Act I: What is it?
No one in Saltmarsh has ever heard the name Apparatus of Kwalish. Most townsfolk will simply stare blankly or shrug off the question.
A handful of the more astute, merchants, or scholars suggest “ask the wizard in the tower.” No one speaks the name Keledek lightly. He is regarded with equal parts respect and unease.
“If anyone in Saltmarsh knows about such a thing, it’d be that wizard in the tower… but mind you, best not to bother the man unless you must.”
All meaningful knowledge about the Apparatus of Kwalish resides with Keledek the Unspoken, and no other source in town can provide more than rumor or fear.
What Keledek Knows
Keledek does not share knowledge freely. The party must first earn his confidence before he reveals anything about the Apparatus of Kwalish. Perhaps they have already aided him in his research assisting with his investigation of the Ruins of Zenopus and retrieving the items he sought (see Quest: Secrets of Zenopus).
Alternatively, they might gain his favor through other acts of service, demonstration of arcane aptitude, or displays of discretion and respect.
Only once Keledek deems the adventurers worthy of his attention will he allow them access to his private library and the ancient sketch that holds the first clue to the Apparatus’s design.
Keledek
Apparatus of Kwalish
In his library Keledek reveals an ancient drawing, a faded schematic showing a crab-like construct of brass, crystal, and steel.
“It’s a device, named for its creator. Decades ago, Mordenkainen sought to explore the deepest trenches of the sea, where ruins older than memory lie hidden. He commissioned the famed artificer Kwalish to craft a vessel capable of withstanding crushing pressure, violent currents, and unimaginable depths.
Whether it was ever completed, no one knows. But if it was… it would be worth more than every ship in Keoland’s navy.”
Keledek explains that he has never seen proof the machine was built, but the drawing matches old Greyhawk rumors of “Mordenkainen’s submersible.” He speculates that if it exists, it would resemble a mechanical crab large enough to carry at least one person inside its armored shell.
If the party reveals that Captain Xendros is searching for the same device, Keledek grows tense.
“So. It does exist. Iuz’s hand reaches further than I feared. Do not trust that one or her promises. Her master devours what he desires.”
He warns the party that Iuz’s influence is deadly and offers to match Xendros’s price, in gold and magic, if the device is found. He insists it should be brought to him for study and safekeeping, not sold to cultists of the Old One.
If asked where to look, he states.
"Well, if the device was built to travel the ocean floor…then I would begin where logic dictates, at the bottom...
A shipwreck, perhaps. Lost long ago. The sea buries its secrets well.
If you insist on searching, speak with those who make a living from misfortune, the drunkards and smugglers at the Empty Net. They know every hull that’s gone down within a hundred leagues.
Or perhaps Barnacle Bob on Sharkfin Bridge, he’s a fisherman, full of stories. Most of them are lies, but some may hold truth.”
He turns sharply, eyes gleaming.
“But a word of caution… do not tell anyone what you seek. There are ears in this town that do not sleep and not all of them are human.”
Secrets and Surveillance
Unknown to the party, Keledek is already preparing his own precautions. After their meeting, he sends his familiar (a small invisible imp) to shadow the adventurers, observing their interactions with Xendros, Fireborn, or others.
The imp reports back regularly, allowing Keledek to stay one step ahead of the unfolding intrigue.
“Knowledge is best guarded by those who know when not to speak.”
Notes
Favor to Keledek: The side errand to investigate the Ruined Tower of Zenopus provides an excellent early-level dungeon or narrative hook before diving into the main arc.
Tone: Keledek is calm, composed, and unsettlingly perceptive. He reveals just enough truth to make the party trust him but never all of it.
Imp Tail: You can use the imp’s presence later as foreshadowing, perhaps the players notice “a faint flutter of wings” or catch sight of eyes glinting in moonlight.
Faction Dynamics: This act establishes the first rivalry, Xendros’s open offer versus Keledek’s secret counteroffer.