Black Waters

Black Waters, a Pathfinder Society scenario written by Tim and Eileen Connors for tier 1-5, was released in October 2008. Its story is continued in the Season 7 scenario, School of Spirits.

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The Pathfinder Society seeks the ancient ruby ring of the salamander and it falls to a team of Pathfinders to find it. Last seen in the Tri-Towers Yard, a once elite academy for the youth of Absalom, the ruby ring is now lost in the Drownyard, all that remains of Tri-Towers after it was destroyed a decade ago in the great quake. The Pathfinders must risk the strange black ichors and salty brine to find their prize—will they risk their very souls as well?

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Scenario overview

Level	1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Location(s)	Absalom Precipice Quarter Drownyard

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Background

In 4698 AR, an earthquake struck the affluent Absalom district of Beldrin's Bluff, causing half of the district to fall into the sea and levelling the buildings that remained.

Among the buildings destroyed during the quake was the Tri-Towers Yard, an exclusive school for the children of nobles. The quake destroyed the school, burying the children alive, and exposed an ancient hidden necropolis concealed beneath the academy that now divulged angry undead to infest the ruins. The area became known as the Drownyard.

The discovery of the necropolis attracted the attention of the Pathfinder Society, but the grieving parents of the dead children refused to allow any exploration of the ruins.

Adventure

In 4708 AR, Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng¹ informs a team of Pathfinders that the prevailing politics have shifted, and the Society now has permission to explore the Drownyard. He commissions them to enter the Drownyard, explore the necropolis, and recover a particular two-finger ring topped with a ruby salamander.

Lady Miranda Dacilane hears word of this expedition and summons the Pathfinders to her mansion. She explains that her child J Dacilane² was among the students who died, and J's body was never recovered. She promises a donation to the Pathfinder Society if the expedition recovers any firm evidence of her child's fate.

Upon their arrival to the Drownyard, the Pathfinders encounter Deris Marlinchen, another bereaved parent who refuses to believe his daughter Cassiel Marlinchen is truly dead. Due to his unprocessed grief, he has caused spirits to manifest in the Drownyard who take the forms of the dead children and their teachers. He leads the Pathfinders to one of these spirits, in the form of a teacher called Mrs. Heracks³ who then leads the group to the necropolis entrance: a pool of black water that the Pathfinders must drain, and which is inhabited by a dangerous giant water bug.

Within the necropolis, the Pathfinders find the tomb of Grishan Maldris, younger brother of Andoren faction representative Colson Maldris, and they confront an allip, a bugbear zombie, ghouls, and a ghast.

After defeating the ghast, the Pathfinders locate J Dacilane, who wears the ruby salamander ring on their fingers. To their surprise, J is still alive, as the ring turns out to be a ring of sustenance. J is comatose due to an encounter with the allip but can be healed, and Lady Miranda is overjoyed to have her child returned alive.

Recurring characters, concepts, and locations

The following characters, concepts, or locations can be found in this scenario, but also significantly appear in the publications listed below:

Map support

Black Waters uses one custom map.

References

↑ Dreng is consistently misspelled as "Drenge" throughout this publication.
↑ J Dacilane is referred to as Junia Dacilane in Black Waters, School of Spirits, and Pathfinder Society Pawn Collection, with she/her pronouns, but subsequently asks to be referred to as J in School of Spirits, later adopts he/him pronouns, and is referred to only as J in subsequent works.
↑ The work also refers to Mrs. Heracks once as "Mrs. Herack".

[1] Dreng is consistently misspelled as "Drenge" throughout this publication.

[2] J Dacilane is referred to as Junia Dacilane in Black Waters, School of Spirits, and Pathfinder Society Pawn Collection, with she/her pronouns, but subsequently asks to be referred to as J in School of Spirits, later adopts he/him pronouns, and is referred to only as J in subsequent works.

[3] The work also refers to Mrs. Heracks once as "Mrs. Herack".

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