Erbert fumbles around in his bag, concentrates, then instantly lays a finger on his copy of his Volo's Guide to Monsters that he had stuffed inside.  "I swiped, erm... acquired this copy from Gilo before I left, I figured that it might be helpful to look up some of the beasts in this untamed land.  I wanted to study it at night during our journey.  Could you autograph it, please?"  Erbert smiles at Volo, blushes a shade of red.  "We were just... ah... discussing you earlier today.  How interesting to bump into you here!  What an adventure we are going to have!"  Erbert is happy as a clam with the book if Volo chooses to sign it, stuffing the copy into his bag.  "Quite a collection I'm going to have here..."

After that is done, he turns his attention to Jobal, all ears (and overly large gnome ears) turned to him, waiting for his advice...

Volo opens his mouth to answer both Dryn's comment and Ice's question, but gets interrupted by Erbert pulling his own copy of the book. "No problem! In fact,I came here to deliver signed copies" He admits as signs it.

Jobal hears Dryn with interest. "I used to be a wilderness guide myself, but I don't know how much the land may have changed since then, it has been years." He explains. "I have quite a few guides under my payroll, including this woman named Eku who always gives her part of the payment to the charity, and who might even work for free if you convince her you are up to a good task. There's also Azaka, she's rather new, she's not from around here and rumors have it that she comes from one of the wild tribes outside of Port Nyanzaru, but she seems to know the jungle like no other..." He shows you two pieces of parchment, showing the two women, a paragraph of tex written by them, and their current direction. "I also have other guides as well..." He says, showing two more pamplets like the first two.

When Edwin mentions two tabaxi, he sighs. "Let me guess, River and Flask were their names, right?" He says. "The two of them were kids when their tribe died and got down a bad path. They are not what you could call bad, but they are working for a foreign organization called the Zhentarim, and they have been doing criminal work for them. I'll be honest, I have always tolerate them because I feel sympathy for them, but if they keep trying to sabotage my business I might have to do something about them."

"Do you mind if I have a look at those?" Ice takes the pamphlets and has a read through. He quickly does some calculations in his head "150 gold, maybe I am in the wrong business." 

 Though the information on each of the pamphlets is sparse, he pays careful attention to the clues that are their that lend information as to the intent and character of each of the guides. (Investigation: 5). While a dwarf who had faced down a dragon was enticing, the fact the had lost an arm was a concern. Surely that would hamper him when he was most needed, and as for charity, what a person does with the moment they receive doesn't make their skills any better. 

"These are interesting," Ice shuffles the pamphlets to put the ones of Azaka and Qawahsa on the top of the pile then hands them over to Edwin. 
(OOC: I might change this order if the investigation roll reveals anything)

Edwin read through the pamphlets, considering each. "Mmm, based on this information I'd put Qawahsa on the top of my list. His goals seem to align well with our task." He'll over the papers to anyone else who is interested.

Ice, reading the text and looking over the portraits you make the following analysis and conjectures on the guides being offered:

• Eku wears green feathers and tribal paint on her face, though the former is not immediately apparent to the eye given her skin color and the light golden paint. This could point to a connection to the wild tribes of Chult, or to the deities and nature spirits worshipped by them.
• Azaka looks the youngest out of the offered guides, but there's scars on one side of her face. There's also mention in the text about her wanting to take back a wooden mask that was stolen from her, and the only tribes in Chult that are known to make and wear wooden masks are the Batiri. There might be a connection to be made there, what with Jobal also mentioning she might come from a tribe, but the Batiri are goblinoids, and Azaka looks quite human...
• On his text, Qawasha mentions being part of the Emerald Enclave: An organization of druids and other nature worshipers, which base of operations is located on the island of Ilighôn. The Emerald Enclave strives to preserve nature in all its forms and control the expansion of civilization, and they struggle to keep civilization and the wilderness from destroying one another. They are also known as the "Caretakers", "Nature's Chosen", the "Circle", and "the Chosen of Silvanus".
• Hew Hackinstone writes about having lost his arm to a red dragon... But there's no mention of whether he managed to slay the dragon afterwards or not, which is a feat he would have likely managed to include on the text had it happened, given the tone of the rest of the note. If the red dragon lives, the dwarf might want revenge against it, and will more than likely want the group to help him out on such a task.

Erbert nods when Ice and Edwin are speaking.  "I agree with you, I think that Qawasha is the best choice for our party.  Is there a way that we can meet with him and speak with him further?  I'm also curious to meet Kupalué."

After taking the papers from Edwin and reading over them Dryn offers her opinion.

"Eku has a noble heart but I agree that Qawasha being a druid might give us an advantage against the dangers of the jungle wilds," the paladin explains her reasoning.

Insight into Jobal, do ge seem trustworthy: 20

Dryn, you don't find anything untrustworthy about him.

Jobal nods, smiling. "You can speak to him, of course. At this hour, he and his vegepygmy friend are usually at the Old City, but I could make someone look for them and bring them here." He says. "I could do that for all four of these guides as well, if you wish to interview them all before making a choice, but if the choice has already been taken that won't be necessary."

"If you could arrange for him to come here it would be appreciated. I would hate to go looking for a guide only to get lost in the Old City. Hardly the most encouraging start to a relationship." Ice looked around the room. "While we wait for him, I would love to hear about your own journeys in the wastelands and how you put this book together." 

Erbert says “How about we interview Qawasha first, then if we have questions or doubts we can interview the others...  All in favor; say Aye.”

O'waac and spent his time listening and observing. He had no preference on a choice of guide, though Qawasha did seem like an ideal choice to lead them through the jungle.

While Volo answers Ice's suggestion with tales about giants having rock-throwing contests, gnoll cultists and a goblin who called him her "pidgeon", Jobal calls over a servant and orders him to bring Quawasha and to bring him here as soon as póssible.

"Do you have an idea of what path will you take?" Jobal asks. "Quawasha is a good choice, he knows well the jungle. Eku would probably suggest you to go to Mbala, Azaka has that business of hers on Firefinger, and the dwarf would probably talk you into hunting down dragons..."

Erbert speaks up "Can you have Qawasha brought to us, if he is acceptable I think we have heard enough to choose him.  Thank you for your help Jobal!  We are honored to meet you and appreciate your help with our quest."

The man who Jobal had sent arrives, accompanied by Qawasha and Kupalué. 

Qawasha is old, but he's tall and confident, and you get the idea that he was as strong as a bear when he was at his prime. He might still be.

Kupalué, the vegepygmy, can't speak Common as with the rest of his kin, but still greets the group with a chirping sound.

"Greetings. travelers. Have you all come here to Chult to fight against the undead hordes?" Qawasha asks, smiling gently. "If you are interested in a guide who helps you on your task, I'm here to serve."

"Yes we've come to discover the source of the corruption," Dryn replies to the old druid looking curious at him as well as his companion. "We hope you could provide us with knowledge of the jungle and a safer passage to what we seek," she adds.

"Qawasha how long have you been a guide, convince us that you can bring us through this alive, can you tell us a little bit about what you can do?"  Erbert looks curiously at Qawasha, appraising him, capabilities, mood, skill, etc.  

Insight :  18

Also Erbert examines Kupalué, like one examining a bug underneath a microscope.   He is fascinated and starts to make a drawing in his notebook, listening to Qawasha as well, an expert at multitasking.

As the others talk to Qawasha, Ice studies him closely to see if their is anything about his dress and manner that links back to his studies of ancient civilisations. 
Investigation: 22

Ice, there's nothing 'ancient' about Qawasha despite his age and his connection to the jungle. He looks just like any old druid.

Kupalué chirps at the druid. Qawasha looks over at the vegepygmy and starts communicating with him with some kind of sign language before turning back to Dryn.

"He says that you seem trustworthy. That's something that is sadly hard to find these days." Qawasha says. "When people come here to explore, they are usually after lost gold, gems and treasure. I can't stand them. But if uncover the undead corruption is what you seek, we'll be more than willing to aid you."

He notices something and comments. "That amulet... It is the symbol of the Moonmaiden, right? I've seen it on my travels quite a few times."

"Why yes thank you. I am a champion of Selune," Dryn nods proudly touching her amulet. "She guides me to aid others," she adds resolutely. "These symbols," she gestures again at her amulet, "where have you seen them," she asks curiously.

Amulet