Now that the rain has subsided, the group eyes the sheer cliff face of Mbala and decides to try a path of switchbacks to ascend the plateau. As they ascend the path, the group hears cries for help. They cautiously advance and investigate the cries, wary of an ambush. They discover a Chultan woman with fading yellow eyes, pinned beneath a fallen boulder. As the list bit of life escapes her, Sindy and Goomy do what they can to ease her passing. In return, she utters, “and the meat shows mercy to the butcher… Unto you I grant this mercy, do not trust Ras Nsi.”
The group finishes the climb to the top of Mbala, passing through what was once a large doorway partially blocked by heaps of bleached, human skulls. Atop the plateau are the barren ruins of what was once a small city. The group looked out over the jungle from the Mbala vista and spied a few points of interest: a floating earth mote many miles to the southeast, what appears to be shipwreck among the jungle canopy far to the south, and a stone structure (perhaps Orolunga?) rising above the jungle to the west.
The group combs through the ruins toward a small hut among a boulder field in the southwest of the plateau, where they meet an impossibly old woman who says the villagers once called her Nanny Pu’pu. The group offers their services, and Nanny Pu’pu asks that they bring justice to those who killed her sister. In return: she will tell them of Orolunga and Ras Nsi and cook them fresh lizard.
The group heads to the southern lip of the plateau, where Nanny Pu’pu last saw her sister alive. The find a cave on the cliff face, and climb down to explore. Within are four people speaking a language unknown. Sin is able to make contact with the strangers, and she discovers that they are far from home, afraid, and confused, and looking for a way back home. After the group decides that the strangers mean no hostile intent, they introduce themselves and help them (Daphne, a gith, Stenn, who appears like a living suit of armor, Crow? whose features are obscured by a burlap sack, and a timid, feral looking man the group now knows only as Cat) climb out of the cave.
As the group makes their way back through the ruins, Daphne points out where her group arrived. Doz says it looks like they fell from the sky and crushed Nanny Pu’pu’s sister to death. Daphne appears to confirm this, and that they then fled from the terror folk, taking refuge in the cave.
Nearby, the group passes the only other intact structure among the ruins: a cistern. As they discuss whether to ignore it, ask Nanny Pu’pu about the cistern, or explore it. Sindy and Doz decide to toss Simon into the murky water. Tune in next time to watch Ryan roll up a new character!
Simon and Flavius explore the cistern to find a small cache of treasure in what appears to be a sack made of human skin. Within, a scroll of comprehend languages gives the group an opportunity to better communicate with Daphne and her companions. The group recovers the remains of Nanny Pu’pu’s sister, and learn of her fate from the travelers: attempting to travel across the planes, Daphne and her companions ended up here, on Chult, and their violent arrival caused a building to fall on Nanny Pu’pu’s sister. Confused, they were set upon by winged lizard creatures (perhaps Pterafolk)? They fled to a nearby cave where they took shelter. Now knowing that her sister was killed by these travelers, Nanny Pu’pu demands a debt be paid. A life for a life. Nanny Pu’pu can call on old magicks, older than the Weave, she claims, to bring her sister back, if she is offered a spirit in return.
The group must decide: what will they do next?
The dauntless heroes decide to brutally assault a helpless old woman, set fire to her home, and dig up the remains of her recently departed sister.
The melee finally comes to an end as the group’s muscle, Sindyrza, shoves their towering foe into the burning hut.
Daphne thanks the group, and offers them three small glass vials which can be used to teleport the party during a storm.