Island of the Sea Nymph

Into the Jungle

While chasing a merchant vessel, the Kassothi corsair ship the Cutlass became caught in a violent storm, which pushed it leagues south of its quarry, and outside the Obviation into an ocean region known as the Churning Depths. With the majority of the ship's drinking water destroyed in the storm, Captain Hockley Thorpe dispatched three individuals to search a nearby island for fresh water while the rest of the crew made repairs to the ship. These individuals were the cook's assistant Grom, the elven warlock Ari, and Aberchak Haverdak, a half-orc emissary from the fledgling criminal empire the Tracery. Together, the three took a small rowboat and landed on the shores of a small, lush tropical island. The three set out into the jungle, searching for a stream or lake. As they pushed through the dense underbrush, they received all manner of scrapes and cuts from an overgrown area of thick, thorny vines. Grom used his breath weapon to clear a segment, only to wander directly into a patch of quicksand. With help from Aberchak, he escaped with little trouble. Soon, Ari heard the nearby sound of running water. The trio followed it to find a small, sparkling stream of fresh water. Strangely, whenever any of them attempted to collect water from the stream the flow seemed to shift direction, preventing them from gathering any. The three headed upriver to find the source of this strange stream.

The Sea Nymph's Cave

They followed the stream to a small mountain at the center of the isle and into a cave, wherein they found a mysteriously shimmering pool in the center of a faintly glowing grotto. Around the pool grew pink flowers; upon touching them Grom was immediately blinded. The noise alerted the pool's inhabitant; a nereid named Mellaniphe. She introduced herself as the guardian of this island, cursed to stay here and keep its waters safe. Ari asked her if she would spare any of the island's waters for them and their crew, to which Mellaniphe offered a trade. Deep within the mountain's caverns, she said, a great beast had been growing for some time. Due to her curse, she was unable to leave the pool to handle it; and by the time it would grow large enough to come to her it would be too powerful for her to handle. She asked if the three would venture below and eliminate it, and in return she would not only grant them water but a blessing. The party agreed, and to aid them in their quest Mellaniphe granted Ari her personal weapon: an enchanted bident with the power to control water. The three companions traveled deep into the mountain and soon found the beast Mellaniphe had described: a young yet still massive purple worm, which had made its nest in the caverns. An intense fight ensued during which both Grom and Aberchak were knocked unconscious, but fortunately Ari was able to land a killing blow with her new bident. In the aftermath, she called upon her magical reserves and healed her companions. After a brief breather, the three returned to Mellaniphe who thanked them and granted her blessing which allowed them the ability to breathe underwater. She allowed Ari to keep the bident as she had little use for it anyway. Mellaniphe also told the three that they would find the water barrels they left on the beach filled, and bid them farewell before returning below the surface of her pool. Together, the three returned to the beach and headed back to the Cutlass.