Imagine this skill challenge

The party are sailing to to the island late in a storm late at night. Imagine the white light of the full moon at their backs, the black ocean below, the roiling purple sky above, when a flash of arcane blue illuminates the faces of the party and crew, forcing them to rub spots out of their eyes.

On a distant clifftop, the magical bridge of light that connects the lighthouse observatory flickers and fades as two dragons spiral and clash high above, blasting arcs of lightning into the clouds.

When panic burns through the crew, things get worse aboard the ship. Something lurks in the water, snatching sailors out of their boots. A harpy circles above, her song ensorcelling the weak-minded enter to her violent embrace.

This ship is going to sink. What does the party do?

Contents

• An explanation of how to run my version of a skill challenge
• Ten obstacles the party could face as their ship dramatically sinks, each with suggested solutions and read-aloud text
  • A falling mast!
  • A fire breaks out!
  • A flood of bilge water!
  • Something in the water!
  • Panic amongst the crew!
  • Too dark to see!
  • The deck lurches!
  • Looting in the chaos!
  • A harpy attacks!
  • The captain is injured!

And check out this video related to the PDF