Our adventure into the Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan has begun! In this first session, our intrepid party of adventurers found themselves in the bustling city of Waterdeep, where whispers of an ancient, ruined city and a hidden shrine dedicated to a vampire god sparked their collective interest.
Let's meet our heroes:
- Algos: An aasimar follower of Kelemvor. He is described as having a bit of a glow, being somewhat of a pretty boy, and possessing a cold, indifferent demeanor.
- Good Morning: A cancu bard who sounds like an old 60s or early 70s radio presenter. He is quite mad and carries a noise box. He survived a previous adventure but aged 40 years during it, an affliction that has since been mostly rectified.
- Vela: A small, bluish-purple kobold barbarian. She stands at two and a half feet tall and wields a great axe. Vela is known for her quick temper and reckless nature, preferring to hit first and ask questions later, though she used to constantly ask Hadar for guidance.
- Yorui: A wanderer from far-off lands who came to Waterdeep seeking wealth and glory. He is a sellsword and was asked by a dwarven cleric named Hedar to keep an eye on Good Morning and Vela.
The session kicked off in Good Morning's bar in Waterdeep, where rumors of the ruined city of Tamoachan and its hidden shrine, said to contain treasure, piqued the party's interest. Despite some initial skepticism about vampire gods, the lure of the unknown and potential riches proved irresistible.
Their journey took them by boat across the sea, arriving at a jungle peninsula. After setting up camp, they ventured into the dense jungle and eventually discovered the ancient, toppled city, mostly covered in undergrowth. In the distance, they spotted a central clearing with a great pyramid standing intact.
As they approached the pyramid, traversing cracked flagstones and fallen pillars, the earth suddenly shuddered and gave way beneath their feet. The party plummeted into darkness amidst the roar of collapsing masonry and swirling dust.
They found themselves in a long, narrow chamber, the sunlight completely gone. A domed shape lay in the center of the floor. The north wall held a blank stone door, while the south end was blocked by rubble. Niches were cut into the side walls, each containing a diorama depicting aspects of tribal life. The central display showed a hunting party, which Yor Eye examined.
Ignoring warnings not to touch anything, Good Morning began interacting with the dioramas. The party then turned their attention to a set of double doors to the west, which Vila carefully examined, noticing something wasn't quite right. It was revealed that there was a pressure plate in front of these doors.
Venturing further into the complex, they encountered a giant crayfish in another chamber. After a tense exchange, they learned there were other doors in the room to the east and south that they had not yet explored.
The party then discovered a secret door hidden behind a section of wet, caustic lime-covered wall. After some effort involving pushing the heavy stone block, they entered a small foyer containing three sealed urns and a set of bronze double doors with glyphs. The urns appeared to contain liquid and were sealed with wax, leading the party to believe they might be dangerous.
Examining the bronze doors, they deciphered a glyph that read “here lies master of the others who is like the wind and the night”. This sounded suspiciously like a vampire. The door was locked but appeared forceable. Vila, having acquired thieves' tools, attempted to pick the lock, eventually succeeding after some effort and guidance.
Beyond the bronze doors lay a chamber with calcite and stalactites. In the center stood a colossal monument resembling a giant's table, covered in carvings and glyphs. A battle axe was embedded in the wall, and a seal on the floor displayed more glyphs which ominously read “ow ah defilers now you shall join me in my eternal resting”.
Yor Eye used his Eyes of the Grave ability and sensed an uneasy spirit within the monument. As he examined the top of the monolith, they noticed a name and date, with a significant gap between birth and death, further fueling suspicions of undead presence.
Ignoring Vela's concerns, Yor Eye began looting the monument, finding a jade mask and pendant. As he removed these items, dust swirled, and a wasted form, a skeleton, sat up in the coffin, its bones knitting back together.
Combat ensued! Good Morning immediately attacked the reanimated skeleton with his great axe. Despite the party's attempts to subdue it, the skeleton, revealed to be casting a spell, attempted to flee. A chaotic exchange of attacks followed, with Vela also engaging. Yor Eye used his samurai fighting spirit, and ultimately, Yor Eye and Vila managed to defeat the undead creature.
After the fight, the party looted the tomb further, finding a magical berserker axe with spells attached to it and a jade pendant. They also discovered a glass vial near the door they had unlocked earlier. The DM hinted that the vial was part of a trap that didn't trigger because the door was not opened correctly.
As the session concluded, Good Morning, in his characteristic manner, started painting a clown face on the defeated skeleton. The party discussed the strange and dangerous nature of the shrine, having already encountered traps and a vampire in the initial rooms. The DM ominously hinted that there were several extremely dangerous areas deeper within the dungeon.
Thus ends our first foray into the Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan, leaving us with a victorious but wary group, clutching newfound treasures and facing an uncertain future in the depths of this ancient and perilous place.