 4 characters levels 4 to 5. They must choose their path through a dense jungle in search of riches, only to find themselves facing something from the depths of pre-history. This adventure serves as a stand-alone side quest, or as the potential beginning for a much larger story.

Aboleth’s Thrall

Dark Gods Power. An aboleth is adept at inflicting its will on others, bending their minds and dominating them completely. Humanoids that fall under its sway worship these feared creatures as dark gods and carry out their twisted plans and desires. Lost Will. A creature that falls into the clutches of an aboleth soon becomes little more than a mindless slave having their own will replaced with that of their evil overlord. Driven to fulfill the desires of their masters, a thrall no longer fears death, instead fearing his master’s wrath.

The Depth of Undeath

Below the waves, in depths rarely touched by light, a chasm splits the ocean floor like a gaping wound bleeding darkness. Within this trench the Olgoth makes its lair. Legend has it that the ancient monstrosity feeds on memories and emotions. Whispering tales speculate on the creature’s origins. Quiet stories recount its many horrors. When traversing the brine water, the Olgoth calls home, hushed prayers mouthed by unnerved sailors beseech gods for safe passage. But the Olgoth answers to no god, for when it hungers, it leaves its dark crevice in search of prey. To willingly search out such a being is madness.

Granya O’Malley

Born into a strong sea faring clan, Granya took command of her father’s enormous fleet of trading vessels when he met his end during a battle that wiped out all the O’Malley clan, save for Granya. Not long after assuming control of her father’s fortune, Granya set sail on a routine mercenary transport order for a local noble defending his lands against an invading army. While on this mission, Granya’s crew captured an old sea witch and hoisted her aboard the ship. Sick at the mere sight and smell of this old hag, some sought solace by jumping overboard. 

Wandering Gizcog’s Emporium At Sea

Roll up! Roll up! Or row up as the case may be. Peruse my wares from the seventy-seven seas. What seventy-seven seas, you ask? Does it matter? We’ve got seashells from the Shore of Deathsorrow, said to suck the soul clean out of your body when you aren’t looking. We’ve got silver coral from the Great Everflaming Reef, said to bring its wearer good luck and, when licked, tastes just like chicken. I haven’t even gotten to my favourite yet. Seaweed tea from Orcmarsh Bay. So salty it curls your toes, unblocks your nose, and defeats your foes…should they happen to be giant slugs anyway. Or you can pore over all that other junk.

Arcane Artillery

• Ballista of Force A ballista made of dark brown wood reinforced with engraved platinum bands and set with small diamonds
• Elemental Cannon A large, iron cannon with arcane sigils of platinum embossed on the surface.
• Flame Spewer Mangonel A mangonel fashioned from black wood and banded iron plates. A metal cage inset with a red gem is attached to the arm of the mangonel.

Kayleigh’s Cauldron of Everything that Matters

Janet Forbes is CEO and co-founder of the ever-impressive World Anvil application, a writing and world-building tool for game masters and authors alike. With around 1.5 million users, it’s a well loved platform within the gaming community. I caught Janet for a chat after she spent a busy week at GaryCon. Janet is such an interesting person, and I had so many question

Esai’s New Ship by Chris Black

Esai thought of the sibilance of cutting waves, the whisper of an oar as it sliced through surf. It reminded her of a sword parting flesh, the moment when the blade caught, and the slightest resistance tugged on your muscles. She longed to trail a hand in the water, feel the balmy warmth of the Sapphire Sea course through her fingers. But since the iron on her wrists would have pulled her under, she set the thought aside. Instead of mooning over whispering tides, she bunched her muscles for another pull on the oar. A whipcrack sounded in perfect time, not far from her back. Down the line a cry of pain set Esai huddling in her seat, though she knew the danger had passed…