Session 3 - Merfolk, Merrow & More

The party returned to Tatiana's island and upon opening the door to her hut were met with a thick dark mist. Upon inhaling this mist both Serge and Butcher found their senses muddle and the area became a nightmarish version of itself. This effect did not last long but not wanting a repeat experience it was decided that only Red would enter the hut this time.   Tatiana took the key from Red and confirmed it was indeed what they were seeking. She drew a fresh map, once more inked with blood on human skin, which pointed to the Wahkeel Ruins. She advised Red to not open the chest but that if he was to do so not to do it underwater.   With map in hand the party set sail. During travel through a rock and cliff heavy area The Driftwood was ambushed by a keelboat crewed by goblins hoping to get the upperhand with the element of surprise. Swift maneuvering and accurate cannon-fire led The Driftwood to victory and the cargo of the would be pirates was claimed by the party.   The rest of the journey proved uneventful and after hiding their ship among some rocks and rowing towards the ruins location the party dived beneath the surface. Surprisingly some fresh merfolk corpses lay scattered throughout the ruins, which according to history had been abandoned over a century prior. A building carved into a giant collar pillar lay in the center of the ruined village and seemed the only structure likely to hold anything of value.   The party discovered that this central building was actually a tomb and within found a mind controlled merfolk and her shark mount. There was a brazier tied to the plane of fire in the centre of the room creating an area where the water could not breach. The party used this area to their advantage so the shark could not attack them and managed to quickly knock the mermaid unconscious.   Chains covered in arcane ruins bound the shark to the brazier and after managing to break them the party freed the shark from its mind-control. Serge managed to calm the beast down and Butcher infused a rock with the smell of blood and tossed it out the tomb. The shark following the smell left the tomb allowing the party to venture further in.   The party first explored two side tombs, one belonging to the queen of the Wahkeel people and the other to its king. The king rose as a bloated corpse when the party attempt to loot his coffin but was put down quickly thanks to a powerful radiant attack from Butcher. The party gained some magic items and loot from the coffins before heading deeper into the tomb.   After bypassing another shark with the use of a Trident of Fish Command they had taken from the king, the party found themselves in a room with statues that posed riddles. Answering the riddles successfully, the party were awarded with various potions. The originally purpose of this room however was lost to time alongside the Wahkeel people.   In the final room of the tomb the party encountered a strange being, who seemed to be merrow in origin but bore a far more humanoid face than merrow normally do. She fought the party with a mix of magic and psychic abilities. When it became clear the party had the upper hand she attempt to offer a truce but the party were not about to let up. She had the chest they sought in her possession but was forced to leave it behind when she teleported out as her spell did not allow her to bring an item as large alongside her.   The party gathered up the chest and headed back to The Driftwood. The possessed mermaid had managed to awaken and flee during there time in the tomb and was nowhere to be seen. Back on board The Driftwood the party once more set sail for Tatiana's Isle.