What is the Saltbox?
The Saltbox is an ocean-going sandbox run by Charlatan, originally using the B/X rules and currently on ACKS. It's a mid-level game, with initial characters beginning at 30k xp and hirelings/henchmen at 5k xp.
Where does the game take place?
The Saltbox games to date have taken place in the North Seas, with safe (so far) harbors in the three free ports of the North Marches: Swinton, Nantaticut, and Pawtaticut.
Where's the action?
The players have discovered the lair of a gigantic hydra, have a vague idea of where Brinescale the sea dragon makes her lair, and are aware of a storm giant prince, Foom the Mighty. There's a pirate prince in the untamed waters of the north.
What has happened so far?
Saltbox 1 (5 march 2011)
Survivors: Cleric of Poseidon, Dread Kopus, Esmelai (6430xp apiece)
The party set sail looking for adventure, and for a while appeared to be content communing with sea-life instead. They eventually fought a small pack of sharks and a buccaneer longship. The party made the acquaintance of a sea dragon, Brinescale, and eventually made a failed attempt on her life.
| Killed/Defeated | xp | hide/parts | treasure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 mako sharks | 540xp | 216g | n/a |
| buccaneer longship | 750xp | 9000g (salvage) | * |
| Treasure XP | 18000xp | - | - |
| total | 19290xp | 9216g | * |
*: An enchanted hand axe (+1), magical chain mail (+1), a potion, 8000g, 10 gems worth approximately 10000g total
Saltbox 2 (9 april 2011)
Survivors: Dok'Konnor, Clam Wizard, Cleric of Poseidon, Sparsnip, Dread Kopus (?), …
The party explored somewhat closer to Nantaticut, eventually defeating a 10-headed sea hydra. With the cunning use of speak with animals and speak with dead, the party's cleric was able to divine the location of the hydra's lair (and, presumably, its hoard).
| Killed/Defeated | XP | Hide/Parts Value | Treasure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Ursca (2 bulls) | 2800xp | 2240g | - |
| 1 Small Roc | 570xp | 342g | - |
| 1 Griffon | 440xp | 264g | - |
| 1 Sea Hydra (10 heads, non-regenerating) | 1550xp | 0g | - |
| total | 5360xp | 2846g | 0g |
Saltbox 3 (3 september 2011)
Survivors: ridiculossus, IO, Clam Wizard, …
The party struck out in the Cleric's ship to find the hydra's lair, and finds it occupied by the hydra's lesser spawn and mate- an enormous regenerating hydra presiding over a massive pile of loot. Despite their best efforts, they simply lack the firepower to take the beast down- though they mark it for life by petrifying one of its heads with an arrow steeped in cockatrice essences.
| Killed/Defeated | XP | Hides/Parts Value | Treasure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Carn. Flies (8) | 160 | 0g | - |
| Cockatrice | 350 | 210g | - |
| Hydra (4hd) | 135 | 27g | - |
| Hydra (6hd) | 570 | 342g | - |
| total | 1215 | 579g | 0g |
Saltbox 4 (NerdNYC Recess, 8 october 2011)
A band of frontier youths is pressed into service by Bart Finn, a pirate prince sailing out of the Broken Isles. Finn plans to conquer the Free Ports and re-establish a Finn principality. The outcome of his plans is unknown, as the band was nearly destroyed by the hungry pseudopods of a group of disgusting, meaty creatures emerging from the sands of the Bone Reaches.
Saltbox 5 (5 november 2011)
Survivors: Sosexia Du (IO), ridiculossus (143xp each)
Two men sail out from Nantaticut, exploring the seas north and eastward. After fleeing the voracious pincers of a pair of giant crabs, they defeat a small band of sahuagin attempting to capture them, and eventually take their sailboat into harbor in Northaven.
| Killed/Defeated | XP | Hides/Parts Value | Treasure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sahuagin Gang (4) | 276 | - | 10g |
| Treasure XP | 10 | - | - |
| total | 286 | 0g | 10g |
Saltbox 6 (1 january 2012)
Survivors: Sparsnip (ETSmith), Cleric of Poseidon (James), Esmelai (tavis), Dolphin (otspiii), Bismark the Brave (foner) (1459xp each)
The remainder of the original Saltbox adventurers unite with Sparsnip the Goblin and Dolph(in) the Barbarian and Bismark the Explorer to root out Brinescale's lair. Their attempt to discover the dragon's abode is interrupted by wave after wave of pirates. They eventually return to Nantaticut with two additional ships in tow: a waterlogged small sailing ship, the Speckled Fig, and a pirate slave galley, the Last Mistake. The surviving crew of the Last Mistake took to the water once the ship was near the Nantaticut coastline; their equipment was confiscated beforehand by the party. The party also has the captain of the Mistake as a prisoner.
| Killed/Defeated | XP | Hides/Parts Value | Treasure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gargoyles (3) | 405 | 162g | - |
| Speckled Fig | - | 4000g (salvage) | 500sp, desk/trinkets worth 450g, cargo 5760g |
| Last Mistake | 580 | 6000g (salvage) | 12g, 180s, 2000c; crew's equipment; map; vial; scroll of lyc. ward |
| Treasure XP | 6310 | - | - |
| total | 7295 | 162g + ships | 6310g |