In the morning, the group debates slaughtering the penned bird, but ultimately decides to rely on trail rations and a bit of fish instead. Goomy spends the morning reviewing his notes and taking stock of the group’s supplies, while Musharib and Undril stand watch at camp. Within the statue, the group faces a series of trials. First, they face a pit trap, attempting to bridge it safely. Flavius inadvertently activates a scythe trap in a cobwebbed area, and is grievously injured.
Doz falls into the pit trap before safely making it across. Simon methodically disables the blade trap, stopping only to provide first aid to stabilize Flavius. After a few moments to recuperate, the group climbs a ledge to a terraced area.
The floor is covered in a four-by-four tile pattern inscribed with symbols of ancient Chultan make. After some inspection of the area, Sindy hops on Doz’s shoulders and identifies a similar pattern inscribed on a wooden door in the next area. Her keen drow eyes identify a faint glow coming from a single symbol in each row. The group decides to proceed through the tiled area by stepping only on the tiles corresponding to the glowing symbols on the door.
Just as Simon steps forward onto the first tile, Flavius leaps into action, hopping onto Simon’s shoulders. Nothing happens, much to the group’s relief. The pair cross the floor with Flavius on Simon’s shoulders, and then Sindy and Doz follow suit.
The party climbs the ledge onto the next area and approach the wooden door. Recognizing the pattern from the floor below, Simon presses the first glowing tile. The area erupts with a loud bang, and Flavius is tossed off the ledge to the floor below. His training kicks in, and he lands with a handspring and dodges to the best of his ability. However, the tiled-floor room bursts into flame, badly burning Flavius, and leaving him on the precipice of death!
With cautious haste, the group rescues Flavius from the trapped floor and takes a few moments to recover. Hearing the explosion, Goomy rushes into the Man and Crocodile shrine and reunites with the group. Cautiously, they all ascend to the door, and after much debate, decide a new strategy, eventually opening the door.
The inner chamber is littered with dinosaur bones around a central pillar marked by steep stairs, much to Doz’s delight. The group elects two of their number to climb the stairs. At the peak of the pillar rests an odd clay urn–and after a few moments of hesitation, they decide to liberate the urn and exit the shrine.
The last few rays of sunlight slip below the canopy. . . but Musharib is nowhere in sight. Undril wavers from a head wound as she strikes down one last goblin. The Batiri, goblin menace of Chult, attacked Undril and captured Musharib.
The group springs into action to give chase! After many miles through the jungle, the heroes make their way to a small settlement teeming with Batiri. After an attempted parley, weapons are drawn. Batiri attack by the dozens!
The heroes stand firm, pressing forward to free Musharib, and another captive: a shield dwarf being eaten alive by fire ants!
Finally, the tribe’s bloated queen emerges and begins to rally the Batiri. Their rally is short-lived, as she and her lieutenant fall in battle shortly after. The Batiri flee, but not before launching their village deep into the jungle. The heroes are battered, bruised, and out of supplies, miles from camp.