THE MERCHANT PRINCES VILLA

Each merchant prince maintains a lavish villa where he or she lives and conducts private business. These airy, opulent mansions include guest quarters for important visitors and trading partners, and they’re patrolled by loyal, well-drilled guards at all hours. Each villa is both a palatial tropical home and a fortress. The outer walls are 8 to 12 feet tall, up to 2 feet thick, and topped with carnivore teeth, slivered seashells, and broken glass that glitters colorfully in the sun but also deters intruders.

You approach the entryway of the villa of Wakanga O'tamu, longtime friend of Syndra. This pleasant, breezy, tiled courtyard includes a splashing fountain and green plants. A guard approaches you.

"State your business, travelers." he says.

Asha was rolling her fist back to punch when her intended targets, as well as most of the other Chultans that were mobbing around Zyn passed out. "Well that's one way ta' get it done."

"We're here to be meetin' with Syndra Sylvane. The gnome told us that she'd be here." She says, pointing to Kira.

Kira waves. "Hiii! Yeah, Syndra sent requests for us to come here please and thank you and it was rather extremely urgent, soooo..." She nods sagely. "It's kinda important."

Having already been in Syndra's compound earlier that day, Kitsune waves to the guards and calls out "Hey John, these new friends of mine are with me!  They're here to see Madam Syndra, on her invitation.  Please let them in!"

Zyn turns to Kitsune. "You've..already been here today?"

"John" nods and leads you up past the grand hall, then upstairs to the meeting room where two people are looking over a very large map and paperwork. One of the people is clearly Merchant Prince O'Tamu, and the other is a shrouded individual - you can't even discern her gender because she's wrapped up like a mummy.

"Welcome, friends!" the mummy wrapped woman rasps, having trouble walking towards you all in the excitement, or because of the curse. "I am Syndra." she painfully gestures to the Chultan. "This is Merchant Prince Wakanga O’tamu, our host."

O'tamu bows deeply upon the introduction. "Welcome to Chult, my friends." he sweeps his hand around the room where comfortable chairs and furniture are laid around - along with food, and wine. "Please, Syndra has been expecting you all, sit down, eat, and drink. I hope that you find our city to your liking - even if it is indeed hot this time of year."

Syndra hobbles over to Zyn, who gives her a curious stare and smile as she gets near - her completely white eyes blinking.

"By the Gods." she breathed, looking the half drow over, "Zyntari Drazza. It is so good to see you again. My, how you have grown." She then paused and her raspy voice became sad. "Oh..how proud your parents would be today."

"Again? Do we know each other? Have we met?" Zyn asked, confused.

"Oh yes, child. When you were very little." Syndra reminded her, but Zyn had no recollection. "I knew your Grandfather intimately well..let's just say."

"What..? How..well..?" Zyn asked, not wanting to know the answer.

Syndra coughed. "Enough reminiscing." she said casually, changing the subject. Zyn looked at the camera, blinking in great confusion as Syndra turned towards the rest of the party. "Greetings and warm salutations, my new friends. It is very nice to meet you all - and hello again Kitsune. Thank you all for coming. Let us talk."

She gestures for everyone to sit down. It's a painful effort for her just to move. From what you can see of her skin, she looks like a walking corpse.

Was Syndra gettin' it on with her granddad? Huh, I suppose that she looked better then and wasn't in bandages.

Asha sits down. "My name is Asha. A pleasure to be meetin' you. May I presume from your current circumstances that you've called us here ta deal with this Death Curse?"

"Death is not a curse, but merely a transition to the next phase of a soul's transcendence!" Kitsune interjects out loud, before shrinking back to the rear of the group, embarrassed.  Instead, she avails herself of the splendid meal laid out for them, and listens in to the rest of the groups conversations.

Upon seeing Syndra in the state she was in causes a frown to cross on Astra's face. Faust wraps herself lightly around his neck in a feigned hug, understanding his sudden sadness in seeing the lady in this state. "Ah... Yes, thank you for having us," He bows slightly, then takes a seat. He partakes in the drinking of wine, swirling the liquid in his cup, taking a sip every now and then, as he awaits for Syndra's answer to Asha's question.

Kira sits down and starts eating methodically, not seeming particularly disturbed by Syndra's appearance. She gives the woman a wave and then swings her feet idly as she waits for the explanation.

Syndra turns to Asha, taking a seat. "I have indeed. I was once an adventurer and merchant who, years ago, was raised from the dead. Now, i'm withering away. When I consulted priests, I learned that the affliction was widespread and that no spell could cure it. I spoke to my friends among the Harpers, who have determined the source of the affliction: an ungodly necromantic device called the Soulmonger. The Harpers received their intelligence from a lich, but they don’t know much about the Soulmonger other than its name and general whereabouts. It is here, somewhere in the jungles of Chult. I have brought you here to find the Soulmonger and destroy it.

This is the reason why you are here."

Zyn was lost in thought, a look of puzzlement and distress on her face as Syndra explained the main mission of the campaign.

I think Syndra ****ed my Grandfather!!

"As incentive for taking on probably the greatest adventure of your lives, O'tamu and I wish to offer you each the choice of picking either two uncommon magic items, or one rare to help you along with your journey, in addition to 500g total to help ease expenses. I do indeed believe the whole world in being affected by this Soulmonger. It must be found and destroyed. Downstairs you will find many guides as well who are ready and willing to offer their services, too. Hiring one would be wise."

Kira slowly slides the last piece of bread on her plate into her mouth and chews while nodding sagely.

"Well I guess that it's a good thing you gave us all that gold then. I'm in."

From the buffet table, mouth filled with food, Kitsune adds “I’m in, Madam Syndra!  I’ve been sent here by the Raven Queen herself to assist you in any way you wish.”

When Syndra gets into the reasons s to why they were summoned, Astra goes about and pulls out his journal to write down important details. When the others spoke their interest, he pipes in too. “Quite an interesting story this will be indeed... Would anyone happen to know of the general whereabouts of the Soulmonger? Or just that it is here somewhere in the jungles of Chult? ... Has anyone else tried to retrieve it?”

“You are not the first adventures i have summoned to help with this situation. None of them have reported back. All we know is that the Soulmonger is somewhere in the Chultan jungle, nothing more. I have a map here on the table that lists numerous points of interest that may or may not help you in your journey. You are free to take it. And one last thing, perhaps, a selfish one in my case. You have a total of 80 days to find the soulmonger and destroy it, or I shall die.”

"Fair enough. I'm sure that a lot of people will die if we don't destroy the Soulmonger. Now if you'll all excuse me, I'll go look downstairs and interview the guides." Asha goes down the stairs to look at the people who would guide them through Chult.

Astra frowns at the revelation that they weren't the first adventurers to embark on this journey. "Thank you, Syndra," He respectfully nods to her as he takes the map. "We will do our best." After rolling up the parchment, he gets up and joins Asha in the picking of their guide, all while thinking of what he plans to buy prior to heading into the jungle. 

Turning to Syndra, "I thank you, Master Silvane, for your offer of magic items to help us along our journey.  I have two items in mind that will surely help me in my quest to help you!  Do you have any recommendations for sellers of adventuring goods and supplies we'll surely need to equip ourselves for the journey?"

THE GUIDES. CHOSE ONE, IF YOU WISH.

Many guides await you downstairs. Here are the information on each one:

AZAKA STORMFANG:

EKU:

FAROUL AND GONDOLO:

HEW HACKINSTONE:

MUSHARIB:

QAWAHSA AND KUPALUE:

RIVER MIST AND FLASK OF WINE:

SALIDA:

SHAGO:

"There plenty of vendors in the city that sell items like rain catchers, canoes, insect repellent, and beasts of burden."

"Uh. Syndra? How well..exactly..did you know my Grandfather?"

"Oh, sweetheart, honey." she rasped, "One does not kiss and tell."

"Oh god.." she muttered quietly, regretting the question, looking a bit distressed.