Phillip is a little in awe of the place and overwhelmed. He stays amongst the party but is just looking around with his big mouth gaping open just a little.

He adopts a whisper and isn’t quite sure why, like he’s in a library or a cathedral, “Wow, this place, is… Wow!”, he says, as the party progress.

((Can I assume we are NOT in ‘jungle’ now? For ranger skills purposes?? Thanks))

"If we want to scout ahead, Eku, we could take another form and see what's what before everyone heads in?"

"That sounds like a good idea Gotur."

Evo knows generally that Ras Nsi desires to bring forth Dendar the serpent god so he can 'help' her fulfil her ultimate goal which is to end the world. Specifically, you don't know details about that piece, but I think the guardian naga would've mentioned something along the lines of Dendar also being known as the "Eater of the World." Perhaps the Soulmonger is assisting in the 'eating'? I guess it kind of lines up. You don't really know more than that with the 14. 

P'Lip may feel slightly less comfortable as he pads through the ancient lost city. (yep, no longer in the jungle). 

Eku responds to Gotur and Evo "Agreed. Scouting ahead is a good idea. Although we shall be wary of ambushes. And we don't want to get separated. All seems... too quiet."

Eku doesn't respond in the way of suggestions for which forms the two of you should take, other than explaining what she is capable of. (magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating equal to or less than 4!). Just trying to have Gotur lead this :D

Azaka says "hey, best we write down these words. May help us later on." and she asks one of you to write down the numerous bits of graffiti that are on the previous page that were found in the guardhouse. 

Ok, let me know what Gotur (and the others) might suggest as far as what Gotur and Eku should take form of as they scout ahead. A smaller creature? Medium sized animal? 

Also, let me know which way you want to start with and how far you plan on going based on the map with the scout run. I will let you know what you come across as you go, but please roll a few stealth and perception checks so I have them for when you guys start to scout ahead. I will roll for Eku once you decide what form you and her are taking. 

Anyone else wanting to come on this initial scouting run please also give me the mentioned rolls. 

Azaka will remain at the entrance although if more than a few more people go on the scouting run she's say "Well it's not a scouting run if we all go now, is it!"

What's next??

Phillip IS a little more uncomfortable now, having left the jungle, but inside he’s also privately, immensely proud, of having succeeded in guiding everyone through the jungle safely.

Maybe just a little bit of that shows on the outside. It’s perhaps also a huge relief that he managed to do the first part of what he set out to do. But also he maybe feels like this is just the start…

Alton would suggest they go as small/inconspicuous as possible. Perhaps like a snake or something similar that would also blend in more in Omu.

He would also want to join the scouting mission, drawing his cloak in closer and ready to sneak forward with the others.

Stealth: 17

Evo stays at the entrance and writes down the words.

"Aye'm not one for sneaking. Pretty good at listening though!"

He keeps a look out into the city as he waits.

"Snake, good idea." Gotur will shift into a giant poisonous snake.

Eku decides to try something a little smaller and quicker. She morphs into a panther.

Ok, I've put together the Omu map with markers if you take a look. Please do that before reading on. 

So we have Evo, Azaka and Phillip staying at the main entrance to the city. I've added a purple marker to the map to show their location. All of your passive perceptions will be in play here as you all wait for the scouting party to return. There could be an encounter roll depending on how long the scouting party is gone for, how far into the city they go, etc. 

If any of the people waiting at the main gate get bored and decide to go check out the huge lava canyon to the east, let me know.

We have Alton, Eku and Gotur heading up the scouting mission. Alton with his cloak drawn close walks with Eku in panther form alongside the giant poisonous snake Gotur.

(Quite the recon team!)

I had initially asked for perception and stealth rolls, although I'm going to change this slightly and those rolls are now not needed. Alton, if you do end up needing a stealth roll, I'm happy to keep that 17 for when we need it. 

I have added numbers to the map along with blank red dots representing potential encounters/events to make it easier. The ones with numbers are sections which you've very minimally scouted. (details below). You can keep going deeper into the city if you'd like to scout more of the places. I will uncover more numbers on the map and give you details as to what you see as you go. I will ask for rolls as required. You can always also head back to the gate to get the others whenever you decide to do that. 

The longer you stay out scouting, the more chance there will be an encounter, both for you and for the waiting home base party.

Also keep an eye on the distance on the map as you scout ahead. 

I have added a dark blue marker to represent the location of the scouting party on the map.

Here's what you've scouted out so far (numbered items on map). 

1. A rectangular pool of murky water stretches before this vine-draped shrine. Rope bridges that once spanned the water float on the surface, tangled with other debris. The shards of a toppled monolith form stepping stones to the middle of the pool, where a statue of a stone frog rises above the water.

2. Smoke drifts lazily from a walled compound. The gate lies in splinters, and scorch marks deface the buildings. Near the center of the compound is a plaza littered with charred human corpses. One of the corpses is being torn apart by a pack of wild dogs.

3. A ruined shrine stands at the heart of this walled compound. Tall monoliths flank the entrance, decorated with images of a jaguar with six snakes sprouting from its shoulders. A stone door is set into the shrine beyond.

What would all of you like to do next?

Scouting party - do you want to further investigate the places that you've seen so far (1, 2 or 3)? Or, perhaps head deeper and scout out other locations of interest? Or head back? Don't worry about rolls yet, I will ask when they are needed.

Home base party - will any of you get curious and check out the lava section while the search party is gone?

Map is updated!!

((Despite having "Giant" in their name, giant poisonous snakes are only size category Medium, so Gotur's of a comprable size Eku.))

2. Charred formerly alive until the charring humans, or charred zombified humans? Given the dogs, I'm assuming the former, but would want to steer clear if not able to observe from a distance. 

Any of them look like defensible bases of operations?

((that's right, I actually thought of that afterwards that the giant poisonous snake is medium size! So yep, the panther and the snake are equal length I'd say for sure.))

Gotur, you'd have to specifically investigate the humans to determine that. 

Regarding defensible bases of operations, the 2 shrines could most definitely be bases of operations. At least they look like they could be anyhow.  (#1 and #3).

The walled compound #2 seems too destroyed to be a base of any type.

Evo will sit put, waiting to do any exploring by himself.

Eku in Panther form notices Got-snake kind of steering away from the charred humans. There's no way any of you will be able to tell more about the bodies unless you get closer to them. Eku telepathically says to him maybe we can get a closer look later on once those dogs leave 

Eku then says out loud to both Alton and Got-snake still in panther form. "Perhaps one of the shrines will provide some guidance."

She's referring to the 2 shrines that the scouting party saw, #1 and #3.

1. A rectangular pool of murky water stretches before this vine-draped shrine. Rope bridges that once spanned the water float on the surface, tangled with other debris. The shards of a toppled monolith form stepping stones to the middle of the pool, where a statue of a stone frog rises above the water.

3. A ruined shrine stands at the heart of this walled compound. Tall monoliths flank the entrance, decorated with images of a jaguar with six snakes sprouting from its shoulders. A stone door is set into the shrine beyond.

Eku recalls the graffiti on the wall at the guardhouse. "Hmmmm.... beware the frog monster. Perhaps we shall start with the east shrine then?" she's referring to the jaguar one.

Alton briefly emerges from his hiding spot to give a small nod of agreement, before slipping back into the nearby brush, now moving towards the Jaguar shrine. 

Phillip will stay with Evo.

But if there’s a tree, or a wall, nearby, he might clamber up there, to get a higher view all around the immediate area.

And he’ll keep watch until the scouting party come back, all around while relaying anything that seems important back down to ground level.

Got-snake will dip his head in agreement, but also looks to see if there is a way that a good sized snake could climb up a tree or something closer to #2 to get a view down. Somewhere that if the dogs noticed him, they'd not be able to reach, and he's just a snake anyway, so why bother.

Before Alton and Eku were just about to head east to the jaguar shrine, Got-snake is able to see a path where he could essentially slither around the perimeter of the #2 compound, and so assuming he does that, he gets more information about #2 location.

Got-snake, there would be a spot where you could slither up and get a better look, yes. The dogs don't seem to mess with you as you slither around the perimeter, perhaps on one of the ruined structures or along the wall. Either way, you get more details about #2 ->

You can see at least 30 charred corpses scattered across the compound. The wild dogs are eating at one of the corpses and they don't bother with you as you slither along the wall. Like you said... why would they?

Separate from the charred humanoid corpses scattered around, you also see a large pile of what looks like charred 'snake people' corpses on a burnt out pyre along with charred snake skulls and inhuman vertebrae piled with it.

On a wall that you slither around, you notice a symbol daubed in ash: a snake curled in a spiral, gripping a circle in its jaws. Got-snake could roll a religion check to see if you recognize it.

Got-snake, please also roll a perception check as you slither around the compound.

Back at the main gate, Phillip, please roll a perception check as you are able to get to a higher location and get a good look around. 

Azaka is also staying with Evo. She says to Phillip "Yeah, let us know if you see anything interesting up there!"

Evo looks up at Phillip then back around at ground level. He idly wonders how visible a brightly colored frogperson is but figures that everything here is brightly colored so Philip probably won't stick out too much.

From his high vantage point, Phillip looks down towards Evo. As he looks down, he can’t help wondering how much a drably-coloured dwarf might stand out, in a city full of of brightly coloured jungle-snakes and reptile-people. He hopes E’vo won’t stick out too much… but he makes a mental note to keep an extra eye out for his good buddy, Mister E’vo…

He keeps watch while they are waiting…

Perception check: 18 

((Boom!))

Evo see Phillip looking and gives him a thumbs up and a smile!