To Athyra, Hana says, "I hope you are comforted in knowing, at least, what has become of them. Memories can hurt, but they can also be a comfort."
Hana seems put off by the cockfighting. "If you will. I need to do some work to maintain my weapons: The salt water is pernicious to the metal."
Hana finds a comfortable spot to sit and work on cleaning, tightening, and sharpening her various weapons.
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Hana chooses to stay back closer to the caravan, while Mum and Dereje make their way to the make shift ring.
"Ah just in time." Rickets says. "Would you be wanting to place a bet? First fight is just about to start."
Looking in the ring, you see two birds, a speckled pea-comb called Cornugon and a brown single comb called Muddy Lyza. "One will get ya two if you place your bet for Cornugon...of course just the opposite for Muddy Lyza...that's one tough bird."
"Well, the birds might be a bit much of a temptation for Sharpmaw, here, especially if the blood stops flowing. I'll stay here with Hana. Shout if you need us", he says, waving with one hand and scratching Sharpmaw's eye ridges with the other.
"Perhaps that is for the best," Dereje says, agreeing with Hana and Lawdrak's sentiments. "If there's trouble then you'll know it."
At the ring the paladin shakes his head when Rickets tells them the odds. "Just spectating today, I'm afraid. I am not what one would call a gambling man." With a wry smile he adds, "Though I suppose some would say that making investments is the same thing."
Estietre - standing on the periphery with arms crossed, simply gives a weak smile and shakes her head.
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The party hears assorted jeers from those gathered around the make-shift ring, either for not joining in the betting or even more so toward those who chose to stay away.
In the end, Muddy Lyza tears poor Cornugon to pieces and those around the ring exchange money, but not without a suitable amount of complaining. Otherwise the evening and night pass uneventfully.
Morning arrives and with it your caravan is on the trail again.
Another day and evening pass without incident. On your second day out of the trader's camp, the trail skirts the northern border of the Laughing
Jungle, you spot a wisp of smoke on the horizon, coming from a small Zenj village huddling under the jungle’s eaves. When its inhabitants spot the your caravan approaching, they quickly attempt to make contact with you, seeming quite eager to trade goods as well as a share their hospitality.
With cheerful greetings in Polyglot and broken Common, the villagers invite you all to join them for supper.
Hana is pleased with her work on her weapons and only to happy to move on the next day, jeers or no.
As the caravan arrives at the village she remains guarded, and she leans over to whisper to Dereje.
"... are there cannibals in these parts?"
Dereje frowns and looks again at the cheerful villagers, finding nothing amiss.