Scene 3: hiring a guide

Yendil strange looks acolytes cast toward Tonby and decide to delay a bit, overhearing their conversation when you are gone. Acolytes are certainly surprised at who the mysterious rich person is.

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Tonby and Larsie reach temple of Savras and split there.

Tonby talk to an acolyte about the books and chult creatures.
You may not find much of the information you seek, I'm afraid. Merzo used to be center of culture and all knowledge and books were concentrated there until it was destroyed during spellplague and all books gone. The only books we have comes from main continent. And the only book listing types of creatures I recall is book on celestials, I'm afraid. Talk to older locals for history of Chult and jungle guides for creatures that live in Chult.

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Wait, what? Do you mean the source of it is the Chult ? It can't be true! It is affecting whole world not just our city!
Zitembe do not deny his ability to locate the object as you asked, he just can't believe it could be located in Chult. He wouldn't initially want to believe you and would question our source of information

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Razira look at Elster as if he is not in his mind: Out of the city? How do you mean that? word by word you realize that locals are reflecting to the districts outside the city walls as outer city (still a city). When you explain that she would need to move to Old city, she is very much upset - it would basically mean she becomes a real criminal and need to learn to live among criminal. Still better than die. I would still like to try my chances with the prince first.

As you talk a Chultain woman well dress comes in accompanied by a retinue of aides and guards. Ekene-Afa whispers Razira ex-gladiator, prince of ... well basically any gear an adventure may want going into the chult, not just weapons.

Toward the end of the conversation in the pool, he'll casually ask the others if 9sp is a good price for a massage by that specific masseur, describing their looks to explain whom he is talking about.

If his fellow bathers say that 9sp is a normal price, Yendil will accept the offer, and pay for the massage. It is a lot, but it might be worth it.
If they say it is to high, Yendil will ask what a normal amount would be, and will try to negotiate that price with the masseur.

"Yes, I figured you wouldn't want to leave your home. Plus then you and I would both be in debt to the Beggar's Guild." Elster respectfully watches the former gladiator enter, then says to Razira,
"So a merchant Prince finally arrives, but she is not the one you need?"

Yendil
Yendil, people you talk to happen to talk about fishing and they share with you that 9sp is quite average price, best to their knowledge, though they don't "use it often" - you guess probably never. But they happen to share you following rumors:
There are giant snapping turtles in Snapping Turtle Bay. One of them is as big as a house. He’s known as King Toba, and his shell has gemstones embedded in it.

Massage procedure is pleasant and takes quite some time, more importantly masseur appears to know a lot of rumors and willing to share them. He confirms to also know rumors of charter of exploration and something that provide bit more details on dwarf guide desires:
Dwarves are determined to reclaim Wyrmheart Mine, but a red dragon lives there now. Haven’t seen one of them in a while.

Last but not least he share following:
Long ago, a peaceful tribe of fisherfolk called the Aldani angered Ubtao by catching and eating all the lobsters in a river. As punishment for their greed, they were all transformed into monsters that dwell in the Aldani Basin.

Elster
Razira suggest you to walk out of the house for to stretch your legs a bit and outside - when none could hear - she explain that her official business was not so prosperous and she actually do think that moving to old city isn't such a bad idea - housing is cheap there. Larsie
Based on Zitembe's reaction he recognize Harpers seems to believe you to tell truth. He still can't believe in validity of Harpers information and in organizations' true reasons in sharing tht info with you. Harpers. I know they have reputation of idealists. Wild-eyed idealists. But believe me - they are actually insufferable meddlers who could not keep their business to themselves. They are using you to implement their agenda. And now you to use me and my acolytes time for the same agenda.
He explains that he could gain some insight through clairvoyant dreams but it will require him and his acolytes to abandon their current duties and spend whole day performing the ritual

"I ask that you please help us, Grandfather. But if you choose not to, or are worried about what the Harpers may be up to, then I will of course respect your judgment."

Tonby not wanting to push his luck with the guides he will wait for Larsie.

Elster will wait a bit longer with Razira. He says "I feel that, the Beggar Price's offer, doesnt sound like a good deal for you. It also ask for me to take on extra risk.

A little dejected, Larsie leaves the temple and heads back to let the others know how it went. Finding Tonby tells him the story...

"Unfortunately I could not convince the good Grandfather to help us. I'm sure he'd take a donation, but I don't think I have nearly enough, and left without thinking to ask. Perhaps you could ask one of the acolytes what it would cost. I think they're sick of seeing me."

Yendil casually talks about fishing. He doesn't have much experience, but has caught his own diner in a river a few times. "A snapping turtle with gemstones embedded into the shell? And it's the size of a house?! Wow, that would be a sight to see..."
and Yendil makes a mental note to put it on his list to try and travel to the Snapping Turtle Bay if he happens to travel in the vicinity.

Though Yendil enjoys the massage, he finds it hard to completely relax and let go. There is a lot going on and a lot to keep track of. He is aware of the fact that time is not on their side, and he feels like they still have no clue where to start the expedition for the Soulmonger. The rumors shared by the masseur don't fall on deaf ears though, as Yendil will graps at any tiny bit of information available to him. "Are you talking about Musharib's clan, or is it another clan that wants to reclaim the mine? Or just dwarves from Chult in general?"

"They angered Ubtao? I've heard that name before... Do you know what Ubtao is? Sounds like they're some kind of deity. Where is this Aldani Basin?"

As the masseur seems to be in on the loop on a lot of rumors, Yendil will try to check some rumors with him. If they're true, or if he happens to know more about them. "What have you heard about the city of Merzo? Have you ever heard of the Ytepka Society? Does the name Artus Cimber ring a bell?"

It's late morning. Let's say still have 5-6 hours till the dinner (they eat dinner late in Chult). It would be reasonable to wait about hour more for prince late arrival, but not much more.

Yendil
A snapping turtle would be the last sight you see in your life. fishers laugh in response
You soon figure out masseur were only retelling you the rumors he hear from other clients and is not in position to provide any answers. Nevertheless he knows Ubtao. It's a creator of Chult and Founder of Mezro. The Father of the Dinosaurs he is trying to remember what he hear others to call it. But the only fact he knows it's a long forgotten deity.

Larsie and Tonby
You run into each other at temple of Savras before leaving temple.

"May I please inquire how much the appropriate donation to the temple to show our gratitude for this assistance should be?" Tonby asks cheerfully with a kind smile.

Acolyte explain that donation is a donation. He try to convince that the more you donate the better will be the results of the ritual and what not, but between the lines you understand that 25 gp would be minimum, though 50 would be more appropriate.

As Yendil is heading toward Hall of Gold he stuck for a moment in a sort of a traffic jam. He soon experiences an unusual sight - a woman rides in an elegant sedan chair accompanied by drummers, singers, dancers. Some poeple who look like acolytes accomany her distribute fistfuls of copper coins to the poor. You can see simple people love her.
Sibonseni, Mother of Prosperity: she is the chief priest of Waukeen* in Port Nyanzaru - you can learn that from the people aroundWhen procession passes you can finally make your way to the Hall of Gold just to figure out it is in fact temple to Waukeen. In an absence of the chief priest it's doors are still open, should you wish to speak to any acolyte.

Tonby looks to Larsie and says, "Another expense to add to the list. He chuckles. "I don't know about you but I am going to head to the Hall of gold." Tonby will then join Yendil at the hall of gold.

Tonby you meet Yendil in the so called Hall of gold, which is in fact temple to Waukeen (see previous post). There are a few acolytes to speak to.