The Final Enemy
General Summary
27th of Hammer, 1494 DR:
Saltmarsh Six Responds to a summons by the town council of Saltmarsh. When they arrive they see the representatives of the Lizardmen, one Locathah, and one Mermaid is there. The Lizard men are Garurt and Vyth; the Mermaid is Aryn, and the Locathah Sakith.
At the meeting, the head of the council explains that a combined force from all the allied species is being assembled to strike the sahuagin fortress. Before this attack can be correctly planned and executed, a small group is needed to make a preliminary excursion into the fortress. The information gained by the Saltmarsh Six reconnaissance team will allow the allies to plan a proper attack. The full assault will be launched fourteen days after the reconnaissance team returns, assuming the mission succeeds at least in part.Garurt and Vyth produce a crude map that identifies the location of the sahuagin stronghold. It occupies an island in the estuary of the Javan River, some 20 miles south of Saltmarsh. A coastal headland covers one flank of the island, which is connected to the mainland by a stone causeway. The scouts provide the following details:
- The lair is a three-level cave system inside a rocky island. Remarkably, the island seems to have sunk into the surrounding sea, leaving only the top one-third visible from above the water.
- The main entrance is now a large cave that faces the seacoast.
- The lizardfolk made few changes to the place, only adding stairs to connect the levels.
The island is bare of vegetation other than mosses, lichens, seaweed, and the occasional clump of coarse grass. No wildlife appears present, but for a few clouds of insects and small mollusks. In stark contrast to other sites along the coast, no seabirds can be seen near the island. As reported by the scouts, a long stone causeway leads southward from the marshy coastline, crossing the entire span just above the waterline. By looking south from the coast, you can see that it ends at a ledge with a set of large stone doors just beyond.Preparation: Corfyn casts Waterbreathing Carcharius Casts Darkvision pn Veenaira and Worvin. Carcharius starts to explore but realizes even with Darkvision there is to much obscurement after about 20 feet. He finds no entrances above that. 4pm
You stand on a rock ledge about thirty feet wide. Ahead, set into the vertical rock surface, is a pair of large stone doors, each ten feet high and five feet wide. The surface of the doors is featureless, with no visible handles, except for a rectangular aperture six inches wide by four inches high cut in the center of the left-hand door, about six feet above ground level. A flat metal plate covers this aperture from the inside. You see a bare, spartan room. Ahead, a short corridor off the room ends in a closed bronze gate. To your left, a single stone bench runs along the east wall. To your right on the opposite wall hangs a large metal gong; a short metal bar leans against the wall below it. Several sahuagin glare at you as they move to attack.Carcharius attempts to force the door: During the Push he makes a loud thud. He sees Sahuagin coming through the grate and speaks to them. They open the door and he surprises them. Worvin Destroys the Gong, and the 2 Sahuagin at the gate are killed. Total Eliminated: 8 sahuagin, 2 sahuagin coral smashers 1 sahuagin champion
3. Dark blue tiles cover the walls and floor of this room. In the center of the room sits a table with a small bench beside it. A coffer is propped in the northeast corner, its open lid leaning against the wall. A miner’s pick lies on the floor in the southwest corner.Searched nothing
5.-8Search: nothing
- This unfinished area seems intended for use as a barracks. Many lidless coffers are arranged around the walls of the room, though there are none near the north wall west of the archway. Propped against the center of the north wall are dozens of stone-working tools.
- This austere room holds a small table with two chairs beside it. A stone coffer, its lid open and propped against the wall, stands in the northeast corner, and an identical one is in the northwest corner.
- The ceiling of this austere room appears rough and unfinished. A stone coffer stands in the northeast corner, and an identical one is in the northwest corner. The lids to these coffers lie shattered on the floor.
- This is an austere room, like other similar chambers. A stone coffer stands in the northeast corner, and an identical one rests in the northwest corner. The lids to these coffers lie on the floor between piles of stone-working tools, chunks of chiseled stone, and debris.
9-11. Armory and Supplies This room has a plain stone floor, walls, and ceiling. Two rows of metal racks run almost the entire length of the room from east to west; they are set parallel and about six feet apart, leaving a passage between them. A large number of spears, tridents, and other weapons are arrayed on these racks. Two large closed coffers sit to either side of the southern archway.They load up all the weapons into the Carcharius Bag of Holding.
4. Dark green tiles cover the walls and floor of this room. Many lidless coffers rest against the walls, though there are none near the northern wall west of the archway. One of the coffers glows, its blue light filling the room. A sledgehammer is propped against the northern wall.Search: nothing
12. This chamber is accessed by three archways leading into it from the north, east, and west. A stone bench runs along the south wall. Set in the north wall, opposite the west archway, is a metal gate that closes off an opening to the north. A mechanism consisting of a wheel, chains, and various pulleys is attached to the east wall.Fireball the room and clean up. Priestess unconcious. Carcharius interrogates the priestess. He lies and kills her when he gets the information.
17. This room contains neat piles of hammers, chisels, mining picks, sledgehammers, crowbars, spades, wicker baskets, sacks, and coils of rope. There is also a pile of light blue tiles. Otherwise, the place is empty.Find the Secret Door. While Worvin is investigating the door he finds a Glyph of Warding. He Dispels the Glyph.
18. This plain room contains several items of interest. A leather cloak hangs on a peg on the wall to your right. Opposite the cloak, propped against the easThey t wall, stands a full suit of human-sized plate armor. A heap of chain mail lies at the foot of the armor. Farther into the room, three shields are piled on the floor. Finally, a coffer lies at the far end of the room, its lid closed.They loot the room.
19. Hall To the west of a large archway stretches an area of plain stone construction. Three pillars extend to the tiled ceiling. In the center of this chamber, a wide staircase leads down. An unfinished half-wall surrounds three sides of the staircase. Piles of colored tiles sit near the wall, awaiting placement. The sound of water lapping against stone can be heard coming up from the bottom of the stairs. Ten slaves, working by torchlight, smooth and dress the unfinished exterior walls of the hall. Each slave is shackled at the ankles with a length of chain and wears a metal collar. Several sahuagin oversee the slaves as they work, while others rest and chat near the top of the stairs.The Party Decimates the Sahuagin, and frees all the slaves. The slaves leave.
16. Larder The air is distinctly colder than outside. This room contains no furniture, but around the walls hang various carcasses. Some spare hooks attached to the wall are unoccupied. White bones lie heaped in the northeast corner.The carcasses include a normal octopus, two giant eels, a male dwarf, a male human, and eight lizardfolk. All are fresh or reasonably well preserved. The dwarf and the human were part of Elmo’s adventuring party; their bodies have been stripped of gear. Worvin Notes that the organs of the Dwarf and Human were very carefully removed. Carcharius informs Worvin that sahuagin rituals often involve the use of freshly harvested organs. Corfyn Determines some of the bones in the bone pile are those of a female human and a male half-elf. They rest for an hour and proceed down the submerged stairs.
1 hour 24 minutes
Procees down the steps to:Area 20: After descending the stairs, you find yourselves in a large open area. Stone pillars rise from floor to ceiling, two each to your left and your right. This area is empty, quiet, and peaceful.They proceed and Worvin Grabs onto Corfyn's back while swimming.
21. Dark green tiles cover the walls and floor of this room, and the ceiling is tiled in white. A table in the center of the room has a small bench beside it. In the southwest corner is a coffer, its lid closed. A mass of seaweed rises in the northwest corner to a height of about seven feet; the seaweed covers an area about ten feet square.They loot the room.
24. Large amount of sahuagin. They leave this place alone and make note.
23. The walls and floor of this room are tiled in deep blue, and the ceiling is light blue. In the center of the room is a table with a small bench beside it. A closed coffer leans against the south wall, and a seaweed bed fills the southwest corner. A small group of sahuagin in this room are vocalizing what seem like raucous sounds of merriment.None of the sahuagin were paying attention and the party ambushed them.
22. The walls and floor of this chamber are tiled in a dark green color, and the ceiling is tiled light green. A seaweed bed fills the northeast corner. In the center of the room stands a small table with a small bench beside it. Against the east wall rests a coffer, its lid closed.Amongst the treasure they find a locket. The locket is opened, and it is seen to contain a miniature portrait of a human girl and a lock of blonde hair, which floats away into the surrounding water :(
27. A short passage leading west beyond the archway opens after about twenty feet into a large room. A seaweed bed covers the entire south wall. Several coffers, their lids closed, stand at regular intervals around the unoccupied walls. A large, powerful sahuagin is addressing more than twenty sahuagin guards.The party uses strong magic to defeat this mob.
28. This room is adorned with a colorful mosaic of a sahuagin with a twisted body creating a whirlpool to drag down a ship. A table stands in the center, a small bench to either side. Seaweed beds sway in the northeast and southeast corners. Two coffers, their lids closed, stand against the north wall. A hunched-over sahuagin at the table looks up, startled, as you appear. Its sudden motion causes one of several stacks of coins to topple with a clatter.Loot the Room
39. This ceiling and floor of this large room are unfinished stone. Light green tiles cover the walls. Seaweed grows freely throughout this chamber, and anemones and starfish crawl over the natural rocky surfaces. Several large sharks with armored plates driven into their flanks swim freely here.Victorius, but Carcharius had to be revived, and Jaegus had to be stabalized. Lots of healing magic was used. They are thinking about leaving but press on.
41. The corridor leads to a great hall, its floor tiled in black, the walls in coral pink, and the ceiling in white. Black-tiled pillars are regularly placed in a line slightly south of the east–west axis. To the north of the pillars, long tables have been placed end to end, with benches to either side. At the midpoint of the north wall, an archway opens onto a passage. This ornate archway is decorated with elegant black and gold designs evocative of waves and monstrous sea creatures. A semicircular niche has been hollowed into the center of the south wall. The floor of the niche sits seven feet off the ground. On the shelf formed there stands a large carved stone head, visibly battered and disfigured. The features can still be recognized as those of a lizardfolk. The head is about twice as large as life size.They are all swimming stealthily, and they hear the conversaton in the throne room, which discusses things about the Maw. They are SPOTTED BY THE BARON!!!
At the end of a short stretch of corridor, another archway opens into a larger area. Here, the floor is tiled indigo and the walls dark blue. On the north side, a massive, ornately carved throne rises from a pale blue dais. Pale blue marble pillars stand to the east and west. The dais is of the same pale blue marble, while the throne is black coral. The ceiling is tiled in pale blue. On the throne sits an oversized sahuagin. This creature has four arms. In his right upper hand, he holds a large trident. His two lower hands grip the arms of his throne. Floating next to the throne, on the creature’s right-hand side, is an adult female sahuagin holding a long staff tipped with a jumble of shark jaws and teeth. In front of the throne and at the foot of the dais, three adult sahuagin float with their backs to you. Two float with bodies held rigid, while the third pleads before the throne.Jaegus locks down everybody but the Baron and a Shark with a Hypnotic Pattern. In 24 seconds the battle is over and they face a patrol which they eliminate in 12 seconds.
43. This blue-tiled room features a bench that runs along the south wall and a seaweed bed that floats in the southeast corner. A coffer, its lid lying nearby on the floor, is propped against the west wall. An archway to the east leads to another room, more brightly decorated. Sounds of arguing are heard.
44. Pale green tiles decorate the floor and ceiling here, while the walls are tiled in coral pink. A table stands in the center of the room, a small bench to either side. On the table is a silver statuette that depicts a squid locked in combat with a shark. From here, the sounds of the argument are louder.They Find a Statuette Made of Electrum.
45. Two female sahuagin, their voices raised, appear to be arguing in the room ahead. Though the words might be incomprehensible, the sense is quite clear — one berates the other, and that one pleads for mercy. The room is tiled in light blue, and frescoes on the ceiling depict various forms of marine life. A large and opulent seaweed bed fills the southwest corner. In the center of the north wall hangs a large mirror with a filigree metal frame. Below the mirror lies a coffer, its lid off and propped against the wall. A key is in the lock of the coffer. A large and intimidating female sahuagin warrior looms above a normal-sized sahuagin who swims submissively before her. The large one has four arms, and one of its hands holds a single gold earring, which she shakes at the cowering sahuagin. A third sahuagin in dark robes floats near the doorway, looking bored.They ambush the Baroness and the fight lasts a mere seconds.
46. This room is tiled in coral pink. The walls show scenes of sahuagin in victorious combat against whales, groups of squid, and a great tentacled beast whose identity is not obvious. A large table in the center of the room has benches on all four sides. A small silver object lies on the table. The object on the table is a silver medallion, about 2 inches in diameter, on a fine silver chain. One side of the medallion carries an engraving of a shark. The other side’s engraving depicts a dozen tridents offset in a circle to form the shape of a star; this symbol is the baron’s personal seal. The medallion is worth 30 gp and is also the key to the coffer. 47. This room is tiled in a rich, deep green. The walls are frescoed with representations of marine plant life. A large seaweed bed fills the northwest corner. There is a spear propped against the wall in the southwest corner. In the center of the east wall hangs a mirror with a filigree metal frame. Below it is a large coffer, its lid closed.Carcharius, Narciara, and Corfyn Spot the Secret Door.
40. This ceiling and floor of this large room are unfinished stone. Light green tiles cover the walls. Seaweed grows freely throughout this chamber. Anemones, starfish, and a lone lobster crawl over the natural rocky surfaces.Shern Hides in Carcharius' Backpack.
This large room features walls and floor covered in gray tiles, the ceiling covered in white. Tiled pillars support the ceiling and run down the length of the area on either side of the center. An altar is built against the northern wall of this chamber. Its stone base is covered in carved shark eyes that stare out in all directions. The startlingly realistic eyes are inset with dark stones that reflect the chamber’s dim blue light. Glowing symbols and strange designs are engraved into the walls of this place, casting an eerie light throughout the chamber. Three chanting sahuagin dressed in ceremonial robes float near the altar, their arms raised toward the ceiling, which is some thirty feet above. Carvings of shark’s eyes adorn the altar’s front, each varied in shape and size. The gory remains of unidentified creatures rest atop the altar; blood rises like smoke upward past the sahuagin. Two large and squirming sacks flank the altar. A massive two-headed shark, its fins adorned with bands of pearl and gold, swims in circles above the altar.Saltmarsh Six Eliminates them quickly And a patrol. They Search all the Priestesses chambers than leave back for the surface for a long Rest.
Start Rest 630 PM
End at: 28th Hammer, 6 am
Return to Saltmarsh. 1 PM 29th Eleasias: 1 pm Begin Assault. Carcharius still has the Barons' head. The Sahuagin are completely in disarray. The Mermen and locathah slaughter the ones trying to escape. Stronger are trying to get the weak in line but it is chaos. Sahuagin are annihilated and defeated and they free who they can and who survived. 30th Hammer, 1494 Saltmarsh Six and the Alliance are completely victorious.Rewards Granted
XP: 1900+1800+2950+6100+4500+6000+1400+2350+3800+1800: 5440 Each + level
- cp: 119
- sp: 1252
- ep: 990
- gp: 1988
- pp: 422
| Gem Value | Gem # |
|---|---|
| 10 gp | 12 |
| 50 gp | |
| 100 gp | 2 |
| 500 gp | |
| 1,000 gp | |
| 5,000 gp |
Gold Bracers engraved with Shark Teeth 25 gp.26 leather harnesses with gold buckles (10 gp each)small silver mirror (25 gp)A silver goblet (50 gp) with the insignia of Prince Monmurg8 leather harnesses with silver buckles (5 gp each)A small gold locket on a fine chain (50 gp)silver bracelet set with turquoise beads (100 gp)platinum armband (200 gp)electrum statuette (500 gp)platinum armband (500 gp)Gold Drop Earings (30 gp each)leather harness with platinum buckles (50 gp)gold ring set with coral (50 gp)2 pearl-handled dagger (20 gp)leather harness adorned with small rubies and platinum buckles (75 gp)A silver frame (25 gp) holding a portrait of the Sahuagin baroness Seklaz painted in oil (300 gp)statuette of a shark made from gold (200 gp)Six silver masks, all in the shape of a shark’s head (50 gp each)Four golden gongs, each with a gold striker (75 gp for each set)Four gold necklaces set with coral beads (175 gp each)Silver Bowl and cup set (5 gp each)2 Silver Handmirror (15 gp)- l
eather harness with platinum buckles (50 gp) gold bracelet set with pearls (200 gp)2 platinum and pearl coronets of sea elf design (700 gp each)fine pearl necklace (500 gp)2 gold wristbands inlaid with diamonds (250 gp each)Coral Chess Pieces (10 gp)
Magic Items:Mithril Plate,Potion of Gaseous Form, Potion of Invisibility,
Rewards Granted by the Town
- Saltmarsh Citezenship for those that are not
- A Full House For no upkeep expense
- gp :4100 gp
- a favor: free passage aboard a ship headed to any seaport. This favor can be called in whenever the characters please.
- Weapon +1
- Bracers of Archery
- Brooch of Shielding
- Silver Raven Figurine of Wondrous Power
Missions/Quests Completed
- Determine the strength of the sahuagin force: how many warriors, lieutenants, and other battle-ready troops are present.
- Locate important areas within the fortress: where are the warriors barracked, the officers quartered, and the leaders housed.
- Discover any significant defensive measures: traps, areas readied specifically for defense, and other dangers the attacking force must avoid or overcome.
- Discover how advanced the sahuagin preparations are and when they might mount their first attack.
| Sahugin | 25 |
| Sahuagin Coral Smashers | 5 |
| Sahuagin Champions | 3 |
| Sahuagin Priestesses | |
| Sahuagin Hatchling | |
| Wave Shaper | |
| Deep Divers | |
| Shell Sharks | |
| Maw of Sekolah | |
| High Priestess | |
| Baron | |
| Baron |
Character(s) interacted with
Elmo the Emaciated
Elmo is the sole survivor of a party of adventurers that penetrated the lair weeks ago. In a weak and raspy voice, he tells his story. Relate the following details:- He is a wizard and the leader of a party of adventurers from Leilon, sent to investigate the strange goings-on in the former lizardfolk lair.
- He and his companions were equipped to explore underwater but never got that far. As soon as they gained entry (at area 1), they were immediately attacked by large numbers of sahuagin.
- All his comrades were killed in the battle that followed. He was taken prisoner. Since then, he has worked as a slave, laboring on the building efforts.
- He and his companions had several magic items to aid them with underwater exploration, but these items were confiscated by the sahuagin (see area 18). He does not believe the sahuagin know of their magical properties.
- He recently witnessed the performance of a terrible ritual in which many slaves were sacrificed.
- Elmo relates that he helped build a secret door. He remembers that concealing the door required great skill. He describes where the room is and how to access it.
The man’s eyes suddenly widen, and he grasps at the air. He turns away from some imagined horror. “The teeth… teeth in the temple,” he wails, before collapsing dead on the stone floor.
SHERN: LOBSTER, TELEPATH, FRIEND
Until it escaped, Shern was used by the sahuagin in their makeshift lobster fighting arenas. It managed to escape its fate as a gladiator, in part due to its strangely high level of intelligence. The lobster has limited telepathy, though it cannot explain how it came to have this ability. It can communicate with any other living creature within 10 feet. The lobster has named itself Shern, and it desperately wants to escape the fortress. If Shern becomes aware of the characters, it attempts to communicate with one of them despite not being able to convey language. It knows the following information, which it communicates through feelings and projected images: A terrible monster lives in the temple. Two four-armed sahuagin rule this fortress. The bulk of the sahuagin forces are on the fortress’s lowest level. If the party frees Shern by returning it to the ocean, it can lead the characters to a sunken treasure (of your design) a few miles south of the fortress. Shern knows the layout of the two lowest levels of the fortress, including areas where large number of sahuagin gather. The lobster accompanies the characters if it senses they will help it escape. Shern hopes to hide in a backpack, a cloak pocket, or a hood while the characters explore the rest of the fortress.Related Reports
Sahuagin Eliminated
| Sahugin | 39 |
| Sahuagin Coral Smashers | 22 |
| Sahuagin Champions | 7 |
| Sahuagin Priestesses | 7 |
| Sahuagin Hatchling | |
| Wave Shaper | 2 |
| Deep Divers | |
| Shell Sharks | 14 |
| Maw of Sekolah | 1 |
| High Priestess | 1 |
| Baron | 1 |
| Baron | 1 |
Report Date
25 Aug 2024
Primary Location
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