Following their successful retrieval of the diabolic manuscript from Cloudspire Manor, the Feinting GOATs returned to the Clockwork Citadel to report their findings. They discovered scholars examining the manuscript with increased security around certain areas of the Citadel. Marahaba Asante met with the team to deliver their next assignment: investigate the ruins of Vex'thor, an ancient temple dedicated to Saa-Thoth, the "All-Knowing Serpent," located in the disputed border region between Mupalan and Haukburia. The team was informed that the diabolic manuscript contained sigils potentially connected to Saa-Thoth, and that the temple might hold records predating the current dominion structure. Scholars had identified the manuscript's language as the lost tongue of the original naga, the predecessor to Infernal.
The party traveled to the village of Sakhmehet, a settlement with mixed Haukburian and Mupalan cultural influences. The village architecture featured mud-brick buildings adorned with snake motifs, bustling bazaars, and residents wearing both flowing desert garments and traditional Mupalan clothing. Political tensions were immediately apparent as both Austral Alliance rangers and Mupalan imperial guards patrolled the area, each claiming authority. The party encountered a confrontation between a Mupalan patrol intimidating local merchants and Austral Alliance scouts intervening. Using their diplomatic skills, the GOATs managed to defuse the situation without bloodshed, earning the respect of locals.
An elderly Haukburian spice merchant named Neferet offered them shelter and information. He revealed that the ruins had been recently disturbed by "treasure hunters with imperial backing" (Dowelloft agents with Mupalan support). Local legends described Vex'thor as the "Sanctuary of the Eternal Serpent," a deity once widely worshipped before being abandoned. Neferet suggested the party seek out Professor Thaddeus, an archaeologist studying the ancient snake cult that once flourished in the region.
The party located the eccentric human scholar's camp outside the ruins. His tent was filled with snake iconography, ancient scales, and ritual objects. Upon proving they had no allegiance to Mupalan or the Dowelloft Trading Company, Thaddeus became more forthcoming with information. Professor Thaddeus explained that Vex'thor was once the central temple of Saa-Thoth, the "All-Knowing Serpent" who was said to coil around the pillars of creation. He believed worship of Saa-Thoth was deliberately suppressed after the Voidfury Incursion when the dominions were established
The professor presented the party with two options: follow the path he had directed the Dowelloft representatives down, which led to an area resettled by Nagudra (secretive snake-men) who considered the ruins sacred despite not being part of their religion, or try a possible secret entrance through the mouth of a stone snake in a relatively unexplored section of ruins. The Feinting GOATs chose the latter option.
After searching through the ancient ruins, the party located a massive stone snake head in the center of a circular plaza. The sculpture's mouth was closed, and a writhing mass of snakes of different species clustered at its base. Akemi brilliantly used her musical talents and charm to coax most of the snakes away, but one remained - a serpent that, to everyone's surprise, spoke in the ancient tongue. Adrian utilized Professor Thaddeus's notes and the Pantheon's research to create a makeshift translation device. The snake instructed them to reassemble a broken altar that was revealed once the smaller snakes dispersed, and to make a suitable sacrifice. Korloth and Cut-Cut donated a slab of meat for the offering.
The stone altar presented a complex puzzle - a rectangular version of Archimedes' Stomachion that required careful assembly. After considerable effort and teamwork, the party successfully completed the puzzle. With a grinding of ancient stone, the massive serpent's mouth slowly opened, revealing a dark pit leading into the forgotten temple.
The first major chamber beyond the entrance was illuminated by numerous jars of alchemical goo that pulsed between green and red light at random intervals. The party quickly discovered that the chamber was dangerously trapped during red intervals and safe during green intervals - a deadly game of "Red Light, Green Light." Several party members suffered minor injuries from poisoned darts when they failed to freeze during red light phases. With careful timing and coordination, they eventually crossed the hazardous chamber.
Beyond the trapped chamber, they discovered a room filled with snake eggs of various sizes and species. The next passage was lined with massive snake fangs embedded into the walls like spikes. Several contained residual poison, and the party had to navigate carefully to avoid being pricked.
The party noticed walls marked with a golden ouroboros symbol seemed structurally different. When examined closely and struck with force, these sections crumbled to reveal hidden chambers containing snake-themed magical items. After traversing deeper into the temple complex, the Feinting GOATs encountered their rivals from the Adventurers' Decathlon - the Guilded Scales, who had placed second in the competition. The rival party consisted of Vassik Thornoak, a human transmutation wizard and the team's leader; Riven Blackbow, a satyr ranger and expert archer; Delara Crimson, a human barbarian with unmatched fury; Zagan Vex, a tiefling rogue who struck from shadows; Korvan Ironbrow, a dwarf fighter who acted as the team's defender; and Seraphina Jade, a human battle oracle with divine powers.
What began as competitive banter quickly escalated when the Guilded Scales demanded the Feinting GOATs surrender any artifacts they had found and leave the temple. When the GOATs refused, the situation devolved into combat. The battle was extraordinarily difficult, with both sides employing advanced tactics. The Feinting GOATs were pushed to their limits: Bao Bao and Akemi worked frantically, reviving unconscious party members multiple times; Cut-Cut was knocked unconscious repeatedly but returned to the fight each time; Korloth absorbed tremendous damage while protecting spellcasters; Adrian provided crucial ranged support; Elyndra maneuvered for devastating spells; and Lenti utilized her fungal abilities to gain tactical advantages. After an exhausting struggle, the Feinting GOATs emerged victorious, though the victory was bittersweet. Cut-Cut in particular reflected on the tragedy that former friendly competitors had become mortal enemies over what amounted to a difference in employers.
Following the battle, the party took a long rest to recover from their wounds. Continuing deeper into the temple, the party encountered gelatinous cube-like creatures (or possibly golems) that moved randomly back and forth through the corridors. Using careful timing and coordination, they managed to avoid direct confrontation with these strange guardians.
Eventually, they discovered another chamber hidden behind a wall marked with an ouroboros symbol. Inside, they found a mysterious inscription which, when translated, read: "Break through this false world to set yourself free. Not all walls that bind us are ones you can see." The floor was littered with sledgehammers, and the walls were numbered, with the wall they had entered through marked "4." Intrigued by the riddle, the party decided to use the hammers to break through the walls. Their first attempt at wall "4" revealed something extraordinary - a hardcover copy of the "Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook." The party was perplexed by this anachronistic discovery that seemed to break the fourth wall of their reality.
Adrian, driven by curiosity, decided to smash the right wall (stage right). As the wall crumbled, a powerful magic activated, and Adrian vanished. The rest of the party, unwilling to leave their companion, deliberately followed through the same breach. The party found themselves teleported to the middle of a dense jungle. Using divination magic, they determined they were approximately 200 miles south of the temple, deep in the Haukburian wilderness.
Cut out from their intended path and far from civilization, the Feinting GOATs made camp for the night. Cut-Cut took the opportunity to write a letter to Master Kagemitsu at Tengai-no-mori Monastery, reflecting on their recent experiences and the philosophical implications of their deadly encounter with the Guilded Scales. As night fell in the jungle, the party took stock of their situation and began planning their next move to either return to the temple or find their way to the nearest settlement. Despite being far from their original destination, the adventure in the Temple of Saa-Thoth had yielded valuable insights into the forgotten deity and its connection to the diabolic manuscript, though many questions remained unanswered as they faced the new challenge of navigating the untamed wilderness.
Note: The following writings are from the character's perspective and are often private to the character. They are not considered "in-game" knowledge to the other characters, and any in-character reference to this information would be considered meta-gaming.
I may soon be able to speak with you in person, since our most recent assignment has brought us to Haukburia, as close as I’ve been to Tengai-no-mori since I left for Ausura. However, an unexpected complication has extended our stay in this area, so I am passing the time as we camp for the night by writing this letter. We were sent to Haukburia to explore the ruins of a temple to a lost deity, Saa-Thoth. Starting in the village of Sakhmehet, we were directed to an archaeologist named Professor Thaddeus, as the local authority on the temple and the snake cultists who built it. He was very knowledgeable and interesting; I think you would like him. He also shared his impressions of other Thri-kreen he has met and what he learned of our home world from them. With the professor’s help, we were able to find our way through the ancient city of Sakhmehet and utilize a back entrance to the temple in order to avoid disturbing a population of Nagudra who have taken up residence near the front. We had also been informed that there may be a rival adventuring party in the area, contracted by the Dowelloft Trading Company, and hoped to get ahead of them. Inside, we struggled at first with the temple’s defenses (a poison dart trap was particularly troubling for a couple of the GOATs) but once we began to recognize patterns in the temple’s features and construction, we made good progress. Unfortunately, that progress brought us face to face with the Dowelloft party, who turned out to be the Gilded Scales, the second-place party from the Adventurers’ Decathlon. What seemed at first to be merely competitive banter quickly turned hostile as they demanded that we turn over any artifacts we had found and leave the temple to them. We of course refused, and they became aggressive, forcing us to defend ourselves. After a difficult combat, during which our healers were kept constantly busy reviving unconscious party members, including myself, more than once, we finally emerged victorious, dispatching the Gilded Scales entirely. Although it may have been necessary, I find myself conflicted. They were a young adventuring party, much like ourselves, contracted for a mission much like our own. It was not so long ago that we all met and were assigned to teams for a friendly competition. That it took so little time and so few differences for us to become engaged in a fatal struggle does not bode well. Perhaps there could have been a diplomatic solution, and I failed to see it. Even if I had thought of an alternative, I don’t know if I could have effectively communicated it in time. I do believe my Common is improving, but I still struggle with understanding and relating to others in general. This is yet another skill I must continue to practice. If the tension between Mupalanese and Austral Alliance interests in Sakhmehet is any indication, there will likely be a need for diplomacy in the near future. Master, as much as I prefer the climate of this jungle to the cold and snow, I will be glad to see the end of this mission and hopefully have a chance to visit home. I have much more to tell you and welcome any insight you may provide for the challenges ahead. For now, I will close the letter here. I need to make another perimeter check and then get some rest; we have more hiking to do in the morning.
As always, best wishes,
Cut-Cut