Shrine of Savras

The Shrine of Savras was a temple south of Conyberry that was devoted to Savras, the god of divination and fate.

Campaign Recap

First Visit to the Shrine (Mirtul 20)

On 20 Mirtul, Collateral Damage and their new friend Saoki traveled from the ruins of Conyberry to the Shrine of Savras. Upon arriving, they encountered a small group of hyenas feasting on an antelope, but they scared the hyenas away.

Claugiyliamatar's Offer

After entering the temple through the main hall, a projected image of the ancient green dragon Claugiyliamatar appeared before Collateral Damage. In a tense conversation with the adventurers, she said:

About Shinzon Greenshadow: "I’m so happy to see you today. I’ve always been so impressed by your mother. She is one of the few smallfolk that has actually changed my mind a few times. When we saw you and your friends at that town council meeting in Leilon, it didn’t surprise me that you had started a life as an adventurer. You have so much potential, young Shinzon."

About why she appeared to them: "When you live as long as I have, you need to find new ways to entertain yourself. You smallfolk are just so endlessly fascinating. Beings who live such short lives make such interesting decisions. So, I like to watch, and this is one of the locations I’m always watching for a very specific reason.

“There’s an item I am very interested in acquiring, and unfortunately it’s not a task I can accomplish by myself. You see, an individual by the name of Valin Sarnaster has been recruiting folks to come here to this place for many years. She does so in a variety of ways, but when these individuals arrive and go through those doors at the southern end of the room, a teleportation circle opens to them, allowing them to travel to the House of the All-Seeing Orb. What happens when they arrive, I’m not sure. She’s not in the habit of inviting dragons to her temple, and their magic there doesn’t allow me to watch through my crystals.

“But, I do know this. Valin is the owner of an ancient artifact known as the Scepter of Savras. I’m a bit of a collector, and this particular item would help me a great deal.

“So, you’re here now, and that means one of you must have received a divination block. When someone arrives here, I make my pitch, like I’m doing with you today. It’s only happened a few times, and unfortunately, none have returned to me yet. In each case so far, it’s been an individual going by themselves. I’ve never had a group of adventurers with various skills, martial and magical. I’m confident you would succeed where the others have failed."

About what's in it for them: "First, all of the things you’ve heard about dragons and their hordes, they’re all true. I can pay very, very well. But I think more importantly, if you decline my offer, let’s just say that I’ll be… disappointed."

Collateral Damage considered Claugiyliamatar's offer, some more seriously than others. Shinzon grew more and more angry as the conversation continued, and the dragon antagonized him. At one point, when referring to Shinzon's home of Treaath and the villagers she killed and the others she exiled, she said "Part of me misses you and the others being around, but I think our current arrangement is more healthy for all of us."

Saoki's Motivation Is Revealed

Collateral Damage didn't commit to an answer, and Claugiyliamatar then decided to give them information about their new companion. She said:

"One more thing… I think I should point out that your new friend, the map maker… he and I have a history.

"You see, the powers of the Lower Planes, the devils, the demons, the damned yugoloths, they’re always sneaking about, trying to steal items of great magical power. We dragons often possess such items. Well, this weakling had the audacity to come into my forest, thinking he could step in and take what he wanted. He barely escaped with his life, but his devil friend was torn to shreds and sent where they came from.

"Saoki doesn’t care about any of you. He undoubtedly is here for the Scepter, probably on behalf of Zariel or Mephistopheles or maybe even Asmodeus. I recommend you… take care of him… the sooner the better."

Saoki turned to the rest of the group and responded, saying "We can work together. I’m sure there’s more than just the Scepter there. We can figure this out." Nervous looks were exchanged, and Saoki cast mage armor on himself. Also, an imp appeared, flying over Saoki's shoulder. Shinzon pulled out his weapon, and Saoki muttered under his breath in Infernal, saying "Ilzabet, I need you."

A moment later, an erinyes appeared flying near Saoki, and violence broke out. During the short fight, Saoki successfully cast dominate monster on Smōk, turning him against the rest of the group. Ilzabet hit Shinzon with multiple longbow shots, successfully poisoning him, but Rayphlárd cast cone of cold on Saoki and the imp and turned the momentum.

Saoki surrendered and pleaded with Collateral Damage. He admitted to being sent by Asmodeus to trick a group of adventurers into acquiring the scepter for him; he also admitted to trying to steal from Claugiyliamatar many years ago. He asked the group to have mercy on him, allowing him to return to the Nine Hells on his own terms and not empty-handed. He asked them to give him some item of magical power to bring back, trying to convince them that doing so would please Asmodeus.

Ilzabet, although she was still charmed by Herb from the fight, grew frustrated and bored by Saoki, killing him with her longsword and flying away.

After Ilzabet flew away, Herb searched Saoki's possessions. He found two notable items:

• A map of Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells, that spoke to him in Saoki's voice about the various locations on the map.
• A tuning fork made of iron and attuned to the Nine Hells.

Exploring the Temple

After Saoki's death, Collateral Damage decided to explore the rest of the temple. They entered the guest quarters and the priest's quarters; within the priest's quarters, Conor found a lockbox in a hidden compartment within the stone wall, but he decided to not try to open it yet.

Herb tried to enter the altar room to the south, but some kind of magic was blocking him. When Smōk tried, he was able to open the door without issue. He held the door open for Herb, and they entered together.

Herb studied the runes of the teleportation circle. Smōk wanted to go through the circle to the House of the All-Seeing Orb, but the rest of the group convinced him that they should first go to Triboar and leave their horses and wagon there, then return. The group rested within the temple, then continued traveling east on the Triboar Trail.

Architecture

The ruins of the temple stand in the middle of a vast field south of Conyberry and north of the Sword Mountains. The stone structure features a belfry jutting up from a wooden, peaked roof. The building features four rooms:

• Main hall and belfry
• Priest's quarters
• Guest quarters
• Altar room

After barbarians of the Uthgardt Tribe destroyed Conyberry and the Shrine of Savras shortly after the Spellplague of 1385, many sections of the temple were destroyed, but the roof and walls of the altar room - including the door into the room - remained intact.

Defenses

The temple was originally enclosed by stone walls, with a gatehouse on the northern wall serving as the only entrance or exit. Two-story towers stood at each of the four corners.

After barbarians of the Uthgardt Tribe destroyed Conyberry and the Shrine of Savras shortly after the Spellplague of 1385, many sections of the outer walls, gatehouse and the four towers were destroyed.

History

Shortly after the Spellplague of 1385, barbarians of the nearby Uthgardt Tribe destroyed the town of Conyberry, including the Shrine of Savras.

Valin Sarnaster, a priest of Savras based at the Shrine of Savras, foresaw the attack and tried to convince the citizens of Conyberry to evacuate. The citizens who decided to stay were killed by the barbarians, and there were no survivors. The locations of Valin and the residents of Conyberry who followed her were lost to history.

RUINED STRUCTURE
1385

Type

Shrine

Parent Location

Conyberry