TOA: Session 1

Welcome to Chult

Syndra has learned through the Harpers that the death curse is being caused by something called the ‘Soulmonger’ and that is it is somewhere in Chult; a massive unexplored jungle region far to the south.

After some shopping and inventory management in Baldur’s Gate, the party meets with Syndra Silvane about a task that she would like them to complete. They learn that a death curse is affecting the world. It is a wasting disease affecting anyone who has been raised from the dead. Victims get thinner and weaker each day. Efforts to raise anyone from the dead no longer work under the effects of this death curse.

The party is asked to go to Chult and try to learn more about this Soulmonger and stop the death curse before she succumbs to its effects and dies(again). If they succeed, she offers each party member a rare or uncommon magic item of their choice[…with DM approval ;)]

The party agrees and Syndra teleports them to Port Nyanzaru in the north of Chult. There they meet the port master Zindar, a half gold dragon who directs them find a guide from among the ones he points out on the ‘guide message board’ near the harbor master’s office. (coincidentally, someone can ALSO become a half dragon through a ritual performed while bathing in dragon blood. ‘Sex’ is probably the more common cause half-dragon-ness though) Syndra leaves them to prepare for their quest, telling them that she will be staying with the merchant prince Wakanga O’Tamu in the Merchant Ward.

Reviewing the available guides and after much deliberation, they decide upon Azaka Stormfang, an experienced (licensed) guide who would also like the party to help her regain a mask that was stolen by Pterafolk and nest at a place called Firefinger. If the party succeeds in this quest, Azaka will waive her 5 gp/day fee.

On the way to the inn, horns blare throughout the city indicating a wave of undead have emerged from the jungle and are attacking the city’s outskirts that are outside the fortifying wall. A group of people were trapped in a church outside the wall so the group heroically came to the their rescue; attack a group of skeletons, zombies, and a ghoul to free them. This drew the notice of one of the city guards who gave the party a token to meet with one of the city’s merchant princes, Jessamine.

Finally at the Inn, the party met with their guide Azaka and settled on arrangements for their expedition into the jungle.

Other random information that was learned and/or things that citizens of this world would know:

• Chult History: 100 years ago a fallen paladin, Ras Nsi, in the now-lost Chultian city of Mezro, raised an army of undead to try and take over the world. It didn’t work out and he disappeared, leaving his undead army to fend for themselves. As a result, a majority of the inner areas of Chult are unexplored and overrun by undead. (no the death curse is not affecting the undead… based on the name, ‘Soulmonger’ probably only works on ‘souls’)
• Chult is hot and humid all the time. Weather is ~95F during the day and 75F at night. It rains almost at least once every day (even if only for an hour in the afternoon)
• Additional Common races in Chult:
  • Aarakocra: Good bird folk. Intelligent.
  • Pterafolk: Bad pterodactyl-like people. Primitive.
  • Tabaxi: Cat people. Were historically slaves in Chult. Are now fee, but often very poor.
• Port Nyanzaru is the only civilized city in Chult.
• Dinosaurs are common in Chult and are used as beasts of burden within Port Nyanzaru. They are even used in races for betting.
• Port Nyanzaru is ruled by a group of seven ‘Merchant Princes’. The qualifications for the merchant princes is simply that they are the seven richest people in Port Nyanzaru. Their alignments vary wildly.

Things to do:

• Meet with Jessamine the merchant prince
• See dinosaur races
• Finish buying any supplies. Water catchers and bug repellent have been recommended.
• Try and learn more about Chult and the Soulmonger so the party has an idea of where to focus their search.
• Meet with Syndra and Wakanga before leaving
• Go to Firefinger and get dat mask