Page 102 - Tomb of Annihilation

SACRIFICE OF FIRE The arrow slits are 6 inches wide, 2 feet tall, and 1
The first time the characters arrive, they encounter a foot deep. A character who peers through an arrow slit
small vegepygmy tribe preparing to sacrifice a grung after clearing out the cobwebs can see into the room be-
(see appendix D) to the rift. The grung, Imbok, is bound yond (area 60), provided the character has a light source
with vines and restrained. As the grung struggles, or can see in the dark.
the vegepygmies encircle him and perform a strange, Pits. Three covered pits are spaced along the corridor
ritualistic dance. Unless the characters intervene, the in the positions marked X on the shrine map. Their cov-
vegepygmies roll their captive off the edge of the cliff. A ers remain locked until the puzzle cube is moved from
couple of vegepygmies leap off after him, caught in the the pedestal in area 6C. Thereafter, a creatw·e stepping
throes of devotion. on a pit cover causes it to swing open and falls in unless
The tribe consists of one vegepygmy chief, eight it succeeds on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. Each pit
vegcpygmies, and the chief's thorny pet. Statistics for is 10 feet deep and has a patch of green slime (see chap-
all these creatures appear in appendix D. Their grung ter 5 of the Dungeon Master's Guide} at the bottom of it.
captive is the beloved one hundred and eightieth son of A character who searches the hallway floor for traps
the grung chieftain Yorb. If the characters free Imbok, finds a pit trap with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Per-
he grovels at their feet. He doesn't speak Common but ception) check. The lids are cleverly constructed and can
promises to bury his benefactors in gold if they escort be jammed shut only by using magic such as an arcane
him back to his father's shrine (area 18). lmbok's prom· lock spell.
ise is empty, but he has nothing else to offer his saviors.
6C. CHAMBER OF DECEPTION
6. MoA's SHRINE
This shrine perches on a pinnacle of rock high above the In the middle of this room, a stone cube rests on a plain
great rift (area 5). stone pedestal. Statues of twelve tribal warriors jut from
the surrounding walls, aiming bows at the pedestal. The
I I obscures much of the detail.
A column of rock rises 200 feet above the lava. A walled
floor in front of the pedestal bears a mosaic depicting a
ruin overgrown with palms perches on the summit.
monstrous serpent constricting a furious monkey. Moss
At its narrowest point, the gulf between the shrine and
the rest of the city is 60 feet wide. Characters with rope The mosaic shows Moa (a jaculi) fighting Wongo (a
and grappling hooks can throw a line across the gap. su-monster). If a character peels the moss aside, they
The shrine to the trickster god Moa (represented by a uncover the following message written in Old Omuan:
jaculi) contains one of nine puzzle cubes needed to enter "Death rewards a thief deceived. Truth comes from the
the Tomb of the Nine Gods. serpent's mouth." Another inscription encircles the floor
and tells the story of how Moa upheld the truth to Ubtao
6A. SHRINE ENTRANCE
and betrayed Wongo's trust (see "Legend of the Nine
Gods," page 92).
The puzzle cube on the pedestal is illusory, though
Palm trees grow in front of this squat building, and worn
it feels real to the touch. A detect magic spell or simi-
steps ascend to an archway that forms the entrance.
lar effect reveals an aura of illusion magic around the
Reliefs of coiled serpents Aank the entrance. cube. When taken from the shrine, it vanishes in a puff
of green smoke. If a creature removes the puzzle cube
from the pedestal or tries to damage one of the statues,
Four jaculis (see appendix D) lurk in the courtyard,
using their camouflage to hide while coiled around tree the archers animate and open fire on all creatures in the
trunks. If the characters enter the courtyard, the jaculis room. The archers can detect the presence of creatures
spring forth and attack. even if they are invisible. Before they open fire, arrows
magically appear in their bows. The archers remain
GB. 1RAPPED PASSAGE animated for 1 hour, after which they revert to their in-
animate state.
The twelve archers act on initiative count 20. On its
The walls of this rubble-strewn corridor are carved with turn, a statue shoots one arrow (+6 to hit). A creature
serpents, and arrow slits are spaced along them every hit by an arrow takes 5 (ld8 + 1) piercing damage. Each
statue is a Medium object with AC 17; 30 hit points; im-
S feet. Cobwebs fill the arrow slits and hang like drapes
munity to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage
from the corridor ceiling. Above the entrance, a stone
from nonmagical attacks; and immunity to poison and
plaque bears a cuneiform message. psychic damage.
Secret Doors. Characters who search the walls for
secret doors find one on each side of the entrance tunnel
The message on the plaque is written in Old Omuan
and reads, "Moa teaches us that secrets hide the truth." with a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Perception) check.
Explorers must heed this message to find the shrine's
puzzle cube.

CHAPTER 3 DWEitERS O> .. IJIE FORBIDDEN CITY