Redoubted some the group wrestled who would be a suitable guide and set about getting supplies and equipment. To help with carrying large amounts of supplies and rations, they purchased two triceratops. As they discussed who would serve as a useful guide among many potential candidates, in the end they were approached by Eku, a Chultan female that said she would pay the penalty fee to Jobal herself. She also said that she knew the location of the lost city, Omu. However she requested the party help her with a task first.
She demanded they help her extract revenge and kill a hag. Eku said that the evil fiend disguised herself as an old woman and resided in the remnants of a village deep within the Chult jungles. The company decided the opportunity to get a more direct route to Omu would be worth the side trip to slay the creature.
To quicken the journey, the party secured the services of Captain Kellet Bene and the Pink Pearl. The captain agreed that for a fair wage she would take the group along the southwest coast to the base of the Kobold Mountains. For the most part the trip was without incident. Yet near the last leg they were pursued by pirates and made the decision to lighten the ship’s load by discarding a sizable amount of rations. Their sacrifice for reducing weight worked and the Pink Pearl was easily able to outdistance her pursuers.
Over a week at sea, they disembarked from the ship and made their way over the Kobold Mountains. The jungles were had going, but they were able to make slow, steady progress to the village Eku wanted to visit. After setting camp one evening, in the quiet of the jungle night, the group heard distant, booming steps that seemed to be drawing closer to their direction...
