Lost Treasure
Fifthday, Thirdden, the Water Moon, 748 AC, Isle of the Mad Sorcerer, the Darsiac Ocean
Stoic and wise, Alard held love
For his Hesperus close;
Bliss flowed through veins with light and joy,
His heart alight with hope.
From north the cold and blight it came
With sores and breath to reave.
In malady she sank so deep,
Her side he would not leave.
Fair gods to whom he wept and prayed
To bless her grace he sought;
His coin and toil they gladly took,
Yet save her he could not.
In death she lay, consumed by plague,
His love would not depart.
Return her breath he swore he would
So turned to darker art.
The shadow lord that found his need
Willing to trade his soul
For art that bent laws of the night
Returning his love whole.
Horror he brought upon his town
And run him out they did,
Adrift, at sea to isle of dread
into madness he slid.
Steer clear fair seaman of the isle
Where mad warlock yet lives
Lest lord of shadow take your soul
Like grief filled he took his.
Long Day but Quiet
Other than foraging for food and a brief encounter with Joaquin, the day should pass fairly uneventfully, giving the party some much needed rest. Any character who does not actively forage or participate in the fight will regain one level of exhaustion.
Buried in the Sand
While combing the beach for food, at some point have the characters make an Intelligence (Investigation) DC 14 test. Those that succeed find a strange depression in the sand. Digging, it is an ancient, battered chest. While a rusty lock protects its lid, it is made of salt encrusted wood is dried and easily broken.
Inside the party finds three changes of men's clothing - what appear to be entertainer outfits in bright, primary colors, complete with a multi-pointed hat. Wrapped tenderly in the clothing is a fine, rosewood mandolin, still perfectly in tune. It radiates strongly of magic and is indeed a Instrument of the Bards. The chest also contains a small vail containing a blue liquid that smells of perform (a Philter of Love and a small pouch with 10 gp and 20 sp. Finally, it contains a tube with scroll upon which, in Eldorian is scrawled a ballad.
The Ballad of Hesperus and AlardStoic and wise, Alard held love
For his Hesperus close;
Bliss flowed through veins with light and joy,
His heart alight with hope.
From north the cold and blight it came
With sores and breath to reave.
In malady she sank so deep,
Her side he would not leave.
Fair gods to whom he wept and prayed
To bless her grace he sought;
His coin and toil they gladly took,
Yet save her he could not.
In death she lay, consumed by plague,
His love would not depart.
Return her breath he swore he would
So turned to darker art.
The shadow lord that found his need
Willing to trade his soul
For art that bent laws of the night
Returning his love whole.
Horror he brought upon his town
And run him out they did,
Adrift, at sea to isle of dread
into madness he slid.
Steer clear fair seaman of the isle
Where mad warlock yet lives
Lest lord of shadow take your soul
Like grief filled he took his.
Above the words are notations that any musician will recognize as chord progressions.
Dark Tower
If the party was not able to Joaquin, now is a good item for them to notice the tower rising above the trees to the south. Perhaps the sinking sun is just right to catch a glint off of its parapets or perhaps another screech draws their attention in that direction. In any event, try to steer them toward the tower - after a night of rest, of course.
Experience
Trivial/Level Five CharactersThis treasure chest is a bit of a windfall. Sorting through the poorly written ballad, however, should give the party some direction, especially if they had already spoke to Joaquin. The encounter worth 250-500 xp.
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