Theca Key

Hex 35.34. Legend has it that the coral spires of Theca Key emerged long ago from the ocean after a cataclysmic, deep water earthquake. Great volcanic peaks broke through the ocean floor like the teeth of a titan, raising an island of coral to the surface. Today, Theca Key is home to a well-traveled, if not well-known, pit stop on the high seas, built out of the giant colorful coral. The main attraction is Noey's Place, where sailors stop to rest and stretch their legs after weeks on deck.

locations

• The Scurvy Assassin (p298)
• The Marlin's Quick Fix (p299)
• Noey's Place (p300)

the scurvy assassin

The only place to restock supplies at Theca Key. They've got an impressive selection of fruit, mostly imported from Jelly Key and Mushmash. Run by the pelikin Cherry Swoopwright, she takes great pride in making delicious options for fruit-starved ship crews. Menu

• Jelly Fruit Smoothie Dispenser (Gourmet Rations): A huge dispenser that squirts out delicious, pink jelly fruit smoothies. Provides food for the entire ship: after 5 sessions, start rolling 1d10 Usage Die. Ancient
• .
• Crate of Bongo Fruit (Gourmet Rations): Can't go wrong with the sweet, stringy, stone fruit that can be eaten straight or dehydrated like jerky. Gold •.
• Coconut Pies (Quality Rations): Award winning pies

CHERRY SWOOPWRIGHT

Proprietor of The Scurvy Assassin, a supply depot that's most famous for its fruit stand. Cherry and Noey go way back and decided together to make Theca their home.

• Traits: Eavesdropper, health nut, chatterbox.
• Motivation: Corner the Jelly Key produce market by laying claim to the key for herself.

sights and sounds

1. A cat with an eye patch hisses at the PCs.
2. Drunken scoundrels put their arms around the PCs and yell, "Party time!"
3. A boggle orders a drink the size of a small barrel. Instead of sipping with a straw she jumps in like a bathtub.
4. Everyone starts square dancing and pulls in the PCs to join.
5. A whalen in a hammock snores loudly. He rolls over, falls out of the hammock, and continues to sleep.
6. Two finfolk play a game of four finger filet. One of them stabs himself in the hand and howls.

rumors

• A shipwright named The Marlin on Theca Key can patch a ship up real quick.
• The best place for rest and relaxation on the high seas is Noey's Place on Theca Key.
• A con artist cleaned out Noey Sundatch's savings. packed for travel and taste like a sunny holiday. Made from coconut, mung jelly, and a pinch of salmon sugar, these pies are becoming popular throughout the Mucklands. Silver •.
• Scurvy Slayer Shot: Guaranteed to stave off scurvy, this concentrated potion of local fruit and proprietary blended ingredients has been known to eliminate scurvy, cure Poison, and kick an illness in 24 hours. Copper •. Gear for Sale
• Shrym Aquanaut Suit: A heavy suit and brass helmet with a refillable air tube that allows for 12 hour dives. Movement Checks (except Swimming) suffer Disadvantage. Gold •.

the marlin's quick fix

Narlon Chonker the whalen won't lie to you: the best place to get boat repairs in the Scalawag Strand is Anchorbottom. But on the Swirling Sea, you've got to make do, and that's what Narlon does. He doesn't have the crew or the parts to make lasting repairs, but he can plug a leak or two to get you where you need to go— probably.

NARLON “THE MARLIN” CHONKER

Proprietor of the only place to get repairs on the cheap in The Keys. Narlon can take care of most any leak or busted hull, but is also very vocal about his repairs being temporary. After all, this isn't the mainland! Also, Narlon loves being called “The Marlin” because he beat one in a swimming contest twelve years ago.

• Traits: Easily impressed, avid reader, doesn't pick up on sarcasm.
• Motivation: Keep ships in ship-shape and relax on the side.

quests

THE CHAMELEON THIEF

First a con artist dupes Noey, and now a thief steals Narlon's collection of Dungeoneer Magazines. “I guess it's not called Scalawag Strand for nothin'.” He suspects it was a strange little fellow, a boggle, who came snooping around and flipped through his magazines. Said his name was Guy. Help Narlon recover his stolen magazines that were kept in a watertight chest, including the latest Dungeoneer Magazine Annual Special. It was a beautiful issue too—had a USED T'BE TIGER on the cover—he didn't even get to read it. Succeed and Narlon will give you free repairs!

• Various patrons of Noey's have conflicting information about Guy. Some say he was a goblin, others say he was human, more say he was a finfolk or quortle. It doesn't add up, because they all seem to be telling the truth.
• Cherry Swoopwright at the Scurvy Assassin recalls meeting a boggart woman named Guy. When she added some salt to Guy's order of a Scurvy Destroyer Fruit Smoothie, the lady went ballistic and bolted like the cup was filled with acid. Last she saw, Guy was headed to The Marlin's Quick Fix.
• The con artist is actually a unique creature called a cuttleslug, a deep sea being that can shapeshift into anything and fears only one substance in the world: refined salt. The Marlin's Repairs Repairs last for 2 sessions or until the ship is damaged again.
• Sloop: Copper •.
• Schooner: Silver •.
• Galleon: Gold •.
• The cuttleslug went to Jelly Key. If the PCs get close, they are attacked by a USED T'BE TIGER, a rare sight in Scalawag Strand. The tiger (L5-B) is, of course, the shape-shifted cuttleslug.
• If the PCs successfully Parley, the cuttleslug reveals that they are sorry to trick and steal, but after being disturbed by the NYADS of Deep Chasm, they fled the Abyss. The cuttleslug doesn't understand culture, money, right or wrong, but rather is looking to travel far from the Deep Chasm nyads who are disturbing the natural order of things (p310).

noey's place

An island nightclub and motel for sailors looking to relax and take a load off. Run by Noey Sundatch, a gregarious, fun-loving FINFOLK, the place is decked out with glowing lanterns and plays music well into the wee hours.

Noey's Place is so relaxing and such a good time, PCs can complete Downtime activities here in a single day. Menu Copper •

• The Flotsam: A mixed, fruity drink made from kelp, moss, and a citrusy algae that locals call oinge-bloom. Served with a tiny umbrella and a wedge of melon. Heal 1 Courage.

NOEY SUNDATCH

The FINFOLK nightclub owner that seems to get along with everyone. Noey's Place is a famous watering hole and motel for sailors and adventurers looking for some R&R. Not even PIRATES give Noey a hard time, because Noey, is well, Noey.

• Traits: Gregarious, music lover, a great matchmaker.
• Motivation: Be the master of his own kingdom and have a ton of fun doing it.

quests

THE SHEER CON

Noey's Place has always been a sanctuary for just about anybody from any walk of life and any side of the law, but recently things have gone haywire. A few days ago, a woman calling herself Reeda offered Noey a chance to open up a second nightclub in Muckland Harbor. She went over the business model, showed him the official request from the Mucklands Trading Co. and happily took a down payment for a piece of prime real estate to the tune of 12 pouches of Gold. The only problem? It was all a con! Noey's Sloop is missing and Reeda is gone without a trace. Noey will pay his last 3 pouches of Gold to get his money back.

• A few patrons corroborate that Reeda bamboozled them out of some money playing cards on the way over to Theca Key.
• Reeda is actually Porsha Battenlash, a former Mucklands Trading Co. official who was caught taking bribes from pirates and smugglers. Almost taken into custody, she escaped on a passenger boat that stopped in Theca Key. Now she's headed up the Keys to Quagmash on Noey's stolen sloop.
• The sloop is abandoned on the coast of Quagmash in Hex 32.30. A torn pouch of Gold can be recovered just before the swamp begins. Looks like Reeda got into a scuffle with something.
• Ultimately, Reeda is heading for Camp Mudbank (p149) to buy MERCENARY protection to get to Rascalton (p211).
• The Heartburner: Spicy clams, oysters, and barbecuda roe smothered in a briny chili sauce and kicked up a notch by a molten layer of cheddar cheese that's been infused with hot peppers. Gain +1 Charm, -1 Vitality for the session.
• Cucumber Salad: Containing no cucumbers at all, this salad is actually made from medallions of sea cucumber served on a bed of pickled seaweed. Heal 2 Courage.
• Noey's Mug: A milky, thick mead containing carrot juice, whale milk, brine, and a mystery spirit, always served hot, with a dried sardine as a mixing stick. Gain +1 Mettle for the session.

THE SENTIENT CRAB FEED

There's a big Crab Feed coming up at Noey's Place, but someone has stolen all of the fresh crabs! Now Noey's in a panic because the public excitement around the event has reached a crescendo. People are expecting their crabs! Noey will pay you 2 pouches of Silver Coins, not to mention all the crabs they can eat, if they find the stolen catch.

• The first clue about the missing crabs is a single crab skittering around the back entrance, around the trash cans. When the crab sees the PCs, it bolts, running towards the ocean.
• When confronted, the crab suddenly speaks, pleading for its life! The crab, who calls themself Clikker Clack, is one of many that are hiding around the island after suddenly becoming sentient. Apparently, they all ate the carcass of a giant, magic shrimp that suddenly gave them sentience and the ability to communicate with folk.
• Clikker Clack pleads with the PCs to find an alternative dish for Noey's Crab Feed. Noey, on the other hand, has promised crab and invested in crab decorations. He'll need convincing to come up with an alternative. In the end, it's all about the spectacle for Noey.
• Clikker Clack recommends liger shark steaks: they're delicious, but obviously hard to catch. Clikker Clack knows of a local shark that terrorizes all of the crabs in the water.
• The LIGER SHARK (L5-B), as it turns out, also ate some of the magic shrimp, as did many other of the local fish and wildlife surrounding Theca Key. The LIGER SHARK calls itself Underbite and is a mean, surly creature, intent on eating Clikker Clack and the PCs; however, Underbite has Parley 1.