Welcome to the Jungle

…The Tear of Selûne left Baldur’s Gate, heading south for Chult. As the vessel navigated around the Tethyr Peninsula and crossed the tract of water known as the Race, a pirate vessel came at them in a head on interception course. Pix, having already spent some time at the conn, told Amella that he had a plan, and asked her to steer starboard and hold true. The oncoming vessel had to adjust her course to continue chasing her prey… but succeeded only in smashing against the clever gnome’s wall of force once in range. The sounds of cracking and splintering wood gave way to screams echoing across the open water as our party continued on what would prove to be an otherwise uneventful journey.

With Lirith‘s spells speeding up the journey, the Tear of Selûne sailed into the Bay of Chult right on schedule. As the vessel entered Port Nyanzaru‘s harbor, the party was greeted by a hundred-foot tall statue of an ancient Chultan king in full regalia, resplendent in a loincloth of leopard skin and a headdress of feathers, shells, and tyrannosaurus teeth; draped in a cape of girallon fur and monkey tails; and wielding the traditional oval shield and yklwa of Chult. Brother Feres shared that residents call it Na N’buso, the Great King.

The party asked for recommendations for an inn, and made their way to Kaya’s House of Repose in the Market Ward. Pix purchased a bottle of wine and rooms for the week, tipping generously. Shady spent some time with the barkeep, inquiring after his family. With the afternoon still before them, the party ventured out into the city. A commotion grabbed their attention, coming from the wide stone bridge overhead that connects the Hall of Gold on Mount Sibasa to the Grand Coliseum on Yklwazi Hill. Making their way up to the bridge, they were surrounded by a cheering crowd and street vendors taking bets. Then, the party was witness to something none of them could have ever predicted: riders racing dinosaurs through the streets of the merchant city! Apparently overhearing some of the questions that the party members were asking amongst themselves, a local Chultan approached them and asked if they were interested in racing themselves. He led them out of the city and through Tiryki Anchorage to the Dinosaur Pens, answering the party’s questions about the races before making his final pitch: that they should buy their dinosaurs from him to race… a deal they were not interested in.

The next day, Thaminor and Pix remained behind at Kaya’s so the wizard could study, while Shady led Leo and Molish on the search for a guide that could help escort the party through the jungles of Chult. Following up on a posting to the notice board outside Kaya’s, the trio made their way to the slums of Malar’s Throat, where Shady interviewed and hired two other tabaxi to guide them: River Mist and Flask of Wine.