THE CULT OF THE SEA

You were traveling by ship to a preplanned destination in search of adventure.
The seas were calm, almost relaxing as the day passed by without incident, though as night began to fall dark clouds threatened the skies above.
By Midnight it had blown into fully gale-force winds and the sea raged angrily tossing the ship to and fro.
A bolt of lightning struck the mast and sent the cracking wood splintering in a hundred directions.
It was then, that the ship capsized and began to sink beneath the waves, and for your life, you had to swim or die.

Défi narratif : Swim for your life

CR 9 (Survival) against the hero

Pass: You manage to keep from drowning
Fail: You cannot help but drown, take two wounds and start the next Combat Challenge with Disadvantage

Swimming for your life, yet not knowing which way land lay, you swam on never the less.
Your muscles burned as did your lungs as you struggled against the waves, you almost lost consciousness when a huge wave lifted you up and carried you, you know not how far, but when you opened your eyes you were on dry land.
It took a moment to regain your senses, but you found yourself upon a sandy beach, but no place you recognized.
Taking in a deep breath of sweet air, you thank whatever you put your beliefs into that you are still alive.
But being alive does not mean you are safe.
Several bodies wash ashore, but it is too dark to recognize them, then you see they are covered in seaweed, almost from head to toe.
And then they stand up, arms reaching towards you as an evil green light glows in their eyes!

Défi de combat : The Drowned Souls

You defeat the Drowned

The sound they make is like the rushing waves of the sea in your ears, and when they touch you, you feel like you are drowning again.
You battle with the same will that allowed you to survive the oceans, and you stand victorious, but as the sun starts to rise with the dawn, you see their bodies dissolve into tangles of seaweed.
Giving it no more thought, you spy a Fishing Village not too far from where you are.
Setting your feet to the task, you make your way to the village.

As you reach the village, your nostrils are assaulted by the horrible smell of rotting seafood, and looking at the beach you can see lines and lines of dead fish just laying there in the sand, decomposing under the sun.
The people of this village stare at you with wide eyes, from what you can see, as they are all wearing oversized hoods and cloaks as if shunning the sun itself.
Children cease their play near a well to run away from you, as if afraid.

An Old Man, the village elder greets you.
"Ah, it has been a very long time since we have had visitors to our little home."
You talk for a little about how your ship was wrecked and how you had to swim to shore, the old man seems to smile at that.
"You are strong of the sea, she is a capricious mistress who gives and takes without warning, but maybe you can help us. There is a sickness amongst us that is threatening to spread, it can be cured but only with the petals of a flower that grows in a cave near here, but it is too perilous for us to make the journey, but for one as strong as you, it should be no task at all."
You agree with the old man and he gives you directions, and you set off inland towards the cave.

Finding the cave isn't hard, as it follows a stream just as the old man had said.
You are just entering the cave when you hear an ominous scraping sound.

Défi narratif : Dodge the falling boulder

CR 7 (Agility) against the hero

Pass: You dive forward as a massive boulder falls where you were standing.
Fail: You are too slow to react as a massive boulder falls where you were standing and catches you hard, you stumble forward and take 2 wounds as damage from the impact.

Either way, now the way back is blocked so you will have to find another way out, but you curse the old man as you feel set up. The cave opens up into a series of openings, but one you can tell has been disturbed recently, so you follow that path which winds and twists serpent-like as you make your way through. Some signs of puddles seem to indicate that there is an underground river right beneath your feet.
Eventually, the passageway opens up into a large cavern that is lit by numerous torches, and many red-robed people here bow before another man who stands high above them, a high priest wearing a tentacled face mask.
"Rejoice, Brethren! for our sacrifice has arrived! Take them!" You ready your weapon as they approach.

Défi de combat : Facing the Cult of the Sea

The dying cult leader collapses on a hidden lever that drops along with his body and the entire cavern begins to rumble and shake.

**Gain 5 Wealth**

Water begins to flood in and will fill up the entire cavern in no time, but you remember the underground river and in the center of the cavern is a pool of water. Taking a deep breath in, you dive into the pool.

Défi narratif : Fight the Underwater currents

CR 9 (Brawn) against the hero

Pass: you strongly navigate the underwater currents
Fail: gain disadvantage for the first three rounds of the next Combat Challenge as you are exhausted.

Your lungs burst for air, and the underground river takes you roughly about and you can see a large dark shape forming behind you as you swim onwards until looking above that you can see the light of day. Kicking and pulling hard, you swim up to the light and find you have emerged in the well that is at the center of the village.
You hurried to climb out of the well and ready yourself as the massive creature that followed you, its numerous tentacles break through the surface of the water!

Défi de combat : The Beast

You did it, you triumphed over the beast!

The Old Man cries "What have you done! That was our God! Now we will perish and starve as the sea forsakes us!" Suddenly, you feel no remorse for the old man or his village as they quickly served you up as a sacrifice without hesitating. The Cult is gone, and now only the villagers remain, but that is no longer your concern - as you see it, you did them a favor.

**Gain 1 SP**

Illustration: Inksyndromeartwork
Auteur: Peter Oggelsby