The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan 5e - Tales of the Yawning Portal

About the adventure

The ancient ruined city of Tamoachan is familiar to a select few scholars and fortune seekers, who know of it but not exactly where it is. Even more secluded, lying somewhere within or beneath the ruins, is a hidden shrine said to be dedicated to the lost Olman god: Zotzilaha. You are among those rare adventurers who have caught wind of its location and found its pull irresistible. Most of the city is toppled and completely covered in undergrowth, ancient streets now serving as overgrown valleys among the debris of crumbling buildings. The largest of these valleys lead to the central clearing where a great pyramid stands...

Additional Details

How to prepare

Webcam and mic are both necessary. Familiarity with the rules is welcome but not required. Sessions will be hosted on Discord. Bring your dice, some snacks, and send me a copy of your character sheet. I make use of physical rulebooks, dice, battle-mat, and miniatures. Feel free to use digital options at your own preference.

What I provide

I grew up playing D&D with minimal means and I still enjoy the nostalgia this provides. I make use of a battle-mat, hand painted 3-D printed miniatures, and the occasional silly voice to emulate the experience that you would typically find if you were seated together around a table. I sometimes make use of props, and I will often need to share documents & images with you online.

Gameplay details

The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan, by Harld Johnson and Jeff R. Learson, was originally published in 1980 as an adventure for the first edition of the D&D game. It was republished for D&D's 5e ruleset in 2017 for the adventure supplement Tales of the Yawning Portal. The aesthetic of this adventure draws heavily on Mayan and Aztec/Toltec mythology and society. As an archeology/anthropology student, who grew up in the American Southwest, I am particularly aware of the historical inaccuracies and misconceptions that continue to surround indigenous cultures. I approach this module with a sensitivity and an awareness that these ancestral cultures still exist, and that the contents of the module do not accurately reflect the complexity of their social, religious, or political values. The American continent has an unfortunate history of colonization and erasure which has destroyed, or misconstrued, the history of indigenous peoples and it is not my intention to participate in appropriation by running this adventure. Players should create 5th level characters, using 5e Dungeons and Dragons ruleset, to begin this adventure and can expect to advance to 6th or 7th level with good gameplay. This module can be considered your classic dungeon delve with a high level of exploration and combat. Sessions will be held on Discord, with a "Session 0" prior to the session for assistance in character creation, and to discuss expectations/table etiquette. 5e Dungeons and Dragons ruleset. Set in the Forgotten Realms, deep within the jungles of Chult. Sessions last approximately 3 to 3.5 hours. This adventure is difficult for beginners and recommended to players of intermediate or high levels experience.

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

(none)

How will character creation work

Feel free to use whatever method you are most comfortable with to create your character. DnDBeyond is a great tool, and I more than encourage that for newcomers to the game as it will walk you through the character creation process. I prefer to roll for stats the over point buy method. You will be sent some "prep material" pending approval of your application. 5th level characters are the best fit for this module, following 5e Dungeons and Dragons character creation rules. I will be available on Discord throughout the process to assist you with any guidance or questions about the process. There are no hard character creation limits however setting specific options, such as those in Ravnica, Theros, Wildemount, and Eberron, might need adjustment for use in the Forgotten Realms setting. All published 5e WotC content is acceptable. UA is generally okay (unless it has since seen published revisions by WotC), and homebrew content needs to be run past me first.

Players can expect

• Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
• Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
• If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.