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Brine Wraith
Brine Wraith
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type:
Undead; aquatic spirit
habitat:
Slickstone Arches; surge caves off Vesper Quay
threat_level:
high
size:
2.0–3.5 m shroud span
behavior:
Lurking, territorial around drowned sites; drawn to breath and warm light
resistances:
Cold, fear, nonmagical slashes; ignores mundane ropes and nets
weaknesses:
Salt-etched iron; steady bell tones; bright continuous lantern arrays; mineral smoke eddies outline form
drops:
Brine Wraith is a spectral coastal predator haunting surge pools, arches, and wreck sites near Vesper Quay. It manifests as a cold, vaporous shroud that drifts against wind and current, stalking crews along the Slickstone Arches. Patrol notes from the Counting House mark it as a high-risk hazard during salvage disputes between the Silver Ledger and the Gutter Syndic. The haze from a Smoke Ampoule can momentarily trace its edges.
Description
- Appearance: Tall, ragged veil of brine vapor threaded with pale motes; eye-hollows glow like drowned embers.
- Movement: Slides cross-current; eddies fold inward rather than trail; leaves skin-prickle cold.
- Sound: Low, tidal inhalations; faint clink of submerged chains during surges.
- Scent: Salt-metal tang with kelp rot undertone, strongest near old moorings.
- Signs: Lantern flame gutters blue; breath fogs hard; mineral smoke outlines limb-like folds.
Habitat / Biome / Scene(s)
- Surge caves and cut channels of the Slickstone Arches.
- Foam pools beneath collapsed spans and rope-bolt ledges.
- Wreck pockets pushed in from Breaker’s Shelf.
- Occasional drift toward lantern docks of Vesper Quay during cold squalls.
Abilities / Attacks / Behaviors
- Drowned Clutch: Chilling grapple that numbs limbs and drags targets toward deeper surge.
- Breath Leech: Saps stamina when a target exhales; heavy panting accelerates loss.
- Lantern Warp: Distorts and dims open flames; causes backlit silhouettes to mislead.
- Undertow Step: Short lunge against the flow during wave drawdown; ignores footing.
- Wreckbind: Animates loose lines and weed to foul ankles after a hit.
- Lure Habit: Fixates on isolated light sources and steady breathing; ignores silent, still forms.
- Panic Aura: Untrained mobs make fear checks near surf edges.
Drops / Loot
- Drowned Lumen — faintly glowing brine pearl; holds chill light.
- Salt-Slick Kelp — frost-brittled strand from its wake; reagent grade.
- Foam-Pitted Coin — corroded token from prior drownings; minor charm fodder.
Stats
- Type: Undead aquatic spirit
- Level: 6–9 (storms push variants to 10)
- Health: Low body, high damage mitigation vs mundane
- Armor: Intangible; reduced by salt-etched iron and consecrated light
- Speed: Slow drift; fast surge during Undertow Step
- Senses: Keen to breath, heat, and open flame
- Resistances: Cold, necrotic, nonmagical slashing/piercing; restrained by none
- Weaknesses: Salted iron weapons; bell tones held steady; continuous bright lantern arrays; mineral smoke outline
Tactics / Strategy
- Keep groups tight and movement deliberate along the Slickstone Arches. Avoid heavy panting; stagger rests under windbreaks.
- Post two bright lanterns on opposite sides of the approach to reduce Lantern Warp false silhouettes.
- Use a Smoke Ampoule to trace its body, then strike with salt-etched iron or force it back with steady bell tones.
- Cut fouled lines fast with a Glasswire Dagger if Wreckbind triggers; step perpendicular to surge, not back toward the pool.
- Hall Guard escorts favor holding actions while clerks withdraw; do not chase into surge tunnels.
Lore
- Origin Rumors: Said to form where claim disputes turned fatal and breath rose through cold foam.
- Truce Folklore: Dockside crews claim ledger-stamped bells carried from the Counting House calm its approach if rung evenly.
- Salvage Superstition: A wraith circled by three fixed lanterns is “counted” and will not cross until one goes out.
- Noted Encounter: Operatives linked to Sable Thurne reported a wraith displaced by continuous light arrays during a pre-dawn tow.
Image Gallery
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A wraith rising from the Foam Court under the mid-arches
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Ledger escorts holding a lantern cordon while a spirit presses the line
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Mineral smoke outlining the spirit before a retreat
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A lone skiff fleeing the arches as the apparition coils in the surf