7. Shipwreck Salvage

Session 7

IN-GAME DATE & TIMELINE

Date: Veilday, 3rd Wayseek, 748 AB (continuing from Session 6)

The session opened in early afternoon in Oakhaven, picking up the day after the lighthouse investigation. The party spent the afternoon in town, took a long rest, then set out for the wreck of the Omen's Reach the following morning. The session ended at the shipwreck site, with the party taking a short rest after combat. Roughly 24 hours passed in-world.

SUMMARY OF EVENTS

In Oakhaven (afternoon, Day 1):

The party levelled up. All members gained new abilities; Bam Bam took Great Weapon Master, Liliana took the Occult Specialist feat and learned Divine Judgment via a new occult rite.
The party agreed to delay setting out for the shipwreck until morning, to allow time in town and a full rest.
Maeve tailed Garrick through the market after he was observed leaving with purpose. She saw him make a brief, tense exchange with Voss at a market stall but could not hear what was said. After Garrick left, Maeve approached Voss's stall, bought frostbloom herbs, and exchanged pleasantries without revealing she had witnessed the meeting.
Monroe visited the market independently and found a vendor selling three unusual, shifting-colour eggs of unknown origin. He bought all three for 40 gold (after a failed haggle raised the price).
Bam Bam wandered the town following birds, got lost, and heard rumour of a midnight wrestling club on the docks.
Liliana spent time at the barracks completing the Snow Wolf Cowl she had been crafting. The crafting check narrowly failed the DC, resulting in a flaw: the cowl causes Gravity Well (the wearer weighs three times normal and has their speed reduced by 5 feet). In its current uncommon form it allows transformation into a dire wolf rather than a winter wolf.
The party long-rested at the barracks.

At the Wreck of the Omen's Reach (morning, Day 2):

The party returned to the wreck site. The beach had been washed clean of footprints and debris; notably, no bodies from the crew remained.
Salvage from the shore included: lengths of timber, frozen rope, split crates, scraps of sail cloth, iron bolts and brackets, a waterlogged leather satchel, a sealed crate of hard tack rations (approximately four days' worth), a barrel of pickled goods, and the anchor chain (the anchor itself had been washed away).
Monroe spotted a pale, still figure in dark robes watching the party from roughly 200-300 feet away on the rocks. When Monroe waved, it did not respond. When Bam Bam moved to approach, the figure vanished into mist.
A shark-like monstrosity with frog legs, multiple fins, tentacles around its neck, and excessive teeth burst from the water and attacked Bam Bam on the shoreline.

Combat: Beach Monstrosities

A second, larger creature of the same type was spotted lurking offshore.
Liliana supported the party with her Seeing ability and psi-powered Omniscience modifier. She later used Telepathic Intrusion to frighten the larger creature and keep it from advancing.
Monroe used Crackle against the larger beast and rock slam against the smaller one.
Maeve dealt significant damage to the smaller creature and dragged an unconscious Bam Bam clear of the waterline.
Bam Bam was downed by a tail whip from the larger creature. Monroe stabilised him with healing, and he returned to the fight.
Liliana polymorphed into a dire wolf using the Snow Wolf Cowl, pinned the smaller creature, and killed it.
Maeve finished the smaller creature. With the party bloodied and the larger beast still circling offshore, the party chose to disengage and retreat up the rocks rather than pursue.
End state: one creature dead on the beach; the larger creature frightened off but not destroyed.

Harvesting and Short Rest:

The party hauled the dead creature's carcass up the rocks away from the water.
The GM presented a custom harvesting interface (Heliana's Guide). Liliana assessed and Maeve carved. Priority order: flesh, heart, essence, eyes, blood. The assessment-and-carve total fell short of the essence threshold (partial success); the supply cost of 45 gold was paid from the party pool.
Items harvested: monstrosity flesh, heart, eyes of googly (effect: renders a creature sentient but unable to speak -- uncommon), and vial of blood. Essence was not obtained.
A shared "Harvesting Bag" character/container was created in Foundry to track party components.
Monroe cooked the flesh over a fire Bam Bam built. Without an essence, the meal provided no magical benefit but counted as a meal and prevented exhaustion.
Monroe kept watch during the short rest; Monroe failed to spot the larger creature, but no attack came during the rest.
Session ended with the party rested and preparing to locate the anchor.

NPC INTERACTIONS

Voss (ratfolk market vendor)

Observed receiving a brief, closed exchange from Garrick: Garrick leaned in, spoke quietly; Voss went very still, then nodded. Garrick left. The exchange lasted under a minute.
When Maeve approached his stall shortly after, Voss was packing down. His wares included rope, provisions, dried coastal herbs (frostbloom), and other supplies.
He sold Maeve frostbloom herbs for 2 copper pieces, described them as useful for food preservation and cooking.
He recognised the party as being from the Omen's Reach and asked if Garrick was "a friend." Maeve replied that "friend" was perhaps not the right word.
He said nothing indicating awareness of being followed. Left calmly once the transaction was complete.
Relationship: superficially cooperative; the nature of his exchange with Garrick is unresolved.

The Figure on the Rocks

Pale, still, in dark robes or clothes. Watched the party from roughly 200-300 feet away on the rocks near the wreck.
Did not respond to Monroe's wave. Vanished into mist when Bam Bam moved toward it.
No name, no dialogue, no confirmed nature. Possibly spectral.

LOCATIONS VISITED

Oakhaven Market: The party split up to explore. Maeve tailed Garrick here, Maeve and Monroe purchased from vendors (Voss and the egg vendor respectively), and Bam Bam wandered without purpose.
Oakhaven Barracks: The party's base of rest. Liliana completed her crafting here. The party long-rested here.
Wreck of the Omen's Reach: The beach site of the crashed ship. Salvage gathered; crew bodies absent; figure observed; two monstrosities encountered and one killed.

LOOT & ITEMS

Snow Wolf Cowl (Uncommon) -- Completed by Liliana. Allows transformation into a dire wolf. Flaw: Gravity Well (wearer weighs 3x normal, speed reduced by 5 ft). Held by Liliana.
Frostbloom Herbs -- Purchased by Maeve from Voss for 2 copper. Used for cooking and food preservation.
Three Unusual Eggs -- Purchased by Monroe for 40 gold. Deep blue-black, iridescent green, and glowing amber; found in a warm nest on an ice shelf. Origin unknown. Held by Monroe.
Anchor Chain -- Recovered from the beach. The anchor itself is gone. Party salvage.
Hard Tack Rations -- Approximately four days' worth, sealed crate. Wet but edible.
Barrel of Pickled Goods -- Salvaged from the wreck.
Iron Bolts and Brackets -- Salvaged metal components.
Waterlogged Leather Satchel -- Buckles intact. Salvaged.
Timber, Rope, Sail Cloth -- Lengths of usable material from the wreck.
Monstrosity Flesh -- Harvested from the beach creature. In the Harvesting Bag.
Monstrosity Heart -- Harvested. In the Harvesting Bag.
Vial of Monstrosity Blood -- Harvested. In the Harvesting Bag.
45 gold -- Spent from party pool on harvesting supply cost.

QUEST STATUS

Find Voss -- PROGRESSED. Maeve observed Voss receiving a brief private communication from Garrick. She spoke to him directly and confirmed he is operating as a market vendor in Oakhaven. He is aware the party are from the Omen's Reach.
Retrieve the Anchor -- PROGRESSED (partially). The party returned to the wreck. The anchor itself was gone (washed away), but the anchor chain was recovered. The planned dive did not occur; a second attempt may be needed for any remaining underwater salvage.
Collect Salvage -- PROGRESSED. Significant surface salvage recovered from the beach. Underwater salvage not yet attempted.
Access the Forge -- UNCHANGED. The meeting with Kara was not pursued this session. (Note: this was planned for the morning of Day 1; it appears to have been deferred or skipped.)
Cure the Captain -- UNCHANGED. Not visited.
Open the Chest -- UNCHANGED. Mentioned by Monroe; still not opened.
Find Augustine -- UNCHANGED. Liliana's quest; not advanced.

CHARACTER MOMENTS

Bam Bam: Went down in combat to a tail strike from the larger sea monstrosity, then returned to the fight after being healed -- and immediately began chewing on the dead creature's body while still in combat. Also wandered the market following birds and ended up thoroughly lost.
Emilio: Helped drag salvage and assisted with the harvesting process; present but lower-profile this session (player was absent last session and was brought back in this one).
Maeve: Tailed Garrick through the market with a stealth roll of 22, successfully observed his meeting with Voss without being detected, then approached the vendor herself and conducted a clean cover interaction. Also dealt the killing blow to the smaller monstrosity.
Monroe: Found the mysterious eggs at the market and bought all three despite a failed haggle. Cooked the harvested flesh over Bam Bam's fire and served the party a meal.
Liliana: Completed the Snow Wolf Cowl despite a flaw result, polymorphed into a dire wolf during combat to pin and kill the smaller creature, and demonstrated her Telepathic Intrusion ability by keeping the larger creature frightened throughout the later stages of the fight. Also performed a telepathic party trick on Bam Bam by telling him the number he was thinking of.

RULES & MECHANICS USED

Heliana's Guide -- Crafting (Manufacturing vs. Enchanting): Clarified this session. Manufacturing creates a mundane item (raw components + tool + check). Enchanting upgrades an existing mundane item using a monster component, essence, and spellcasting/skill check. Liliana was enchanting, not manufacturing. A failed DC 15 enchanting check results in a flaw rolled on a d20 table (result: Gravity Well).
Heliana's Guide -- Harvesting: Requires an Assessment check (Liliana, survival-based) followed by a Carving check (Maeve, Dexterity + survival). Harvesting must begin within one minute of creature death. Priority order is set before rolling. A partial success on the component total means not all components are obtained; the supply cost (45 gold) is still paid. Essence requires a higher total to extract.
Snow Wolf Cowl (Uncommon variant): Allows transformation into a dire wolf (not a winter wolf, which is the rare variant). Attack modifier is +7 per the item, not the base stat block value. The wearer can speak Common, Giant, and Winter Wolf while transformed. Flaw (Gravity Well): wearer weighs 3x normal, speed -5 ft.
Cooking (Heliana's Guide): Monroe made a Constitution-based Cook's Utensils check (result 21). Without an essence, the meal has no magical benefit but counts as a full meal and prevents exhaustion. An essence would have added a first-attack bonus damage effect (thunder type, for a monstrosity).
Great Weapon Master (Feat): Bam Bam took this at level up. The -5 to attack / +10 to damage option synergises with Reckless Attack. Used in combat this session; the penalty contributed to a miss.
Stones Endurance (Racial Feature): Bam Bam used this as a reaction when struck by the larger creature's tail whip, reducing the damage by a d12 + Constitution modifier.
Inspiration (Revised Rules): The table uses the revised inspiration rules where inspiration can be used after a roll rather than before. Confirmed at the session end that multiple characters still had inspiration.

GM PLOT HOOKS

The Figure on the Rocks: A pale, still humanoid figure in dark clothing watched the party from the rocks near the wreck. It did not respond when hailed and vanished into mist when approached. No identity established; possibly undead or spectral, possibly connected to the absent crew.
The Missing Crew: No bodies remain at the wreck site. The crew who died in the crash or were taken by the Deep Ones have entirely disappeared. Where they went is unresolved.
The Three Eggs: Monroe bought three shifting-colour eggs found in a warm nest on an ice shelf where there should have been no warmth. The seller did not know what laid them. They may hatch.
Voss and Garrick's Exchange: Garrick sought Voss out privately and delivered some kind of instruction or warning. The content is unknown. Garrick told the party last session that he would "handle Voss" -- what that handling looks like is unclear.
The Larger Sea Creature: One of the two beach monstrosities survived and retreated offshore. It was not destroyed. It may return when the party goes back for underwater salvage or the anchor.
The Chest: Monroe raised it again this session. Still not opened. The mystery of what Captain Valerius entrusted to Maeve remains entirely unaddressed.
Kara's Meeting: The planned meeting with Kara regarding Rift Shard weaponisation does not appear to have occurred this session. This is a live thread.

FOUNDRY VTT CHECKLIST

WIKI UPDATE LIST

Voss (NPC): Update existing entry. Confirmed operating as a market vendor in Oakhaven. Received a brief private communication from Garrick. Sold frostbloom herbs to Maeve. Recognised the party as crew of the Omen's Reach. Add Session 7 history block.
The Figure on the Rocks (Mystery): New entry or note. Pale humanoid figure in dark robes observed near the wreck; did not respond to hailing; vanished into mist. Possible undead connection. No name or identity.
Wreck of the Omen's Reach (Location): Add Session 7 history block. Crew bodies absent; surface salvage gathered; two monstrosities encountered; one killed, one driven off. Mysterious figure observed.
Oakhaven Market (Location): New entry or update. Market described as a populated portside market. Voss operates a stall here. Unnamed egg vendor present (cluttered stall, broken compass, coiled metal, three unusual eggs).
Snow Wolf Cowl (Item): New entry. Uncommon variant. Transforms wearer into a dire wolf. Flaw: Gravity Well. Crafted by Liliana from snow wolf pelt and frail essence. Requires attunement.
Mysterious Eggs x3 (Item): New entry. Deep blue-black, iridescent green, glowing amber. Found in a warm nest on an ice shelf. Origin unknown. In Monroe's possession.
Monstrosity: Beach Hunter (Creature): New entry. Shark-like body with frog legs, multiple fins and tails, tentacles around the neck, excessive teeth. Appears unnatural -- an amalgamation of sea creature features. Two encountered; one destroyed. Thunder damage type (for harvesting/cooking purposes).
Eyes of Googly (Item): New entry. Common magic item harvested from monstrosity eyes. Renders a target sentient but unable to speak.
Retrieve the Anchor (Quest): Update -- anchor itself is gone; chain recovered. Underwater salvage attempt still pending.
Find Voss (Quest): Update -- Voss confirmed in Oakhaven; Garrick has already made contact with him privately.