Session 28: Welcome to the Jungle

General Summary

Session Recap: Into the Deep

The party awoke bleary-eyed at The Coral Fang, nursing bruises, cigarette burns, and in Corrin’s case, a very broken nose — courtesy of their newly-invented drunken game, "Burnie Punchies." (The rules, it seems, remain a mystery.)   Speaking with the tavern owner, Jekkari Thorne, the party learned of his disdain for Chief Ara’ka — calling him a coward hiding behind religion, while true island spirit meant courage, kindness, and hospitality.   Before Ara'ka could arrive to force them off TonTon, the party made a swift decision: they gathered their map and set out toward the caves of the Hungering Deep, hoping not for a fight, but to find a path to peace with the once-great protector.   An Unexpected Arrival
Midway through the jungle, a man literally fell from the sky — a victim of a botched teleportation spell. Introducing himself as Loïc Lemieux, a retired detective, he revealed he had been tracking the party following a cryptic message sent by Keyes.   Though his sudden appearance raised eyebrows, it was Loïc’s awkward declaration of "I'm not a predator" (to which Corrin replied, "No one said you were") that shattered the tension into laughter, cementing his place among the group.   Other Happenings:
Mina explained the wonders of HellPhones, sparking Loïc’s fascination.   Mina immediately called her mother to order a new one — not for Loïc directly, but for Kolme, letting Loïc inherit the hand-me-down.   Kolme continues his enthusiastic rise as a Sinstergram influencer, passionately pursuing content creation.   Loïc, upon hearing of Keyes' death, split the black mourning band on his arm into two — honoring both Makepeace and Keyes.   Kolme questioned whether Loïc was the elusive “Woman with Hair.”   In the Jungle
The party encountered a troop of Sacred White-Faced Monkeys, mischievous thieves eager to grab their gear. In true adventurer fashion, the party absolutely unleashed on them — Chill Touch, Eldritch Blast, and Thunderclap raining down. Only one monkey survived — thanks to Corrin’s strategic deployment of a banana.   Along the way:   Nazjad taught the group that "kicking logs" is a sly euphemism for farting.   Nazjad also announced a rebranding: he is now a Curated Antiques Dealer, not a tomb robber.   Mina casually revealed she is the majority owner of Sinstergram, explaining her massive influence.   Fame and New Friends
Learning that the party was already minor celebrities, Nazjad demanded press coverage. Mina dispatched a message to her press secretary, requesting a feature article from renowned jungle correspondent Trillwyn "Trill" Vexleaf — hopefully putting Nazjad in the spotlight he so clearly craves.   Night in the Jungle
The party camped overnight. Though they saw little during the night, the trail of blood in the morning hinted at large creatures — perhaps even greater threats locked in combat nearby.   The Descent Begins
At last, they reached the cave entrance. After solving a clever shape puzzle to unlock the way forward, they chose the bioluminescent path, lit by glowing mussels clinging to brine-slick walls.   Soon, the cave began to flood with water, forcing the party to adapt:   Mina shapechanged into an aquatic form.   Kolme reveled in the water naturally.   Nazjad, Loïc, and Corrin drank Water Breathing potions.   They descended into the depths, the walls narrowing dangerously — sharp rocks slicing the narrow channels.   As the party navigated the danger:   Nazjad nicked his ankle, the scent of blood immediately drawing the attention of a school of writhing giant loaches.   Mina reacted instantly — a crackling bolt of pink energy firing from her hands as she attacked the nearest loach.