hex 4: the mermaid chum

A massive green and silver painted ship with translucent, spectral sails has been lifted out of the water and grounded on the jagged reef. A crew of twenty ghostly PIRATES (L5-G), made up of every folk, defend the ship by shooting phantasmal cannonballs at anyone approaching by boat (Mettle Check to avoid suffering 1d6 Dread from fright). Swimmers are safe to approach, but won't be let aboard without drying off and speaking with the captain first.

CAPTAIN VINCENT BOUDREUX

The ghost of a wug with thick sideburns, a long, fancy green jacket, and four blunderbuss pistols on his hip. Two hundred years ago Vincent broke the heart of a powerful named Beryl Ballast. Now he commands a crew bound in death, WITCH cursed to sail the Scalawag Strand for eternity. Ghosts can't swim, obviously, so they're all afraid of the water.

• Traits: Greedy, distrustful, comically scared of the water.
• Motivation: Find the treasure and cure the curse! If the PCs agree to return it, he will reluctantly allow them to keep any Magic items they find, but absolutely no Gold Coins.

The Curse and the Kraken

The only way to break their curse is to obtain a ridiculous sum of gold (100 pouches worth). After a season of piracy around Terror Island, a storm blew them into the Razor Ruin Reef where they encountered the kraken. Once Dracuid learned the ghosts were afraid of water, he lifted the Mermaid Chum out of the lagoon and placed them onto the reef. Unfortunately, the move cracked the hull and the entire treasure trove went spilling into the lagoon. The Mermaid Chum retaliated with cannons! The crew watches the lagoon closely. If they see the PCs try to steal the treasure, they fire on them.