The Ghost Ship Ultros • Odyssey of the Dragonlords

King Acastus presents the heroes with a map that traces a route to a place called the Dead Falls. He speaks of destiny and legacy, of an ancient ship once thought lost to time: the Ultros, flagship of Estor Arkelander, the famed Dragonlord and war-chosen conqueror of bygone ages.

He claims that his scouts recently caught sight of the ship, its black sails torn but unmistakable, drifting near the cliffs where waterfalls plunge into mist. What he does not share openly, however, is that he has always known the ship’s location.

For years, Acastus has been haunted in his sleep; his dreams pierced by the ghost of Estor himself. The dead Dragonlord does not speak in whispers, but in commands. He calls to his descendant with visions of blood and fire, offering power and glory in exchange for obedience. Estor’s true aim is darker: he seeks to lure mortal warriors to the Ultros, where he may possess a worthy vessel, reclaim his body in some twisted form, and at last enact his vengeance against the Titans.

The sails of the Ultros await. So does the will of the dead.

The time has come to complete the next of your Great Labors. King Acastus gave you a map to the last known whereabouts of the legendary Ultros , but its location seems ominous. The ship was last seen near the Dead Falls, in the rocky wastelands of the eastern Heartlands. You’ve heard stories of the Ultros . It was captained by Estor Arkelander the Dragonlord, leader of a savage and bloodthirsty crew. He ravaged the islands of Thylea, leaving slaughter in his wake. Sydon unleashed his full fury against the vessel, attempting to smash it with hundred-foot waves and drag it down to the bottom of the sea with terrifying whirlpools, but the magic of the Ultros was so powerful that even the Lord of Storms could not sink it. The ship and its crew went missing several years after the end of the First War. You must find it and take command of it, for you cannot brave the waters of the Forgotten Sea without it.

The Ghost Ship’s Crew#

Estor Arkelander’s ghost is captain of the Ultros. Seventy

Ghosts and Specters are the crew under his command, all of them Estor’s thanes. The specters are crewmen who lost their sanity and have been reduced to soulless undead shades with no personality or drive. Estor has been waiting for a band of warriors to board

his ship. He wants a new body, and possessing a great hero will do nicely. For years, he has tried to lure King Acastus to his ship, but his descendant is a cowardly disappointment. He knows that Acastus has sent the

Full-page art, p.144 — Full-page art — p.144

heroes in his place, and he plans to haunt their dreams to discover the worthiest amongst them. He will mark the worthiest hero as the warrior he intends to possess.

The Ultros is usually docked in an inlet near the Dead Falls. Rarely, it ventures northward along the River Lethe. The ghostly crew of the Ultros are deathly afraid of the horrors of the Nether Sea, but they are nevertheless drawn to the chasm at the Dead Falls. The necromantic energy from the Nether Sea makes them feel almost alive again.

A Pristine Vessel. For a ghost ship, the Ultros is surprisingly well-maintained. The ghostly crew keep the ship in perfect condition and clean it every day, by order of the captain. Estor still takes pride in his ship. It is, perhaps, the only thing that he has ever truly loved.

Traveling to the Dead Falls#

Traveling to the Dead Falls from Mytros or Estoria takes about two days and requires the party to wayfind through forests and rocky hills. You may choose to run 1-2 encounters from the Random Heartlands Encounters table (chapter 2) along the way.

Return to The Sour Vintage#

Located about halfway to the Dead Falls, the Sour Vintage tavern makes a convenient place to stop for a rest. Aetala now advertises the tavern as the place where the “Heroes of the Prophecy” gathered before slaying the great boar. She cheerfully offers the party free accommodations and her patrons ensure that the heroes drink for free.

Rumors of the Ultros#

Everyone knows of the Ultros. It’s Estor Arkelander’s ship from the legendary adventures of the Dragonlords! Several fishermen claim to have seen the ship sailing down the River Lethe at midnight, but no one believes them. Why would a ghost ship be sailing on a landlocked river?

Rumors of the Dead Falls#

The patrons of the Sour Vintage know a few tales of Dead Falls. They say it’s one of the pathways to the Underworld, the domain of Lutheria, Lady of Dreams. Strange things happen there. People say the rocks scream like harpies, and those who venture to the river’s end never return. But there is an oft-repeated mantra that the patrons use to reassure the party: “Heroes have no fear of the dead!”

The Falls of the Underworld#

The king’s map points to a secret inlet at Dead Falls, located just before the River Lethe rushes into a huge chasm. The Ultros is supposedly docked at this inlet every night in the hours before dawn. Getting to the ship’s mooring requires walking along the river’s rapids and passing through a narrow canyon. The heroes should arrive at midnight.

The Rapids#

The River Lethe descends further and faster and breaks up into frothing rapids. The water flows and gurgles at a treacherous speed. Large, sharp rocks jut from the water, making the river even more perilous.

The rapids are too dangerous to travel by boat or to swim. If someone tries to swim across, they must succeed on a DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check every round or be swept away and over the falls. A path leads along the edge of the rapids: it is soaking wet but otherwise safe to travel.

Encounter: The Gates of Death. Read the following aloud:

The path along the rapids twists and turns, and the sides of the canyon seem to be closing in around you. The walls are adorned with horrific carvings of what seem to be faces, both human and inhuman.

The path leads to a section of the rapids at the canyon’s narrowest point, with only 20 ft. between the cliff faces. Each wall at first appears to be carved with horrifying visages but, upon closer examination, it seems that they might actually be mundane rock formations.

As you make your way further down the path, the canyon continues to grow narrower. Cold winds assail you, howling through the canyon with a blood-curdling sound, like an inhuman scream.

A passive Perception score of 12+ reveals that the cliff sides are closing in and that the wailing is coming from their faces. The party rolls Initiative, and every character who didn’t notice the cliffs beforehand is surprised.

At Initiative count 15, the cliffs close in. On round 1, this reduces the paths’ width to 5 ft., forcing the party into a single line. On round 2, any hero still on the path is trapped between the walls and has the Restrained condition. On rounds 3+, any trapped heroes take 20 (6d6) Bludgeoning damage. Any hero reduced to 0 Hit Points is instantly killed, reduced to a meaty paste.

Escaping. The party can first escape the walls by either going over the walls (which are 50 ft. tall) or entering the Dead Falls ahead (which are 90 ft. away when Initiative is rolled). Once they’re trapped, the hero must succeed on a DC 18 Strength (Athletics) check to squeeze through to safety.

The Dead Falls#

As the rapids twist and turn, you approach what appears to be a massive waterfall. The water of the river pours into a vast, shadowy chasm and vanishes. The sight is beautiful, but you find it disconcerting that such a large river could come to such a sudden end. The thundering sound that typically accompanies waterfalls is strangely absent here. It’s as if the water and the noise have been swallowed by a void.

Here the River Lethe pours into a chasm, creating a waterfall that plunges for more than one vertical mile into the Nether Sea, which explains the strange lack of sound. Anyone who spills over the edge will fall for 20 seconds before colliding with the primordial waters of the Nether Sea, suffering 70 (20d6) Bludgeoning damage.

The secret inlet is shown on the king’s map, but its location is not obvious at first glance. With some trivial investigation, the heroes will discover a switchback rocky passage that leads to the inlet. The passage is flooded by water (5 ft. deep), which the heroes must wade or swim through.

Investigation: The Secret Inlet#

You discover an inlet near the chasm where the river’s waters are eerily still. The canyon walls surround a small lake, protecting it from the rush of the nearby rapids. Moonlight shines down through the clouds, illuminating a beautiful ship moored alongside the rocky shore. This ship is large, and of fine workmanship, though its design is ancient. Its sails are black, and the prow is carved into the likeness of a dragon. You see no crew aboard and you hear only silence.

The Ultros is anchored in this lake, but its presence here makes no sense. It’s impossible for it to fit through the passage the party came in, and there are no other entrances. The heroes may freely walk along the rocky shore to the ship and board it. Nothing stands in their way.

The Ultros#

U1: The Top Deck#

On the top deck of the ship, you feel a chill in the air. The ship appears abandoned, though it is well maintained. Listening carefully, you hear faint whispering and then sense movement around you as though from crewmen at work. For a moment, you think you can hear boisterous singing from the back of the ship but, when you turn to look, there is nothing.

1 Square = 5 Feet#

Before the Dream. The top deck is empty. When anyone first boards the Ultros, they will notice the cold, and anyone staying on the top deck for more than a few minutes will begin to hear whispering. They will also see the ghostly crew members out of the corners of their eyes, but as soon as anyone tries to focus on the sights and sounds, they will suddenly cease, only to resume a few minutes later.

During the Dream. There are six Specters on the main deck, but they are not immediately hostile. They don’t acknowledge the heroes in any way.

The Quartermaster. At the steering wheel at the rear of the ship is the Ghost of the dwarf Davos, one of Estor’s thanes. He is singing a randy song to inspire the crew as they go about their tasks (the specters are not impressed). When he notices the heroes, he will end his song and call upon the crew to slay the intruders.

The specters are hesitant to come to Davos’ aid, so only one of them joins the battle each round. Davos starts the battle by tearing the flesh from his face and using the Horrific Visage action, after which he attempts to possess one of the heroes. Once the thane is destroyed, the specters return to their duties.

U2: Storage Cabin#

This small storage cabin houses all of the necessary provisions for a short journey out to sea. There is an ancient chest in the corner, but it appears to be locked.

This room is empty of crew at all times. There is no difference before or during the dream.

Treasure. There is a small locked iron box that can be opened with a successful DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check using Thieves’ Tools. Inside are six Burnished Dragonlord Coins (appendix C), 75 SP, 35 GP, and a small leather-bound journal.

The journal gives a detailed account of Estor Arkelander’s role in starting the First War 500 years ago. Refer to Estor Arkelander and the First War (appendix E).

1 Square = 5 Feet#

U3: The Oar Deck#

The oar deck is clean, orderly and built to house 25 oars on each side of the ship. At each oar sits a single, silent man. Upon second glance, each of them appears to be translucent and partially decomposed.

Before the Dream**.** A fully-crewed ship like the Ultros should have had 150 men. The remaining oarsmen are strong enough to man one oar each, which means that there are 56 Specters on this deck. They have lost their sanity and their souls have withered, so they are all silent and do not interact with anyone. If attacked, an oarsman specter will cower but will not actively defend itself or attack.

The Undead Drummer**.** At the rear of the oar deck is an undead woman sitting by a drum. Her skin is white as bone and her eyes are missing. She has the statistics of a Revenant, but she does not have a focus for vengeance. She is not hostile, but will defend herself if attacked. If destroyed, she will return within 24 hours, rising out of the river or the ocean to resume her place.

The drum-beater will ask one simple question in a whispering voice: “Are you ready to travel to Mytros?” She won’t communicate in any other way. If the heroes say yes, she will begin to beat her drum. The specters will begin to row. Once this happens, read the following:

The Ultros raises anchor and smoothly sets sail toward the canyon wall. The cliff looms closer and closer as the ship picks up speed, as if preparing to smash through the rocks. Just when it seems like the ship must collide with the wall, it suddenly dives underwater. The decks of the Ultros flood with water as it submerges, and you are forced to hold your breath. The ship travels at a terrific speed, rushing past large aquatic creatures and shadowy rock formations. Your lungs ache with the effort of holding your breath but, finally, the ship surfaces. You find yourself surrounded on all sides by the gentle waters of the Cerulean Gulf.

The Dream Begins. The ship now begins its journey to Mytros, but something strange is afoot. Refer to the Visions of the Past section below to determine what happens next.

U4: The Captain’s Cabin#

This cabin is more luxurious than the rest of the ship. The bedding is made of finely-spun silk, as are the curtains at the window. The wallpaper is textured with gold filigree. The wooden floor and furniture has been recently cleaned and waxed, and the room has a fresh, clean smell. There is a desk at the rear of the room with scattered papers and a journal.

Before the Dream. The leather-bound journal contains several entries. It is written in the hand of Estor Arkelander, and it recounts the history of the Ultros. Refer to the Estor Arkelander and the Curse section (appendix E).

During the Dream: The First Mate. In this cabin is the Ghost of one of Estor’s thanes, Skathon. Skathon is deep in the ethereal plane most of the time. Anyone who enters the room feels cold and is assaulted by strange feelings of anger and guilt. Skathon then appears before them, still in the border ethereal (and thus immune to attack). Read the following.

A ghostly figure rises out of the floor and speaks: “Estor sends you to destroy me. You are fools to trust him!” The ghost calls for his sword and armor: “Ebony, Azurescale—arise and slay these intruders!”

Skathon was a powerful warrior in life. He possessed a set of magical scale mail and a magical sword, both of which hang on the wall at the back of the cabin. The items will attack. They use the statistics of an Animated Flying

Sword and an Animated Armor. Once the fight has started, Skathon will leave the ethereal plane and try to possess a hero. Treasure. Azurescale is a set of scale mail Mariner’s

Armor (Scale Mail), and Ebony is a Mithral Makhaira (appendix C).

U5: The Thanes’ Quarters#

You enter a large room with six hammocks gently swaying with the ship. The room is otherwise bare, but there is a strange, ornate box sitting in one corner.

Before the Dream. The ornate box is attached to the floor and secured with an Arcane Lock. If the Arcane Lock is suppressed by the Knock spell or otherwise dispelled, then the box can be opened with a DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check using Thieves’ Tools.

Treasure. Inside the box are 16 onyx gemstones. If the gems are removed from the box, each transforms into a Specter after one round (see the During the Dream section below for more details). The specters immediately attack the hero who took them from the box. The spectral onyxes have no value, as they are not true gems. Any specters killed before the dream will not be able to serve Metron later (see below).

During the Dream: The Navigator. The Ghost of Metron the thane is in here. One of the hammocks obviously sags more than the others when the heroes enter and, a round later, Metron will fade into sight, though he will remain in the border of the ethereal plane. He claims to be from a lost undersea kingdom, but he’s forgotten its name. He served as navigator aboard the Ultros, charting new paths across Thylea’s oceans.

The Vengeful Spirits. Metron will tell the heroes that the captain was a cruel man, one who was responsible for untold thousands of deaths. Many of those unfortunate souls have traveled from the Underworld in search of vengeance, and Metron has sealed them away in a box. He asks if the heroes would be kind enough to help dispose of the troublesome spirits.

With a flick of his hand, the ornate box opens, and vengeful spirits swarm out of it over the next four rounds. Each spirit is a Specter that attacks the heroes relentlessly. The horrifying forms that they take do not affect their statistics:

If someone closes the box, then the specters will stop appearing. Once the box has been closed or the specters have been vanquished, Metron leaves the ethereal plane and attempts to possess one of the heroes. He prefers someone with strong arms and legs for swimming.

U6: The Storage Hold#

Stepping onto the hold, you’re struck by the number of empty crates and boxes strewn about. Clearly this deck once housed many stores for the ship.

The storage deck is accessible via a stairway that descends from the Thane’s Quarters (area U5). The chests and crates here are remarkably well preserved and usable, but they are all empty.

Visions of the Past#

Once the heroes have spoken to the undead drummer on the oar deck of the Ultros, they will begin their journey across the Cerulean Gulf towards Mytros.

On the first night of this voyage, the party becomes trapped in a waking dream (which affects the entire party, even species that don’t normally sleep):

You fall asleep to the gentle rocking of the ship and the sound of waves lapping against the hull. Your sleep takes you on a journey to a distant time, sailing on a distant sea. The sky above is strange and otherworldly. You stand on the deck of the Ultros , surrounded by dozens of men and women with grim faces and ancient weapons. You are part of the ship’s crew, and you know that you have served the captain in countless battles. Standing at the prow of the ship is a tall man with long, gray dreadlocks. His engraved bronze pauldrons mark him as one of the legendary Dragonlords. This is Estor Arkelander. He calls his entire crew to the deck.

The Ultros is sailing on a strange expanse of foggy, gray ocean. All the doors on the ship are now unlocked, and all rooms and their contents can be searched. The ghost of Estor Arkelander (appendix A) now stands near the ship’s mast, gazing out into the void. He has called upon the strange magic of the ship to create this dream.

Estor speaks in a deep, rasping voice. “I have summoned you here for a grave purpose. Tomorrow I walk into the fires of Typhon and become like a god. Thenceforth I shall be immortal, perhaps even as powerful as Kentimane, the Hundred-Handed. But I shall no longer call myself captain of this ship. “It has been a great honor to fight alongside you in the war against the Gygans. We have toppled their wretched cities, flooded the oceans with their blood. But now, it is time for me to choose a worthy successor: a new captain for the Ultros . “I will choose the new captain from among my loyal thanes. Each of you swore a blood oath to serve me. I call upon you to swear that same oath upon the Ultros . Only then will she follow your commands as she has done mine.”

Estor identifies the heroes as his new thanes and asks each of them to swear the following oath.

“I swear upon my life’s blood that I shall captain the Ultros with honor. Even should we sail into the maw of the Nether Sea, my fate shall be bound to hers.”

Players may excuse themselves from consideration to be captain if they want to avoid swearing the oath. However, the Ultros will only heed the commands of heroes who have sworn the oath.

Quest: The Traitorous Thanes#

After the oaths are sworn, Estor announces that there are three betrayers among his crew, which he tasks the heroes with finding and destroying. He refuses to release the heroes from the dream until this has been accomplished. He explains that whoever performs most admirably will take his place as the new captain of the ship.

Estor’s Deception. Cursed by Lutheria, Estor endures a fate he considers worse than death. He is an immortal spirit, denied both the peace of oblivion and the certainty of flesh. Most cruel of all, Lutheria bound him to a mockery of freedom: he may possess only those who willingly accept him. Estor’s hatred for the Lady of Dreams is absolute, and his true ambition is vengeance against the titan who damned him. Estor sees great potential in the heroes. He knows that their success is key for him to gain vengeance against Lutheria.

The Traitorous Thanes#

Estor Arkelander was originally served by three thanes he now claims are betrayers: Davos, Metron, and Skathon. They now haunt the Ultros as Ghosts and appear in different areas of the ship.

Davos, the Quartermaster. A dwarf ghost who can be found on the top deck (U1).
Metron, the Navigator. A lazy ghost who can be found in the thane’s quarters (U5).
Skathon, the First Mate. A powerful warrior who can be found in the captain’s cabin (U4).

The Traitors are Destroyed#

When the ghost of the last traitorous thane has been defeated, the fog surrounding the Ultros lifts, and the heroes awaken from the dream. Any heroes who were killed during the dream wake with two levels of Exhaustion, but they are otherwise fine.

The New Captain#

The ghost of Estor Arkelander appears before the heroes when the dream ends. He is now satisfied that the party is stronger than his previous thanes. He chooses one of the heroes who swore the oath to the Ultros,

specifically the one who performed most aggressively and showcased the most power during the trial and appoints them captain.

“You have all proven yourselves worthy to command this ship. Yet one among you has shown the strength to stand above the rest. I name you my successor and captain of the Ultros, the greatest ship ever to sail the Cerulean Gulf. Her will is now bound to yours.”

Knowing that the heroes aren’t likely to trust someone of his historical notoriety, he will say the following:

“Lutheria did this to us. She cursed my crew and bound me to this hollow existence. I do not serve her, nor will I ever forgive her. In this, our enemies are the same. I know every sea current and island in the Cerulean Gulf. I have sailed where no living captain dares. So long as the Ultros answers to you, I will help you, and I will not hinder your command.” The ghost of Estor slowly fades from sight.

Though the heroes may now command the Ultros, Estor Arkelander’s story is far from over.

“You seek the treasure of the Dragonlords. I buried it. Not on land, but far below, in the black waters of the Nether Sea. I sealed it in a prison built to contain one of the gods’ first mistakes—a weapon from the dawn of all things. I’ll take you there. I’ll guide your crew to what I hid. But I want something in return.” He steps closer, the light of his eyes flickering like a dying star. “Swear to me— swear it —that I may take first pick of the hoard. There is but one thing I desire. Grant me that, and the treasure will be yours.”

illustrated quote — Estor Arkelander punished any disobedient thanes in the only way he knew how … death. —Kyrah, Goddess of Music