Sea Grove Events
Tribute of the Acorn
Once after each new moon, a creature may come to the Sea Grove of Obad-Hai and make an offering to the Shalm.
To do so, the creature must bring an acorn, carve a small inscription, prayer, name, or symbol upon it, and place it upon the shrine. The offering must be made with respect and honest intent.
Druids, followers of Obad-Hai, and those who sincerely honor the wild are always welcome to make this tribute. Others may also attempt the rite if they are friends of druids, protectors of nature, allies of beasts, or worshipers of a deity friendly to Obad-Hai.
The creature making the offering rolls:
d20 + Wisdom modifier
Druids and worshipers of Obad-Hai roll twice and choose either result.
This tribute may only be attempted once per moon cycle by each creature.
Acorn Tribute Table
Roll | Result |
|---|---|
Natural 1 | The acorn turns black, crumbles to dust, and the offering fails. |
2–5 | The acorn may be held in the hand and glows softly, casting dim light in a 10-foot radius for 1 hour. |
6–10 | The acorn may be crushed to gain advantage on one Wisdom saving throw. |
11–15 | The acorn may be crushed to restore hit points equal to 1d4 + the creature’s Wisdom modifier. |
16–19 | The acorn may be crushed to cast beast bond once. |
20+ | The acorn may be crushed to cast barkskin once on the holder. |
Natural 20 | Obad-Hai whispers through the leaves, reeds, or birdsong. The creature receives a piece of insight, warning, or hidden knowledge related to nature, beasts, weather, the marsh, the forest, or a place or creature in the region. The DM determines what is revealed. The creature may also choose one benefit from the table above. |
Using the Blessed Acorn
A blessed acorn holds its magic until used or until the next new moon, whichever comes first.
Only the creature who made the offering may benefit from the acorn’s magic, unless the DM decides Obad-Hai allows it to be gifted to another in a moment of genuine need.
A creature may only carry one blessed acorn at a time.
The Curse of Lorys
Ferrin Kastilar believes his bullfrog companion, Lorys, was once the previous Keeper of the Sea Grove of Obad-Hai. He does not know how to restore him, but he believes the answer lies west of the Kingfisher River, in the two ancient druid cairns swallowed by the marsh.
The cairns were once sacred tombs of the druids of Tideholm. When darkness from the Endless Nadir touched them, the surviving druids sealed the tombs and abandoned them. If the cairns can be sanctified, the old magic binding Lorys may weaken enough to be broken.
The Rite of the True Shape
To restore Lorys, the characters must return to the Sea Grove after sanctifying both cairns. Ferrin performs the rite beside the pond while the characters burn the last of the sacred herbs.
The ritual requires:
The sanctification of both cairns.
The recovered scroll, charm, or tablet from the second cairn.
Lorys’s true name, discovered within the cairns.
A willing act of mercy, such as placing fresh flowers in the hands of the bronze druid statue.
If the rite succeeds, Lorys is restored to his true form as an elder elf druid of the Silverstand.
What Lorys Reveals
Once restored, Lorys confirms that the entrance to the Endless Nadir beneath Tideholm was sealed long ago. The seal was costly, but it held.
However, he fears the Endless Nadir may have more than one opening.
He warns the characters of old rumors from the south, near the mouth of the Javan River, where a coastal town called Port Torvin once stood. Strange lights beneath the water, warped sea life, unnatural dreams, and missing sailors were reported there centuries ago.
Lorys fears those signs may point to another entrance.
If so, it must be found and sealed.
Aboleths are ancient, patient, and dangerous. They do not simply destroy those who oppose them. They enslave, corrupt, and remember.
Sanctify the Cairns
Ferrin asks the characters to travel to the cairns, cleanse them of evil, and burn sacred herbs within their burial chambers.
The First Cairn: The Heron Cairn
The first cairn is suitable for lower-level characters. Within it, the party discovers that Lorys was not merely a guardian of the Sea Grove, but one of the last druids who helped preserve the old wards after the fall of Tideholm.
Sanctifying this cairn does not remove Lorys’s curse, but it reveals the truth: his curse is tied to the second cairn.
Possible discoveries include:
A carving of an elf druid standing beside the Sea Grove pond.
A frog-shaped sigil marked beside the name Lorys.
A warning that one keeper remained behind when the others fled.
A spirit that whispers, “The second tomb holds his name.”
The Second Cairn: The Black Reed Cairn
The second cairn is more dangerous and suited for mid-level characters. This tomb was touched more deeply by the Endless Nadir. Here, the party must defeat or drive out the corruption that still clings to the old druidic wards.
In the sealed reliquary of the second cairn, the characters may find a druidic scroll, charm, or stone tablet containing a ritual meant specifically to break Lorys’s curse.
This is not a common remove curse spell. It was written by the surviving druids of Tideholm for one of their own.
Suggested Adventure: Winter's Daughter
Winter’s Daughter is a well-known and excellent adventure for characters of levels 1–3. I highly recommend using it with these locations. It can also be scaled for higher-level characters or expanded to suit your campaign.
Note: I plan to create my own adventure for these locations in the future.