STATIC 49: The Ruins of Awarth, Salve

General Summary

Wherein the Blinkertons navigate the haunted remnants of Awarth, confront echoes of greed and ambition, and barter with enigmatic entities for knowledge and passage. 

The Rustsinger's Visions

The Blinkertons encountered the Rustsinger deep within the ruins of Awarth. A towering presence of corrosion and lament, she spoke of the city's past and its ties to Gree, a substance—or perhaps a concept—bound to industry, greed, and ambition. The Rustsinger desired their flasks of gree, however diluted they are and our heroes chose dialogue over battle, offering their flasks freely. In turn, the Rustsinger "drank them with her eyes," sharing a vision: Awarth at its peak, thriving on Gree's promise before crumbling under its weight. The precise cause of the city's fall remained shrouded, but the echoes of industry’s hubris rang clear.
Having imparted her wisdom, the Rustsinger gifted Hypatia a magic item--The Rustsinger's Gauge, and the Blinkertons ventured deeper into the ruins.

The Worm & The Oil Drinker

As they left Ashrow and entered the district of Salve, a Wound Worm erupted from the debris, a monstrous manifestation of Awarth’s lingering scars. The battle was swift and decisive—the Blinkertons, seasoned by conflict, made short work of the beast, emerging unscathed.
Their next encounter was with the Oil Drinker, an enigmatic figure who offered them his flask. Each took a sip, their senses flooded with strange, lingering flavors:

• Sharkbait: A thick, sugary soda taste, granting +1 maximum HP.
• Corinna: The bitterness of old coffee, granting advantage on initiative rolls.
• Hypatia: The sensation of a proved hypothesis, bestowing resistance to acid damage and advantage on Constitution saves against poison.
• Ra’a’l: The ashen taste of burnt remains, granting the ability to walk across sludge, acid, and unstable liquids as if under the effects of Water Walk.

The Black Nidus & the Wound Wanderer

The Black Nidus—a pulsing, churning void of corruption—lured Corinna and Sharkbait into its influence. Charmed but not lost, they resisted its call to be consumed. Sharkbait, ever the audacious bard, turned his defiance outward and managed to intimidate its enforcer, the Wound Wanderer. The creature, a walking knot of wicked sinew, recoiled under his presence, allowing the Blinkertons to depart unscathed. A rare feat, leaving the Nidus without bloodshed.

The Bargeman’s Toll

Seeking escape from Awarth, they encountered the Bargeman—a gaunt, spectral figure who offered passage for a price. Each paid their due:

• Hypatia: An Oozo potion.
• Sharkbait: A Tarnmuck fetish.
• Ra’a’l:  No payment needed, thanks to his newfound Water Walk ability.
• Corinna: Ever defiant, she refused to pay outright, intimidating the Bargeman into letting her aboard with a promise that he could collect later—if he dared. He smirked, assuring her that their paths would cross again.

With that, they departed Awarth, carried through the mists by the Bargeman’s vessel, to find respite in the familiar dank basement of Sharkbait's Tiny Hut, nestled among the gloom of the Bonefields.

Back to the Bonefields & Minotaurs

A dank basement served as their sanctuary, a rare moment of respite before the trials ahead. 

The next morning brought new dangers—minotaurs on the hunt. The fight was brutal, and for the first time in a while, the Blinkertons found themselves struggling. The minotaurs struck with relentless force, leaving Sharkbait in dire straits and Corinna burning through her Haste-enhanced speed to keep the tide from turning against them.

And That's Where We Left It

The battle raged on. We'll discover what new scars this will leave upon our heroes during our next session.

Varied & Sundry Details

• Skipjack was Displaced for these happenings. His presence was missed.
• The Bargeman promised to visit Corinna soon to collect his fee.

Rewards Granted

• The Rustsinger's Gauge
• Various boons of the Oil Drinker

Character(s) interacted with

• The Rustsinger--engimagtic collector of Gree
• The Oil Drinker--a "prophet" of the ruins
• The Bargeman--bargekeeper of Salve

Report Date

26 Jan 2025

Primary Location

Bonefields