Read Aloud

The surf slaps against black coral stone as a soaked man waves from a shallow tidepool. Two reef sharks churn the water around him, flashing pale bellies and snapping at something clutched in his hand.

Details

Attached monsters (use these exact stat blocks): - Quantity: 2; Monster: Reef Shark. Why here: The sharks are hunting in the tidepool and have cornered Talan over the map scrap. Activity: They thrash in the shallows and snap at the scrap and anyone who enters the pool. Attitude: immediately hostile Encounter start: mutual awareness at close range Response trigger: They attack when the party steps into the tidepool or reaches for Talan. Aftermath: Once driven off, the tidepool can be searched and the map scrap is recovered. Room guidance: Talan Reefstep is trapped knee-deep in the tidepool and cannot climb out while the Reef Sharks circle aggressively and try to tear the wet map scrap from him. They attack as soon as the party closes in, because the tidepool confines both Talan and the sharks in the same narrow shallows. If the party drives the sharks off, Talan can be pulled free with Athletics, and the map scrap is recovered before the surf can take it. After the encounter, searching the tidepool finds a broken shell marker and the soggy edge of Redbeard’s map scrap; Talan says, “Don’t let that scrap vanish. It’s the only reason I came here.”

Read Aloud

The surf quiets as the path bends along a narrow strip of sand and broken shell. Talan kneels beside the wet scrap, tracing a line of ink toward a reef-lit point farther ahead.

Details

Talan catches his breath and explains that the scrap points to a reef cave hidden behind a dragon-shaped coral arch. The shoreline trail is the only safe way onward, and he marks the slick rocks that can be crossed without slipping into the breakers. The party can question Talan, examine the scrap, or use the marked route to move on; no roll is needed to continue. A careful search of the scrap and Talan’s notes reveals the arch’s shape and confirms the cave is the next destination; Talan says, “Follow the coral dragon. That’s where Redbeard hid the rest.”

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The reef shelf glistens with spray, broken coral, and long wet streaks dragged across the stone. Something has been hauling loot toward a flooded crevice near the cave route.

Details

Attached monsters (use these exact stat blocks): - Quantity: 1; Monster: Octopus. Why here: It has been feeding on scraps in the flooded crevice and is guarding the hiding place where loot was dragged. Activity: It clings to the rocks, hides in the water, and lashes out if the party reaches into its crevice. Attitude: defensive of something Encounter start: distracted/noisy monster Response trigger: It attacks if the party disturbs the crevice or tries to take the nearby loot. Aftermath: If driven away or calmed, the party can search the crevice for the dropped clue and continue to the arch. Room guidance: Claw marks, broken coral, and wet drag trails are obvious along the shelf, showing that something heavy or stubborn has been moving stolen goods toward the cave entrance. The party can follow the signs, inspect the crevice, or use the slick ledges for a quicker but riskier crossing. An Octopus is clinging nearby because it has been feeding on scraps in the same flooded crack and is defending its hiding place from interference. Searching the shelf after dealing with the scene reveals a dropped trinket from Redbeard’s cache and the clear direction of the trail onward.

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A dragon-shaped coral arch rises from the surf like a frozen wave, with stolen gear piled beside its base. Two goblins crouch in the spray, watching the trail and clutching crude weapons as the tide hisses around their feet.

Details

Attached monsters (use these exact stat blocks): - Quantity: 2; Monster: Goblin. Why here: The Goblins are guarding the arch and the stolen gear pile to keep intruders from reaching the cave. Activity: They watch the trail, argue in whispers, and challenge anyone who approaches the arch. Attitude: alert and suspicious Encounter start: alert monster at a distance Response trigger: They react when the party comes within sight of the arch or tries to pass openly. Aftermath: Once past them, the arch leads directly into the cache cave. Room guidance: The Goblins are posted at the arch to warn off intruders and keep the stolen gear from being reclaimed. They are alert and suspicious, and they will challenge the party before letting anyone through to the cave entrance. The party can sneak past, distract them, bargain, or force the way open; the arch itself is the only clear passage forward. If the goblins are defeated, tricked, or bypassed, the piled gear can be searched for a useful item and the party can pass under the coral arch into the cave route.

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The cave opens around a dark pool glittering with coins, coral, and waterlogged chests. A crocodile lies half-submerged at the back, its eyes fixed on the treasure as it rises from the water with a slow, dangerous ripple.

Details

Attached monsters (use these exact stat blocks): - Quantity: 1; Monster: Crocodile. Why here: It has taken the dark pool as its lair and is guarding Redbeard’s hidden cache. Activity: It lurks beneath the water and lunges at anyone who reaches for the treasure or moves toward the back of the cave. Attitude: aggressive and territorial Encounter start: mutual awareness at close range Response trigger: It attacks as soon as the party approaches the pool or disturbs the cache. Aftermath: When it is defeated or driven off, the treasure and the next map lead are uncovered. Room guidance: The Crocodile is the final guardian of Redbeard’s hidden cache and has claimed the pool as its territory. It is aggressive and territorial, attacking anyone who steps toward the treasure or disturbs the back chamber. The party can fight it, drive it off, or try to back away if they only want to scout, but defeating or forcing it out resolves the immediate dungeon threat. After the Crocodile is beaten or driven off, the cache can be claimed, the full map lead is found among the treasure, and Talan confirms the trail points onward; he says, “That’s Redbeard’s mark again. There’s another secret out there.”