thedmtoolchest

Curse of the Sea Wraith | 15th level 5E Adventure

Added 2022-05-22 19:58:21 +0000 UTC

Hey everyone! Just wanted to write a quick note to say THANK YOU for everyone's patience while I adjust to my new work schedule with Crucible. I know the adventure and content releases have been a little haphazard lately, but I'm getting adjusted and working on getting everything back on track for the usual weekly updates as fast as I can.

So, to that effect, the last 2 adventures for this month will be released this week since I'm a few days behind schedule. I'm wrapping up one right now that will be released mid-week and the last will be finished by the end of the weekend/Monday at the latest.

This week is a sneak peek at the upcoming Issue #001 for Crucible Magazine which is showcasing four adventures by me this month, including this one here that you all get as well! This was pretty fun to write as I love a good exotic location adventure and I think I managed to make this one pretty unique.

Thanks again and I hope you enjoy!

~ TJ

Curse of the Sea Wraith

Curse of the Sea Wraith is a Fifth Edition adventure intended for three to five characters of 15th to 16th level and optimized for four characters with an average party level (APL) of 15. An undead kraken roams the oceans under the command of a cursed crew seeking souls to feed an immortal curse. The bones of hundreds of sailors who found their untimely demise inside the kraken are controlled by the necromantic powers of the lich captain. If they don’t find a way to escape, the adventurers will find themselves added to the ever-growing pile.

This adventure fits into any existing campaign with a vast expanse of ocean with only a few modifications and name changes.

Backstory

All mariners hold a similar level of respect and apprehension towards the creatures below the waves. They know that the cold embrace of the ocean will most likely be their final resting place and are well aware of the hungry maws waiting below.

Whispered stories tell of monsters that tear through ships with ease, leaving no survivors behind. One such legend is well known to all sailors, but few speak of it for fear that it will bring their doom upon them even by whispering it aloud. Told only in hushed voices at night as a warning to new sailors, the legend tells the story of the Sea Wraith, a monstrous ghost ship that feasts upon the souls of those unfortunate to cross its path. Crewed by a host of undead, the Sea Wraith is more than just a ship; it is the most horrifying of all creatures that sailors fear on the open sea: a kraken. With only a strange blue fog upon the waves for warning, the kraken appears and swallows ships whole. Few have managed to see the sight and live to tell the tale, but all know to fear the blue fog that heralds their doom.

None know the true story of the courageous Captain Rogers and his crew of treasure hunters who once sailed the world searching for adventure. He and his companions were once renowned explorers, and tales of his exploits were told in taverns across every continent. During one of these adventurers, they pulled a mysterious artifact from the bowels of an ancient ruin; it was that same day they met their doom. A kraken appeared from beneath the waves and swallowed the Sea Wraith and her crew. With the death of so many nearby, the artifact—a scepter containing the essence of a powerful lich—absorbed their souls and burst with necromantic power, releasing the spirit to curse the crew and kraken with undeath. The cursed Captain Rogers and crew have now transformed the undead kraken into a monstrous ship that searches for new souls to consume.