R5: Underwater Exploration

jn2-r5 • jn2-r5 • JN2: Monkey Isle

This adventure features a clear glass globe about 4 inches in diameter that appears empty but maintains neutral buoyancy (neither rising nor descending when in water at any depth). When gripped, the gripper gets the sense that shattering it will permanently increase their Constitution by 1 point. Someone with a maximum score (usually 18) cannot smash it; if they insist in trying it might shatter but not benefit them or anyone else. Roll 1d6: on 1-3 it is in the seaweed patch at #3, and on 4-6 it is in the seaweed patch at #4, moving slowly about in a current of water so as to attract attention. There are numerous ocean coves in this area; this one can only be found with the aid of the map possessed by the shipwrecked castaway found at the preset ocean encounter O7. The cove is about 30 feet deep, but slopes down around the entryway at #6 to reach 60 feet or so. The jagged cliffs around the cove rise at least 100' high and are populated by sea birds and pterodactyls. The ocean around the beach is clear enough to allow sunlight to penetrate down deep and provide decent vision, although the refraction and rippling of the water causes distortions. Clear vision is perhaps to 120 feet or so (if desired, cut a circle out of a piece of paper to measure it). That is for large moving objects; smaller objects can only be seen at 30 feet or so. The floor of the cove is a mixture of sand an

d silt in some places, with coral or seaweed elsewhere. Fish thrive here, as do normal crabs and other common, inoffensive sea life. Hunting fish in the cove is a large sea turtle. It will not attack the PCs (it flees if attacked). It might be charmed, tricked, or otherwise used by clever PCs to help them. Sea Turtle, Large: AC 18, HD 4, #At 1 bite, Dam 1d8, Mv 10' Swim 60', Sv F4, ML 8, XP 240

CHILDREN • 15

1. Underwater Ruins room

This is a collection of crumbled columns. The ocean floor here is covered by flagstones, with a scattering of seaweed and coral growing about them. Four nixies float amid the weeds, shackled to chains attached solidly to the bottom of a column. They were stolen from their inland lake by a sea witch (which they have not seen for days). Consider rewarding the PCs 100 XP (25 each nixie) for rescuing them. These nixies may aid them in the local adventures (especially with their water-breathing spells), but they are desperate to return to their lake. 4 Nixies: AC 16, HD 1*, #At 1 dagger, Dam 1d4, Mv 40' Swim 40', Sv F2, ML 6, XP 37 ea. HP

2. Coral Ridge room

This ridge of coral rises some 10' up. Sea life thrives here, including scores of clams, which have not been harvested in centuries. If the PCs hunt for pearls they will find 1d3 pearls/hour until 16 have been found (total value 1,600 gp: 100 gp each). There is a 1 in 6 chance per hour of a hungry mako shark appearing. Mako Shark: AC 15, HD 4, #At 1 bite, Dam 2d6, Mv Swim 80', Sv F4, ML 7, XP 240

3. Seaweed Patch room

This patch of seaweed is inhabited by two giant waterbugs. The PCs can collect a gem-quality collection of coral worth 500 gp and weighing 10 pounds. 2 Giant Waterbugs: AC 18, HD 5*, #At 2 claws or 1 sucking bite, Dam 1d6 claw, 2d6 bite, Mv 30' Swim 30', Sv F5, ML 7, XP 405 ea.

4. Seaweed Patch room

This patch of seaweed is inhabited by three different giant diving bell spiders. There are also the half-buried bones of a human in tatty remnants of good clothing. Searching it reveals a silk eye patch sporting a 100 gp gem in the center and a gem-sprinkled golden dagger worth 200 gp, preserved by being buried in silt. 3 Giant Diving Bell Spiders: AC 15, HD 4*, #At 1 bite, Dam 1d8 + poison, Mv 50', Sv F4, ML 8, XP 280 ea.

5. Eel Lair room

This wide, deep tunnel is the lair of a giant eel. Giant Eel: AC 12, HD 6, #At 1 bite, Dam 1d12, Mv 60', Sv F6, ML 8, XP 500

6. Exit To Ocean room