Session Number: 1
Players: Ojike, Zelldeb, Baiz, Kermit, Talolan
Dungeon Master: Tundrra
Key: Player Character, Non-Player Character, Place, Item/Object
Notes complied by L. Barten of Waterdeep
Date: 10th day of Uktar, 1491
I was summoned to Castle Waterdeep to meet in the private study of one of the Masked Lords, the same Masked Lord who handled our arrangements after the Heroes of Phandalin returned Wave, Whelm and The Blackrazor to Waterdeep after their theft by the Wizard Keraptis in White Plume Mountain."For the past several days, the talk of the streets and taverns has all been about the so-called death curse: a wasting disease afflicting everyone who’s ever been raised from the dead. Victims grow thinner and weaker each day, slowly but steadily sliding toward the death they once denied. When they finally succumb, they can’t be raised — and neither can anyone else, regardless of whether they’ve ever received that miracle in the past. Temples and scholars of divine magic are at a loss to explain a curse that has affected the entire region, and possibly the entire world."
Upon entering the chamber, I was introduced to an Elven Cleric of Kelemvor, God of Death and Judgement, by the name of Teagan. He was pale and gaunt looking, which is not entirely unusual for a member of his order.
The Masked Lord, a woman, explained that the Death Curse had afflicted her, and that she was wasting away. She directed us to Chult, where she believed an object called the "Soulmonger" was hidden, and that destroying or capturing this object could end the curse.
When asking if only the two of us would be undertaking the quest, another elf, this one a Shadar-Kai, emerged from the shadows. He spoke in a hurried whisper, and said his name was Zaan. He would serve as our tracker in the jungles of Chult. Which are said to be wild, untamed, unmapped, and filled with undead and other monstrosities.
When asked about travel, the Masked Lord advised that an apprentice of Blackstaff Tower, would Teleport us to Chult, and we waited for them.
Shortly thereafter two deep gnomes entered the study. One appeared to be a wizard, the other seemed more... sly. The wizard handed the other a bundle of coins (50gp). I learned that the wizard is Jilto, and his companion is Zildur.
The Lord took off her mask, removing all pretense, and her face and curse were revealed to us all. She said that her name is Syndra Silvane. She advised us to seek out Wakanga O'tamu in Port Nyanzaru. He is one of the seven merchant princes who run that city and he will be able to assist us on our mission. As the others bickered about rewards and payment, I returned Lady Silvane's mask to her.
Jilto teleported us to the docks. The city is quite colorful and vibrant. But most amazing were the giant lizards; "Children of Ubtao" is what the Harbormaster, Zindar, a golden half-dragon, called them. Ubtao is, apparently, a God of Chult.
Zindar gave us the general lay of the land and told us where Prince O'tamu's house could be found. On our way there we passed a Temple of Gond, and a Temple of Sune and her ridiculous followers. When we finally saw a Temple of Savras, we spotted the Merchant Prince's villa, and made our way there.
The guards stationed outside the house did not start when a loud sound went off elsewhere in the city, like a gigantic horn blast. We inquired about the Merchant Prince but were turned away; he was apparently at a place called Goldenthrone. We headed in that direction, skirting around a large crowd of people that had gathered.
Jilto and myself were nearly crushed! Apparently the people of Chult race these "Children of Ubtao" through the streets of the city. When the racers passed, we made our way toward Goldenthrone. When arriving we discovered that the next race would be between Prince O'tamu and another of the Merchant Princes, a woman named Kwayothé.
Apparently all of Prince O'tamu's riders had taken ill; he suspects they were poisoned by Prince Kwayothé and before we could object, the five of us were pressed into racing on these Children of Ubtao ourselves. The race was quite exhilarating and my strategy of not taking any unnecessary risks paid off, as I crossed the finish line first, which pleased Prince O'tamu and secured our audience with him.