Jovial Jungle Jaunt (ToA)

They explain that they've been travelling around the Aldani Basin 'cleansing' the walking dead from the area. There is rum to be shared and Allister is invited to have some. The soldiers are kind and make good small chat, but decline to share any more about what they're doing in the area. They warn that the area is full of undead, some of which are large and powerful reptiles. They tell of a large garden several days east of here on the other side of the river. They say that they lost three men to a medusa that hunts near the area.

As Boosey enters the camp with Allister, he shows the men his flute.  "A little fire for some entertainment seems like a fair trade this evening.  You men can't get many chances to enjoy yourselves out here.  Let me help with that," and he begins to play some well known, if slightly risqué songs (including "Kissing the Mermaids Buttocks" and the "Pheasant Plucker Song").  Performance check 18

After playing a while he will join the men around a campfire and tell ancient stories of the dragons and orcs of the sword coast, talking until the fire begins to die and the embers glow red in the pit.

Nenne introduces herself as an itinerant cleric of Kelemvor and offers to tend to anyone's injuries. She will also spend time Mending their damaged equipment, and saying brief blessings over any man who is interested in receiving one. When she's done, she'll break away from the mercenaries to cast a Sending to Eku: "Went to Heart of Ubtao, learned soulmonger's location, heading to Omu to destroy it. Can you meet us there? Apologies; thought we'd be sent back."

Before retiring for the night, she will seek out Funderburk and Allister for two separate conversations. She first approaches the wizard and tells him, "Thank you for ensuring our safety as we left the Heart. You are quite the capable mage, my friend. I appreciate what you have done today, and what you bring to this group." After a moment, she lowers her voice. "The lich woman - what did she say to you when you presented the map?"

Funderburk sat quietly away from the group, his body facing away from everybody and his mind obviously elsewhere. When Nenne approached him it seemed as if he never noticed. However, when she began to speak to him, he never flinched not shown any emotion of surprise on his blue face. Instead he looked at her, and then back towards the sky. 

"Thank you," he began. "It warms me that you would say that." After a moment, as if it would seem that he would completely skip her question he spoke once more. "When she gripped my arm it felt like I was in that cage... couldn't escape." He looked at the cleric, "It was weird, she wished us a safe journey and that... it benefits us all? I am utterly confused as what she means by that. How does she intend to take the Soulmonger once we have it? And how will she know? So many questions it seems and yet so little time..." Funderburk once more turned his head away to the night sky. Wanting to think some more about all that have transpired and what they will do now. 

After leaving the wizard with his thoughts, Nenne goes to sit beside Allister and stare at the campfire a while. "You've had quite the day," she says, a smile playing at her lips. "A simple warrior like you thrown into the chaos that is magic and the gods - it can be overwhelming. It was for me, at first. In fact, you are managing better than I would have. You're to be commended."

She lapses into silence for a moment. Her tone grows softer, more contemplative. "It strikes me that I owe you an explanation, or a confession of sorts, about our last encounter with the Fist." She finally looks at him. Her eyes are sad. "I hate Summer. It frightens me."

She lets the fire draw her gaze once more and she continues. "The fact that I have so easily fallen victim to it of late angers and frightens me more. With Worlo, my own hubris brought it on, and the echoes of my mistake keep that lesson fresh. With the Fist encounter..." She trails off to gather her words. When she does, her tone is slightly crisper. "What incited Summer was the fact that you did not trust me." Popping embers underscore a hurt pause.

"You did not trust my read of the situation, you did not trust my expertise in dealing with kindred soldiers, and you went so far as to put your hands on me to be sure I knew my place. And then you slandered me. I can abide tactical lies, warrior. Lack of trust and respect among comrades, I cannot. That gets people killed." She takes a deep breath and exhales, looking at Allister once more. Her skin is not nearly as fiery as it was, and her voice regains its gentleness. "I allowed a moment of thoughtlessness and distrust to cut me deeply, and I am caught in Summer for it. Yet, I think not for long. Because at the Heart today, you showed great faith in me when I myself was doubting my restraint. For that, I am humbled. And grateful. It will help me win my freedom once again from this suffocating Season. So I thank you, Allister Halving, and I ask your forgiveness if I misinterpreted you, as well as your continued patience as I navigate back to where I belong."

„We have this kind of talk way too often. We are just different people with different approaches to life. With the Fists, it’s not that I didn’t trust you. I acted on my gut feeling, and it turned into a disaster. Add a mad commander to the scene and you can get people killed. I’m sorry it turned out as it did, it was never my intention to belittle or patronize you. We made mistakes, both of us, and we have to live with them. Since I made more than you maybe it’s easier for me to accept that. All we can do is learn from them and avoid them in the future. Once we finished our quest and we go back to normal we will look back at these weeks and see how much we have grown.“

Realising that his "entertainment" hasn't gone down too well, Boosey decides that discretion is the way forward and finishes his story telling.  The men weren't really in the mood, despite appearances.  "Not often I read an audience that badly wrong," he mutters to himself.  He take a little time to discover who the leader of the band is, glad to see Nenne and Allister in what seems like a meaningful conversation.

Finding the fist officer, Boosey looks a little sheepish.  "I'm sorry about that not going down so well sir, I guess I misjudged the mood of the men.  I suspect you may have had a hard time out here of late and they are a little pensive.  Anyway," and he takes a deep breath, afraid that what he is about to say is just a little unbelievable, "we have been deposited here in the middle of the jungle with no idea of what is around us," he looks up at the heart, "just dropped out the sky we did!  Do you have a map we could copy from.  Our way lies to the south to a place called Omu through uncharted territory for us.  16 days or so we guess in the wilderness, that's if all goes well.  We could go west and pick up the River That, only 10 days in the wilderness, but then we would be back in familiar territory.  Well, as familiar as it gets for us." 

However the officer responds (ooc: he may or may not be able to help us - it was worth asking), he thanks him for his help and asks if he has any supplies that he could spare for the group, and that any assistance provided would be relayed to Horace with the parties thanks.

Returning to the party once things have settled a little he says, "We have a big decision to make.  We could head directly for Omu from here through who knows what, 16 or 20 days travel? Or head to the west and pick up the River That that is on the map.  The dragon and the dwarvish mine is in that direction, if I remember correctly, but there is also the settlement of Hrakhamar marked on the map.  That could be the difference between life and death in this jungle."  He takes a deep breath.  "We go that way though, we are looking at," and he spends a moment trying to calculate the distance, "at least 30 days travel.  And that is without any distractions.  We need to make a careful decision, and more importantly, the right one.  We should all have an input into this."

The officer laughs and slaps Boosey on the shoulder in good spirits, "That's okay, boy. Your songs carry notes too far is all. This area is far from friendly and I'm betting much more of that would have brought in a whole army of nasty." He chuckles to himself sadly and cocks an eyebrow at the gnome. He tells Boosey that their scout can tell you where the party is on their map, but he doesn't know of any Omu. He's willing to get your bearings sorted in exchange for the location of whatever Omu might be.

Nenne listens to the fighter in silence before shaking her head. "We have these conversations because even after all of them, you still know and understand very little about me," she replies stiffly. "More mistakes than I have...I've walked this earth for six of your lifetimes, and you think you have made more mistakes? And that I am unschooled in how to grow from them?" Her head shakes again in disbelief.

"I speak with you like this because you deserve to know into whose hands you entrust your life, and I hope each time to learn the same without having to pry. Since it is plain you do not care, however, I will not trouble you further. Good evening." A curt nod, and she leaves him for the rest of the night, the fire illuminating a resurgent ruby in her skin.

Allister doesn’t understand what he has done to alienate Nenne again but decides not to ponder on this question to long. He listens to Boosey´s propositions, thinking about them for a while. „I think we head straight towards Omu. Without a guide we need to take the fastest route, no detours. We don’t know what to expect at the river or the settlement. It will be hard to navigate in this foreign terrain, any delay could be costly.“

Overhearing the discussion about travel plans, Nenne pipes up, "I have sent a message to Eku about what happened and she is already on her way. If we tarry here, she could meet us in half the time and we can travel to Omu with our guide's expertise. I am able to communicate with her again tonight, if you wish."

“Or we wait here, or somewhere around here, and tag along with the Fists for a while. It will be dangerous, but preferable to sitting here for a tenday, waiting for a giant zombie lizard to find us and hide in one of Boosey´s huts.“ He turns to Boosey. „No offense, I like the safety of your little hut at night. But not all day long.“

"That is agreeable to me, so long as we do not stray farther from our guide. I can always inform her of our new position as long as I have a local landmark. She is canny, she will find us. I do not think it wise to venture into the jungle by ourselves, however. The Fist doesn't know of Omu, and Eku said she does. We would be foolish not to have her with us for that part of our journey."

Boosey waves his hand in the air to Allister as if to say no offence taken.  "How long will it take for Eku to get here from Mezro?  15 days?  We could almost be in Omu in that time, rather than waiting around here." He takes on an air of urgency.  "We know where the soulmonger is now, the sooner we get there the more lives we can save.  You saw all those poor souls back in the throat"

"Will Eku really make that much of a difference to us.  We could meet her in Omu?"

"You comically overestimate our navigation skills," Nenne replies. "You'll recall how much more smoothly we traveled when Vargach was with us? A knowledgeable guide is invaluable. And consider this - even Eku has gotten lost once or twice. Do you honestly believe we will fare better than that without her expertise? 15 days is not a guarantee. It is a scenario of miracles."

"You misunderstand me.  It will take Eku 15 days at least to reach us here, say 20 days.  For us to travel to Omu without her we are looking at, what, 20 days?  Even if we got lost, we could be a couple of days from Omu instead of sitting here waiting for Eku.  What difference does it make if we fight monsters here or in the jungle.  If time wasn't of the essence, I would agree with you, but at the very least if we left now we could be there 10 days (probably more) earlier than if we wait for Eku"

"I did not misunderstand you," Nenne says calmly. "I simply disagree with your confidence in our ability to make it to Omu in one piece. Time is of the essence, I agree. However, forging blindly into a jungle that houses poisons, monsters, and magic we know nothing of - just to shorten the time it takes to get there - is not efficient, it is reckless. We will be of help to no one if our ignorance of the terrain, wildlife, and flora gets us killed. Chult is not a land to be trifled with."

"Sometimes, the most efficient and effective strategy is to wait until you have more resources. Eku has steered us clear of many dangers that we had no conception were even there until she pointed them out, and she has been incredibly helpful in killing those monsters we've faced. So if we head to Omu now, not only are we down one guide and at a severe disadvantage for survival in nature, but we are also down one major source of offensive power."

„I’m with Nenne on this one. If we have to chance to have our guide here in a couple of days we shouldn’t run into jungle. I suggested going to Omu directly, but that was without the knowledge of Eku joining us. And wasn’t it your plan, Boosey, or at least an option, to take a route that would take us three tendays to reach Omu?“