In the campaign I am DM-ing, I have created an Atlantis-like underwater city, and to get there I need my players characters to travel under water, and naturally they will need to breathe.
Currently they are only level 3, this is just something I am planning for down the road – they shouldn't reach the city for a while yet.
Ideally I would like to be able to have them use the spell Water Breathing, but unfortunately none of the players qualify to learn that spell, as our only spellcasters are warlocks and a cleric.
I'm wondering if there's any way of enabling one of the warlocks (or the cleric, though with them being forge domain it seems unfitting) to cast the spell? I considered a scroll, but they would need to use it on multiple occasions if the quest goes how I anticipate, so that doesn't work.
I'm open to other options, but the spell would probably be my ideal solution.
If there is nothing within the official rules that would allow them to do it, has anyone come up with an effective homebrew solution to this?
Best Answer
Since you are planning ahead, and be warned players and long term players "Gang aft a-gley", then you need to give them lots of opportunities to pick up an item, or a cap, or be permanently enchanted by a water nymph.
These are best done as side quests, in which the apparent side quest doesn't reveal your plans.
So, the river has stopped flowing in a village. The villagers are afraid, since the water nymph Gladys has always kept the water clean and free of monsters. Jaco the pig farmer swears he's seen a troll, but he's a notorious liar. Could they help, it's worth one of Jaco's pigs and as much free lodging they ever need here?
The nymph will be found near a hole in the river bed where the water is pouring down into a dark cavern below. She is dying. "Help me, kill the troll and her evil magic will end and I can seal the hole. It'll be deep and dark that water, let me cast a protective charm upon you.."
Down they go, I suggest ropes.. and it's a dark deep lake, at the bottom of which they can just make out by the light of luminescent rocks a water troll cackling and chewing on a pig carcass. "Ah ha my pretties" she gloats, " you can't get me here, your lungs will explode and your brains will be mine to suck out of your ears".
The players should then make suitable rejoinders, a fight should ensue (remember that crushing/slashing weapons might take a disadvantage to attack underwater whereas piercing weapons are fine. No need to swim, they can breathe!
Gladys says thanks, and rewards them by making the ability to breathe underwater permanent. They get a pig from Jaco, and they can sleep at the village whenever they want.
Fun, short evening game, and your dastardly needs are met.