Page 26 - Tomb of Annihilation

knows well, and others he claims to know well), and to
promote his latest work. Characters are most likely to
encounter Volo in one of the city's inns or taverns, or in
a merchant prince's villa.
Volo is a font of information, but not everything he
says is true, despite his hearty avowals of accuracy.
He won't venture outside Port Nyanzaru under any cir-
cumstances.
If the characters buy a copy of Vol o's book (50 gp for
a durable hardcover edition), they can put it to use. Any
time they want to know lore about a particular monster
described in the book, give them useful tidbits from
Vo/o's Guide to Monsters. Do not impart game statistics,
since such information would not be available in-world.
If this reference is unavailable, use the information in
appendixD.

MERCHANT PRINCES
Seven merchant princes rule Port Nyanzaru, each one
with an equal vote in matters of state. All are Chul-
tan. Their single qualification is that they're the seven
richest people in the city. Their seat of governance is
Goldenthrone, an old, regal Amnian palace overlooking
the bay. A merchant prince who retires can yield his or
her position to a family member or someone else of im-
mense wealth agreed on by the majority.
The merchant princes surround themselves with loyal
family and underlings, but they also employ foreign mer-
cenaries both as city guards and as personal guards.
Most of these mercenaries are Zhen ts, and where one MAGIC SHIELDS AND WEA PON S FOR SALE
finds the Zhentarim, one can also find Harper spies.
Item Ekene-Afa's Price
The merchant princes have specific monopolies on all
merchandise sold in the city. Characters in need of gear +1 ammunition (per piece) 50 gp
or supplies must deal through these individuals directly +1 shield, wooden 450 gp
or their consortiums indirectly. The only alternative is to +1 dagger or +7 yklwa (see page 32) 500 gp
resort to the black markets in Malar's Throat or Tiryki
1
Anchorage. lFAN T A LR0 A
Deals in beasts and beast training
EKENE-AFA
Ifan Talro'a (NE male Chultan human noble) is a greedy,
Deals in weapons, shields, traveling gear, rain catchers,
conniving man supported by influential and dangerous
saddles, wagons, and canoes
friends among the Zhentarim. He is jealous ofWakanga
Ekene-Afa (LG female Chultan human gladiator) won O'tamu's magical power and Ekene-Afa's reputation
numerous gladiatorial contests in Port Nyanzaru's from the arena. Talro'a sells animals that can be trained
arena before she invested her winnings into financing as mounts or pets, including dinosaurs and flying mon-
her first trade deals. She is a legend among the common keys. The yuan-ti of Omu secretly pay Talro'a to warn
rabble who grew up watching her battles. Her husband, them if treasure hunters are headed south into the deep
Kura, is a painter, and they have twin teenage sons jungle. He uses flying snakes as messengers. Talro'a
named Soshen and Tiryk. Soshen is a city guard, and doesn't know for certain that the messages go to yuan-ti,
Tiryk is a popular dinosaur racer. Both were named af- but he strongly suspects it.
ter Chultan rivers. Han bas no family and no close relationships. He is
Ekene-Afa sells nonmagical weapons and shields of naturally distrustful of everyone.
every kind, but most of her inventory consists of flint Buying Beasts. !fan Talro'a employs dozens of mer-
daggers, yklwas with wooden shafts and obsidian tips chants throughout Port Nyanzaru who not only serve as
(see "Buying a Special Item," page 31), and shields his spies but also sell domesticated beasts that can be
made of wooden frames with layers of reptile hide used as companions, mounts, or pack animals. Flying
stretched over them. Ekene-Afa pays Wakanga O'tamu snakes trained as messengers are popular with the
to place permanent enchantments on a select few of Zhentarim, and Talro'a sells them to no one else.
these items, which she sells at the prices listed in the The Beasts for Sale table lists the creatures available
Magic Shields and Weapons for Sale table. for purchase in Port Nyanzaru. Statistics for the hadro-
saurus, the deinonychus, and the flying monkey appear
in appendix D. See the Monster Manual for all others.

CHAPTER 1 I :PORT NYANZA-RU