Approximately forty years ago, the archmage Mordenkainen commissioned the renowned dwarven artificer Kwalish to create a marvel of arcane engineering, the Apparatus of Kwalish. This crab-like vessel, fashioned from brass and crystal, was designed to withstand crushing ocean depths and explore the uncharted waters of the Gulf of Jeklea, south of Jetsom Island. (Javan Bay Chart)

Mordenkainen’s purpose was singular: to seek the ancient magical secrets said to rest beneath those dark and forbidden waves.

To carry out this mission, he enlisted the Royal Navy of Keoland, funding the expedition personally and outfitting the galleon Curiosity for a voyage of both discovery and secrecy. Among its crew was Ilyena Valhar, his most trusted apprentice sworn to guard the Apparatus with her life and ensure it did not fall into unworthy hands.

The ship never returned. No wreckage, no survivors, and no trace of the device were ever found. The mission’s existence was buried in secrecy, known only to Mordenkainen and a handful of officials within Keoland. Over time, it faded into myth another lost ship swallowed by the Azure Sea.

The Present Day

Forty years later, whispers resurface.

A tiefling priest Captain Xendros, representing the Faithful Quartermasters of Iuz begins quietly asking questions about an artifact called the Apparatus of Kwalish. Iuz, having heard only that such a device once existed and vanished somewhere in the south, has tasked his servant to recover it at any cost.

What begins as a rumor becomes a storm of interest, as every major faction in Saltmarsh and beyond moves to claim the relic for their own purpose.

• Starting Location: Faithful Quartermasters of Iuz

• Levels: 8+

• Captain Xendros’ Commission
  If the party has gained Xendros’ trust (through previous dealings, trade, or shared favor), she discreetly summons them to her shop after dusk.

“You have proven yourselves resourceful and discreet. There is something I would have you find for me... a relic of the old world. Its name is the Apparatus of Kwalish.” (see below)

• Tobin’s Whisper (Green Market )
  The party is approached by Tobin, the orphan pickpocket who haunts the Green Market.

“Hey... you know that horned lady at the docks? The one with all the shiny coins? She’s been askin’ around about some magic thing, somethin’ called ‘Kwalish.’ Never heard o’ that, have you?”.

• Rumors at the Empty Net
  Word travels fast among the dockside drunks and smugglers. Over cheap ale, sailors discuss that Captain Xendros is seeking something. She is often referred to as the Crimson Captain.

“The Crimson Captain is looking for some wizard's toy. Not sure what she's after, but if it pays well, I may go looking for her."

Captain Xendros, the tiefling priest who represents the Faithful Quartermasters of Iuz, has come to Saltmarsh under the as trader and merchant of exotic goods. In truth, she serves a darker patron.

Recently, she has begun quietly inquiring about a lost magical device, known only by name: the Apparatus of Kwalish. She knows little of its form or function, only that it was the creation of a great wizard of old, and that it was lost somewhere within or around the Javan Bay decades ago.

Whether it lies buried beneath the sea or hidden upon some forgotten shore, she cannot say.

Her Offer

Xendros approaches the adventurers discreetly, often in the back room of her shop or during late hours at the docks. Her words are smooth, deliberate, and edged with an unspoken promise:

“There is a relic lost to time, a marvel of artifice, forged by one of the greatest minds to ever walk Oerth.

Its name is known to me: the Apparatus of Kwalish.

I know not what it is, nor whether it sleeps beneath the waves or lies buried on land… only that it was lost in this region, somewhere within reach of Saltmarsh and the Javan Bay.”

She whispers, as her yellow eyes flare....

“Bring me word of it, and I will see you richly rewarded. Bring me the thing itself… and I shall grant you any enchantment I can acquire from my master’s vaults. Short of an artifact, nothing is beyond my reach though such things take time to summon from the north.”

What Xendros Knows

• The device’s name (Apparatus of Kwalish)

• It was lost decades ago somewhere within or near Javan Bay, possibly at sea, possibly on one of the scattered isles or coastal coves.

• She does not know what the device looks like, what it does, or precisely why Iuz desires it.

• She has been ordered by her superiors to locate it, or at least to gather all information surrounding its loss.

“My master’s will is not to question, only to fulfill. There are forces in this world that covet forgotten knowledge… and he would see it returned to his hand before another’s.”

• Information: She will pay handsomely (in gold, scrolls, or lesser enchanted trinkets) for any credible reports, rumors, or recovered relics connected to the device.

• Recovery: If the adventurers recover the Apparatus itself, Xendros offers a powerful magical item of their choosing, something she can requisition through her infernal network of traders and priests.

“Serve me faithfully, and you shall not be forgotten. The Hand of Iuz rewards loyalty as swiftly as it punishes deceit.”

Tone and Demeanor

Xendros is calm, every word careful. She treats the Apparatus as an important relic and seems convinced it holds the key to some great secret.

She is courteous, but also stern. A reminder that she is loyal to Iuz.

“Do not speak of this matter lightly. The winds carry whispers, and not all who listen are mortal.”