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Shrine of the Feathered Serpent is a 12-page short adventure module for Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 released on December 30, 2004. It is suitable for player characters of 12th level.

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers for an adventure module.

Official synopsis[]

The couatl Tlanextic saved the village of Pearlglen from a terrible plague many years ago, and now he has returned. But why is he hiding in an abandoned temple in the woods instead of working in town, the way he once did? And what exactly is the threat to the village this time? Does the mysterious death of the town's chief warden at the bony hands of skeletons have anything to do with it?

Download this adventure by Skip Williams and give your PCs a bit of detective work to do to find out what's really happening in Pearlglen.

Shrine of the Feathered Serpent is suitable for 12th-level characters.

Adventure Preview

Shrine of the Feathered Serpent

Two generations ago, a series of localized but very deadly epidemics plagued the land. In the great cities, experienced clerics and other healers managed to keep the disease at bay. Most rural communities, however, lacked the resources to protect themselves adequately. The residents simply had to hope that their relative isolation and the meager skills of their residents would be enough to preserve them.

One such community was the woodland village of Pearlglen, so named for the freshwater pearls often found in the nearby river. The simple folk of Pearlglen had only their wits and the healing powers of their village priest to protect them. As fate would have it, the plague arrived quite suddenly in Pearlglen, carried by streams of refugees who were fleeing places already afflicted. The old village priest was among the first to succumb to the disease, but on his deathbed, he vowed that his village would not perish.

The very next morning, Pearlglen's savior arrived in the form of Tlanextic, an incredibly beautiful couatl. Tlanextic would not say whether the old priest's prayers had brought him to Pearlglen or whether he had merely been passing by. But whatever his reason for visiting, the couatl proved an excellent public health officer, and he quickly arranged to treat the afflicted who could be saved and to ease the passing of the doomed. He also made sure that the plague victims were properly buried to stem the spread of the disease. In less than a fortnight, Tlanextic's efforts had blunted the worst effects of the plague, and Pearlglen was disease-free within a month. When he was certain that the danger had passed, Tlanextic took his leave, promising to look in on the village from time to time.

In gratitude, the people of Pearlglen crafted a handsome statue of their savior using hardwood from the forest and pearls from the river. The statue stood in a place of honor in the village shrine, not far from the old priest's tomb. Over the years, Pearlglen became famous as the home of an astonishing couatl statue, and curious onlookers began to visit. Eventually, the church of Pelor expanded the shine and placed a fairly senior cleric there to keep an eye on the relic. In like manner, the village established the Wardens -- a sort of local militia -- to protect its citizens.

All has been calm in Pearlglen since, and the humans of the village have resumed their peaceful existence. But what is the nameless dread that now stalks the woods, causing fey and other woodland beings to give Pearlglen a wide berth? And what threat has brought Tlanextic back again?

Plot[]

Background[]

Synopsis[]

Development and release[]

Development[]

The book was written by Skip Williams. Art was provided by Cynthia Fliege, Todd Gamble, Sean Glenn and Robert Lazzaretti.

Release[]

Shrine of the Feathered Serpent was originally released for free on the Wizards of the Coast website on December 30, 2004, as part of its Original Adventures series. It remained online until around 2014.

On June 28, 2016, it was re-released on digital sale. It is currently available on DriveThruRPG and Dungeon Masters Guild for $0.99.

Reception and influence[]

Critical reception[]

As of 2023, Shrine of the Feathered Serpent reached the rank of Silver seller on DriveThruRPG.

Influence on other works[]

External links[]

References[]


Original Adventures 3e web series
The Alchemist's EyrieBad LightBad Moon WaningBase of OperationsBlack RainThe Burning PlagueCave of the SpidersThe Crumbling Hall of the Frost Giant JarlA Dark and Stormy KnightDesert SandsDry SpellEnvironmental ImpactThe Ettin's RiddleAn Eye for an EyeThe Eye of the SunFait AccompliFallen AngelFang, Beak, and ClawForce of NatureA Frigid DemiseFrozen WhispersThe Ghosts of AnielA Harvest of EvilHasken's ManorHaunting LodgeHouse of HarpiesAn Icy HeartIll Wind in FriezfordInto the Frozen WasteJungle SecretsThe Kopru RuinsLegend of the Silver SkeletonLest Darkness RiseLochfell's SecretLuck of the DrawManifesting: A TaleMatters of VengeanceThe Ministry of WindsOne Last RiddleA Question of EthicsRoad to OblivionThe Sea WitchThe Secret of the Windswept WallSelf-Fulfilling Prophecy?Sheep's ClothingShoals of IntrigueShrine of the Feathered SerpentSomething's CookingStart at the EndStone DeadTarus's BanquetThe Temple of RedcliffTest of the DemonwebThicker Than WaterThe Thunder BelowTiger's PalaceTo Quell the Rising StormTomb of HorrorsTower in the IceThe Tower of DeceptionThe Treasure of the Black VeilsThe Unwavering PathThe Vessel of StarsWar of DragonsWhite Plume MountainWreck Ashore
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5
Core rules
Player's HandbookDungeon Master's GuideMonster ManualDungeons & Dragons Basic Game
Supplements
Book of Exalted DeedsCityscapeComplete AdventurerComplete ArcaneComplete ChampionComplete DivineComplete MageComplete PsionicComplete ScoundrelComplete WarriorDraconomiconDragon MagicDrow of the UnderdarkDungeon Master's Guide IIDungeonscapeElder EvilsExpanded Psionics HandbookFiendish Codex I: Hordes of the AbyssFiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine HellsFrostburnHeroes of BattleHeroes of HorrorLibris MortisLords of MadnessMagic Item CompendiumMagic of IncarnumMiniatures HandbookMonster Manual IIIMonster Manual IVMonster Manual VPlanar HandbookPlayer's Handbook IIRaces of DestinyRaces of the DragonRaces of StoneRaces of the WildSandstormSpell CompendiumStormwrackTome of BattleTome of MagicUnearthed ArcanaWeapons of Legacy
Adventures
Expedition to Castle RavenloftExpedition to the Demonweb PitsExpedition to the Ruins of GreyhawkFantastic Locations: Dragondown GrottoRed Hand of Doom
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