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Deep Chasm

Location

Mucklands Sandbox Campaign Setting · p.310

Open source p.310
Scalawag Strand

The last known ancestral place of the DEEP NYADS. Deep Chasm is a massive ravine at the bottom of Scalawag Strand, and the lowest point of the ocean's floor above the Abyss itself. Unreachable by normal means, the Chasm is home to a city built of marvelous black stone. Whereas most DEEP NYADS throughout the Mucklands seas either live in tiny communities or alone, the nyads of Deep Chasm remained together, sequestered from all others.

modifiers
  • Travel Checks
  • Wandering Intruder Chance
wandering intruders

##### deep chasm

  • 1. Deep Nyads
  • 2. Zombie Barnacles
  • 3. Kraken
  • 4. Sea Chimera
  • 5. Frost Jellies
  • 6. Exajelly

ZE'LEESHA THE DEEP SISTER

Considered a sorceress by many, she was once a princess of the Deep Empire, before her secret betrayal of her people and all of Scalawag Strand when she caused the Great Quake. Now, Ze'Leesha dwells in a sunken castle made of Triton Stones, the key to her evil plot. Her few loyal subjects know nothing of her treachery, and despite her cruelty, she has persuaded her people that their isolation is for the best.

  • Traits: Egotistical, austere, adores attention.
  • Motivation: To destroy seafolk civilization and crumble the city of Conch.

KYRA'THAN THE GATEKEEPER

The keeper of Deep Gate, the entrance to the Abyss. As punishment for threatening to reveal her plot, Ze'Leesha chained him to the sleeping LEVIATHAN at the edge of the Abyss.

  • Traits: Somber, noble, voice like thunder.
  • Motivation: Return the Triton Stones to their rightful place.
rumors
  • Deep Chasm is unreachable without the aid of science or sorcery.
  • Unassailable Co. operates a metal fish that sails beneath the waves to barter with DEEP NYADS.
  • Ze'Leesha the Deep Sister still lives, and the Deep Empire persists under her leadership.
  • Shadowy REEF NYADS riding black sharks travel back and forth from Ebon Reef to Deep Chasm.
quests

THE TRITON STONES, PART 1

Preceded by The Traitor (p324), and The Triton Stones, Prologue (p266). Kyra'than the Gatekeeper, chained to the LEVIATHAN beyond the Deep Gate, believes that Ze'Leesha the Deep Sister should atone for causing the Great Quake. Now, she and her Ebon Reef allies have stolen more Triton Stones from the triton city in the Abyss. If the Stones are not returned soon, there will surely be another devastating cataclysm! Go!

  • Ze'Leesha has built the entire city of Deep Chasm out of the Triton Stones, strong enough to withstand the first Great Quake. Within her castle, her Ebon Reef allies—Zoren, Lorsha, and their Obsidian Wardens (REEF NYADS L5-C)— protect her and help orchestrate the upcoming cataclysm.
  • The Triton Stones are large, volcanic, black pumice stones that exude magical energy. Individually they are surprisingly light. When stacked together they create incredibly durable structures that cannot be destroyed or knocked over by conventional means.
  • Ze'Leesha (DEEP NYAD L8-C) caused the first Great Quake by stealing the Triton Stones because she couldn't bear to watch the Deep Empire erode year after year: their morals, standards, values. To her, their culture was tainted by mingling and trading with false allies like the FINFOLK, whalen, and worst of all, the land dwelling boggarts. Something had to be done.
  • But her plan backfired. The people of the sea rallied together and formed the City of Conch, led by her own flesh and blood, Ny'Dea. She believes that the only thing left to do is trigger another giant underwater earthquake, one that will destroy all the settlements of Scalawag Strand.
  • Ze'Leesha, as Ny'Dea's sister, can be reasoned with and convinced to spare the innocents of the Strand. Though she still holds her extreme convictions, she has become isolated and depressed, and there is part of her that feels shame and guilt for her deeds; it is Zoren and Lorsha that have goaded her.
  • If Ze'Leesha decides to relinquish the Triton Stones, Zoren and Lorsha betray and kill her, then attempt to flee with the Stones on their liger shark chariot.

THE TRITON STONES, PART 2

Before the PCs can return the Triton Stones to Kyra'than (or chase after Zoren and Lorsha), they are waylaid by Unassailable Co., led by a RIVAL DUNGEONEER (L5-C) named Captain Murdok Vang. Bent on obtaining the Triton Stones for themselves, they attack with their metal fish submarine, the Brass Salmon, armed with a saw blade and mechanical claws that grab and pinch.

  • The submarine has a moon pool and can be boarded, filled with six Unassailable Co. RIVAL DUNGEONEERS (L5-G) ready to capture the PCs.
  • If captured, the PCs are thrown in the brig, and the Triton Stones go to Captain Murdock Vang. Another Great Quake occurs unless Vang is convinced to help (see Part 3).
  • If pressed, Vang reveals Unassailable Co.'s dealings with the sarpathi. They intended to sell the Triton Stones, not even really knowing what they do.
  • The Brass Salmon contains: shrym aquanaut suits, food, water, a cannon, and a shrym torpedo bay for underwater battles (both inflict Dread).

THE TRITON STONES, PART 3

Kyra'than cannot leave the Deep Gate. You must travel into the Abyss, beyond the Deep Gate and return the Triton Stones to the mythical tritons before another cataclysm occurs.

  • The PCs must travel for three days into the Abyss.
  • At the end of the three day journey, the PCs find the tritons, gigantic merfolk at the gates of a black stone city. Behind it, a massive backdrop of a subterranean mountain glows with red, volcanic lava. Stacked around the volcano like bricks is a fortified wall of Triton Stones.
  • Without enough Stones, the volcanic prison is collapsing. It imprisons a great evil: the OGRE, Oomek the Sea Drinker, who once nearly drank the oceans dry.
  • The last time the Stones were taken from the city, Oomek woke and nearly broke free of the volcano, causing the Great Quake that destroyed the original nyad kingdoms.
  • The volcanic wall behind the city starts to rumble. Lava bursts from the mountain side, spilling into the black stone city. Oomek wakes! The tritons command the PCs to help reset the stones into the great seal on the side of the mountain.
  • The PCs must set 12 stones very close to where Oomek's limbs are breaking free of the prison. His eye peers through the cracks, as the mountain shifts and Oomek's giant tendrils lash out of the crumbling rock.
  • The PCs must fend against the tendrils (as CREEPERS, Attack:, Dread:) while avoiding lava and rock raining down all around them each round (Nimbleness Checks).
  • Once all the Stones are placed, the mountain settles as Oomek is lulled to sleep and the powerful magic resets the mountain.
  • As a reward, the tritons give each PC a stone called Mark of the Tritons, a Relic that enables a PC to breathe underwater.
  • HEROIC TITLE ACHIEVEMENT: Prevent Ze'Leesha's plot and Oomek the Sea Drinker from escaping.
  • Hero of the Tritons•. PC gains Courage.