Session 13: Mistcurl and the Debt

Silverbend — Riverside Village

TONE: Investigation and revelation. The Dagon thread becomes real
and serious.

Silverbend

The village of Silverbend is built on both banks of the river,
connected by an old stone bridge. It smells of fish and pine resin. When
the party arrives asking about a missing girl, nobody has seen her — but
the ferryman noticed a splash upstream and didn’t investigate because
‘the river has business of its own.’

Tracking Sable

• Footprints on the riverbank: DC 11 Survival to follow them to the
  water’s edge and identify a second set — webbed feet, not
  human.

• Across the river: DC 13 Athletics to cross the current; a boat
  can be borrowed from the ferryman.

• Into the woods: DC 12 Perception to follow the trail through
  dense undergrowth to a clearing.

Grindylows

COMBAT: Grindylows (use Sea Hag stats minus innate spellcasting — AC
14, HP 52, Claws +5 to hit 2d6+3, Frightful Presence DC 11 Wis or
frightened 1 minute) × 3. They are guarding the path to Mistcurl’s lair.
They fight to push the party back, not to the death. If two are downed,
the third retreats.

Mistcurl

Mistcurl is a Grindylow Chieftain — larger than the others, with
barnacles growing along his shoulders and a crown of river stones. Sable
is in a cage of woven branches nearby, technically unharmed and deeply
annoyed. Mistcurl is not acting for himself — he is acting on Dagon’s
instructions.

*Mistcurl** looks at you with flat, cold eyes. ‘The girl carries the
debt,’ he says. ‘Her blood, her line. Lord Dagon’s patience is not
infinite.’ He gestures at the cage. ‘You should leave her here. When
Lord Dagon collects, things will go easier for those who did not
interfere.’*

COMBAT: Mistcurl (Grindylow Chieftain — custom): HP 78, AC 15,
Multiattack (Claw +6 1d8+4 × 2), Constrict grapple DC 14 Str or
restrained, Water Jet (30ft line, DC 13 Dex or knocked prone). He fights
to hold, not to kill. His goal is to keep the party from taking
Sable.

After the fight, Mistcurl gives one piece of information before
fleeing: a former Germonian monarch made a deal with Dagon and then
betrayed him. Sable is the interest on that debt. He will collect, one
way or another.

The Cursed Ship

Back at the docked Lazy Current, the crew are behaving strangely —
over-emotional, making irrational decisions, one cook weeping over a
bowl of onions for reasons that have nothing to do with onions. Sy’s
stewpot has been cursed, and the curse has spread to the ship. Captain
Windreaver knows a wizard in the village of Sen who can help.

• Rescuing Sable: 400 XP

• Defeating Mistcurl: 350 XP

• Learning about the Dagon debt: 200 XP (story beat)