Summary
The party regrouped in Skaal after a harrowing battle with Nathair, an animated suit of black plate armor that had possessed their companion Richard and dragged him into the depths. They welcomed new members including Acantha, a feral level 3 druid raised by the Fae, Cadaver, a level 1 druid seeking vengeance for lost wages, and Wulf, a seafaring warrior. Despite Wulf’s questionable wisdom score of 3, the group voted to make him their new ship captain, dismissing their previous experienced captain.
Having heard rumors of other adventurers being driven away from Fiadh’s Rest by a skull with gemstone eyes, the party set sail to investigate. During their journey through the deep waters between Skaal and mainland Dashkodan, they encountered a fearsome merrow – a kelp-covered aquatic ogre armed with bone-tipped harpoons. When the creature demanded the weakest crew member as sacrifice, Acantha pointed out Sven, the ship’s rat-catcher. The merrow harpooned Sven and dragged him to his death, causing the remaining crew to become distrustful of their new leadership.
At Fiadh’s Tower, a white alabaster structure crowned with eternal blue flame, the party began their exploration. They discovered various chambers including a fairy feast hall they wisely avoided and a sacred chamber containing a Celtic knotwork boar plaque. After cleaning a desecrated altar, Glogg swore an oath of revenge against the merrow, causing the boar plaque to animate and bless him with +1 Wisdom. The party also enhanced their weapons by dipping them in magical blue flame.
The group’s ultimate confrontation came in a domed chamber where they faced Fiadh’s skull, a powerful artifact with ruby eyes that could fire devastating energy beams. During the intense battle, multiple party members were knocked unconscious, and their light source was extinguished. Wulf shot out one of the ruby eyes before Glogg delivered the final blow with his dagger. They claimed both valuable rubies from the skull’s eye sockets.
Upon returning to Súigh, an elegant elven woman residing in the tower’s upper chamber, they presented her with the defeated skull. She absorbed its essence in white mist, causing the skull to crumble to dust. In exchange, Súigh promised to help locate Nathair within seven days. The party received their rewards, with several members advancing in level, and decided to set sail for Vishrun. Before departing, Orm successfully converted the remaining crew to worshipping Raka Uka, providing them with slime-dripping statuettes as religious tokens.
Scenes
Recap and Character Introductions
The party recaps previous events and introduces new characters after returning to Skaal
- Recap of previous battle with Nathair, an animated suit of armor
- Junior was killed in the previous battle
- Richard was possessed by Nathair’s helmet and jumped into the water
- Introduction of new party members including Cadabrah (L1 Druid), and Wulf (Sea Wolf)
- The party votes to make Wulf the new ship captain despite his 3 Wisdom
Setting Sail for Fiadh’s Rest
The party learns of recent events at Fiadh’s Rest and decides to return there
- Hear rumors about other adventurers being driven away by a skull with gemstone eyes
- Learn that the tower has been mostly pillaged already
- Decide to return to check on Súigh and the blue guys
- Set sail for Fiadh’s Rest under Wulf’s questionable navigation
Encounter with the Merrow
While sailing, the party encounters a kelp-covered aquatic ogre that demands a sacrifice
- A merrow appears with bone-tipped harpoons
- Acantha points out crew member Sven when the merrow demands the weakest
- Acantha turns invisible and climbs the rigging
- The merrow harpoons and drags Sven overboard, killing him
- The crew becomes distrustful of Acantha and Captain Wulf
- Crew isolates themselves, only communicating through Udo
Tower Exploration
The party explores various areas of the tower seeking the crystal skull
- Party enchants weapons in blue flame at tower top
- Glogg discovers secret passage behind red tile
- Find fairy feast hall trap and avoid it
- Glogg cleans desecrated altar to boar deity
- Glogg swears revenge oath and gains +1 Wisdom blessing from animated boar plaque
Battle with Fiadh’s Skull
The party confronts and defeats a magical skull with ruby eyes
- Skull rises and attacks with eye beams speaking Sylvan
- Multiple party members knocked unconscious during battle
- Wulf shoots out one ruby eye
- Battle continues in darkness after lantern goes out
- Glogg delivers final blow with dagger
- Party retrieves two valuable rubies from eye sockets
Return to Súigh
The party returns the defeated skull to Súigh who absorbs its essence
- Súigh absorbs white mist essence from skull
- Skull crumbles to dust after absorption
- Súigh promises to help find Nathair in 7 days
- Party receives rewards and several members level up
- Group decides to head to Vishrun next
- Crew converts to worship of Raka Uka
NPCs
Bruce Bayne
A spiritual presence felt by Glogg through the boar plaque, his former mentor whose memory blessed him with increased wisdom.
Fiadh
Ancient being whose magical skull contained ruby eyes and could cast spells. Spoke Sylvan and called someone a traitor before being defeated.
Sven
A small, scrawny crew member who managed the rats in the cargo hold before being sacrificed to the merrow.
Udo
The ship’s loyal second in command and level 1 fighter who serves as a backup character and intermediary between the crew and the party after Sven’s death.
Merrow
A kelp-covered aquatic ogre armed with barbed bone-tipped harpoons who demanded and received a sacrifice from the ship’s crew.
Súigh
A beautiful elven woman residing in the tower who requested the skull’s retrieval. Absorbed its essence and promised to help find Nathair in exchange.
Nathair
An animated suit of black plate mail that possessed Richard and jumped into the water. Previously defeated by the party but escaped with Richard’s body.
Locations
Vishrun
A mainland settlement where the party plans to travel next, rumored to have connections to the Queen of Ice and Snow.
Súigh’s Chamber
Barricaded upper area of tower where Súigh resides with her henchmen.
Skull Chamber
A domed 20 ft high chamber with brass orbital designs in floor and stone plinth where Fiadh’s skull was kept.
Sacred Boar Chamber
A chamber containing a massive wooden plaque depicting a Celtic knotwork red boar that can animate, with a stone altar. Blue flame barriers block passages.
Fiadh’s Tower
A white alabaster tower with eternal blue flame at top, containing multiple chambers including fairy feast hall, statue rooms, and magical barriers. Currently contains rotting bodies and debris from previous battles.
Deep Waters
Waters between the Isle of Skaal and mainland Dashkodan, with floating kelp and seaweed, under a gloomy perpetual twilight sky.
Skaal
A settlement where the party’s ship is docked, surrounded by fog and cold weather with summer nights lasting only 5 hours.
Spells
Protection from Evil
Mentioned as potentially useful against Nathair’s curse affecting Richard.
Cure Wounds
Healing spell used multiple times during battles, manifesting as healing slime when cast by Orm. Restored hit points to injured characters.
Eye Beam
Magical attack used by Fiadh’s skull that fired beams of red energy from ruby eyes, dealing significant damage to party members.
Detect Magic
Attempted multiple times to analyze magical phenomena but the tower’s overwhelming magic prevented proper focus.
Invisibility
Cast by Acantha to turn herself invisible before climbing the ship’s rigging during merrow encounter.
Items
Nathair’s Armor
A cursed suit of black plate mail armor that merged with Richard when he put on the helmet.
Fiadh’s Skull
A magical skull with ruby eyes that could float, speak Sylvan, and fire damaging eye beams. Crumbled to dust after Súigh absorbed its essence.
Ruby Eyes
Two massive rubies the size of thumbs that served as Fiadh’s eyes, worth 200 gold pieces each. Retrieved after defeating the skull.
Blue-Enchanted Weapons
Weapons dipped in magical blue flame that granted them special properties against certain enemies, though the effect was temporary.
Slime Statuettes
Religious items carved and distributed to the crew by Orm, representing Ra’ka-Uka and constantly dripping slime.
Antlered Elf Statues
Six-foot tall stone statues depicting elven figures with antlers, dressed in fine robes and holding items like wheat sheaves, wine ewers, and hunting horns.
Dubious Heroes 
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