You arrive in the town of Nyanzaru at the end of a sudden rainstorm of the sort that seems to be common in jungle lands. The town sits in a small valley beside low mountains that are blanketed with dense jungle. From the look of it, Nyanzaru is a rough, bustling, frontier town filled with self-reliant people. Indeed, they pay little attention to you beyond a curt nod.

The heat and humidity are the first things you notice as you walk along this small seaside town.  The sights, sounds and smells are all the same as any other port side town, only the people are different.  Most of the natives are easy to pick out, partly by their odd clicking language, but mostly by the way they seem to take the heat in stride.  There is also a large mix of outlanders, easily spotted by their dress and metal weapons.  One of the largest buildings in town, other than the warehouses, is a curtained tavern busy even at this early hour of the day with patrons looking to avoid the heat.


{Make a spot check when you get into the area, two if you have arcane abilities and private message me when you get the results.}
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:48, Mon 08 Aug 2005.

Why Chult?

The question resounded within her mind once again, almost nagging her with its persistent presence.  It wasn't as if she had nothing else to occupy her thoughts, what with the need for lodging and extra coin squarely at the top of her list.  But even those considerations took backseat to the overwhelming blanket of heat that flooded her senses.  It was like an over-stuffed backpack, pushing down on her from above with its oppressive weight and arrogant assertiveness.  And it was a far cry from the climate of her homeland, though that thought was quickly pushed away.  Taking a slow, deep breath to steady herself, Elsa once again banished the question with her only answer.

Why not Chult?

A place to loose oneself, a place where everyone was a stranger and no one had a history, a place where the clever could glean profit from the unwary.  Chult was exactly the place for one like her.  "But this heat," she considers to herself yet also slightly out loud, "this heat I did not expect."  Deciding to find herself some relief and perhaps re-focus on more important issues, Elsa strolls quickly towards the tavern and steps through the doorway.

Entering the large front room of the tavern is like walking into a shaded paradise.  The temprature barely drops, but it does drop...some.  You are greeted upon entering by a chorus of noises, patrons laughing, drinking and eating.  "Welcome, Welcome lady! I see you are new to town, just arrived have you?  No no, don't look suprised, you have the look of a newcomer to our lands." you are greeted by the Innkeeper upon entering, he stands behind a large bar in the center of the floor, several girls wander the floor taking drinks and plates of cold breakfast to the men and women seated about the place. "I am Samier, and welcome to the Watering Hole.  What can I offer you this morning?  Food after your long journey?  A drink? Perhaps a place to stay during your time her?"

Elsa pauses a moment, allowing the words of the innkeeper and the hustle of the room to register, and then replies with a shy smile.  "Yes."  Another moment is allowed to pass and then, with a playful toss of her hair, Elsa adds to her previous statement along with a light smile, "Samier, my wonderful man, I would partake of all three luxuries that the Watering Hole offers to guests.  And then, perhaps a fourth?"

With a smile of his own, and a slight glint to his eye, the thin man with the pock scarred face informs you "We have several choices for rooms, from a place on the floor here in the common hall for 3 silver, to a shared room in the back with a mat to sleep on for 5 silver, or for a few silver more we have private rooms upstairs for a gold piece a night.  For breakfast this morning you are in luck! we have fresh fruit from the main land as well as some local specialities and fresh water, or perhaps a nice wine for the lady?" he tells you by way of what is available.  "As to the fourth service you require...I would be more than willing to help you with that." he says, his eyes roaming over your body, the suggestion obvious.

Sharing a room with strangers?  Or a single room with a lock that is no doubt easily opened by the innkeep's key?

Elsa taps a delicate finger against her chin as if in deep thought; as if she hadn't had such a difficult decision to make in some time.  Then, with a coy little smile, she replies, "Wine, of course, as long as its white and no more than slightly sweet.  And a private room, my dear Samier."  With a slight pout, she adds, "You wouldn't expect me to sleep on the floor, now would you?  A simple maid like myself sleeping alone on the floor?"

As the innkeeper's eyes roam over her body, Elsa imperceptibly thrusts out her bosom a tiny bit more.  "I am so happy to hear that you can help me, what with me being new to this town.  What I require, good Samier, is what any newcomer might require from a well established businessman like yourself.  Conversation."  Then, with a smile that is anything but shy, she adds, "At least to start..."

[Private to DM FoxPaws: Elsa is most interested in information about the local merchants and artisans.  Who they are, where they live, how many members are in their family/sevice, etc.  Gather Information Check = 19.]

[Private to DM FoxPaws: EDIT - I didn't mean to imply that I don't want to roleplay the conversation.  :)]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:48, Mon 08 Aug 2005.

The time passes as Samier plies the young woman with wine and as much charm as he can muster.  Telling her little things of this and that about the town that she has found herself in.

[Private to Elsa: There are few artists in town, most of the art works that come to town come from the jungle, masks, trinkets carved from rare woods or ivory.  Gems and jewelry of the finest and rarest stones from the Jungle Dwarves are traded to ships captains to be sold in the north.  Of the merchants in town the largest merchant in all of Chult is a man named Nsi, not a fellow to be crossed, he has amassed a fortune and has contacts all over the land, no one knows where he resides his agents bring in goods and what not that are shipped out all over the north.  In town there are several minor merchants, most are the agents of rich men in Calisham.  There is however a woman who runs a small shipping yard, a buyer of anything from Chult to Calisham and back again.  Jaerlea an older woman who made her fortune running slaves from Calisham to Chult to clear the jungles towards the fabled mines of the land...she made a larger fortune keeping some of those gems that were returned to Calisham.

Deduct 2 gold for the room, and the wine.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:51, Tue 09 Aug 2005.