20. The Hidden Treasure Shrine of Semuanya

Deep within the subterranean network of The Rooted Sanctum, beyond the private sleeping chambers of High Warden Ssalissar the Vigilant, lies a concealed treasure shrine. This secret chamber serves both as a sacred tribute to Semuanya and as a repository for the most valuable possessions of Zassil’torr.

Description of the Treasure Shrine

The Hidden Entrance

A secret stone doorway, seamlessly hidden within the rock walls of Ssalissar’s private quarters, leads to this treasure shrine.

• The door is activated by a concealed mechanism behind the small bone idol of Semuanya in the High Warden's sleeping chamber. Only by pulling the idol forward in a gesture of supplication does the door slide open.
• A narrow, spiraling staircase descends into the depths, where the air grows cooler and drier, free from the swamp’s typical humidity.

The Shrine Room

The chamber is carved from ancient stone, its walls engraved with intricate reliefs depicting lizardfolk engaging in acts of worship and survival under the protection of Semuanya.

• Central Altar: A raised dais supports a solid gold idol of Semuanya in the form of a massive reptilian egg, symbolizing life and survival. The idol is adorned with carved symbols of the deity’s blessings.
• Guardian Statues: Surrounding the altar are four imposing stone statues of lizardfolk warriors, each holding a spear and shield. These enchanted statues will animate and attack intruders who attempt to defile the shrine or touch the idol without proper rites.
• Treasure Pools: Four dry stone basins, once used for ceremonial water offerings, are now repurposed to hold the village’s accumulated wealth. They overflow with:

Sacred Treasures

• Gold and silver coins, gleaming brightly in the chamber’s soft light.
• Polished gemstones in various hues, carefully arranged by the village shamans.
• Rare swamp stones, revered for their beauty and spiritual significance.
• Ancient artifacts and trinkets, including a finely crafted obsidian dagger and a small emerald amulet inscribed with Semuanya’s symbol.

Illumination

Bioluminescent fungi embedded in the walls provide an ethereal green and blue light, casting the room in a serene, almost divine glow. The golden idol reflects the light, creating an otherworldly radiance.

Role and Significance

• Tribute to Semuanya: The shrine is first and foremost a sacred space for honoring the lizardfolk deity. The offerings symbolize the tribe’s faith in survival and prosperity.
• Vault of Wealth: The treasure room serves as a secure depository for Zassil’torr’s most valuable resources, guarded by both enchantments and secrecy.

Cultural Importance

• The lizardfolk regard the shrine as the heart of their spiritual wealth, a place that encapsulates the blessings and protection of Semuanya.
• Access to the shrine is limited to the High Warden and senior shamans. Even they enter only during specific rituals or in dire circumstances.

Grath’isskar Shell of the Swamp Guardian by 3orcs

DM-Only Secrets

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Curse and Wealth

• The Hidden Tunnel: Beneath the treasure shrine, a second concealed tunnel leads to an ancient chamber containing a powerful relic of Semuanya. This tunnel is magically sealed and can only be opened with the emerald amulet found in the treasure pools.
• The Idol’s Curse: The golden idol is enchanted to summon a spectral guardian (a wraith-like representation of Semuanya’s wrath) if it is removed from the shrine. This guardian relentlessly pursues the thief.
• Corruption of Wealth: The accumulation of treasure has begun to subtly corrupt Ssarkosh, the Swamp Seer, who sees an opportunity to amass his own following and challenge Ssalissar’s authority.

Adventure Hooks

• The Stolen Idol: A rival faction or ambitious adventurer steals the golden idol. The lizardfolk hire or force the party to retrieve it.
• Intruder Alert: While exploring Zassil’torr, the adventurers accidentally trigger the shrine’s defenses, sparking a conflict with the tribe.
• Secret Rituals: The High Warden invites the adventurers to witness or aid in a dangerous ritual involving the shrine, testing their loyalty and resolve.

Ancient Artifacts of Semuanya

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The following artifacts, steeped in the ancient traditions and faith of the lizardfolk, are legendary relics passed down through the ages. These treasures, created by Semuanya, symbolize survival, unity, and the eternal vigilance of their race. Each artifact serves a purpose aligned with the teachings of the deity and reflects their intrinsic connection to the swampy environments they inhabit.

Iss’rek’Ssama (Egg of Perpetual Life)

A large, translucent emerald-green egg, faintly glowing from within. Inside, swirling mists shift to form glimpses of primordial lizardfolk figures.

• Origins: Crafted by Semuanya, the Egg was said to be gifted to the first High Shaman as a symbol of the god’s eternal guidance.
• Cultural Significance: This relic serves as the spiritual heart of lizardfolk tribes, carried into migrations and wars as a beacon of hope and survival.

Powers:

• Rejuvenation: Once per day, a Lizardman can touch the Egg to restore 50 hit points or remove one condition (disease, poison, or blindness).
• Spiritual Connection: Lizardfolk within a mile of the Egg have advantage on saving throws against fear or charm effects.
• Beacon of the Tribe: If destroyed, the Egg reforms in the hands of the most devout shaman within a century.

Ziss'kari'nass (Ceremonial Obsidian Dagger of Semuanya)

• Weapon (dagger), very rare (requires attunement by a worshipper of Semuanya)
• Damage: 1d4 piercing
• Properties: Finesse, light, thrown (range 20/60)

Special Features

• Ritual Blade: When used in a sacrificial ritual dedicated to Semuanya, the dagger grants a divine blessing to the wielder and their allies. This blessing provides advantage on saving throws against fear and charm effects for 1 hour.
• Essence of Survival: Once per day, the wielder can invoke Semuanya’s power through the dagger to regain 2d8 hit points by sacrificing a living creature with the blade.
• Sacred Weapon: Non-lizardfolk creatures handling the dagger without attunement must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be afflicted with fear for 1 minute.
• Fragile Yet Sacred: The dagger's obsidian blade is sharp but fragile. On a natural roll of 1 during an attack, the blade chips, reducing its damage to 1d3 until it is ritually repaired by a shaman of Semuanya.
• Flavor: Carved with intricate depictions of lizardfolk venerating Semuanya, the blade pulses faintly when near areas of deep swamp or sacred ground.

Thass’kesh’ar (Fang of the First Hunter)

A massive, serrated fang embedded in a haft of blackened swampwood. It is said to hum faintly during the hunt.

• Origins: This weapon is believed to have been crafted from the fang of Semuanya’s primordial reptilian avatar. It was wielded by the god's first chosen hunter.
• Cultural Significance: Revered as the symbol of the tribe’s most skilled hunter, the Fang passes to the most accomplished lizardfolk warrior after a series of sacred trials.

Powers:

• Lifeseeker: The wielder has advantage on attack rolls against wounded creatures.
• Predatory Strike: When attacking a creature below half its maximum hit points, the Fang deals an additional 2d10 necrotic damage.
• Call of the Wild: The wielder can summon three spectral raptors to assist in combat once per day (use Giant Eagle stats).

Grath’isskar (Shell of the Swamp Guardian)

A massive, ancient turtle shell inscribed with glowing runes and studded with precious swamp stones. It is worn as a shield by a Lizardfolk Shaman only.

• Origins: This artifact was created when Semuanya imbued the shell of a great primordial turtle with divine power to protect the lizardfolk from their enemies.
• Cultural Significance: The Shell is a physical manifestation of Semuanya’s desire for the lizardfolk to protect their kin and territory. It is worn by the tribe’s most trusted defender.

Powers:

• Defender’s Aura: Grants all allies within 10 feet a +2 bonus to AC.
• Swampwalk: The wearer can move through difficult swamp terrain without penalty.
• Rebound: Once per long rest, the shield can reflect a spell of 5th level or lower back at its caster.

Zas’uth’ikra (Eye of the Silent Watcher)

A perfectly spherical obsidian orb set in a frame of ivory carved to resemble reptilian scales.

• Origins: Said to be formed from Semuanya’s own watchful gaze, this artifact provides the lizardfolk with the power to monitor and defend their lands.
• Cultural Significance: The Eye is kept under strict guard by shamans, used only in times of dire need to protect the tribe from external threats.

Powers:

• Sentinel Vision: The wielder can scry on any location within a 10-mile radius as long as they have physically visited it.
• All-Seeing Awareness: Grants advantage on Wisdom (Perception) and Intelligence (Investigation) checks.
• Gaze of Dread: Once per day, the orb can project a cone of fear (DC 16 Wisdom save) affecting all creatures in a 30-foot cone.

Scale of the Eternal Survivor (Izz’saresh’torr)

A shimmering golden scale embedded in an amulet of intricately woven swamp reeds and black pearls.

• Origins: Legend claims Semuanya shed this scale during the creation of the lizardfolk to imbue them with resilience and fortitude.
• Cultural Significance: This artifact is a sacred heirloom, symbolizing the tribe’s commitment to survival against all odds.

Powers:

• Survivor’s Endurance: The wearer gains resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
• Last Stand: When the wearer drops to 0 hit points, they can instead drop to 1 hit point once per day.
• Sanctuary of Survival: Lizardfolk allies within 30 feet gain temporary hit points equal to the wearer’s level at the start of each of their turns.

The Hidden Treasure Shrine of Semuanya by 3orcs

Lizardfolk Warrior Statue (Animated Guardian)

Medium Construct, Unaligned

• Armor Class: 18 (natural armor)
• Hit Points: 60 (8d8 + 24)
• Speed: 30 ft.

STR 18 (+4), DEX 12 (+1), CON 16 (+3), INT 3 (-4), WIS 10 (+0), CHA 1 (-5)

• Saving Throws: Strength +6, Constitution +5
• Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
• Damage Immunities: Poison, Psychic
• Condition Immunities: Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned
• Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10
• Languages: Understands Draconic but cannot speak.

Traits

• Immutable Form: The statue is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.
• Magic Resistance: The statue has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
• Semuanya’s Ward: While within 60 feet of Semuanya’s idol, the statue gains +2 to AC and saving throws.

Actions

• Multiattack: The statue makes two spear attacks.
• Stone Spear: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
• Hit: 10 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.

This statue fiercely defends Semuanya’s shrine, animated by divine power to strike down intruders or defilers.

Treasure and Defenses

• The Golden Idol: The idol itself is a priceless artifact, weighing over 500 pounds and worth an estimated 25,000 gp. However, removing it triggers the guardian statues to animate.

Enchanted Altar: The altar’s enchantments include:

• Blessing Aura: Lizardfolk priests who touch the altar are imbued with Semuanya’s blessing (+2 AC and Advantage on Wisdom saves for 1 hour).
• Curse of the Defiler: Any non-believer touching the altar suffers an immediate curse, reducing their Strength and Dexterity scores by 4 for 24 hours.

The Treasure

• Coins: 5,000 gp, 10,000 sp, 20,000 cp.
• Gems: 30 polished gemstones (worth 50-200 gp each).
• Obsidian dagger.
• Emerald amulet bearing Semuanya’s sigil (1,500 gp and required for specific village rituals).
• Ornate silver chalice with etched lizardfolk runes (500 gp).

Type

Room, Security, Treasury / Treasure Room

Parent Location

Zassil'torr 'Torfen'

Ziss'kari'nass Ceremonial obsidian dagger of Semuanya by 3orcs