Allegra's Fundraising Tour Begins

This adventure followed Lady Allegra Brownstoke as she gathered a group to raise funds to pay for her quest to find the key to The Brownstoke Book. Three previous attempts had all met with disaster, so she decided to recruit her own group rather than hire adventuring parties.

Gathering a party

After having reconnected with old friend Elias Proudfoot -- along with a ranger named Elmadon with whom he'd been traveling -- in Vinginnore, Allegra, her bodyguard Duncan, and her close friend Ashton met Arnje at The Crossroads in search of a ship to replace the Grey Ghost. Using most of her remaining funds, Allegra commissioned the S.S. Purple Rose, built in Hanmer, and made Arnje its captain. While in Hanmer, she also recruited the Halfling river ranger Cypress Tanginule and his friend, the tiefling warrior Xotznoxl, as well as the alchemist Sarlon, his sometime-companion, sometime-nemesis cat, and the rogue Ismine. The Rose was launched, bound for Morelenas, as members of the group went into various cities along the Hanaelon River to find possible backers. They found just one person willing to contribute, an artificer named Heinz who joined them in Danmer.

The Rose eventually put into the capital, where they came across a Dwarven warrior named Odaf in the Red Dragon Inn. The fighter joined the group, and they discussed their next move. Allegra mentioned Kimelis as their next destination, as there had recently been unrest there and they might be needing their skills. Arnje mentioned that it would be best to avoid docking anywhere in Faxanadu, and that perhaps the town of Port Regal in the Antillian Islands might be a good next stop. The sailor mentioned that he knew a man there named Nacker Starling who might be able to help.

That still left the matter of funds for supplies, and the group set about seeking out a mission. Elias and Cypress sought a priest skilled in divination at the temple of Helandra, while Sarlon, Odaf and Xotz went to the city's central square to look for postings. The latter group found some possible leads, getting some assistance from a pair of traveling performers named Windellad and Oreoid. Meanwhile, Arnje visited the local temple of Bassik in search of a first mate. There, he met a priestess named Naomie, a water genasi, whom he convinced to join his crew.

After reviewing the leads, Allegra decided that the most promising was a haunted castle in the town of Saltmarsh, located on the island of Saltonstraw. There, they would seek out Urnayhee, a member of the town council. The ship prepared to depart, but before leaving Morelenas the party spent one last night in town. Ismine spent that night in a local brothel called Siren's Hold, where he encountered an Odiferan bard named Pollyo, who had been hired to protect the working girls there. Hearing about the adventure, she joined the group, and the Purple Rose finally left the mainland.

The ship made its way to the island of Transha, where it put into Arita Marg to resupply. Several of the crew visited Scuppers while others sought out and found a map of the area around Saltonstraw. Supplies were brought aboard as was a parrot who was aptly-named Notpoly as a sort-of mascot before setting sail again.

In Saltmarsh

After an encounter with some sort of seaweed blob that only left them alone after being fed Elias' pastries, the Rose arrived at its destination. As they sailed around to reach the harbor, the two rangers made a quick survey of the marshland at the bottom of the cliff near the castle. After they returned, Lady Allegra, Naomie, and a few others set off in one of the longboats to inquire about putting into port. The priestess spoke to Gorton, the harbormaster, while others visited the nearest watering hole, the Portside Pub.

After docking, Allegra and her aides went with Naomie, the rangers, and Pollyo to find the council building. They wandered through the plantations for a while, striking up conversations with the local farmers, until landing on the right path to the council building, which was attached to an inn called Mehei's.

After waiting for a bit, they were summoned into the council's office by Nala'ina, the secretary. There they met the chairman, Poche, who claimed that the council had made no posting. Upon learning that the flyer had referred to Urnayhee, he told them that she was an aquatic Elf, representing the sea surrounding Saltonstraw, and would return at the time of the next council meeting in two days. They filled them in on the history of the cliffside manor, that its owner had died a couple years ago and his two children were fighting over its ownership. Poche offered to put Allegra's group up at Mehei's as guests while they waited.

While the others returned to the pub by the docks, Naomie went to the ocean to contact Urnayhee. She learned that the Sea Elves had observed activity at the old manor, and that Urnayhee would be on land the next evening to provide more information.

The next morning, while most of the group settled in at either Mehei's or at the Portside Pub, the remainder went out on reconnaissance. The two rangers and Odaf went to explore the area around the manor, while the two bards and Oreoid sought to hire a cart so that they could travel up the road to the nearby town of Seaton to get a look at the area from the land side. None of the former group was able to get purchase with their grapple to climb the cliff, while the latter found a well near the manor. Pollyo jumped down the well to investigate, while Windellad spotted what appeared to be a goblin lurking about. The creature fled when Pollyo called out, and the cliff team came up to help her climb out. However, it turned out their aid was unnecessary, as the Odiferan had found chocolate coins in the water that allowed her to climb back up.

After bringing the cart to Seaton, the scouts returned to Mehei's to report to Lady Allegra. She posited that there might be a way into the manor via the well, and asked Ismine to check into it that night while she and Naomie met with Urnayhee. Most of the group adjourned to the Portside Pub, where they were approached by an old man named Giljil. He told them that he'd seen the ghost of the manor and warned them not to proceed with their mission.

That evening, Naomie returned to the Portside with Urnayhee, where they met with Allegra, Ashton, Duncan, Pollyo and Heinz. The Sea Elf told them about mysterious ships that had been lurking in the cove near the manor. The remaining members of the team returned to the manor, but after Ismine was unable to find any secret entrance in the well, they returned to the Portside as well, but the lady, Ashton and Duncan had already departed for Mehei's. While Windellad and Oreoid followed after them with Pollyo, the others met a strange Elf named Pof, who showed interest in joining them, although the cat seemed antagonized by him...

Cast of characters

There was no official DM for this adventure, as it was done entirely via joint roleplay. The following characters were involved in this mission at one point or another:

• Allegra Brownstoke - played by Shelley Proulx
• Arnje - played by John Proulx
• Lord Ashton Warrendale - played by John Proulx
• Cypress Tanginule - played by John Proulx
• Duncan Scorpio - played by John Proulx
• Elias Proudfoot - played by Shelley Proulx
• Elmadon - played by Shelley Proulx
• Heinz - played by John Proulx
• Ismine - played by John Proulx
• Naomie - played by Shelley Proulx
• Odaf - played by Shelley Proulx
• Oreoid - played by John Proulx
• Pollyo - played by John Proulx
• Sarlon - played by Shelley Proulx
• Windellad - played by Shelley Proulx
• Xotznoxl - played by John Proulx

Note: This adventure is partially based on the module The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh for the Dungeons & Dragons game by TSR, which was incorporated into Ardrana.

Adventure timeline

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Box, Book and Cavern	Allegra's Fundraising Tour Begins	TBA