The corpse lunged off of the bed with a speed that seemed impossible. In their minds the party heard Hoch Miraz scream:

“Where is my staff?”

During the battle, the party would hear Hoch Miraz scream over and over in their heads demanding his staff.

The party didn’t know, but Hoch Miraz had been dead for over a century. The corpse of the Calishite wizard Hoch Miraz has been lurking in the Golden Crown since it was wrecked in a violent storm. When the ship went down, Hoch was trapped in his chambers and drowned with the ship. Because of the tragedy, Miraz’s soul refused to pass into the afterlife. Since all of those who could have saved Hoch on that fateful night have already died, he remained in his watery grave.

When Evan David awoke Hoch Miraz, Hoch Miraz became aware that his staff was missing. Hoch Miraz was furious and immediately attacked the party.

The battle began and the party soon learned that Hoch Miraz was a powerful wizard in death as in life. Hoch Miraz staggered the party by casting Fireball and Cone of Cold but the party eventually defeated Hoch Miraz. Hoch Miraz then dissolved into dust and was finally granted the release he had been seeking for many years.

Kaelen explored the book shelf but unfortunately all the tomes were either routine naval books or had been destroyed by the water. The party did find a lock box with potions in good condition. Finally the party returned to the captain’s cabin and searched through the muck and desk finding valuables including a gem of seeing.

The party left the captain’s cabin to search the lower deck of Golden Crown.

The party explored the lower deck and first found a storage area with junk and disintegrating furniture. They soon moved into a galley but unfortunately all the food had also spoiled and disintegrated. The galley did hide an unwanted guest – a Giant Octopus. The party was able to dispose of the Giant Octopus without much trouble.

The party moved on to explore what must have been an armoury. Despite the gaping hole in the side of this room, several weapon racks remained intact. Strapped to these with seaweed ropes were dozens of weapons; spears, tridents, and javelins all made from strange materials like bone, coral and salvaged wood. The party moved on without taking any of the items.

The party explored another storage room that was packed with junk and more rotted furniture. Suddenly, a Giant Eel rushed out of junk and attacked. The party was able to defeat the Giant Eel without much difficulty. The party found that the Giant Eel had been protecting Adamantine and Gold ingots which they took.

The party finally moved on to the stern of the ship and found an empty room. Although currently empty, this room was clearly used by the Sahuagin to rest. The floor was covered with mats of fibrous seaweed, and a coral trunk of belongings was stored against the far wall.

The party left the coral trunk alone and rushed to open the final door.

Evan David reached out to open the door and the door handle turned into the maw of a Mimic! Evan David was able to free himself and smash the door to destroy the Mimic.

The party emerged into a cabin at the rear of the ship that was adorned with the skulls of various beasts and humanoids. In the centre of the chamber was chunk of decaying wood, which had been carved into the figure of some indescribable alien horror. It appeared to be a converged image of a humanoid octopus, a tentacled beast of the depths, and a monstrous brain.

Baron Kharg was busy focusing on the sculpture with his four arms, but he eventually heard the party and turned to attack. Kaelyn smartly moved forward and cast Hold Person and held Baron Kharg while the rest of the party gained the upper hand. With that advantage, the party was able to easily defeat Baron Kharg and Evan David chopped his head off to take back to Jarl Frostgale. The party also discovered and set of keys on Baron Kharg which they took to help then to open the coral trunk.

Kaelyn is awarded an inspiration for the use of Hold Person.

Evan David destroyed the abhorrent sculpture before the party moved to explore the bow of the ship of this lower level.

The party opened the door at the bow and discovered that this room was devoid of the slime and muck that covered much of the wreck. This room did contain five chests in excellent condition. Three of these chests were clearly ancient and have become covered with seaweed and shellfish, the remaining two are made from coral. Swarming around the chamber is a shoal of red-bellied fish with gaping jaws filled with razor-sharp teeth.

Galo was able to control the swarm of fish to escort them to feed on the Eel.

Galo is awarded an inspiration for his ability to control the swarm of Piranhas.

The party then opened the chests to retrieve all the treasure and secured the door to take a long rest before continuing to explore the hold.