Gene says, "We need to stay on task. Gods and goddesses can wait."

(So you guys are heading to the Temple?)

(Sure.)

"And we would be, Gene, o' buddy, o' pal! So, if this Savras is our best bet, than at least there. We ain't gonna get much more done today as is, 'less you wanna roam the streets at night."

Nobody folds his hands behind his head, and leans back in his seat.

"Though if we're all goin, we can always leave a message with one of the tenders, eh? If nothing else, if they happen to see some of the guides we were looking at around, or even -knows- where they might be, will have that business mostly sorted till we get back."

(Nobody is willing to go as well)

(Would Gene know if anyone ever is going to the jungle without a guide? How suicidal exactly would that be?)

"While you explore the mysteries of religion, I think I'll stay here and explore the bottoms of these bottles. While I'm waiting, though, I have an idea about finding that druid fellow and hiring him as our guide."

Tab starts looking around for a kid, the kind willing to find someone and deliver a message.  Perception: 23  or Investigation: 21

If he finds one, he'll offer the scamp 3 silvers to go find that druid guide (can't remember his name off the top of my head) with the promise of 3 gold if the kid brings him back to the tavern.

(I mean, If you don't have anybody with a good survival skill, you end up getting lost and eventually run into something that inevitably tears you to pieces.)

(I must say, the 'inevitably tears you to pieces' is a really compelling statement for us to take a guide.)

You make your way across Port Nyanzaru, heading up Temple Hill to the Temple of Savras. You enter the grand building, and see a Chultan priest speaking with three black-robed Tethyrian men. You pick up a bit of their conversation.

"Come on, just cast the spell. We need to find Artus, and we need to find him now. Look, we've got payment."

One man, who looks to be their leader, reaches into his robe and pulls out a glittering ruby, which looks to be worth quite a pretty penny. The priest shakes his head and shoos them.

"Begone! I know what you plan to do, and will have no part in it! I shall cast no spell for you!"

"Well, I guess we might have to resort to other options, eh?"

The man steps forward, reaching into his robe, but catches your party in the corner of his eye, and freezes. He looks back between you and the priest, then eventually makes up his mind and motions toward the others, and they hastily depart, scowls on their faces.

The priest walks toward you, and bows slightly, his gratitude for your timely arrival quite obvious.

"Thank you very much for arriving, I was afraid that it would have been the end of me. I am Grandfather Zitembe, the head priest of this temple. What brings you here?"

(My Post #1000!)

Gene asks, "Who were these men?" (would Gene recognize the men or any marks on them that would show affiliation to any group here in Port Nyanzaru?)

"Good evening Grandfather Zitembe. We're here to ask for a divination regarding a sinister magical device that might be here in Chult. Our employer said it is the cause of the widespread Death Curse plauging all over, not only these lands but also further beyond this peninsula.

Our intent is to search the device and destroy it in the hopes of stopping the curse just in time before our employer dies. That's the reason of our untimely visit this evening."

"What? This is quite unsettling information. How am I to know that I can trust you? Not everyone who comes to me is of the reputable type, as evidenced by the thugs that came in here earlier."

(If allowed, Nobody will try to slyly get a better look for identifying marks about the men. And if allowed, here's the roll. Insight: 9 Same bonus if perception)

"And we don't exactly appear as the most reputable sort?"

Nobody looks among the motely crew gathered and grins.

"Fair point! Aside from Gene here, the rest of us are from the mainland, if not already obvious. As for our employer, I do not know if her name carries much meaning here aside from with Prince Wakanga, but do you know of  Syndra Silvane? She is - as you can guess - suffering from this curse."

He gives a sardonic grin.

"But she isn't the first. And I suspect, things are worse here near the source."

Gynugri just scratches his stubble at the priest's questions as the small goblin frowns before he replies.

"Well, you are the diviner, not us. How about you look at our palms or something if we're someone you can trust? Better yet, ask for your patron if needed. Either way, helping us won't be so much of a loss for you."

Mel will emerge from the shadows.

"If it makes you feel better, if we were really trying to threaten you, I could have killed you already."

Nobody facepalms dramatically and shakes his head.

"Why would of all things make anything better?"

He adds to that with a questioning look, and folding his arms across his chest. 

"I mean, why wouldn't it?  We wouldn't exactly waltz in and introduce ourselves if we were trying to assassinate you.  If we had any nefarious plans for you, they'd already have happened."

(I dunno, makes perfect sense to Mel :P.  Polite conversation isn't exactly his strong point.)

"Oh, Syndra Sylvane? I think I may have heard of her, retired adventurer turned merchant, right? Hmm... this is very troubling. I shall consult the guides. The ritual will take quite a while though, please come here tomorrow."

He then begins to depart through a door that leads further into the temple.

"Oh, and in case you were wondering, no, it did not make me feel better."

"Well, I'll also feel the same if the way you're threathening them is to kill them immediately. You're skipping a lot of steps there Melanthios."

As soon as the temple's doors closes, Gynugri continues to talk to his comrades.

"I suppose we should find ourselves a place to stay tonight. How about we stay at Kaya's House of Repose so we can talk to the guide we're looking for during the morning? Harbormaster Zindar did say if we want a good night's rest, that's the place to stay."

(Tab is still at the Thundering Lizard - any runners willing to go look for that druid guide?)