Jungle Ruins of Madaro-Shanti [IC]

[Mercurion 2]

Jungle Ruins of Madaro-Shanti

The port city of Chologadi lies in the tropical southern lands, on the perilous coastline of a dark, jungle-shrouded continent. It is a town of explorers, trappers, and traders, making tenuous alliances with the civilized tribes of the region, but also forced to battle off raids by savages and cannibals, who inhabit the region in hordes.

In recent weeks, a new threat has appeared to endanger the town’s precarious existence on these dangerous coasts. Within the jungle, trappers and hunters have encountered a spreading pall of black clouds and roiling fog, a terrible phenomenon that causes death and rot as it slowly expands. The dark clouds are now only thirty miles from the town itself, and advancing at a rate of perhaps two miles in a day.

The town’s livelihood has been brought to its knees; trading has virtually stopped, and there are no living animals left to hunt, for all are fleeing. The town leaders have offered great rewards to anyone who can discover the source of this threat and end it, for it is terribly clear what will happen to the town itself if the cloud should reach its walls. Thus far, however, no one who has taken up the challenge has returned from the tangled depths of the jungle. In a final attempt to combat the threat at its source, the town has outfitted everything that is needed for a full-scale expedition – all that is needed is a brave party of adventurers to lead it.

[Mercurion 2]

The Bannor’s Pride, a big-bellied dromond flying the tri-colored flag of Glen Gildor, lumbered through long swells kicked up by the remnants of the past few days’ thunderstorms that had blown up from the southwest and the Vahari Delta. The town of Chologadi was slowly drawing near off the ship’s starboard, but, from his spot along the rail of the top deck, Cedrick Silverton stared at the dark jungle crouched all around as it slipped by. Ten thousand shades of green and brown and yellow crowded the edge of the sea except where a wooden palisade around the town held them back.

Rumors abounded on this inbound trip aboard Bannor’s Pride, but Alan Robinson dismissed many of them as obviously untrue. Captain Oto claimed that the black clouds creeping towards Chologado were not dangerous unless one spent considerable time under them, but even if that were the case it hardly seemed encouraging for the stationary town itself. It was true, however, that the town Council was desperate to do anything possible to investigate the encroaching cloud and save the town (and their own positions, truth be told) if they could. It was said that they had put together an expedition to journey to the presumed source of cloud, the ruined city-fortress of Madaro-Shanti, but were frantically searching for brave souls to lead the effort.

With Chologadi approaching rapidly, Captain Oto glanced at Ignasio Aurelio de San Christobal Guanahato stationed near the departure gangplank, looking for all the world as if he was expecting an adoring crowd to greet his arrival. In his discussions en route with the strangely confident yet uniquely un-self-aware young man, Oto had wisely not mentioned the significant bonus Ignasio’s father had paid him to ensure this was a one-way trip for the family scion and he wouldn’t change his mind and try to return to Glen Gildor.

As the ship eased alongside the rough but stout wooden docks, Ignasio did indeed see a large crowd gathered awaiting the ship’s arrival with eager anticipation. Only, why did so many have their belongings with them, in handcarts, wagons, or bundled in huge rucksacks? he thought to himself. And small, sniveling children? And why had they brought their livestock? Ignasio was at ease with the adoration of the people, but oxen and goats??

“Hold BACK!” a dock foreman bellowed at the crowd as it tried to surge towards the ship. “Ya can’t get on until the people get off! You want to leave Chologadi, ya need to hold BACK!”

<tag all>

Spoiler: OOC

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For the three characters not on board the ship, feel free to position yourself anywhere else inside or outside the town. You can be at the docks, you can be elsewhere looking for supplies, or you can be gathering info, for instance. However, because you are local, you are each privy to one addition piece of information.

Spoiler: Karan

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You know from your familiarity of the area that a ruined stone road leads to the ruins of Madaro-Shanti, but the jungle has grown past the place where the road begins. Once on the road, idols mark the passage of miles.

Spoiler: Thorik

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The shaman of your village had this warning: “Beware the monkeys in the ruins, they have two souls.”

Spoiler: Niala

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Despite being raised by jaguars, there are things you have learned about the area around the ruins. The monkey-faced, snake-like monsters known as hanu-naga wield powerful magic, but can sometimes be bribed with gifts. The borsin, however, those weird amalgam of ape and antelope, are too stupid to be reasoned with.

[Auranghzeb]

Here we were again, the place of a long lost childhood.

Karan approached the village warily, unconvinced there was anything good to be found there, but his own investigation on the source of the deadly black fog had led him to nothing. And he had mustered all his strength to overcome the awkwardness.

As he approached he saw a ship sailing into port, that intrigued him even more. He didn't talk with anyone in the village since old Hentoe died those years back, but he suspected that by now word had been sent out about the plague that was preying on the jungle.

He crossed the gates. Well aware that many trappers and most wood merchants didn't approve his presence there. But it was them who needed to watch their thoats, not him.

[Niobaran]

Niala

A leopard strolls out of the jungle, and towards Chologadi. The movement is graceful but the animal does not appear to enthusiastic to enter civilization. As it arrives at the outer rim of the settlement, the cat stops, letting a small green-haired creature, it can't be bigger than 3 feet, sliding from the animal's back. The gnome woman presses her head towards the cat's head, and the leopard bows down far enough to respond. A growling meow escapes the throat of the gnome, and a similar answer is given by the leopard.

"I know you don't like it here, people always scream when they see you." the gnome says more to herself than to anyone (let alone the leopard). She nods, and the animal trots of towards the bushes marking the limits of the jungle. Even with the leather armor parts protecting the big cat, it nearly vanishes in its environment.

Again, talking with herself. "So, step one, finding out what they will plan... Where do they usually commune again? That is right, in the tavern... Or, as it appears, right over there..." She squints her eyes as she sees a crowd of people around a few heavy loaded carts. As fast as her little legs carry her, she ventures towards them. Upon arriving, she asks them:

"Hey, good people. Yes, down here. What is happening around here?"

Spoiler: OOC

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I assume that people all around the village started to get their stuff ready, and just imagined a group of people getting ready to go towards the port. I am not assuming I am at the port yet, but could, if desired.

[Stepfan]

Alan hated the smell of the jungle. That was the only thought as he tried to keep his hood pulled around him, trying to keep the rain falling down from soaking him to the bone. Between the irritating smell of wet, rot, sea, and some odd floral hints and the damnable heat he was beginning to regret his choice to come to this gods forsaken pit of the world. It seemed the universe had played a yet another harsh trick on him, perhaps to punish him for some previous sins.

That thought at least made him chuckle, there were plenty of sins he deserved to be punished for after all and as far as punishments went this was an easy burden. He slid down the gang way, pushing his way past into the crowd clamoring for passage onto the vessel already. That captain at least had his work cut out for him, the man had seemed to have almost a lust for coin and Alan was glad to be rid of him, though mostly he admitted he was glad to be off that ship. While his talents lent him the ability to sustain himself on minimal food, they apparently did not shield him from the blight that was seasickness.

He glanced at the sky, scanning the clouds for any hint of the actual menace he had come to find but alas these clouds lacked any hint of true darkness. No, it seemed he would have to venture out into the jungle to get what he wanted. He fingered his coin purse; it was lighter than he would like though that was more due to him hiding most of his coin in the haversack. It would be plenty to purchase jungle supplies and more appropriate attire, hopefully the locals had some kind of cloth that didn’t make a man feel like he was drowning in his own sweat.

Then it was time to find some other “adventurers” who wouldn’t mind venturing into this wilderness. While he certainly could care less if this town lived or died, he had traveled all this way to study these clouds and see how, and if, they were tied into the Shadow Plane. If the price to pay for that knowledge was helping these people survive, he would certainly pay it. Besides, and at this he chuckled again, he had no planned escape rate and it wouldn’t due to die to some trumped up weather system…

[Goby]

Thorik

As requested by the elders of his clan, Thorik had recently returned to Chologadi to seek information. He sought out many of the merchants, explorers, and traders that he had worked with over the years, but those that he could find didn't seem to have much information. Some had packed up and left, or were in the process of doing so, and the rest were just as baffled as Thorik. He was able to pick up some supplies to refill his gear, in anticipation of a possible expedition deep into the jungle, even finding some good deals as many of his merchant contacts were desperate for any business.

"Blast, someone in this town must know something, or be trying to find out. City folk though they are, they can't all be ignorant of the threat to the town." he grumbled to himself as he wandered through the streets, wondering where else he could inquire. Lacking any government connections, he typically did not concern himself with who was leading the town, but perhaps he would have to find out, and see if they were hiring anyone to investigate the dark clouds. Confident in his knowledge of the surrounding jungle, he considered himself one of the best guides for hire to be found in the area.

While he normally preferred to avoid the bustle and larger crowds of the waterfront area, as he roamed the town, eventually he noticed that there was more commotion than normal around the docks. "Now why would a ship be arriving today, of all times? No one has any goods left to export. Perhaps there's someone in charge down that way that would know something."

[A.A.King]

A mystery, dark clouds of death with no known origin and desperate town elders willing to pay anyone to get rid of them. That was all the motivation Cederick needed to make the long seavoyage. He was guaranteed one reward and, if lucky, he would get himself another. The ship had finally arrived. "Lets go Pearl" he said to the yellow-crested cuckatoo that was sitting on the railing in front of us "it is time to find our new employers".

The bird flew onto his shoulder and the pair started making their way of the ship.

[Koral]

Ignasio Fluentio De San Cristobal Guanahato stepped down from the Bannor's Pride into the dock looking around him with infinite curiosity and confidence.
Surprisingly enough, the weather took after the young flamboyant man and following a few days of tropical thunderstorms the clouds gave way, at least partially, and the sun came out to personally greet the new arrival.
He walked down the gangplank breathing in the smells and the sights and the commotion of the docks. The Southern Lands, at last!
Ignoring the gathering crowd, he proceeded gingerly to the busy dock, carefully avoiding puddles of rain water, tar and vomit, heaps of rotten fish, stretched hands of beggars and the storm of people pushing and shoving in the opposite direction, towards the ship he just left.
He dismissed any rumors of this dark cloud as yet another exotic faraway land myth, besides, even Captain Oto said it was not that dangerous! and the man, a descendant of a seamen lineage from the Giant's reef Islands, seemed to be a decent fellow who knew his ways around these parts.
Behind him walked three sailors of the good ship Bannor's Pride (who was this Bannor? He forgot to ask the captain) looking around them with apparent embarrassment and anxiously trying to avoid any familiar sailor's faces. Two of them were walking a step behind and to the sides of their young employer, their hair neatly arranged in a ponytail and right hands resting on their cutlasses (for the lack of proper rapiers or other presentable weapon on board). He practically forced them to practice that on the ship's deck, walking back and forth, exposing them to the mocking laughter of their friends; they were, nevertheless, handsomely paid to act as his entourage and the promise of coin did much to compensate them for any upcoming embarrassment.
The third walked behind them, looking even more puzzled than his friends, as his role was a mystery to him. He was ordered to carry a full set of horse-ware: A blanket (in colors matching Ignasio's clothes), a leather saddle of high quality, harness, reins and stirrups. These were heavy and bulky, and completely obscured his vision, forcing him into the same obstacles the young master was so carefully avoiding.
Ignasio reached a small square, or rather a widening of the street that allowed carts and carriages to load and unload merchandise, supplies and passengers for the docking ships. He looked around for a few minutes until satisfied and then produced a small parchment from a leather tube he was carrying it. He read it carefully for a few minutes and then stood straight and tall, raising both arms high up, fingers stretched forward and produced a surprisingly long high-pitched, high volume ululating sound.
The sailor almost dropped his load, startled by the jump scare, his friends reached for their weapons looking for the imminent threat that never came, few people looked at the fancy dressed youngling acting like a drunken fool (in broad daylight) but somehow the whole thing went largely unnoticed and drowned in the total havoc of the dockside.
After a few seconds which stretched for eternity Ignasio stopped, letting his hands down and looking around him, obviously very pleased with himself. A few minutes passed and nothing happened but then, to the astonishment of all, a small and well groomed pony stepped slowly undisturbed and un-escorted into he yard, walked directly to Ignasio and stood obediently next to his new master. Ignasio nodded at the sailor, who immediately started fitting all the gear pieces to the mount, having finished, he received his payment and was dismissed, sending an evil grin to his friends who were still on duty, he will have a good drink tonight, and a good tale to tell at the Fishhead tavern.
Ignasio observed the horse, refitting and adjusting the saddle for a while and then mounted, rather expertly, and started riding slowly to the main street. An endless smile on his face and the wind gently blowing the feather on his hat, his two puzzled and flea infected bodyguards walking behind him

Spoiler: OOC

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allowed myself a complimentary scroll of Mount for colour purposes, the horse will be long gone by the time the adventure starts so hope nobody minds....

[Mercurion 2]

Niala
"Hey, good people. Yes, down here. What is happening around here?"

Spoiler: OOC

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I assume that people all around the village started to get their stuff ready, and just imagined a group of people getting ready to go towards the port. I am not assuming I am at the port yet, but could, if desired.

At first the gnome received no response as the family she had approached continued to stack odds-and-ends on what was already an overburdened cart. Niala looked at the poor, scraggily donkey hitched to the contrivance and wondered if it would have the strength or heart to haul such a heavy load. Eventually a woman that appeared to be the matriarch noticed Niala after nearly stumbling over her.

“What?” the woman replied, exuding an even mix of distraction and panic. “Do you not know? The muyal kaxan comes! The black cloud! It is time to go. We are late. Late! There will not be room on the ship!” Her cocoa colored hands synched frayed rope across the cart as she picked up a switch to goad on the donkey. “You should flee before there is no time.”

[Mercurion 2]

Captain Oto was off the Pride and down the gangplank with alacrity, corralling the crowd gathered at the docks with outstretched arms each looking as stout as the main beam of his dromond. He began pocketing the coins eagerly offered to him for passage away from the seemingly doomed town.

Somehow, through the sea of people surging towards the ship, one bystander slipped forward, making his way through the crowd like an oiled eel and approached the Captain. He man was thin, with close-cropped dark hair, and had the air of a clerk about him, the impression no doubt reinforced by the small set of spectacles perched on the bridge of his nose and a fresh sheet of parchment in his hand so new that it yet retained its crispness against the jungle humidity. Where most clerks might be expected to flinch back from the thrashing crowd, he merely spared a glance at his parchment and had a few words with Oto. The Captain listened, and between scooping up the coins of desperate townsfolk, made a gesture with his jutting jaw towards Cederick as the latter made his way down the gangplank.

The man made his way though the press of people to meet Cederick as he set foot on the soggy timbers of the dock. “You, sir. Hello! Yes, I am Gilberto Hemlen, and I represent the Council of Chologadi. The proprietor of this ship has indicated that you may be of the sort who would be interested in a proposal. The Council meets tonight on the top floor of the chambers at sunset to discuss a solution to the approaching disturbance. Your attendance would be welcome.”

From his position at the rail awaiting his turn to disembark, Alan overhead the exchange between Gilberto and his fellow passenger, as did Thorik who was standing, unnoticed, not three feet behind the Council representative. The dwarf remembered the Council Hall from previous visits, a three-story affair (very rare here) built on a small rise such that the views from the top floor looked out over the vast green expanse of the Ambicuaria Jungle.

[Auranghzeb]

Karan walked through the empty village, everything in disarray as the murmur of people drew him near the port. He was amazed at the crowd circling the ship.

Something big was going on.

[Goby]

Thorik

"So the town council is working on a plan. I wonder what they want with people from this ship? I guess I'll have to attend that meeting and find out more." Thorik thinks to himself, having overheard the exchange between the council representative and Cederick. He waits until the press of people clears away somewhat, and approaches the newcomer.

"Greetings, visitor. What brings you to Chologadi during these dark times? Are you here to work for the town council?
It appears they're seeking those interested in going out into the jungle."

[Stepfan]

Alan froze, catching notice of the conversations taking place around him. This seemed to be exactly the people he had come looking for. Even the somewhat strange looking dwarf seemed well suited to this pursuit of knowledge. He had noticed the old man with the parrot aboard the ship, but had thought little of him. The other man had seemed equally willing to mutual ignore each other and at the time Alan had appreciated the respite. He did not care for people, and had found that most of them tended to not much care for him either taking him as an odd mage. Those who recognized the mysteries of Shadow tended to have an even more negative reaction, the associations between darkness and foul magics did not tend to lend the practitioners of shadow casting a terribly trusted assumption. Now, watching the interchange beginning he regretted not taking the time to at least learn something about the stranger, but one must like with their mistakes and simply try to adjust where needed.


He faded slightly into the crowd, but made certain to keep an eye on the persons speaking as they excited to boat, depending on the trajectories their conversation took he might find himself introducing himself post haste.

[Niobaran]

At first the gnome received no response as the family she had approached continued to stack odds-and-ends on what was already an overburdened cart. Niala looked at the poor, scraggily donkey hitched to the contrivance and wondered if it would have the strength or heart to haul such a heavy load. Eventually a woman that appeared to be the matriarch noticed Niala after nearly stumbling over her.

“What?” the woman replied, exuding an even mix of distraction and panic. “Do you not know? The muyal kaxan comes! The black cloud! It is time to go. We are late. Late! There will not be room on the ship!” Her cocoa colored hands synched frayed rope across the cart as she picked up a switch to goad on the donkey. “You should flee before there is no time.”

Seeing the poor donkey makes her sad, but she remembered that she was here to make friends, not enemies. She had learned to accept the way that domestic animals were treated years ago, but still, she felt it to be unnatural wherever she saw it.

"The dark cloud, yes, I am aware of it. Is there no one trying to stop it?" She asks. There is no blame in her voice, only curiosity.

[Koral]

Ignasio made his way to the main square slowly riding his new acquired pony. Navigating the city was not hard, all he had to do was to choose the wider or cleaner street once alternatives presented itself. He was somehow disappointed to find Cholodagi to be a city like any other, he expected more of the fabled southern lands: exotic people, tribal dances in the streets, weird animals, foul smelling spices and food and mysterious shops and monuments. With the exception of the foul smells none of the above was apparent. It was a city just like any other, a little poorer, a little less orderly than the average (though that changed as he neared the center square) and with a larger share of non-humans than he got used to. Nothing to write home about, yet.
Captain Oto was kind enough to mention a couple of Inns he himself considered way too expensive to be appropriate: one right on the main square across the city hall and a quieter (and even more expensive) one at the back of the grand cathedral. Ignasio was heading to one of those, his sense of responsibility aiming for the quitter one while every other part of his body navigating to the center of things, to the main square itself.
The official reason for him being here was the promise of establishing a far-reaching office of the Guanahato Cartel, dealing with exquisite merchandise, bought -to-order for the rich and powerful, that was his father's expertise: special spices, wines, fabrics, arts and antiques. anything a rich widow, a young nobleman, a royal astronomer or a famous bard could wish for the cartel could find and supply. The sky was not the limit, only the purse was!
Later on, he will need to get all required permissions, pay the dues, taxes and bribes, rent an office and then start mapping all possible clientele. A visit to the town council was at the top of his to do list but for now, committed to his mission, he decided to review the shops and businesses of town on his way, not those poor stalls and workshops mind you, real shops!
This lasted for a full ten minutes of his ride, after which other, more pressing and interesting things took over his attention: that kid, expertly stealing foodstuff from the stall, a wooden idol of an unknown deity, a friendly three legged dog, that green eyed damsel selling flowers, and that black haired one, and the one by the well….
And so he finally reached the main square which was just like any other except for the very uncommon commotion in front of the town hall and the voices of the few city guards desperately trying to seize control over it. He ignored it for now and, expertly shutting down the last voice of reason within him, stepped into the Golden Rooster Inn and hired the best room available, for a full month.
He took a good two hours to settle in, dismissed his makeshift guards, had a good bath and an expensive drink and wrote a short report which will never be sent to his loving father. He then stepped out to the square making his way to the still besieged town hall determined to be in the middle of whatever was happening there.

[A.A.King]

"Then I shall be glad to attend" Cederick says to the man addressing him before the man moves on. He then waits bit for the crowd to thin so it is easier to walk, but then a dwarf starts talking to him. He looks down and listens. He tries to guess what the the little guy might know, his comment seems to indicate he is at least a little in the know and the man from earlier didn't exactly keep his voice down so it was quite possible they were overheard, so it was best to assume he already knew anyway. "Yes, I am my good sir. Would you be so kind as to show me the way to the counsil? As you may have guessed, my feathered friend and I are new in town."

[Auranghzeb]

Karan ignored the buzz. That at least meant they were aware of the malicious fog, panic among humans was a good sign in general. He tried to remember where was the council hall, any kind of authority would be useful.

He crossed the town and walked in confidently into the council hall.

[Mercurion 2]

Karan had cut across the town square, now largely empty, on his way towards the Council Hall. Only two of the many stalls appeared to be occupied. Across the way, in the least desirable section of the square where the ground sloped down and water and sewage were apt to accumulate, a shriveled old shaman sat in front of three carved wooden idols, each three or four feet tall. Slow-burning sticks extended from their mouths and a thin haze of smoke drifted from the stall. A tattered basket sat in front of the idols for offerings.

Near where the half-orc entered the square was a vendor with a who had a dizzying array of spices laid out in his stall. “The finest spices in all the land, yet at most reasonable prices, most reasonable. Cherry cinnamon, boka boka, vanilla cloves, cocao cloves, all for the Master’s taking,” he called out as Karan passed by. There was a tinge of desperation in the man’s voice. He hoped to sell out his remaining stock, or at least enough to fund his journey away from this doomed place.

[Mercurion 2]

Seeing the poor donkey makes her sad, but she remembered that she was here to make friends, not enemies. She had learned to accept the way that domestic animals were treated years ago, but still, she felt it to be unnatural wherever she saw it.

"The dark cloud, yes, I am aware of it. Is there no one trying to stop it?" She asks. There is no blame in her voice, only curiosity.

“Little! Or less that little. Nothing you might as well say!” the woman answered as she used the switch on the donkey, which strained at it’s harness until the cart slowly creaked into motion. “The Council is going to send Pisco—Pisco!—into the jungle to fight the muyal kaxan,” she shrieked with an edge of hysteria. “We are doomed.”

Niala knew of Pisco, a bit. He promoted himself as a guide of the Ambicuaria for those that needed one, and even had a little open-air shop on Jaguar Square near the Jungle Gate selling items like rope, canteens, mosquito netting and the like. From what she knew, the man had a solid reputation, but hardly seemed to be the heroic type to fend off the black clouds.

[Niobaran]

“Little! Or less that little. Nothing you might as well say!” the woman answered as she used the switch on the donkey, which strained at it’s harness until the cart slowly creaked into motion. “The Council is going to send Pisco—Pisco!—into the jungle to fight the muyal kaxan,” she shrieked with an edge of hysteria. “We are doomed.”

Niala knew of Pisco, a bit. He promoted himself as a guide of the Ambicuaria for those that needed one, and even had a little open-air shop on Jaguar Square near the Jungle Gate selling items like rope, canteens, mosquito netting and the like. From what she knew, the man had a solid reputation, but hardly seemed to be the heroic type to fend off the black clouds.

"Thank you, young lady. And I'd rather not hit the donkey, or he'll have a stroke and collapse, and who is then going to pull your carriage to the port, eh? Believe me, I can see things like that." Without waiting for an answer, she turns around and moves towards this Pisco's store.

[Auranghzeb]

Karan stopped at the mention of Cherry Cinnamon. Flooding memories of his painful childhood in this damned village crossed his mind taking him to a monsoon season afternoon when he was eight or so, Maridosen was just putting a freshly baked cinnamon pie in the window sill, her blonde hair damply stuck to her neck and forehead in the humid air. She was twice Karan's age, she saw the wiry half-orc staring stupidly at her from across the muddy street and smiled.

Karan came back to his senses and bought 10gp worth of cherry cinnamon. He put a fistful in his satchel and marched on to the city hall while squeezing some of the cinnamon close to his nose.

Maridosen...

Her brother though, what an idiot.

[Goby]

Thorik guides Cederick up the hill and towards the town hall, hoping that he can either meet someone that knows him well enough as a guide, or perhaps that they are desperate for any help they can get, so he can gain admittance into the meeting.

As they walk, he sizes up the newcomer, attempting to determine his chances of surviving in the jungle.

"Hope you're ready for a rough journey. Even aside from the dark clouds, the jungle can be unfriendly to those that aren't prepared."

Spoiler: OOC

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I'm ready to move to the meeting, and see what we can learn there.

[Mercurion 2]

Crossing the town back to the north, Niala passed by the Jungle Gate, the massive teak structure carved with elephants, apes, and, most prominently, the jaguars that gave the nearby square its name. She rounded the corner where the leather goods store marked the entrance to Jaguar Square to see that the stone-hard packed dirt of the rectangular area had been turned into a sort of caravanserai. A dozen men and women lounged around, obviously outfitted for an expedition and waiting to go, but for now had that bored-yet-tense air about them as if waiting before a battle.

On the far side, sitting on a crate in the shade under the roof of his shop, she recognized Pisco. He stood out from the others, a hard, weather-worn man of perhaps 40 years, his skin lined and darkened from decades spent under the sun. A bandolier was slung across his chest holding various implements such as bandages, files, small vials, and a scroll tube, and two canteens were strapped on the back of his hips. A vicious-looking machete notched with obsidian teeth was his only visible weapon.

[Stepfan]

Alan continued to follow behind the strange pair, the dwarf and the older man certainly stood out even in the diverse bunch here. What a stroke of luck... he thought as he wove his way around the market, just a moment and I'll be at the heart of this operation. Once we get there I'll try to slip into the meeting and make my presence known when the inevitable call for volunteers starts. And if I have to tell the guards I intend to help to get in that is no problem.

He paused his deliberations for a moment, taking time to pretend to examine a fruit stand to not look to obvious that he was shadowing the other two, then mentally winced as memories of being run out of town after town returned Though I think I shall claim to be just an odd wizard if my profession is inquired after.

[Niobaran]

Crossing the town back to the north, Niala passed by the Jungle Gate, the massive teak structure carved with elephants, apes, and, most prominently, the jaguars that gave the nearby square its name. She rounded the corner where the leather goods store marked the entrance to Jaguar Square to see that the stone-hard packed dirt of the rectangular area had been turned into a sort of caravanserai. A dozen men and women lounged around, obviously outfitted for an expedition and waiting to go, but for now had that bored-yet-tense air about them as if waiting before a battle.

On the far side, sitting on a crate in the shade under the roof of his shop, she recognized Pisco. He stood out from the others, a hard, weather-worn man of perhaps 40 years, his skin lined and darkened from decades spent under the sun. A bandolier was slung across his chest holding various implements such as bandages, files, small vials, and a scroll tube, and two canteens were strapped on the back of his hips. A vicious-looking machete notched with obsidian teeth was his only visible weapon.

Niala approaches Pisco directly. "Eh, Pisco! Will you lead the troops against the black cloud?"

[A.A.King]

"That is certainly good to know" Cederick said to the dwarf "my exotic friend here has some experience with jungle life" he points to the parrot on his shoulder "but I must confess that I myself have not yet had the pleasure of exploring a jungle before. I simply go wherever you can find the most obscure, arcane and interesting phenomena of this world. This black cloud you find yourself surrounded by is a mystery worth solving and I intend to be there when it happens."

As soon as they reach the meeting place, Cederick will enter.

[Mercurion 2]

Ignasio managed to elude the grasp of the small, obsequious—and why wouldn’t he be, seeing as Guanahato was his only guest at the moment, and one who had paid a full month in advance when it seemed the town would be doomed within the fortnight?—innkeeper of the Golden Rooster to emerge in the thick air of Chologadi. Treading the bamboo boardwalk along Peacock Row (the upscale district of the town, if it could be said to have one), he entered the central square at the fashionable end and spied the three-story structure of the Council Hall.

He strolled over to the entrance, only to be beaten there by a half-orc (did he smell of spiced cherries?) who pulled open the doors by their stout, polished wooden handles and entered. Joining him, Ignasio found himself in a large entryway, blessedly shaded from the jungle sun and with a cross-breeze being provided by several strategically placed windows.

Gilberto Hemlen was there waiting in the room, looking up from his spectacles as they entered. “Yes, can I help you hunter?” he asked, taking in Karan. “And you, uh, sir?” he said to Ignasio.

Before they could answer, the door swung open again and a man with a parrot, some sort of mage from the looks of him, entered accompanied by a jungle dwarf. Gilberto nodded to the former. “I see you have found the place, and quickly, too. The Council shall arrive in approximately one hour. Please help yourself to refreshments while you wait.” He indicated a tall wicker table set with a cocoabolo pitcher of scented water and a large plate of various sliced jungle fruits standing amongst several wide chairs.

Spoiler: OOC

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You have a little time before the Council meeting, this is a chance to introduce yourselves to one another, etc.

[Auranghzeb]

Karan wandered inside the building, still holding the Cinnamon in his hand. He saw a flamboyant man, a jungle dwarf and a strange man with a parrot.

He looked at them and gave a growl. The wise ranger reverted to an awkward kid in fron of strangers.

Where is the council. I have things to say

He said in a quiet hissing voice, one of his protruding tusks altered his common, giving him some kind of lisp.

[Koral]

Ignasio made his way out of the Inn and into the main square, it was large though simple enough place, no fancy ivory statues, no impressive cathedral overlooking the open space, no colorful banners of the local Baron, not even a proper fountain featuring a half-naked Nymph!
Instead it seemed to be a place made to accommodate rather mundane day to day needs of the common folks: there were a few groups of merchant stalls, most of them deserted and some showing signs of disrepair, a larfe wooden platform, used for couriers and executions, a simple stone fountain most likely used for watering horses and pack animals and….. that’s it.
The square was lined with several simple shops most of which were either closed or completely dormant. Those were all of the ordinary and very unexciting types: a Barber shop, leatherworks, simple clothes and robes, a smithy (here? A workshop in the main square? What is the world coming to?) several drinking places and several general stores selling all sorts of…. Stuff.
He walked slowly, circling the square instead of cutting through it in order to observe some of the businesses. At least it seems that renting a place here will be cheap enough.
He was almost at the town hall wide stairs when he noticed a place that seems a little different, this one at least tried to stand out, with a large sign stating "Moreli's shop, deliver to order". He stepped in, curious to see what can be ordered and for what prices. He stepped in, adjusting his hat and walked strait to the man behind the counter "Good morning my dear friend, please tell me what does a foreigner needs to do in order to buy something of interest around here?"

Spoiler: OOC:

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For lack of city map I invented the main square and a town hall to boot. I am assuming that this is NOT the meeting place where everybody is heading ?

[Mercurion 2]

OOC: The Council Hall is just off the main square, and since what Ignasio is seeing is clearly very different from what I described it is obvious that he has taken an odd turn and actually ended up in Mane Square, not the Main Square, the former owning its name to the poles carved with figures of lions that prop up each of the merchant's shops.

And, since I already placed Ignasio waiting with the others on the lower floor of the Council Hall we'll assume this is a back post that occurred on his way there.

I'll follow with from posts tomorrow.