Scene 3: hiring a guide

"This expedition is getting more expensive by the minute. I was really hoping that the Grandfather would help..." Larsie responds with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

With nothing else planned before lunch, Larsie will tag along with Tonby to the Hall of Gold with the plan on keeping to herself unless needed.

Yendil , Tonby and Larsie figure out that temple to Waukeen is not just a place to worship. It is effectively works and bank and invests into stable businesses. They are using a sort of magic such as Augury spell to decide what business to support.
You would be introduced to temple’s charitable work as well as its support of civic improvements.

Razira and Elster spend rest of the time before Lunch waiting, but no other princess decide to show up today.

During the lunch your barmen remind you about the dinosaur racing that happen every evening in good weather and today is such a day

After the lunch you visit Jabal's villa and sign contract. Jabal explains that he will magically contact your chosen guide (i.e. using sending stone) and Musharib will meet you no later than tomorrow (most probably tonight). You pay staring next day after he meets you.

Before lunch, Elster stands up to leave. He tells Razira, "I'm afraid this is where our stories diverge. I'm sorry my friends and I couldn't help you. Best of luck to you Razira."

---

At lunch, Elster says to no one in particular, "Ya know, I think I would like to check out a dino race. Maybe tonight if nothing else comes up."

"Hey Tonby, did you see the procession just now? They were giving away coppers by the handful to the poor."
Hearing that the Hall of Gold/Temple of Waukeen acts as a kind of investment bank, he will approach an acolyte of Waukeen. "Excuse me, but did I understand correctly that you invest into businesses? Me and a couple of friends our setting out on an expedition to end the death curse, and we could use all the help we can get. Is there a possibility to get an investment from this temple?" Yendil says with hope in his voice. He's well aware that they're not a stable business, but he considers it worth a shot.

---

"I'd love to join you Elster, but I'm feeling a bit rushed for the expedition at the moment."

---

"Lord Jabal, we are meeting an investor later this evening, and we would like to share a list of expenses with them. Is there anyway we could meet with Musharib in an hour or two?"

---

After the meeting with Jabal, Yendil says to the others "What if we postpone the meeting with Syndra until after we've met with Musharib, and done the ritual with Grandfather Zitembe? We will have a lot more information then, and could give some more viable answers about costs and maybe even a time frame."

Jabal : I have no idea where Musharib is at the moment, knowing him - most probably in the jungle. I will send message to meet you as soon as he possibly can. That all I can do for you he explain that magical item he has only allow to send message one way.

Later today Musharib never find you before it is time to meet with Syndra.

Acolyte in the Temple of Waukeen: Yes we invest into profitable business. What's your business plan again? Exactly how do you plan to earn money?

Elster goes to check out a dino race before it begins and asks around about if there's any danger to the spectators, and how betting works, etc. He learn that a typical race day has three races: one for four-legged beasts, one for two-legged beasts, and one no-holds-barred "unchained" race. The unchained one has a risk to the riders, but any spectator who stay withing safe distance has never been killed.

Probably because of the risk everyone is free to try riding in unchained race, organizers will rent you dinosaur for the race at no cost. The winner get 10 GP prize and fame.
Bets can be for a dinosaur to win, place, show, or do something specific during the race (like attack another racer or throw its rider), so many bets can win in the course of a single race. While talking with person organizing bets he suddenly ask you if you would be interested to earn some money. You seem like capable person and if you have just as capable friends I will pay you 10 percent of whatever is collected on the 500 gp debt, which is owed by a man named Taban (who is professional gladiator and quite capable man).

Elster raises his eyebrow at the mention of earning money. He casually ask "If carrying around weapons is frowned upon, and magic isn't allowed, how do you expect my 'friends' and I to extract the funds you are owed from Taban? Especially assuming you've tried and failed."

"Yes I saw it, and thankfully it is I how I managed to catch up to you," Tonby says with a chuckle then lets Yendil do all of the talking at the Hall of Gold.

He does have one question for Jabal though, "Has anyone come through here looking to hire a guide to try to find the Soulmonger recently?"

Bookie talking with Elster say: Do you think' I'm so dumb to visit Taban in public? Based on my information he is alone at his house. We will visit him there. IF you are interested earning money.

Jabal asks Tonby back: Soul-what? No I never hear about a person with such a strange name. Then again your expedition goals are none of my business. My business is to ensure you are getting quality services from your guides.

It is still early (an hour before Dinner could be served) when you all meet at the Kaya’s House of Repose.

Elster will efill his waterskin, the heat did take some getting used to. Then he'll talk to the group; "So it would seem a bookie is having trouble collecting a debt from one of the gladiators. Could be a quick way for us to make some gold. Unless there's something he's not telling us."

"I wonder how one convinces a gladiator to part with coin?" Larsie asks as she plays out the scenario in her head.

"I think I better dress in full kit if we're going to be the ones asking."

Tonby meets up with the others and listens.

"Debt collecting for a bookie, isn't the worst I have done," Tonby says after hearing the plans. "Larsie is right. We need to make sure this debt is on the level."

"A business plan? How about finding treasure, selling that for big money, return with a profit?" Yendil is no businessman, though he is sure that the expedition will make return him a wealthier man.

---

"We could try to persuade the gladiator to settle their debt through us, I might even try to charm them with a song"

Acolyte answer: You are new to the city, aren't you? You can't imagine how many of those treasure hunters I've seen going into jungle, how little return and never would anyone admit to bring any treasure. acolyte exaggerate and don't hides it. Still he would share if you ask that their leaders define treasure hunting as the most risky business of all. Their politics is to not invest into business happening outside city walls. Too risky and too unpredictable. After some discussions party decides to go earn some money doing the debt collection. Bookie is happy to see some of you well dressed into armor and bringing serious weapons. My name is K’lahu and we will be collecting debt by Taban. he introduces.
You reach the house together, K’lahu look through the window and announce good news: Taban is at home alone, just like I've been informed. Plan is as following: we go in all together, I make the demand, you protect me and use force as necessary. I only demand you to not kill him.

Elster will look around for other exits that Taban may try to use to flee. He cast guidance on himself to aide in his search

Larsie places her hand on the hilt of her sword, adjusting her grip so that if she needs to swing the blade, it will strike flat and not with a sharpened edge.