As it turns out, the ocean bottom here is about 500 feet down; sandy and level. Lots of crab and ray and lesser fish here.
If Ghirrak descends all the way he must make a Fort save DC15 (+1 per previous check made) every minute he is down this deep or take 1d6 per 100 feet down.
Knowwing that his ability to see in absolute darkness would be a benefit, Ghirrak decends to a depth of 300 ft where he scans the area as the others continue thier descent.
For a few moments Suny does nothing more than simply revel in the environment.
Thence, remembering why she's here, she looks around at all that she can see.
You see the usual abundance of sea life here; the daylight reaches down here, if dimly.
Devon watches as Bryson changes into a shark.
"Handy trick, that." He says.
"Sure beats flailing about trying to swim with these (as he looks at his hands)."
In shark form, Bryson can't speak.
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Sunny flits about above the sands for a moment enjoying spending time in the water.
Probably not finding anything of major/real interest she twists about and removes something from the small pack/bag tucked at the small of her back.
Deftly taking hold of the ropes worked about the master crafted buoy she has produced from within, Sunny shoots back towards the surface.
As she zips by Ghirrak, the Half-Ork would definitely hear a 'Wheeee' of fun as the tanned figure of Sunny is lifted quickly back towards the surface waves by the large, glass sphere she's now holding onto.
(^_^)
Marius observed proceedings with interest from the deck. Seeing Sunny array herself for a dive was definitely an educational experience; Every piece of gear was in its place, and stowed in such a manner as not to interfere with her movements.
He turned at Devon's words, "I've been meaning to research such spells for myself. Though if you want to give it a try, there's a cloak stowed in the hold which would let you emulate a manta ray." He'd come across the cloak whilst familiarising himself with their inventory and made a note of its location in case they ever needed an extra person in the water.
For his part, he intended to see how the search for land progressed and, if nothing presented itself, he'd take to the air and see if there was anything to be seen from higher up.
"Truly? It seems strange that such a wonderful cloak like that is just lying around in the hold." Devon exclaims in surprise.
Grinning to himself, Ghirrao makes his way to the surface, knowing that Bryson would soon follow, allowing them to compare discoveries.
"Well, I wouldn't say lying around," Marius corrected himself, "It's been stored securely with a few other magical items acquired over the course of the voyage. It doesn't look as if anyone has a particular claim on it. Handy to know about if we ever need an extra person in the water."
When Sunny, Bryson and Ghirrak return to the surface and recover, Jon consults with them and what they found.
"Right then; West it is." Jon commented before calling out orders to the helm.
The ship healed as it wore about west and set every sail they had in the light winds.
When Sunny is buoyed to the surface she takes but a moment to stow away her piece of kit back with in the strange spaces of her small back-pack. It is then but a simple matter for her to 'sprint' after the ship and climb the ropes left trailing for herself, Ghirrak and Byrson.
Once on deck Sunny takes a moment to both get her breath back after her 'jog' to catch up with the vessel as well as shake herself a little dryer before skipping off to present herself with another jaunty wave/salute (And being careful where any remaining water splashes) again to the Captain,
"T'is about five or six boat lengths ta' bottom Cap'n." She reports with her usual smile, "No kelp, nor coral. Nuffin' but sand an' pebbles." She qualifies.
"Whut next Cap'n?" She asks of any further duties she can cheerfully perform. (^_^)
Jon chases you all off to help as you can.
It takes several days, but a chain of small islands leads you to a great jungle covered island.
Coasting along the southern shore, you come to a great reef protected cove.
As you round the headland, you see a grass roofed village, several large communal buildings, a lot of canoes dragged up on the beach, and a two masted and battered caravelle.
Wait, its a three masted caravelle with one snapped off!
It's the Blue Nixie!
Ghirrak stands on the prow of the ship, silent, still as a statue, eyes roving, searching for the only thing that matters.
Sunny is her usual, bright and helpful self through the coming days. Scampering about the ship in pursuit of her duties with her normal enthusiasm and good cheer.
When the ship comes round the headland and the village comes into view, it's the huts and their style and make which has Sunny's interest first -Then the make and state of the other vessel.
"Whoowee! Now ain't that a sight for sore eyes."
You see a flurry of activity ashore as the men snatch up spears, harpoons and bows, then rush down to dugout canoes on the beach.
Then...
There is a burst of cheering and jumping up and down from the quarterdeck of the Nixie. You see a short figure blow on a conch horn (badly) that is probably Kaskus Kiel of the Jade Ravens.
That signal seems to have reassured the local people, and most of the spears and harpoons are returned to their places ashore.
As Jon wrestled the Kraken into place and dropped his sole remaining anchor, a bunch of the little kids and young men paddle out and start shouting "Coin! Coin!"
As the passengers and crew of the Kraken pitch coins into the water for the kids to dive for, you notice another slim figure dive from the Nixie's quarterdeck into the water towards you.
Without a word Ghirrak is in the water before anyone can notice, powerful strokes cleaving through the sapphire waters making a straight line for the approaching disturbance in the water.
Having helped 'settle' the ship into its place in the bay Suny climbs part way up into the rigging to watch what unfolds.
As the natives come and splash about in the waters about the boat and the crew interact with them Sunny,
Gives a squee of joy herself and simply dives into the waters to join in the fun....
Though her shirt is left behind on the surface as her lithe, tanned figure slices through the waters.....
(^_^)
Burian points to the woman swimming from the other ship.
"The woman swimming toward us... someone you know?"
Bryson smiles at the reunion and hugs Annie close. "Yeah. The Lady Vanderboren. She's our patron. We're on this journey for her."
Devon watches the evident joy of those around them at the discovery of the other ship. He moves over to the Captain.
"Good tidings then I see. I am happy that you have been reunited with your other ship."
Under the sapphire blue waters, the sun-bronzed figure of Lavinia Vanderboren barreled into you like a torpedo, her lips hungry for yours...
While you are swimming around with the native kids, you see Ghirrak off in the distance underwater embracing a woman tightly.
Spinnaker Jon nodded at Devon.
"Aye; that be the Blue Nixie, our patron Lavinia Vanderboren's ship. You won't have met her; we were separated when we ran a pirate infested strait. We got boarded and barely fended them off.
"It was only a couple of weeks before we ran into you as you escaped those headhunters."
After being given the all clear by the Nixie, Spinnaker Jon allows those interested to go ashore in the ships boats.
Kaskus Kiel met with Spinnaker Jon and Bryson, and extended the invitation of Chief Ixawhani to come to a feast in their honor this evening.
Anyone going ashore is met by several locals willing to act as guides, and they also know a smattering of the Common language; enough to communicate mostly.
Sunny happily enjoys the company of the natives before returning to the ship and helping people ashore. She brightly natters away to the locals in her Polyglot speech. (^_^)
Eventually skipping along, arm in arm with Trynight and/or Avner.
Sunny blends in easily with the local native's style of behavior.
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Interacting with natives who weren't trying to kill him had become something of a novelty for Marius, but it was a novelty he took to readily, heading out with a guide to take in the sights of the island. He also spent a bit of time mixing with the crew of the Nixie, keen to become familiar with the other members of the expedition.
Though paying his respects to their patron would have to wait until she was a little less preoccupied.
Bryson greets his friend, Kaskus with a great hug. "Muh thanks to you for yer letter. It kept us in good spirits knowing that all y'all made it."
The officers of the ship coralled people on the beach before they could get very far, but it was some little time before Lady Lavinia appeared, walking out of the surf pulling Ghirrak behind her. (And looking a little flushed, though her skin had bronzed enough under the sun to mostly hide it).
The whole ships company cheered.
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Lavinia waved her hands for order.
"My friends and countrymen! By the grace of the gods and our own courage, we meet again!
"This is the village of Renkrue! With overtures by my father, and some of our cargo in trade, the Chief, Ixawhani, has generously offered to host our company for a few days while we rest and refit!
"These people are naturally friendly! Very, very friendly, and also an enemy of the pirates! I want you to all to be nice and respectful in every way! Many know Polyglot, and a few know a smattering of the Common language as well.
"For tonight, there is a roasted pig feast for us hosted by the Chief, so celebrate! We are alive and together again!"
As the cheering filled the air again, she motioned to Kaskus to take the people up to the village proper, then dragged Ghirrak up along the sandy shoreline, past nut brown naked people fixing fishing nets and giggling at the strangers.
Up beyond the treeline and in some privacy, she shows how she missed Ghirrak in great detail...
Sunny, also emerging from the surf easily laughing and mingling with the locals, takes Trynight by the hand to wander off along the beach and show the lass all there is to see about island ways. (^_^)
Sunny is also happy to help with people talking to each other, fluent as she is in Polyglot.
Kaskus gives a bone crushing hug to Brysons knees.
"I knew ya weren't dead laddie..." He rasped. Then he drags Bryson up to the village where the crew of the Nixie was helping put a waterproof roof over an open area where a firepit was being prepared.
As they exit the surf the newer crew members see an expression on Ghirrak's face, foreign to them until now. A broad smile that makes the massive half-orc radiate peace.
As Lavinia finishes her speech, the look she gives him sparks a flash in his eyes that makes clar to any who notice it that he and Lavinia should definitely not be disturbed.
Bryson happily goes with Kaskus to help with the preparations. He keeps making goo goo eyes at Annie as they work.
Burian shops around for casual-wear garments, local flora-scented lotions and soaps, and just mills around.
Though he had not yet felt the pining for dry land from being at sea - it was good to see the pleasant moods of his shipmates.
Lavinia and Ghirrak lay about in a blanket in the warm sand, protected from the wind and prying eyes in a hollow among the beach dunes.
Lavinia suddenly blinked as she remembered something.
”Ah, Ghirrak, I may have mentioned to the local folk that you were a famous arena champion. A lot of the young bucks around here are really keen on challenging you. To impress girls I think.
“I would consider it a great favor to me if you would indulge them. It’s not personal combat outside of the wrestling; its mostly basic athletic stuff. Who is the fastest runner, who can throw farthest, who can lift the most weight.
"At the end of our stay there is a traditional tug of war, the locals versus our two crews. It should be fun!
"And I really, really need to keep these peoples good opinion of us, so if you see any trouble, see if you can head it off.”
Kaskus hauled Bryson away from Annie and over to a large bamboo hut with a large Olman woman named Lia.
Burian and Marius are already there, looking over her wares as they are displayed on the walls. She was cooking some strange mixture in a double cauldron; something that turned from a mottled yellow to a glowing green as you watched.
Spotting you, she opened her arms.
”Kaskus! Baby!” She wrapped him in her arms and he practically disappeared into her ample flesh.
As Devon wandered about, he came across an area where men were practicing wrestling, net throwing and knife/axe throwing.
A blonde elf is there on the periphery, holding the attention of some kids juggling a half dozen knives, then whatever a kid would toss him. You saw him able to juggle ten such objects for a whole minute before he dropped them. The kids fell over laughing.
Recovering his knives, he spotted you and came over to greet you.
”Welcome to this veritable paradise sir! You must be off the Savage Kraken right? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Zan Oldivan; juggler extrordinaire and sometimes a member of the Jade Ravens!” He says with a flourishing bow,( like you should know what that is).
”And you are?” He asks curiously. You can see his eyes measuring your movements and the calluses of your hand. He recognized you as a skilled fighter.
Sunny is a big hit, especially with the little kids, as her friendly demeanor attracts a flock of them that follow her everywhere.
She is also a hit with the young men, who see her shoot through the water like a torpedo when she swims. There is a lot of jockying for her attention; many gifts of jewelry from nacreous shell, pearl and iridescent scale are offered for her companionship.
Trynight is devastated. That evening she cannot be consoled as she whispered that Avner had rejected her utterly to go off with a couple of the local girls.
Sunny is her bright and cheerful self to every one. (^_^)
She is thankful for any gifts offered, but careful not to become too 'entangled' in any affairs which might be attached to such (Politely declining/returning any such serious attempts at Sunny's time/relations)
Though distracted by the travails which have befallen her friend,
Offering some of the things she's found along with having been offered to poor Trynight in her efforts to bring cheer to her friend.
Even spending time trying to teach Trynight to swim... or failing that giving her friend rides on the wave-woods (surf-boards) for fun/distraction/excitement. (^_^)
As people begin to gather for the evening Sunny will begin to say 'Hello' to the other boat's people, though the state of her poor friend will be foremost in Sunny's mind.
Ghirrak grins, his mind and body relaxed for the first time since Lavinia's disappearance "So give them an opportunity to ake a good showing of it, and show their.....prowess?" Ghirrak says with a chuckle."I can do that. And I'm sure showing off your champion ouldn't hury either could it?" he says giving her a squeeze.
Bryson grumbles about being taken from his love, but soon is jovially walking along with his buddy. They make it to the shop and the witch's greeting makes Bryson think he ought to give her and Kaskus some time to get reaquainted. "Marus. Boorian. How ya'll doing? This place is great ain't it?"