Brackish Basin Hex Dormu’s Fate

Located near a coast with a river running into a saltwater pond. Dormu is a powerful jellyfish sorceror that draws their power from a Drained temple of the

The settlement of Brineford is small but hospitable, comprised of
~20 mice, water voles, and an exiled frog knight. The citizens are
looking to leverage sea salt production into local trade.
BRACKISH
magic infused salt crystal. Ages ago, ambulatory fish lead by Sir Ora
chased Dormu to a freshwater pond into a trap and imprisoned
them. With the last of their strength, Dormu tried to curse them with
a profound lack of desire for the crystal, but to no avail.

BASIN
Faction - Brineford Citizens
Resources Goals Unperturbed, the fish used the crystal to create the seaweed
› Salt distilling production ○○○ Establish trade connections guardians, to turn the water of the pond to saltwater, and to create
magical artifacts. However, the curse took hold of the next
○○○○○ Destroy the dam* generation, who now viewed the imprisonment as a mistake. Fearing
Faction - Beavers Dormu’s wrath, they sealed the temple and returned to the ocean.
Resources Goals
› Wood gnashing teeth ○○○ Dam the Goldenfork River The crystal has maintained the magical saltwater, and now supports
leaf slug life, while Dormu stays chained in their prison.
› Engineering Ingenuity ○○○○ Build a beaver lodge*
* Add after dam is built Items
Faux-Water [FW] Sword of Scales ○○○ Medium (d6/d8)
Rooms tagged with [FW] are full of faux-water. Faux-water is Mark a usage dot and pierce the sword into stone to produce a
crystal clear, only recognizable as liquid from the shifting freshwater spring that will flow as long as the sword remains in place.
specular highlights along the perfect barrier formed with Usage dots may be restored by keeping the blade submerged in
adjoining rooms. It feels and acts like water, but is breathable as running water for a day.
air; albeit uncomfortable and slightly salty tasting.
Loyal Trident ○○○ Heavy d10 / Ranged d6
Bestiary Returns to its oathkeeper when called. To rebind: spill blood on it while
Leaf Slug 3 hp, 5 STR, 6 DEX, 8 WIL reading the engraving “Bound by oath and blood, return at my call”
Attacks: 1d4 bite
Wants to prevent its home from draining Hero’s Shellplate ○○○ 2 vertical slots, 1 def
A paw-sized, translucent sea slug that eats algae and then uses Reduces friction in water, can swim/move much more easily.
the enveloped algae to perform photosynthesis. They have taken Outside of water is as cumbersome as heavy armor
up residence in the algae rich garden in the temple.
Shellmet ○○○ 1 def
Guardian 6 hp, 12 STR, 10 DEX, 12 WIL, Armor 1 While worn, can always hear the direction of the nearest body of water
Attacks: 1d8 stone spear Brineford is a small settlement on the shore of a saltwater pond
Wants to prevent the release of Dormu Pouch of Leaf Slug Eggs ○○○ known as the Brackish Basin. Its inhabitants have built their
Animate clump of seaweed wearing shell armor, a glowing Small, squishy eggs. Consume and mark usage - for the next d6 buildings from river stones, woven reeds, and mud under the
aquamarine in its chest rounds you secrete a sticky slug mucus from your skin which can be protective umbrella of a small cascade of water that feeds the pond
used to climb sheer surfaces. from the freshwater Goldenfork river.
Guardian Colossus 5 hp, 16 STR, 8 DEX, 14 WIL, Armor 1
Attacks: 1d10 aquamarine axe Dormu’s Blessing ○○○ When a group of beavers build a dam upstream, however, the
Wants to keep Dormu bound A chunk of Dormu’s salt crystal, brimming with their life-magic protective waterfall and the pond dry out, along with Brineford’s
Hulking, formidable mass of seaweed; a giant guardian wielding Mark a usage - Crystal glows brightly and becomes immovable. livelihood.
a large axe made of aquamarine Water in a 12” radius becomes breathable and clear faux-water
However, as the citizens of Brineford try to negotiate with the
Hermit Crab 4 hp, 10 STR, 8 DEX, 10 WIL, Armor 2 (shell) Spell - Seafoam Form ○○○ beavers to restore the river, they discover something else: an
Attacks: 1d8 pinch Caster’s body turns into seafoam for [DICE] turns ancient stone door at the bottom of the drained pond. What can be
Wants to complete its shellter Recharge - Rinse in the morning tide inside, and does it hold the secret of the saltwater?
Special: Shell breaks on a damage roll of 6+, removing all armor
Sea Salt ○○○ 20p from Brineford Use as a hex for a hexcrawl or start the PCs as citizens of Brineford
Dormu of the Deep - Warband Scale - 14 hp, 14 STR, 8 DEX, 18 WIL Pouch of sea salt crystals, enhances flavor! at the door of the temple for a one-shot adventure.
Attacks: 1d8 sting damages DEX
Critical Damage: Venom takes effect, d12 damage to STR
Wants their salt crystal and revenge on their jailors Drained Temple of the Brackish Basin is an independent production
by Brian Stauffer and is not affiliated with Losing Games. It is
published under the Mausritter Third Party Licence. Brian Stauffer
@brstf
Mausritter is copyright Losing Games.

1. Basin Floor
Drained pond, only some stones, dried seaweed, and a trickle of water
remains. At the base of the basin is a sealed stone door.
› On the lintel is carved Water seals our folly of pride
› Relief carving on the door depicts two fish standing upon the
bell of a jellyfish, with arms reaching towards a floating crystal
› Bowls carved into the door contain water from the draining pond
› When no water touches the door, it swings inward
2. Foyer
Water drips irregularly from the stone ceiling and the last dregs of
draining water cling to the gray slate floors. Walls throughout the
temple are decorated with aquamarine lining and embedded shells.
› A staircase leading to [3] Garden flanked by two statues of
ambulatory fish holding tridents, one has broken and collapsed
› Hallway to the east leads to [6] Crypt, to the west is [4] Temple
› On the far wall is a relief mural of fish pointing tridents at a
jellyfish bound by chains
3. Garden [FW]
A large, glowing salt-crystal floats in the center of a large room filled
with faux-water. Algae clings to every surface and seaweed gently
sways, casting shifting shadows against the walls.
› In the center is a pit full of saltwater, where leaf slug have
made their homes. Initially fearful and cautious near intruders
› A large stone door with aquamarine trim depicts a heroic
ambulatory fish stabbing a trident into the hood of a jellyfish
» A round recess in the door perflectly fits Mournful Hero
Disk, which opens the door towards [8] Dormu’s Prison
› Stairs to the west lead to a door to [5] Shellter, and a door to
the east leads to [7] Memorial
4. Temple
Open clams fill a temple with a white and teal stone patterned floor.
Partially crumbling marbled pillars lead to an altar on a dais against
the north wall.
› Clams snap shut when innards touched, dealing d20 damage to
anything caught within, but with care can easily be avoided
› Within one clam is the crushed shellplate and mangled seaweed
remains of a guardian
› Above the altar is a stone carving of an ambulatory anglerfish,
arms spread wide
» Built into the wall beneath is a copper cabinet, oxidyzed
over and sealed shut with age - Shellmet inside
» Two clams occupy most of the altar, facing the carving
› Contained within 2 of the clams in the temple are pearls, one
pristine worth 500p, another carved with a spell rune -
Seafoam Form
› Through the south archway is [5] Shellter
1
6. Crypt
A circular room lined with evenly spaced coffins on raised daises,
each with a tomb effigy depicting an ambulatory fish wearing shell
4 2 armor, holding a weapon and one end of a chain. On the floor is a
mosaic of tiles depicting a jellyfish, tentacles splayed and bound
6 6A with the other end of each chain.
› A guardian patrols the the crypt in an endless circle
› One chain leads through a small doorway to [6a] Ora’s Tomb
6a. Ora’s Tomb
Tomb of the fish Sir Ora, his likeness in the oxidized copper
sarcophagus is recognizable as the same ambulatory fish hero
7 from art throughout the temple. On the wall above the sarcophagus
3 is a mural of Ora throwing a glowing trident trailing a chain at a
5 menacing, looming jellyfish.
› Slightly recessed floor still contains ankle deep water
› Tomb effigy is holding an ornate trident and a stone chain
› Sarcophagus lid hums audibly
» Battery wired to the inside of lid. Deals d10 damage
d6 Encounter when discharged
1 Apatrolling
guardian, slowly › Within the sarcophagus lies Sir Ora’s bones, a set of colorful,
ornate, pristine gilded shell armor - Hero’s Shellplate, and a
8
masterwork trident - Loyal Trident
2 3a guardian
leaf slugs hiding from
» The trident is bound to Sir Ora, and it will return here
if taken from the room without re-binding
3 Guardian staring at a
mural
4 Hermit Crab prying a
shell from the wall 7. Victory Memorial
A statue of heroic ambulatory fish knights stands atop the bell of a
A curious mouse from
5 Brineford that wandered jellyfish. A fountain from the top gushes water in stark contrast to
in fighting off a guardian the mostly drained temple.
› The knight at the top of the memorial statue holds aloft a
Guardian colossus
6 aggressively searching shining sword forged of fish scales - Sword of Scales
for intruders › The statue is slick with water and the sword requires some
purchase to extract
5. Shellter › The water drains to the well from [3] Garden
This room’s former purpose is lost to the passage of time, now
completely filled with a structure built completely of scavenged shells.
› A hermit crab dwelling here will not permit anything being 8. Dormu’s Prison [FW]
taken from the shellter, but is willing to trade for pips or shells A short ornate hallway lined with stoic ambulatory fish statues in
› Has trash from the pond to offer for trade including: various states of decay leads to a simple double door. Through
» Fish hook - 20p which is a large curved room lit by the soft glow of a massive
» Pouch of sinkers - 30p jellyfish, Dormu. Each barbed tentacle is secured by chain to the
» Coil of fishing line - 25p sloped wall, pulled taut and crisscrossing each other forming a
» Shard of broken glass - 10p stinging labyrinth. A spike on a glowing, pulsing chain is pierced
» Can tabs - 5p through base of the powerful jelly’s bell.
» Pouch of Leaf Slug eggs - 50p › 2 guardians and a guardian colossus swim adeptly here,
› Any attempts to take a shell or tool will result in the crab guarding Dormu’s chains
placing a single claw on the object to refuse. He will attack if › The spike drains Dormu’s magic and energy and the
there are further attempts guardians ferociously defend it
› Among the shells is a gently glowing disk depicting a mournful › When freed, a grateful Dormu will give the players Dormu’s
fish holding a trident - Mournful Hero Disk Blessing, and return to the sea through the well in [3]
» The crab is fond of it, and will only trade it for the Garden, taking the rest of the salt crystal and the leaf slugs
Shellmet or Hero’s Shellplate with them