Previously, the party had been heading toward the Aztec temple after dealings at camp with Pradu. They noticed the Wendigo traveling east of the temple, and Carlo moved to intercept it while the party heard two distinct hummings — one from the creature and one from a hidden blonde stranger they had met before. The session picks up with Carlo shouting a challenge into the jungle, and the humming mixing with a chuckle of excitement. Carlo attempts to communicate with the Wendigo using Abyssal, and the creature responds telepathically, revealing it is an undead guardian tasked with protecting both the jungle and the temple. Tormin's detect thoughts confirms its singular purpose: 'protect the temple.' The Wendigo reveals it has been assessing the party since Rockwall and warns them away from the temple's third floor. Meanwhile, the hidden blonde stranger taunts the party, admits he is an assassin 'not assassinating today,' and gives them a seven-hour deadline before he teleports back with reinforcements to kill them. The party debates whether to fight the Wendigo. AAA argues the creature is killing plant life wherever it stands and that the party are the true jungle guardians. Emmy and others vote against fighting, but the majority votes to attack. Dugby opens with hold monster, and combat begins. The Wendigo grapples the flying AAA out of the air with a contest of strength, dealing necrotic contact damage. The blessed party lands heavy holy damage, which doubles against the undead creature. ![[Pasted image 20261012233027.png]] The Wendigo unleashes a magnified abyssal roar that summons three ethereal creatures from the brambles, then emits a crackling purple necrotic gas cloud dealing necrotic damage. Shadow's cold breath freezes the Wendigo temporarily, and Tormin delivers a devastating divine smite on a natural 20, dealing 202 maxed radiant damage. Shadow's cold breath finishes the creature, freezing it into an ice sculpture with purple miasma swirling inside. The three ethereal creatures dissipate on the Wendigo's death. After the fight, Tormin smashes the frozen sculpture's abdomen, but the purple gas cannot be absorbed and instead streams back toward the temple. ![[Pasted image 20261012233105.png]] As TormIn’s mace connects, an unseen sniper downs Shadow with a single bolt. The party stabilizes and heals Shadow to full, while rustling bodies are heard fleeing deep into the woods. The party then ascend the jade steps into the Aztec temple, where Carlo solves the first of four trap-door puzzle rooms using Rill's notes. ![[Pasted image 20261012233241.png]] ![[Pasted image 20261013161158.png]] The remaining doors are solved through deduction, with Emmy correctly deducing the final abstract-symbol door. The room rotates to reveal a fifth door with a chest and a staircase down to the second floor. Silver Tongue picks the lock, and the party loots 24,000 gold and gems plus a bone charm necklace that deals 66 necrotic damage to Dugby before he attunes to it. Murals in the chamber depict Lilith, a red-haired elf woman who made a devil contract and created the portal to hell. The family decends to the second floor, where a well built puzzle now awaits. ![[Pasted image 20261013161222.png]] AI got a little crazy with the faces… I didn’t wanna fix it The party get’s 2500 xp for the evening.