work on a tunnel that is being mined for the precious gems.
There are 40 albino dwarves operating the mine. They are lead by a dwarven cleric who has several acolytes. They keep their brothers spiritually and physically healthy.
When the PCs come upon this area, read or paraphrase the following:
The grasses have been tramped down in this large clearing, and small footprints are visible in the damp ground. Here and there are dinosaur tracks and what looks like the marks left from wheels. The foliage on the edges of the clearing is thick, practically obscuring the large rocks. Through the broad leaves you see the beginning of a hill. Faint sounds drift across the scene. Odd sounds, metallic.
The entrance to the mine is hidden behind carefully-tended bushes. The dwarves do not want visitors, nor do they want their opera- tion discovered. The mining sounds are com- ing from underground, in the tunnel where the dwarves and goblins are working. As the mine gets older, and the tunnel deeper, no sounds will be heard above ground.
PCs with the nonweapon tracking profi- ciency can identify the tracks as belonging to goblins, dwarves, and to large dinosaurs simi- lar to the one they saw in the sink hole earlier. A successful tracking proficiency check shows the footprints lead to a massive bush. The sound of metal against rock is louder here, and bits of rock can be seen around the bush. PCs who part the bush come face-to-face with a pair of albino dwarven sentries, who sound the alarm and demand the PCs identify themselves. The dwarves will not attack unless they are threatened. In addition, if a few days have passed since the PCs aided the pair of
dwarves in rescuing their monoclonius, those dwarves will vouch for the PCs as good-inten- tioned and honorable. In this instance, or if the PCs prove they mean no harm, they are quickly invited inside. The dwarves do not want any nearby ptera-men or goblin patrols seeing travelers talking to bushes.
The PCs will be lead to one of the dwarven living chambers, where characters without irfravision will find it impossible to see. The dwarves will not allow the PCs deeper in the mine.
The use of lanterns and light spells is for- bidden, and any PCs using them will be chas- tised and looked down upon. The dwarven leader demands they explain how they found the mine. He wants the PCs to promise they will not give away the location, nor will they come back. That business out of the way, he quizzes them about activities above ground, the strength of any nearby goblin communi- ties, and the location of ptera-men. If the PCs have not yet encountered the ptera-men, the leader describes them as tall lizard men that do not have tails.
If the PCs came from the goblin village and are weaponless, the dwarves provide each PC with a pick or spear for defense. These weap- ons are not the diamond-edged weapons used by the dwarves. However, the PCs can acquire these items by trading. See the information presented on the albino dwarves in the front section of this book. If the PCs have magic, gold, or other items for trade, the dwarves will barter with value-for-value in emerald shards and cut gems.
If pressed or questioned thoroughly the albino dwarves grudgingly explain they mine emeralds, which are sought after by spellcast- ers and merchants. They trade for weapons, wine, ale, magic weapons, and magic items. They are especially fond of decanters of end- less water, even though the decanters do not always function for them. They work with the Kuro Batiri in the neighboring village. It is a
Heart of the Jungle
cautions relationship, with the dwarves not trusting the emerald-skinned men. Still, the goblins are good workers, and so far the rela- tionship has worked.
The dwarves know well the tales of the heart of the jungle. In fact, the dwarven leader claims he mined the stone years ago. If the PCs ask about the heart, read the following:
The old albino dwarf rubs his long beard, twirls the end in a white, stubby fin- ger, and closes his eyes. The heart. Yes, I know the heart. I mined it, cut it. Bigger than a dwarfs fist, it is, and more brilliant than the cursed Chult sun. It was seventy years ago I cut it. Seventy years ago I tried
to sell it to a rich merchant from a place called Sembia. It was a rough trip to the Tabaxi village, where I was to meet the merchant. I dont like the light, and travel- ing above ground was taxing. Still, I knew the gem would fetch a price like no other, so I went.
The merchant was awed, as were all the Tabaxand then the goblins streamed in, surprising and terrorizing us all. I lived, as did half the Tabaxi. The merchant died. The gem was taken.
I hear the goblins still have the heart. Where, I couldnt say. I dont care. Gems that large only bring about death and court evil.