A2: Up a River without a Guide

1 May (Mirtal): We are introduced to the merchant Jobal who is apparently the 'pimp' for the jungle guides within the city. Each guide offers his or her strength and knowledge of specific regions in the outlying jungle. 

Azaka Stormfang, one such guide, wanting payment upfront unless we aid her in her quest, "Evil Pterafolk atop Firefinger stole a lion-mask from me. Help me retrieve it and I'll waive the guide fees." But we decline, uncertain, due to condescending remarks of others. Time will tell who tells the truth.

Each condescending of the other guides, "She has yet to return with the party that hired her." "They are crooks; soon slit your throats in your sleep." But after interviewing a few, we conclude, “5 gold a day just to guide?! I think we can do without.” Thus we travel to the 'Red Bazaar' to shop for our own gear: tents and netting and mosquito repellent along with rations to pile into our canoes.

3 May: We have a vague idea of were we are going, in search of Vorn and the amulet Wakunga tasked us to find. Down the River Soshenstar past Camps Righteous and Vengeance then inland to the north-northwest. We lug our canoes to the river mouth and set off. The chatter of birds, hum of insects, crash of animals in the trees (foraging wild boars), buzz of mosquitoes is unending...like Daisee's constant conversation of anticipation what's around the next river-bend.

4 May: The oppressive heat of the jungle soon has Sudieman shedding his armor, "Hopefully I'll have time to put if on before major combat." An alligator attack threatens to sink a canoe but we fight if off. At least our armorless cleric was drowned in his heavy armor. Diero makes repairs to the canoe per his sailor skills.

6 May: We come upon more canoes heading our way. Five wilderness specialists wearing the clasp of the Emerald Enclave. They wish us well, "Be sure to gather wild-root; brewed, it can rid you of the poisoned condition." Another night along the shores invites skeletons into our camp.

9 May (Mirtal): Days later we pull our canoes ashore along a crumbling pier. Wooden canoes damaged beyond repair. Tents torn and sundered, abandoned long ago. Camp Righteous. A stone temple of sort rises above the hillside; what looks like an alligator riding the back of a sitting man. An entrance carved between its legs. Daisee already walking toward it, “We’ve been sitting in that wet canoe all day. I’m ready to explore.”

A stone temple of sort rises above the hillside; what looks like an alligator riding the back of a sitting man. An entrance carved between its legs. Daisee already walking toward it, “We’ve been sitting in that wet canoe all day. I’m ready to explore.”

The first opportunity for the group to showcase their individual skills. Kevar cast light as we enter (23ft ceiling, 40ft long hallway). Daisee and Dyxon in search of traps…not so well. The kinder catching her balance on the pit edge; the halfling beginning to fall but Kevar at his back manages to grab his collar just in time. “Careful! Remember the ‘dead curse’.”  We inch further into the structure coming upon colored tile create a maze upon the floor. Kevar smashes one then another soon seeing a pattern 2434 to cross. Down a ramp stands a set of double-doors inlaid with its own mazed diagram.

Kevar and Diero step forward as the others stay back; Daisee in protest. The wizard tracing the maze with his staff when a thunderous BOOM echoes throughout the passage, knocking all on their backs. Kevar and Diero slightly wounded; Dyxon almost knocked upon the floor maze and threat of another breakthru. Another attempt has equal results.

We retreat to the outside licking our wounds, but confront goblins stacked as if a totem pole. Their threatening words silenced with swords and monk fists. Daisee rewards herself, plucking a handpainted golbin mask she now wears. 

During night watch, we are surprised by rock-lobster creatures (human faces) who want us to chase away a foul beast (giant lizard) that has attacked them.

10 May (Mirtal): Hear crunching. Dyxon+Daisee sneak up finding red/green creature eating a rock-lobster (Aldoni). Dyxon climbs to lasso its mouth while Dazee shoots sling bullet. Creature evades Diero’s ‘Entangle’ spell. Kevar spells it. Dazee bit on shoulder before we finally kill it. We behead it, bringing back as trophy for the original rock-lobsters who live underground. Receive 2 hooded lanterns (with oil) as reward.

12 May (Mirtal): Torrential rain. As we tie canoes down, Kevar attacked by assassin vine. We are able to cut him free then hide out in cave. While inside, Dazee attacked by snake that dropped from ceiling. Grappled and bit on same shoulder. After killing it, Dazee took the snake skin as trophy.

Morning: find dead body snagged on our canoes. Broken legs and back, pummeled by storm. Helmet has ‘Flaming Fist’ symbol.

14 May (Mirtal)-Camp Vengeance: Charred bodies and flies outside. The camp ringed by pointed stakes, wooden ramparts and 4 watch towers; the guards wary of us. Tell how attacked by beasts and undead during the night. We mention the body washed down river, offering his helmet. Their commander Niles welcomes us, “Mastafu; he was sick and determined to seek help back in Nyanzaru. So cleric, do you know how to cure this wasting disease they call ‘Mad-Monkey-Fever’? We heard there is a Yucka beetle that can be ground-up for the cure. But we have too few able-bodied men to search and gather.”

We can only offer to be on-the-lookout for such beetles. Sudieman does his best to aid them before we depart. Groans and curses follow our departure; the sick assuming we’ve abandoned them.