Please Ninja Dot, Dot and Delete, [a third synonymous term]!
It was but a week ago that you each received your orders to meet Venture-Captain Calisro Benarry aboard her seaworthy Pathfinder Lodge: the Grinning Pixie. Having arrived on a breezy summer morning, you all have had the day to laze away and recover from your travels as the sailors hustle and bustle around you. As the day begins to close and evening just begins to crawl ever-forward across the sky, you receive a summons to a room in the aftcastle of the ship. Climbing up the well-worn steps topside and across the main deck, you begin to feel the gentle swaying of the ocean more readily.
The room is easy enough to find, its entrance framed by a pair of now lit torches. Inside you find a table with two rum stained maps pinned across it, plenty of chairs, and three pitchers of a dark ale with just enough mugs for the lot of you.
Through the floorboards, you can hear the crew enjoying their dinner and clearly getting into their rum rations.
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Perrine had never been assigned a mission of a boat before. How exciting!
The little halfling had roughly a day or so of looking into everything on deck before she was instructed to stay at or near her hammock until she was needed. How was she to know she couldn’t chase the butterfly up to the crow’s nest while the soldier’s were doing their chores. Still, they seemed overly grumpy about it.
When she was finally called, she leaped out of the hammock and made it double time to the room, wanting to find something or anything to break her boredom. She saw the neat looking cups and poured herself a drink of the dark ale. It smelled like chocolate, but tasted much more bitter,
As the others arrived they saw the small halfling, with her starknife strapped to her back drinking deeply and giggling as it filled her tummy.
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Chhat watches quietly as the bosun’s mate chides the petite little lady and orders her back to her hammock. Was she a gnome or a halfling? Chhat couldn’t quite tell from her perch up in the ship’s rigging. The sailors hadn’t bothered to tell the acrobatic vanara to stay out of the rigging, perhaps suspecting that it wouldn’t do any good with someone who could climb better and faster than themselves. So they left her to herself as she waited and watched the goings on.
In the late afternoon, one of the younger, cuter sailors came up to tell Chhat that she was being summoned by the Cap’n. He seemed shy and unsure of himself, wary of her status as a Pathfinder Agent, but drawn to her exotic looks. She gave him a shy smile - hidden behind her hand - as she thanked him for the summons. Racing down the mast and across the decks to the aftcastle, she left him gaping at her speed, athleticism, and grace.
As Chhat slips into the room, she realizes that the little lady she had observed earlier was indeed a gnome. She opts to pass on the ale, instead filling her mug with the lukewarm water from a pitcher on the sideboard.
”Hello there. I saw you earlier. I’m sorry they wouldn’t let you come up into the rigging. I’m Chhat,” she says as an introduction. Her voice is soft and lilting, and her accent is a mix of vanaran, Katapeshi, and Tien. She holds out her hand in greeting, and the chestnut brown fur on the back of her hand is noticeably singed in spots. She is clothed in a plain white monk’s tunic, but with an incongruous long black leather duster over it. A bandoleer crosses her small-breasted chest opposite a coil of fine silk rope, and a gun belt hangs from her narrow hips.
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Only a minute or two after the little gnome and the vanara step into the meeting room the door creaks open again. A small figure peeks inside. Long, trailing leaves hang down like strands of hair around a small, bark-colored face that's been carved and shaped into the likeness of a young female gnome. The creature's eyes are two black dots rather than proper eyes but the arching eyebrows and little smiling mouth give it a cheerful expression.
"Ooh...this is where I'm meant to be, right?" the creature asks in an unmistakably feminine, whistley voice. She pushes the door open further and ambles into the room; now that you can get a better look at her it's clear that rather than flesh her body is made of plant matter, vines, twisted and formed into a humanoid shape. Not only is her body made of vines but even the suit of leather armor that she wears is wrapped in vines, rose vines from the look of it.
"Hello! Hello little gnome person and taller fuzzy person," the creature greets you. "I'm Willow Grove, from Willow Grove. The sailor man came and found me - he's got a good eye! - and said I needed to come here and that others would be here too."
She pauses for a moment, as though thinking, and then nods and offers a small, viney hand. "Almost forgot, people like to shake hands!"
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Following a moment or two after the smallest of the group is a rather large, muscular Shoanti woman. Stylized stormcloud tattoos run across her left arm and chest and reach up her neck, and several more tattoos, this time of mountains, appear around her legs. Looking at the other agents in the room, she smiles faintly.
"This is the mission meet, yes?" she asks as she takes a seat and helps herself to the ale. "Didn't expect to be sent this far south so soon."
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Perrine’s mouth opened wide as she saw the first two to enter the room. She vaguely recognized a vanara, but she’d never seen a plant creature like that before. ”Its so nice to meet you. I’m Perrine. I’ve never personally met any of your kind, Chhat, but it’s so awesome to make your pleasure. And Willow....Willow, I’m not sure exactly what you are! It’s so exciting to meet new kinds of people, as I’m just a basic old boring gnome!”
When the Shoanti entered, Perrine again perked up. ”I think that’s exactly right. You don’t normally see a group like us gathered all in one place unless it’s a Society mission!”
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Willow seems about to say something but she finds herself unable to keep from staring at the newest arrival's tattoos. "So tall...and pretty! Like a great oak tree," she gapes. But then she pauses a beat and suddenly shelters her eyes with her hands.
"Oh no, I was staring, I'm sorry!"
Still sheltering her eyes she seems to look around for a new distraction and settles on Perrine. "Um...I'm a leshy," Willow answers with what sounds like a renewed cheer. "A genie in a bottle...or in my case, a nature spirit in a plant body. Sometimes nature priests make us to help them out but sometimes I think they make us just to see what happens when they let us roam around free."
As converstion thickens, the more perceptive of you notice the winds picking up quickly. While nothing the ship can't handle, the ominous groan of strained wood reverberates through the hold, followed by the occasional howl across the bow.
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Hearing the wind pick up, Chhat comments quietly, “When I took the ship from Katapesh to Tien, we did not encounter such winds. I hope all is well. “
Then she cocks her head as she listens to Willow describe where leshys come from and is thoughtful for a long moment.
“So Willow, if you are made by nature priests, then you have no family. That's so sad, “ she finishes softly before quickly brightening. “So, WE will be your family!“
She looks around at the randomly assembled team of agents and another realization suddenly comes to her.
“This team is only women! We will be your sisters! “ she continues excitedly, her natural happy nature which is usually hidden by shyness coming to the fore. “In vanara clans, we call each other sisters even if we are not related, just so long as we are best of friends. “ As she takes one of Willow's rose-vine hands in her own fuzzy one, she reaches out to Perrine with the other. “We will all be sisters! “
Just when conversation begins to lull, a sailor pulls open the door. Struggling a little against the wind, it takes him a moment before he manages to pry the door open wide enough for him to dart in. "Who puts ah pull door on tha windy side o' tha ship?," he mutters. "Ev'nin'! Tha Cap'll be seein' ya now! Waitin' on the main deck by the forecastle. Seems tha message on tha whereabouts of ya meetin' got tossed!" With nothing more to say, he pushes back through the doorway and into the twilight.
Venture-Captain Calisro Benarry, a powerfully built half-orc, stands defiantly on the deck despite the driving winds. Sparse clouds are resplendent with the calm colors of twilight, but waves lap roughly against the ship as sea spray mists the air.
“Good. You’re here. Come with me.” She leads the way to a room below decks, where a hanging lantern illuminates a canvas map of the isles of the Shackles, with currents and depth marked, fastened to a wooden table with rusting nails. A model of the Grinning Pixie, carved from cork, shows the ship’s current position.
“I hope you lubbers aren’t afraid to get your feet wet. Here’s what I’ve got for you: you’re here to find a Thuvian caravel called the Pride of Aspenthar. The Pride’s captain was Jaheem Quinn, a half-elf with a magical knack for the water. Not a wizard or such, but I’ll be damned if the water didn’t do what he asked when he asked it. I hired Jaheem to take our agents on a mission to the Gloomspires, and neither he nor his ship ever returned to Drenchport. Divinations confirmed that the ship was lost and suggested that no one was aboard, but that could mean anything from them all abandoning ship to a hold full of dead sailors. The winds around the Eye of Abendego are always perilous, but sending Jaheem and his crew into such dangerous currents is one of my few regrets.” The half-orc pauses and shakes her head, her face hardening with resolve.
“The winds have been strange of late, and it seems they’ve turned up news of the Pride—wrecked, of course—near Tempest Cay. It’s a rough place where outside eyes aren’t welcome. You won’t find anyone willing to give account to strangers. I’ve developed a number of connections here, so I’ll see what I can discover on land about any survivors. Your task is to seek out the wrecked ship itself. I’ve been studying these waters and their currents a long time. If a ship has wrecked, it should be around here.” She stabs at the map with a strong finger. “At low tide, the water should be shallow enough to explore on foot in relative safety, without the waves lashing down. You’re to look for any information about why the ship went down, especially if it had to do with these currents. If you can, keep an eye out for Jaheem’s log. It should tell us quite a bit about what happened.”
“Follow any leads you find, but if something’s too much for you to handle, come find me on Tempest Cay. You can ask for me at the Drowned Dwarf in Drenchport. Otherwise, I’ll meet you back here.” Her gaze lingers on each face in turn. “Right. I’ve got to go landside to catch my contacts while they’re in their cups but still talkative. Be ready to leave an hour before dawn. Enjoy the comforts of the ship tonight, and make sure you visit the quartermaster; I’ve requisitioned specialized supplies for you, and you can ask her any questions you might have. Oh,” the half-orc grins, showing gleaming fangs, “and ask her to wish you luck.”
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Some locals believe the mostly absent ruler of Tempest Cay, the druid and pirate captain called the Master of Gales, must be controlling the mysterious winds and currents.
The pirates of the Shackles utilize the Eye of Abendego as a part of their defenses. Many of the residents of these isles are involved in piracy to some degree, which is related to their unwillingness to answer questions from outsiders.
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Souja chuckles at being referred to as an oak tree, before flat-out laughing at Perrine's comment. "If it's anything that I've learned, it's that gnomes are never boring. " She was about to continue that line of thought, when the sailor comes to collect the group. After listening to the captain, she immediately asks, "How long will we have for low tide? Should we hustle on getting in and out?"
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Willow's manner seems to brighten further and she eagerly squeezes Chhat's hand as she reaches up to Souja with the other. "Sisters! I like that," she nods, her willow-hair bouncing and waving in all directions. "Some leshies keep touch with their makers but some don't or can't. I think mine returned to the soil a long time ago. But I know that's what happens to all flesh peoples in time so I try not to be too sad about it - especially now that I've got new friends and the Pathfinder Society to keep me busy!"
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Willow shivers slightly when it's revealed that their task will involve getting wet. She waits to see what sort of answer the Venture-Captain has for Souja but then tugs lightly at the Shoanti woman's pant leg.
"Hopefully this quartermaster person will have answers too," she remarks. "We should go see her, before it gets late!"
"The quatermaster will have a much better idea than I do on both of those fronts," Benarry admits. "Things have been a little harry in these parts, and the quartermaster has been spending some serious time getting acquainted with it all. As I said, I do have to get going before my contacts get too drunk. You may do as you wish aboard my ship, but make sure you get to the quartermaster before heading to your hammocks!" And with that, the Venture-Captain leaves you to your own devices aboard the Grinning Pixie.
As the door closes smoothly, the wind seems to be dying down again, back to the gentle caress it was when you first scaled the stairs topside. Meanwhile, the dinner festivities seem to be winding down as well. The uproarious sea shanties have now given way to melancholy fiddle playing and the occasional somber song.
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Why is she grinning like a crazy kitsune? What does she mean, 'ask her to wish us luck?' Chhat wonders when the Captain finishes her briefing.
As the Captain leaves, Chhat looks to the others to see who will lead them out. She's confident in her own specialized abilities, but isn't really a leader-type. Back in Katapesh, she was known as a reliable and capable point-person when working on security and over-watch teams, but she always preferred being part of a team, rather than leading one. The way the Pathfinders organize their parties is so ... disorganized, she thinks with a silent chuckle.
She waits a moment to see if anyone will naturally step into role of team lead, before finally suggesting, "Perhaps we should go see this quartermaster" and then heading out the door.
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"Right, what I said!"
Willow darts out the door behind Chhat, nimbly ducking past her new sister's long legs. "If it's getting late then most of the people will be going to bed soon and we definitely don't want to wake them up after they've gone to bed just to ask questions!"
The leshy pauses for a moment.
"Most people don't seem to like that. Learned that the hard way."
You get the sense that there might be some sort of inside joke between the Venture-Captain and the Quartermaster, but you aren't quite sure what it is exactly.
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The quartermaster is a brightly dressed tengu who introduces herself as Kakikko. Her graying ruff feathers betray her age, but her eyes are bright and her bearing is spry and cheerful, in contrast to the seriousness of the venture-captain. It’s clear that she enjoys her post. “Hello, fellow Pathfinders,” Kakikko says. “You’re here to find the wreck of the Pride of Aspenthar, right? Good. I’ve some gear for you.”
Opening each of your hands, she firmly places a vial labeled "Water Breathing" in your palms before her leathery hands close your fingers around it. "Do not lose this one," she explains. "This is your ace in the hole if things go South!" Searching through a lofty cabinet, she finally plucks what seems like a small piece of driftwood wrapped in seaweed. Looking each of you over for a moment, she frowns. "I'm not sure which of you can use this thing here, but I can't keep it from you all the same. So... Here!" she says, handing Souja a wand of Touch of the Sea (10 charges, CL 1). "Last, but certainly not least, we have this!" she exclaims, proudly holding up a hand-sized wooden shard high into the air.
“This isn’t just any splinter. It’s a token that transforms into a swan boat.” The quartermaster leans forward, clacking her beak. “This boat drives itself by magic. It will only last for one day, but that should be much more time than you need. Now, do you have any questions?” she concludes, handing the shard to Perrine
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Willow carefully studies the vial in her hand for a moment before nodding and slipping it into her pack. "Right right, use in case of drowning because drowning is bad. Even plants can drown, if you water them too much!"
The leshy adopts a thoughtful pose, hand tucked under her chin, and asks, "What sorts of things live here? Are they nice? Will they eat us? Can my new sisters eat them?"
"Oh! And I do want to buy things; other Pathfinders told me that it's good to buy things before you go on a mission. When I asked them what were good things to buy they kept talking about 'alchemy fires' and 'dropping acid'," she adds. "I also heard 'swarm' mentioned a lot. So...I'll take one each of those alchemy fires and acid drops, please! Ooh, and those chewy things you've got there too!"
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Chhat sniffs the vial out of curiosity before tucking it into her worn leather bandoleer. She then checks the rest of her items, ticking each one off to remind herself of which is where.
"And a chewy crystal for me, too, please," she adds to the shopping list with a giggle at the terminology.
As the quartermaster fulfills their requests, and answers all the other questions, Chhat realizes she has one of her own. "Sumimasen, Kakkiko-san," she begins in Tien, thinking the Tengu might appreciate it. But she switches back to Common for the benefit of her sisters. "How many sailors would have been on the Pride?"
“Did she? Ha! It’s an old joke between us. Sailors are a superstitious lot, and many of them consider it good luck to have a tengu aboard. They call us jinx eaters, and they think we can dispel bad luck. Does she believe it, or is she just ribbing me? Who knows, anymore? But, good luck, all the same!” Kakikko responds to Perrine. As the orders come in, she turns to pull items from shelves while doing her best to keep up with the conversation.
"Very pragmatic, yes, the tide and the ship itself," she stalls to give herself time to ponder. "Two or three good hours, I would think, but these waters are famous for being unpredictable. If it were me, I wouldn’t linger.” A large jar of crystals almost falls to the floor, but in the nick of time she catches it. Producing a scoop, she fills small baggies and hands them to their recipients. “The figurehead is a carving of a sun orchid, apparently because Aspenthar is known for the sun orchid elixir. Let’s see. What else...? The ship was constructed of Thuvian wood, and the anchor and ballast should have distinct sun orchid stamps impressed into the metal.”
Willow's question gives her pause. "Well, out here in the Shackles, there is very little I would consider 'nice.' Typically, nice gets you killed out here, if you'll excuse the cynicism. Exceptions, to be sure, but you enter the food chain and are at the whim of the weather out there. The Eye of Abendego is fair enough away that you don't have to worry about it, but close enough that the stray storm or water elemental spins off of it every now and again. Try not to think about it to much, eh?" she explains while looking over her shoulder at the Leshy. Resuming her rummaging, she does add, "I expect animals will be your most common potential threat. Sharks in the water, overlarge lobsters in the reefs, things like that. Be prepared for worse, but we haven't heard of any Sahuagin or Grindylow attacks in these parts for some time."
Kakikko gives Chhat the closest thing to a smile that a beak can reach. After responding in kind, she addresses her question. "It shouldn't really matter, but I would wager about forty or so. They were well staffed, so if you are worried about them having met difficulties due to running a skeleton crew, have no fear!"
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A stocky human woman of possible Varisian decent appears above deck weary looking from what appears to be lack of sleep. Ink stains on her fingers as she mutters to herself while reading a book. Looking about the deck for a brief moment she calls out "I did it again didn't I?" a quizzical look appears across her face that swiftly changes to disappointment.
Another mission briefing, another chance to ask all the questions I have, I missed. What will Zarta think. Gah I really do need to learn to pull myself away from my work on a more regular basis. she thinks to her self when her stomach reminds her thay she hasn't eaten in nearly twenty four hours. "Umm, might the galley be open? she grabs her stomach as the acids begin eating the soft tissues of her stomach.
As she goes walking off she turns around "I am dreadfully sorry. I should introduce myself. The names Amethyst Erentry, alchemist by trade. Demolishionist by hobby. Pleasure to be making your acquaintance."
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As she reaches to take her packet of chewy crystals, Chhat hears a new voice behind her. Arigato gazaimasu, Kakikko-san," she says hurriedly while turning to see who the newcomer is.
"Amethyst! Wait..." Chhat calls out to the retreating figure, but when she gets no reply, she turns back to her new sisters.
"Maybe we should join her in the galley. I could use a bite, and maybe meet some more of the crew...." she suggests.
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Souja looks over the Varisian lady that approaches as she introduces herself. "Well, better late then never, I suppose," she says with a faint undercurrent of annoyance. She takes a couple moments to briefly run down the mission, before adding, "Since the boats already wrecked, I don't think another couple holes will be that noticed, so, your skill with bombs will be useful. We leave before dawn."
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"I don't know what sahaugin or grindylows are but I'll keep my eyes peeled just the same," Willow nods as Kakikko hands out everyone's purchases. "No one eats my sisters; they'll get a dagger in their back if they try! I'm very quick with them, you see."
She waves quite enthusiastically as Amethyst pops her head in long enough to say hello and order some items herself, calling out, "Hello Sister Amethyst! Demolishionist? I don't know what that is, but it sounds neat. Tell me about it later???"
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Turning about the Alchemist looks at the Vanara and utters out "こんばんは! a traditional Minkaian and Tien greeting of good afternoon, "私は天夏からの別の人に会うとは思わなかった！"
"I never thought I would meet another from Tian ,Xia!"
In her sudden excitement the 'Varisian' woman shifts forms suddenly to that of a violet haired kitsune. "Oohh.. yeah Kitsune... tee hee"
"Well I do enjoy a good alchemical reaction or two Souja."
"Aww sister Willow! Yes I will tell you everything about it this evening of course."
"Ie, Ie, Ejento-chan," Kakikko responds with a slight bow of her head. "Good luck Pathfinders!" she calls out as the group begins shuffling out.
Amethyst, keen on filling the void in her stomach, hears the sound of a wooden spoon striking a pot. "Last caaall!" faintly floats through the ship before nestling in your ears. It is clear from the distinct lack of sunlight filtering in through the wooden boards above you, that the hour is late.
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"EEP! Chhat blurts out in surprise when first Amethyst speaks Tien to her and then suddenly shifts forms! She quickly bows to Kakikko-san before chasing after Amethyst, eager to chat with her newest sister.
She grabs a filled bowl and joins Amethyst and the others at a long table also occupied by a few other lingering crewmembers. She flips her duster out of the way of her tail as she sits, and momentarily fingers a string of seven coins on her left wrist before digging into her bowl of... something.
"Oh, I'm not actually from Tian Xia. I grew up in Katapesh in one of the local vanara clans. But when I joined the Pathfinders, they got me into a monastery in Tianjing. They're integrating guns into their traditional styles, and I got to study there for almost a year." She pauses and sighs wistfully. "But then I felt like I needed to come back where things... and the food... are more familiar."
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Willow also tags along after Amethyst and Chhat, clearly curious about her new shape-changing sister. She claims a seat at the table but doesn't seem interested in a meal - though she does dump a cup of water over herself and her armor.
"I don't know where any of those places are," the leshy remarks thoughtfully as Chhat shares a little of her previous experiences in Tianjing. "But they sound very nice. Maybe I'll get to go, one day."
"Sister Amethyst, you changed your form like a butterfly does," Willow continues, wonder in her tone. "I didn't know that people could do that!"
With your bellies filled from a late night bite, and after some stimulating personal conversation with your companions, you eventually find yourself in a hammock. Although the ocean quickly rocks you to sleep, the hour before dawn comes all to soon.
Once you are ready for your journey, you all meet up topside. A bleary-eyed sailor, clearly regretting his nighttime choices, lowers you all down in a dingy, where you have ample space to summon your swan boat and be on your way. Following Venture-Captain Benarry's directions, you make plenty of headway before the sun finally peeks over the horizon and begins warming your skin.
Arriving at a reef littered with wrecks and debris, those of you with keen eyes are quickly able to spot what must be the remains of the Pride of Aspenthar. Its sun orchid figurehead is well-worn, but still vaguely recognizable and the redundant anchor bears an imprint of the same design. Unfortunately, the rough currents of deeper waters and the threat of circling sharks mean the most accessible path is walking across the reef.
The skeletal network of pink and red coral, outlining a series of tidal pools, presents only a single accessible break large enough for a small boat. The air is brackish here, with the scent of salt and dead fish hanging heavily. The coral tapers to razor-edged, ridge-like points at varying heights, while the tidal pools are slick with algae. In the shallows, wooden planks and flotsam from many shipwrecks are visible in various stages of warp and decay. A decaying ship lists along the outer edge of the reef, with a large hole torn through its hull like a menacing open maw. The painted name Pride of Aspenthar is just barely visible in flaking remnants of ornate gold script on the ship’s prow.
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Amethyst sits back as Willow asks her question about her sudden change and replys back with "Well you see I am of a race called Kitsune. Some think of us as tricksters others an ill thought omen. Amethyst shifts back to human form, muzzle melting into a smaller nose, and her fur begins to recede back into flawless olive skin "It is just who I am and that all it should come to these days."
"But if you think that was a nice trick check this out." within moments you see the kitsune begin to shrink and get down on all fours as her body changes further to that of a violet haired fox.
The kitsune looks about the area seeing that its likely to take some time to cross the reef. "Well there's no point in waiting for the ship to float by. Mine as well start along the way."
Amethyst begins her walk ever cautiously with a bomb in one hand and an extract in the other.
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I really want to feel the soft squishy sand between my toes, but that coral looks sharp. I'll leave my boots on. For now... Chhat thinks as she stands in the shallow water with her sisters.
The sight of the open vastness of the sea surrounding them makes this big-city girl a little worried. Kakikko-san said we were at the bottom of the food chain now. I just hope there's nothing around that's hungry.
In spite of her misgivings, she follows Amethyst forward across the sands, winding along the coral-walled path toward the Pride of Aspenthar.
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”You can turn into a Fox? That must be awesome! I’d give anything to be able to do something like that! I wish I had some of these cool powers,” Perrine grumbles.
As they arrive at their destination, she was a bit taken aback by the vast amount of water around them. She took a deep breath and pulled her starknife, following the others.
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"Oooh...I can change my form too but it wouldn't really make sense to do it out here in the water," Willow remarks as she climbs out of the boat and moves to follow after her sisters. "Well, not right now, anyway."
"Oh! Do you want me to creep ahead and have a peek? I can really creep when I want to," she quickly asks before they have a chance to get too far from their boat. "Creep like a vine! Or I can creep along behind everyone to make sure nothing tries to surprise us, that works too!"
Willow's creeping proves fruitful. After practically melding with the saltwater in a way that only a plant-person can, she spies several tidal pools brimming with sea life! Most notably, she spies a particularly large pool that has a small collection of unusual objects, but also notices that there are several large crabs resting upon them. As far as Willow can tell, they haven't seemed to have noticed her and made no pause from hunting the little fish imprisoned within.
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Though it takes a bit due to the difficult terrain and her short legs, Willow manages to scurry back to her sisters without causing a disturbance. She pops up next to Chhat, excitement in her voice.
"There's a big pool of water that way, around a bend in the coral," she points. "It looked like there were strange things in it, maybe people things. But there's also some biiiiig crabs in the pool too. I guess they'll probably try to eat us if we get close so we should be ready to try and fight or chase them away."
As she speaks, Willow casually draws out a dagger and then nods to the rest. "I'm ready when you are! I'll probably try to creep again though; it's easier to fight when you creep up on something first."
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As each of you sneak up in turn, one of the crabs shuffles over just a bit to observe what new being has ventured into its realm of existence. Living up to her namesake, Souja Stonewalker misjudges the depth of a submerged recess and what would have been a mere ripple is instead replaced with a calamitous splash. Having gained the attention of all four crabs, they slowly begin to shuffle towards you, abandoning their fish hunting.
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You aren't sure what it is about the way these crabs are moving, perhaps the lack of expediency, but you are confident that these crabs are more curious about y'all than anything else.