OOC: All together lizard, saddle, barding = 200$  right? Dryn then gave 100$ towards Qawasha mount and things. She's got 500$ left correct? Also what kind of AC does the barding add to Luta? Nat AC 12.

Dryn gets on Luta and tries the commands as Ifan discussed. The lizard follows her commands eagerly without issue.

"Yes, I think we need just regular supplies, no? Food and tents? I don't think sleeping rough is a good idea," she adds her two cents. "But Yes being familiar with the jungles Qawasha where ever you figure is best to start we can start there," she adds.

 Luta but with barding..

Erbert, you open the journal searching for clues. The unknown wizard makes several references to the undead, from them just being a weird ocurrance to slowly rising in number. The wizard didn't knew what was causing this, and if he knew he didn't wrote about it.

Two passage catches your interest as you are passing the pages: A quick mention of what might be Mbala...

I left the village behind yesterday. The people there were kind, but their sadness was contagious. I had stayed any longer, I too would have started mourning for this kind dead nanny the tribes on this tall plateau loved and miss so much.

...and a single line of text he wrote after an entry about a dinosaur zombie he fought.

Maybe the Fane of the Night Serpent might know more than they let on.

At Erbert's question, Qawasha shakes his head. "I have searched for the source myself, but to no avail. The undead are everywhere these days, you can't go anywhere without finding them..." He says, pain in his voice. "And yet, the source of it all is still a mystery."

As you follow him, you reach a part of the Port known as the Grand Souk: Traders from up and down the Sword Coast come to this market to buy timber, spices, medicines concocted from jungle plants, dinosaur skulls and claws, iron, tiger pelts, carved ivory, Batiri and grung handiwork, colored feathers, tropical fruit, monkeys, plesiosaur meat, and all the other riches of Chult. Business begins before the sun comes up, and dealing doesn’t stop until well after darkness edges across the city. It’s a noisy, jostling, aroma-rich circus. Street performers and tabaxi minstrels add to the cacophony. 

"There's a lot of travelers around here... Do you think someone might know something? We could ask around a little before continuing" Qawasha asks Ice. Then he turns to Dryn. "I happen to own three tents, each large enough for two people, along with other equipment for travelling. I'm used to provide all I can for those I guide, and I'm sure Roble won't mind carrying it all." He smiles at the macetail.

Edwin, as you take in on the sights of the Port, you realize you and the others are being watched: A blonde girl with a pseudodragon perched on her shoulder is staring on your direction.

((@Dryn Yes. The bonus for the barding is AC 12 + Dex modifier, which in the giant lizards' case is +1. Also, Luta looks awesome.❤))

Noticing the girl who seems to be clocking the group, Edwin hops off Fluffly, leading the lizard by the reins, he slowly approaches the girl. "Hello miss. My name is Edwin. Is everything alright? I couldn't help but notice you staring at our group. I understand that we are a motley bunch, which may draw a bit of attention, but it seemed like you had a particular interest."

Erbert was in the middle of saying to Qawasha "Do you think we ought to buy more rations before we begin our journey, how much should we take, if we are headed to Mbala?  In this journal it mentions something interesting, have you ever heard of the Fane of the Night Serpent?"  As he is getting this out he notices Edwin dismount and approach the girl with the pseudodragon.  He says to Mari "Slow" and turns her to the side, to observe the interaction.  He appraises the blond girl, trying to assess her background, intent.  Cuervo flies up and starts to circle the area, trying to observe if they are being followed by anyone else.

Dryn dismounts Luta and holds her reigns flanking Edwin to listen. Dryn looks around to notice anyone else taking particular interest in the group.

Dryn perception check 8

Being at the back of the group, Ice in Summer can see that something has caught the attention of a few of the others, but he can’t make out what it is. Still, he slows Blaze down to maintain a little distance. Drum and Edwin dismount, so Ice pulls up where he is and waits, keeping an eye on the area. Perception: 18

There's doesn't appear to be anyone else with a particular interest on you, just her.

Noticing that she has been spotted, the girl seems about to bail, taking a step back, until Edwin speaks to her. The pseudodragon whispers something on her ear and she moves closer.

Looking her closer, you see that her ears have the pointy appearance only those with elven lineage have. She has bronze skin and gray eyes, but the truly striking (and strange) part of her appearance is the metallic-hued scales that cover almost the entire left half of her face and some parts of her neck. They are pale in color, so you didn't notice them at first, but now that she moved closer you can see them. If she feels you staring at them, she tries to cover them with her hair.

"I'm sorry..." She answers to Edwin, not looking him directly. She's looking at the ground while she speaks, and her voice is so faint you almost don't hear her. "I was... Are you and your friends... travelers?"

O'waac had been alternating letting Coyo have her lead and directing her, forming a closer bond. He stopped when the others did and kept a tight reign on his fiesty new moorbounder.

Unconcerned about the delay, he took the time to gaze around the city and observe the every day ebb and flow.

Edwin considers a moment before responding, "Yes. Yes, I suppose we are travelers of a sort. We have come to investigate some of the strange goings on in this land." Hoping this eases the girl's anxiety slight he continues, "What is your name? Is there something you need help with?"

He carefully watches the girls reaction. Insight: 17

Erbert looks the girl over, observes the interaction between her and the pseudodragon, also looks at the scales, tries to guess as to her background, and also warlock, or not?

Arcana :  19

History :  9

Erbert, you see that her scales appear to be from having a draconic bloodline, making her a sorcerer and not a warlock. This means that her pseudodragon might be just a normal creature she managed to befriend, or perhaps she managed to cast Find Familiar some other way. You also see that while her cape seems like fine clothing, the rest of her clothers are of very poor quality.

"My name is Xandala, and this is Summerwise..." She says. "I was wondering if... If you are leaving Port Nyanzaru, can I...?"

Qawasha, who had been about to answer Erbert's question before the sudden interruption, turns to look at the strange girl while Kupalué waves at her and the dragon. "I'm Qawasha. Please, do not be shy and speak clearly. Is it there something we can help you with?"

Xandala pets Summerwise to ease her nerves before answering. "I'm looking for someone named Artus Climber. Have any of you heard that name? He is a traveler too, a human, and he was last seen with a mute lizardman-thing who smelled weird..." 

"That name does not mean anything to me, though I have only been in the city for a few hours." He beckons others from the group over. "She is looking for someone named Artus Climber. He was seen with a lizardman who smelled weird. Strange smelling creatures make me think of undeath... Perhaps more than a coincidence."

Does Dryn know the traveler?

History check 6

"We are indeed traveling out of the city. Are you alone? It's a dangerous place for anyone on their own," Dryn replies smiling as she looks at the girl. Luta bobs her head curiously looking at Summerwise clicking and chattering excitedly. "We're not positive of our path exactly but you're more than welcome to travel with us more safely," she adds looking at the group but answering resolutely.

OOC: These rolls?! Argh...

Erbert also searches through the card catalog of his brain, looking for one titled "Artus Climber", trying to recall any information about him or his mute lizard man companion...  He is trying to get an opinion of Xandala, thus far seems positive...

History check : 9

"Xandala, would you like to accompany us?  Why are you looking for Artus Climber?  Tell us a little more, please."  Erbert gives her a big smile and tries to put her nerves at ease.

Dryn and Erbert, both of you think hard on it but the name just doesn't ring any bells.

When Edwin comments his theory about the lizardman probably being undead, Xandala becomes a little more nervous. "Do you really think that's what happened? Why... Why would he go with the lizard then? The tabaxi made it sound like the lizard was a companion of his..."

When Dryn asks her if she's alone, she nods. "Just me and Summerwise. My mom is waiting for me at Ubtao's Heart, but I'm supposed to bring Artus with me." She rises her head and the pseudodragon wags its tail. "...really? Can I go with you? But I don't have anything to pay you with..."

At one of the words she says, Qawasha's expression stiffens. "...Did you said Ubtao's Heart? Many people have told me that that place has become the lair of an undead monster. What is your mother doing there?"

The young half-elf looks at the druid and answers, what sounds like honest confusion clear on her voice. "Me and my mother have been living there ever since I can remember. Never seen a monster there." 

At Erbert's question, she gets really awkward and turns her gaze to the ground once again. "He is... Well, my mom says that he's my father."

"That I can not answer", there is a deep note of concern in his voice, "I may be finding connections where there are none. However, somehow this all seems connected. Rumors of undeath at Ubtao's heart, a strange smelling creature disappearing with the man who may be your father..." Edwin trails off as if deep in thought before continuing with further questions for Xandala, "So do you wish to travel to Ubtao's Heart? or do you with to find Artus? Tracking down this man amongst the entirety of this peninsula may be challenging."

He then turns to Qawasha,

"Where is Ubtao's heart? I don't recall seeing it on the map. Somewhere beyond Mbala?"

"I don't know. He was supposed to be here, but it seems he was already long gone by the time I arrived here..." Xandala says. "Maybe I should return with my mother. She might have a clue about where he might have gone."

"Ubtao's Heart is located at the east of the Albani Basin river, on the the other side of the river of where Mbala is." Qawasha answers. "It is an earthmote — a massive chunk of earth held aloft by magic that can’t be dispelled. We call it the Heart of Ubtao because the earthmote is vaguely heart-shaped, and the petrified tree adds the impression of veins and arteries."

The others have clearly stopped to talk to this new person with her dragon on her shoulder. Ice makes his way forward a little so he can hear what is being said. Although he missed the start of the conversation, the idea of a floating chunk of earth fascinated him. He tried to recall if there was anything in his notes that he had read about the Heart of Ubtao. Surely something as unusual as this would have been mentioned in the histories of the people. Maybe it had some religious significance to them.
History: 6

As much as he pondered though it did not come to mind.

Erbert is interested in the description of the Heart of Ubtao - fascinated by the description of earth that is held aloft by magic.  He searches through his mind for any references in his reading about the Heart of Ubtao, specifically.  

History :  26

"Well, I know that I don't speak for the group, but I personally would allow you to join us, Xandala.  I am curious to see Ubtao's Heart and perhaps our paths and purposes cross for a reason. What do the rest of you think about this?"

"I have no issue with Xandala joining our group. It sounds like the trail to Ubtao's heart will take us near Mbala anyway."

Turning to Xandala, "Are you comfortable with the wilds? Can you handle yourself in a fight if needed? Rumor has it that the threat of the undead is on the rise throughout the peninsula."