"Let us head to Jezzine friends. Maybe this way we are able to collect more information about this curse." He looks about the area. "The temple might also hold some answers to our questions."
The Vedalken waits for his friends decisions, deciding what further actions might be needed to figure out this puzzle of the Death Curse.
Boosey's echoes of hello capture the attention of everyone in the well lit main hall. An older human man with grey hair comes to greet the party. After introductions and the mention of Jezzine, he guides those interested to a large side room. Inside the room are two humans dressed in finer regalia and a much taller, Chultan woman, fitted with white, lightweight robes bearing the mark of the lady luck. As she turns to assess who is entering the room, a halfling man can be seen sitting on a desk in front of her holding a piece of parchment and an ink quill. The older man gains her attention, says something to her in Chultan, and turns back to the party to say, "I present to you Luck Bringer Jezzine." He excuses himself directly and the priestess asks how she might be of service. Her deep brown eyes dart to each one of the party members looking them over; her gaze lingers far longer on Sthara.
Allister: Harbormaster Zindar is good company, preferring to talk as much as listen. He takes note of everything Allister is willing to share about his former captain, frequently cursing the name Seafist. He shares his own stories as well, which don't turn out to be much more than a few decades of great fun and hard work on a trading ship, but it sounds like a happy life. He also shares a bit of information about a certain Aremag, the dragon turtle that lives in the Bay of Chult. He explains that the creature is fueled by greed and often sinks ships that don't offer enough treasure if they happen to be unlucky enough to come across him in his domain. The dragonborn is also an avid dice enthusiast and would love to play a few friendly games with the fighter to pass the time.
As the priestess welcomes us, I bow, and not quite knowing how to address Jezzine formally I say "May Tymora shine her spirit upon you". Not quite knowing how to broach the topic of the curse I pause a moment.
"My friends and I have just arrived in Chult (conveniently forgetting about Sthara) after a long an arduous journey. We've come to give thanks to Tymora for seeing us safely into Port. Without her guidance it is very likely we would have been at the bottom of the sea long ago." As he finishes he fumbles in his purse for a moment and brings out a gold coin. "Please take this with my thanks."
"We are here for another reason, though. This disease that is ravaging those poor souls outside. We believe we can help, in some way. Is there anything you can tell us that would be of use? How it started or where, even. How long has it been since it was first discovered?" The questions come as a rush. "Anything would help us begin our search for the source of this thing." He meets her eye firmly, before glancing round at the others. "There is a great evil in the world that has created this here in Chult. We may be able to destroy it, if we can find the source."
„I wouldn’t mind a friendly game of dice. What about making it a bit more interesting and adding a few pieces of silver?“ During the game I try to learn more about the dragon turtle and why a large contingent of mercenaries is here. They are mercenaries but not pirate hunters, and with only two schooners not well prepared.
Jezzine smiles and assures Boosey that any donation is welcomed in this time of need, taking the coin and giving her thanks. She then moves to sit in the desk chair beside the halfling before beginning, "It is good that so many of you adventurers, I mean no offense, have taken an interest in the Death Curse. You are not the first to come here with questions and I suspect that you will not be the last." She motions to the two well dressed men and continues, "The curse doesn't discriminate. It takes any and all who've ever had anything to do with death. There appears to be no way to beat this thing and luck has nothing to do with it!" The last of her words come out like poison and she seems surprised to find herself standing with her fists clenched at her sides. Then she adds a clarifier with a grim smile, "-Until now. I have been in communication with a friend of mine in Baldur's Gate. She goes by the name Syndra Silvane and is afflicted herself. Her Harper contacts have discovered that the curse is due to an artifact known as the Soulmonger. According to her sources, the artifact is somewhere here in the jungles of Chult, but any divination attempts made to locate it further end in bouts of madness." She clearly has more to say, but she pauses for a moment, letting her heavy words sink in.
Zindar agrees to Allister's proposition to play for coin with, "I'm good for a few games if you can spare to lose the coin." This comment is followed with a playful grin. While the two of you are playing he explains that the dragon turtle has been lairing somewhere in the bay for as long as he can remember. He shakes his head even before Allister is finished with his comment about the Flaming Fist. "I agree. They aren't pirate hunters and I doubt they ever will be. The schooners are my own doing, to which I have employed a few of their own ranks. They really struck a chord inside me with that stunt they pulled. Something is amiss here and I intend to find out what." He explains that Fort Beluarian is a owned and operated by the Flaming Fist contingent here in Chult and that they are almost exclusively a land based operation.
If you want to simulate the playing of the dice game(s), you can roll 6d6 three times. The best two out of three wins. You can call the bets if you like.
Zindar isn't entirely clear on the Flaming Fists motives for being here in Chult, but he tells Allister that they send patrols out into the jungle on a regular basis. This makes the jungle safer because they kill of dangerous creatures and their support in Port Nyanzaru is a welcome one. He further explains, "The Flaming Fist serve as a firm reminder of the merchant princes's words here. The merchant princes are the true power behind Port Nyanzaru and rightfully so."
"The...Soulmonger..." Sthara repeats the name to herself, combing her memories for any mention of the artifact (Arcana 7 or History 17 – it wouldn't be Religion, right?).
She directs her attention to Jezzine. "People who have tried to find this Soulmonger, they fall into madness. But they do not die? Are there any of these madmen in Nyanzaru?"
She shakes her head and clarifies, "Madness only comes to those that try to pry too far into Chult in search of the artifact with their minds through spells. The device must be warded with some powerful magic. This is all hearsay from my contacts in the north."
The Soulmonger isn't something that anyone can identify. It doesn't sound familiar to anyone.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sthara considers this for a moment.
"Surely there have been those who have tried to find it. Expeditions? There must be more you can tell us," she asks, earnestly (Persuasion 16 if needed).
Funderburk ponders, lost in thought about the Soulmonger. "Sthara is right, is there anyone who had recently set out along their journey to find the curse? You mentioned other adventurer's; have they mentioned anything at all? A place they commonly go? Or maybe... do they tend to be a part of the same group, clan, or faction?"
Funderburk, awed by the puzzle surrounding this temple and curse, is deepened in thought every time he tries to figure out another piece to the puzzle.
"Ah!" He exclaims. "Miss Jezzine, I know I am bombarding you with questions, we all are, but I have one more question: Is there a common place where these... injured people arrive from? Or at least is there a common exercise they are committing when the curse activates?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
1199
„How about 10 silver on a round?“
I listen to his report and try not to get too involved in the game, feeling the thrill of the wager already numbing my thoughts to anything else. „It’s good that we now have allies in Fort Beluarian. My friend Boosey has an old aquaintance there. He’s here on different business than myself but having him along will be to our advantage. Don’t know what the others are up to, I hope I can convince them to come with us. They’re not sailors and unexperienced in maritime combat but they are seasoned adventurers. We will need all the help we can get.“
Just the name Soulmonger is enough to send a chill down Boosey's spine, and he has to suppress a shudder as Jezzine is talking.
"If this has spread to Baldurs Gate already we are already short of time," he says to the others. To the priestess he asks "If this Soulmonger, whatever it is, can be destroyed, do you believe it will lift this curse?"
Jezzine looks meets Sthara's gaze earnestly, but looks sad to give her final details, "The curse seems to be only targeting people who have been resurrected through magical means. The only other detail divined was the leering face of a gargoyle. They say its face looked more like that of a devil and its mouth was impossibly wide. Chult is too big to just wander about, but that's literally the best option I have for you all. As to which way previous expeditions went, I cannot say; the jungle has no roads to speak of. The merchant princes here in Chult have said that they are willing to offer rare and powerful magic items to anyone who brings back proof that they have ended the Death Curse - I have my suspicions that one of them is afflicted, but I cannot confirm this, nor who it might be."
Her eyes shift from Sthara to Clove and Funderburk and then finally lands on Boosey. "I see a great deal of potential and the desire to help in you four. It is my hope that one day we can erect statues in your honor after you end this curse, but for now all I can say is to go about whatever other business you have in Chult and keep an ever watchful eye out for this artifact or gargoyle." She pauses here, not sure what else to say. Jezzine claps a hand around her necklace in answer to Boosey's question - a coin shaped medallion with one side bearing the smiling image of a woman and the other side smooth and black. The halfling interjects and answers for her, "We have to believe that. It's the only hope I have to hold on to."
Zindar proves to be a decent dice player, but Allister gives him a good run for his coin. He's not a poor sport about losing the match though, and slides ten silver across the table with a laugh. While he seems to enjoy the game, Allister suspects he might enjoy the company more. In reply to Allister he says, "That is good news indeed; the Flaming Fist are powerful allies to have. Perhaps the coin is enough to persuade them? I did notice what you mean about their talents. They don't have that 'First time on the road, where's the dragon, I'm going to be famous' look about them...Are you up for another round?"
"Let us head to Jezzine friends. Maybe this way we are able to collect more information about this curse." He looks about the area. "The temple might also hold some answers to our questions."
The Vedalken waits for his friends decisions, deciding what further actions might be needed to figure out this puzzle of the Death Curse.
Made you look.
We head for the temple to find Jezzine. As I cross the threshold I call out a tentative "Hello", and it echoes for a moment in the stone entrance hall
Boosey's echoes of hello capture the attention of everyone in the well lit main hall. An older human man with grey hair comes to greet the party. After introductions and the mention of Jezzine, he guides those interested to a large side room. Inside the room are two humans dressed in finer regalia and a much taller, Chultan woman, fitted with white, lightweight robes bearing the mark of the lady luck. As she turns to assess who is entering the room, a halfling man can be seen sitting on a desk in front of her holding a piece of parchment and an ink quill. The older man gains her attention, says something to her in Chultan, and turns back to the party to say, "I present to you Luck Bringer Jezzine." He excuses himself directly and the priestess asks how she might be of service. Her deep brown eyes dart to each one of the party members looking them over; her gaze lingers far longer on Sthara.
16
Allister: Harbormaster Zindar is good company, preferring to talk as much as listen. He takes note of everything Allister is willing to share about his former captain, frequently cursing the name Seafist. He shares his own stories as well, which don't turn out to be much more than a few decades of great fun and hard work on a trading ship, but it sounds like a happy life. He also shares a bit of information about a certain Aremag, the dragon turtle that lives in the Bay of Chult. He explains that the creature is fueled by greed and often sinks ships that don't offer enough treasure if they happen to be unlucky enough to come across him in his domain. The dragonborn is also an avid dice enthusiast and would love to play a few friendly games with the fighter to pass the time.
As the priestess welcomes us, I bow, and not quite knowing how to address Jezzine formally I say "May Tymora shine her spirit upon you". Not quite knowing how to broach the topic of the curse I pause a moment.
"My friends and I have just arrived in Chult (conveniently forgetting about Sthara) after a long an arduous journey. We've come to give thanks to Tymora for seeing us safely into Port. Without her guidance it is very likely we would have been at the bottom of the sea long ago." As he finishes he fumbles in his purse for a moment and brings out a gold coin. "Please take this with my thanks."
"We are here for another reason, though. This disease that is ravaging those poor souls outside. We believe we can help, in some way. Is there anything you can tell us that would be of use? How it started or where, even. How long has it been since it was first discovered?" The questions come as a rush. "Anything would help us begin our search for the source of this thing." He meets her eye firmly, before glancing round at the others. "There is a great evil in the world that has created this here in Chult. We may be able to destroy it, if we can find the source."
„I wouldn’t mind a friendly game of dice. What about making it a bit more interesting and adding a few pieces of silver?“ During the game I try to learn more about the dragon turtle and why a large contingent of mercenaries is here. They are mercenaries but not pirate hunters, and with only two schooners not well prepared.
Can you have Allister roll a charisma check, please?
2
Jezzine smiles and assures Boosey that any donation is welcomed in this time of need, taking the coin and giving her thanks. She then moves to sit in the desk chair beside the halfling before beginning, "It is good that so many of you adventurers, I mean no offense, have taken an interest in the Death Curse. You are not the first to come here with questions and I suspect that you will not be the last." She motions to the two well dressed men and continues, "The curse doesn't discriminate. It takes any and all who've ever had anything to do with death. There appears to be no way to beat this thing and luck has nothing to do with it!" The last of her words come out like poison and she seems surprised to find herself standing with her fists clenched at her sides. Then she adds a clarifier with a grim smile, "-Until now. I have been in communication with a friend of mine in Baldur's Gate. She goes by the name Syndra Silvane and is afflicted herself. Her Harper contacts have discovered that the curse is due to an artifact known as the Soulmonger. According to her sources, the artifact is somewhere here in the jungles of Chult, but any divination attempts made to locate it further end in bouts of madness." She clearly has more to say, but she pauses for a moment, letting her heavy words sink in.
Zindar agrees to Allister's proposition to play for coin with, "I'm good for a few games if you can spare to lose the coin." This comment is followed with a playful grin. While the two of you are playing he explains that the dragon turtle has been lairing somewhere in the bay for as long as he can remember. He shakes his head even before Allister is finished with his comment about the Flaming Fist. "I agree. They aren't pirate hunters and I doubt they ever will be. The schooners are my own doing, to which I have employed a few of their own ranks. They really struck a chord inside me with that stunt they pulled. Something is amiss here and I intend to find out what." He explains that Fort Beluarian is a owned and operated by the Flaming Fist contingent here in Chult and that they are almost exclusively a land based operation.
If you want to simulate the playing of the dice game(s), you can roll 6d6 three times. The best two out of three wins. You can call the bets if you like.
Zindar isn't entirely clear on the Flaming Fists motives for being here in Chult, but he tells Allister that they send patrols out into the jungle on a regular basis. This makes the jungle safer because they kill of dangerous creatures and their support in Port Nyanzaru is a welcome one. He further explains, "The Flaming Fist serve as a firm reminder of the merchant princes's words here. The merchant princes are the true power behind Port Nyanzaru and rightfully so."
"The...Soulmonger..." Sthara repeats the name to herself, combing her memories for any mention of the artifact (Arcana 7 or History 17 – it wouldn't be Religion, right?).
She directs her attention to Jezzine. "People who have tried to find this Soulmonger, they fall into madness. But they do not die? Are there any of these madmen in Nyanzaru?"
She shakes her head and clarifies, "Madness only comes to those that try to pry too far into Chult in search of the artifact with their minds through spells. The device must be warded with some powerful magic. This is all hearsay from my contacts in the north."
The Soulmonger isn't something that anyone can identify. It doesn't sound familiar to anyone.
Sthara considers this for a moment.
"Surely there have been those who have tried to find it. Expeditions? There must be more you can tell us," she asks, earnestly (Persuasion 16 if needed).
Funderburk ponders, lost in thought about the Soulmonger. "Sthara is right, is there anyone who had recently set out along their journey to find the curse? You mentioned other adventurer's; have they mentioned anything at all? A place they commonly go? Or maybe... do they tend to be a part of the same group, clan, or faction?"
Funderburk, awed by the puzzle surrounding this temple and curse, is deepened in thought every time he tries to figure out another piece to the puzzle.
"Ah!" He exclaims. "Miss Jezzine, I know I am bombarding you with questions, we all are, but I have one more question: Is there a common place where these... injured people arrive from? Or at least is there a common exercise they are committing when the curse activates?"
Made you look.
11 99
„How about 10 silver on a round?“
I listen to his report and try not to get too involved in the game, feeling the thrill of the wager already numbing my thoughts to anything else.
„It’s good that we now have allies in Fort Beluarian. My friend Boosey has an old aquaintance there. He’s here on different business than myself but having him along will be to our advantage. Don’t know what the others are up to, I hope I can convince them to come with us. They’re not sailors and unexperienced in maritime combat but they are seasoned adventurers. We will need all the help we can get.“
Just the name Soulmonger is enough to send a chill down Boosey's spine, and he has to suppress a shudder as Jezzine is talking.
"If this has spread to Baldurs Gate already we are already short of time," he says to the others. To the priestess he asks "If this Soulmonger, whatever it is, can be destroyed, do you believe it will lift this curse?"
Jezzine looks meets Sthara's gaze earnestly, but looks sad to give her final details, "The curse seems to be only targeting people who have been resurrected through magical means. The only other detail divined was the leering face of a gargoyle. They say its face looked more like that of a devil and its mouth was impossibly wide. Chult is too big to just wander about, but that's literally the best option I have for you all. As to which way previous expeditions went, I cannot say; the jungle has no roads to speak of. The merchant princes here in Chult have said that they are willing to offer rare and powerful magic items to anyone who brings back proof that they have ended the Death Curse - I have my suspicions that one of them is afflicted, but I cannot confirm this, nor who it might be."
Her eyes shift from Sthara to Clove and Funderburk and then finally lands on Boosey. "I see a great deal of potential and the desire to help in you four. It is my hope that one day we can erect statues in your honor after you end this curse, but for now all I can say is to go about whatever other business you have in Chult and keep an ever watchful eye out for this artifact or gargoyle." She pauses here, not sure what else to say. Jezzine claps a hand around her necklace in answer to Boosey's question - a coin shaped medallion with one side bearing the smiling image of a woman and the other side smooth and black. The halfling interjects and answers for her, "We have to believe that. It's the only hope I have to hold on to."
22 23 14
Zindar proves to be a decent dice player, but Allister gives him a good run for his coin. He's not a poor sport about losing the match though, and slides ten silver across the table with a laugh. While he seems to enjoy the game, Allister suspects he might enjoy the company more. In reply to Allister he says, "That is good news indeed; the Flaming Fist are powerful allies to have. Perhaps the coin is enough to persuade them? I did notice what you mean about their talents. They don't have that 'First time on the road, where's the dragon, I'm going to be famous' look about them...Are you up for another round?"