Jovial Jungle Jaunt (ToA)

"Let us indeed," Funderburk said, standing now with Dunkling on his shoulder. "Let us move around it but ensure we do not lose our way when doing so." With that, Funderburk swept his arms in a friends gesture for Nenne to continue leading, and followed close behind.

"Under different circumstances, I would have been happy to investigate. However, this is a potentially dangerous and unnecessary delay. Let us move onward." Nenne nods to Funderburk. "Thank you for gathering information on this phenomenon. We are better prepared for it should we encounter it in the future." And she leads the group onward around the mist. 

„Ok, let’s be on our way. I wonder how much more of this stuff we will encounter. We should be more vigilant from now on, I don’t want to be swarmed by a group of crazed monkeys or lizards.“

The mist proves challenging to collect, but Funderburk is eventually patient enough to just hold the canteen inside the mist and let gravity work. A short time later the party is moving along from the mist and the swampy terrain. Later that evening, Boosey is found to be a fitful, sweaty sleeper. It continues for the rest of the night with the gnome plagued by nightmares. Again the poor fellow feels like he hasn't rested at all the night before, but to his enlightenment, no foul creatures or strange magics accost the party the next day.

Day 49 - Day 51

These days only see light rain to no rain. There are times when water runs low, but with some rationing, it all pans out. By the end of day 51, it seems that the party will have to enter the jungle proper to go any further towards Omu. They set camp on the last stretch of open land and by morning, everyone is well and ready to go.

"It seems the real challenge on our journey begins now." Funderburk looked at the edge of the trees and then back G their campsite, everyone now preparing for departure. "We will have to be wise and quick while traveling; we have done good so far, now we only need to keep it up" Funderburk, with his staff in hid right hand, Dunkling on his head, prepared for their departure once more.

"We have increased our pace these last few days," says Nenne, eyeing the jungle warily. "We shall continue thus, only I ask you to be especially vigilant. Eku tells me that anything beautiful we may encounter is a warning; do not let it charm you. I will prepare a spell to alert me of poisonous creatures or flora. A moment of your time, and we can be on our way."

She proceeds to extract her prayer book from her pack and recite a quiet imprecation, censuring that which would do harm and asking blessing on that which would do good to travelers. When she is done, her amulet sparkles with a faint red light, as do her grey eyes when she opens them. "Let us go."

Before the group departs into the jungle the party notice Boosey sit up straight as if paying attention to an invisible speaker.  A few minutes later he relaxes and looks to the group.

"I have just heard from the Lords Alliance," he says.  "They wish the soulmonger destroyed, as we do, as a priority."  He smiles, "that is hardly news to us.  However there is a more disturbing matter we should be aware of.  Horace is dead."  He allows that to sink in for a moment.  "He was found dead on his schooner once it docked at Baldurs Gate.  Liara has been killed too.  It seems Laskilar has been busy," he gives the group a significant look.  "He is still at large.  We should be cautious.  While it seems he may be a long way off, the man seems to have some unusual magical powers.  It is not beyond reason we could encounter him here."

"Let us be on guard then. For anything can happen within these lands."

Allister is visibly upset by the news of Horaceˋs death. He balls his fists and starts cursing like only sailors can. After he while he grabs his gear and mumbles „We better hurry up and find Omu and the source. I have other important business to finish after that.“ He looks at the group. „Just to be clear, if we encounter Laskilar, there will be no mercy. No redemption, no prisoners. Only revenge.“

Nenne says nothing and begins to walk toward the jungle, offering Allister a comforting touch on the arm as she passes.

Allister smiles weakly at Nenne, nodding his head as a way to thank her.

Only about an hour later some curious looking creatures drop down out of the trees ahead of the party. They range between 30 and 50 feet from leading Nenne and Allister. There are five of them and they cock their heads and furrow their brows moving cautiously forward. 

Nenne slowly raises a hand to tell the rest of the party to halt and silently invokes her deity's power to sense undead. (Eyes of the Grave) "These creatures are alive. They are not abominations," she whispers to the group.

Allister grabs the hilts of his weapons, but doesn’t draw them yet. He waits for the creatures to make a move instead of attacking first. He says to Nenne „Can you cast that spell you used on the Flame? Maybe monkeys react differently to the blue mist.“

Nenne frowns. "I would have to touch one, and I am not sure that would end well."  A thought strikes her. 

"Lady mage," she says in a loud whisper over her shoulder. "Are you able to communicate with these creatures? Convince them we are not an enemy?"

The creatures halted when Nenne stopped the party, but only for a moment. They move forward at a very slow and curious pace. They seem to be interested in all five of you. Nothing in particular strikes their interest. They advance five feet.

"Has anyone noticed they are not making any nosie?  I know this is Chult, and we are in the jungle, but there's something about these things makes me very nervous."

„Now that you say it, they really are damn quiet… Hey, monkey, do you understand me?“ Allister takes a step forward and talks directly to the creatures. „Everyone stay vigilant, we have been here for too long already. I don’t want others to close in on us.“

Boosey points at the lead monkey, and using message asks it, "What do you want?"

Noting the creature's singleminded focus on the party and curious whether they will ignore external stimuli, the eladrin reaches out at the nearest plant to her and casts Light.