Adventure Title
DDHC00-GSM Chapter 8: The Styes (Das Geschwür) P4

Levels Gained
1

Location Played
Roll20

Notes
Downtime Activities Saltmarsh provides a haven for adventurers between expeditions, and the characters can spend that time engaged in various tasks around town. The following options build on the downtime activities discussed in chapter 8 of the Player’s Handbook. Characters can pursue them to make some additional money or strengthen their ties to Saltmarsh. The activities given here are based on the ones presented in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. If you have that supplement, consider using the guidelines for rivals and the complications attached to some of the activities given in that book. You can also offer other activities as you see fit. The ones detailed below are specific to Saltmarsh. Buying and Selling Magic Items Captain Xendros of the Faithful Quartermasters of Iuz has magic items for sale and can also broker the sale of magic items. Any such item comes with a mild curse, however. Anyone attuned to the item can be targeted by a detect thoughts spell cast by Xendros, with no limit on range; any saving throws triggered by the spell automatically fail; and the target has no knowledge of the casting. This curse can be detected by casting an identify spell on the item and succeeding on a DC 25 Intelligence (Arcana) check. The check can be attempted once per casting. Buying Items Xendros asks for a 50 gp retainer to engage her services as an item broker each week, and the process consumes a character’s effort for a week as it involves multiple meetings to haggle over prices, specific desired features, and so on. If the characters pay the retainer, roll twice on Magic Item Table F and once each on tables A, B, C, D, and E to determine which magic items Xendros has on offer in any given week. (Unsold items are shipped elsewhere and regularly replaced with new options.) If the characters want a specific item, Xendros can fulfill a request for an item from Table F or Table G with 1d4 weeks of work. Her asking price is based on the item’s rarity, as given in the table below, but she might also be willing to part with an item in return for a favor. She especially wants to see Keoland’s ambitions for Saltmarsh foiled, and she might try to enlist the characters in a plot to ruin the mining efforts. Item Rarity Gold Cost Common 50 gp Uncommon 100 gp Rare 750 gp Very Rare 2500 gp Carousing Saltmarsh has several taverns that provide plenty of opportunities for adventurers to spend their money on fine food and strong drink. Carousing gives the characters a chance to make contacts in town. A week of carousing costs 2d10 gp as you lavish money on food and drink for yourself and others. When carousing, pick a single tavern in town to frequent. At the end of the week, you earn a contact in town. You can have a maximum number of contacts in town equal to 1 + your Charisma bonus (minimum of 1). The nature of the contacts depends on the chosen tavern. The DM creates a specific contact, such as the bartender at the appropriate tavern or a specific person you have connected with. Optionally, the DM can instead allow you to declare an NPC as a contact when you meet them, provided that the individual fits the contact type. In this case, you recognize the NPC as a pal from your time spent carousing. In either case, that individual acts as a trusted friend and offers help as necessary, though they are unwilling to risk their life or possessions. Carousing Contacts Tavern Contact Type The Snapping Line Fishers, sailors, laborers The Empty Net Smugglers, criminals The Wicker Goat Dwarves, town guard Research Krag is always open to recruiting someone to help organize Eliander’s library and take care of things in the graveyard. In return for help with his day job, Krag grants access to the library and can help conduct research. His expert command of local history makes him a useful contact. He has no shortage of semi-interesting tales about notorious fish and monstrous pirates. Wages and Research You can spend a week working with Krag, helping tend the graveyard during the day and organizing Eliander’s library in the evenings. You earn enough money to afford a modest lifestyle. You also learn one piece of lore regarding the region around Saltmarsh. That lore is the equivalent of one true statement about a person, place, or thing found within 25 miles of town. The DM is the final arbiter on the exact information learned, but it is likely something that helps you solve a problem or make progress with a task. Employment Characters who are interested in making a fair wage for little risk can find jobs around town. Having a job can also enable a character to come to the attention of one of Saltmarsh’s leaders. The employment opportunities below are tailored to each of those individuals, including: Hiring on with the Oweland family to work on a fishing boat Joining the guard and report to Eliander Fireborn Taking short-term work in Gellan Primewater’s smuggling operation Mining or other forms of manual labor with the dwarves led by Manistrad Copperlocks Laboring on the docks, loading and unloading ships for Anders Solmor’s trading company For each week of employment, you earn the coin needed to sustain a modest lifestyle. There is also a chance that you attract the notice of the prominent person associated with your job. At the end of each week, make a DC 15 Charisma check. On a success, you earn the opportunity to request an audience with that person. Mercenary Work Ingo the Drover is always on the lookout for skilled mercenaries to fulfill the contracts offered to him. He has a particular need for those who can serve as caravan guards, personal protection for merchants, and sentries aboard docked ships. For each week of mercenary work, you earn the coin needed to sustain a modest lifestyle and an extra 2d10 gp. Additionally, roll a d20 at the end of each week. On a 19 or higher, you earn a bonus of 3d20 gp due to the unexpectedly dangerous nature of your most recent assignment.