1.1 Lake Monster

Getting the Quest

The lake around the creaky docks is frozen, forcing fishers to pull their rowboats up onto the ice. Standing between a pair of boats is a stout humanoid in cold weather clothing. a gray hood hides most of the humanoid's face, but you can make out a wide nose and a long, frosty beard. The stoout figure stamps their feet, spots you, and waves you over.   "Good, you're here. Get to it, ingrates! Those fish ain't gonna catch themselves!"

  The speaker is Grynsk Berylbore who owns the pair of rowboats tied to the docks. The gunwale of one of the boats has what looks like a large bite taken out of it, but both vessels are seaworthy.   Grynsk has been waiting an hour for some fishers he hired the night before to arrive. In fact, those fishers have decided not to bother showing up, having weighed what Grynsk offered to pay them against the danger of the lake monster. Grynsk was drunk when he hired the fishers and doesn't remember their faces; he assumes the characters are his new employees, and he's quick about setting them to work. If the characters ignore him or walk away, he yells profanities after them but doesn't pursue them.
Characters who approach Grynsk can see that his boats bear the names Burly Ramand Pronged Goat. The latter one sports the curious bite mark. Grynsk reminds the characters of what he calls "the agreed-upon price" of 5 cp for each trout they catch and scolds them for having already wasted precious trout-catching time.   If the characters explain that they aren't his employees, Grynsk frowns and repeats that the salary he's offering is 5 cp per caught trout, and "time is better spent anglin' than yappin'." He also grumbles in Dwarvish about the characters being stupid and needlessly rude.   If the characters ask about the damage to the Pronged Goat, Grynsk gives them a dismissive wave of the hand. "Don'tcha see? Bloody ice everywhere. Last crew were apparently born with pits for eyes, because they sailed right into a damned ice floe! I ain't gotten around to repairin' the gunwale yet, but she floats just fine."
A character who succeeds on a DC 11 Wisdom (Insight) check can tell that Grynsk is lying. If he is pressured about the validity of his story, Grynsk becomes annoyed and tells the characters to get off his docks if all they want to do is ask stupid questions.
In truth, the lake monster took a bite out of the Pronged Goat and caused its crew to fall into the icy water, where they drowned. The damaged boat was found by fishers the next day, drifting crewless in the near frozen water.

Tali Comes on the Scene

Regardless of how the characters' dealings with Grynsk play out, they are joined by another figure before they and the dwarf part company.

You hear footsteps approaching on the creaky dock. Another figure covered head to toe in cold weather clothing has joined you. The figure wags a gloved finger at the frosty-bearded dwarf. "You have no honor, Berylbore!" the newcomer yells, pulling down a woolen muffler to reveal a pale, half-elven face. "You're sending these innocent people to their deaths! And for what, a few fish?!"   "Pay no mind to this ramblin' fool," says Grynsk.   "Did you tell them about the monster?" retorts the half-elf.

Grynsk curses the half-elf in Dwarvish before turning to the characters and yelling, "Get to work!" He then stomps away out of earshot, not eager to hear what the half-elf might have to say, but still interested in keeping an eye on his boats.   After Grynsk leaves the area, the half-elf approaches the characters sheepishly.

"I'm getting the feeling Grynsk doesn't like me very much. Or anyone who steps between him and the gold swimming in this lake. I'm Tali. I'm studying the local animal life here in Icewind Dale. I couldn't just stay silent and watch another crew fall victim to the monster of Maer Dualdon."

Tali is a researcher who is in Icewind Dale to study how changes in climate alter the nature of the animal life. Tali presents as neither male nor female and requests to be referred to as "they" or by name in conversation. Tali speaks with a soft voice and tends to go on long-winded tangents about the fauna that live in Icewind Dale.   When Tali heard reports of a creature in Maer Dualdon that was attacking the Bremen fishing parties, the half-elf decided to investigate and found that boats from Bremen were the only vessels to suffer these attacks. After deducing this, Tali began frequenting the docks to warn away any uninformed people looking to venture out into the lake about the danger waiting there.   Descriptions of the monster vary wildly;  some witnesses say its the size of an ox, while others say it's closer to the size of a house. Some say the monster might be a whale or a large fish, and others describe it as more lizard-like in appearance, with scaly skin and a long neck. If the characters ask about Grynsk's damaged boat, Tali explains that it was actually found adrift, its crew presumably lost to the lake monster.   Being a researcher, Tali would like to better understand the monster, which has only recently become a threat. "Perhaps this unending winter has affected its eating habits or demeanor in some way," speculates the half-elf.

Tali hands you a notebook. "I can't offer you much other than my gratitude, but if you're going out on the lake, please write down any information you learn about the nature of this monster. If we know what's out there, the people of Bremen would be much safer for it. And, well, it bears the potential to be awfully interesting."

Tali asks the characters to record everything they can perceive about the creature if they spot it, including its size, physical attributes, and general nature. Tali also makes it clear that few people have survived an encounter with the monster and encourages the characters to be careful.

The characters gain this quest shortly after they arrive in Bremen or if they start the adventure there. The quest starts near the docks, where the characters come upon a shield dwarf who mistakes them for fishers looking for work. Any interaction with the dwarf is interrupted by a half elf who claims that a monster living in Maer Dualdon has been attacking and sinking fishing boars. The half elf is a local researcher who has collected accounts from witnesses of these attacks and concluded that it's some kind of unusual beast. Characters who search for the lake monster discover that it's an awakened plesiosaurus. A Frost Druid recently cast an awaken spell on the creature, granting it an Intelligence of 10 and the ability to communicate in the Common language. In return, the druid expects the plesiosaurus to attack fishing boats from Bremen, thus depriving the fishers of their livelihood and ultimately forcing the villagers to leave. The plesiosaurus feels obligated to heed the druid's wishes, for fear of losing this magical gift of sentience. Consequently, it attacks anyone from Bremen who fishes in its domain2  .. 0

Unsafe Waters

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The characters have the use of Grynsk's two rowboats. The damaged one has 36 hit points instead of 50. Three sets of fishing tackle are stashed in the center of each boat.

• Rowboat Statistics: A rowboat has a speed of 1½ miles per hour and can hold up to four Medium creatures and their gear. An undamaged rowboat has AC 11 and 50 hit points. A rowboat reduced to 0 hit points in the water sinks over the course of 1d4 rounds.

The lake is covered in ice floes, which make travel dangerous. As the characters row out from Bremen, their boats must steer around 3 ice floes. Any character who tries to steer a boat around an ice floe must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom check, adding their proficiency bonus to the roll if they're proficient with water vehicles. On a failed check, the boat hits the ice floe and takes 1d6 bludgeoning damage.

Falling in the Water

Any character who falls into the lake is subject to the effects of frigid water (A creature can be immersed in frigid water for a number of minutes equal to its Constitution score before suffering any ill effects. Each additional minute spent in frigid water requires the creature to succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or gain one level of exhaustion. Creatures with resistance or immunity to cold damage automatically succeed on the saving throw, as do creatures that are naturally adapted to living in ice-cold water.). Even after the character gets out of the frigid water, the effects persist until the wet clothing is dried out or replaced with warm, dry clothing.

Water Depth

Once the characters are away from the shore, randomly determine the lake's depth at any given location with the following formula: 1d20*10 ft. Conversely, you can assume the lake is 100 feet deep where the characters are.

Scouting the Lake

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The characters can use fishing tackle to try to catch some fish while they're searching for the lake monster (see "Fishing for Knucklehead Trout").   If the characters are out on the lake in a boat, roll on the Lake Events table at the end of each hour to determine what occurs next.

Lake Events
d20	Lake Events
1-10	The lake is still and quiet for the next hour. A fine time for some fishing.
11-12	The characters spot a rowboat from Lonelywood or Termalaine. It has 1 fisher (commoner) aboard and keeps its distance. The fisher is antisocial but nonthreatening. They fish in the vicinity for the better part of an hour, and then head back towards Lonelywood with their catch.
13	The characters encounter a keelboat flying the Targos flag. It has 5 fishers (commoners) and a captain (scout) aboard. They don't believe the monster is real and try to badger the characters into fishing elsewhere. They use trawling nets to fish in the vicinity for the better part of an hour, then head back towards Targos with their catch. While active, the players have disadvantage while trying to fish.
14	A cold wind blows across the lake for the next hour. The lake's normally still waters become choppy. Until the wind abates, ability checks made to steer the boat and fish for trout have disadvantage, as do saving throws against the effects of extreme cold.
15	A knucklehead trout leaps out of the lake, makes a tail attack against one random character in the boat, and dives back into the frigid water. A character with a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 13 or higher is not surprised by the fish and can use its reaction to make an opportunity attack against it or try to grapple the fish as it dives back into the water.
16-20	The awakened plesiosaurus makes its presence known. Run the "Clever Beast" encounter.

Clever Beast

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When a roll on the Lake Events table indicates that the lake monster takes an interest in the characters:

Ripples disrupt the surface of the lake, causing your boats to bob from side to side. A large mass glides through the dark water below you.

A character who succeeds on a DC 13 Intelligence (Nature) check can identify the creature as a plesiosaurus. The creature recognizes boats from Bremen but does not attack indiscriminately, trying to gauge the strength and determination of the crew aboard before deciding what to do. Roll on the Plesiosaurus Behavior table to determine how it acts. After behaving as described, the plesiosaurus departs unless the characters do something that holds its attention. Once it departs, it doesn't return until a roll on the Lake Events table indicates another encounter with the creature.   The plesiosaurus prefers to dine on fish, not people. Characters knocked into the lake are more likely to freeze to death or sink to the bottom than be eaten. If a character attacks the plesiosaurus though, it reacts in kind.

Plesiosaurus Behavior
d6	Behavior
1	The plesiosaurus breaches the water with its fins and splashes water into nearby boats. It swims to the bottom of the lake if attacked.
2	The plesiosaurus rams a boat from beneath. (If the characters have more than one boat, randomly determine which one the monster rams.) The boat takes 3d6+4 bludgeoning damage, and any character standing in the boat must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone. A character who fails this check by 5 or more is knocked overboard and falls into the frigid water.
3	The plesiosaurus surfaces 10 feet away from a boat and takes a bite out of it, using its 10-foot reach. (If the characters have multiple boats, randomly determine which boat the monster bites.) The boat takes 3d6+4 piercing damage.
4	The plesiosaurus tries to capsize a boat. (If the characters have multiple boats, randomly determine which boat the monster tries to capsize.) Have the characters in the boat make a DC 12 Strength (Athletics) group check. If the group check succeeds, the boat doesn't capsize. If the group check fails, the boat capsizes, and every creature in it falls into the frigid water.
5-6	The plesiosaurus leaves without so much as a hello.

Talking to the Plesiosaurus

Although the plesiosaurus gives no indication that it's intelligent and can speak, the characters might try to talk to it regardless. While the monster is underwater, it can hear the characters onl y if they scream at the top of their lungs and it's close by. Conversely, a message cantrip or similar magic can be used to get the plesiosaurus' attention. The creature is curious to hear what the characters have to say:

A reptilian head at the end of a long, slender neck rises out of the cold, dark water. The creature gazes at you intently and says, in Common, "I'm listening."

A character who converses with the plesiosaurus, who's name is Buckly and succeeds on a DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check can safely conclude that it's the beneficiary of a druid's awaken spell, and that the effect is permanent.    Buckly answers straightforward questions and knows the following:

• "I used to just swim around the lake and eat fish."
• "The human who gave me this gift is named Ravis(Ravisin ), and he serves the Frostmaiden. Ravis said I must too serve the Frostmaiden, and the Frostmaiden wants the people of Bremen to suffer."
• I don't want to be a stupid beast again." (Buckly doesn't know enough about druidic magic to now that its awakening is permanent)

A character must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma (Persuasion) check to convince Buckly to talk more about the purpose of its attacks. Buckly reveals that Ravisin instructed it to spread fear among the town's fishers. It doesn't know where Ravisin came from or where they (she) are now. Characters who undertake "The White Moose" quest might encounter her later. If one or more characters mocks or threatens it, Buckly grows angry and tries to capsize their boat before fleeing.    Buckly is afraid to stop what it's doing because it fears the druid might take away the gift that has been bestowed upon it. A character with Arcana proficiency can convince Buckly that its awakening is permanent with a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Persuasion) check or a character without the proficiency can do so with a DC 18 Charisma (Persuasion) check. If this check succeeds, Buckly promises not to attack any fishers from the villages anymore.

Attacking the Plesiosaurus

If the characters attack Buckly, it dives below the surface of the water and remains submerged as it attacks the characters' boats from below. If it ever drops below half its hit points, it disengages from the battle and dives deeper, leaving the combat.

Back to Bremen!

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When the characters make it back to Bremen's docks, Grynsk shows up soon thereafter, eager to see how many knucklehead trout they caught. If they caught any, he honors his agreement, paying 5 cp per fish.    Tali is also eager to see the characters. If any of the characters took notes about the lake monster and hand their research over, Tali gives the party a spell scroll of animal friendship and a pouch containing 5 gp as thanks, and then heads toward Buried Treasures to pore over the characters' notes. The characters can hear Tali mumble the words "interesting," "fascinating," and "remarkable" in Elvish as they walk away.   If the characters didn't take any notes, Tali's hopes are dashed, and they offer no reward.

The characters have two overarching goals during this encounter: 

• Catch knucklehead trout for Grynsk to be paid 5 cp per fish.
• Gain information about the lake monster, Buckly for Tali.

If the players successfully talk with Buckly, they gain the following hooks to help in the future:

• Ravis (Ravisin), a human druid who works for the "Frostmaiden", is responsible for the lives lost in Bremen.
• The Frostmaiden, whatever it is, wants Bremen to suffer for some reason. 

If the characters fail, the attacks on Bremen will not stop.

Buckly is sentient, and is an unwilling, unwitting pawn in Ravisin, and by extension, the Frostmaiden's, game.