The servant who answered the door is like a deer in headlights, wide eyes quickly squinting as he attempts to get a word in edgewise.  That word may very well have been "What?" as he watches the dwarf go on and on and gesture towards some strange animal and to the other dwarf who just makes him more scared and uncertain.

A well dressed, and well mannered fellow flourishes in his appearance from the backdrop, placing a hand to either shoulder of his bewildered doorman.

"Kaju, paje de majir (spoken in alzhedo, 'attend the kitchen')"

The servant very quickly and willingly scurries away at the command.  You are then greeted by a young Calishite human with a bright, yet shifting gaze.  He speaks common next, "Come friends, I welcome you to my father's home.  I am Khalid Ahmed, second son to Marakhim.  You are welcome here."

He motions a hand to the beast introduced as Muley.  "Save for the beast, quarter him to the yard somewhere..." he passes a glance around outside and throws a hand up in uncertain suggestion, "...anywhere."

He looks past the dwarves to the splendid form of a female and her words of request before he has the chance to ask.

"You... are Sabu?"

He asks with an incredulous tone.  A moment, just a moment of hesitation and he simply nods his head like a dumbstruck fool.

"Come in, come in... You are all expected and welcomed guests.  Your very wish is my desire to fulfill.  Food, drink, name your needs."

He practically shoos everyone inside and closes the door behind them, ushering servants forward with snaps and whistles to relieve his guests of burdening possessions , bowing graciously as they do so whether allowed in their task or waved away.

"You've all come early, I may be expecting another but for now, shall we retire to the rear patio and introduce ourselves, yes?"

He motions towards an open wall that steps out onto a terraced deck of bamboo planks that is immersed by a well foliaged backyard.  A jungle thicket practically consumes the terrace and the sounds of insects and light breeze ruffled fauna is excessively abundant.  Cushioned chairs surround a small pedastal of a table at your convenience.

Servants quickly provide refreshment and fruit or pasted delicacy upon request.

Balrok breaks his silent glower to growl, "You gots problems with thieves here in Chult?  Cuz if we tie Muley in the yard, and somebudy steals him or our stuff, it's gunna be a really . . . bad . . . start t' our 'business' relationship.  Wouldn't yu reckon', Ovi?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:01, Tue 22 May 2007.

Ovi glances over his shoulder when he hears Sabu clearing his throat behind him. His eyes quickly look over her form and his mouth mouth opens into a grin. Heh, looks like Chult might not be all mosquitoes and life threatenin' infections.

He chuckles an then turns his head back when he hears Khalid speak.



Heh, my brudder may be blunt, but he does have a point. Muley an' us go way back, so we want t' be makin' sure nothin' happens t' him while we meet.

'side from that, it's a pleasure t' meet ya. My names Ovi (pronounced: Ah-vee) an' this is my brother Balrok. He gestures to his brother and reaches his hand out to shake Khalid's.

I'll definately take you up on yer offer of food and drink. I hadn't had anything good since we stepped on board the boat for Chult.

Ovi will assist Balrok with getting Muley situated if need be, before joining the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:17, Wed 23 May 2007.

"I think Muley'd like the back padio meself."  If Khalid does not object, Balrok will lead Muley to the back patio, taking an outside route if necessary to avoid leading the mule through the house.

Once there, Balrok will resume his normal silent glower, but will listen intently to Khalid.

While still early, the heat is clearly risen; while Sabu and Khalid might seem a little flushed or perspiring gently, Ovi and Balrok are sweating heavily, and even the mule seems hot.

Sadly, while the gardens and the patio are no place for a mule, there is a small space in the front, inside the wall, where he can be kept over the short term.

Accepting the invitation to the rear patio, out of the heat with the promise of food and drink, is one of the easiest things you can do...

Balrok is fine with placing Muley somewhere within the walls.  Then, as mentioned, he will accompany them to the patio.

Once the situation with the pack animal is determined, Khalid uses a handkerchief to dab at the sprouting perspiration along his forehead.  Refreshment is soon brought along with a bowl of fresh fruit (jungle variety).

"And how was your journey from Calimport," he asks idly.  "I recall mine was not much to speak of.  The weather was... much worse than this.  Circumstances weren't the best all around for me, however."

Not too bad, I s'pose. As far as travelin' by boat is concerned. But I did have t' deal with me brudder whinin' like a new born babe. Ovi chuckles and reaches for a piece of fruit, polishing it off before taking a bite.

Now, we dun like t' beat 'round the bush much. So how 'bout we get down to business. He glances over to Sabu and then back to Khalid.

Will she be taggin' along and needs to hear this or did you have other... He glances at her again, then looks back to Khalid, a sly smile playing across his face. ..."business" matters to attend to with her? The dwarf then gives a slight chuckle.

Standing outside with the other guests, Sabu nodded to Khalid.

I am, sir. I am honored by your request and thank you for your hospitality.

She followed the group inside and sat at one of the offered cushioned chairs.

Sabu’s eyes turned to the dwarf Ovi. Her lips briefly flickered with a smile.

If you’d care, master dwarf, I can show your brother my ‘business’. For, I’m afraid that it would be too quick for you to enjoy it.

She puckered her lips in a phantom kiss to him and then turned her attention back to their host.

[Private to Ovi: Purely a teasing, not a threat... okay a veiled threat but all in fun.]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:31, Thu 24 May 2007.

Khalid just lifts an eyebrow and gives a quick shake of his head and clearing his throat.  "Ahem... yes, well the business that brings each of you here is regarding the same event.  An excursion into the jungles of Chult in hopes to solve the mystery of my family's lost resource."

He gestures towards the two dwarves, "I don't know what information you managed to receive from my uncle and father before being sent here but I can tell you that no news is good news on my front.  The family mine is lost, along with it's profits, workers and even my brother who handled the affairs before me.  Hence the mystery needing to be solved.  Now..."

He turns towards the only female of those gathered, "Sabu, your part in this... should you choose to be a part of it, that is... is for my protection.  Not that I am without my own capabilities but it is my father's suggestion and your name was given credit to the task.  Thus, me sending specifically for you.  You will, of course, be compensated for the service."

Ovi grins widely and laughs. Heh, well ain't you a feisty one. You dun have t' worry 'bout me one bit though... good ol' Ovi's full o' surprises.

He winks at her and then nudges and leans towards Balrok, putting his hand up as if whispering something to him, but speaking loud enough so others could hear if they tried. Ya here dat brudder? I think she likes ya. Ya better jump on that while you have the chance! With the way she talks, all yer weapons just might even come in handy too!

He chuckles again and returns his attention to Khalid, nodding as he listens to what he says. He then stands, grabbing another piece of fruit.

Sounds 'bout like we were expectin'. Time is money, I always say. So how 'bout we start makin' our way to investigate matters and ya can fill us in on the details as we go?

If you agree, Ovi will ask some questions as they proceed to pack up and move out. Questions he would want to know:
1) When did problems start occuring?
2) How did you know problems were occuring? Who did you receive reports from? Are they available?
3) When you say the mine is "lost," is the physical mine still there, just abandoned?
4) What skills do Khalid and Sabu bring to the table? He would explain that "Balrok handles the heavy work by bashin' skulls and showin' his pretty face and that he handles the more delicate matters, though he ain't too bad in a fight neither. Muley does the carrying and cheerleadin'."
5) Is there anything in particular they should know about Chult/this area?
6) Is there wine or liquor in the house? It's a "tradition" to have some type of drink before starting a mission.

Sabu listened intently to their host. At the mention of the problem with the mine, she nodded once. It was common for rich Calishites to hire help to complete dangerous tasks. But sending a son to investigate was unusual, especially if one son was already missing. This man’s family was either heavily laden with sons, very desperate, or very foolish. Regardless, this venture had potential to be very profitable for Sabu. Body guarding a rich merchant was definitely within her capabilities. It could be said, it was what she was trained for.

When the focus turned to her, she nodded. She was still uncertain how this man had been given her name but it seemed that her misfortune was at an end.

I would be honored to serve you, my lord, in any way that I am capable.

She quickly glanced at the dwarven brothers, hearing their exchange. She could not deny that the words of Ovi had stung her, despite her attempt at wit to cover. But Sabu was used to being given little respect. Males, regardless of race, failed to look past her beauty. It was an advantage, and she knew it. But sometimes her ego would get the best of her.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:08, Thu 24 May 2007.

At some point after Khalid and Sabu had their exchange, Ovi looks at Sabu and speaks once more, a smile on his face.

Now where are me manners? Here we are talkin' like ol' friends and we haven't even introduced ourselves yet.

He chuckles softly. I swear I see a pretty face an' I lose all me wits. He looks to his brother. Yer s'posed to club me before I say anything like that, Balrok!

Anyway, the names Ovi (Ah-vee), an' this is me brudder, Balrok. And Muley... well, he's in the back, but he'd be glad t' meet you as well.

As he proceeds through the introductions, he gestures to Balrok and then reaches out to shake Sabu's hand.

Sabu smiled at Ovi. She was beginning to think that perhaps she had been quick to judge him. She knew very little of dwarven behavior. Truth be told, she had never been close enough to hear one of them speak before now. It shamed her that she was guilty of judging another before really learning about them, the very thing that she was most sensitive to.

It is my honor to meet you, Ovi...

She turned and smiled at the other brother.

... and Balrok. I am Sabu Armiir. I apologize for my rudeness.

Balrok shrugs, then clubs his brother over the back of the head with a chain-clad gauntlet.  "There'ya go."  He then nods gruffly to Sabu.  "Pleasure, lady.  An' don't worry--it's only me brudder who has an eye fer the human wemen.  I prefer me wemen with more facial hair, heh heh."

Balrok then seems to catch himself, and goes back to glowering silently.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:17, Thu 24 May 2007.

Rush as one might, there was still a lot of conversation to do, and anything approaching midday called for a nap, not a flurry of activity.

In general, though, the information you need is doled out as you speak...

1) When did problems start occuring?
     Who knows when they started?  But they finished about 6-3 months ago; with no contact and more importantly, no ore from the mine.

2) How did you know problems were occuring? Who did you receive reports from? Are they available?
     Detailed records of the mine is not kept, for fear of it being stolen.  Much, coded, went to Father - it must have been bad news, for otherwise, the two dwarves would not have been sent for.  That the mine had problems is evidenced by no more ore, laborers, or anything else.

3) When you say the mine is "lost," is the physical mine still there, just abandoned?
     Presumably it is still there.  Abandoned or inhabited, who can say?

4) What skills do Khalid and Sabu bring to the table?
     If nothing else, Khalid has been to the mine, once, shortly after he arrived.  And Sabu Armiir makes sure that no harm comes to the august personage of Khalid.

5) Is there anything in particular they should know about Chult/this area?
     It might be wise to find someone who knows something of the region, of such a man can be found...

....Alexandru laughed madly as he stared into the 10 foot deep water gently lapping at the wood and earthen pier.He garnerd more than a few concerned stares from passerbyes.
"Give my regards to the fish!hahahahhaaaAAAAAAAA!"
Lumpy,in his curiosity,had surfaced behind some crates to observe the dreaded ships he had been warned would ferry him off to distant lands.Alexandru,seeing his moment of justice at hand,rushed the small elemental and with a titanic effort and hurled him into the sea much like like an athlete throws a discuss,with a great amount of spinning and a great heave at the end.Lumpy made a fantastic splash and of course,sunk like the stone he is.Alexandru quickly hopped onto some crates to avoid a subterrainean counterattack and reclined upon a heap of bedding as he watched the mariners load and unload their precious cargos,his mind drifting back to his younger days in Cimbar,and wandering the northern coast of Chessenta.

After some very basic conversation ensues, generally inquisitive minds meeting pleasantly with the well spoken and mostly agreeable Calishite nobleman - such as Khalid is - leads to the inevitability of the last question and it might not have even needed to be asked were it not for Khalid's absence of mind regarding his very duty to at least offer a drink to newfound friendships, not to mention the potential aspect of laying side by side as corpses in the near future.

"I have a fellow in mind, who will make up the last of our group... but I have no word on him from those I have employed to seek him.  Some things one can only do oneself.  But first..."

The nobleman gestures towards the inner parlor.  "Accompany me for one final request while you remain a guest in my father's home."

Leading the way, and dabbing casually at the emerging sweat along his forehead, Khalid removes a blanket-wrapped bottle from a wine rack.  A snap of his fingers and a servant provides a tray of small vial shaped glasses.  Khalid unwraps the bottle to reveal a sweat beaded and exotic carafe.  With careful precision, he removes the stopper, a small billow of chill escaping the freshly opened container.  "Icewine, from the north, rechilled just last night by my own hands..." the last statement said with a smile and the ever so slight quirk of an eyebrow, "for just such an occasion."  He fills a vial for each and everyone and lets the servant hand them out before taking his own.

Raising it in toast,  "To our luxuries left behind, to the difficulties which lay ahead and our promise to each other for success or death.  Salúd" the last Salúd part being spoken in alzhedo as a common toast to good health and welfare.

"Now..." finishing the drink in one quick gulp and shaking off the shockingly reviviscent inner chill that follows, "I must be off to find our guide.  This," and he shakes the remainder of the chilled wine before restoppering and rewrapping the bottle in it's blanket, "is saved for his inauguration."

With empty glasses, or glasses left full should the offer be refused, quickly tended to by the servant, Khalid only glances behind him as he walks.  "I would enjoy your accompaniment into town.  I assume you might wish to make your own last minute preparations as it is, we have no time to spare."

[Private to DM fbaker4: I'm just getting into character really.  I don't know exactly how to proceed in getting Alexandru hooked up with the party but I can improvise if you want using servants and random familiar faces found as he walks the port.

The wine by the way was chilled the night prior using the cantrip Ray of Frost.  I took some liberty there since he would have of course rememorized spells in the morning and the icy effect would have likely melted off by now but still leaving a "chilled" effect.  Just covering bases.]

Balrok looks critically at the wine in his class for a moment, then shrugs and swallows it down in one gulp.  It seems to have met his standards, as he nods appreciatively to Khalid and looks wistful as the remainder is corked.  That's ok, he thinks--he can always supplement with garnet wine!

Balrok will follow Ovi and Khalid wherever we are going.

Ovi takes the wine glass and joins in the toast. He approaches the wine in a bit more sophisticated manner than his twin, swirling it around in the glass before taking a small sip to taste it, then finishing the glass. That hit the spot, too bad there ain't more of it.

Anyway, we best be movin'. Balrok and I have everything we need, as long as we get Muley.

He will follow Khalid to look for the guide.

Sabu nodded in appreciation of the wine offered by their host and sipped it.

A fine wine. Must be terribly expensive.

She looked around the opulent room and smiled. It seemed that Khalid and his family had money to waste on pleasing distractions and pampering.

I think I might like it here, despite the heat.

Walking in time with their host, Sabu sets her half-finished glass on a tray and follows the group.

"Yu gunna drink 'dat?" Balrok asks Sabu, pointing at her half empty glass.

Khalid smiles inwardly as he hears the dwarven voice behind him.  Truth be told, were it not that Khalid was in such a hurry orchestrating this event - he would probably be the one asking to finish off the remainder of Sabu's drink.  The last remnants of his hangover did help a little in curbing his usually insatiable appetite for the liquor though.

Nearing the front doors of the estate, Khalid gestures for a servant to approach, "Babit..." and he speaks quickly in his native tongue of alzhedo [Private to Sabu Armiir: Khalid says to the servant "Gather my things and meet me at the overland gates in an hour."]  The servant bows and nods in deference to whatever request was spoken to him and Khalid continues out the front door.

Outside in the front yard, a young native boy is seen tentatively reaching out to pet the laden pack animal left there to graze.  Khalid smiles at the sight and tosses a look over his shoulder at the dwarves, "It seems your beastly companion has met my young apprentice."  Reverting his attention to the boy and mule, he gently calls for the young fellow by name, "Sachu!" gesturing for the boy to approach.  With a nod for the dwarves to tend to their animal, Khalid enters a discussion with the boy in alzhedo.  The boy becomes very expressive in his responses, even imitating tripping and falling flat on his face... then laughing and pointing at the spot where he fell.[Private to Sabu Armiir: Khalid asks the boy how it went at the gates this morning.  The boy then replies to describe a jungle man entering the city, tripping and falling and the guards laughing at him.  The the boy followed the man to the docks.]

With an eyebrow raised, Khalid ruffles the young native's hair and hands him a gold piece.  Addressing the rest of you, "It seems fortune smiles upon us.  We make haste to the docks for our man is there."

He gestures for the boy to lead the way and beckons for the rest to follow.  Khalid makes small talk conversation along the way, rambling at times about how different 'Zaru is to his native Calimport and how he has grown to like it more and more by the day with the exception of the sweltering heat and often unbearable humidity.

When they finally reach the docks, the boy points at Alexandru laying amongst some crates as a makeshift bedding.  Offering the lad another goldpiece he kneels and speaks again in Alzhedo with a warm smile for his young friend.  [Private to Sabu Armiir: Basically, he tells the boy not to spend it all in one place and when Khalid returns he will show his young apprentice some new tricks.]  The boy scurries off with his new earnings.

Before approaching Alexandru, Khalid stops a passing dockworker and points toward some newly arriving boats in the distant waters asking where they come from in common.  "Waterdeep and the northern coast", is the response.  Nodding his thanks, Khalid turns to the rest of the group.  "This could be promising.  Boats from Waterdeep don't arrive every day.  While I speak with the jungle man, you might observe the passengers disembarking from that boat for any capably adventurous sorts."

Barring any questions or comments that require response, Khalid moves towards Alexandru and if his approach his noticed, he will incline his head in greeting.  "Pardon the interruption, I am Khalid Ahmed.  My companions and I," gesturing behind him to the 2 dwarves, their mule and Sabu "are preparing an expedition into the jungle and are seeking someone familiar with the wilderness.  Are you such a person?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:49, Tue 29 May 2007.

Ovi watches Khalid speak with his apprentice, eyeing the gold coins he passes off to the boy.

He looks like a fine apprentice, if I do say so myself. But he won't be needin' t' be an' apprentice for long if ya keep payin' him like that. He chuckles and steps off with Balrok to observe the incoming passengers.

He mutters something to Balrok in dwarven. Recruitin' random passengers from a boat? Must be slim pickin's 'round here. Guess if this is how the family usually go about gettin' their help, it's no wonder there havin' problems.

He chuckles again and looks over the passengers.

I suppose they dun look too bad. The one looks kind of like the rough n' tumble sort, an' he looks dressed for the jungle more than the streets. The other's a bit old, but maybe he's smart. If he knows enough, that could work.

Ovi will approach the individuals, make some introductions, and suggest that Khalid might have a proposal that would be worth their while.

At Ovi's comment in dwarven, Balrok glances behind him, making sure Khalid is out of earshot before replying.  "Aye," he says under his breath in dwarven, "but 'course, his family hired us too, so dey can't be all bad at it, heh heh.  'Sides, he looks like he's willin' to bring help 'nuff to do the job, even if it costs 'im--dat's gud sense or I'm a bearded gnome.  And he's got purdy gud taste in spirits.

If he holds true, I'm fer thinkin' du family itself might be less trouble den we thought.  'Doubt we'll be as lucky with the jungle."

When they get to the offloading ship from Waterdeep, Balrok stands carefully in the middle of the dock, equadistant from the water on each side, and watches the people debark from over his brother's shoulder.  He eyes each of them suspiciously as Ovi chats them up and evaluates them.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:42, Tue 29 May 2007.