Investigation check 16

"Strange." Sthara will knock on the door again and call out.

"Mnumzana O'Tango, we have come with a tale!" She again steps back and waits. 

"We might need to find another way or return another time. If the door is not answered. It is strange as there are people inside."

Just when the the two of you are about to peel away from Wakanga's door when it swings open. A woman meets Sthara and Funderburk's gaze before stepping out into the rain without a word. She's dressed in all black and pulls a hood up as she goes. Something in her gaze sends chills down the spine. It's not that she's intimidating, but there was just something in her eyes, a flicker of intensity, maybe?

A man with a comically wide nose and eyes too small for his face fills the doorway behind her and it looks as if he wants to call out to the woman, but he closes his mouth and lets his hand fall to his side as his eyes address his visitors. Then he startles, looking to the sky as if he just now noticed the rain, "Please, come in, come in. The foyer here is dry." He motions to the small space, his bracelets jingling, as he backs inside. "I must apologize...I was not expecting other visitors. What has brought you two to my door? I do not think we have met..."  A moment passes before he adds, "No, I'm sure of it."

After a visual inspection proves fruitless, Clove, Boosey and Allister ask around the Grand Souk about their companions and the trail picks up immediately. Apparently Funderburk's skin tone and face are not a common sight in Port Nyanzaru, making him easy to remember. The three of you make your way through the bazaar, taking note of the stand where several reptilian creatures are up for sale. There are three creatures that look like they could carry a substantial amount and possibly a rider. The most notable of the three is a huge creature with three horns on its face and the back of its head flares out like a sort of protective plate. The thing is painted in vibrant colors, probably to attract the attention of would-be buyers. This merchant stand would probably be the best bet for acquiring a pack animal, even if it isn't the standard type found all up and down the sword coast. Asking the locales as you go, should reliably point you to Funderburk and Sthara.

 Allister is awed by the size of the lizards, stopping for a moment to stare. “Look  at those beasts. Just imagine riding of them down the streets of the Sword Coast. Damn, wenches would be lining up just to be seen with you. He quickly gets a grip. „Let’s keep this place in mind but we have to get to prince Wakawaka or whatever first.“ Asking around for Funderburk again Allisters gets moving at a swift pace. 

"Thank you for letting us in kind sir. If I may speak on the behalf of Sthara and I, we are here on an adventure to put it simply. We learned of this adventure while in Port Nyanzaru. I came across a fellow... re-dying because of the 'Death Curse' one might say." He looks down in solemn kind of action, "sadly we could not save the man. But that is why we are here now." Funderburk suddenly perks back up, straightens  his back, and takes off the hood covering his face. "My companions and I, a total five of us, are in need of help. Sthara here knew of your greatness, and guided us towards you, a merchant prince. I am here to ask you for help. Any supplies, knowledge, anything to help us solve this mystery revolving around the 'Death Curse' and its temple. Please sir, anything to help rid this curse."

"Worry about riding wenches later.  We still need to find Sthara and Funderburck."  Boosey does pause for a few seconds, gazing in wonder at the huge lizard.  "Might be a bit problem getting 'em in a boat..."

We keep following the trail of the "strange man with blue skin"

Wakanga nods though Funderburk's introduction and while he does appear to be listening, he stares out his open door into the rain. The man even goes as far as propping one of the doors open with a wooden stop. Two torches burn in sconces on either side of the entry hall; they are unnaturally red and produce light as such. Soft music with rhythmic drum beats and some sort of woodwind instrument drifts through a half open door directly across from the double doors. When Funderburk is finished Wakanga explains he doesn't mean to be rude, but to give him a moment and he disappears through the door the music flows though. He isn't gone long - just a few minutes - but it is in this time that the rest of the party spots Sthara and Funderburk through the open door.

Wakanga returns and says something in his native tongue to a man wearing the regalia of the Chultan guard. The man nods to any that see him, but he remains just in the other room when Wakanga comes back. He gives a wide, toothy smile and says, "Sorry for the delay. The Death Curse was it? I do not normally entertain adventurer types here at my villa, but these are...difficult times." The pause in his speech is caused by the arrival of the other three companions. Wakanga's Chultan accent is present in the use of his common tongue, but it is far more refined and understandable than most the party has come across thus far. He greets the newcomers and introduces himself and waits for the names of everyone else.

After introductions, he continues, "Maybe the third time is the charm, as they say. Let me start again. The Death Curse is indeed ravaging the land, but it's quite picky in whom it takes, if you hadn't noticed. As terrible as it is, I would say that many are safe from its grip; it doesn't appear to spread. Moreover, what makes any of you think that I would have anything to offer in the way of stopping the curse? Assuredly, I do not sympathize with its existence, but how am I, one man, supposed to influence this thing?"

Sthara:

Allister makes a slight bow and adresses the merchant prince „One man can always make a difference. Being a merchant prince is making a difference every day in this city, and with your help we could make a difference on a bigger scale. We’ve come across rumors about a temple down the river Soshenstar with a statue of a man carrying a crocodile on his back nearby. Can you tell us anything about this place?“

21

He thinks for a moment, looking at Allister quizzically then asks, "Do you mean Camp Righteous? There is a monument as you describe and situated below it is a Flaming Fist encampment. What does this have to do with the Death Curse? Are they involved!?" His eyes flash with an almost excitement as he asks about the fist's involvement.

Seeing his obvious excitement Allister is left speechless for a second. „I think you got hold of wrong end of the stick. I didn’t hint at that, it’s just a place we heard of. Why would the Fist be involved in spreading the curse? Having an encampment near this place might only indicate that they pursue their own investigation at a remote and mysterious place.“

He elaborately waves his hands in the air in front of him and says, "Yes, yes. That is likely the truth, but can you imagine the gossip were that to be true?" He pinches the open air in front of him and, turning towards the door, he lets his fingers open and lazily kicks towards the door. "Bad thoughts. They are gone. That monument is an old tribute to Chultan folklore. There are rumors that a treasure lies inside, and occasionally people wander in, but it is trapped. It will kill you." He says this last part matter-of-factly and casually as if it should come as no surprise.

Boosey's curiosity is piqued by the mentor of folklore.  "So what was the story that led to the monument being built.  It must be an important part of the culture in Chult, I'd be fascinated to learn more."

Persuasion check 18

"What sort of treasure?" I ask.  "It doesn't really seem the type of thing the flaming fist would be interested in." He goes onto ask, "Have you had any dealings with the "Fist"?"

The man starts with, "Surely you don't want to hear about..." but he lets the words die off as he sees the gnome's genuine interest in the matter. "Very well. I will tell the tale, but let us be more comfortable in the sitting area." He guides the party into the next room which features an open ceiling to the second floor, a masterfully carved fountain small pool. Lavish paintings hang about the place as he settles into a room beyond some columns to the right. Large pillows are set around a rug woven with a geometric design.  He takes a seat and offers, "Sit, if you like." To the Chultan man hovering nearby he says, "Ask Fa'ava to bring some tej and water. We have guests."

Wakanga  starts his story by drawing an arc above his head in the air and throwing his gaze to a seeming far away place. "The tale begins in the early days of the world, Man stood by the banks of a river, frightened. Crocodile raised his head from the water and asked, 'What troubles you, cousin Man?'

Man said, 'I must cross this river, but I fear to enter the water alone, because it teems with your brethren.' Crocodile replied, 'It’s true, you would not be safe. But I will carry you across the river safely on my back, if you promise to return the favor.' Man agreed, and Crocodile bore him safely across the water.

When they reached the far bank, Man asked, 'How can I repay you?' Crocodile replied, 'I wish to see the realm of Humans, but I fear to go there alone, because it teems with your brethren. You must carry me on your back across your realm.' Man had been tricked, but a promise is a promise, so he carried Crocodile safely on his back across the entire realm of humans, a journey that lasted many years." Wakanga's voice deepens as low as his high pitch will allow and finishes with, "He also swore, in his anger, that never again would Men and Crocodiles be friends, and so it has remained to this day." A tan man, looking to be of some sort of Calimshite descent, enters the room with a tray of cups and pitchers. He sets the tray down, bows and takes his leave with a wave from Wakanga.

After pouring a hefty cup of tej, Wakanga addresses Boosey and says, "To answer your other questions: The treasure is a rumor, as I said. I am not even sure it exists. Perhaps the final chamber has been emptied and the traps reset? As for the Flaming Fist, I prefer Port Nyanzaru's guards, though I have no reason to doubt that their company only brings good to the region."

Allister listens carefully to the story, takes some of the offered water and takes a minute to think. "Well, I have to admit this is not the story I hoped to hear, I expected something more down the death and decay line. And I can tell you of of the princes believes the tale of this treasure to be true. At least it sounds more like an interesting adventure than a real hint at the Death Curse." He empties his cup, sets it down and gets up from his chair. You can tell that he is thinking of something by the way he moves like a caged tiger.

Bossey thanks the Chultan for the Tej and says, "Ah, it's only natural that you prefer your own over these mercenaries."  Taking a sip of Tej he continues, "I wonder though.  Often fables like these, unlikely as it may seem, often contain a grain of truth.  Old stories like these fascinate me, and are a wonderful window into other cultures.  Do you believe there is any truth to it, or is it just an interesting fable?"

To the others he says, "I find it odd that the Flaming Fist would be so interested in a piece of folklore like this without good reason, treasure or no treasure."