THE
DEAD
FISHERMAN'S
GROTTO |
The Dead Fisherman's Grotto can be found northeast of Mossy Rocks Cove in the Adanian Sea at the Cliffs of Alonnog. Named for the warning given by fishermen that any who venture within will soon lose life and limb, it is considered a place of evil and many superstitions surround it, including the tale of the pirate Lyeael'k the Crimson Berserker and his ship, the "Tempest". Local fishermen avoid going near the grotto and will warn others away as well, for fear of being cursed to forever sail aboard the ghost ship. Lingering tales persist of a vast treasure and items of great power being placed there long ago and never recovered. Every so often treasure hunters and adventurers come in search of wealth or fame only to disappear like so many before them.
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Description. The
grotto has often been described as a gaping wound upon the face of
Caelereth where even the rays of the
sun cannot penetrate its gloom. Jagged
rocks greet any ship that sails near the grotto, such rocks could easily pierce
the hull of a vessel. The entrance to the cavern is littered with broken planks
and bleached bones, proof that any who venture within will meet with an ill
fate. A foul odour emanates from the bowels of the cavern which fishermen
consider to be a warning from the gods not to venture within. It is the odour
of death and decay, and anyone that possessed any sense would turn back when
confronted by their own mortality. The entrance to the cavern looms before any
traveler brave enough to tarry there as a foul
wind escapes from its bowels, one could almost believe that the ominous
cavern breathes, longing for more souls to consume. It is rumored that a large
chamber exists at the back of the cavern, one which contains the famed treasure
of Lyeael'k the Crimson Berserker. Only during a storm, when the
waters of
Baveras churn with fury, can the entire
rock face be seen. Those that have explored the grotto have never returned, and
it is only the entrance that can be described in any detail.
Location. The Dead
Fisherman’s Grotto is located at the Cliffs of Alonnog in the Adanian Sea. The
cavern lies northeast of
Mossy Rocks Cove.
The cove is east of the village of Nepris, which can
be found in the Santharian province of
Manthria.
Myth/Lore. The Dead
Fisherman's Grotto has been a cavern of ill repute for millennia. Fishermen of
the region believe that the spirit of
Lyeael'k the Crimson Berserker haunts the
grotto, forever guarding his treasure against anyone foolish enough to venture
within. It is rumored that he awaits the day his crew will sail once again into
his lair with a hold filled with treasure. They are believed to sail the
Adanian Sea aboard his ship, the "Tempest", as they search for treasure to
appease the anger of the captain they betrayed.
Several sailors have claimed that they saw the ghost ship as it rode the waves
along the edge of a storm. The hull of the "Tempest" was said to be full of
holes, such gaping wounds would sink any mundane vessel, yet she sails with the
same grace she did millennia ago. Her deck was crewed by the
undead pirates with their bodies in
various stages of decay.
It is widely believed that anyone who falls overboard during a storm will join
that ghostly crew and be forever cursed to sail the Adanian Sea. According to
the lore of local fishermen, the ghost ship can only be seen during storms, and
any vessel is safe as long as the seas are calm. It is said that the pirates
attacked during storms when they lived millennia ago and are cursed to do the
same during their eternal existence within the world of
Caelereth.
The skeleton crew and the masts of the ship are believed to be illuminated by
an ethereal violet light, one which haunts the dreams of those that have seen
it. The local fishermen believe that the "Tempest" makes berth at the Dead
Fisherman's Grotto whenever the seas are calm, and it is said that the wails of
the crew can be heard upon the Mithral Coast as they inform the captain of
their failure. Anyone who has ever ventured within the grotto has not returned,
and sailors know not to look too closely at the ghostly crew, for fear of
recognizing a loved one.
A ballad passed down from father to son among generations of fishermen along
the Mithral Coast warns of the perils of venturing within the Dead Fisherman's
Grotto as it describes the fate of a vessel and her crew as a storm blew them
into the cavern to be confronted by the ghost ship and her ghastly crew. It is
not confirmed whether or not the encounter with the "Tempest" actually
occurred, and many believe the ballad merely describes a nightmare that haunted
the bard. The author of the ballad is unknown and it is believed that stanzas
were added as it was passed down through the generations.
Information provided
by
Vesk Lyricahl
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