The Bell Beneath the Weir
The Bell Beneath the Weir
Read aloud
At midnight, the flood bell rings across Bellweather, though the river is low and the sky is clear. Moments later, black-glass fish rain onto the quay, and a wall of water surges upriver toward the town. Reeve Mara Venn offers a reward to anyone who can discover what has happened at Old Weir before the next tide.
Run the session
Cheat sheet
Objectives
- 1Discover why the flood bell rang without a rising tide.
- 2Get inside the weir and reach its control chamber.
- 3Stabilize the weir before the next surge.
- 4Learn what the engineer was trying to open.Optional
The clock
The next high tide arrives after the party has had time for initial investigation and one expedition to the weir. If the party takes a long rest or spends substantial time away, the water rises and the final stabilization becomes more hazardous.
Scenes
- 0:00The Reeve's Offer
- 0:30A Bell Out of Tune
- 1:15The Floodgate Channel
- 2:15The Engineer's Secret
- 3:15The Warning Restored
Cast
- Mara VennQuestgiver and Bellweather's practical reeve
- Tavi ReedWitness
- Sister HalwenAlly
- Orris ValeAntagonist
The hook
Set the scene
Read the hook aloud as the party gathers on Bellweather's quay. The flood has receded, leaving fish scattered across the stones and a fresh line of muddy water several feet above the normal river mark. Reeve Mara Venn is directing townsfolk away from the water and asks the party to meet her at the town hall.
How Mara Venn asks
Mara approaches the party at the quay after seeing them respond calmly to the flood.
She offers an immediate advance for supplies and promises the remainder when the bell is made safe.
Rumours
Scenes
about 4 hours0:00
30 min
socialThe table is here
1. The Reeve's Offer
Bellweather's quay and nearby town hall, among soaked cargo, worried residents, and scattered black-glass fish.
Mara explains the immediate danger and offers the job. The party can question her and agree on a deadline before the next tide.
NextTavi's account and the fish's unusual scales point toward the old floodgate, where the party can inspect the damage.
0:30
45 min
exploration
2. A Bell Out of Tune
The muddy riverbank, bell tower, and abandoned steps leading to the lower floodgate.
The party examines the bell, interviews Tavi, and follows signs of tampering to a maintenance route. A successful investigation should reveal that the bell was deliberately disconnected from part of its mechanism.
NextA trail of fresh tool marks and a loose chain leads down into the flooded maintenance channel.
1:15
60 min
combat
3. The Floodgate Channel
The narrow lower channel beneath Old Weir, where water moves between stone shelves and the sluice chain hangs loose.
The party navigates the flooded channel and deals with creatures drawn to the altered water. They can attempt to secure the sluice during or after the encounter.
Scavengers at the FloodgateNextBeyond the sluice, the party finds a service passage leading to the control chamber and hears voices arguing inside.
2:15
60 min
social
4. The Engineer's Secret
The cramped control chamber, where gears grind and the bronze bell's support chain has been redirected through a cracked stone arch.
The party confronts Orris and learns that he altered the mechanism to reach something below the weir. They can bargain, expose his actions, fight him, or combine these approaches.
The Engineer's Last StandNextOnce the party settles Orris's immediate threat, they must choose how to handle the unstable bell and the sealed structure below it.
3:15
45 min
skill
5. The Warning Restored
The bell platform above the control chamber, with tools, wet gears, and water climbing the stonework.
The party chooses how to stabilize the mechanism: reconnect the bell, safely close the maintenance route, or devise another solution. Success prevents the next surge, while clues can reveal that the danger may not be over.
NextMara and the townsfolk arrive as the river calms. The party returns to Bellweather to receive its reward and decide what to do with the recovered information.
Behind it
What people believe
The flood bell at Old Weir rang during low tide, and an unnatural surge nearly flooded Bellweather.
The reeve needs capable investigators to discover what caused the warning and make the weir safe before another surge strikes.
Background
For generations, the river town of Bellweather has relied on the bronze flood bell at Old Weir to warn of dangerous surges.
Three nights ago, the bell rang at low tide, and the water rose without rain. Since then, fish have washed ashore with black glass scales, and the river has carried a faint, steady hum.
The stakes
If the party fails to stabilize Old Weir, the next surge may flood Bellweather's lower district.
Even if they prevent immediate disaster, the old boundary beneath the weir may remain weakened.
Encounters
2Scavengers at the Floodgate
Combat
A slick stone channel beside the lower floodgate, with waist-deep water, narrow ledges, and a chain-operated sluice.
Foes
2-4 river scavengers, using appropriate low-level beast or humanoid statistics
1 black-glass eel, using a suitable low-level serpent or aquatic creature stat block
ComplicationThe current rises during the fight. At the end of each round, describe water spilling across a new part of the walkway; characters in the deepest section must contend with difficult footing. This is a custom environmental feature, not a standard D&D 5E rule.
ScalingFor a smaller or lower-level party, use two scavengers and omit the eel. For a larger or higher-level party, add one scavenger or increase the eel's durability modestly.
The Engineer's Last Stand
Combat or negotiation
The weir's cramped control chamber, crowded with turning gears, knee-deep water, and a raised platform beside the bell mechanism.
Foes
Orris Vale, using a suitable low-level spellcaster or bandit leader stat block
2 weir guards, using suitable low-level guard or bandit statistics
ComplicationOrris has opened the maintenance sluice. Each round, the rushing water makes one marked section of floor unsafe to linger in; show the affected section clearly before it takes effect.
ScalingFor a smaller or lower-level party, Orris tries to flee after the guards are defeated. For a larger or higher-level party, add one guard. Keep Orris's goal focused on escape or stopping the mechanism rather than fighting to the death.
Cast
4Mara Venn
QuestgiverQuestgiver and Bellweather's practical reeve
WantsKeep Bellweather safe and preserve trust in the town's warning system.
“The bell has never lied before. Find out why it rang, and make certain it can warn us again.”
Tavi Reed
Witness, a young ferryman's apprentice
WantsConvince the adults that the river is dangerous, while hiding that she has been sneaking to the weir.
“I saw a light beneath the water. It looked back at me.”
Sister Halwen
Ally, keeper of the riverside shrine
WantsProtect the river's ancient boundary, even if that means frightening the town into abandoning the weir.
“A warning bell is only useful if someone is willing to listen to what it warns about.”
Orris Vale
Antagonist, a hired engineer working at the weir
WantsFinish a secret repair that is worsening the river's instability, then escape blame for the consequences.
“I can stop the water. I only need one more night and nobody meddling with the mechanism.”
How it ends
Rewards
Items
A stamped brass flood token that grants free passage on Bellweather's ferry
A sealed case of river-salvage supplies, including rope, lantern oil, and dry rations
On a win
The party stops the mechanism from worsening the surge and restores the bell's ability to warn the town.
Bellweather is spared immediate disaster. If the party recovers Orris's notes or gains his cooperation, they also learn that something ancient lies beneath the weir, leaving the town with a new problem to prepare for.
What it leaves open
If it fails
- The party cannot stabilize the bell mechanism before the next surge.
- The party fails to stop the water in time. Bellweather's riverside storehouses flood, damaging supplies and forcing the town to evacuate part of its lower district.
- The party lets Orris leave without securing his records or learning why he altered the mechanism.
- Orris escapes with his notes and the town remains uncertain about who caused the crisis. He may return with outside support or sell the plans to a more dangerous buyer.
- The party chooses to silence the bell without repairing or safely containing the mechanism.
- The river boundary remains unstable. The bell can warn of future surges, but strange lights and dangerous creatures continue to appear downstream.
Complications (d6)
- 1A sudden surge floods the lowest route. The party must find a higher path or spend time securing ropes and hauling one another through the current.
- 2A loose chain snaps across a narrow walkway. Anyone crossing before it is secured risks falling onto the wet stone shelves below.
- 3A frightened witness mistakes the party for Orris's hired troublemakers and alerts the town watch, costing the group time while they explain themselves.
- 4Black-glass fish swarm around a lantern or bright magical light, obscuring the area and making nearby creatures difficult to see.
- 5A trapped weir gate begins to grind shut. The group has only a few minutes to pass through or find a way to hold it open.
- 6Tavi appears at the edge of the danger zone, having followed the party. The group must get Tavi to safety before continuing.
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