Session 15

December 12, 2019

Saltmarsh 15: Temple of Doom

The party fights skeletons on the way to the Abbey. Kayle solves a puzzle to open a trap door, and Emmet discovers a secret door behind a tapestry.

Synopsis
Emmet returns to the ship after hanging in Saltmarsh for the past few days, with newly purchased seaweed, nets, and a great axe. Vel fills him in on how their meeting with the lizardfolk went.

Malcolm gives Emmett his share of the loot money. The crew's next plan is still to go investigate the Abbey from Malcolm's dream, and they confirm they're clear to leave with Elliander. Vel shows the coordinates to the ship, and the ship launches into the sea.

The Abbey island is surrounded by jagged rocks that the Siren's Call is too large to fit through. The party board a smaller rowboat to take ashore and Vel leaves Steve in charge of the ship and the Sea Monkeys. Malcolm loans Steve a dagger, unsure if he knows how to use it. Dora gestures to Steve how to use a dagger, behind Malcolm's back.

On the shore, the party lands on a sandy beach with mile long dunes. Dora sends Bastille to scout ahead, and spots the Abbey on the other side of a grassy hill beyond the dunes. Malcolm does a prayer to Lanthander and casts Goodberry, as a precaution. They begin up the hill when the sound of shifting sands come from behind them.

Three medium skeletons and one skeletal juggernaut rise from beneath the sand. One rolls forward, ensnaring Emmett and slashing into him. Malcolm casts Bless on Vel, Kayle, and Dora. Another skeleton ensnares Vel, she attacks them with her rapier. Kayle attacks the skeleton on top of Emmett, discovers that its vulnerable to bludgeoning damage. The largest skeleton explodes into shards, hitting the whole party, and reforms. Malcolm summons the Dawn Speaker and attacks the juggernaut in front of Dora. Emmett escapes the skeleton holding him. Kayle deals a critical hit to a skeleton. Dora, getting frustrated, reaches out for the juggernaut and casts ''Shocking Grasp. ''One skeleton prepares to deal a heavy hit to her, but the Dawn Speaker slams into it first, shattering it to dust. The combat continues until Kayle obliterates the final skeleton. Vel, Emmett, and Dora take a moment to heal.

Emmett calls Billy over, suddenly remembers that Billy is evil, and pulps him into the sand. Vel is shocked, but the party presses on.

Above the Abbey door is celestial writing that nobody can read, Malcolm copies it down. Inside, large stained glass windows are covered in a black substance. A fountain sits in the back, a statue of a knight holding a broken blade hilt at its center, also covered in the black substance. Malcolm finds a trapdoor in the floor, and celestial writing inside the fountain. The knight statue is holding a book, which details more of Heironeous' scripture. He finds a silver locket with a portrait of a noble man inside. Emmett and Dora try to wedge the door open, but cannot lift it. Kayle tries to open the trapdoor by pushing it, does not budge.

Malcolm steps outside the Abbey and prays to Lathander for assistance. Lathander believes that a war god like Heironeous would require some form of sacrifice. Malcolm renters the Abbey, cuts his hand over the fountain. Nothing happens and Lathander is baffled. Kayle drops a gold coin into the fountain, and the trap door opens.

Beneath the trap door, is a long hall with eight more rooms. Malcolm opens the first door and finds a laundry room of sorts. Emmett opens door two; a stocked wine cellar. He and Vel raid the room. Room three, a barrick, with four cots and a weapon rack. Room four has another statue of Heironeous, with well preserved tapestries lining the walls. Kayle tries to move the tapestry, but is stopped by a ghost who tells them to leave. Room five, storage. Room six, another barrick. Room seven is filled with statues; a skeleton holding a scythe, a medusa, both are dirty like they've been dragged here. Room eight, bookcases and a scribe's desk. Vel finds vials of ink and two spell scrolls; Light and Bless. She gives the former to Dora and the later to Malcolm.

Malcolm and Vel return to room four. She tries to lift the tapestry, but the ghost reprimands her. Emmett tries next, and reveals a door. He tears down the tapestry, sending it to the floor. Through the door, is a larger chamber. Three figures stand there, two skeletal guards and an acolyte in blue robes.

Featured Characters
Emmett

Velaeria

Malcolm

Theadora

Kayle

NPCs
Elliander

Steve

Lathander

Quotations
"Usually I'm the big thing coming from behind." -Emmett

Trivia

 * Session Length: 2:33:26
 * This session covers 1 day in universe, the party has now known each other for 37 days.
 * Continue Count: 1
 * This session is named after Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise
 * This is the only episode to not be named after a sequential film or song title
 * More tenants of Heironeous
 * No. 1: Protect and defend the innocent who cannot defend themselves
 * No. 5: Suffer no evil, no matter what form it takes
 * No. 34: Never die easy, strive always for a valorous end
 * No. 46: The true of spirit will pass the third gate