Locathah Rising

1. Caravel Emergent

This ship was the last one to sink before Gar caused the coral to grow up around the entire mass. As such, the forecastle protrudes from the coral, creating a passage in and out of Umberlee's Maw.

There are three different ways to descend into the coral structure from this point. There is a gaping hole in the hull of the caravel at the fore that leads directly into the lower deck, and from there into Umberlee's Maw.

The characters can pass through the doors that would normally lead to the captain's cabin aft, to discover that the floor has collapsed there leaving a crude set of stairs as well as a gaping hole to swim through, also to the lower deck.

Lastly, the characters can attempt to smash their way through the metal grate affixed to the floor of the upper deck (AC 19, 27 hit points, and immunity to poison and psychic damage) that also leads directly to the lower deck. It hasn't been here long, so it has only just begun to corrode.

There are four padlocks keeping the grate bolted down. Each grate can be opened with a successful DC 15 Dexterity check using thieves' tools. Three of the four must be unlocked in order to open the grate wide enough for the characters to pass through.

Lastly, a character with a crowbar can attempt to pry the grate open with a successful DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check. If multiple characters have crowbars, and want to work together, then one of them can make a single check at advantage, representing their combined efforts.

2. What Is Dead May Never Die

As the characters descend into the lower decks of this ship, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

This ship served as a tender vessel, bringing supplies to repair other warships as well as food, ale, medical supplies, and ammunition.

The fresh foodstuffs, including fruits, vegetables, breads, and hardtack, have been destroyed by sea water. Heavily salted meats that have been cured are salvageable, as is the ale, whose barrels are coated in a thick layer of tar to keep water out. Additionally, there are twenty healer's kits, closed in small iron boxes sealed with wax, 200 ballista bolts, 1000 yards of sailcloth, 500 feet of uncut silk rope, and four kegs of resin.

Two drowned blades and two drowned ascetics wait for intruders toward the ship's aft end on the lower deck of the caravel. As soon as any of the characters makes their way below deck, the undead attempt to ambush the party.

If the characters haven't encountered the sahuagin lurking outside the coral mountain, these creatures take this opportunity, joining the battle at the end of the the second round in the hopes of overwhelming the party. The giant shark is too big to get into the lower decks, and so may be excluded from this combat if the entire party is below.

3. The Boneyard

As the characters emerge into this area, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

For the most part, the corpses are unmarred. Some bear the odd bump, bruise, or scrape, but it's obvious that wasn't the source of their demise. A successful DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check allows a character to recognize that these sailors died by drowning.

4. Tortle in Torpor

As the characters approach this ship, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

The area inside the green glow is teeming with life. As the characters approach the opening, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

If any character peers directly into the hole, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

This is Amble, a tortle druid who sought passage on this ship, and was on board when it sank. Amble was traveling to Turmish on the Sea of Fallen Stars, as they had heard of the war with Thay. Detesting undead and necromancy, Amble wants to help fight the Thayans in any way they can.

Due to their extremely strong connection with the Feywild, Amble was able to enter a protected state of suspended animation as the ship sunk, protecting them from drowning.

The undead will not willingly approach this ship, repelled by the power emanating from Amble, and Gar has yet to explore this passage inside the coral mountain.

At the moment, Amble is waiting for someone to wake them up. Any good-aligned character who touches the tortle will wake them. When this occurs, Amble is momentarily confused, and then gathering their wits, casts water breathing on themself.

Assuming the characters don't act with hostility, Amble is very interested in hearing what the characters are doing. Amble can be a powerful ally for the party, though the tortle's vow to never harm humanoids is not negotiable. Amble doesn't necessarily expect others to follow this rule, but will encourage them to do so nonetheless.

5. Ravenous Rabble

When the characters can see this area, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

Nestled into the cracks of the coral throughout this chamber are four sahuagin hatchling swarms. Characters with a passive Wisdom (Perception) of 15 or higher spot tiny movements hidden deep within the walls.

Likewise, characters who succeed on an active DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check as they enter the chamber will also spot the movements. Let the players make this check if they wish, but don't prompt them to do so.

Otherwise, the characters are surprised as the sahuagin hatchling swarms attack when they enter the chamber.

6. Awaiting the Master's Orders

If any of the characters peer through the hole in the hull of this ship, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

This area is occupied by three drowned ascetics. As they don't have anything to do until they receive orders from the drowned master, or directly from Gar Shatterkeel, they all lay inert in a bunk, covered with a pile of blankets—a force of habit from before they were undead.

It may not immediately be obvious that these creatures are in the cabin. Any character with a passive Wisdom (Perception) of 15 or higher, or a character who succeeds on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check prior to entering will notice them. Otherwise, the characters may not recognize the threat until they've disturbed the creatures by making noise or by pulling back the blankets under which they lay.

Characters who are aware of the undead, or that want to remain undetected in general, must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity (Stealth) check upon entering the cabin, to avoid "waking" the drowned ascetics. If the creatures are alerted, they attack immediately. Otherwise, the characters can proceed through this area without conflict, assuming they don't search the bunks or move the blankets.

The creatures were sailors when they were alive, so they are dressed in the uniforms commonly worn by sailors in the Turmish navy. Since they died suddenly from drowning, their clothing is only slightly worn from exposure to the briny depths.

Any conflict in this area will also attract the attention of the drowned undead in area 7, who join the fight at the end of the second round.

7. The Master

Unless the characters punch a hole in the hull of this ship (possible, but unlikely), the only way into this area is through the door in area 6. When the characters can see this area, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

The creatures, respectively, are one drowned assassin and one drowned master. Communicating with one another wordlessly through the link created by the drowned master, they are planning their departure from Umberlee's Maw, once enough drowned have been created to pose a serious threat to settlements along the coastline. Until then, they await the command of their master, Gar Shatterkeel. The drowned master holds a short, slender metal wand in one hand and uses it to make marks on the maps on the wall.

Entering this area immediately draws the attention of both creatures, who attack immediately. If the characters managed to pass through area 6 without alerting the drowned ascetics therein, any conflict in this area will "wake" them. They join combat after two rounds have passed.

8. Kraken Kibble

This half of the broken vessel is more accessible, so the characters can easily peer into this section as they approach. As the characters get close enough to see into this area, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

At this end of the broken ship, the kraken priests that dwell nearby have stored food and supplies for themselves, as well as the young kraken that is their charge. They dutifully maintain the stores here while they work to carve a passage through the coral, which is turning out to be more difficult than originally thought. The intent is to have ready access to and from these chambers for the young kraken so it can exit and enter at will something it hasn't been able to do, as the creature has grown much larger than the opening currently available.

Unbeknownst to the kraken priests, part of Gar's plan is to keep them enclosed until he can perform his grand ritual and sacrifice the kraken to animate his undead army.

9. Quarters of the Kraken Priests

Fhenimore and Whymsee are two kraken priests working really hard to raise a young kraken.

Previously Thayan slaves, these two tough-as-nails women fled Thay after discovering they were both intended for execution and summary transformation into undead warriors in the dreaded Thayan army. On their way out of Thay, they were forced to take refuge on a broken-down skiff that drifted far out into the Sea of Fallen Stars. Both Fhenimore and Whymsee preferred death to becoming the immortal undead servitors of their wicked masters.

In their last weary moments, an aged kraken rose to the surface nearby, and spoke to them telepathically. The creature was actually on its final swim: a group of powerful adventurers sought it out for its treasure, and though they failed to slay the kraken, it was so badly wounded in the fight that the rest of the sea life around it began to strike at it, taking advantage of its greatly weakened state.

Just before passing away, though, it transformed Fhenimore and Whymsee into kraken priests so they could protect its only offspring. Thankful for another chance at some kind of life, the two have embarked on this mission with great enthusiasm and have spent the last ten years looking for a place where they might protect the young titan from the world, so that it might grow in power.

Fhenimore is a tall, lanky human woman with a too-wide mouth filled with rows and rows of sharp teeth, like a shark. To accommodate her life underwater, Fhenimore's hands and feet are both webbed and, like a shark, she has an angular dorsal fin that protrudes from the middle of her back.

Whymsee is a shorter woman with broad shoulders. Her legs have been replaced with tentacles, and her upper torso is covered in some kind of tough, conical shell. When startled, she can tuck in her head and pull her tentacles up into the shell protectively, like a strange hermit crab.

When the characters peer into these chambers, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

Caught up in the netting of the "shelves," there are all manner of odds and ends that might have been salvaged from the nearby sunken ships. Feel free to roll on the trinket table in the Player's Handbook to populate these chamber with two to three dozen oddities, or make them up to suit your own campaign.

Unless the characters found a way to silently dispatch the sahuagin hatchling swarms, Fhenimore and Whymsee are aware of the party's presence and have prepared to surprise them. While the characters are in combat, they retreat from this chamber into area 10 and take refuge behind a coral outcropping.

10. The Kraken

As the characters approach this area, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

Assuming Fhenimore and Whymsee were alerted to the characters' presence, they're in this chamber when the party approaches. When the characters move into the space between x and x, Fhenimore speaks aloud to them, asking them to halt and turn around. She is strangely audible underwater.

Unless convinced otherwise, Fhenimore and Whymsee do their absolute best to keep from showing themselves, and remain protective of the area. If the characters want to proceed into area 10 without angering the kraken priests, they must succeed on DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check and promise not to harm Fhenimore and Whymsee, or any other creature in their care.

Otherwise, as the characters pass between (or into) x and x, one of the kraken priests triggers the ballistae trap, firing both siege weapons simultaneously, while the other casts Evard's black tentacles, effectively blocking off the entrance to area 10. On the following round, the other kraken priest will also cast Evard's black tentacles, and the two of them will proceed to do whatever they can (such as casting command) to keep the characters caught up in those spell areas.

Once the characters emerge from those areas, or manage to remove the spells altogether, the kraken priests cast lightning bolt and then move to use their thunderous touch attack, as they have no choice but to engage in melee combat.

When both kraken priests have been reduced to half their hit points, they call for the young kraken to attack the characters. Likewise, if one or more of the kraken priests falls in combat, the creature emerges from its enclosure in the rear of the chamber to assault the party.

11. Olhydra's Canal

When the characters look into the wreckage of this small ship, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

Unlike other sunken ships embedded in the coral nearby, this one has been cleared completely of debris, forming a seemingly easy path forward. Unfortunately, it's a trap. While there are no outward signs for characters to notice that might give this fact away, a detect magic spell will reveal that this area has a strong aura of both abjuration and evocation magic.

12. Shrine to Olhydra

When the characters enter or look into this area, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

This is Shoalar Quanderil, who was reincarnated by Gar to serve him in his new mission.

Once jovial and quick to laugh, Shoalar has grown quiet, bitter, and apprehensive. He doesn't understand how Gar can serve both Olhydra and Umberlee, and has developed an extreme mistrust of his morose benefactor. Because of this, it wouldn't take a great deal of effort to talk Shoalar down.

Any character who succeeds on a DC 13 Charisma (Intimidation) check can get Shoalar to not immediately attack the party. Likewise, a successful DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check will prompt the water genasi will tell the characters that he recently returned to life at the behest of his lord, Gar Shatterkeel. Shoalar can impart the following information to the characters:

• Gar once served as the elemental prophet of the elder elemental being known as Olhydra.
• In Gar's former career, he recruited Shoalar to help construct a temple and recruit other cultists.
• Adventurers found them, destroyed their sanctuary, and slew both of them. Shoalar doesn't understand how Gar is alive again, but he is thankful for the second chance.
• Shoalar knows that Gar plans to use the blood of the kraken to create an army of undead.
• Since returning to life, it has become clear to Shoalar that Gar's obeisance to Umberlee prevents him from truly serving Olhydra, and this has caused a rift between them.
• Shoalar truly believes that it's his mission to depose Gar, but knows he doesn't have the strength to accomplish this on his own.

If the characters are not hostile toward Shoalar, and express a desire to help him in this mission, the devotee of Olhydra will gladly join them.

If at any point the characters attack Shoalar, or if they say something to make him believe they cannot be allies, he will attack them. If this occurs, the two helms on the altar will rise up as a pair of water elemental myrmidons and assist Shoalar in fighting the characters.

Shoalar is already under the effect of the mage armor spell when the characters arrive. He begins combat by casting lightning bolt, affecting as many characters as possible. He's likely to follow up with watery sphere to restrain troublesome characters so the water elemental myrmidons can attack while they're restrained.

13. Umberlee's Chosen

Accompanied by two sea lions that he keeps as pets, Gar Shatterkeel resides in this underwater cave while he contemplates his next move and communes with Umberlee.

When the characters enter the chamber, read or paraphrase the following boxed text:

Gar's power has grown by no small measure since he last encountered adventurers. Though he remains sullen and morose, he simultaneously projects an air of strength and confidence.

With the exception of anyone under the effect of a nondetection spell, Gar is aware of every inhabitant within the coral mountain and has been tracking the characters' progress through his domain. While he doesn't know precisely what they've accomplished, outside of any creatures they might have killed or destroyed, he is ready for their arrival.

After everyone has entered the chamber, Gar surreptitiously (but rapidly) grows the coral over the entrance, blocking them in. If anyone is hesitant to enter, he'll beckon for them to come forward, asking them to converse with him. In this regard, his demeanor is regal, but gracious and non-hostile.

If the characters are peaceful and speak with Gar, he's happy to hear them out, listening intently, with no show of defensiveness or remorse for any accusations they might direct his way. Nor does he offer an apology or reparations for damages they might describe.

When they're done speaking, Gar will explain his newly found devotion to Umberlee, including his "resurrection" and newly discovered purpose. He'll even tell the characters what he plans to do, and how he plans to do it. While Gar doesn't gloat, he will speak of his intentions as though his success is inevitable.

• Once Gar has completely described his plans, he thanks the characters for listening to him, and disappears from the chamber.
• If at any point the characters act in a manner unbecoming to a peaceful conversation (cast a spell, move to attack, attempt to circle to his flank or behind him, etc.) Gar sighs, and disappears from the chamber.

In both instances, Gar teleports using the coral as a means of transport, similar to the tree stride spell. He casts no spell to do this, so counterspell cannot be used to prevent his departure.

When Gar leaves this area, the sea lions attack the characters, and the entire room is flooded with magic that acts like an entangle spell of massive proportions.

Each round the characters are in the room, the coral attempts to grow up and around them, forcing them to make a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be restrained.

A character who is restrained by the coral can use their action to make a DC 18 Strength (Athletics) check or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to free themselves. The sea lions are immune to this effect.

A character who successfully casts dispel magic against a 6th level spell suppresses this effect for 1 minute.

To leave this chamber, the characters will have to cut their way out or move through the coral blocking the entrance. The coral covering the entrance has has AC 15, 40 hit points, immunity to psychic and poison damage, and resistance to piercing and slashing damage.

It's possible to push through the coral, but doing so requires a successful DC 18 Dexterity saving throw. A creature who fails this saving throw takes 7d8 slashing damage, or half as much on a success. The wall is 5 feet thick and every 1 foot costs 5 feet of movement. Characters stuck in the wall are considered restrained until they push through, and are required to make the above Dexterity saving throw on their turn each round.

Amble

If Amble has joined the characters, the tortle remains a steadfast ally in the fight to come. Amble will focus any attacks on the drowned, leaving Gar to the characters. If things get tough, Amble can also act as a backup healer for the party. Note that dealing damage to Gar does not break Amble's rule, as the tortle believes that Gar is some kind of aberrant being. Because of this, Amble will not intercede when the characters attack Gar.

Fhenimore and Whymsee

While they've been voted "most likely to die before the characters even show up," the manner of their demise may depend on whether the characters managed to befriend them. Below are a number of possibilities.

Fighting Gar Shatterkeel

Whatever the opposition looks like, and regardless of which allies they bring with them, when the characters encounter Gar Shatterkeel they're in for the fight of their lives.

Each round after the young kraken is slain, Gar can harvest five gallons of blood from the creature. It takes another two rounds for him to switch from a full bladder to an empty one, so for twenty bladders it will take Gar a total of 60 rounds (6 minutes) to complete his work with the kraken's corpse. He'll only need ten bladders of blood to animate the corpses present in the coral mountain, but he hopes to perform the ritual again at a later date.

The state they find Gar in, as well as what resources he has to fight them with, depends largely on when the characters arrive and who their allies are (or were). In any case, it's safe to say that Gar will open combat with his Umberlee's Wake ability, catching as many characters and allies in its massive area as he can. In addition to the impressive assortment of powers and abilities listed in his stat block, Gar can employ lair actions (see the "Lair Actions" sidebar) while he's within the coral mountain.