Brother Lorn

The true believer with fire in his eyes and salt on his tongue — slain in the Battle of the Stilt Docks in Session 11 (Day 8).

Canon Facts

• Fanatical high priest of Vae’a, the Tide Mother.
• Supreme Commander of the Gray Cloaks (the inquisitorial, sabotage & enforcer arm of the Children of the Salt). “The Grey Tide” is a former name for the same arm; Gray Cloaks is canonical.
• Deceased — slain at the Stilt Docks of Low-Hela, Session 11, Day 8. Elder Kaia does not yet know; she is expected to learn within 24–48 hours, when his brine-lugger fails to arrive.
• Sworn right hand and “deniable blade” of Elder Kaia.
• Spotted at the Tar Pit auction in Session 09 with suicide Salt Bombs; trailed the party to Isla Hela in Session 10.
• Slain in Session 11: Landed at the Stilt Docks of Low-Hela with two cultist escorts; confronted by the Level 6 party. After burning two spell slots on Detect Magic and Thunderwave to clear Briony’s harassing seagulls, he engaged in a 7-round battle. His max-damage Call Lightning was shut down by Morrigan’s Counterspell. Driven to desperation by Briony’s Moonbeam and Conjure Animals snakes and Longstride’s archery, he detonated his suicide salt-bombs before being dragged down into a dark brine puddle by the spectral serpents.
• Loot Claimed: His Salt-Blight Mace (+1, +1d6 Necrotic), the whalebone Tide-Dowsing Pendulum, a salt-stained letter bearing Elder Kaia’s Seal (the first hard Deep Moon date the party has ever had: Day 22), 2x +1 bone daggers, 1x unexploded salt flash bomb, and a coin pouch (35 GP, 60 SP, 2 pearls) were claimed by the party. On a Nat 20 investigation check, the party learned he was the supreme commander of the Gray Cloaks.

Description

• Visuals: Tall, sinewy, and sun-scorched. Shaved head bearing spiral tide-pattern ritual scars across the scalp. Wore the coarse, unbleached ash-grey linen robes of the Gray Cloaks, stiffened and caked with white sea-salt crystals. Hands and forearms were visibly encrusted with Stage 2 Salt Rot.
• Voice/Mannerisms: Spoke in ritual cadences and unsettling, low-pitched pauses. Used “we” to mean the Tide Mother, the Gray Cloaks, and himself simultaneously.

Roleplay Traits

• Ideal: Purification through the Deep. The sea will reclaim what foreign iron has defiled.
• Bond: Elder Kaia — he would gladly die (and kill) to keep her white robes spotless.
• Flaw: Incapable of doubt. He viewed compromise as spiritual weakness and evidence of corruption.

Background

Brother Lorn was the Supreme Commander of the Gray Cloaks (formerly called “The Grey Tide”)—the clandestine militant wing of the Children of the Salt. While Elder Kaia wears pristine white silks in public plazas preaching peace and traditional herbal healing, Lorn and his Gray Cloaks wore salt-crusted ash-grey linen to do the “dirty work”: sabotaging Atlas dredgers, assassinating informants, raiding foreign salvage, and driving preparations for the Shuttering Ritual.

At the Tar Pit Auction (Session 09), Lorn served as Kaia’s hidden insurance policy: while Sedge acted as an oblivious proxy bidder, Lorn stood ready with suicide Salt Bombs to ensure the coordinates never left in foreign hands. Sedge failed, the auction collapsed in gas, and Lorn fled empty-handed.

In Session 11 (Day 8), having sailed to Isla Hela to intercept the thieves and reclaim the Clarion for the Shuttering Ritual, he was defeated and killed at the Stilt Docks of Low-Hela.

2024 D&D Stat Block

name: Brother Lorn
size: Medium
type: Humanoid (Human)
subtype: Priest of the Tide Mother
alignment: Chaotic Neutral
ac: 16 (Scale Mail, Shield)
hp: 78 (12d8 + 24)
speed: 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
stats: [14, 12, 14, 10, 16, 14]
saves:
  Con: +5
  Wis: +6
skills:
  Religion: +6
  Insight: +6
  Intimidation: +5
  Perception: +6
damage_resistances: Cold, Lightning, Thunder
condition_immunities: Charmed
senses: Passive Perception 16, Darkvision 60 ft.
languages: Common, Aquan
cr: 5 (1,800 XP)
pb: +3

traits:
  - name: Salt Rot Affliction (Stage 2)
    desc: Lorn's skin is encrusted with briny calcification. Any creature that starts its turn grappling Lorn or grappled by him takes 5 (2d4) necrotic damage.
  - name: Destructive Wrath (1/Day)
    desc: When Lorn deals lightning or thunder damage, he can choose to deal maximum damage instead of rolling.
  - name: Marine Blessing
    desc: Lorn can breathe underwater and swimming does not cost him extra movement.

actions:
  - name: Multiattack
    desc: Lorn makes two Corrupted Brine Mace attacks, or one Brine Mace attack and casts a Spell with a casting time of 1 action.
  - name: Corrupted Brine Mace
    desc: "Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage plus 9 (2d8) thunder or necrotic damage (Lorn's choice). If the target is a Large or smaller creature, Lorn can push it up to 10 feet straight away from him."
  - name: Detonate Salt Bomb (1/Day, Action)
    desc: "Lorn shatters the volatile corrupted Clarion salt relic bound to his chest. Each creature within a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on Lorn must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 14 (4d6) necrotic damage and 14 (4d6) thunder/force damage, and is Blinded until the end of its next turn. On a successful save, a creature takes half damage and is not Blinded. Lorn automatically takes 14 (4d6) necrotic damage from the detonation (which cannot be reduced)."
  - name: Spellcasting
    desc: "Lorn casts one of the following spells, using Wisdom as the spellcasting ability (Spell Save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks):\n* **At will:** *Thaumaturgy*, *Toll the Dead* (2d12 necrotic), *Guidance*\n* **1/day each:** *Call Lightning* (3d10 lightning/thunder, 3rd level), *Sleet Storm*, *Dispel Magic*, *Hold Person*\n* **2/day each:** *Command*, *Inflict Wounds* (3d10 necrotic), *Bane*, *Thunderwave* (2d8 thunder, DC 14 Con)"

bonus_actions:
  - name: Tide Mother's Shrouding
    desc: Lorn surrounds himself in a 10-foot-radius aura of swirling mist until the start of his next turn. While active, attacks against him have Disadvantage unless the attacker has Blindsight or Truesight.
  - name: Healing Brine (2/Day)
    desc: Lorn touches himself or an allied Child of the Salt within 5 feet. The target regains 12 (2d8 + 3) hit points and ends the Poisoned or Blinded condition on itself.

reactions:
  - name: Wrath of the Storm (3/Day)
    desc: When a creature within 5 feet of Lorn that he can see hits him with an attack, Lorn can cause the creature to make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw. The creature takes 11 (2d10) lightning or thunder damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.

Minion Stat Block: Child of the Salt Zealot

name: Child of the Salt Zealot
size: Medium
type: Humanoid (Any Race)
alignment: Chaotic Neutral
ac: 13 (Leather Armor)
hp: 26 (4d8 + 8)
speed: 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
stats: [12, 14, 14, 9, 13, 10]
skills: Stealth +4, Religion +3
damage_resistances: Cold
senses: Passive Perception 11
languages: Common, Aquan
cr: 1 (200 XP)
pb: +2

traits:
  - name: Fanatical Zeal
    desc: The Zealot has Advantage on saving throws against being Frightened or Charmed while Lorn is within 30 feet of them.

actions:
  - name: Multiattack
    desc: The Zealot makes two Dagger attacks.
  - name: Bone & Pearl Dagger
    desc: "Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) necrotic damage."
  - name: Salt Flash (Recharge 5–6)
    desc: "The Zealot throws a fistful of ground Clarion salt in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be Blinded until the end of its next turn."