Taban looked bloodied. He had open wounds all over his body. His left leg curved out slightly in a way that would leave a limp for many weeks to come. His arms went up as he screamed out his surrender. Those movements always take a minute to soak in, as the team had a few more hits slam into his body. Bugsy rushed up, arms waving. He wanted to help this injured debtor, “can I help you with your wounds my friend.” He was out of spells, but he had skill with medicine, “let me bind those a little.”
A small bag appeared in his hand. The sparkle of gems broke through the fabric of the bag. Arti snatched the bag and staffed it in one quick action. Bugsy not knowing how far they needed to go to raise money. He was ready to head into the wilderness, but knew his companions needed to gather some wealth, “Soooo, do we now rob him too?” Tinkle spoke in his comforting posh voice, “no, we are not criminals.” Bugsy bowed a little, “sorry I was unclear what role we filled in Port N.”
Bugsy’s thoughts and gaze turned to Taban. He was turning to head back to his back breaking work. Bugsy understood why he would gamble if this was his daily life. Bugsy thought this type of work must feel like a prison. His concerns moved back to Taban. He still was unclear how things worked outside the abbey. He thought it was odd watching him walk away, “Taban, did you want to go with us back to K’lahu’s place?”
Fear washed over his face. He was trying to figure out the trap. His wrists ached a little as he wondered if they would display manacles soon, “No…. why would I go with you to her place?” His eyes reached out to Wooman, Arti, and finally burrowed into Bugsy. Everyone else looked at Bugsy in a similar manner. It was unclear what Bugsy wanted.
“Well, if you want to trust that we will deliver the money. That is fine with me.” He paced a little. As a toad he had no neck so when he lowered his head a little in a manner to think, his whole body shifted. His eyes lived on top of his head like tiny hats. Even with his body slightly lowered his eye moved to watch everyone. It was that moment they moved almost independently as they each scanned different parts of the area. “I mean we have the gems. We could just take them.” Each of his companions had confused looks upon their faces. They clearly had no plan to steal them, “but if you trust us, I completely understand.”
Taban had been defeated. He wanted to flee this injustice to his strength and fighting prowess. The seeds of doubt had entered his mind. They were growing. As they grew his fear of this being a trap washed away, “I will go with you.”
They headed back to Kaya’s House of Repose. Bugsy was confused. He could not understand the desire to get a drink and not bring the gems back to K’lahu. A goose of a man came to the table. He almost hopped as he approached the table. His voice quacked out words, “are you Tinkle Tinkerton?” Tinks hat shifted on his head as he nodded yes. A leather bag rested on the hip of the goose. He shifted to address Tink, “I am Volo. Silvane sent me.”
Tinkle looked up. The rest of the group including Taban started to throw questions at Volo. Tink cleared his throat, “Why are you here?” Tinkle had a way with words and a mannerism that spoke of a station above his birth. He might not be noble in birth but his was noble in action. His words flowed like with a grace none of them could copy, “So you have a book for sale. A book of the monsters of the Chult.” Tinkle’s words again flowed like a river, “We are here to stop the curse. You might give us this book and map to help all of us.” He poured on the charm and Volo agreed to give them the map. The book was too valuable to give.
Bugsy worshiped Mystra. She was a goddess of magic. In his years of study, he came to understand that magic was the search for knowledge. Magic the goal, but a goal reached through knowledge and understanding. Bugsy’s words always clear in his mind but clumsy in his voice, “how much for the book?” Volo wanted 50 gold coins for it. He wondered if the book was the same value as armor for the troubles ahead. The book might serve them better than protection, at least in the long run.
Arti’s raccoon face leveled a smiled that always had a flare of excitement within it. She liked the game. It did not matter the game, combat, foraging, cooking, and now acquiring the book, “We have a gem worth 50 gold pieces.” She started to shuffle through their things looking for the bag of gems. Bugsy finally noticed the gems she was pulling from, “Those are not really ours to use.”
Bugsy stood, and as he walked away could hear his companions come to the same conclusion he had said a moment before. He came back with a room key, and drinks for the table. Volo had left by the time he returned but the map now lived, stretched out on the table. Tink pointing to many locations. Volo had told them about the merchants the ran the city. Now Tink reenforced everything he told them. They might find allies in Jessamine and A guide might be found with Jabal. Bugsy spread out a new set of drinks. He sat almost distant from them.
A voice low in tone but with the inflexion of a female reached Bugsy’s ears, “are you a priest, or just like the trapping of one.” Bugsy wanted to be angry at the mire thought of him not being a loyal servant to Mysta, but when he turned to see a beautiful tortoise adorned in the Torm’s regalia staring at him, he calmed. He looked at her deeply. Her glow reached into his soul. As he spoke his slid a chair over for her to sit, “I am a researcher for Mystra. As I understand her better, I understand magic better.” She slid into the chair leaving her shell to the side, and all her symbols of Torm visible. Bugsy felt a connection to her only second to Mystra, “I see you follow Torm. Can I help you in some way?”
She moved in close. Speaking to Bugsy slow and softly. She was not hiding her conversation but the two were so close, and quiet, it was only between them. She told him about her plan to travel to Camp Vengeance. She was hoping for a guide. Bugsy had studied Chult back in the temple and knew that there was a road from Port Nyanzru to the Camp, “not sure you need a guide, there is a road.” He was not sure why he said it as he wanted to go with her. He focused for a moment. He tried to figure out if she was placing him under a spell, or just enchanting.
He could not say yes. Bugsy had companions now and he needed to make sure they were all in, before saying yes, “I must make sure my friends say yes before I can say yes.” She smiled again as she understood. She explained that she had a little time. She had a place across the way at the Thundering Lizard. Bugsy moved in closer. He moved both physically and spiritually closer, “can we move this conversation over to your place for the night.” Her coy smile meant she wanted what he was asking as well. The two stood, and turned to the door, together. As if their minds spoke, but without words he slid his room key over to Arti.
They strolled and almost missed the scream. What looked like an acolyte was surrounded by undead. This was said to be safe from the chaos of the dead, but the curse was changing all that. Bugsy ran forward, acting with a bravery he normally did not feel, “get my friends.” She went back to get his companions, as Bugsy moved forward throwing poison at the undead, “Disengage and come my direction.” Bugsy’s attacks were doing nothing, but his friends arrived to kill or rekill the dead. The Acolyte dropped in the fight, but Undril was able to save him. Her power was true and pure. Bugsy looked around trying to find Taban and what had happened to him.