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The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan



Chapter Four: The Gods Will

The adventurers agree to let be the suspected treasure and fire beetles. There is a north door and a set of double doors in the east wall.

Maps

Siavel sniffs the air in this chamber, thinking they must now be near to the ground level in this massive place. He tries to determine it the poisoned air is less potent in here.

Lets not upset the beetles or the piles in here if there is no need. Should we make for the single door on the left?

After letting Azoth determine if the way is free of traps, the elf will search the walls on the way to the door for any secrets or concealments.

Calto the druid:

Calto nods in agreement with Siavel and gives a wide berth to the beetles as he makes his way to the single door to the north. He will listen to the door as he waits for the others.

Tabai nods as well knowing it would be wise to leave the beetles be.

The men move slowly along the west then north wall, as quietly and inconspicuously as possible. Azoth the cleric spies no traps at the north door. It is unlocked snd they proceed into a corridor extending 20' north then turning east.

Alex 'Blade Rain' Vam; Human Fighter


Blade Rain anxiously watches the beetles; hoping not to have to fight them as they remind him of the cockroaches that used to infest the hovel he grew up in back on the mean, poor streets of Greyhawk city.

Alex follows the others, keeping a tight grip on his weapons and an anxious ear and eye out for any signs of approaching danger....

Calto the druid:

Calto sniffs the air, trying to determine if it is still tainted with the poison. He follows Azoth, hoping the dark cleric can continue to warn them of any potential traps.

Kitchi- Is glad that they avoided a fight with the beetles. And wait for Azoth to clear the way of traps.

Siavel pulls out the ornate dagger again as the group proceeds east. He closes his eyes as he calmly strokes the pommel.

My precious dagger is telling me that we are indeed taking the proper course. Let us continue on carefully.

Siavel the elven sorcerer concentrates on his dagger, hoping to draw guidance from the elaborate and foreign blade. He smells for poison in the air but his senses are not attuned enough.

Calto the druid still smells the subtle foulness in the air. Azoth the cleric leads the way down the corridor, his divine sight observing for traps. He spies a glow 20' ahead on the floor - another pressure plate. Two lines glow in the ceiling 10' before and 10' after the pressure plate. As before, the threat is marked and avoided.

The corridor continues east for some 50' before ending in a door. There is a puzzle of some sort on it, a square of colorful tiles in an inset frame. The pieces are obviously loose.


Underneath is a stylized outline of a jaguar and an empty inset frame.
It appears obvious what must be done. The door has no knob, latch or lock. Azoth's vision reveals a 10' square pit trap right before the door.

Calto the druid:

Calto rubs his chin as he ponders the puzzle, "Perhaps the colorful tiles are somehow meant to be arranged in the stylized jaguar frame so that it assumes the shape of a square? Maybe this will permit entry; however, the pit trap must be dealt with before we tamper with the puzzle. I have a feeling that whatever lies beyond is of great significance." He looks inquisitively to the others for their input.

Siavel smiles at the puzzle door. He believes Calto's assumptions to be correct.

I can cast a spell on the floor that will bring forth sticky strands of spiders webs. That might be useful for getting to the puzzle without having to deal with the pit trap.

The problem with that is the floor in front of the door will then be very sticky and hard to traverse. Does anyone have something that could be placed over the webs in order to facilitate the crossing? Some sand or other powder would work. Or, an extra cloak or something else that you don't mind leaving behind might work as well.

Calto the druid:

Calto is impressed with the elven mage's resourcefulness, however; he can think of nothing that he owns that could prove helpful to avoid the sticky webs. "The only cloak I possess is my enchanted cloak, and I dare not risking losing it."

He turns to Azoth, "Perhaps you could float over by using your meditation rug?"

Tabai checks his loincloth for an extra cloak "Sorry no cloaks here."

Azoth nods, unfurling his Meditation Rug of Corporeal Transcendence. The cleric of Noden sits cross-legged on it, presses his fingers together, and hums a low dirge of intense concentration. The rug rises and moves to in front of the door.

"Let us solve the puzzle, and I will assemble the pieces," he says.

Kitchi- I have a cloak that we can use. He drops his backpack from his shoulders and pulls out the cloak.

Calto the druid:

Calto tries to assist Azoth with completing the puzzle as the dark priest floats effortlessly upon his mediation rug.

Tabai nods "I think you are right Calto that looks right to me."

Alex 'Blade Rain' Vam; human Fighter


Blade Rain pulls out his backpack, rifles through it and pull out his coil of rope. "I'm not sure if this will help, but if you need it"; he offers it to the Priest and the Mage before taking up arms again and keeping a sharp lookout....

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

Azoth gratefully accepts Alex's rope.

Then, beads of sweat gather upon the terrible brow of the crimson-eyed cleric as he fiercely concentrates on simultaneously placing the puzzle pieces in wise Calto's proposed pattern, and levitating himself in mid air.