"Do you know anything about these strange storms that you could share with us?"
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The captain furrows her brow. "I only know that they are a b!tch to navigate and captains are struggling to pass through them unscathed. Even 'marked Lyrandars are having trouble holding course. I've also been informed to keep an eye out for rogue elementals riding the currents of the waves and winds. If we run into anything, your cousins and I will need your skill to keep the ship together and keep the passengers safe."
"Thank you, Captain. I shall do my best. You've passed through them before?" Kiva glances at K'exik to see if he has anything else to ask or add.
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"Since the storms started, this is my third trip to Xen'drik, and so far I've lost one deckhand who fell overboard during a lightning storm." The captain eyes glance towards the darkening horizon. "I just hope we make some distance before we hit them, if we come upon any storms tonight it will be late. The Talon will see us through."
K'exik speaks softly, as always, in Elven. "A wnaeth y dyn criw yn meddu ar farc draig?" Did the crewman possess a dragonmark?
"Did you see anything unusual in the storm?"
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The half-elf looks over at you, "I'm sorry, Kiva, but that is all that I recall. I was trying to maintain my ship and crew through the storm."
The captain's eyes dart away for a moment before she answers, and you get the feeling there is something else she doesn't want to say.
K'exik bows his head. "Diolch i chi, Capten." Thank you, Captain.
Kiva leans against the railing and crosses her arms over her chest. She stays that way in silence for a moment, eyebrow arched, waiting to see if she'll come out with whatever it is she doesn't want to say on her own.
"Thank you, Captain. We're going to speak with some of the others aboard, if you need me I shall make myself available."
Kiva seeks out other crew members that were likely with the Captain during the previous trips, likewise asking them what they saw.
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The day crew is split between the galley and the deck. As you make your rounds asking questions, the crew certainly remembers the storms, and losing the gnome, but every recount of what happened in the vortex grows wilder and wilder...
"If you ask me, it's house Orien. They hate that they can't own the skies like we do..."
"I tell you the entire storm was an elemental. Wouldn't be surprised if it had come from that cursed Mournland!"
"Only a few creatures could control a storm that big, and be it dragon or giant I don't want to face it again. I'm hopping off in Stormreach and putting down for a while."
"It's the Kraken, old salt has found a way to eliminate the competition."
"Silver Flame save us from the hungry one... the Devourer."
As you pass back and forth trying to catch crewmen in conversation, you notice the towering figure of Ethaniel, the first-mate, leaning against the double-doors leading below, glowering and smoking a pipe as he watches you and the crew.
Kiva takes in each of the far fetched stories with a dubious look upon her face. After the last person has told their story, she pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs.
Catching sight of Ethaniel, she tilts her head to the side slightly before nodding towards him, indicating to K'exik where she is going next. She approaches Ethaniel and says, "Problem?"
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The half-elf looks down at you. He takes a long drag on his pipe before slowly releasing the smoke. "Have a care with what you ask. It is your job to uncover the truth to these matters, it is my job to see this ship running smoothly. Gossip can be as bad as any storm. I need this crew diligent, especially if we do run into bad weather again."
"And what exactly is wrong with what I've asked?"
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"You are here on order of our House to investigate, not rumor-monger. I'll have a hard enough time keeping them all in line tonight. Do your job how you want, lass, just have a little tact. There are other passengers who are thankfully oblivious to the storms, but we don't need scuttlebutt losing us business. Not many captains are willing to brave this weather."
"Uh huh. Well if you're so worried about my scarring the crew, why don't you tell me what it is that you know about the storms?"
"Bosun, Lady Kiva is attempting to do her duties as well."
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The first mate sighs, the tension going out of his stance. "The Talon's crew is hard enough to keep under control, since we ferry to Xen'drik as our main source of income for the House. Thariv is convinced that she saw blue draconic wings in the storm, but the storm plays tricks on the eyes. I saw no such wings, no had anything bizarre happen. Yes we lost Efemia, but we did all that we could to save her. The storm was wretched. They all have been. I've made this journey many times, and I haven't seen anything to tell me this is anything other than a bad stroke of luck. Please, just try not to rile my crew too much, lass. They're angry enough that they have to stay sober on their shift. At least they've got that damned card-thief to lose their wages to."
"Surely you don't think the House would waist time on this if there wasn't something unusual happening? What of this 'card-thief', is he being problematic?"
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The first mate looks down, taking another drag off of his pipe. "I'm aware that the House wants this looked into, but I am telling you what I have seen. And the card-shark calls himself Three Dragon Denovan, he's one of those noble's sons playing at being an explorer, spending mommy's galifars to see the world. The only problems he is causing, is taking my crew for their wages and straining my limits on crew sobriety. You'll know him when you see him."
"Aye, I've already seen him while eating earlier this afternoon. I tell you what, if he becomes more of a problem I'll throw him overboard for you. In the meantime, I must do my job. As much as I'd rather be someplace else, it is here that I've been sent. If you think of anything else, I'm sure you know where to find me."
"Emissary, anything else?"
"I have nothing to ask the bosun, just a reminder that there are many things in this world that few have seen. I would not discredit other members of the crew who may remember the events of the storm differently than you do. Good day, Sir d'Lyrandar." K'exik bows lightly.
Kiva's mouth curves up into a smile, she nods her head at Ethaniel and takes her leave. "I'm open to suggestions, Emissary. I think we've covered all of the people who are regularly aboard. We could try asking some of the other travelers, but that might really bring Ethaniel's frowning wrath upon us. I suppose we could simply... mingle, hear what there is to hear and wait to see this storm ourselves."
"It would not be wise to raise the ire of the first mate. As a Lyrandar, you should know that all storms are unpredictable."
"Indeed. The lounge or galley?"
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The lounge is part of the galley. The kitchen and bar opens up into the room where you saw the patrons and crew.
Above deck is the windwheel, on deck are the elemental struts and the captain's quarters. Entering the double doors are stairs leading down to the first deck, with a few patron quarters and the lounge/galley and kitchen. On the second deck is the remaining crew quarters and rooms reserved for higher paying patrons or extra storage. The lowest deck is nothing but shipments and storage.
"We have seen what the day crew has to recollect, perhaps waiting til this evening to begin again after we dine and the shift changes?"
"Very well. I'll be in my quarters, then."
K'exik bows before taking his leave of you.
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It is shortly after the sixth bell of the evening, when there is a knock on your door. A young male voice calls out.
"Lady Kiva, the Captain requests you on deck. We're hitting some bad weather and she wants all Lyrandars on deck."
Gazing out your porthole window you can see that the rain is beginning to pick up. You can see a few flashes of lightning in the horizon.
Kiva steps out of her room and nods at the young man before making her way to the deck, utterly unsure of what good she can possibly do, Lyrandar or not.
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As you make your way out onto the deck, you can see that the Roc's Talon is in an uproar. Rain pelts the vessel. The crew rushes about under the captain's orders, all eight Lyrandars trying to maintain the vessel. Captain Thariv barks orders as she grips the helm, her dragonmark vividly illuminated as she channels her blood-magic to keep the elemental running the ship under control.
"Kin to the life rings and ties! 'Marked to the struts! Keep her contained!"
Throughout the fray, Ethaniel rushes to the aid of the other crewman, hoisting ropes and attempting to keep them calm. The captain finally notices you.
"Kiva! Keep your eyes on the storm! Aid the crew and the Emissary." She shouts down before she returns her attention to the wheel and the horizon.
The storm seems to be intensifying. You spot K'exik at last, standing on the prow of the ship, his back to the crew, facing the storm.
Kiva makes her way to K'exik's side as her eyes scan the storm for wings or anything at all aside from clouds, rain, and lightning.
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Not much can be seen through the storm other than the occasional flash of lightning that briefly illuminates the entire ship in a white pallor. The crew seems on edge, but Ethaniel does his best to keep them calm. Three of the Lyrandar heirs exert their will upon the elemental bound in the ring, using their dragonmarks to aid Captain Thariv in controlling the vessel through the downpour.
K'exik stands with his arms outstretched in the downpour, his eyes closed.
As you approach, he speaks softly. "Rhywbeth yn dod." Something approaches.
"Rwy'n gweld dim byd. Beth yw hyn, ble mae e?" I see nothing. What is it, where is it? Kiva sounds agitated as her eyes dart back and forth across the sky.
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Suddenly, a torrent of rain sprays over the deck, and you notice the water is moving against the wind. The water coalesces into an almost humanoid shape, and swings a heavy tendril of water down against an unsuspecting crewman.
The half-elf is knocked against the railing, but she still breathes.
"Elemental on the port!" Ethaniel's voice booms out over the storm. The four non-marked crewmen ready to engage the creature, as well as the crewman that was struck. The three dragonmarked maintain their focus on controlling the elemental ring.
R1
Kiva, K'exik, Talon's Crew, Gʻtryya
Kiva draws her rapier as she moves closer to the elemental. Doubtful of what good she can do with her sword, but just as unsure of what spell might help she attacks.
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The rapier slides right through the watery surface of the creature. You know you can hurt it, you just have to slice deeper.
Kiva realizes this creature is an elemental, a creature from another world composed entirely of its natural elements. It is not possible to make the creature bleed, nor does it have any specific vulnerable spot. Water elementals have advantages when their opponents are in and underwater.