Quoted By:
You are Rutabaiga Paine, a native of Amn who grew up in the streets of Athkatla. Your father, a cat burglar unaffiliated with any guild, trained you in the art of thievery before he died under mysterious circumstances when you were still young. Though he had ties with House Selemchant and had amassed considerable wealth, you were never able to uncover where he hid it. Left to fend for yourself, you eventually found work under Lady Selemchant’s service.
After weeks of travel across the Trackless Sea, your ship finally docks at Port Nyanzaru. The further south you sailed, the hotter and more oppressive the weather became. The journey itself wasn't dull, thanks to Orlin Goldheart, the charismatic bard, who kept the team entertained with tales from his travels and soothing melodies from his handpan drum. Your other companions on this mission are Freya Frostgaze, a Sossarhim barbarian from the Cold Lands; Nergui, a quick-tempered Tuigan ranger from the Hordelands; Bei Xixi, a wizard from Shou Lung; and Victoria Blackburn, a priestess from another world called Earth, who worships Christ, a deity unknown in Faerûn.
As your ship enters the harbor of Port Nyanzaru, you're greeted by a sweltering, humid climate that makes Freya visibly uncomfortable. The captain advises you to stay within the city due to two plagues currently ravaging Chult and warns against venturing into the jungle, which teems with disease and dangerous creatures. After you disembark, you’re greeted by the sounds and smells of the harbor: creaking ropes, rolling barrels, the scent of tropical fruits mingled with fish, tar, and canvas.
While your companions take the horses to the stable, you survey your surroundings. The buildings are painted in blues, greens, and oranges, adorned with flowers and vines. The native Chultans have a distinct appearance: dark-skinned, with wide noses, thick lips, tattooed foreheads, and colorful clothing with long scarves wrapped around their heads. Most are slaves, marked by ankle cuffs, but one woman stands out. She approaches you, free of tattoos and chains.
"Hello, my lady, I’m Wadizi," she greets you in a thick accent. "You’re new around here, yes?"
"Yes. I’m a traveler from Amn," you reply, aware that blending in will be impossible as a pale-skinned outsider in this foreign land.
"Welcome to Chult! If you’d like to try some tej, I can take you to a nice bar."
"What’s tej?" you ask.
"It’s our local liquor, made from honey and buckthorn. If you're new to Chult, you should definitely try it."
Following Wadizi might be a good opportunity to gather local information. Also, Lady Selemchant has given you a letter of recommendation to meet Zhanthi, one of the city's rulers, along with 100 gold coins for expenses. Beyond that, you're on your own to complete the mission.
