A viscous puddle of green goo shimmered on one side of the rhagodessa pen. A large patch of mushrooms grew on the far side of this slime, and what appears to be part of a halfling skeleton lay in a sludge between them.
The skeleton's leather armor and rapier were both rotted and rusted to ruin, but it still wore a gold ring, a ring of jumping, and a brooch of shielding capable of absorbing up to 42 more points of damage from magic missiles.
Most of the next circular cavern consisted of a large pool of brackish-looking water, its surface greasy with filth and rotting seaweed. Dripping lead pipes protruded from the walls of the twenty-foot-high cavern, including one that was nearly two feet in diameter on one side. A five-foot-wide hole in the ceiling seems to lead up to the surface. On two sides was a five-foot-wide beach of grit and gravel. A narrow tunnel led up at a shallow angle to one of these sides and out of sight.
The smaller pipes protruding from the walls provided drainage for the rest of the complex.
Two secret doors on one side were five feet off the ground. Graim found them, and Pillboxer reached them.
There was a crocodile held by chains at the end of the passageway on the side of the cavern.
The next hallway surrounded the previous cavern and connected four domed chambers, each of which sported a wooden ladder leading up to a trapdoor in the ceiling above. These trap doors opened into the abandoned buildings surrounding Dead Dog Alley above. Most of these buildings were boarded up from the outside and apparently abandoned. The boards were a ruse; the doors could be opened with ease. Inside, the buildings were indeed abandoned, but several of them contained hidden trap doors that led down into the guildhall.
The next narrow room overlooked the previous cave on one side - a barely-perceptible haze hanged in the air between these two rooms, almost as if some sort of membrane were stretched over the opening. Five wooden chairs were arranged before this "window". To one side sat a low table surrounded by more chairs, while to the opposite side a large valve protruded from the wall.
From this side, the "haze" was transparent, while from the other side it appeared as a solid natural rock wall.
The next room was currently empty.
A pair of candles lay on the floor; a pair of chairs sat on the floor.
The next room contained a single long bench pushed up against one wall. A door on the same wall was marked "Lavatory".
A table was turned on its side on the floor.
The sound of lapping waves filled the next chamber, a natural sea cave that incorporated a large sloshing tidepool. To one side, a low sandy beach seethed with brightly-colored crabs. To the opposite side, a larger sandy beach sloped up to a glistening wall. A short wooden pier protruded from this beach into the pool, and the cavern wound around the corner beyond. To the same side as the crabs, a large wooden door blocked the cave exit, although the waters flowed unimpeded through a large space under the door.
A wooden wall under a nearby pier was actually a cleverly disguised wide door that could be lifted to allow small boats to pass into the pond.
The crabs on one side clattered and clacked menacingly, but they were relatively small and harmless.
The walls, floor, and ceiling of the next chamber had been covered in white marble tile; every inch sparkled cleanly. In the middle of the room sat a five-foot-by-ten-foot pool of clean water. Across the door stood an unlit iron brazier.
The water in the pool was fresh and clean.
Although the city watch and the Dawn Council might not have realized it at first, the painting from Rowyn's lounge and the documents and maps in the war room were more than enough to prove the magnitude of the service the Tropic Thunder provided to the city. This accomplishment granted Harold the title of High Citizen among the Dawn Council.
At some point several days after they defeated the Lotus Dragons, a representative of the Dawn Council invited the Tropic Thunder to a banquet and dance at Castle Teraknian so that the members of the Council could thank them in person for the services they provided to Sasserine. At the end of the banquet, Lord Worrin Lidu presented each hero with the Spire of Sasserine, a medal awarded to those who perform great services to the city. Anyone wearing this medal finds that it grants a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy and Gather Information checks made in Sasserine. Harold and Lavinia began courting during the celebration, much to Cyq's discontent.
After recovering the money stolen from the Vanderboren Vault and defeating the Lotus Dragon thieves, the Tropic Thunder still haven't succeeded in the primary mission assigned them by their patron, Lavinia Vanderboren. Her brother Vanthus is still at large, but with the discovery of the true extent of Vanthus' involvement in the death of her parents, Lavinia no longer hopes to find and redeem him. Instead, she wants him returned to Sasserine so he can answer for his crimes. According to documents discovered in the Lotus Dragon Guildhall, Vanthus and a woman named Brissa recently left the city to travel to a location known as Kraken's Cove to mount a robbery of several pirate ships supposedly moored nearby.
Determining the approximate location of Kraken Cove in the eastern shore of Blood Bay was possible when Harold gathered information in Sasserine.
As the Tropic Thunder prepared for their journey to Kraken's Cove, the city of Sasserine was gearing up for a major festival. The one-year anniversary of the defeat of Kyuss drew near. Although the final events of this battle played out thousands of miles to the north, repercussions were felt in this region as the Wormgod nearly brought about the dawn of a new age. In the nearby Spire of Long Shadows, a small army of his undead minions erupted from the ruins there, along with several dangerous outsiders known as broodfiends. Three of these broodfiends made their way to Sasserine, but were destroyed by heroes form the city of Cauldron before they could do much damage.
The event has since become yet another reason for Sasserine's Dawn Council to celebrate, the production of a festival being an excellent way to build up the city's morale and wealth as they continue to recover from 100 years of servitude to a foreign power. Criers loudly announced the coming festival on the city streets and canals, posters went up on tavern walls, and everywhere the citizens were abuzz with excitement.
The Tropic Thunder had time to recover from their previous adventure, liquidate loot and shop for gear before they set out for Kraken's Cove.
The cove itself lay on the eastern shore of Blood Bay, about 60 miles along a marshy coastline (or a mere 40 miles as the gull flies). The brisk salt-breeze of the ocean would make for a pleasant journey, if it weren't for the oppressive proximity of the trackless marshlands and the looming Amedio Jungle beyond.
The safest and fastest method of reaching Kraken's Cove was by boat. The best option was to hire a fishing boat or similar vessel. Blood Bay is a notorious region, and most sailors or fisherfolk balked at visiting this location. With Harold's diplomatic efforts, round-trip passage from Sasserine to Kraken's Cove could be had for 8 gp per passenger. Since the Tropic Thunder wished for their transport to wait for them while they took care of business in Kraken's Cove, there was a further 10 gp/day charge. By fishing boat, the trip took only 16 hours (non-stop - since the heroes left before noon, they can expect to reach Kraken's cove the next dawn).
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