Session 4

Day 4 started relatively uneventfully except for the barrage of bugs, humidity, and fatigue from the constant required vigilance.  Looking a little tired the party pressed on by climbing back into their canoes, continuing their journey down the River Soshenstar.

River Lions:  Following navigation through a heavy jungle morning mist, the weather changed again with intermittent rain with rays of sun peaking through the jungle canopy.  Eku flashed the signal for the other boaters to stop paddling having spotted potential danger ahead.  The "tell-tale" sign was a gently swinging tail hanging from a toppled tree lying across the river.

 "Mufassa"

Approaching cautiously, the party allowed momentum bring them closer to the pack of lions relaxing along the shoreline and on top of the fallen tree log.  Noticed by the pack, the party chose to try to communicate and mediate safe passage without having to fight... a battle Johfra didn't want. 

After a brief discussion the lions agreed to allow safe passage for four pounds of food per lion.  Digging through their backpacks trying to figure out how meet the quota, Eku offered her services by casting a spell satisfying the requirement.  Karn gave Eku a long look wondering why they've been busting their asses foraging for food when she possessed such abilities.  The party safely passed under the tree as they watched the ravenous beasts battle among themselves for the spoils.

Day 5 started relatively uneventfully except for some complaints from Peter not getting any sleep with all the annoying jungle bugs and creatures crawling over him the night before. 

(insert dramatic music....here)

Camp Righteous:  "The party came upon an abandoned riverside camp strewn with wreckage. The tents were moldy and tattered, and all the permanent structures appear to have burned to the ground. Two intact rowboats were tied off to a short dock."

"North of the camp was a ridge, built into which is an 80-foot-tall stone statue carved to look like a man with a crocodile on his back. Between the statue’s feet was a stone archway leading to a dark tunnel. To the left of the statue was a crude animal pen with a small, panicked bird running around inside it. There were no other signs of life."

Evidence of some kind of battle was clear with the destruction but strangely no sign of bodies.....just evacuated.  Azaka recalled the legend of the shrine after some thought:  

In the early days of the world, Man stood by the banks of a river, frightened. Crocodile raised his head from the water and asked, “What troubles you, cousin Man?”

Man said, “I must cross this river, but I fear to enter the water alone, because it teems with your brethren.”

Crocodile replied, “It’s true, you would not be safe. But I will carry you across the river safely on my back, if you promise to return the favor.” Man agreed, and Crocodile bore him safely across the water.

When they reached the far bank, Man asked, “How can I repay you?” Crocodile replied, “I wish to see the realm of Humans, but I fear to go there alone, because it teems with your brethren. You must carry me on your back across your realm.” Man had been tricked, but a promise is a promise, so he carried Crocodile safely on his back across the entire realm of humans, a journey that lasted many years. He also swore, in his anger, that never again would Men and Crocodiles be friends, and so it has remained to this day. 

 House of the Man and Crocodile:  Cautiously entering the entry to the darkened, the group fired up some magic for light and checked vigorously for traps at the web covered entrance.  Karn, Arlen, and Peter were the first ones to enter......the deathtrap.  Johfra and the guides stayed back to watch the boats and entrance.

(GM note: seeing a lack of trust and some mild paranoia here- loving that!)

Karn was first to detect the concealed pit trap decided to simply jump over the obstacle and land himself in the darkened webs some twenty feet across.  Easily landing safely on the other side he managed to set off the undetected blade trap.  Hearing the screams from inside, the guides just glanced at each other in mutual understanding.  Using pitons, Karn felt fairly certain he had secured the blade traps for the others.

Working through, the party discovered a puzzle floor solving it easily by using the door above as their guide.  Figuring out the requirement for crossing the traps (being carried on the back of another), Arlen and Peter attempted to climb up the seven foot wall imitating the human/crocodile.  Unfortunately, Peter's fatigue from the lost sleep the night before got the best of him and he dropped Arlen onto the puzzle floor unleashing hell fire and damage.  

Karn had finally reached the puzzle door above.  With Arlen on his back he slowly touched the dim lights on the puzzle, only to be thrown back with a might blast of thunder! (insert powerful thunder sound here).  Arlen was blasted seven feet below only saved by his cloak of feather fall gently landing him on a illuminated square damage free.

After figuring out the puzzle door, the group finally made it to the treasury. 
"The floor of this dusty, 40-foot-high, 20-foot-wide chamber is littered with dinosaur bones. Webs stretch from the walls to a 30-foot-tall central pillar, coiled around which is a narrow stone staircase, its steps covered with dust. Carved into the pillar are reliefs of a man carrying a crocodile. The reliefs follow the stairs to the top of the pillar, on which sits a large, beautiful, ceramic jug."

 Alchemy Jug

Wondrous item, uncommon

This ceramic jug appears to be able to hold a gallon of liquid and weighs 12 pounds whether full or empty. Sloshing sounds can be heard from within the jug when it is shaken, even if the jug is empty.

You can use an action and name one liquid from the table below to cause the jug to produce the chosen liquid. Afterward, you can uncork the jug as an action and pour that liquid out, up to 2 gallons per minute. The maximum amount of liquid the jug can produce depends on the liquid you named.

Once the jug starts producing a liquid, it can't produce a different one, or more of one that has reached its maximum, until the next dawn.

Liquid	Max Amount
Acid	8 ounces
Basic poison	1/2 ounce
Beer	4 gallons
Honey	1 gallon
Mayonnaise	2 gallons
Oil	1 quart
Vinegar	2 gallons
Water, fresh	8 gallons
Water, salt	12 gallons
Wine	1 gallon

 With their lessons learned, the guys carefully carried each other up the steps acquiring the jug....a soft whistle from outside the tome.  Johfra was in trouble!

Batiri Goblins Attack:  As the tome raiders worked their way out, Johfra and the guides were suddenly attacked by a band of Batiri goblins.  After just a few moments, the part had things under control and goblin boss dead.  Mission accomplished and on to Yellyark to find the missing construct.