Goodman Games

As the subject says: looking for some help in turning the encounter/scenario below into a funnel that progresses into a 1st level adventure.

Black Pearl of Great Power
On the day of the new moon, the harbor of the mercantile city-state is
thrown into confusion when small boats moving through the harbor are
seized by thick tentacles belonging to 1d4 giant octopi and 1d6+2 giant
squid, the occupants of those boats dragged to a watery grave and then, as
soon as the attacks occur, the giant cephalopods disappear.
The next night of the new moon, chaos again erupts as those men and
women who were lost on that fateful night a month ago emerge from the
dark waters of the harbor, pale of skin, waterlogged and rotting, carrying
on their shoulders a cassone of black bronze and studded with coral
imbroglios of fiendish mermaids. Six wights, for wights they now are,
carry the cassone on poles of black bronze, while another twelve wights
serve as an honor guard, attacking anyone who comes near. This foul
procession is making its way to the grand temple of the sea god.
While this is happening, the giant octopi and squid are back in the
harbor, attacking ships and dragging sailors to their doom. Moments after
a sailor drowns, its body climbs from the harbor as a draug. The draug
run though the waterfront, killing indescriminately and spreading chaos
in their wake.
When the procession of wights reaches the grand temple, they will force
entry, set down their cassone before the idol of the sea god and open it.
From the cassone will arise dozens of thick, black tentacles, which will
grasp and throw down the idol of the sea god and replace it with a single,
large black pearl, an idol of Dagon, the new master of the mercantile
city-state.

First I think you should check out my "0 level Seafaring Occupations chart" over under the Characters heading. It seems like it would come in handy here.

Second, the PC's start as the 0 level members of a ship crew that has unfortunately come to moor at the city-state on this unfortunate eve! They must battle the octopi while escaping their now besieged ship get in the rowboat and make for harbor docks. Those fortunate enough to make the docks arrive in time to see the waterlogged procession rise and begin its march towards the temple! Perhaps even some of their recently fallen comrades are now draug's and must be put to rest!

With the city in chaos and the local's all amok, the PC's must stop these watery-dead from profaning the Sea-God's temple with Dagon's Black Pearl.

1) fight running street battle with the procession whittling them down as they near the temple
2) find unique and interesting ways to waylay the procession, setting up blockades in the streets, flaming oil flasks, etc.
3) breaking into a local militia barracks for arms and armor

That's all I got off the top of my head right now. By the way I'm totally stealing this idea it is really cool!

Just a quick reply--this is a great start; you've given me some good ideas and starting points. I'll have to check out your occupations, they should come in handy. Feel free to add more ideas as they come.
You're welcome to steal all you like!
Thanks for adding your thoughts.