Nanbu chuckles a bit at the joke, What would you like? Nanbu will take you anywhere you wish to go. Nanbu is not above sharing a room, but he must warn you, Nanbu snores a bit.
He slaps 5 silver coins onto the counter, Nanbu has paid for one room, two of you may stay with Nanbu.
Innkeep, what is going on that the Thundering Lizard is so busy? Nanbu looks to the others, It might be wise to secure the rooms first, then go to visit your friends.
"Perhaps Sashah and I could stay with you Nanbu. I don't take up much room and Sashah wont be a bother I am sure." Saphina looks to Sashah to confirm that he would be ok with this arrangement.
Off to the side once things settle a bit. "Nanbu, did your friend say something about a "death curse"? What is that?"
Sashah ponders for a moment, scratches his beard and replies, "No offense intended to Nanbu but if such short term living arrangements vere to establish, I believe it mutually beneficial to room vith Rakdon. Zis because ve both scholars of arcane. You are still quite velcome to learn as vell Saphina. I alvays encourage such curiosities."
Skyreaver will actually rent space in the hayloft, as it is usually roomier and lacks the infestation insects that rented rooms usually carry. She will hand the man a piece of gold to reserve the area and ensure that she is not disturbed during the night.
"I will follow you all to where you are headed. The spirits have brought us together, and soon we will have the task they wish us to complete." Says Skyreaver, holding a clay pitcher filled with the local alcoholic drink.
"The death curse has attracted many adventurers here, Nanbu. As for the little one's question, the magic of resurrection is failing and even recovering from an unconscious state is harder. Many come here because arcane magic says that the cause is somewhere in the jungles out there. Though those looking for a death curse are far more likely to find it at the jaws of some creature as large as this inn, with fangs as long as our doors," the innkeeper says.
"Well.. there's no hayloft, not-so-little-lady," the innkeeper says to Skyreaver. "There's a stable with camels and other animals but... they do not welcome unfamiliar ones to lodge with them. If you want, you could sleep in the common room," he continues.
"I will reserve the rooms for you," he says, before returning to the bar counter to prepare some drinks.
You may visit one of the faction leaders, or hang out in the common room area and order food/drink etc. You could even try to find out who's the Harpers Faction leader... ;)
I will bunk with whomever wishes to join me in the second room.
Sir Adrian hands over 5sp, and reads the note.
I must be visiting a home in the Market Ward. If any of you wishes to accompany me, I will be leaving in a few. I may be able to find out more about this death curse there.
He motions over one of his three retainers who have been following at a short distance since Sir Adrian disembarked.
Gordon, please run on ahead and announce our arrival to Alastar Bol. Do tell him that I may be bringing along some friends.
He then motions over the others.
Marcus, Devon, please get directions from Master Nanbu and pick me up a suit of the finest studded leather armor you can find, and then meet me at Alastar's.
Nanbu will join the Sir. Nanbu knows Market Ward fairly well and will help Sir find his friend's home and it will take us through the markets, so Nanbu will point out the armorer to Sir's man. Nanbu will take each of you where you need to go.
"Do you have a meeting room? I will take that instead."
To Sashah ”Hmmm, a learning experience sure. Can I learn while I’m sleeping? There’s a name for that, I’ve heard Master Lumin mention it. Ozzytosus or something like that. ”
Trying to be discreet about who she may be aligned with Saph figures she’ll try to locate her contact by herself. Trying to remember the many subtle signs to look for, taught to her by her mentor, the young halfling heads out looking for a possible contact in this foreign city.
The innkeeper replies to Skyreaver. "No meeting rooms, I'm afraid."
Gordon bows to Sir Adrian. "At once sir." Though the man is out of his element, he probably will be able to figure things out. Marcus and Devon take Adrian's orders and set out into the streets.
Saphina, you try to ask about the Harper contact in the inn.
Adrian and Nanbu set out towards the Market Ward to find Alastar Bol.
You make your way through the myriad of shops and crafting houses amidst the typical bustle of The Market Ward.
Alastar Bol resides in one of the fancy villas located near the wall of the raised area that supports the House of Gold. One of his many servants escorts you through the main hall to a large, covered balcony. Gordon has done his job, though he's sweating profusely.
In a lavish and airy room, you see is a heavyset balding human in his late 30’s sitting on some pillows. His skin is well tanned and his fine garments are often dampened with profuse sweating. His servants fan him vigorously.
He turns to Sir Adrian first before turning to the rest of you.
"Greetings. You must be Sir Adrian. Welcome to Chult! I am Alastar Bol. I see you have answered my call for help. Please make yourselves comfortable," he says, indicating the cushions and pillows around the room.
Nanbu stands behind Sir Adrian, silently listening.
Indeed, Master Bol. It is I, Sir Adrian, and these are my friends who have recently journeyed to this land as well. What can you tell me about this death curse and what help do you require? I imagine they may be connected?
Deciding better of heading on her own, Saph decides to go with others to the Bol estate. She hopes perhaps on the way she will find a clue on where to locate the Harpers here in Port.
Saphina realizes how lucky she was growing up in Master Lumin house now. She looks on at Alastar in curiosity wondering how he treats his servants. She knows for her part that fanning this large man would not have been pleasant for her.
"It is fortunate that you are in town right now, Sir Adrian. Strange occurrences in Old City has caught the attention of our proud order. A local rumor has been spreading about several residents vanishing in the dead of night and re-emerging as undead a few days later. I had sent Derio, one of my lower ranking associates, to investigate, but he hasn’t returned," he says, with a sigh as though this piece of news was akin to hearing that some grapes went bad.
He motions to one of his servants. "Fetch me that pitcher of cool water, please.” The servant complies.
Alastar continues. "At this point, I fear this does not look well for me if the situation is not resolved. I ask, Sir Adrian, that your party investigate these rumors. I can afraid I can only offer you 50 gold, but I will spread good word about your group if you manage to complete the mission to find both Derio and the source of these emerging undead."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Nanbu looks to Sir Adrian pondering, Undead is no good. What has happened?
Saphina refrains from mentioning that he might be able to afford more if he ate less. She looks at Sir Adrian for confirmation.
That sounds like quite an interesting mission. Have you heard of the death curse, and is that what turns those to undead? Where was Derio last seen?
"The Death Curse? All I have heard are rumours. Those that have been raised before are wasting away, and the undead are stronger. Some say that eating certain seeds of the jungle protects against it, or dipping yourself into a lake within a volcano. All I know is that it stems from something within Chult," he says.
"Derio was last seen in the Old City. You should begin your investigations there. Speak to some of the locals," Alastar says.
Nanbu can take you to the Old City, Sir can ask around there.
Sashah hefts his pack a little higher on his back and clears his throat, "Now vould be good time for find library. Saphina, it vould help vis studies and younger, alert eyes vould be nice in zis city." Sashah turns to the rest of the group, "Ve vill be in market district if you find leads. Ve vill also send location of library ven ve find it."
You asked around in the inn, and apparently you found out that the Harpers contact is named Soggy Wren, and that he is... quite a drunk. Perhaps The Harpers do not need help at the moment so his name wasn't included in the note. He might call upon you when he has something... and is more sober.
Having no success, Sashah wanders his way to Old City looking for his new travel companions.
Skyreaver made no comment at the estate of Alastar Bol, although her disgust was clear on her face, and she excused herself at the first opportunity.
When the group reemerged and proceeded to Oldtown, Skyreaver would say "That man is an abomination who destroys the spirit that lives in all sentient beings. Were we on my mountain, we would introduce his heart to the world, so as to help him learn his place in it. Alas, this is not the mountain of my people. The spirits clearly guided me here, and so I will follow their words, but given the chance I will likely end that man."
”I can’t believe a big place like this doesn’t have a library Mister Sashah. Oh well still plenty to learn though! We can find Sir Adrien and help look for these undead. That’s exciting. Should we pick up some holy water? Hey! You’re a religious man, can you make holy water?” She continues like this until the two Harpers rejoin their companions.
Sir Adrian simply stares at the Goliath for a moment.
So you say, Skyreaver. So, you say.
He turns to the others.
Alright then, Nanbu, let us investigate the old city.
Alastar sends the group away with his thanks. "I'll try to find out more information from here. The Order of the Gaunlet thanks all of you," he says.
Sir Adrian's retainer returns, but instead of studded leather armor he says he has consulted with a blacksmith and thinks that he could make some adjustments so Adrian might feel a bit more comfortable with the heat.
In the southwestern section of the city, a central path between two massive ziggurats of crumbling, weathered stone marks the entrance into Old City. Beyond these makeshift palaces, huts and shacks are scattered around a road passing near a third, smaller ziggurat as well as splitting around a long, stone-lined pit. Many of the locals can be seen walking alongside or in between these structures.
Nanbu looks at Rakdon, cocking his head slightly in amusement, Nanbu's friend jokes. Nanbu has heard that many disappear at night, do you have knowledge of this? Where does this happen? A man named Derio, Nanbu thinks, came to Old City to investigate. Have you seen this man?
Indeed, please tell us of Derio, if you have knowledge of his whereabouts. There will be silver for those providing an accurate response.
Walking through Old Town, Saph decides to stop into what looks like the jungle equivalent to the tavern. (Picturing a beach bar for some reason. ) After spending some hard earned silver loosening some tongues with libations she begins to ask some of the locals if the know of Alistar Bol, how do they feel about him, and if anyone may have seen or heard about the recent missing employees of his.
...I know right? That guy is a real piece of work. I feel bad for anyone that has to work for him. I heard some guys he sent out ended up missing. I can just imagine what happened to those guys...
Skyreaver has nothing to add to this conversation, and so she allows others to do their work.
The houses in the Old City are as you'd expect. Crumbling, but still full of the wiliest and oldest inhabitants of the Port. Besides the stray cats, the smoke from pipes mixed with the stench of dyeing vats, the sound of hawkers advertising their wares, the inhabitants of the area (retired pirates, craftsmen, fishermen and so on) share what they know about the incidents that have troubled the area.
- Several disappearances started a couple of tendays ago. There doesn’t seem to be any apparent connection between those that have vanished.
- A few days ago, one of the local tavern goers just got up and left mumbling something about Death calling out to him. Since then, those who vanished are said to have received the “Call of the Dead”.
- A clergyman named Derio was in the area a couple days ago investigating these disappearances. He too, vanished. He was last seen near set of huts behind the ziggurat facing Executioner’s Run.
Nanbu will take you all to this area near Executioner's Run, it is not far. Nanbu thinks that freshest clues may be there, Nanbu thanks the people for their help and promises to try to find their neighbors and friends that may have disappeared.
"Which of the spirits did this priest worship?"
Sounds like Nanbu is right. Fresh clues and all that, but Sky brings up a good question. ” Saph is ready to depart for Executioners Run as soon as Skyreaver has her info.
A woman with just two teeth remaining replies to Skyreaver. "I am not too sure. Might have been a hunger spirit. He ate all the banana cakes I had," she says.
---
The information gathered leads the party to the western side of the southernmost ziggurat. In a nearby clearing, you find a large bamboo hut with a smaller, similarly built hut less than 20 feet away.
Nanbu looks to the others, then points to the smaller hut, as if saying, Let's check that one out first.
Then, moving quietly, he heads off ahead of Sir Adrian, knowing that the heavily armored knight is far from quiet.
Sir Adrian allows Nanbu to take point, in an effort to remain silent.
As Nanbu heads off, vines seem to wrap around his torso hugging him tight, forming a cuirass of sorts...
Saph crouches down and shuffles over to Nanbu. A little too loudly, she asks "Do you see anything yet?".