Session 2: No New Gods
General Summary
The party sets out from the Thundering Lizard to meet Wakanga O'Tamu and Sindra as agreed. Entering the lavishly decorated Merchant Prince's villa, you're greeted by soft, lilting music, warm light from floating continuous flame spells, and refreshments. Inspection of the room reveals lavish murals, and columns decorated with scenes from ancient Omuan battles (yes I said Amnian, see amendment posted later), and depictions of the Omuan's god, Ubtao, the God of Mazes and Creator of Chult. Careful inspection reveals remote detonated explosive runes on all the chairs, murderholes, and other nasty security measures.
After nearly 3 hours waiting, inspecting murals, taking refreshments, and finding another expensive chair that couldn't stand up to Burg Quott (the Great-of-ass)'s weighty backside, Wakanga O'tamu graces you with his presence. He's a bit of a dandy, and comes across as arrogant, even flippant, but earnest when it comes to the matter of Sindra.
Wakanga offers you a 10% discount on magical items to aid you in your quest, and asks a favour. Handing you a tattered, water-damaged journal, he offers you a weighty spellbook and a *cough* small sum of gold to find and deliver him a shield guardian named Vorn. Vorn was owned by one very unfortunate wizard who (and I forgot to mention this), got Mad Monkey Fever, took off his clothes, climbed a tree, fell out of said tree, hit his head, rolled into a puddle, and drowned...
Upon leaving Wakanga's villa, you headed back to the Thundering Lizard for some carousing and drink before bed. John Notagnome, renowned bard, bust out some sweet sea shanties on his uka-slay-le, earning some money and yet more renown. Chants of "Not-a-gnome, Not-a-gnome" were rather confusing for late-comers.
Meanwhile, Rahlg'n drank like a tank, lost an arm wrestle, and got narrowly beat at darts by Douglass. Both won money, and promptly lost it to gallons of Tej and beer. The party headed to bed, with Burg Quott (the Greater) muttering about gods.
The next day, following instructions on the Thundering Lizard noticeboard, you meet some of Jobal's guides. Eku, a striking Chultan woman carrying an ornate Coatl staff, greeted them. Eku had a pleasant demeanour, and her keen eyes (seeing Rubi and Chomsky for who they are, winking slyly) narrowed upon looking at Burg Quott (the Greatly Aggravating) and refused to work with the party.
Azaka Stormfang, a proud-looking Chultan with red dreadlocks and a penchant for fidgeting with her dagger was watching this with amusement. In her cavalier, husky purr, Azaka agreed to take the contract. She also waived her upfront fee of 150gp in exchange for the party's help recovering a lost heirloom from the Pterafolk at Firefinger. During this encounter, Douglass notices an itchy, tickling sensation. Probably not fleas. Probably... Something else...
Meeting with Undril Silvertusk (no longer weighed down by chainmail, but now with way too many supplies), you head to the docks to charter a ship, leaving Malec to the ravenous creatures of Executioner's Run. After all, what possible consequences could there be for allowing a street kid to die?
Boarding the Brazen Pegasus, you meet the gruff bosun, Grig Riddell, and the chipper, gnomish captain Ortimay Swift and Dark. Peeking out through the trenchcoat, Rubi greets the gnome in a way that probably looks like John Notagnome is flashing her. Captain Ortimay loves their antics, commenting on the classic con, and even giving the party a discount for passage after Douglass quite successfully negotiates the wrong way.
After an uneventful overnight passage, the party bid farewell to Captain Ortimay (who thinks they may meet again), passing some Emerald Enclave Druids through the docks. On the road to Fort Beluarian, Azaka talks with Douglass about curses, and Douglass notes the odd itching again, and a particular, familiar smell that he can't trace...
Crossing through Fort Beluarian, under the flag of Baldur's Gate and the watchful eyes of Flaming Fist guards, the party come to the offices in the main keep. A flustered, sweating, heavily armoured receptionist gives them a contract for a Writ of Exploration (which Chomsky notes has spelling mistakes). Before payment can be proffered, the fort Commander, Liara Portyr comes downstairs. She notices Rahlg'n's presidio insignia despite his attempts to hide it and comes over to sneer at the party. She also asks the party to seek out the heads of ghouls (for which she'll pay 20gp each), and for the party to reveal the source of the giant footprints that have been found to the south.
Not one to trust a verbal contract with a competitor, Rahlg'n insists on having it in writing. Reading through the gap in the trenchcoat, Rubi notices a few invalidation clauses, which are promptly scrubbed from the document.
Heading back to the docks, the party is trailed by aarakocra scouts. Later in the day, aboard another ship bound for Port Nyanzaru, they land, much to the terror of Undril. Undril is deathly afraid of birds, it seems, and is nearly crying as Burg Quott (the Cruel and Unusual) encourages her to shake their hands (claws?). The aarakocra ask about what the party is doing in Chult. Not receiving any answers but not deeming them a threat, they leave.
Later, John Notagnome finds Undril under decks, rocking back and forth, whimpering. She admits to her fear of birds as John tries to console her with a soothing melody and encouragement. This works wonders until Burg Quott (the Savage) squawks loudly, sending her running upstairs to his boisterous guffaws.
The next morning the party gather on deck with the wind blowing a gale and sailors trying to prepare for a swiftly oncoming storm. The party has little time to prepare, with John Notagnome lashing themselves to the mainmast and Douglass simply clutching to the deck as hard as he can. The storm rocks the boat, snapping the bindings holding the mainsail in place and sending Burg Quott (the Hazardous) koopa-shelling over the deck on his back as he keeps screaming "No new gods!" Rahlg'n manages to stop him, nearly going over the edge himself, and throwing Burg Quott (the Projectile) into the open doorway. Rahlg'n then helps the sailors pull the mainsail back up, and Rubi mends the main brace with a spell.
As the storm picks up, Burg Quott (the Rambling) is compelled to struggle his way up the stairs to the quarterdeck. Falling onto his face and clinging to the deck with his claws, his mind is filled with whispers ascending to a thousand screams... "No new gods... The Nowhere Child Must Not Feed.. There must be no new gods... No New Gods... NO NEW GODS!"
Chomsky casts sleep on the terrified Tortle as Rahlg'n struggles to hold him down. Before the spell is complete Burg Quott (the Temporarily Insane) screams "NO NEW GOOOOOODS" as a lightning strike illuminates a titanic figure of mismatched and bulbous limbs in the clouds. Another lightning flash, a final scream from Burg Quott (the Cosmically Horrified), a flash of yellowish white eyes, and the figure is gone. The storm clears as quickly as it came, and in the distance is the jewel of the Shining Sea, Port Nyanzaru...
Report Date
26 Aug 2021
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