"Why would we think it would be hellfi... oh because of the red skin and horns? I am truly sorry that you must get that sort of treatment a lot in your life. I hope that you will not get that among our band. In fact if there are those among us who are so eager to pass judgement on others that we would do so by the simple virtue of who our parents, or grandparents might have been. I think it would be best if you step out of the boat now. I will not waste a healing spell on the likes of those. We're not in Cheliax after all." He steps to the side to make it clear that he isn't joking about not wanting to travel with racists.

Sophia steps up and asks Marianne whether she minds being hugged and if she agrees, hugs her. "I too am sorry that you experience such ignorant behaviour. I stand with you and with him."

EDIT 15:26 UTC 02/06/23 - adding quote mark and changing colour of speech
This message was last edited by the player at 14:27, Fri 02 June 2023.

It felt like the captain was taking too long to get his crew.

Larannia started to slowly pace back and forth, sharp eyes continuing to look for any threats. The others had lowered their guard except for the dwarf. It looked like the two of them were going to be responsible keeping the others safe. The Elder had warned her of the world outside the tribe. All the races were hated one way or another by some but the tieflings especially had it hard. She was told people's actions revel their true nature. When the druid was a child, she would have nightmares about humans hunting her down to cut off her ears.

Then the visions of fire and destruction came.

The wood elf knew where her path was going, and no elf hater was going to stop her.

Just then the Captain walked up the plank going into the boat and his two crew members begin to cast off lines and came up removing the plank and used long poles to push the keelboat away from the dock. Watching them work was almost like watching art, as they moved into the current of the River Foam and unfurled the sail moving downriver passing the Courtyard as they went.  It was not long before they put Falcons Hollow behind them.

Being underway felt familiar, having just been on a boat not long ago. He finished penning his current thought as the others finished up giving a synopsis of themselves, and then stuffed the journal away so as to not get it wet. He watched with curious eyes the sailors worked the ropes and rigging, how the captain guided the rudder, he watched with the interest to learn and his keen mind began to commit things to memory as he worked out the mechanisms.

Marianna wasn't anticipating a hug, not from this bunch. Still, it was a welcome change, and something she hadn't received in a long time, and could no longer reliably predict when the next one would be. Her hug was tepid, at least compared to Sophia

"Gods, this lady is strong" she thought to herself.

As the ship took sail, she took refuge sitting on a barrel on the port side. Looking at the water below, Marianna hoped to see fish or larger creatures swimming along the way.

Durrak had listened carefully to what each of the others had said, his eyes meeting theirs firmly but not aggressively as they spoke.  His own thoughts he had kept to himself.  He had told them enough before, rephrasing what they already knew would be a waste of both his breath, and his time.  That was, however, avoided by the timely arrival of the captain and his crew.  He'd speak speak to the elf later.  She was chaotic, but at least she was warry.  And she'd had a point about the boat having nowhere to go.  River piracy was not unheard of, and neither was treachery.  He would have rather taken the trails.  He could provide for them there, and have numerous alternate routes available.  These folks would need it, having never left their cities.

The druidess had quietly turned away as the others conducted their hug fest. The laughing and crying had reminded her of the tribe. It was most likely she would never see them again. The path that was seen almost confirmed it. Let the children enjoy their innocents a little longer. The Hunt will either force them to grow up and adapt or they will die. Such was the law of nature.

As Larrannia made her way to the forecastle, she glanced at the captain and the two crew. They looked very proficient at their job, but could they be trusted? One or all of them could be working for Kreed. That thought alone made the elf keep the oak shield at the low ready. Not much could be done about it now.

The forecastle gave the wood elf a better view of the surroundings around the boat. She stood silently, sharp eyes keeping watch. Larannia hated this path. The overland path played better to the group's strengths and gave them flexibility of movement. But one did not simply ignore a warning from Gozreh. Also, Kreed had a stronger hold on the land surrounding the town.

Finally leaving the town was a good thing. She could feel the stress and anxiety melt away as the town got further and further away. Just being there greatly bothered her, effecting the mind and causing paranoia. She started to feel like her normal self. This was something else the young druidess would have to battle to complete The Trial.

But with nothing but time on her hands, the elf's mind started to wonder.

All Larannia knew was that she was born during a storm, making her Storm Born. It was said that Gozreh was observing the birth personally. The elf gave a hint of a smile and shook her head sadly. That was told to children to make them think they were special. Even worse, she actually believed it for a time. Mortals chose their path in life and the gods just used them along the way.

The elf's frown deepened.

She had asked about her parents but only got a sad smile and was told to talk to the Elder. He gave that same damnable sad smile before telling his lies. Her parents had to go back to their own world on a flying ship. But they would return to pick up their only child and take her with them to a new world.

Arcs of lightning started to appear around the druidess's clinched fist.

Why the lies? That was when she started hating the tales of flying ships. Why perverse an entertaining story to facilitate a lie. It was most likely her parents were killed when the tribe was attacked, or they were banished from the tribe for some reason. But none of that mattered now.

Tear filled stormy gray eyes pierced the area upriver.

At the end of her path was a dragon and most likely her death.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:47, Sat 03 June 2023.

The day started out stressful but quickly turned very relaxing. Sailing along in the center of the 90' wide river. A slight breeze helped the current a long. Off to the sides the rolling hills with dotted trees and bushes hid signs of wildlife. Birds flew or sang nearby. The occasional deer raised it's hid from drinking and watched the boat with wariness. It was warming and looked to be a pleasant day.


About 3 hours into the journey a small rowboat could be seen ahead in the river with an elderly man holding a fishing pole that was bent down having hooked something straining against being caught. As the kerlboat approached the man was totally focused on bringing his catch in, not paying attention to the keel boat.

The keelboat could sail right on by, as the rowboat was about 30' from the north shoreline. The man wore white cotton pants and tunic and a straw hat. His graying beard hung down touching his chest as his aged body bent and strained fighting the fish.

"It looks like the old timer has hooked a meal for five" Helican said regarding the man in the rowboat.

The hours of peace and tranquility had calmed down the druidess. The beautiful surroundings and comforting breeze seemed like a gift from Gozra. She watched the old man with his struggle to capture a fish. All life was a struggle. The old man fought for a meal while the fish fought to escape and stay alive. The natural order of life playing out.

Larannia knew this feeling would not last, but the elf was going to enjoying it while she could.

"Aye.  And good luck ta him.". Durrak rumbled from his seat in the middle of the boat.  Though he seemed relaxed, smoking his pipe and munching on some meat and cheese, which he washed down with the skin of porter he had brought from the inn, he was alert to every movement around him, and the scenery they passed by and gloated over.  He seemed content enough, in a gruff, laconic way.

Sophia regarded the river itself as a case and she watched the river and its ways, taking note of everything almost as if the River were a suspect under interrogation.  She takes note of everything she sees, whether the landmarks that remain still or the creatures and detritus carried by the current.  She seems fascinated.

"Wow" She said to nobody in particular, seeing the large fish being extracted from the sea. She'd cooked fish before, but nothing in the markets approached anything near that size.

"Benefit of living on the frontier I guess" She continued, looking around. The land was beautiful, and pieces were slowly clicking together. If most people weren't going to accept Marianna because of her demonic heritage, than there was no reason she had to say and live with most people. If she could figure out a way to subsist out here, she'd be okay with the relative solitude, she reckoned.

With the natural beauty of the area lulling everyone he spies a little outcropping of land into the river. "That looks like a fine place to build a home. Away from the activity of the town and your closest neighbor a multi hour ride away. Position the house just so," He gestures an angle. "that you can watch the orchard from the kitchen and watch the sunset from the porch, all while listening to the crickets. What say you Druid? Do you see plenty of plants for foraging so that I could bring my family here and live in harmony with the land?" Seeing the bent rod of the of the old man he chuckles. "Looks like there's fish if there aren't any berries."

"Aye lassh.". He says in response to Marianna, as he finishes a swallow of his porter.  The Wildernessh ish ash beautiful ash it ish dangeroush.  There'sh a reashon why mosht folksh shtay near the townsh.". His deep voice pauses for a moment to let that sink in.  Then he continues.  But, if your shmart and hardy enough, ya can make a life fer yerself amidsht the untamed beauty."

The keelboat sailed past the elder man as he finally wrestled the 3 foot trout into the boat. A few more hours of sailing through this idyllic landscape was pleasant and calming. As the sun began to set, the Captain chose a place closer to the bank to drop anchors to hold the boat in place. He remarked to the passengers.

you can go ashore and have a fire if you want to be warm. the nights do get cold. Or you can sleep on the boat. If you do, I expect you to help with watches.

Larannia casually glanced in the direction The Hidden One spoke of. At that instant, the peaceful outcropping of land was a blazing inferno that was billowing black smoke into the nightmarish red sky. The druidess winced in pain and turned away as she placed fingers against the side of her head.

Hours later, the captain dropped the anchor. He mentioned the cold weather. The cold would not affect her since she had packed some cold weather clothes. The elf also did not fully trust the captain not to leave while the group was camped on land.

"I will help with the watch." she said with no emotion.

"I find I don't sleep well these days so I may as well help with the watches. Besides, the cold never bothered me anyway." He chuckles by way of volunteering.

"I too will happily take a turn on watch." says Sophia.  "The more we see, the more we learn."

With it looking like the group was staying aboard he the captain and his crew set about rolling out blue tarps and hoisting polls under them and raising them up to hide the ship from anything above them.
The Captain said the tarps will protect us from flying predators at a casual glance. 2 to a shift, except whose on the last watch with me and then 3 of us. Horun will take first watch with....you Damian. Helican you and Sophia take 2nd. Durrack and Philburn my crew member next. Then Larrania, Marianna and myself the dawn watch. Keep an eye peeled and no fires.

Helican looked over at Sophia and nodded affirmatively, and then looked back to the Captain, "Aye aye Captain" he said confidently.

"I'll be takin' my watch from the shore.". Durrak says, his deep voice clearly audible to the occupants of the boat.  "If ya've a mind lassh, you're welcome ta come ashore and learn how ta build a fire an set up a camp.". He says to Marianna.  Having spoken, Durrak disembarked from the boat, and began setting up his camp.  After this was done, he foraged the near forest for food and safe drink.

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

14:49, Today: Durrak of Clan Fellaxe. rolled 21 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 18.  Survival (to Subsist).

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This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Fri 09 June 2023.

The druidess quietly raised an eyebrow at the captain's plan. It was well thought out and made complete sense. Dawn was the perfect time for an attack and many creatures would be hunting for their next meal. The respect she held for the captain increased a little. He appeared to be very good at his job and most likely had done it many times before.

"As you say, Captain." she said stoically before heading below deck.

Sophia nodded to Hellican.  "Second watch", she said.  "I too may spend it ashore so I can wake Durrak but in the meantime..."

...and with that, she headed for a handy spot on the boat, curled up and went to sleep.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:03, Fri 09 June 2023.