Tomb of Annihilation Session 18 – Monkey Business

Here’s the write up from our latest Tomb of Annihilation session, in which the adventurers finally reached the ruins of Mezro. I used material from Encounters in the Jungles of Chult, Dread Thingonomicon, and Uncharted Journeys for some of the encounters.

Begin here with Session 0 – Caves of the Cockatrice

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11th Uktar, 1495 DR

Intrigued by the unusual plants growing amongst the ruins of Mnonga, Eysleigh decides to stay behind to study them, while the other characters continue their canoe journey along the River Tiryki with Certes and Vorn, who have now rejoined the group.

As the river winds slowly through boggy terrain, Nanna identifies a patch of tall blue reeds that can be used to make a reed of scorn, a magical whip. They row the canoe over and the gnome harvests the reeds, dodging out the way as they lash out at her.

Later, as the characters get ready to stop for the night, they spot a decrepit treehouse in a nearby tree. When they tie up their canoe and go to investigate, they spot a tabaxi watching them from another tree. They wave and call out, but the tabaxi disappears.

Nanna weaves her reed of scorn, climbs onto Vorn’s shoulders, and uses the whip to grab hold of the broken rope ladder so she can haul herself up to the treehouse. Rhamash joins her at the top where they discover a human skeleton covered in vines and three potions of healing.

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12th Uktar

It’s a very hot day and the party are forced to portage the canoes around a triple waterfall. They catch occasional glimpses of the mysterious tabaxi throughout the day.

That evening, the characters decide to ignore a small cave inhabited by monkeys and camp further upstream.

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13th Uktar

The party hide their canoes and head southeast on foot. Monkeys and baboons follow them through the jungle until the characters reach a large clearing where a massive statue of a snarling gorilla carved from white stone stands amid the wreckage of a ruined temple. Dozens of monkeys and baboons have gathered here and are staring at the party.

When Certes and Nanna step into the clearing to investigate, the monkeys start screeching and a dozen giant baboons attack, joined by a girallon. The girallon attacks Rhamash, knocking the kobold unconscious, but he is brought round by his comrades and healed by Eku. Certes casts two fireballs, killing the girallon with the second.

Once the last few baboons have been defeated, Rhamash recovers the girallon’s earring – a swan boat feather token – and the others gather the jewellery left at the statue’s feet. They leave the clearing, heading south, still followed by the tabaxi.

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At the end of the day, the group reaches some hot springs where an entrepreneurial steam mephit named Scalder is operating a makeshift spa, serving steamed fruits and fluffy towels.

The characters pay Scalder’s exorbitant prices and spend a relaxing evening, learning some information about Mezro from their host. The mephit shares tales of the fabled Eye of Zaltec, a jewel from Maztica that can restore life to the dead that is hidden somewhere in the ruins, and of a crocodile that can see into the future. He also warns of a curse that afflicts anyone who plunders Mezro’s treasures.

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14th Uktar

Eku loses her way, and the group is forced to double back after Tharhul realises they are going around in circles. Deciding they need to do something about the tabaxi following them, Tharhul casts pass without trace on the group. Certes, Vorn, and Eku carry on walking while Nanna, Rhamash, and Tharhul lurk in ambush. When the tabaxi passes by, Rhamash leaps out, stuns him with an unarmed strike, and grapples him to the ground so that the others can tie him up.

The characters interrogate their captive who says his name is Thunder in the Morning, and he’s heading to Mezro. He’s a member of the Zhentarim and was told to follow the group by Pock-Marked Po. The party invite him to come along with them.

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15th Uktar

The characters leap out of the way of a stampeding herd of triceratops. Vorn is too slow and is flattened but soon recovers.

That evening, while camped inside a giant tree, Tharhul uses his primeval awareness and senses the presence of undead in the area.

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16th Uktar

The characters stumble into a swampy area inhabited by shambling mounds. Certes, Tharhul, and Vorn get stuck in the mud as two of the large plant monsters attack. Tharhul falls unconscious and is engulfed, and Eku is also pulled inside a shambler’s body. Certes and Vorn pull Tharhul out so he can be healed but the wizard’s shocking grasp spell backfires and heals the monster! The party are victorious after a tough battle – Tharhul blows away the last shambling mound with his gun.

After a short rest, the group carries on towards Mezro. They run into a Flaming Fist patrol, but their forged charter of exploration fools the mercenaries. The manip (sergeant) warns them to stay away from Mezro itself.

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17th Uktar

The expedition reaches the ruined city of Mezro.

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