After watching the city fade for a little bit and wanting to avoid Koll's questions Perrin excuses himself in order to attempt and find the kitchen. He’ll need to know where it is in order to find it before first light tomorrow. Perrin finds the kitchen by the officer's quarters. It's a level above your cabin. Right now they're preparing dinner for the crew and guests. The smell of curry wafts out the large door that separates it from the hallway. Perrin just mentally notes where it is knowing better to try an enter right now. He’ll just return to his cabin for now.

Alton gasps, staring behind Singe. Someone behind you, with a overly raspy voice, says, "You will pay for what you have done." As Singe turns, there's no one there.

"Di...did you see that!?" Alton asks. "There was a man just popped right behind you!"

"Gathered. What did he look like? Was it Owyn?"

"Tall, strong, beard.... hair shaved at the sides, but long. What kind of trouble have you been up to!?"

"There's a very long story that includes ghouls, an evil baron, and a contest. But right now I'm safe and you're not. How do I get you out of here?"

He looks around, obviously not comfortable talking about escape around so many people. "We need to talk somewhere private," he says.

"Understood."

Zamar is about to head below as it looks like Lera has managed to slip away from his gaze when he is distracted by a large and imposing man looming behind Singe. He alters course to check on his friend and only as he gets closer does he notice that Singe is in conversation with a halfling member of The Fast. "Oh! Sorry to interrupt, but I thought you might need some help. Whoever that was looked pretty intimidating."

The halfling glances from Singe to Zamar. "We'll meet up again later," he says. He gives Zamar a nod and heads below-deck.

"Yes, from Alton's description he was. I don't think we need to worry about it though. Oh! Perrin had a question for me and for you by extension but I was more than a little distracted by your... feuding. He mentioned that you appeared to be celestial and wonder if you were half-angel..?

Zamar laughs. "Well. That was certainly to the point. I had planned to have a chat with him about that later. He caught me off guard. We don't realize advertise it, but Lera and I have a fair bit of Celestial in our line. I'm not used to being asked so directly. But you say that man will be no trouble. He reminded me of something. An old tale I told on the road o a dark and angry man with vengeance in his heart. He came to ruin."

"Stories are filled with wisdom and dangers. But I truly suspect this is of my own doing and should not concern the group. Was your wife celestial?"

“Yes. She...was." His voices catches at the use of the past tense. "And we all have things of our own doing that come back to haunt us. Let me know if I can help. Or just listen.”

Singe pauses as if weighing his options, "Our secrets may tear this group apart. We need to be forth right. For the past two months I have been dead, according to the baron that killed my diplomatic partner. I fear he now knows I am alive and may start trying to huant me with his powers over the undead."(edited)

Zamar is taken aback. “Undead? That sounds serious. But we stand with you. Whatever you need to preserve your...death, we will give. Is this man who accosted you an emissary of the baron?”

“I’m not dead, I was presumed dead. I’m not sure who the man was, Alton’s description was vague and it matched no one I had seen.”

"Understood. I got a good look at him. He was large and had a fairly impressive mustache and beard. He had a scar across the bridge of his nose. His hair was a dark, sandy color and his eyes were grey and steely. He looked human to me. I assume this baron is someone we would like to avoid?"

“It shouldn’t be hard if we stay away from Tethyr.”

“I think I can manage that. I’m around if you need me, but I need to find Lera before she sets someone on fire. Keep an eye, if you don’t mind?”

Singe nods, "Speaking of which, do you think she'll ever forgive me?"

"Eventually. She holds grudges, but they do not last forever. If they did, my eyebrows would be permanently gone." He claps singe on the shoulder once and is gone.

Shanolia jumped, the pendant making a quiet 'ping' as it hit the button of her shirt. She dried her eyes quickly, turning away from the Woe.

"Yes, yes. I am perfectly fine." Her sadness could still be heard in her voice.

She turned to the bard, her hood casting a shadow overy her face and leaving only the reflection of light off her blood-red eyes visible.

"What is it you wish to speak about?"

"You seem off. You know, the same is true for you. You're with friends now. If you want to share, I am here." Woe replies.

"I do not wish to burden anyone with my past. I'm sure everyone has their own problems to deal with."

Woe pauses for a couple of seconds. "Well, that's true. But as long as the past is not resolved, you will be stuck in it. You can't move on. I will not pressure you, just know I am a good listener."

"I suppose so, although I'm not entirely sure you would believe me if I were to tell you, given my current state..." Shanolia answers. She rubs her sleeve softly.

Woe again encourages her to speak: "Oh, I have seen and lived through my fair share. Or should I say unfair share. Try me."

Shanolia takes a deep breath, pondering the most believable way to say what needed to be said. "I once was once in line to be High Priestess of Faerun, behind my mother, Ava Amakiir. Though now, I'll be lucky to be killed should I return to the High Forest."

"My mother was teaching me magic, so when they found her dead in her study, they assumed it was me. This pendant," she grabs the small copper heart once more. "Is the only reason I got away; my mother had stored some of her magic inside, however it's been dead for quite some time. It merely serves as a reminder now."

"Do you know who is responsible for her death?" Woe asks softly.

"I have my beliefs, though I am not entirely sure." Shanolia pauses for a moment, looking out over the sea. "Sometimes, when I don't think I can carry on, I like to talk to her. I know she can't hear me, but it calms me, especially when on the roof of a 'haunted' house, preparing for a trip that very well could end in death."

"I am sorry you lost your mother and your home in the same night. Maybe one day I can be of help to right the wrong you suffered! I never met my mother. She died while giving birth to me. I would give anything to to talk to her just once." Then Woe thinks again. "So, you spoke to your mother on the roof of the house? Did you see shadows too?"

"I spoke to the pendant," Shanolia's voice takes on a spiteful tone. "Only a fool would think to speak to the dead. And no, I have not seen any shadows."

"Hm, then it really seems to be about who speaks INSIDE our little haunted house..." Woe looks over to where Shanolia is sitting. "Thanks for sharing. This journey is going to open a lot of wounds for all of us. We need to tend to ourselves and our team. Are you in any immediate danger? Are you expecting someone to follow you?"

"I have been followed for nigh 25 years now, I've gotten pretty good at not being found. The only immediate danger I can imagine would be the bard's daughter's temper."

"But you're in an adventuring guild now. We will be known. Maybe not each of us by name, but people will start to talk about us. We need to be careful. Have our eyes open. And please, Shanolia, don't keep it to yourself if you get the suspicion that someone is after you again. Because we'll all be in danger. But be sure that we'll all side with you." Woe interjects. 

"As long as we stay away from the High Forest... we should be fine. I doubt they'd follow us to Chult." Shanolia pauses "If I feel we are in danger I will let you know, though I doubt you will need my warning."

"Thanks. Well, I guess that's why we are all here. Because we're hoping that our demons are not following us into the jungle of those islands." Woe smiles ad Shanolia. Then she falls silent. Together the unlike pair look out over the sea into the unknown future. When they are called below deck, Woe will ask Shanolia: "I brought a cartography kit, and a forgery kit. I was hoping someone would be able to teach me how to use them. We're cooped up for a few days now, so it would be a good use of our time. Do you have any of those skills that you would be willing to teach me?"

"I can teach you about the forgery kit, though I must ask; What use do you intend for it?"

"I just want to improve my skills, be it pretty much anything! Mostly I want to be able to understand its use so that I can learn how to discern a forged certificate from an original. In my line of work I come across many a certificate, some are obviously badly done. But most look the part. Then be able to call out the owner and proof that he cheated, would be fantastic!"

"I understand. You do not need to be defensive, I of all cannot judge. I will teach you, and I believe you will find it useful for more than discerning a forgery."

Woe bows her head in thanks. "Thank you, that is very kind of you. Let's start tomorrow morning, unless they have planned something else for us... "

As the muster comes to an end, everyone (aside from on-shift crew) begins to return below-deck to their assigned cabins. Though wondering around the lower decks is frowned upon, it's not forbidden. Once everyone gets back in the cabin, a quick head-count reveals that Lera is nowhere to be seen. Had she been on the deck she would have been asked to return to the cabin, but this doesn't seem to be the case. 

Zamar is one of the first to be in the cabin. As the others come back they notice he looks up with anxiety as each of them enters. When all but Lera are accounted for, he becomes visibly upset. "I'm going to look for her. She has always been impulsive, but something seems wrong. Hopefully, I will not be thrown overboard. Let me know if any of you see her." He stands abruptly and sweeps out. 

Woe follows right behind. She steps inside the privy and casts disguise self on herself. Making her look like a Fist, with the uniform and turning into a young male form. She'll add a small cap of sorts and hunches her back so that her features are not too easy to see. Then she'll walk below deck. Keeping her ears open for chatter between the young recruits and her eyes open to see if she can find Lera.

perception 4 

Woe will then approach one of the Fists, a young, pretty guy and talk to him. "Heiiii, mate, did you see that blond girl earlier? She looks like an angel! I wonder where I could find her, I'd love to buy her a drink. hehehe."

persuasion 13

Perrin sighs at the actions of Lera and all the worry she is causing her father. However, he decides not to judge her too harshly.

She is still young and not the wisest among us. With time she will learn and grow. For now, she should just have this fight since I don’t think she can get in too much trouble aboard. One day she might look back and laugh at how silly it is.

Perrin contemplates to himself. Now let’s go find someone interesting to past the time with. Perrin leaves the cabin in looks for an attractive guy and a secluded empty room. 

(This takes place overlapping with Woe's encounter with the Fist merc)

Zamar looks around below decks for Lera, but does not find her anywhere. Frustrated, he pulls aside the least unsavory crew member he can find. He finds a chubby human that bears the Flaming Fist garb, but has been identified as a crewman by the patch he wears. He nods to you as you approach.

"Everything ok?" He asks, getting the sense that something is amiss from your approach.

“My daughter has gone missing and I am worried she has disobeyed orders and is above deck when she should not be. I’d rather not have her pitched over the side. She seemed like she befriended Talle earlier. Have you seen her?” And he proceeds to describe Lera to the crewman.

"Ah," he says as you describe her. "No. No I have not. But I can get Fist Talle, if you like."

“Please. That would be helpful.”

He heads up the stairs to the deck of the ship. It's an uncomfortable amount of time before Zamar sees Fist Talle coming down. Zamar heads over to him. “Fist Talle. Thank you for coming down. My daughter was looking for you earlier. I’m sure she befriended you with her secret message magics. I would appreciate knowing where she is hiding. She is angry and making poor choices at the moment. I ask you not to compound them.”

He bites his lip for a second. "Aye... yeah, I should have figured she would be t-t-trouble." He points to a hatch at the end of the hall (forward section of the ship).

“Thank you. What is back there? And don’t worry. Now that I know she is safe, I will give her a bit of space.”

"It's the hatch to our cargo stores. We..." His eyes dart around, "We use it to get away from the guests sometimes... play cards and dice. I... I, she said she wanted to join us and I didn't know it would be trouble." He honestly looks scared, as if this was a deep secret that even the ship's Flame is unaware of.

“Your secret is safe with me. At least it is as long as she stays safe.” He uses his eyebrows to accentuate his meaning.

“Thank you, Fist Talle. You are a credit to your Flame." Zamar hears a commotion from down the hall. It sounds like Woe. "Now if you will excuse me," he says and heads off to see what is going on.

You spend some time hanging out with the other guests in their cabin. They're happy to have the company and are open and amazed at the stories you tell of your recruitment in Baldur's Gate. The majority of the guests are wealthy family from Chult or others with their own story for their transportation to such a place. Either way, you know everyone on the boat has some sort of relationship with the Flaming Fist. No one gets on this ship for coin alone. As you're leaving the guest cabin, you pass by Fist Talle. He just got done talking to Zamar in the hallway. it's Just a glance and a slight smile as the two of you pass by, but often times that's all you need. If he weren't interested, you know he'd know someone that was.

"Howdy, Talle. How's it going? Do you think you'd be able to help a guy out over here?" Perrin says to him; trying to lay on his farm boy charm.

He stops and turns, "Maybe later?" He asks. "First day is tough to get any time to ourselves. I... I'll see you after dinner?"

"You know where to find me. Come a knocking before I come knocking for you." Perrin says with a wink and confidently saunters away.

//Persuasion: 1d20+4 = 8+4=12//

(Slightly before Perrin's post)

There's a slight knock on the door of the cabin and Fist Talle pokes his head in. He waves to Zamar and steps back into the hallway. Zamar says, “Excuse me. I will be right back.” He follows Fist Talle into the hall.

When he sees Zamar come out into the hall, he immediately starts talking. "She was there... just sitting there in the dark. Sometimes we just need room to think and sort things out, you know? She, uhh, wanted me to pass a message along. She said to tell you she's fine and that she's sorry if she scared you. She's safe, but if you start smelling smoke you'll know something is happening. Wait? Is she going to catch the ship on fire?" General concern washes over his face. "She also said that if you want her to come up, she will."

Zamar smiles and claps Talle on the shoulder. "Don't worry. She hardly ever sets things son fire that she doesn't mean to. Any more. And let her be. She is safe and that was my concern. I trust you, Fist Talle. You seem a good man. Your secret is safe. Please try to be at ease around me. I only get scary when my daughter is in danger." He winks.

Talle smiles and glances up, "I really need to get back on deck," he says.

Lera had popped over to the front cabin, where Fist Talle had originally told her the crew hung out. It was very dark and full of a variety of cargo. Mostly boring stuff, and Lera quickly realized that she would be alone for awhile. The first day on the sea was most likely the busiest, and that meant it could be hours until she had anyone to talk to. The sorcerer poked around, mostly finding crates and barrels of various dried meats and sustainable goods. There were a few sealed crates as well, all with the flaming fist insignia upon them.

After an hour or so, however, Lera began to get the feeling that she was being watched. “Hello?” Lera said, trying to sound gruff. “Who goes there?” She heard a loud sound, as if something was falling over. “Who are you?”

“I don’t care that you were stalking me, I’m just lonely and bored and want to talk to somebody,” Lera called out, looking for any sorts of clues as to who might be with her. She spent awhile looking, but she quickly got the sense that whatever it was had gone. “That bastard,” she swore, giving up on finding anything cool and plopping down in the doorway to wait. 

Finally, Fist Talle arrived, climbing down the ladder with a lantern in hand. He coughs into his sleeve before greeting her. "I... we normally don't come on the first night. There's too much to do and the Flame is always watching." He manages an awkward smile.

“That’s alright,” Lera smiles. “I was just looking for a place to get away, make some new friends. What’s your first name Talle?”

“Frank,” he replies, sitting on a crate. "I'm not going to lie... I'm not good at it. Your dad sent me down to make sure you're ok."

“On a scale of one to that-time-he-thought-I-pissed-off-an-assassin-and-called-her-a-weenie, how scared did he look?” Lera asked.

"Seriously? Him scared?" His eyes go wide, "When he looked at me I immediately ratted out our whole secret area. The man is scary." He hops off the crate and says, "Just one look and I felt like my Flame would be tossing me off the side of the ship if I didn't tell him the truth. He looked ready to kill, he did."

“D’arvit,” Lera swore. “The more scary he gets, the more scared he is. This is worse than I thought. Mordenkainen’s balls, I am so grounded.” She rose to her feet. “I was looking forward to spending some time here, but I’m afraid that’s not an option right now.”

"Ummm..." He looks around, "You can, or I mean, I can talk to him, maybe? He didn't tell me to come get you, he just wanted me to make sure you were safe."

“I feel like I’m 12,” Lera sighed. “Alright, take him back this message. ‘I’m fine, I’m so sorry I scared you. Totally safe, if I’m suddenly not you’ll smell smoke. If you want me to come back I will, just let Frank know.’ Got that?”

"Yes. Of course!" He says. "I'll bring it up to him right now. I really need to get back to the deck." He starts making his way to the ladder and stops, "You c-c-can come down any time you like. Normally we don't like guests down here, but it's fine for you."

“Thanks Frank,” Lera beams as Talle left. She sat down again, waiting for Talle to come back. 

It isn't long until dinner is served. Crewmen enter each cabin with a large platter and refill or replace any empty barrels of water. Each dinner seems to come with a large growler of mead for passengers to share. Food is served 'family style' where the platter is filled with foods that range from greens to meats and cheese, bread (at least on the first day), and the main dish. Tonight it's curry, spiced with spices from Chult. The smell fills the hall and gives the ship the feel of an exotic marketplace. The sounds of conversation echo down the hall as passengers and Flaming Fist converse over the meal and share the mead.

Grasalfan excuses himself from dinner by saying, "The Flame has asked for me to dine with her tonight. I will let you all know what comes of it." 

Lera waits for hours for Talle to come back, but he doesn’t return. She waits so long her stomach begins to rumble, the wafting scents of delicious food not helping her case. 

The sorcerer gives up on waiting, hungry and cooled off enough to return. She walks back to their cabin wordlessly, sitting down next to her father and grabbing a bit of bread. 

"Welcome back Lera. I hope some alone time helped you out. Now, you have to try this curry. It's spicier than what I'm used to but still good. I'll have to get the name of these spices from the chef later." 

Perrin says as he scoops a helping of curry Lera before digging back into his own. 

During dinner, Singe sits next to Koll, "I apologize, we never finished talking about your cloak."

Koll waves it off, "This cloak was given to me by Brother Hodges from the Shrine of Suffering, where I spent the days before we left in service to Ilmater. He told me that it had once belonged to another member of my order - the Broken Ones. His name was Eddard and he had stitched it together from pieces of the hairshirts of other clergy who he had tried to protect but who had nevertheless died. I feel that a small part of each of their spirits, their courage and their suffering, resides in this cloak. Is that magic? I know very little of that."

Singe nods excitedly, "Yes, it's filled with magic, I know it contains necromancy, evocation and abjuration magic."

Koll nods "Death and protection make sense, if I understand those words right. I don't really know what 'evocation' means."

"It can mean a great many things. Most wizards and sorcerers wield evocation as the unbridled power of destruction. Clerics and paladins use it as healing magic. From the sound of it, this cloak probably uses evocation magic for healing. I can't deduce its nature with magic but given time, I may be able to tell you more about its properties."

"Perhaps I will get to know it more through meditation."

"Also possible, I'll leave you to it."

"I will do that. One more thing, Singe." Koll looks intensely at Singe, "Remember I told you about what Whistler said to me - well he also said something else that I think is important. He said, 'For every person there is a story, and some of those people are not strong enough to find conclusion to that story. That is where you all will come in.' Again, I'm not sure I fully understand it, but I think it means that we are not all together by chance. Our stories are intertwined, with each other, with Viscardi, with Baldur's Gate. Maybe it's important that we all get to know each other better."

"Agreed, our secrets may undo us. I think we may need to have a group... discussion later."

Lera takes the food Perrin shovels onto her plate gratefully, giving the halfling a soft "thank you." She eats the food slowly, mostly just pushing it around her plate, and her eyes stay fixed upon the curry.

"Welcome back, little one. I trust you are well?" Zamar asks.

"Yes," Lera mumbles in reply between bites of curry, determinedly looking down.

"Good. When you are ready, we should discuss what consequences will arise from your actions," her father replied.

"I'm sorry," Lera doesn't look up from the bowl.

Zamar is conscious of the discomfort in the room and decides this is not the time. “Eat. We will talk later.”

As The Circle of the Scarlet Dawn takes their meal together in their cabin, Koll exchanges a look with Singe, then addresses the group.

"Friends. Here we all are together. We have spent much time doing things apart, alone or in groups, but from here on out it seems to me that we are at last a team. The Circle of the Scarlet Dawn. We will need to depend on each other for mutual success. I think it is important that we build some trust.

I've gotten to know some of you, but for the most part I feel that we are still strangers, each with our own secrets. When I first spoke to Mr Whistler about Lord Viscardi's plans for this guild, he said two things which I thought were important. The first was about many lords and patriars of Baldur's Gate feeling that the Flaming Fist had "run thin." I told Woe and Singe about this; I think Viscardi has plans for us in some greater scheme and that we may have to eventually choose sides. But, that is all speculation at this point - unless any of you know something?

More important though was what he said next. He said, 'For every person there is a story, and some of those people are not strong enough to find conclusion to that story. That is where you all will come in.' Again, maybe this was nothing important and he was not referring to anything in particular, but it seems that the statement still has some value. Stories. We all have them. Perhaps, we need to share them with each other. Not just to build trust, but to better understand why Fate has brought us together. Are there connections between us that we don't even realize? They may not be obvious, but I believe all things are connected, in some way. For the strength of our party, I believe we should be open and honest with each other. I have secrets, which some of you already know but which others of you will not like. If you all agree that we can share our stories with each other, and without judgment,, then I will tell you my secrets."

Perrin stares around at everyone and a bite of food in his mouth. He swallows and this bute went down hard. Like a rock hitting his stomach. He then speaks out first “I’ll share my story if everyone shares theirs as well.”