At the dinosaur pens...

Teron confirms that Gorumi is slightly unpredictable, but Faloniir, unconcerned, enters the pen and, after a few soothing words spoken to the giant lizard, hops atop her back. The sheer size and power of the creature underneath him is awe-inspiring. Gorumi seems nervous, but she tolerates her rider.

Teron, surprised by what has transpired, says. "Race her today and you''ll earn twenty pieces of gold!"

At the bazaar...

Eldeth confirms that nothing has been lifted off her person, and she's quite certain the half-orc is exactly who she seems to be. 

Faloniir steps into the pen with his hands raised non-threateningly and stays where Gorumi can see him. He takes a tentative step toward her, then another, always moving slowly and staying where she can see him. When he gets close enough he will offer his hand for her to smell, then, provided she hasn't bitten it off, he will gently stroke her nose with the backs of two fingers. If she is amenable to that he will then pet her with an open hand, feeling the rough, bumpy texture. After a minute or two of getting to know one another, Faloniir will causally walk back to where the stirrups are for her saddle and climb atop her. He will lean forward and stroke her large crest as he whispers to her before sitting back in the saddle and looking over to Teron, "We will win." Looking as though he was born in the saddle, Faloniir will hold the reigns in one hand and flick his wrist periodically as he takes Gorumi for a few laps around the pen.

Eldeth, who's been doing a bit of pre-purchase price comparison on the insect repellent, rain catchers, and the like, stop. "Oh, canoes are over that way." She points, then realizes how unhelpful that probably is in the chaotic market. "Over here, I'll show you. What do you need a canoe for, if I may ask?" She'll lead the half-orc back the way she came towards the canoes.

With each circuit around the pen, Faloniir gains a bit of insight into handling such a massive animal. The whole experience is rather exhilarating, for the rider recognizes that he would be utterly helpless if the dinosaur exerted its will against the endeavor. At last Kahu calls out. "Enough. We cannot tire her. She must be saved for the race."

Teron then sets to making certain that Faloniir is sincere about ride Gorumi. The matter is settled and Faloniir is told to meet them at the gate to Malar's Throat in approximately six hours. 

- - - - - - - - - 

Meanwhile, at the bazaar, Eldeth leads the way through the crowd for the priest of Torm who follows her. The half-orc introduces herself as Undril Silvertusk, a representative of the Order of the Gauntlet and newly arrived in Port Nyanzaru. She needs to join her superiors at Camp Vengeance. "Unfortunately, I was led to believe I could simply buy a horse in the city and ride to the camp, but I now see that's not possible."

Faloniir has rarely been more sincere about anything in his entire life. He wouldn't miss the race for anything short of death. Faloniir will strut back to Wakanga's villa and inquire after the the rest of the party, unless he meets one or more of them on his way.

Eldeth laughs a little. "That seems like a very bad idea. Do you have a deadline? Going alone also seems unwise. I'm not sure yet if our group is going that way, but if we are, maybe you could travel with us."

Eldeth did not notice, but Barkas tagged along at a distance to the bazaar.  He is looking at all of the goods, amusing colors, forgets the matter at hand and becomes almost a tourist, sampling and looking through all of the stalls and shops of the bazaar.  He didn't let Eldeth get too far ahead, and Elonath scouted from above to keep an eye on her.  "There you are!" he announces in dwarfish.  "Have you found anything good?  Anything useful?  Anything that will keep us alive?"  Barkas has a keen interest in insect repellent, bug sticks, water purifiers, unguents, and anything else that appears useful in the jungle.  

As Barkas catches up to Eldeth, he finds her in conversation with a half-orc dressed in priest robes. The half-orc is saying, "I don't much like the idea of going alone at all. There's no deadline, but I cannot tarry. I intend to leave tomorrow and would gladly travel with any who might be headed that way. Again, I am Undril Silvertusk and will be lodging at Kaya's Repose. Thank you!"

When the Chultan man drops to the ground, Edrik would move over to him, kneeling down to check on him, trying to see if he can tell what is wrong with him. (Medicine Check: 4 or Perception: 8 depending on what's more appropriate.) "Not sure I can do much for him," he says to his companions. "Either of you catch where he even came from?"  

"I'm Eldeth Stonehew -- I'm not sure yet where we're staying," she says. "I'll try and leave a note for you once we know one way or the other."

Upon the man falling unconscious, Rasp immediately catalogued the man's voice to memory, committing it to memory. The Kenku kneeled and placed a taloned hand on the man's chest - another burst of searing, purple energy lit the man's eyes and mouth as Rasp not-so-gently dealt him one point of his Lay on Hands. 

The Kenku stood, eyes narrowing over the surroundings - any suspicious members in the crowd? Perhaps a reason for this man's collapse?

Matthias would recoil at the sight of the man collapsing in-front of the three.  "Oh!"  He'd call out in surprise, but also heeding his words as he fell.  As Rasp started to heal him he'd ask, "What happened to this one?  Is there tej on his breath?"

Near the Temple of Savras...

The unconscious man sputters to alertness, his face grimacing in pain as he does so. He looks a bit wild-eyed for a moment before he explains that for the past twelve hours or so he's been overtaken by an irresistible sense of urgency to find people matching your description. "I am unable to make sense of this matter. I know of Mbala, for I have spoken with porters who've been to Camp Vengeance, but this...wise guardian...wise guardian of Orolunga, I do not know."

The man shakes his head in dismay. "I am Eshek and very sorry to have intruded. Forgive me."

Rasp, Matthias, and Edrik see nothing suspicious about those passing by on the street.

And in the bazaar...

The half-orc priests flashes a quick smile to Eldeth and replies, "Thank you!"

Edrik says, "Pardon my ignorance Eshek, but what is Mbala? I'm afraid we've only just arrived here in Port Nyanzaru."

"Mbala stands atop a great cliff; it is an ancient Chultan ruin," responds Eshek. 

"Ah, I see. And it's not far from Camp Vengeance.  My thanks," Edrik says.  "Orolunga though you don't know...  Do you have any idea what would cause you to tell us those words when you don't know anything of them?"  He chuckles, "Sorry for my curiosity.  The message just seems rather strange!"

Eshek nods his head in agreement. "The message is strange. I cannot grasp how it came to me."

He then turns and walks away, entering the Temple of Savras. 

Eldeth waves at Undril as she moves off, and turns to Barkas. "She's going to Camp Vengeance, so if we do end up going that way, maybe she could come along -- couldn't hurt to have another healer." She continues in dwarvish. "I've been looking at the various supplies, trying to get an eye for price and quality. We're going to need two canoes, I think, so I hope we have the coin --" she stops. "I, um, wasn't paying attention earlier, who has the extra gold we were given? Or was that just enough for the cost of a guide?" She looks around. "Aside from that, we can probably purchase the other things now between the two of us, hopefully."

Edrik glances to Rasp and Matthias after Eshek heads off into the temple. "Well, very strange.  But perhaps we should visit Orolunga if we get the chance.  For now, shall we follow and see what the Temple of Savras has to offer?"  He runs both his hand through his beard, "Hmm, who was it now that we were looking for?  Seems... Grandfather Zitembe?" 

Rasp's eyes narrowed at the man as he left. Omens, curses - they went hand in hand, and Rasp felt sure this wasn't a coincidence in the slightest. The Kenku didn't respond to Edrik, instead pushing forth into the temple directly to follow his quarry.