Recommended Party Size: 3-5 players

Estimated Duration: 2 threads (investigation/preparation/travel, then clearing the grotto)

Quest Type: Repeatable Bounty / Side Quest (could lead to Faction Quests for religious orders or mariner guilds)

Prerequisites (If any): Access to reliable means of water breathing for an extended period (potions, spells, racial abilities). Previous success on lower CR aquatic quests might be preferred by the quest giver.

Objective:

Details: Lyra Wavecrest, a solemn acolyte from the local Shrine of the Azure Depth (or a temple to a deity like Gozreh or a local sea god), is deeply concerned. The "Beacon of Safe Passage," a magically lit buoy anchored above a submerged grotto that serves as a minor holy site and navigational aid, has had its light extinguished. Sailors report eerie whispers, unnatural currents, and that offerings left at the grotto's entrance are being stolen or grotesquely defiled. Lyra fears a malevolent entity has taken residence in the sacred grotto, corrupting its sanctity and endangering mariners. She needs a capable group to investigate the grotto, eliminate the source of the blight, and if possible, restore the Beacon's light.

Primary Goal:

• Travel to the submerged grotto beneath the Beacon of Safe Passage.
• Confront and neutralize the primary malevolent entity residing within (likely a Sea Hag).
• Eliminate any minions or guardians serving the entity.

Secondary Goals:

• Recover any stolen or defiled sacred objects from the grotto (GM to detail, e.g., a silver trident emblem, blessed coral chimes).
• Discover how the entity managed to extinguish the Beacon's magical light (e.g., a corrupted focusing crystal, a ritualistic defilement).
• Cleanse the main chamber of the grotto of any obvious profane symbols or altars.
• (If possible with party skills/spells) Attempt to re-ignite the Beacon's light after the threat is cleared.

Failure Conditions:

• The party is forced to retreat without defeating the primary entity.
• The party causes irreparable damage to the structural integrity of the grotto or the Beacon's anchor through extreme negligence.
• All party members are incapacitated or killed.

Location: The Grotto of the Beacon, located about two miles offshore, beneath a large, distinctive buoy. The grotto entrance is roughly 50 feet deep, with the main chambers extending further down and inward. The grotto consists of a few interconnected small caves and a larger central chamber where the shrine was focused.

Timeline: The blight is actively worsening, and each day the Beacon remains dark increases risks for local shipping. Lyra desires the grotto cleared within 2-3 days. This problem may recur if the site is not regularly patrolled or protected after cleansing.

Difficulty Level: CR 4 (The primary challenge comes from a cunning spellcasting creature supported by minions in an aquatic environment).

Useful Skills/Abilities:

Skills:

• Swim: Essential for all underwater activity.
• Perception: To spot hidden enemies, traps (if the hag has laid simple ones), defiled objects, and clues related to the Beacon's light. Underwater penalties apply.
• Knowledge (Religion): To identify sacred/profane symbols, understand the nature of the defilement, or assist in cleansing rituals.
• Knowledge (Arcana): To understand the magical nature of the Beacon or the hag's enchantments.
• Spellcraft: To identify spells being cast or lingering magical effects.
• Disable Device: If the hag has set simple magical or mundane traps, or if the Beacon's mechanism needs repair.
• Heal: To deal with injuries, and potentially diseases or curses from the hag.

Abilities:

• Water Breathing: Absolutely essential.
• Swim Speed: Very beneficial.
• Darkvision or spells like darkvision.
• Spells effective underwater (e.g., shocking grasp, magic missile, piercing weapons).
• Abilities to resist fear, disease, or curses (the Sea Hag's evil eye is potent).
• Positive energy effects (channel energy) may be useful for cleansing or harming undead if the hag has any.
• Spells or abilities to dispel magic or remove curses.

Potential Challenges:

Threats: (Designed for a CR 4 encounter budget - 1200 XP)

• Primary Antagonist: 1x Sea Hag (CR 3 - 800 XP). She will use her evil eye, spells (like ray of enfeeblement, touch of idiocy, ghoul touch), and natural attacks. She will likely try to use the environment to her advantage.
• Minions: 2x Grindylows (CR 1/2 - 200 XP each = 400 XP). These will use their spears and tangling tentacles, possibly trying to drag weaker-looking PCs into denser kelp or tighter passages.
• Environmental Hazards (minor):
• Murky Water/Kelp Patches: Areas within the grotto may have poor visibility or dense kelp providing concealment and difficult terrain.
• Sharp Coral/Rocks: Moving carelessly in tight spaces might provoke a DC 12 Reflex save to avoid 1d4 piercing damage.
• Hag's Lair Touches: The hag may have left minor, unsettling magical effects or simple traps (e.g., an alarm spell, a patch of slippery slime).

Environmental Factors

Weather (Surface): Can affect the boat journey to the buoy. Choppy seas or storms could delay the mission.

Terrain (Underwater):

• Grotto Entrance: A dark opening in a reef wall, possibly obscured by kelp.
• Tunnels/Passages: Potentially narrow, requiring single file movement. Some may have weak currents.
• Main Chamber: A larger cavern (perhaps 30ft x 40ft) where the hag has made her lair. It might contain a defiled altar, scattered bones, and stolen trinkets.
• Lighting: Very dim to dark. The extinguished Beacon means no ambient magical light.

NPCs:

Allies:

• Lyra Wavecrest: (See Quest Giver). She can offer blessings (e.g., a +1 divine bonus on one type of save for 24 hours) and information. She may provide a small boat or funds for one. She can also offer a small reward for returned sacred items.

Enemies:

• 1x Sea Hag
• 2x Grindylows
• (Optional for GM variance on repeats: The hag might have a different set of CR 1/2 minions, like 2x Diseased Giant Crabs, or have animated a Sahuagin Skeleton (CR 1/2) or two.)

Quest Giver:

Name: Lyra Wavecrest

Description: A young human woman with serene blue eyes and long, dark hair often adorned with shells and pearls. She wears simple, practical robes of sea-green and blue. Her demeanor is calm but carries an undercurrent of urgent worry. She speaks thoughtfully and is devout in her faith.

Rewards:

• Experience Points (XP): 1200 XP (total, to be divided or per player as per your game's rules).
• Bonus XP:
• +100 XP for recovering at least one significant sacred object.
• +100 XP for discovering the exact method used to extinguish the Beacon and reporting it.
• +75 XP for successfully cleansing the main chamber.
• +75 XP for re-igniting the Beacon's light (if possible for the party).
• Gold Pieces (GP): 400 GP (total).
• Bonus GP:
• +50-100 GP from Lyra or the Shrine for the return of specific, valuable sacred items.
• +50 GP if the grotto is cleansed with particular reverence and no unnecessary damage.
• Items:
• Consumables:
• Lyra may gift the party 2x Potions of Cure Moderate Wounds or 1x Scroll of Remove Curse upon successful completion.
• She might also offer a Blessing of the Waves (a single-use item granting water breathing for 1 hour, or a +2 sacred bonus on Swim checks for 24 hours).
• Mundane/Magical Treasure (from Hag's Lair):
• The Sea Hag will likely have a small stash of ill-gotten gains: 1d4 minor gemstones (worth 10-50gp each), some tarnished silverware (20gp), and potentially one minor magic item (GM's discretion, e.g., a Pearl of Power (1st level), a Cloak of Resistance +1 that is water-stained, or a Trident of Fish Command with few charges remaining).
• Reputation: Significant positive reputation with the Shrine of the Azure Depth/Temple of Gozreh and local mariners. This could lead to further quests, discounts from affiliated merchants, or access to temple services.
• Penalties:
• Failure to defeat the hag will mean no reward and Lyra's deep disappointment.
• Excessive damage to the sacred site or Beacon mechanism might result in a reduced GP reward and a stern lecture from Lyra.
• Stealing un-defiled offerings or items from the shrine portion of the grotto without permission will result in severe negative reputation with Lyra and her faith.