As Zarine laid out her demands of the ghosts, Klara's eyes begin to deepen to an alarming, dark red and for just a moment you imagine that she is on the edge of unleashing a murderous scream. The moment passes however, and she abruptly returns to form. "I shall see to the safety of those you freed myself," she assures you. "If there are others to save in this place, you must find them yourself."
She quickly flies away, seeming to wave or perhaps swim through the air to the east. Shade chuckles as she goes. "That was magnificent! That's the closest Our Proper Lady has come to losing her composure I've ever seen! Grand stuff. She must be on edge, so close to the blood of those who robbed us of our own. Ah, but the songs of the dying are enough for me." Shade seems very happy.
The ghostly figure shrugs as he watches her go. "We're all broken. Deeply so. Missing something important. She'll do as she says, though, that one. Can't say I'd do the same..."
As you converse, you see the first of the skeletons and zombies shambling up from the river in the direction of the pirate settlement. The ghosts that arrived first are largely terrorizing the pirates. When their more corporeal allies arrive, the slaughter will begin in earnest.
We must move quickly M’lady!, he says darting towards the village in a mad dash search for prisoners, trying to weave in and out of the mobs of the walking dead.
Zarine goes with Axel, searching for any prisoners that need to be saved from the undead swarm.
You rush back into the village, which has fallen into chaos. Some pirates attempt to swing their swords uselessly at the ghosts while others rush about screaming in terror.
Just to the north of the desecrated chapel of Morr, you see a group of around ten pirates that are rallying to their apparent leader. "To me! We make for the ship!" he cries.
Another group of pirates is attempting to hole up in one of the barrack buildings. Among buildings you haven't yet explored, there are the two barracks buildings (one of which is occupied by pirate defenders right now), an oval-ish building that you saw a light in earlier and a variety of small shacks scattered around the settlement, likely living spaces for individual pirates. You don't see any buildings that look like the lockup that you found prisoners in before.
Zarine turns to Axel (and anyone else that is coming with them) and tells them
I hear crying. Can't tell if it is coming from that oval-ish cabin or from one of those small shacks. We need to find out. This way!
Then she dashes off to get closer to the ovalish building, which seems like the most likely option. Her goal is to find out where the crying is coming from, and to hopefully render aid to any non-pirates .
Yes M’lady!, he yells, too filled with adrenaline to be the pissing himself scared that he should be.
Zarine and Axel rush toward the oval-ish building, skirting around the edges of sporadic conflict between the ghosts and pirates as they go. As you do, the gathered pirates to the north begin to rush toward the path toward the riverside, seeking to break through the approaching cordon of undead.
The southern door to the building is open, and you rush in to a room that is cozily set up by the standards of such a rural settlement. A rocking chair covered by a worn, tasseled quilt sits next to a desk and chair covered with books as well as a quill and pen. A small fire crackles merrily in the room's hearth. A short hallway to the north bears doors to the north and east. The sound of crying is more audible here, coming from the hallway.
Moving further into the building, the eastern door opens into a comfortable bedroom with a single shuttered window to the east of the room. Through the northern door you find another bedroom, much smaller in size with a northern window. The sound of crying leads you to find a young boy beneath the bed, crying under the bed. "Daddy, where are you?"
Zarine crouches down to talk to the boy.
Hi. I'm Zarine. Why don't you come with me, and maybe we can find your dad, okay?
She isn't sure if the kid's father is a pirate or if he was stolen from another settlement, but either way, it's a child, and she isn't going to let him be killed by the ghosts.
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I will take him M’lady… if he will come to find Daddy that is, and am used to toting burdens around… he would be light in my arms, he says, also on the same page. But let us make haste, time is short and there are other buildings.
Zarine nods at Axel, not concerned about who the boy will come to, only worried about whether he will come at all so they can save his life.
Calph follows behind the others muttering prayers to the gods while keeping his eyes down. The ghostly lady boring her eyes into his skull unnerves him and he wants to not anger them (further).
Hearing the crying also he nods to Zarine as he follows behind. As he looks up and hears the rallying cry he grits his teeth angry.
Not on me watch matey.. not today you dont.
He mutters under his breath then stands and points to the rallying cry as he moves away from the others slightly letting them deal with the child while he glares at the pirate commander. keeping an eye on them so that they aren't lost to him in the chaos.
Pointing and seething with anger not having more than a dagger at this range, but fully willing to let the undead and their fury be his own in this moment.
Spirits! THERE! THERE IS YOUR HATED RIVAL!! after directing the undead to the rallying cries of the captain he will return to Zarines side. Patiently waiting for the child to be taken care of before speaking to her and explain his actions.
"sorry m'lady, I need closure on this chapter. I am better now and willing to serve." he bows low. I am but a sailer upon these waters, my name is Calph, my surname is na important but i will serve alongside you as promised.
Seeing the child and the trepidation in his eyes he tears a bit of his shirt and using the boot laces he had from earlier he will make a poppet and hand it to axel.
its not the finest toy, but perhaps a poppet?
Axel takes the trinket, hoping it helps.
It takes some time to coax the boy out from under his bed. The sounds of the marauding undead outside aren't helpful. At one point, a pair of skeletons burst through the door but withdraw after seeing you. You manage to get the boy to tell you his name, Konrad Links.
You don't have a way to gauge whether the boy is truly a blood relation of the seeming pirate captain, but the boy clearly believes that the man is his father.
Leaving the oval-ish building, you see the skeletons and zombies departing the village, their bloody work done. A few of them give you a single, unsteady nod as you go. The ghosts perform a brightly multi-colored circuit around you before swarming up into the night sky, and then back down as they pass through the entrance and exit of the temple of Morr, completing their cycle in life as they fade into the darkness.
Soon, only Klara and Shade remain. The pair of prisoners you rescued earlier stumble into the village, looking thoroughly dazed.
Klara speaks first. "I will not stay long. It is a wondrous thing to be free again. I offer you my thanks and the thanks of all those you have saved this night."
I wonder if we have done a good thing. Of course, freeing the captives was the thing to be done, but using vengeful ghosts might weight on our souls.
She shakes her head, as if to shake off the memories of the night
?othing I studied in the medical school prepared me for that
Zarine runs with Axel yelling for Hildegard and any other of the pirates' victims.
____
To Klara, Zarine says Thank you for letting us know of the horrible predations and murders that were happening, and allowing us to help. I further greatly thank you for sparing the innocent, though it seemed difficult for you. One last question. Do you know whether any of them got to their ship and got away? I know I saw some of them rallying to try that.
To Magda, Zarine responds
I doubt that the gods will blame us for helping the offended ruin those that harmed them, and thus prevent it from happening to others. It was simple justice. I only worry that we might have missed some prisoners. If we did, it is ultimately the fault of the pirates that took them in the first place, but still I worry that we could have done more.
Despite your efforts, you find no trace of Hildegard or other survivors. If there were other innocents on the island, they were swept up in the massacre.
Klara frowns as she answers Zarine's question. "There were some pirates that escaped from the island, taking their ship with them. It is strange...earlier that idea would have enraged me but now I feel nothing. It seems their fate must remain a matter for the living."
"Now I must go to find my betrothed. I think his name was...well, I will find out. If you ever visit my home, place a flower for me."
With that, Klara drifts into the distance. As she does, the sun peeks over the horizon just above her path and the ghost is gone.
Shade grins at you. Perhaps. It's hard to tell. "Not too bad for a night's work! I'm feeling much better about everything now. Not so tied down, either. You know, I might just stick around for a bit. Have some fun. Had enough of this river, though. Time to see the sights! Never know, I might bump into you all again sometimes!"
He turns around, but looks over his shoulder before departing. "Give my regards to our ancient friend. I don't see them around just now but I expect you haven't seen the last of them."
He zig-zags into the darkness. You are left alone with those you rescued on the island as the sun slowly continues to rise. Your sense of time seems addled. Have you really been on the island long enough for the entire night to pass? If not, that is perhaps the least strange event that transpired.
Axel breathes a sad sigh of relief in the aftermath.
In a real way, despite not having used magic in the affair, he had seen it, albeit of a dark and vengeful sort. He would remember the power of necromancy until the day he died.
He was saddened by the lack of other survivors. It was the futility of it all that drove him to nearly weep. They’d risked much, lost their earlier passage and still the only thing gained was the peace of those who were kept briefly from Morr.
M’lady we still need a boat to stop by here for passage down river. And I’m afraid that will require money. Dare we search the now empty pirate camp in the light of day for some coin and such? I don’t really care that much for money but I believe we are going to need it… and maybe this small outpost will as well. A 50-50 split will help us both.
Zarine bids farewell to Klara, and is worried about Slade's last words, but her heart slows to a more normal pace as the ghosts move away.
She was disappointed that they hadn't found any other survivors, and it was possible that the boy's father had escaped, although leaving your boy behind and the fact that he was a pirate and worshipped an evil deity didn't make him much of a father, but it was for the boy to learn to deal with that as he grew.
When Axel speaks, she shakes herself, knowing that they couldn't just stand there, and she responds:
Yes, Axel, good idea. Now that we know there are no other survivors and the ghosts have retired, let's do some looting. The dead don't need the trappings of life, and I doubt that the few living will be back anytime soon; nor do they deserve the wealth that they gained from murder. Gather up anything useful that you see, and anything that we don't need we can take to the small settlement that we visited yesterday.
We can also make the overland journey. We don't necessarily need a boat. I worry that the crew of the last one may have spread rumors about you. Be careful of the boy.
Zarine starts searching the little huts and any bodies they come across for cash, weapons, jewelry, and other valuables. She also takes clothing and other necessities for Calph and the other recently freed prisoners and for the small boy if they are to be had.
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The bodies of the slain, both pirate and a small number of the undead, are scattered around the island where they fell. On the bodies of the pirates you find twenty-four hand weapons and leather jacks, many of which are in poor condition. The combined total of loose coin held by the dead pirates is 9 silver shillings & 414 brass pennies. The former shrine of Morr also has a large number of knives, daggers and other cutting instruments hanging on the walls, but most of these are in even worse conditions than the weapons the pirates used. You can likely sell them for something.
You also find some food in the living quarters of the pirates. It seems that they largely lived off what they took, and they have no long term storage.
In the Links cabin you find a diary, a locked strongbox, a compass, a dose of faxtoryll, two vitality draughts and five books, two of which are of particular interest. One book is titled Under the Knife by Egmont Lissauer & Hugo Goldfeld and is an examination of surgical techniques. The other is titled Arts and Principles of the Amber Wind by Roald Staffel. The book appears to be only mostly complete and details the author's understanding of the wind of Ghur.
After battering away at the chain & lock on the single remaining unexplored building in the settlement, you manage to knock the lock off and obtain entrance.
Inside, you find some firewood as well as a collection of the pirate gang's ill-gotten gains. There are twelve unmarked barrels filled with coal, 4 barrels containing rifle ammunition and powder that are marked for delivery to the Ubersreik State Army (care of the First Kemperbad Grain Exchange) and nine large bags of wheat that are marked & owned by the First Kemperbad Grain Exchange. A tenth sack of grain took on too much moisture and spoiled. You also locate a set of tools for carpentry, a storm lantern (filled with oil) and a finely made rapier.
In the light of day, you can also explore the island more thoroughly. Aside from some scrub plants along with wild geese & goats, you find the docks the pirates must have tied their ship at the end of the path descending north of the settlement to the shore. A healthy length of rope remains on the dock, though it is severely frayed from the pirates' frantic escape.
Gathering your findings (there is too much to take with you right now), you find your boat still resting against the shoreline where you beached it earlier. You row the boat back to the Oberhauser farm, where you find Wieland sitting on the short dock, seemingly waiting for you. He waves as you approach.
"Figured you'd done something out there now that the island is back. Did you get your pirates?" he asks?
I’m willing to stay behind M’lady. I have seen things… that need much thought, and to steel myself for future studies. I think our villagers will see a fatter season with much of the foodstuffs,
Sounds good Axel. Gather up some other things for our next trip. Maybe see if you can salvage some of that rope.
Zarine claims the fine rapier. She takes the former prisoners over to the small village.
She responds to Wieland We did, at least mostly. This group are the only people we could find that they were holding prisoner, and this boy was left behind as well. His father was one of the pirates, and was possibly one of the ones who got away, escaping from the Northern dock. We also found some good trade goods over there... not sure if you want to risk the wrath of the remaining pirates by accepting some of it in return for your help, but there are several barrels of coal that might be useful, all number of poor weapons that might be able to be sold or repaired, and several bags with ammunition and grain marked as belonging to the First Kemperbad Grain Exchange, which you could either use, or perhaps return for a possible reward if you prefer. Not sure if they have been looking for it, or have written it off as lost to piracy.
We'd also be obliged if we could borrow a crowbar to get into a lockbox that we found. There might be more that we could share in there.
... I also need to borrow the rowboat for just a bit longer to bring back the rest of my people. I am not sure how long it will be safe over there, as the few pirates that escaped might come back to assess the damage and try to re-establish themselves.
As you search through the Links cabin, Zarine notices a false wall on one side of the building, and inside a panel you locate a wadded-up wedding dress made with extremely fine materials, an outfit of courtly garb, a silver hair spike set with two emeralds and a silver brooch in the shape of a flower, set with a large moonstone.
----
"I've got plenty of wrath for these folk of my own. We've no need to worry about them if you've thinned the herd. Folk like that aren't likely to return anytime soon if they've been routed off like you suggest."
"Why don't I join you on your return trip and we'll see what we can figure out?"
After taking a look around, Wieland states matter-of-factly that they'll have to do something with all of the corpses on the island before carrion becomes too much of a problem. He looks at the strongbox but decides that any tools he has wouldn't be appropriate for it. He'd be happy to share some of the trade goods, but there's too much of it for his farmstead and suggests that you flag down a barge and take the majority of the trade goods with you for sale (or returning to the owners) elsewhere.
After examining the ruined temple of Morr, Wieland looks over the area with a thoughtful gaze. "It's a shame what's happened here. The bones of the place look solid enough, though. It'd take a lot of work, but I could see someone setting up a nice home in this spot."
As Zarine finds the treasure behind the false wall, she admires the wedding dress, but wonders where it came from. Had this perhaps been Klara's? She takes the items and writes a note to herself to find out the rest of the story if possible.
In talking to Weiland, she says
That's an excellent idea. Perhaps we will set up a base here. I have some ideas.
She takes some time to get the trade goods to the northern dock where they can hail a riverboat when they are ready, she talks to Weiland about helping to take care of the corpses and also about whether he has the time to help cleanse the temple before they come back, and if there is something his community needs that they can attempt to obtain in return for their help.
She also sits down with the former prisoners, including Calph and the boy, to find out what they want to do. She specifically asks the boy about his mother, hoping that she is alive somewhere and he can be returned to her rather than trying to chase down and perhaps end up killing his father.
That such a thing exists? This book is a treasure above all to one such as I who wishes to study the ’Mysteries’! I wish I could read! It’s so frustrating!
He pauses and thinks.
I don’t know how to put this M’lady. I have not the words so I will just speak the words in my heart. Such a treasure might buy my entry into one of the Empires magical academies, otherwise I hear the favours needed and funds needed are punishingly expensive and heavy to be bourne. I know the others also get a voice, and I respect such but…. When the time comes, could we trade that book for my training?
If we must, Axel, but perhaps it is a book that you could learn from, and if so we don't want to lose it before giving you a chance to learn from it. When we camp later, let's work on teaching you to read, using that book. That seems like sufficient motivation, does it not?
Also, what if we stopped here long enough to cleanse that church and make sure some of the cabins were livable? This could be our base of operations, and we could teach each other a few things... perhaps I could teach all of you some noble etiquette in case we end up in a situation that requires it, and you could teach me how to more effectively interface in human society... and anyone who wants to learn to read and write any languages that I know, I could help with that as well.
We couldn't stop completely for too long, both because we all have other goals, and because my mother expects me to be seen, but she also wants me to learn how to get along with other peoples, and you could teach me much of that. I mean, you have already, but there is much more I probably don't know of humans... and I am concerned that the school will expect you to be able to read.
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Axel looks around the site dubiously.
Its not much of a spot… and quite out of the way, he hedges before brightening. But it is on the river and we could set it up as a rest waypoint!.
He looks around again.
Gonna take a lot of time and work through… much like my learning to read I expect.
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Magda was already caught of in the book of surgery.
Some place to rest in, study and learn would be welcome. I agree. This book is fascinating, I've heard about it but never got the chance to read it.
Calph looks about at the carnage.
Aye, we could set up shop here. Goats, housing, a dock, a temple of Moor. Good bones says he, Small serfdom says I. Eh Zarine? I can stay behind for this trip, and you can come back for me. Ill clean up a bit. Burn the bodies, pray to the gods, maybe even get that barracks repaired using some of the other buildings in the area so that we have a right proper lodge to start with. That is of course assuming you will have me along with yas for the long term? What say ye?
he says with a good natured smile.
As fer the treasure... He taps Axel and hands him back his knife. Thank ye fer this. Ill see if I can find any serviceable daggers from the pirates gear. Ifn Yall doonah mind Id like to take a leather jack as well. Some armor might be useful iffn we continue to see combat. Zarine, that rapier we found in the closet is of good quality. Might be an upgrade to your foil? He looks over the dock area.
Tis ashame they got away with the ship. Perhaps oneday we might own our own. He sighs as he looks over the horizon.
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Axel will help the elf sailor with his refitting efforts, figuring there isn’t any difference between Zarine and Calph apart from social class and his patron would like him to help one of her own.
That's fine, Calph, there is plenty of armor for everyone that wants some, and you are welcome to come along with us. Once we get everyone ferried over to the mainland that wants to go, I think we will stay here and get some things done... at least enough that we have a place to come back to. ... There are also other hand weapons here, if you find something else you can use. Just check the quality carefully, a lot of the weapons seem to be poor quality.
Zarine searches through the leather garb for undamaged pieces that she can use as armor as well. She probably isn't going to wear it normally, since it isn't high quality , but if they get into a situation where they are specifically going monster hunting (like that aborted attempt a while back where we all ran), then she might want some extra protection.
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Zarine and Magda eventually find some time to settle in and go over the pirate captain's diary.
That was when the Lord of the Skull found me--the fool never told me his name--and introduced me to Khaine's mighty blessings. I had killed before, but never had I felt so alive as when I plunged my knife into the heart of the soldier and dedicated his soul and mine to our god.
I served under the Lord of the Skull for months. Given our devotion it should not come as a surprised that our thoughts soon turned to the murder of the other. He was a timid man, never truly ready to commit--there is a clear line between prudence and cowardice. In a bid to tame me, the Lord of the Skull revealed his secrets to me. He likely thought I would be awed by his story of taking the head of Bloody Klaas and converting it to a holy relic of Khaine. This was his final mistake, for he remained unaware that I am the true heir of the powers he laid claim to. The irony is almost as pleasing as the sight of the old man's blood was on my hands.
Having taken on the mantle of Khaine's chosen, I followed omens until I came to the island of my present home. There I found a shrine of Morr, abandoned and overgrown. I knew then that Khaine was demanding that I take possession of the shrine, for my lord is the true master of death.
The jawbone of the skull has power as well, though not as great as father's skull. The area it can ward is smaller, though large enough to bless a proper vessel, and it only wards from observation. A small boat I blessed was able to collide with another ship which I approached unseen. The blessings bestowed on my family are truly great, as this will facilitate my plans to further Khaine's glory in this land. A surly crew of wreckers will easily slaughter even river patrols if they are able to collide with their ship while yet unseen. I expect a harvest unlike any I have yet seen.
I've told the rest that the Skull's power lies only with those of the blood of Bloody Klaas running in their veins. 'Tis untrue, as the Lord of the Skull made use of it before I, but it should keep mutiny further from the minds of the men.
After reading the diary, Zarine is concerned that the leader is out there with an *invisible* boat and will be able to go on with his evil ways. She is also concerned about the Redblades and wonders if they are going to have to deal with them as well at some point.
Those weren't immediate concerns however, and for now she works with her group and the villagers to clean up the island, get rid of the bodies, and make sure that the place is habitable, for she intends to lay claim to the island and return here after they solve some other problems.
In the evenings she works with Axel and anyone else who cares to join, teaching him how to read.
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Wieland shakes his head when Axel offers to move the farmstead to the island. "This place isn't big enough for a group like ours to farm, even if we were able to use the whole plot. No...the farm will stay where it is. If you lot settle some roots here, though, we'd be happy to have neighbors."
Some days pass peaceably as you clear away the remains of the pirate occupation, make some repairs, tend the gardens & otherwise straighten out the island settlement. The villagers from the Oberhauser farm row over to help when they can and offer to put you up for the nights in the farmstead. The building was formerly used as a river inn, so there are plenty of bedrooms available even with the large number of people. The farmstead has a flag they can run up on a pole to call for passing barges to stop. Any ships that come to them will want business, but should have cargo space available on their ship. No one asks about Hildegard.
The farmers do turn a cold shoulder on Konrad Links, however. While not mistreating the child, they obviously consider him connected with the pirate attack and Hildegard's death. At one point over the week, Wieland tells you to take the boy with you when you leave. "I don't trust myself with him," he grumbles.
You also get to know the pair you rescued from the pirates as well. The woman introduces herself as Margarite de la Rochelle, a Brettonian. She has golden blonde hair and hazel eyes and tells you that she was bound northward for Kalegen where she had secured a position as an actress when her ship was attacked. She seems resigned to having lost her position due to the delays involved in the pirate attack, as her work was to start immediately and she was already late in arriving.
The man is Wolfhard Rothenstein, a middle-aged man with a Nuln accent with grey eyes and light brown hair. His ship was bound northward as well, heading to Middenheim on business. His cargo went down with the ship he and Margarite were on when they were attacked by Meinard Links. He seems obviously nervous about something and admits that without his cargo he won't be able to repay his creditors.
The night before you leave, the Oberhausers offer to hold a lavish (for their circumstances) dinner for everyone.
The young man is happy to feast on the fruits of the river pirates illgotten gains before moving on.
The last week had been… well, restful. He was under no concern of being burned as a witch, and his Lady had been reading the books to him when she could. Thoughts and concepts that were scattered before are drawing together and somebody making sense, at least in abstract terms. He felt he was on the edge of seeing or understanding something that he should have grasped all along. And he felt hope. That book would serve, hopefully, as a way to get into training under a wizard someday soon, and without the need to sell himself into a lifetime of servitude because of crushing debt.
By the gods, he could even read a few words. He’d never felt so blessed.
Wolfhard asks to speak with you that evening. "I've noticed that you have some cargo to sell when you return to civilization. I would like to offer my services in selling your goods. It would help me greatly if I had even a small sum to start rebuilding my own fortunes. Would a twenty percent commission be acceptable?" he asks. "I regret that in my destitution I must beg your favor for passage to the city in either case."
"I'd ask the same, at least for passage," Margarite adds in. "I am too late for my work in Kalegen, but my family's name should carry some weight for me when I return to the city."
The next morning, the Oberhausers run up a flag on a rickety pole to call passing ships over that have an interest in doing business with them. A few hours later and two ships heading south (the wrong way) later, an Estalian captain pulls his barge over to the dock. After introductions, he tells you that he'll be able to take your party to Grunberg with him for 1/10 per head and 0/5 for each barrel or bag.
I'd like to haggle the price, but if Hans is still with us, then he is still my bodyguard and servant, so I'll roll for him to do it instead of me since he is better at it, but I will stand there with him, so that it is clear that he is working for me.
Zarine tells Wolfhard that she is happy to pay his way back to the city, but that fifteen percent commission on the sale of the goods seems more equitable under the circumstances.
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Wolfhard happily accepts the offer of the fifteen percent commission. He takes a look at the cargo as he takes stock of its value. "This coal is high quality," he comments as he looks it over. "I'd say you should get somewhat over a gold crown for each barrel. The going rate for the ammunition is a crown and four silver. I wouldn't expect to get much out of the wheat though. Maybe half a crown for each bag if you are lucky."
The captain shrugs and his men chuckle as Zarine takes note of the empty decks of his barge. There is plenty of room for him to take new cargo and passengers on.
"Twenty and four then," he concedes. "Is the least I can do for such a lovely woman."
The journey back to Grunberg is slow, with Captain Ramos stopping his ship at several minor docks along the way as he seeks more cargo for his barge. Despite this, he seems to be mindful of his current passengers and never lingers long at any stop.
The weather has turned sour with a light but steady rain, and the bargemen work under sodden cloaks without talking much.
Zarine addresses Wolfhard
We can sell the coal straight out, but maybe not the ammunition and wheat. Do you know the marking on those containers? It looks like it belongs to someone, so this will be more like restoring stolen goods.
Perhaps we can negotiate a finder's fee for recovering and returning the goods to whoever they belong to? They may already have offered a reward, and there might also be open offers out there for tracking down river pirates. If you hear anything during your negotiations, let me know. No harm in being paid, even though that isn't why we did it. Same commission rate if you find the offer and bring it to us first.
___
After being complimented so nicely, Zarine smiles at the captain and pays him.
_____
Hans will try intuition
Zarine will try the hard Perception, because she probably has the best chance at it.
Zarine notices that a river creature is following them, and she points it out to the captain.
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