Elsa gazes intently as the innkeeper relates what he knows of the town.  As the conversation winds down, she slowly moves closer and closer to the man until not even the width of the bar separates them.  She opens her mouth, perhaps to say something, perhaps for something else entirely.  But then her hand reaches into her pouch and withdraws two coins.  Placing them on the table, she whispers in his ear, "Your prices are rather high, master innkeeper, but mine is yet higher.  Perhaps some other time..."  Her lips brush his cheek ever so slightly as she leans back and then rises to her feet.  In a normal tone, she calls over her shoulder as she walks towards the door, "Hold my room for me, good Samier.  I shall return."

[Private to DM FoxPaws: Next stop is Jaerlea's shipping yard.]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Tue 09 Aug 2005.

The walk back to the docks is even hotter than you remember for your trip inland.  The noonday sun beats down with no remorse baking the inhabitants under its rays.  Once back at the docks its not hard to find Jaerlea's shipping yards, its is the only one that doesn't seem to have locals as dock workers.

From the streets you can see a smallish warehouse type building, behind that a large pen filled with men women and children the universal look of a slaves dispair evident on all of their faces as they gaze out at their guards from behind their pens.

There is only one ship at what appears to be a 3 ship dock extending out into the bay behind the warehouse and pen.

Elsa casually strolls forward and reaches the door of the warehouse.  Acting unconcerned was rather difficult given the heat, but she shrugs aside the concern when she reaches her target.  Opening the door slowly until it is a quarter open, she glances inside but doesn't actually enter.

Kuruk emerges from the jungles of Chult into the port town of Nyanzaru at a run.  Close behind him is a constrictor snake of no small size, nipping at his heels.  He turns to face behind him and shouts, "C'mon Mr. Snake, hurry up!  He's gonna eat us."  The snake is happy to obey, and soon the two are a fair distance from the overgrowth.  They slowly come to a stop and turn back to look at their pursuer.  But nothing emerges from the jungle.

"Hmmmm, I coulda swore that thing was gonna eat us both.  Musta not been that hungry."

After catching his breath, Kuruk looks about his surroundings.  After a moment he realizes where he is and why he is there.  He gains his bearings and heads to the one of the larger buildings, which he hopes is the tavern.

To his credit, it is the tavern, which he enters.  Once inside, he goes to sit in a corner both to first observe the patronage before starting to ask questions.  "You stay here, Mr. Snake, you know how the people like it when you're around."  He picks up the snake and directs him to the roof of the tavern, and Mr. Snake with a hiss, curls up around an outcropping to wait for his master to return.

....oh sweet merciful Tempus! surely there couldn't be anything else left in there to bring up? he thought sourly as he emptied the contents of his stomach for the third time since stepping onto the docks. He had assumed he would start to feel better when he got back onto dry land. He was wrong.
After wiping his mouth with the back of a leather gloved hand and flicking a few lumps of something or other from his beard he again drew himself up to his full height and took a look around him. The noise and smells of the bustling port were almost overwhelming after the long voyage and the whole place seemed as far removed from the snow covered peaks of home as he could possibly imagine.
 ....Still, some things are the same wherever you go he thought wryly as his gaze lingered on a young courtesan coyly lingering in a doorway over yonder. hmm... pretty, and nice eyes....but a little on the skinny side for my taste...
 aha! something else he recognised -a tavern, just the thing to rinse his mouth out after this mornings 'adventures'.
      Stepping into the blessed shade of the tavern and waving to a serving maid for ale he gladly slumps down into a chair and leans back, his eyes closed as he breathes in deeply in the opressive heat and takes a few moments to relax. Shortly he hears the serving maid return with his ale and he slowly opens his eyes and looks up into the rafters to see... " A SNAKE!" he shouts jumping instantly to his feet and pushing table, serving maid, drinks and all to safety
"Don't worry everyone, I'll get it!" he bellows, reaching for his axe....
This message was last edited by the player at 04:40, Wed 10 Aug 2005.

[Private to Elsa: The sickening sweet smell of flowers and old wood almost overwhelms you as you peak into the hotbox of a warehouse.  Not an overly large building you can almost see the back of it through the shadows of the windowless single windowless room.  You see several forms moving about the back of the warehouse moving crates and large timbers to a central location for loading on the one remaining boat in dock.  "Get those damn things in place, Sysirac, go get the slaves to load this, then get them loaded as well, I want to sail with the evening tide damnit!  I don't want to have to feed that damn 'Protector' just for sailing out of my own berth if we can help it this time!" you hear bellowed from a large woman near the front of the warehouse.  When she is done bellowing she turns to the crack of light spilling in through the door.  "Well come in or get out whoever you are, we're not taking passengers on this run though, I don't care who you are."]

  Sitting in the relative coolness of the Watering Hole Kuruk doesn't notice as Mr. Snake makes a silent trip into the tavern to slither along the rafters to be closer to his friend and companion.

  As Kuruk walks into the tavern Samier calls a quick greeting to him before making a slithering motion with his hand and raising his eyebrow...quietly asking if the Half-Orc has left his large friend at home today so as not to alarm his other...better paying...clients.

  Everyone can't help but lookup and smirk at the large northman that enters the curtained coolness of the outer tavern.  His large frame covered in a heavy, and very hot, set of armor.  "My friend, please take that silly thing off before you make us all hot!" the innkeeper says to his latest customer good naturedly.  "Come in, come in! Welcome to the Watering Hole, I am Samier, please let me get you something to cool yourself with?" the way he says it makes it more of a question than a statement.

  "A SNAKE!" the Northman yells out as he rushes head long towards the large beast, and straight towards the resting Half-Orc as well.  "Don't worry everyone, I'll get it!" he bellows as he rushes towards the large serpent.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 12:36, Wed 10 Aug 2005.

PM

[Private to DM FoxPaws: Peeking cautiously through the door, Elsa adopts the attitude and demeanor of a relatively submissive young woman.  "I am ever so sorry to intrude.  Is it Jaerlea?  Yes, it must be, of course.  My pardons, fine lady, my humble pardons.  Elsa slowly walks into the warehouse, glancing rapidly from side to side like a scared mouse but in reality attempting to efficiently evaluate the contents and layout of the building.  As she walks, she manages to stutter, "You-you-you see, madam...I am looking for something...someone actually.  But I fear you are too busy?  Please say you have just a moment of time, oh please!  Then, in a rush, Elsa adds, "Tis my brother for whom I search!  My brother!  Is he here?"  As she speaks, in an increasingly hysterical voice, she takes the opportunity to again scan the area before settling her gaze on the nearby slaves.]

[Private to DM FoxPaws: Bluff roll = 20, Listen roll = 12, Spot roll = 13.]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:23, Thu 11 Aug 2005.

Elsa's adventure.[Private to Elsa: Your brief look inside allowed a peek at a wall of boxes with odd writting on it, an open cask spills odd flowers onto the floor of the warehouse.  The back of the warehouse is loaded with long straight timbers, heavily robed figured moving them from where they are located towards a large door in the rear of the building, the slaves pen seen through this door.  With a sigh at being interupted the larger woman moves towards the door, pushing you aside as she steps out to speak with you, letting the door shut behind her.  "From the looks of ya you havn't been here long, so you don't know the way things work here.  If yer brothers inside then his fate is done, if he's out back then yer a hell of a lot lighter skinned than the rest of this heat blasted furnace of a land." she says, no remorse at the thought of slavery, and a complete lack of care at your apparent sorrow.  "These are all fresh from the deep jungle, I doubt if you'll find a brother in the lot...if your strong enough you might find a lover though. HA!"]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:56, Thu 11 Aug 2005.

PM

[Private to DM FoxPaws: Elsa allows the larger woman to push her outside, realizing with an inward smile that she probably couldn't have stopped her anyway.  As the woman speaks, Elsa continues her charade.  She places her hands to her mouth in mock horror at the words "fate is done" then visibly relaxes at the explanation.  "Oh, thank goodness!  Thanks be to all that is fair in this world!  And to you, Jaerlea, for such wonderful news.  My brother is at least not confined within a slavepen in this port."

Elsa then wrinkles her brow and asks, "Fate is done?  Do you mean that those crates are filled with dead slaves?"  Her voice once again rises towards hysterics and she continues, "Pray tell me, friend Jaerlea, that my brother is not within those crates!?"  In a small tone, she adds, "He resembles me greatly."]

Else 2[Private to Elsa: "The bodies are all ready on the ship, the stench will never get out of that hold.  The crates are not your concern, those are bound for Waterdeep and points beyond.  As for the workers fate being done, that's Nsi's timber in there girl...if yer brothers working for him its to late for anyone to help him.  Now you need to either get back to yer tavern or back to a ship, like I said, I'm not taking passengers." with that she heads back into the warehouse, you can only assume back onto her crate/podium to continue bellowing out orders.]

PM

[Private to DM FoxPaws: Elsa nods sadly and thanks the woman in a depressed voice.  She then wanders around the yard for a short time, pretending to examine the slaves from a distance but actually scoping the area a bit more.  Then she turns around and heads back to the Inn.]

[Private to DM FoxPaws: If applicable, Spot roll = 15, Listen roll = 10.]

More secret stuff for Elsa.[Private to Elsa: What are you hoping to spot or listen to?  Spot you notice that the workers that you happen to catch a glimpse of outside of the warehouse are covered in heavy hooded robes, not at all like the porters that helped to unload your ship.  You hear nothing understandable from the slaves, and nothing at all from the porters...every once in a while you hear the distance garbled voice of Jaerlea booming from the front of the warehouse.]

Kuruk is surprised to be disturbed not so long after he sat down.  Instinctively reacting to the threat, Kuruk looks about around the floor of the room.  Not seeing anything, he looks to the rafters, and spots a familiar sight.  He grins wide, but then notices that everyone else is not so calm.  He sees the human's reaction, so he quickly places a firm hand on his shoulder to stay any hasty movements on his part.  "Not so fast, friend.  That be Mr. Snake, good friend of mine.  You want to be friend too?  You no touch."  To the snake he says, "I thought you wait outside for me so this no happen?  Go now, silly snake."

The big human watches the snake slowly retreat, a dumbfounded look of perplexed disbelief on his face as he looks helplessly from half orc to snake and back to half orc again. "I...ah...forgive me friend. I had no idea he...um...it was with you. I'm afraid I am new to this land and many of your customs seem strange to me.  Mayhap I can buy you an ale by way of apology?" Slumping down once more into a chair next to the half orc the man looks around to catch the attention of a serving maid once more, and, seeing the murderous look she favous him with as she stomps out of the taproom (whilst wiping the contents of his last tankard from her bodice), he decides instead to try elsewhere. "Goodman Samier! another tankard if you will and one for my new friend, ...I swear that last one never even touched the sides!". Then, turning back to the half orc with a disarming smile he adds in an overly loud voice:"...and since we are to drink together friend, let us first be introduced.... I am Ynvaar of Tempus, Well met!"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:50, Thu 11 Aug 2005.

Kuruk is mindful of the tall man's apologetic look, which he accepts at face value.  "You can."  He sits down with the strange newcomer.  "Me Kuruk, native from here.  I search for missing druid friends gone missing.  Maybe you help me?"

Meanwhile, Mr. Snake silently slinks away back outside.

PM

[Private to DM FoxPaws: Elsa is looking to possibly rob the place later tonight, so she's just checking out the exterior and the guards, etc.]

Maybe something ate them...Ynvaar thinks to himself as he watches Mr Snakes' tail disappear around a corner.

...and what in the nine hells was that smell???

 Ynvaar removes his helm and sets it down on an empty chair beside him, then runs a gloved hand through his sweat soaked hair, a thoughtful expression on his face as he regards the half orc, that quickly turns into a broad grin as he adds with a chuckle "Well my fragrant friend, it seems I do owe you a debt, and since I am clearly in need of a guide I should be honoured to travel  with you!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:13, Fri 12 Aug 2005.

Returning with the ordered drinks, a soaking wet serving wench sets two tankards before you before storming off, not before she shoots a look of pure venom to the both of you.  One for drenching her, and the other for not leaving his friend outside.

[Private to Elsa: I'll be ready for you MuHAHAHAHAHA! err, um...OK.]
[Private to Kuruk Jobtawk: In relation to the question in our next post....its about a tenday, he came into town to get supplies, and disappeared...if you ask around he went into the jungle with a group of outlanders and disappeared...Samier knows about it, he hired the group.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:14, Sat 13 Aug 2005.

"I think she likes you" Vallah whispers with a conspiratotial wink at the half orc. After taking a long pull from his tankard and wiping the froth from his beard he returns the tankard to the table between them and continues "So, tell me more about these friends of yours. How long have they been missing?"

Elsa re-enters the Inn just in time to see a soaked waitress slam a couple tankards down at a nearby table.  Remaining in the doorway until realizing that nothing would come of the minor scene, she quickly finds a table and then pulls out a wonderfully constructed harp from her traveling pack.  She begins to softly play some notes on the instrument and hum to herself, gently warming up both her harp and her throat.

As Elsa starts to actually sing a song, her talent quite evident already, one of the strings suddenly snaps with a sharp and slightly echoing twang.  Smiling wrly, she pulls a new string from her pack while continuing to sing her song with a quiet yet clearly audible volume.  By the time she has finished the refrain for the last time, the instrument is re-strung yet also returned to the traveling pack.  Frowning to herself, she mutters, "Damn sea air."

Singing = 22
Strings as Aid Another = 8

[Private to DM FoxPaws: Waiting until nightfall before doing anything sneaky.  If Elsa manages to collect any silver, well thats just all the better.  :)]

Kuruk grunts at Ynvaar's observation of the waitress' "affection".  After taking a swing from his own glass, he continues on to answer his question, to the best of his ability.  "Not exactly sure how long Mezoar been missing.  Ten days, maybe, I hear.  Nyanzaru was last sighting.  With many dangers in jungle, this seemed good place to start, the start of his adventure.  Rona also been missing.  Maybe she with Mezoar too.  Samier might know, too; he is very wise.  Wait here, I go ask."

Kuruk gets up and approaches Samier.  Once close enough, he extends his arm which Samier grasps tightly in greeting.  They converse quickly in whispered tones, with Kuruk not finding out a great deal, but enough to start with.  Business concluded, Kuruk goes back to sit with Ynvaar to relay what he has learned.

[Private to DM FoxPaws: Where did he send the last expedition?]

Rising to her feet after completing a few more songs in an audible yet hushed voice, Elsa crosses the room to the staircase and climbs to the next level.

[Private to DM FoxPaws: Elsa will enter her room and lock the door, placing furniture against it to prevent a sneaky entrance.  She will then attempt to sleep for a few hours, at least until night falls.]

Once done with Kuruk and his questions the innkeep turns to the departing singer and says "Girl, you sing well...though i would leave the harp in its case.  Agree to sing for me in the evenings for a few hours and your room and board are covered." as she makes her way towards the stairs leading to the inns rooms.

[Private to Kuruk Jobtawk: The outlanders were hired to take medicines to a group of healers in the deep jungle, there is a camp of healers between the two lakes of the land.  Your character is familiar with the healers, and the general idea of where the camp is...once in the area it will be easy for him to find traces of their presence.  They had about 10 days to get to the camp, about an 8 day journey...its been about 12 now and a magic message has arrived demanding the needed medicines within the next 10 days as supplies are almost out now.  He is pretty sure they took the overland route, following the River Tiryki for a brief while before heading into the 'safer' deep jungle.]

[Private to Elsa: Being an unknown to the area you are not given anything by way of coin, however the offer for room and board is real and you would of course keep anything given to you.  Let me know when your ready to head out, i'll treat these next couple of days as different times for each of the players, once you head out I'll call it night for you, and most likely late day (3ish) for the others...this gives time for anyone else that might have been on your boat (new players from outside) to join you in the inn.]

[Private to Ynvaar: Is there anything you would like to know/do?  The others are holding tight, or heading out late this evening for some covert work in the hopes of making some money....foolish outlander.  Let me know what I can do to help keep everything running fun for you until we head out for the real adventure.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:04, Tue 16 Aug 2005.

Elsa turns back briefly and blows a kiss to Samier with an impish smile.  She disappears upstairs and then a few moments later returns, sans the traveling pack.  True to their new arrangement, Elsa resumes her seat as well as her singing.

[Private to DM FoxPaws: I don't have the time to post anymore tonight, so let's start the burglary attempt tomorrow night.  Looking forward to it!  Thanks!]

     After carefully listening to the half orc relate what he knows of the missing druids, Ynvaar drains his tankard in silence before replying: "
hmm. Well enough then, we shall find your missing friends, but perhaps it would be wise to see if anyone else in town has word of them".

     Waving his empty tankard to Samir for another refill, Ynvaars' spirits seem markedly improved as he begins to drum his fingers upon the helm beside him in time to the minstrels delicate song, "might be an idea to add a few swords to our number too in case things get interesting out in the trees" he adds without looking back at Kuruk, his attention now fully upon the dark haired singer.

Oh! so she's a minstrel. and to think I thought she was a prostitute....now that could of been really embarrassing...

     "Do you know 'Lament for the fallen'?" Ynvaar shouts across the taproom to the singer as she comes to the end of her song, banging his empty tankand on the table in appreciation as he does so.

[Private to DM FoxPaws: Actually I wouldn't mind knowing a bit more background about the two we are looking for, namely  a bit more detail about what their quest was for and where they were headed (if we know this).
I didn't want to ask Kuruk in character in case his player didn't have the answers.
On a general note, I am happy to wander around town for a bit, searching for clues until the other party members join or to set out on the adventure as soon as everyone is ready]

[Private to Ynvaar: You would need to ask about the adventure in the thread, I would start with Kuruk since he seems to know something, beyond that there are always gather info checks and just scouting around town.  Once your ready to head into town just point me in the general direction that you want to go in...shops, docks, etc.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:56, Tue 16 Aug 2005.