D1-2 Stocked Hex: W2X2/27-28 Ghost Harbor
Part of my effort to stock every hex/point in the underworld map provided in D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth / Shrine of the Kuo-toa.
- Dimensions: Ghost Harbor area 80-100 feet high ceilings, opens up to the massive Sunless Sea region where ceilings vary wildly from 15-150 feet. Whole chamber spans nearly a mile wide and two miles long from the entrance to the shore.
- Light: As a starry night from the dim twinkling of light on the surface of the Sunless Sea. The fishing settlement along the western shore has some sputtering lizard dung fires throughout the day.
- Monsters: 1-in-20 chance of an aboleth each visit. Waters teem otherwise with lamprey (AD&D 1e) and scissorfish (Veins of the Earth). Rumors of chuul stalking about.
- Population: Small fishing village with just shy of 150 souls, mostly svirfneblin, drow/half-drow expats. A couple of pale and grim humans.
The tunnel north here opens out into a large side cavern of the even larger Sunless Sea. The path extends along the western shore of the inlet, where some enterprising and foolhardy underworld fishermen have set up a small but prosperous operation. This little fishing village is called Ghost Harbor, after the much larger ruined settlement across the inlet. They mostly stick to the shore for fear of what swims out in the Sunless Sea, but the boats they do have are rowboats made from lacquered giant insect shells. The largest of these craft can safely transport eight human-sized beings with up to four rowers.
The folks here are nice if a little crazy. They all carry sharp-as-hell daggers made from scissorfish fins (as dagger but damage dice explode). They mostly catch fish by tempting the bellicose scissorfish onto land, where they're then raked into metal cages and left to drown in air. Pack lizards carry the salted catch for trade throughout the underworld.
Few amenities here. An old human lady named Chlotilde with great scars on her wrists and ankles has a extra room for travelers to stay, modest if being charitable. Rations and basic caving equipment for sale at inflated prices. A boat can be chartered for 100 gp per day and can be taken to the island in the Sunless Sea, up the Svartjet, or beyond. Check morale daily for the boatman unless players seek out someone brave and insane enough to willing ply the dark waters.
On eastern side of the cavern and inaccessible by dry land is Ghost Harbor's namesake, a dark and ancient ruin. Partially submerged domes rise from the water well past the length of the quays, and the whole place is filled with ominous radial buildings and a perplexing city plan. The fishermen fear to go here lest they anger the former masters of this place. Rumors of misshapen hulks roaming the streets only further deter would-be trespassers.
These hulks are the servants of the aboleth, still guarding the last remnants of that antediluvian empire. Beyond the chuuls is a staircase to a tunnel leading out to one of the domes in the water, perhaps where terrestrial subjects received knowledge from their masters.
Atop a plinth overlooking the water in this dome is a gray-and-pink round gem. The gem allows its bearer to breath water and swim like a fish, communicate telepathically to others, and subjugate a target once daily as an aboleth. However, prolonged contact with the gem will drive the owner mad, causing them to lapse into the Deep Speech, prefer land to water, and become paranoid and tyrannical to their companions.