Ice, you don't remember about this particular place, but you do know about Ubtao being the name of the god believed to have created Chult, and who disappeared centuries ago because he became disgusted by its people.

Erbert, you read about this strange earthmote once: Chultans who’ve seen the earthmote believe it’s actually the petrified heart of the god Ubtao, and they consider it sacred. Priests of Ubtao used to travel there on the backs of flying dinosaurs to seek visions inside the heart and to beseech Ubtao to return, but as the god kept silent the practice was slowly abandoned.

While still shy, Xandala nods at Edwin's question. "I know a few tricks..." She says. 

"All right, we'll see what comes from this. My visit to that place was long overdue, anyway." Qawasha says. It is obvious he's still thinking on that undead monster rumor he mentioned. Kupalué keeps staring at Xandala and Summerwise, waving his tiny hand at the little dragon. In response, the dragon just chirps. "Shall we go?"

Erbert mounts Mari and asks Cuervo to join him on his shoulder.  "Let's go.  One last thing.  I have 10 rations, I don't know how far it is to reach Mbala and Ubtao's Heart.  Should we purchase additional food for storage for our journey?  If so, let's do that and then be off on our way.  Xandala, do you want to ride with Qawasha?"

"Yes, please do join us," Dryn to Xandala. "What other supplies might we need," she asks Qawasha curiously to echoing Erbert's concerns.

Dryn looks at Xandala concerned about her character and if it was a mere chance meeting. insight 13

((sorry that this took so long))

Dryn, you can tell that there's something off about Xandala's circumstances, but nothing more.

At Erbert's question, Xandala looks at Qawasha, who just shurgs. "If Roble doesn't mind, neither do I" He says with a smile.

"Roble? Is that its name?" She asks, walking towards the macetail and putting a hand on his back. Roble remains calm.

Once the girl is distracted with the macetail, Qawasha turns to you. "We might need more rations now, indeed... Do you want me to go buy them, or do we go all together?"

If the answer to the second question is affirmative, you all walk to the merchant selling dried foods, with Xandala and her dragon close-by. The merchant, a young man, appears to be on a lively conversation with another client. 

"Qawasha you can buy them, if you know how much we need - that would be great, that would save us time.  We have the coin for the purchase, but you might make wiser choices for us."  Erbert turns to everyone else - "anything else that we need before we go?"

Edwin nods. "Agreed. I would not have a good idea as to what to buy regardless, if we are to travel together I would say we can trust you to procure the rations."

Qawasha goes to talk to the salesman, and returns with new rations. Nuts, dried fruit and what looks like jerky can be seen on them.

If there's nothing else to say or do, he guides you (and Xandala) forward.

Malar's Throat looks like the slum district that it is: Two sheer, jungle-draped ridges flank a deep ravine. Ramshackle buildings cling to the sides of the ridges, each structure seemingly built atop the lower one’s roof. Foot bridges of rope and bamboo hang above the ravine. There's a Temple, built like a sturdy blockhouse of heavy stone. It’s not an elegant structure, but it looks like a strong shelter in time of need.

Here, you are close to the tall wall shielding Port Nyanzaru from the wilderness outside. A large gate in the city wall shows the foliage outside.

(Apologies for my absence. The school term just finished and as a teacher I crashed for a few days.)

"Qwasha, I would go with you if I might. This place fascinates me and I would love to see the markets a little more with you." Ice rides alongside Qawasha as they go to buy the supplies. As they do so he continues to soak in the surroundings, making the most of his time to see the people living without putting on an act for guests. He tries to chat with Qawasha about life in the wastelands, particularly what had triggered him to come seeking help now with Mbla, or was this an ongoing problem. Ice is hoping to get to know Qawasha a little better and build a rapport with him. Persuasion: 15

Erbert follows at a distance, taking in the sights, sounds and also listening for conversations in the market, topics of concern, listening for what people are talking about, what is the "buzz" of the town.  He is pleased that Qawasha helped to outfit them appropriately and looks anxious to begin.  He sends Cuervo up a little higher to look over the gate and what lies beyond..

As the group reaches the gates, Edwin draws in a deep breath feeling the jungle air fill his lungs. He exhales slowly with a combination of nerves and excitement. "Well, nothing for it then. Into the breach we go." He urges Fluffy forward to follow the group.

Ice, when you went with Qawasha to buy the supplies, you saw the merchant greet both of you with a smile. "Sorry pal, this is all I got." He said as he handed you the very basic-looking rations. "Me and others were expecting the arrival of a an airship with good stuff from overseas. It never arrived. I bet it crashed in the jungle somewhere."

"It sounds like they must have gotten caught in one of those horrible storms... May the dead found peace" He answers.

The merchant just nods, not really that sorrowful over what he just said outside of business reasons. When you two walked away, he was already happily chatting with another client.

You see that guards are numerous, but less numerous than the urchins and pickpockets: An urchin boy manages to steal a pocket watch from an unsuspecting lower-class noble, fleeing before the guards can catch him.

Qawasha and Kupalué stop by what seems to be their home to get the tents. "The undead are an affront to the natural order, a taint that must be stopped" He says. "But travelers aren't usually interested in fighting, they don't want to risk their lives doing so. They take from the jungle without giving in return..." He shakes his head. "Sorry, I got a little carried away there. My efforts against the undead have been fruitless so far, so it was great to hear you happen to share our goals. I appreciate that."

The jungle outside is weirdly serene right now. There's a walked path guiding to the city, but beyond that it is wild territory: The foliage is so deep that not even Cuervo can see a thing from here.

"Qawasha, do you have any machetes?  How do we carve a path through this?"  Erbert sits high in his mount and tries to find a path through.  He holds a fire bolt in his hands, then thinks better of it and ponders the path forward.  

"Come Qawasha, lead on.  Let's venture forth and see what awaits us.  I am dying for the big adventure to begin!  Let me take some notes..."  Erbert pulls out his notebook and makes a drawing of the gates and first steps into the jungle, making note of the day and time and his companions.  

Once he has finished drawing, he leads Mari into the jungle, Cuervo flying up above him.

The jungle looked impenetrable. Surely it can't be this thick the whole way through. How would merchants travel with their goods? Ice looked at the path, probably the only safe place in this area, and headed Blaze in the Night in that direction. He wanted to be up near the front of the group if they found anything. The sense of excitement and adventure was growing in him as he looked out beyond the walls, thinking of what might be hidden out there.

Erbert leads Mari out into the jungle, waiting for Qawasha to catch up.

"These vines were not here when I came here..." Xandala comments. Her pseudodragon flies over it... and you see the vine start to move.

The pseudodragon flies away just in time, but the vines and roots on the ground are still subtly moving. 

The vine that failed to catch the pseudodragon now tries to entangle around Mari and the other mounts, but Qawasha prevents it in time. "An assasin vine... Thankfully it is still young."

The vine moves to attack again.

Roll initiative. The one who rolls lowest will get grappled by the vines (escape DC 14).

Vines' Initiative: 1

Erbert initiative :  22

Edwin Initiative: 19

Ice initiative: 8

Erbert attacks the assassin vine with a fire bolt while sitting atop Mari, Cuervo flies high above.  "Die you fiendish vine!  Release us!"

Attack: 13 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.