Thomas detects no traps on the door. He gives a nod to Ka'zaak who swins the door open. The dark space beyond contains a small bed, desk and a fold down map table. This must have been the first mate's cabin or something similar.
The room is just a standard room as far as Baltyr can see.
Ka'zaak stands, sword at the ready, outside the door below decks.
This door too is barred from the outside. After a look over by Thomas (nothing suspicious is found) the bar is lifted away and the door opened.
Unlike other sections of the ship, there are few signs of damage in this room other than those obviously caused by water. A waterlogged corpse floats in a large pool of water in the corner of the room, wearing a uniform of rotting finery, apparently dead from a stab wound in the side. The waves have washed most of the blood from the floorboards, leaving only a faded, rustcolored stain. A thick, weather-beaten journal is tucked into the corpse’s coat.
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The journal's pages are made of vellum and the ink on the pages is waterproof thus it is still mostly readable.
Jaheem’s journal contains an account of the ship’s last mission, detailing the departure of the Pathfinders’ landing party, the crew growing restless waiting for their return, and eventually the crew’s outright mutiny as the weather grew worse. Jaheem’s last entries describe the ship’s collision with the reef and his intent to try using his water-related powers to escape his imprisonment: an attempt that clearly failed. The journal also contains detailed logs and charts of the waters around the Eye of Abendego.
[spoiler=DC 15 Knowledge (geography or nature) You discern that Captain Jaheem had noticed several distinct changes in the currents near the location where the ship wrecked, and the captain’s cramped but neat
handwriting suggests he felt that someone, or something, may have been manipulating the Eye with potent magic.[/spoiler]
Looking around the cabin you also see a book up on a shelf which has remained dry. The title on its spine is Sailing Through the Eye: a Theoretical Study of the World’s Largest Storm
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Angrboda flips through the journal with trembling fingers, periodically turning it this way and that, before showing the others a few of the charts.
"Look. See here? This seaman Jaheem saw that the currents were changing about his ship, pushing them to their doom - and see? He holds his pen like a man who fears powers beyond his ken looming over him. Works of magic may have guided the Eye to act against him."
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As the scholars finish up their research, Ka'zaak adds, "I am sure that the Pathfinder Society will honor these tomes as they try to determine what is causing the rogue weather patterns. Shall we place them in our haversacks and continue or do you need more time to study?"
Ka'zaak waits patiently as he knows research can be a time consuming experience.
When they are ready he leads them back to the coral.
You investigation of the shipwreck seemingly complete you board the swan boat and the current pulls you toward the sea cave. Around you there are ships the have gotten past the reefs, but have been smashed to pieces on the cliffs by the relentless waves and current.
What appears to be natural, slanted brown rock from a distance resolves into the broken wood of shipwreck upon wreck, surrounding the entrance to a small sea cave cut into the cliff of Tempest Cay by the fierceness of wind, water, and time. The ships that have somehow skirted the coral shallows or were too large to enter the cave have been smashed against the rocky cliffs.
The currents do not cease as you enter the cave. If anything, they are rougher: the same powerful force now operating within a smaller space. The cave sports several small coves into which you could steer to find a moment’s respite from the current. The light here is dim but not dark thanks to glowing algae that grows along the damp walls.
As soon as you pass within the cave entrance, your boat is jostled from below.
Baltyr falls into the water while Bargus stays in the boat.
Those of you in the water feel something swim by your legs. Jaws snap close by without actually hitting your flesh. A creature with the front of a horse and the back half of a fish surfaces within your group and jostles you about before goign back underwater again.
The rider seems to have cuts and bruises all over and is unconscious. Baltyr attempts to calm the animal, but cannot quite make it work.
They are right up beside the boat. The hippocampus is swimming around you, clearly distressed and exhausted. The rider is unconscious and tangled in the tack of his/her mount.
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After some fumbling, Angrboda manages to retrieve her healing wand - a length of twisted driftwood, tapering into a somewhat flamboyant spiral at the end and studded with several very small emeralds - and uses it over the floundering rider.
"Help," She addresses Ka'zaak tersely, clearly recognizing him as a holy man.
The rider's eyes flutter open as his wounds close. He reaches down and weakly pulls at the straps managing to get himself back into the saddle with some effort.
Its rider safe the hippocampus calms over the next few moments. Between them the rider and his mount help those of you in the water back into your boat. Once everyone is safely back on board the rider speaks. Thank you for your help
My name is Nalu. He pats the hippocampus on the flank. This is Kelp. He takes a breath. The current caught us and pulled us in. He feels the side of his head. I fear I was dashed against the rock, but I don’t entirely remember.
I was on a diplomatic visit to another undersea community. I underestimated the currents’ strength. I must return to my people and tell them of this phenomenon. But before I go, please accept this as a reward for your helping me. You will also be doing me a further good service by lightening the load on poor Kelp here who is exhausted.
Nalu hands you his saddlebags. Inside you find a masterwork trident, a masterwork underwater heavy crossbow with 20 bolts, two potions of cure
light wounds, four potion sponges, a compass, a signal whistle and a potion of heroism. It also contains a carved obsidian figurine worth 30 gp.
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A look of sadness crosses Ka'zaak's face. "Friend, I thank you for these generous gifts. It shames me to say, but I am not able to help poor Kelp...." unless its sickened "But if you need any wounds healed I would be more than happy to cure you."
Ka'zaak takes the gifts and hands them to his friends.
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"I think he just means," Replies Angrboda, politely returning Ka'zaak's gorilla-etiquette in an uncommon moment of social grace, "that by taking his goods, we relieve Kelp of his burden, and that itself is enough."