The Temple of Savras is a grand religious structure in Port Nyanzaru, one of the city’s oldest and most architecturally impressive buildings. Its most distinctive feature is a great tiled dome designed to resemble an unblinking eye staring skyward, reflecting Savras’s association with divination and truth-seeking.
Deity and Purpose
Savras is the god of wizards, fortune tellers, diviners, and those who speak truth without compromise. His symbols include a monstrous eye or a crystal ball filled with eyes. While divination might seem an unusual focus for a merchant city, Savras was widely worshiped in Chult even before the Spellplague, when his clergy were valued for their ability to monitor yuan-ti activities through scrying. Though the snake people are now more legend than active threat, the temple continues to serve the community through divinations about business ventures, newborn children’s futures, and matters of romance.
Grandfather Zitembe
The temple’s head priest is Grandfather Zitembe (LG male Chultan human priest). He demonstrates strong moral principles, refusing payment from three Zhentarim assassins (NE male Tethyrian human assassins) seeking magical aid to find Artus Cimber, despite their offer of a 500 gp ruby. Zitembe senses their evil intentions and dismisses them, though the assassins are reluctant to leave until the characters’ arrival changes their minds.
Role in the Adventure
When approached about the Soulmonger and death curse, Zitembe initially expresses disbelief that the curse originates in Chult. However, if given a compelling argument or a donation of at least 25 gp to the church, he agrees to “consult the guides” through a 24-hour ritual. During this divination, he receives visions of:
- A jungle city far to the south, enclosed by cliffs and crawling with snakes
- A black obelisk draped in vines
Though Zitembe dares not probe deeper into these disturbing visions, he urges the characters to seek out this city and the obelisk, providing crucial initial direction for their quest.