(Saltmarsh) The ocean is calm and tensions ease as the crew travels further from the Sahuagin lair. About two days South, a small island appears on the horizon. Kysh tells Captain Windspark that his Triton clan is under the water just off to the right and the crew can dock at the island. As the ship pulls closer to drop anchor, the crew takes in the setting. Large bright flowers dot the dense tropical foliage. Waterfalls flow upward into the sea mist-filled sky. Geysers erupt with sparkling light. The sea-elf inhabitants move like liquid through a small village and there seems to be a faint, tinny melody floating on the breeze. This is the Island of Bypool.
Bypool is in the Ghosts of Saltmarsh setting and I had to somewhat persuade the group to head there. As DM, I try my best to avoid coercing the group onto any specific path, but sometimes there are places or settings that are too cool to miss. Bypool is a magical island where nature reigns supreme and I knew the group would dig it.
I told them Kysh – the Triton they rescued from the Sahuagin lair – lived nearby with his clan and that he could perhaps broker an alliance to fight the impending Sahuagin threat. But, more importantly, I got to describe this wild little island I was so pumped about.
As an aside on the off-chance (see: 99.9% chance) that you don’t know what either Triton or Sahuagin are: A Triton is a playable race in DnD that is an amphibious humanoid with blue skin, green hair, and fins along their calves. They tend to project a noble, arrogant air. The Sahuagin are a predatory, sea-based group that are the main villains in the Ghosts of Saltmarsh. They look like a humanoid version of a cross between a piranha-frog-sea dragon.
This cocktail is essentially a kiwi mojito and it’s beautifully green and tropical-looking. It’s more tangy than sour and the golden kiwis add just the right hit of sweetness. And floating kiwi seeds always add a nice visual bump.
The upside-down popsicle was inspired by the waterfalls on Bypool that run up instead of down. I used a simple lime pop and as it melted down it added a bit of extra sugar and limey-flavor so the cocktail never really felt watered down.
Island Mist
Ingredients: Makes one. I didn’t add soda water (which mojitos typically have) but I think that would be a nice addition if you prefer a touch of bubbles.
- 2 oz light rum (I used Cruzan because it’s a great, smooth rum for the price point)
- 2 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 1-2 golden kiwis
- Handful of mint
- Garnish option: Mint and lime or lemon popsicle. Soda water to top if that’s your thing.
Recipe:
- Muddle the mint in a shaker with the simple syrup.
- Spoon out the kiwi juice/pulp and add to shaker.
- Add the rum and lime juice to the shaker and shake with ice.
- Pour into a medium glass over more ice.
- Dunk a popsicle in and garnish with a sprig of mint.
The Bourbon Dragon 