The Poisoned Poseidon is a beached pirate ship turned tannery that is being used to conduct murders of the Refugees from Elturel. It does have a legitimate business, but the Cult of the Dead Three is operating out of here as well.
Strong Start
Rumors of how the Poisoned Poseidon, the pirate ship scourge of the Sword Coast, came to be perched so far inland vary. Common to most of the myths are the ideas that it was an infernal warlock captain who decided no one would ever sit at her helm after he died and used evil magic to place it there. Regardless, there are still those who say that on still nights you can hear the cries of the children orphaned by her dark past.
Links
- Main: Descent into AvernusDescent into Avernus
Links
D&D Beyond Campaign
Official Source Book
Alexandrian Remix
Players
Forith (Simon)
Ewan
Bob (Devin)
Withre (Tsukasa)
Parts broken down by Alexandrian
The Beginning
The Road to Baldurs Gate
Meeting Zodge
Vanthampur Investigations
Tracking Down Tarina
Dungeon of the Dead Three
Investigating the Murders
Trafficking Amrik
Poisoned Poseidon
Vanthampur Manor
Infernal Puzzlebox
Part 3J: The Port... - Related: Vanthampur InvestigationsVanthampur Investigations
This page describes the background of the murders of the refugees at Baldur’s Gate. It also gives an overview of all of the clues that can be discovered and how they go from scene to scene.
Links
Main: Descent into Avernus
Official Chapter
Alexandrian Remix
Lore of the Vanthampur Investigations
What is happening
assets/img/vanthampur/vathanmpur-what-is-happening.png
Amrik Vanthampur has set himself up as a black market resource for smuggling refugees into Baldur’s Gate. His ag... - Official Chapter: N/A (this scene is not included in the official adventure)
- Alexandrian Remix: The Poisoned Poseidon
- Lore of the Vanthampur Investigations
Scenes
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This is primarily a series of combat encounters, but the players should interrogate at least one person to get the next clue. If they don’t do that, ensure they find the other clues in the notes.
Main Deck
- In the picture above the main deck, foc’sle, and fantail aren’t shown. It only shows the interior portions of the ship.
- The main deck is generally kept clear, but there is a stack of tanned hides ready for sale.
- A crane has been installed on the poop deck that is used to raise and lower heavy material from street level.
Creatures to contend with:
Cabins off the Main Deck
- Master of Souls’ quarters in forward cabin
- One of aft cabins is meeting room that contains Poseidon Correspondence.
- All cabins are empty.
Lower Deck
- Mostly stores the untreated skins of slaughtered cattle that are delivered to the tannery
- Strewn with the blood, dirt, manure, hooves, and horns that come with hides.
Creatures to contend with:
- 2 Commoners working on cleaning some hides.
Lower Deck Cabins
- The aft cabins are used as sleeping quarters for the murder squad.
- The smaller fore cabin has been converted into an armory.
- The larger fore cabin contains three small shrines, one dedicated to each of the Dead Three.
Creatures to contend with sleeping in the aft cabins:
Hold
- The forward chamber is a work floor where skins are trimmed.
- The aft chamber has huge vats. Here skins are sprinkled with urine or soaked in an alkaline solution of wood ash and lime before being folded, hair-side in, and taken down to the Lower Hold.
Creatures to contend with:
- Reaper of Bhaal
- 4 Commoners working at the vats
Lower Hold
- The lower hold is studded with wooden racks on which treated hides are spread.
- Special knives, which hang on the walls, are used to scrape the hair off one side and whatever flesh remains on the other.
- Several huge vats are then used for washing: A solution of pigeon droppings or dog shit removes the lime.
- In the center of the Lower Hold is a table. Shohreh Netitia’s corpse lays there.
- A side table contains a disturbing variety of surgical instruments and three brands (each with the holy symbol of one of the Dead Three). The Poseidon Papers handout can be found amidst these instruments and Shohreh Netitia’s refugee papers can be found among her personal effects.
Creatures to contend with:
- Master of Souls (Remigio) working on the body
Lower Hold Catacombs
- The various niches lining the catacomb halls are stacked with urine-soaked skins (they are kept here until the rotting hair has loosened).
- The four iron doors lead to small cells where prisoners are held to various purpose.
- Three victims are locked up - take the rest of the names from the victim list in Investigating the MurdersInvestigating the Murders
If the players elect to try to solve the murders without going to talk to Tarina (or give up on her), they can attempt to solve the murders on their own. The two obvious places for them to go are to talk to other refugees or to the place the bodies are being dumped.
Links
Main: Descent into Avernus
Related: Vanthampur Investigations
Official Chapter
Alexandrian Remix
Lore of the Vanthampur Investigations
Scenes
Talking to Refugees
If you haven’t already describe Refugee Camp....
Creatures to conted with:
- 2 Fists of Bane guarding cells
Secrets and Clues
- Poseidon Correspondence: Reports from the Dead Three leadership mention the bathhouse leading to the Dungeon of the Dead ThreeDungeon of the Dead Three
This is a dungeon below a public bath house that is used by the Cult of the Dead Three. They should meet Mortlock Vanthampur who will lead them to other Vanthampur’s who are involved in murdering refugees with Hellrider ancestry.
Links
Main: Descent into Avernus
Related: Vanthampur Investigations
Official Chapter
Alexandrian Remix: Design Notes
Alexandrian Remix: Dungeon Key
Lore of the Vanthampur Investigations
Strong Start
Description of your strong start.
Map
Level 1
a.... - Poseidon Papers: DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) test reveals the papers to be forgeries. The forgery can also be detected if the PCs look to verify the origin of the papers. See the papers on the Alexandrian remix.
- Poseidon Cultists: Following or questioning Poseidon cultists can lead to the bathhouse and the Dungeon of the Dead ThreeDungeon of the Dead Three
This is a dungeon below a public bath house that is used by the Cult of the Dead Three. They should meet Mortlock Vanthampur who will lead them to other Vanthampur’s who are involved in murdering refugees with Hellrider ancestry.
Links
Main: Descent into Avernus
Related: Vanthampur Investigations
Official Chapter
Alexandrian Remix: Design Notes
Alexandrian Remix: Dungeon Key
Lore of the Vanthampur Investigations
Strong Start
Description of your strong start.
Map
Level 1
a....
Potential Treasure
- Nothing of value besides 4d6 gp among all the bodies.
Next Steps
The next most logical place is to head to the Dungeon of the Dead ThreeDungeon of the Dead Three
This is a dungeon below a public bath house that is used by the Cult of the Dead Three. They should meet Mortlock Vanthampur who will lead them to other Vanthampur’s who are involved in murdering refugees with Hellrider ancestry.
Links
Main: Descent into Avernus
Related: Vanthampur Investigations
Official Chapter
Alexandrian Remix: Design Notes
Alexandrian Remix: Dungeon Key
Lore of the Vanthampur Investigations
Strong Start
Description of your strong start.
Map
Level 1
a....
Level Up
Prior to leaving for the dungeon, move up to Level 3 (if you haven’t done so already).
