Fane will ritual cast Detect Magic and then look around when the boat is on the water for anything magical. After that she will send Leo up in the air to fly around and scout. She will look through the owl’s eyes. If using her own eyes seems more effective than looking through the owl, she’ll do that instead, but the owl has advantage on perception via sight. Fane will stay in the boat, since she's buzzed. 

So, perception with advantage looking through the owl: 21

D100: 25

Also, if we are lifting bodies or cargo into the boat, I will use Shape Water to help with that task, like a water elevator.

Eron is quickly scanning underwater…

investigation check 22   And d100 = 92

No way Tilliman is getting wet looking for dead bodies. He remains in the boat, "helping" by keeping an eye out and attaching his grappling hook...

Perception: 17

Therris considers diving into the water for a second, and considers that he would really rather not, instead electing to gaze over the edge.

Perception: 11

Quote from HunterOrien >>

Eron is quickly scanning underwater…

investigation check 22   And d100 = 92

 
Regdus follows Eron. He never has been a great swimmer but could still manage to swim and dive a little.
As he touches the water, the electric arcs between his fingers crackle and stop. 
"Hey, anyone can add some light on one of my objet with arcane magic ? We will see better."

Perception: 13

As Eron [and Regdus?] plunges into the warm waters, the surface world fades away, replaced by the serene embrace of the ocean depths.  Beneath the waves, visibility is reduced to a hazy blur of shifting shadows and dappled sunlight, but the divers press onward, determined to fulfill their solemn task.

Descending through the murky depths, the diver's senses are heightened, every movement and sound magnified by the silence of the deep.  The seabed comes into view, scattered with stones and shells, and with more than a few broken crab traps.  Despite the cloud of debris on the surface, there is very little sub-surface debris to be found.  What little you do see, appears to be much older than last night's wreck.  Picking along the small reefs and boulders on the bottom, the divers searches for any sign of the lost souls they seek, returning to the surface for air before diving back down once again.

Meanwhile, on the surface, the rest of the party waits anxiously in the small fishing boat, buffeted by the relentless winds and churning waves.  The sun beats down mercilessly, its warmth a stark contrast to the ominous storm brewing on the horizon.  The boat rocks and pitches with each passing swell, leaving its occupants feeling queasy and unsettled.  This is felt uniquely by Fane, as the warmth in her belly fades in and out into the beginnings of vertigo and seasickness.  She is able to complete a ritual to seek out nearby magical energy, but thus far has detected none.

Your oarsman, Geralt, continues to look south, practically narrating the progress of the storm there. After half an hour, it appears no closer than before, but Geralt's attitude has become one of constant whining.  In fairness, it does seem to be something of an ordeal keeping the boat oriented in a way to minimize the wave action, and your group's discomfort would likely be much worse were it not for his efforts.

Despite the discomfort of the choppy seas, the party remains vigilant, scanning the surface for any sign of trouble for their comrades below, as well as watching for and structure of debris on the bottom and directing Eron and Regdus toward it when they surface.  They grip the sides of the boat tightly, their knuckles white with tension, as they wait for the diver to resurface with news of their discovery.

Yet after half an hour, the divers have found no trace yet of any bodies.  The desire of a quick and easy recovery are dashed.  Still, there is a lot more water to cover in this area.

Fane translates a report from her owl.  There is a shallow reef further out, where there appears to be a lot of structure under the surface that could have caught up a drowned body or two.  Also, a little further west, there is a deep pool, which could also hide remains.  Both are within the surface eddies and seem likely enough to hide the grim object of your pursuit.

As Eron and Regdus rest beside the boat, bobbing in the waves, the group can deliberate on what to do next.  Continue the search here?  Move on to one of those other nearby locations?  Abandon the quest, for now?

While this is considered, Eron notices an unusual and breathtaking sight.  A migratory flock of hundreds of manta rays fill the area.  Whether just passing through, or drawn in by your antics under the surface, they circle and swim nearby, but never getting too close.  Though most of them are quite large, there are smaller mixed in, perhaps young, or different species of ray.  They are filter feeders, and not predatory, so there should be nothing to fear.  It is an interesting development, especially for those in the water.  

Eron would eagerly like to search where Leo indicated seeing wreckage.  “I’d like to press on just a little longer.  If nothing turns up I’ll get us to shore.  Fane are you okay?  Regdus the rays are not predators they are a wonderful sight to see!”  Eron feels invigorated in the water, his muscles stretch and his heart beats his senses shift to accomodate the sonics and movements around him.

Can Eron tell how much time they have?

Eron:

“I’m fine, thanks” Fane says, looking at Eron. “I think that dwur whiskey had gone bad, probably sitting too long.” She adds a smile, one that tells she doesn’t really mean what she said, but hoping to provide a bit of explanation as to why she is paler then her normal, pale complexion.

“I agree, let’s check out the reef or the deep pool. I’d say whichever is further let’s check first, then we can hit the other on the way back to shore before the storm gets here?”

She then speaks a quick incantation and casts Shape Water, from the surface of the water erupts a three-foot-wide manta ray made of water, it flies a few feet in the air and then crashes back into the surf. “They’re spectacular” she says, looking at the real rays, this time the smile on her face is sincere.

OOC: Leo will keep on flying above.

Tilliman is distracted, taking in the way the scenic beauty that surrounds them contrasts with the grim nature of their work...

Then, hearing mention of a reef, he's pulled away from his revery. He gazing up at Fane's familiar and out in whatever direction he assumes the reef must be.

Finally, he looks to the others, adjusts his spectacles and adds, "Er, pardon, but if we're choosing one to investigate, I would just as soon inspect the reef... No telling what sort of, um... Interesting discoveries may lie beneath the waves..." Realizing his words might come off as insensitive to the current situation, he quickly adds. "...without taking any attention away from our current responsibilities, of course."

Trying to stay afloat, Regdus agreed "Very well, let us check this reef."
This job hasn't proved to be very fruitful and he wonders where the bodies could be "Such a large ship, there should be quite a lot of people on it. and large debris. Where are they? this is very strange..."

The shallow reef is a little further from shore.  Geralt Wildeye turns the boat and rows out in that direction, only complaining every stroke or so about the weather conditions.  With Eron and Regdus hanging onto the sides, the boat slowly cuts through the waves.  The seemingly endless parade of manta rays parts to make way as you slide through the water, sometimes smoothly, sometimes in jagged zigzags as Geralt battles with the wind and water.  

Once at the reef, Geralt drops his anchor to give himself a spot of rest.

The water here is only a little more than 5 feet deep.  Eron could easily touch bottom, Regdus just barely, but it would be ill advised. Unlike the sandy, broken bottom of the last area you searched, this reef bottom is a maze of sharp rocks and corals, with gaps and crevices that would trap or mangle a foot.  At a glance, it does look like the kind of bottom that could catch and trap a body.

[This time, I need the following checks from Eron and Regdus (and if anyone else changes their mind to go for a dip):

• Investigation Check  (DC is 16)
• Perception Check  (DC is 15)

From those in the boat:

• CON saves (DC is 10) ]

Con Save: 18

Con Save: 3 (natural 1 + 2) ...

As they arrive at the reef, seeing that it appears to be much more shallow, and with his eagerness for discovery outpacing his danger sense, Tilliman removes his pack and says... "Well... might as well make myself useful." Then climbs over the edge of the boat to assist Eron and Regdus...

Unfortunately, with his attention split between searching for bodies and searching for unexpected curiosities, he doesn't really see much...

Swimming along rather then getting dragged Eron is hopeful that clues as well as bodies can be found, it is very unusual for an entire ship and crew to be completely lost within sight of their destination.  The unearthly beauty of a corral reef has Eron a little distracted still he scans as thoroughly as he can...

perception 8, investigation: 6.... sorry

More time is spent searching...

Inside boat, time passes agonizingly slowly.  As the strong winds whip across the surface of the Azure Sea, the small fishing boat is tossed and turned like a toy in the hands of a playful giant. Each gust sends the vessel lurching violently from side to side, its wooden hull creaking and groaning in protest against the relentless assault of the waves.  With each swell that rolls beneath them, the boat rises and falls, climbing the crest of one wave only to plunge down into the trough of the next with stomach-churning speed. The motion is unpredictable, jerking the occupants about like rag dolls and leaving them gripping the sides of the boat desperately to maintain their balance.

It is a miserable experience.  Though Therris does his best to maintain his composure, Fane struggles.  Perhaps it was all the rum?  Whatever the cause, she is overcome with seasickness, struggling to keep herself from vomiting over the side.

In the water, meanwhile, Eron, Tilliman and Regdus explore the reef for signs of bodies.  There are small pieces of debris everywhere... small planks, boards, bits of rope, many crates and barrels.  You even find personal effects... a pair of silk pants, and a wooden spoon.   Both have only just come into the water, showing no signs of wear or exposure in the sea, and must have come from the wreck.  But of bodies, there is still no sign.  

It is maddening.  A ship that size, if it were comparable to the Laughing Monk, would have had a crew of 30.  With more hands if they were carrying passengers.  While some would surely have been lost to the deep or to scavenging sharks, its not unreasonable to think that some of them should have been carried here.  And yet, there is no trace.

Tilliman's own exploration turns up little to write home about.  The reef is colorful, teeming with tiny fish... and utterly devoid of any interesting relics or salvage.  Shattered are any delusions of sunken chests or underwater cities of marble.  It is just rock, coral and seawater, with the occasional broken anchor line or crab pot.

As Tilliman and Regdus swim near the boat, ready perhaps to call of the search, Eron makes a final dive.  Around them, the school of manta rays continues to glide by on their underwater wings.  Eron spies a trio of smaller rays separate to investigate the boat.

To those in the boat and to Redgus and Tilliman, they are just three more dark silhouttes below the surface.  To Eron's eyes however, there is something different about these three.

It is the barbs on their tales that gives them away.  Not normal manta rays, these three are Ixitxachitl, demon rays.  Even as Eron surfaces, the trio dash in toward unsuspecting dwarf and gnome to make their attack...   

[Our first Initiative!]

• Fane - 22
• Tilliman - 18
• Regdus - 17
• Eron - 14
• Ixitxachitls - 14
• Therris - 12

Round 1

1. Fane - Surprised
2. Tilliman - Surprised
3. Regdus - Surprised
4. Ixitxachitls - Dashing
5. Eron
6. Therris - Surprised

Round 2

1. Fane - Poisoned, Seasick
2. Tilliman 
3. Regdus 
4. Ixitxachitls 
5. Eron
6. Therris 

Only Eron will get an action in round one, with others getting reactions once their surprised turn has past.  The Ixitzachitls have already acted so I don't anticipate reactions being an issue.

Fane is still drunk.  Additionally, with the failed CON save Fane is also seasick, fighting off nausea and vertigo.  Before each turn, make another CON save.  DC 14.  On a success, you overcome the seasickness for the duration of the battle.  On a failed save, you are overwhelmed with nausea.  Movement is halved, you can take no actions or reactions until after you attempt the save again before your next turn. ]

Eron surfaces and yells out a warning, “Barbed tails are predators!!” as he swims towards Tillman.  He intends to kill these foul creatures barehanded…

Tilliman, terrified by the attack, swims as fast at his little limbs will take him, desperately attempting to climb in while crying out for "Help!"