SESSION #07: Warehouse #14

[istainion]

   

CHARACTER: Streth Evira  
CLASS: Paladin  LVL: 02
 

"With Taban defeated, Arden returns the pouch to Klahu to retrieve the debt from the gladiator. It did not contain gold nor silver, instead, the pouch has gems. Fifty in total, each with the value of 50 gold. With it, she pays us the reward for our assistance, paid with gems that make a total of 5 platinum. She thanked us for our assistance, when she is suddenly halted in place when Taban speaks up.

 

"The game was rigged, wasn't it?" He asked her, which she confirmed, indeed. "I knew it!" The man yells in return with defeat in his tone of voice. It was a dramatic sight, and I did feel sorry for the man. That is when he looked at us, and back to the ground again with a dramatic sign while the lady left the scene.

 

Deeply in doubt as Taban was when he was closest to the ground, he began to utter words that describe his desire to be a hero, to be a better person, like he once thought he would be. His gaze met ours again, and he asks us if there is hope left for him, if redemption is a path for him to take. Of course! There is! And that, we told him.

 

That is when Taban begged us to let him join us, he will do anything, just so that he can learn from our ways. I thought it was a great idea! And Smuck did ... Too ... Unfortunately by addressing himself as Grand Master Smuck with us as his mere Council members, an act that the gladiator did not seem to mind. Adding each the titles to our name, with the exception for Jasper who did not quite enjoy it. His enthusiasm, however, it was nice. We could use that positivity for our future travels, I have great expectations from this man!

 

< Taban joined the party! >

 

Exhausted from the previous struggle, we moved ourselves toward the Temple of Savras to take a brief rest near the entrance, accompanied with the lovely music from Arden to calm our senses. Once we caught our breath, we collectively entered the Temple of Savras for the answer to our previous question.

 

Little expectation I held with such an impossible seeming quest like ours, but I was positively surprised when Head priest Zitembe shared us his vision. He told us that the Soulmonger is held in a jungle city far to the south, enclosed by cliffs, crawling with snakes. black obelisk draped in vines. Which is quite descriptive, he could not share any more specifics than this, but this is a lot of direction. Dangers may be up ahead, and our travel will not be an easy one. Especially with the unfamiliar climate such as that of a jungle, and a curse that lurks and infects the land.

 

We did not leave the temple without another question asked, however, I needed to ensure that we would be there in time for the vision, but I also had curiosity for an extension of time. The priest warned us that if he must write it down, that this message can be read by ones who may not learn of it. It is best not to risk such fate for our information. We also ask much of this man with our requests, and I wish to respect that.

 

With that, our next question is left with this man:

"Does Nanny Pu'pu have malicious intentions toward us?"

 

She wishes to help us with the death curse, but what if she wishes us not to interfere? Can we trust this woman? Perhaps the Gods can give us direction. I thank you, Savras and your messengers.

 

We shared our thanks, and resumed with our next task. We visited the local bazaar to find a number of items for our travel, among that armor and tools for survival. It was quite fun to do as well! Then we decided to walk around to look for a small task to keep us occupied, when a young lady approached us. Her name is Xandala who has a small red dragon on her shoulder, named Summerwise. Despite Smuck's outburst and fears, she manages to tell her the reason for her approach.

 

She told us that the Zhentarim is looking for her father, who disappeared through the southern gates with a reptilian man. A man with an odd behaviorism to her that Xandala is suspicious about, as neither of the two has returned for few weeks. She does not, however, know what has caused her father to be wanted by the organization. The half elf lady eagerly wishes to find her father to ensure his safety.

 

Unfortunately, we do not yet have possession of the Charter of Exploration that allows us safe, legal passage to the jungle. But, she will remain in Port Nyanzaru for the time being, resting at the Kaya's house of Rest for when we have it in our possession. It may be, however, that she finds another group to travel with. We promised to seek her when we do return to Port Nyanzaru after our travel.

 

With that, our path resumed toward the Merchant's Ward, where a woman addressed me. She appears to be the only merchant without any wares, and gestures me closer for a talk. 

 

She asked us to look for where her crate went, as her son did not return yet. Admitting that he is indeed of the unreliable sort, she cannot afford to remain available at the markets without wares to sell. She handed us a trinket of proof that will grant us passage at Warehouse 14, to pick up Crate #7 which contains food. The kind lady will reward us with 20 gold upon completion.

 

With no task at hand, we happily accepted her request. Smuck felt the urge to add that she'd have to name him Grand Master Smuck. Oddly enough, she did agree, but only once he succeeded. Arden on the other hand seemed suspicious about the case. I must admit that it is a little odd, but perhaps there is a cultural difference at play which we should not judge. With the trinket in our possession, we made haste toward our destination like the merchant requested us to.

 

Once there, we followed the many numbers of the warehouses to indeed find number 14. After the trinket was closely expected by the guards, the door was opened up, and we were allowed passage to find Crate 7. The warehouse had multiple floors with descending stairs. With the first two floors inspected, we did not find the crate, and resumed our search until Arden pointed out an odd, strong scent.

 

We paused in our steps and I turned toward the man who adds that he assumes that a crate is opened up. While I did not smell it myself, I did think it is odd that a crate would be open here. 

 

Curiosity got the better of me, and with a torch in my hand, Arden led us closer toward the scent. There were odd sounds coming from the location, such as the shuffling noises coming from the distant crate, and the motion across the floor, along with an odd gasping sound.

 

Draw your weapons, there might be a thief!