Victorin turns to Adran “I am sure that we can find a few suitable shops for you to outfit for the journey outside of the main market. I have a few things to pick up myself.”  Victorin picks up a few odds and ends now that he knows they will be trekking through the jungle and searching ruins.  He also makes arrangements to send a small sum of 20 gold to Elder Harrow and his Khoravar community back in Newcastle with the promise of more after the job is complete. 

When he returns the next morning, his clothing has changed to dull browns and greens more suited to the jungle.  He shoulders his pack “Well then, let’s meet this pathfinder and be on our way.”

If the map is not forthcoming, Silthras interrupts Sur'kil before he leaves. "If I may, I would like a chance to examine the map carefully before the morrow? Could I perhaps borrow it tonight?" he asks.

((If the money is light, not just a typo)) Silthras weighs the pouch in his hand and frowns, "Seems a little light to me; did I miss-hear the offer, or is gold in these parts lighter than normal?"

 (( Next Morning -- assuming shopping, money, map etc resolved ))

Silthras arrives the next morning looking refreshed and, once more, seems to be surrounded by a light mist. If noone else has claimed the task, he will be carrying the bag holding and will add three sacks to it (or ask whoever has it to put the sacks in the bag).

"No sense in carrying more than one must, eh?" he says with a shrug as the bags are stowed. One seems to be a sack full of empty sacks, another has camping gear, and the final one contains odd assortment of clanking bottles, ropes and torches.

(( Total weight of sacks: 56lb ))

Adran goes down from the "Rest" part to the "Revelry" part of Kern's Rest and Revelry. He sports a shiny new set of armor, although somehow not quite as shiny as the armor of some of the others, and he holds a relatively large polearm on his back alongside his bedazzled longsword. Outside of the inn is a well-trained horse, with a form that belies an intelligence shown only in its dark green eyes. Although it is not hitched, it patiently waits in place.

"Well... If the pathfinder is here and the group is here, I guess there's nothing left to do but get going."

"I do not doubt your prowess for one moment, Erbert Jenkor Jerriheimerschmidt. There are many roles in a Kech, mine will be to keep you and the others safe", Grudnik says to Erbert before taking the pouch of coin meant for him.

The following day, Grudnik once again arrives promptly, possibly having staying at Kern's Rest himself if there were rooms. He too was dressed more appropriately for travelling through a jungle.

As Sur'kil had not objected to the mater of the pathfinder provisioning supplies needed for the expedition, he just has his personal belongings in his backpack. He carries one pack himself, and makes use of the bag of holding for the other, along with some Smith's tools.

"If the pathfinder is ready, I am ready to proceed".

Ancidus takes a coin pouch and nods their thanks. "I will be staying at the temple of the Sovereign Host, should anyone have need of me. Otherwise, I will see you all tomorrow." They leave to buy some final supplies, including spell components, before returning to the temple to check in with the halfling temple coordinator to inform them of their change in plans for the immediate future.

The following morning Ancidus finds their way to the meeting spot early -- the sun barely a hint of color on the sky. They wait, the turning of their prayer wheel at their side the only sign of motion.

(( At the end of the first day, Silthras will spend whatever time is necessary to copy the map ))

Sur'kil is nowhere to be seen, but a male shifter with cat-like features wearing traveler's clothing and a wide-brimmed hat waits at the door of the Rest and Revelry with a large backpack slung over his shoulders. He approaches you and flashes a toothy smile. "You must be the fellas that Sur'kil hired! He sends his regards. Name's Breland Bel, scholar and adventurer extraordinaire, and I'll be your guide for this little jungle hike. Should be a calm journey... providing we don't bump into any lizardfolk or monsters, but you all look like you can take care of yourselves in the event that happens. Ready to hit the trail?"

Silthras looks around for their benefactor then grunts. "Why is Sur'kil not here? We expected a further payment, and perhaps some last words."

Silthras looks around for their benefactor then grunts. "Sur'kil's not here? Busy man I suppose. I wonderered if he would perhaps give us some stirring last words, but no matter, I stand ready to proceed."

"The deal has been made and our questions have been answered. I don't really see any reason why Sur'kil should be here. A payment now wouldn't make sense, there's not much point in bringing a sack of gold into the jungle when we'd simply get it on returning anyways."

Adran shifts his attention to the lycanthrope (felinethrope? cat-o-thrope?), responding to his question. "I believe we're all set and ready, Breland. Ready to go whenever you are. I trust that a mount will not be too much of a hassle to bring along- I can assure you, he's very well trained."

Quote from Quar1on>>

"The deal has been made and our questions have been answered. I don't really see any reason why Sur'kil should be here. A payment now wouldn't make sense, there's not much point in bringing a sack of gold into the jungle when we'd simply get it on returning anyways."

"Sense or no, it reflects more broadly upon their capacity to keep their word if, from day to day, they fail". Silthras shakes his head slowly; holy warriors did have a tendency for gullibility. Perhaps it was because they assumed everyone else worked with their own high standards?

"The sum was promised; a payment of 250 gold up front. The words, I think, were 'I can offer you each a rate of 250 gold pieces a week, plus travel expenses. And, of course, out of respect for your professionalism, I shall provide your first payment up front.'"

"Either he has ceased to respect our professionalism, or there has been a simple misunderstanding. I feel sure it is the latter."

He finishes with a broad smile and a nod then turns back to Breland Bel, awaiting an answer.

“An agreement was made. If Sur’kil does not abide by the agreed terms, the contract is forfeit”, Grudnik says simply.

"Cho Breland Bel. You may lead the way", Grudnik answers in the affirmative.

Erbert makes the last of his purchases, a tent to sleep in and a rain catcher, stowing them away in the bag of holding.  He comes in the next morning on a mastiff named Rufus, packed and ready to go.  “Pleased to meet you Breland.  We appreciate your help in guiding us to the temple.”  He turns to the others, “Now, anyone who wants to stow anything in this bag of holding, let me know and give it to me, I’ll stow it away for safe keeping.  Rufus here will help me to keep up with everyone.  Are we all ready to begin?”  Erbert squirms in the seat on his mastiff and makes himself comfortable, finishing off some fruit that he had obtained from the Rest and Revelry. 

Ancidus greets each party member as they arrive. "Hello," they say to Breland. "I am called Ancidus. Thank you for coming with us on this journey -- I look forward to anything you can teach us about the jungle along the way, I have heard much about how different these wilds are from Breland. I assume you are from there? Do you go by Breland, or Bel?"

Vic greets Breland and the others the next morning, looking with envy at the pathfinder’s wide-brimmed hat. “All ready?  Let’s be on our way then, we are wasting daylight”  Vic pulls up his scarf to cover his nose and mouth to keep the dust of the trail out of his face and moves out in the front of the group with Breland.

"Well, my real name is Henrik, but most folks just call me Breland or Bel so you can choose either one!" Breland Bel says with a thumbs up. "Anyway, nice to meet you all. Victorin's right - we'd best hit the trail!"

With that, you leave behind Adderport's walls and begin your trek into the dense wilds of Q'barra. A few days of slogging through humid and rainy tropical jungle pass without incident. On the morning of the fourth day, Breland Bel claims that the destination of this trip is only a few hours away. Sure enough, he is right. Eventually you come across an old trail marker that winds up a hill, which then leads to a large clearing in the center of the jungle. A few hundred yards away from where you're standing, an ancient structure covered in moss and vines looms, its finer architectural details and engravings worn away by centuries of rainfall and neglect. You see two small groups of huts around the entrance portico with tell-tale curls of smoke rising into the sky. Reptilian humanoids are lurking around them, some are tall with scales the color of night while others are smaller and more lithe with scales in various shades of green. Some coming and going from the temple, some are doing menial work, but they don't appear to have spotted you. Breland Bel speaks up.

"Alright, folks, here we are. The Temple of Kha'Shazul, or so Sur'kil calls it. As you can see, there are quite a few lizardfolk around here. Poison Dusk and Blackscales. They're gonna get in the way of you and the temple. Sur'kil said get past them by any means necessary. I'd recommend sneaking past them or taking out, but try and avoid any big flashy spells. The scales may not speak common, but they definitely understand the universal language of, 'That was a fireball that just went off!' While you all poke around the ruins, I'm going to stay here, set up a bivouac nearby. If you don't return by sunrise tomorrow morning, I'm gonna assume you became reptile chow and head off... wait, what was that?"

Adran's magic sword sets of a ping in all your minds: there is danger nearby! Breland Bel turns around and groans in pain as three arrows and two spears whip out from the undergrowth and pierce him straight through the chest. With a final gasp, he collapses to the ground, dead. As you all ready yourselves for combat, three Poison Dusk archers and three Darkscale warriors emerge from the surrounding trees with weapons drawn and fury in their eyes. The leader of this band, a Darkscale brandishing a cruel-looking morningstar, points at all of you and growls in Draconic to their men. At this rallying command, they press the attack!

Silthras, the only member of the party who speaks Draconic, hears this: 

 Initiative: 

Blackscales: 8

Poison Dusk: 22

Adran: 20

Ancidus: 6

Erbert: 5

Grudnik: 14

Silthras: 15

Victorin: 15

Initiative order: 

The Poison Dusk Scouts act first and fire off a volley of arrows at our heroes from their sniper nests in the undergrowth!

- PD1: Longbow Attack against Grudnik: 11 Damage: 3 ; Longbow Attack against Victorin: 10 Damage: 5
- PD2: Longbow Attack against Silthras: 8 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll. ; Longbow Attack against Erbert: 6 Damage: 7
- PD3: Longbow Attack against Ancidus: 8 Damage: 8 ; Longbow Attack against Adran: 9 Damage: 5

Grudnik, Victorin, and Erbert each get struck by an arrow - the others manage to avoid or deflect the projectiles!

It is now Adran's turn!

Adran's horse immediately springs into action, walking around the nearest Blackscale so as to kill it before it has a chance to act. The short distance that it has to travel enables it to move evasively; it takes the dodge action to avoid attacks.

Adran decides to be defensive, and uses his bonus action to pull out a piece of old and tattered parchment from a pouch and mutter an incantation with it in hand, casting shield of faith. Because of the mystical connection that Adran has with his warhorse, both of them glow with a faint yellow light and gain a +2 bonus to AC. After quickly casting the spell, Adran pulls his lance off of his back and expertly thrusts it twice at the Blackscale (B3).

Attack 1: 19 (12+7) to hit, 7 (1+6) piercing damage

Attack 2: 25 (18+7) to hit, 13 (7+6) piercing damage

That'll be the end of the turn. Silthras and Victorin are up next!

Both strikes pierce the lizardfolk warrior, leaving them bloodied!