Summary
Deep within the Temple of Memnon, a diverse party of adventurers embarked on a perilous expedition. The group consisted of Absalom Sickari, a fighter masquerading as nobility, accompanied by his supposed squire Burr Longleaf who was actually a skilled thief. They were joined by Vanestro, a brilliant but physically weak wizard, and Mishka, a mysterious priest devoted to an enigmatic “Old One.”
Upon entering the temple, they encountered a peculiar sight – orange teddy bear-like creatures called Sun Gulpers engaged in a whimsical tea party. The party soon made an unlikely alliance with Khakikak, a manta ray guardian, who served as the temple’s guardian. Through their interaction with the manta ray guardian, they learned that these Sun Gulpers were actually transformed goblins, and the floating creature sustained itself by feeding on failed transformations.
The situation took a dark turn when they discovered prisoners suspended in a cage over a roaring fire. Before the adventurers could intervene, the Sun Gulpers cruelly cut the rope, sending the helpless captives to their doom. A fierce battle erupted, during which Absalom was struck down but later revived through healing magic. Mishka and Burr also fell unconscious during the intense combat with fat Sun Gulper and his followers.
The party fought valiantly against their strange adversaries, though Khakikak retreated after sustaining injuries. They managed to defeat the fat Sun Gulper, but one of his minions escaped into the depths of the temple. During their exploration, they discovered a secret door that had been hastily sealed with a broken dagger, hinting at something dangerous lurking beyond.
Their victory came with both rewards and consequences. The party recovered valuable treasures, including holy symbols and a mysterious circlet. However, their triumph was bittersweet, as Burr, who had partaken in the Sun Gulper’s magical tea earlier, began to transform into one of the creatures himself. With their mission concluded, the remaining adventurers returned to town to celebrate their survival and divide their hard-won spoils, though they were one companion shorter than when they began.
Scenes
Arrival at the Temple of Memnon
The party arrives at a hillside shrine to Memnon, with a 60-foot bridge spanning a deadly ravine.
- Party approaches cursed temple shrine to Memnon
- Mishka defiles the shrine entrance by urinating
- Group enters dark temple with torch light
Tea Party with Sun Gulpers
The party encounters strange orange teddy bear-like creatures having a tea party in the Tea Party Room.
- Discover goblin-sized orange teddy bears drinking tea
- Burr accidentally kicks teacup, revealing their presence
- Sun Gulpers invite party to join tea party
- Burr drinks mysterious herbal tea
- Sun Gulpers communicate in unknown language and motion south
- Party discovers Sun Gulpers drinking tea from ceramic saucers
- Sun Gulpers guide the party deeper into the temple
Treasure Room and Manta Ray Guardian
The group finds a treasure room guarded by Khakikak, a manta ray guardian, discovering various valuable items.
- Burr investigates suspicious treasure room
- Khakikak, manta ray guardian, appears and demands meat
- Burr offers mushrooms and rations to the creature
- Khakikak reveals it guards ‘transformations’ and feeds on failures
- Group makes deal with Khakikak for guidance
- Found palm-sized bronze statue of Memnon
- Discovered scabbarded longsword
- Found 480 coins and sapphires
- Party members divided up the loot based on carrying capacity
Battle in the Throne Room
A major battle breaks out in the throne room after Sun Gulpers kill prisoners.
- Found elf and goblin prisoners in suspended cage
- Sun Gulpers cut the rope dropping prisoners to their death
- Sun Gulpers used dark magic to extinguish lights
- Absalom charges and attacks Sun Gulpers
- Burr performs successful backstab
- Absalom gets knocked unconscious
- Khakikak, manta ray guardian gets wounded
- Vanester casts burning hands
- Miska heals Absalom
- Sun Gulpers flee after taking heavy losses
Secret Door and Descent into The Pit
The party discovers a trapped door and descends into The Pit for the final confrontation.
- Bird examines the door and determines it’s meant to keep something in rather than out
- Khakikak warns them about a malevolent undead figure trapped behind the door
- The party prepares ropes and escape routes rather than opening the door
- The party sets up multiple rope escape routes
- They discover three more Sun Gulpers and fat Sun Gulper at the bottom
- The fat Sun Gulper leader is adorned with silver chains and holy symbols
Final Battle and Escape
The climactic battle with Fat Sun Gulper and his minions, followed by the party’s escape.
- The manta ray guardian is wounded and flees
- Sun Gulpers use darkness abilities to extinguish lights
- Mishka is knocked unconscious by fat Sun Gulper
- Burr fatally wounds the leader but falls unconscious
- One Sun Gulper escapes up the rope
- Party creates makeshift pulley system to lift unconscious members
- They discover Khakikak, manta ray guardian, dead in hall
- Successfully escape with treasure and unconscious companions
NPCs
Khakikak, Manta Ray Guardian
A midnight blue manta ray-like creature that hovers in the air, capable of creating duplicates of itself. Guards the temple’s treasures and transformations, feeds on failed transformation subjects. Can be bribed with meat and speaks Common. Initially helps the party as an ally but is wounded in battle with the Sun Gulpers and eventually flees. Was later found dead with a knife in its body.
Fat Sun Gulper
The leader of the Sun Gulpers – an enormously fat orange teddy bear-like creature adorned with multiple silver chains and holy symbols. Notably larger than the others and wields a short sword. Particularly dangerous and aggressive in combat before being defeated.
Sun Gulpers
Strange orange teddy bear-like creatures the size of goblins. They speak Sylvan, enjoy tea parties, and carry wicked knives and short swords. They can perform magic when working together, creating darkness by joining hands. They serve their fat leader and are involved in mysterious transformations through magical tea.
Locations
Temple of Memnon
A cursed hillside temple with a 60-foot bridge spanning a deadly ravine. Features black basalt walls, 10-foot tall statues, carved walls depicting faithful offering tribute to their feral master, and a broken stone door. Contains multiple rooms including a pit area and trapped door.
Tea Party Room
Chamber where Sun Gulpers held their tea parties, featuring alcoves and plinth with tablecloth and ceramic tea sets. Contains statues including a bull-headed figure and cat-headed statue.
Treasure Room
Chamber containing an open tomb filled with glittering coins, gems, religious artifacts, and other valuables, guarded by a manta ray guardian.
Throne Room
Large chamber with a black stone throne decorated with bull heads, containing a suspended cage over a fire pit and featuring carved walls.
The Pit
A deep pit area beneath the temple containing tombs, bones, and where the final battle with the Sun Gulpers takes place. Bodies of prisoners including goblins and an elf were found here.
Spells
Light
Spell that can be cast on objects to illuminate them, used as an alternative to torches in the dark temple.
Charm Person
Cast on Sun Gulpers but failed to have any effect.
Burning Hands
Cast by during the battle, causing significant damage to multiple Sun Gulpers and accidentally setting the rope on fire.
Items
Bone White Teapot
Ceramic teapot hanging from statue’s arm, used by Sun Gulpers to serve their mysterious herbal tea.
Bronze Memnon Statue
Palm-sized statue depicting Memnon with a lion head and bronzed body wearing a toga, finely carved with high detail.
Sapphires
Four teardrop-shaped sapphires found among the treasure.
Platinum Circlet
A thin platinum circlet worn by the fat Sun Gulper leader on his forehead.
Memnon Holy Symbols
Six silver necklaces worn by the fat Sun Gulper, each bearing the holy symbol of Memnon and apparently taken from the temple’s tombs.
Sun Gulper Tea
Magical honey-colored tea made from special ferns with a fragrant lavender, rose and sage flavor. Transforms drinkers into Sun Gulpers over four days if they fail a Constitution save.
Dubious Heroes 
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