Charles Rampant
Explorer
I'm only just starting chapter two, but one interesting thing I noticed was the location of the baths in the Merchant Prince's Villa; they're located in the public sitting rooms of the apartments, rather than hidden in special closets like modern day houses. This suggests that casual nudity is common in Chultan society; when it notes that the merchant prince might greet the players in the baths to indicate friendship and familiarity, should we imagine that everyone strips off first? I think that makes more sense than assuming the Chultans have invented bikinis.
I mention this for two reasons. Firstly, I'm deeply immature. But more usefully, this can be an excellent way of highlighting real cultural differences between Chult and the North (i.e. the Sword Coast, effectively the Western culture of this setting). Describing things (language, art, plants) differently can only get you so far in emphasising just how far from home the players are. Having them suddenly expected to strip naked to have a conversation with a local authority figure will be memorable, if something to carefully judge for player discomfort.
Also, it'll be funny for the inevitable "But I never take my armour off!" responses. Which does lead to another benefit - if you refrain from Sudden Assassin Attacks while they're in the meeting, you can set the precedent that taking off armour doesn't always lead to attacking the characters while they are vulnerable, which I think is helpful because then you can earn the trust of the players to have 'un-armoured character' scenes in the future.
I mention this for two reasons. Firstly, I'm deeply immature. But more usefully, this can be an excellent way of highlighting real cultural differences between Chult and the North (i.e. the Sword Coast, effectively the Western culture of this setting). Describing things (language, art, plants) differently can only get you so far in emphasising just how far from home the players are. Having them suddenly expected to strip naked to have a conversation with a local authority figure will be memorable, if something to carefully judge for player discomfort.
Also, it'll be funny for the inevitable "But I never take my armour off!" responses. Which does lead to another benefit - if you refrain from Sudden Assassin Attacks while they're in the meeting, you can set the precedent that taking off armour doesn't always lead to attacking the characters while they are vulnerable, which I think is helpful because then you can earn the trust of the players to have 'un-armoured character' scenes in the future.