Morgan introduces himself to the elder Tulita and accepts the invitation to meet with Mokoli Ali'i.
As Beth arrives, Morgan listens to the woman's broken Tulitan words. He replies in colonial:
"Dajobas is the dark shark god. If he has Dajobas Kiss, then yes - he will in time bear Dajobas' mark and shape." He pauses for a second, remembering his manners.
"Forgive me, we have not had the pleasure of introduction. I am Hoeroa, this is my brother, Sandman."
"I was born Kona, wise one." Sandman says. "Sandman is the name I have earned in places like this."
"You may call me what you wish. I will answer."
Tracking down Mokoli Ali’i involves a trip to the Outskirts of Port Shaw, where the few holdouts still practicing the old ways live in pili-grass huts and dilapidated warehouses, but slip into the jungle from the hidden edges of the plantations to farm taro from taro ponds and fish from the same. Thirty Tulita warriors reside here with their families.
At least a dozen warriors surround the party as they enter the settlement. The largest of the warriors greets Milliauka in reverence and friendship in the traditional Tulita manner. Milliauka introduces Kona and Hoeroa and tells of the incident with the Dragoons.
Mokili Ali'i greets Kona, and kind of turns his head side to side to get a good look at Hoeroa before he speaks,
As it is getting late in the day, Mokoli Ali'i offers the party a hut for the night and an evening meal.
Silas looks at the Big Tulita. "If this is as bad as your elder suspects then we made have to force him or others will be in danger."
As Morgan introduces the pair to the others, Silas replies "I am Silas.
He follows Milliauka and the others to the Tulita enclave. He does not make any comment when only the Tulita members of the party are introduced. Any Tulita who talk to him are replied to very respectfully in perfect mainland dialect.
Mokili Ali'i tells Silas "I am grateful to you for helping save our Kamaau." He presents you a gift of a scrimshaw necklace.
In reply to Morgan, Beth introduces herself. "We already met earlier today. Your tribesman is in good hands at the temple and was cured of his addiction. what he now makes of his life is his. But I hope he will not fail again."
Followed the Tulita, she gladly accepts their hospitality.
"Chief Mokili Ali'i, Elder Milliauka, as you can see from the colours I wear and the conch I carry, I serve Quell, the master of the waves. I believe my arrival here is not due to chance and that he directed my step here so I could give help to the dire situation here.
While I am not as proficient as you with curing Dajobas' kiss,", she says, bowing her head in recognition of Milliauka skill. "I may still be able to contribute to the issue. You said before that Dajobas was coming again and his servants were there as well. Is there anything we can do to stop them?"
Taking a deep breath, she adds: "Another priest of Quell disappeared recently and were investigating a secret society called the Kraken Ring who is said to serve the Krakenfiend Harthagoa. Do you think those two events may be linked?"
"Our pleasure, really. I mean, blood is a hard thing to clean up, really. I mean, it takes a lot of scrubbing and soap. And then there's that whole nastiness of the bodies." The look on his face is the same as if a child got an unexpected taste of Brussels sprouts.
"I agree, Silas Frey." the big man replies solemnly. "Though that is a task for another. The authorities of this place tend to disregard the ways of my people. I would have little hope of convincing his superiors to submit to one of our cleansing rituals."
"We know nothing about this ring you speak of, but yes the Tulita know the legends of the Krakenfiend. As to how you can help, we seek the Jawbone.
None since Captain Razor was killed has cared about the ways of our people."
[indicates Sandman]
Perhaps you have heard of Sandman? My humble status pales in the shadow of the exploits and generosity of my great brother. We hail from Tikarua, our father is Maotare, chief of the Tikarua!"
Morgan continues for a while making the proper genealogical lists and tribal observances.
He then indicates Silas and Mallory, and lastly Beth in turn.
Silas accepts the Scrimshaw necklace graciously. Tulita
He looks to Sandman. "I would normally agree, but if we keep expecting others to fight our battles for us, then we accept the consequences when things go bad. If the kiss is now spreading, then he is but the first.
As Molkili Ali'i replies Silas picks up on the unusual phrase. "Pardon me, but what is the Jawbone?"
" The Jawbone of Kaho Ali’i, which tells the story of the Tulita as a people and which legend claims belonged to Whale itself. When the jawbone was lost, so too went the past and future of the Tulita. It is thought to be lost somewhere in what these Haole call Port Shaw.
Most haole would not have cared about an old man. Nor has it escaped my ears what you did for the one who was consumed by the smoke." For which he presents a necklace also to Beth.
Obi clears his throat as Morgan obviously missed introducing him.
"And my name is Obadiah Reed. I am skilled in magic and weaponry, as the elder unfortunately had to experience the latter. Sounds like the kind of things happen people assume I'm just making up."
Milliauka looks at Obadiah and then back to Mokili Ali'i, "He is touched with curse of Pele'. It is beyond my power to heal."
DAY TWO
In the morning Milliauka gives a bracelet to the other five members of the party. "This will protect you from the touched one."
Beth accepts the scrimshaw necklace with grace, thanking the Tulita chief.
As they retire for the night, she checks if the necklace received is magical using a detect magic spell.
The next morning, she meets Milliauka and Mokili Ali'i with a few questions, asking for a description of the Jawbone or even if there is any representation of it that they could see.
The necklace is not magical, but the bracelet does have a faint magic aura to it.
"The scrimshaw jawbone depicts the coronation of the first Tulita war chief, Kaho Ali’i."
Morgan accepts his bracelet graciously, placing it on his left wrist.
He also asks Mokili Ali'i and Milliauka if the Tulita here have any information regarding the expansion of Maht, protecting against addiction or any way of reversing its effects.
(at night) Tiki Tohoraha crawls into whatever passes for Tohoraha's shrine/votive space in the settlement and curls up to sleep.
(in the morning) As Hoeroa speaks, Tiki hops down from his neck and play-acts the ravages of Maht for the elders, gurgling and growling with a bony rattle, raising his little arms aggressively and throwing his head from side to side as if sniffing the air. His pounamu eyes glow balefully, whalebone teeth glint evilly in a foul rictus as he expresses the full savagery of Maht-madness.
"Maht bad medicine and has spread from Maht to other Islands of late. They worship evil on Maht. It is curse as much as drug so much be treated as such."
Miliauka does say that he knows that a bar known as Barrett's Barnacle is a center of a lot of the dealing of Dragonsmoke in the area. He would be grateful if you would check it out.
"That's good to know. For myself, I would have more than a few words to say to these dealers."
Eying the members of the heterogenous assembly, she summarizes her thoughts. "Since I came here, I have seen threats rising from over and under the waves. The Krakenfiend, Dajobas and now this dragon smoke dealing. I don't know what to make of all that and if any of those are linked but I am not going to stand idle. I'm willing to help anyone who want to do something about that. Is any one of you game and what should we start with?"
Silas stands up. "I cannot exactly tell someone off for not standing up if I'm not prepared to do it myself. This place feels like it's circling the abyss and if the authorities are not doing anything about or in the case of Darenar seems to be complicit then others have to."
He scratches the back of his head before continuing. "The Barnacle is something solid we know is there. The rest means more work to try and find our leads."
He expels a loud breath when he finishes. "Sorry this stepping up thing is a little daunting.
Morgan asserts that he will join with Beth and agrees with Silas that Barrett's Barnacle is the place to start. Likely to be full of refuse of all kinds.
Obi decides definitively that he will join Beth and Silas in this grand adventure!
"Elder Nakuaka is a dragonsmoke user".
"About a month ago, a newcomer stole the Tulita peoples’ most sacred relic. Mokoli’s men caught a glimpse of the rogue before he escaped: short, half-Tulita/half foreigner, sporting short-cropped hair, and wearing leather armor with black lacquered rat skulls dangling from the shoulders."
It looks like the party has a leader. As soon as the other two check in please take your lead Beth!
Morgan asserts that he will join with Beth and agrees with Silas that Barrett's Barnacle is the place to start. Likely to be full of refuse of all kinds.
"Hoeroa, you have an anger in you that needs to let go. We need to make peace with these people. They are not like the elves and are not going to just go away. One of the greatest friends of the Tulita was a priest of this foreign god, Solomon Trafalgar and his Wave Riders. Look to them for allies."
Morgan blanches very briefly, before looking away toward the ocean. He struggles to master himself before looking again to the elders.
"You see my heart honoured elders. My blood is from the far isles - if I am at war with these people then I am at war with myself. Perhaps I can heal my own bright anger, if I can make peace with the Haole."
Morgan approaches and bows to Beth.
"Forgive my dismissive attitude and comments milady. Accept my pledge of aid and alliance, officially. Perhaps in time we can share our veneration of Toharaha-Quell."
"Well if we're going we should probably decide if we are going straight there or if we want to purposely talk to some of the pushers to get a better lay of the land before we went in."
"Good thinking Silas! Let us then approach Elder Nakuaka. Perhaps Sandman can try to "score" from him, and elicit some further information on the custom and society of "dragonsmokers". Perhaps Beth can also talk to the man she took to the Chapel for similar information."
"I was thinking a less direct approach and see who we could smoke out at the docks. Start at the bottom and work upwards. The Elder I would think we could approach when we know a little more on who we're dealing with. He certainly needs dealing with for the sake of the Tulita - or we could attempt to cleanse him like was done with the man Beth helped."
"I was thinking a less direct approach and see who we could smoke out at the docks. Start at the bottom and work upwards. The Elder I would think we could approach when we know a little more on who we're dealing with. He certainly needs dealing with for the sake of the Tulita - or we could attempt to cleanse him like was done with the man Beth helped."
Beth adds her suggestions. "The elder Tulita is obviously controlled with dragonsmoke. And my guess is it must suit a lot of people to have someone so easily controllable. So he must be highly "protected" from good influence. No I was more thinking that some of us should get into that bar looking to buy a large amount so we can find when and how it arrives. Maybe Silas, Obi and Morgan. Sandman and myself are too "visible" but we could wait close or come in separately."
"Dragonsmoke demands a heavy price for its pleasures. I prefer my intoxicants to be insightful and free from such demands." Sandman says after listening carefully for some time.
"Unfortunately for this deception, my views are quite well known. I have treated many dragonsmoke users. Those who traffic in such poison do not think well of me for the removal of their customers. Miss Beth is correct. It would be much better for she and I to be away when an attempt at infiltration is made."
Obi grins. "Well...you see, being a bit off kilter has quite a number of advantages. Why, I used to sleep in this dragonsmoke den, back years ago, as a safe house, because you see...they thought I was crazy." He whispers the last part low, as though they all know he's not crazy.
He then continues. "I can definitely assist in securing a fair bit of information. Or at least securing someone with information."