The group is searching for those responsible for stealing items of value and magic from the travelers and residents of Port Lyalee.  Items were being smuggled out in magically shrunken form, tucked into small bottles and the bottles being in casks of valuable wine sold by the Belorn's Brewing Company.  There are three islands within a day or so's sail of Port Lyalee where wine from Belorn's was sold:

Greenstalk Island, a mountainous island that grows and exports exotic woods, spices, and herbs, but imports much of its food

Sanding Island, known for its skilled boatsmiths who repair fishing and cargo vessels (oftentimes sending out smaller boats with repair workers after heavy storms to look for vessels in distress), and are also expert salvagers due to the currents that bring wrecks to their shores

Jeweled Island, known for its exceptional feathercraft and fibercrafts from its wealth of birds and sea plants

The ships bearing Belorn's wines also make landfall in the port of Gajin, on the mainland, about a week's sail from Port Lyalee.  It's a port known to be home to many lizardfolk, and has a rough-and-tumble reputation where many things that cannot be found or done elsewhere can be located.

There is a list of magic items suspected to be stolen by this ring of thieves, items that would indicate guilt and are not to be considered part of acceptable looting practices:

• A necklace with a golden monkey amulet
• A platinum ring with a dozen different-colored gems mounted around the band
• A ebony wood bracelet set with cabochon emeralds
• A silver mug set with lapis lazuli and moonstone in a pattern of moon and stars
• A book with a rosewood cover and pages made of golden foil, hammered with elven script
• A rose made of silver and gold
• A purple plume that throws off false sparks
• A yellow topaz mounted in a red gold diadem
• An orange-hilted dagger with a green metal blade
• A miniature statue of an opal panther

Finally, Captain Hubert and Mad Morrie have found an island or two through some reefs and channels previously thought to contain nothing but ship-wrecking rock, and they wish the assistance of the Leafblade Company in searching them and mapping them properly.

--

The Sea Lady sails off into the tide, the sun setting in a spill of gold to the west as the ship clears the harbor and broaches the open waves.  Those mounts who have not chosen to stone-sleep, or whose owners don't want to subject them to it, take a while to settle in this strange new environment, which occupies much of their attention for the first part of the voyage.

It's not until the moon is well-risen that the group can try to settle their own stomachs as the waves smooth out and the smells of dinner permeate the air.  Fresh fish is on the menu, sea-greens, and soup with potatoes and herbs, along with good bread bought while in Port Lyalee.

Captain Hubert is guiding the ship and will eat later, but Mad Morrie is there to serve up dinner and talk about the next steps the Leafblade Company wants to take.

"'Tis most of a sameness which island we go to first, so where are you wanting to go?  You need stories from this old tar?" he says, taking a swig of well-watered ale before serving up another bowl of soup.

Bruenor nodded to Mad Morrie as he ate his soup.  Some of this food, especially the sea greens, was very exotic to him, but he was giving it a try.
"If all islands are equal as suspected targets, then perhaps the closest one works to start with.  And I'd love to hear any stories you had to share."

On the walk to the docks, Narthian tells Bruenor, "I have prepared the Air Walk spell, but I do not think that there is space on the ship to train Demon properly. I think, that if we need it, I will use it on Lantamori or Averdante as our archers could make the best use of the elevation. But remind me when this adventure is over and I will be happy to start Demon's training."

Nathian sees to the horses, ensuring that they are prepared for what lies ahead, whether they are in the stone-sleep or not. He tries to find someplace on deck where he is out of the way of the crew and can feel the wind and watch the sea. The oral tradition of his conclave has many tales of the far off oceans teaming with life, and he's taking the opportunity to see what he can of it. He is most looking forward to visiting Jeweled Island and its wealth of flora and fauna. He encourages and listens in to any of Mad Morrie's tales.

Haazheel soothes and pets Feather, and makes sure she has hay and water...and that a shovel and big pail are nearby.

He goes on deck to discover whether sea and stomach get along.

"Closest makes sense, want to offload stolen things as quick as possible right?" Volsh replied to the different options after he had settled his few belongings into the ship's hold or cabin area he'd been assigned.

He checked on Eagle to make sure the horse was doing ok and then looked out over the railing at the expanse of the sea. It was more featureless than anything he'd seen before, so there was a bit of a quake in the stomach that he tried to not let show outwardly as he considered it.

Dante is quite willing to listen to the sailor's tales, although much of his attention is on learning to find his balance on the boat's shifting deck. If they get into a fight, he doesn't want to have to think about staying on his feet while targeting a foe. Initially at least, it doesn't seem as if it will be too difficult; he's perched on tree branches that move more quickly. But there are unexpected drops when he's expecting sideways movement, and strong, sudden lurches up that go contrary to his instincts, so it will take a little time to fully adjust.

Hopefully, he'll have the time to master it before he's put to the test. As there are bandits on land, there are pirates on the sea... and the ones they hunt have had time to hear there is a hunt.

Lantamori didn't mind the water all around or the way the ship moved.  She could see the sky and feel the wind.  That's all she needed.

And she wouldn't sink like a stone if she fell overboard, she thought, looking over at Farian with that boat anchor of a shield she carried.

Farian sees that Lux is put into the stone-sleep and tucked securely into an interior pocket. She struggles some to find her sea legs, not being as nimble as the elves and having a higher center of gravity then all save perhaps Bruenor and Volsh. She keeps a steadying hand upon the rail, or rigging, or other item secured to the deck whenever she moves about. Despite any wobbliness, she is not one to go green about the gills. Whether from a hardy constitution or an indomitable will is hard to say. She keeps about her the air of one who is clear of purpose, knowing that she is in the right place, at the right time.

I don't know if there was time for the pennon to have been completed using traditional methods. But if it is done, she asks Hubert to have it hoisted and flown in the proper place.