"“Greggor votes for Zee, she has made strong case for knowledge ent combat experience. Ve both seek artifact, ent she has respect of peer. Dough if two vill verk together, Greggor feels dis es best.”

Alright, I trust Zee completely now.

"I agree with Elvoril," Krav says, glancing at Kaslo.

"I think Zee is a fine choice, having a guide who can hold her own in combat is a great bonus!" Thor lifts his cup to toast. "However, I stand by what I said, we will most likely return to the Port. Hiring another guide in the future for the simple fact we may be able to acquire different intel depending on where we go and who we speak with, might be something to consider upon our return." Thor gleefully grabs another plate of food.

Greggor has nothing else to add at this point.  He grabs a couple more eggs, some hard fruit and leans back in his chair drinking from a tankard of some sort of juice, while the party debates over it's options.

While the party is debating over the choice of guides that are present or maybe thinking about interviewing some others that are on the board, Undril walks over to Zee and introduces herself. 

"Greetings, Zee is it? I am Whitehawk Undril Silvertusk, Cleric of the Order of the Gauntlet." Undril gives a salute and deep bow to Zee."I hear you were a gladiator before you became a guide. I bet you're glad you did. Who knew being a guide was a cutthroat business."

 Zee laughs at Undril's statement. "It can be between some guides. The Guide industry is big business in Chult. The merchant prince Jobal is in control of that business and gets a cut of every fee the guides get. The market is standardized but he does allow guides to wave the fee to help a guide do a specific quest. But the guide still has to pay Jobal his share of what they would've gotten. I am not an official guide. I am an archeologist by trade but sometimes I do guide travelers around the jungle if they need it while I am going out on an expedition. I have an arrangement with Jobal that not many guides know about. That's why they give me dirty looks and such thinking I am stealing their customers. I don't care what they think. I give Jobal a flat fee every month to be able to freelance when I need people to help me out. And in exchange for helping me, I take them to wherever they need to go."

Undril smiles at Zee. "To hell with what they think huh. I like that. And I'm sure no one really messes with you about you 'stealing customers' because of your background."

"Something like that,"  Zee says with a smile.

The two ladies go over to the food table and grab some fruits and eggs and take a seat and continue to talk out of earshot of everyone else.

Guys I definitely think we should take Zee and Undril.

Quote from BorakRed >

 

 

 Salida looks over at Kaslo with a quizzical look on her face. "I have no idea what you're talking about. There is nothing to "come clean" about."

Seeing the flock was at an impasse, Tap opened his beak and made the loud noise of a blast of a note from a horn to draw everyone's attention. Speaking, he said, "I definitely think we should take Zee and Undril--hire Eku as our guide.--If we have 2 guides who know the Jungle, their combined knowledge might aid us in our quest."

After pausing briefly, he continued, "Zee--not part of the Guide Guild and can wave any fee.--Hiring--Eku--is 5 gold pieces a day with a 30-day advancement.--Their combined knowledge might aid us in our quest"

Quote from DaNoLyfeKing >>

Seeing the flock was at an impasse, Tap opened his beak and made the loud noise of a blast of a note from a horn to draw everyone's attention. Speaking, he said, "I definitely think we should take Zee and Undril--hire Eku as our guide.--If we have 2 guides who know the Jungle, their combined knowledge might aid us in our quest."

After pausing briefly, he continued, "Zee--not part of the Guide Guild and can wave any fee.--Hiring--Eku--is 5 gold pieces a day with a 30-day advancement.--Their combined knowledge might aid us in our quest"

I third that vote!

Krav turns to Silda.

"Sorry, Marm. It looks like the choice has been made."

He hands her the 5 gold pieces he agreed to give her.

Silda frowns as she takes the money from Krav. "Good luck out there. If things don't work out with Eku you know where to find me." She nods to the party and walks out the door not looking back.

Chapter 2

Away We Go

Fifth Day of the first Tenday. Approximately 7:30 am

Eku walks over to the central table where it has enough room for everyone to sit. "Please everyone. Take a seat." She motions to the seats, "We have a bit to discuss and I want to set some ground rules first. If you plan on living through this expedition than you must follow my instructions. I have been doing this for over 100 years. I think I know what I am talking about when we are out there."

Eku looks at everyone gathered and nods to herself.  "Since we will be escorting Miss Undril to Camp Vengeance than we will need water transportation." 

Undril stands up and clears her throat." Excuse me one second. Since you will be helping me, I will provide the transport you need to traverse the waters. When we get to Camp Vengeance you may keep the boats as a gift. I will also pay you the 100 gold pieces as promised when we safely get there." Undril sits back down.

Eku nods.

"Very well, Undril will provide transportation. Our next big expense is going to be food and water. If you wish to go to Orolunga and see the Guardian Naga, it is an 18-day journey as long as everything goes as planned. Round trip would be 36 days. To be safe you would want at least 50 days of rations."

Eku holds up her hands to quiet you before you say anything. "I know this seems like a lot and it is a waste of carrying space and it will be hard. But without food and water, you will die out there.  If you wish to get a month supply of rations then you could always try and forage every day while we are traveling. If you have any luck fishing you may be able to save your rations for when we have to go inland. We should be able to take the boats almost all the way to Orolunga. We should only have to travel one day on foot."

Eku pauses and takes a sip of her drink before continuing. "You will need Rain Catchers. It rains constantly in the jungle. Sometimes it is so fierce that we will have to find shelter and take cover for a day. If you have a few Rain Catchers than you will be able to gather enough water for a few days provided you have a few empty gallon barrels. If you are caught without water you will die in a few days out there. Don't let that happen."

Eku pauses as she thinks. "Insect repellent is a must. If you don't have it, don't complain to me when you get bit all day long and catch some strange disease." She looks the party over to make sure they are paying attention.

Zee stands up at this point. "I just want to say that the Tomb that I had found recently is only a three days journey by boat in the direction we are going. If you wish to do that first It should be easy to get to. If you wish to do it after that is fine with me as well. But I do hope you decide to do it quickly before someone else discovers it and loots it, robbing the Chultan people of their heritage."

Eku nods. "Camp Righteous is about Six and a half days away from here. Camp Vengeance is about Eight and a half days from here. I suggest we stop at Camp Righteous. It is a good place to camp for the night. There is an 80 foot stone statue carved into the form of a man carrying a crocodile on his back. That is a strange tale and I will tell you it when we get there if you do choose to say there for the night."

"Another warning. it is VERY hot." She looks over the group and frowns. "Any of you that think that their shiny metal armor is going to protect them will probably be the first to die of dehydration in the jungle. Metal armor and the jungle do not mix. I am not saying don't wear it. But if you wish to live I would travel with lighter protection. People that wear medium to heavy armors usually don't make it out there. It is a warning. Take it as you wish."

Eku nods to herself and gives the group a once over. Everyone feels that warm calm through their bodies as they meet her eyes. "If there are any questions, this is the time to ask them. Otherwise, when we leave here I will have to go prepare. I say we meet at the harbor ward at noon and we could begin our journey today. That is where you can get your transportation Undril. So the only thing we have left is the matter of my payment. I will expect it when we meet at the Harbor Ward."

Undril nods.

Krav nods, feeling more sure of this now than he did a moment ago.

I think going to the treasure tomb would be a good idea. We'd have the help from all our allies and we'd have some more spending coins for when we get to camp to stock up.

Eku, how many flasks of water would you suggest each person bring?

Do you guys want to put the rain catchers on the team tab?

Zachariah pulls out his purse and begins counting his coin with a slightly worried look on his face.

Zachariah don't worry, after we buy the team gear and split the rest of the money you'll have enough to purchase what you'll need.

Eku looks over at Ahkmenos." I would suggest 4 waterskins. That is how much water you need to drink a day to stay alive. But it is up to you what you wish to do with your personal equipment. I know that some people have a harder time carrying things than others. If you get an empty gallon barrel or two you could get away with one or two skins each and just keep filling them from the barrels. But remember. Each person must drink 2 gallons of water a day or perish."

Well, I know for sure I'm going to need somebody to help me carry my stuff. That's a lot of gear for me...

Eku looks over the party. "Well, you could get a cart to carry some of your gear. But you would have to pull it everywhere when you get off the boat and you would have to pray the boat doesn't get capsized by giant crocodiles or dinosaurs or other various creatures that wish to eat us."