Marveling momentarily at Koll's heroics, Zamar is temporarily at a loss. Then he remembers why he is here and begins looking for wounded to treat. After tying himself to a line, he finds four dead crewmen in various locations on deck. Three more are hanging from the sides of the ship, their tethers still attached. A lot of crewmen have injuries, but are continuing to work... it looks like they may have lost over half of the sailors. At this realization, Zamar stops looking for people to heal. Those that ned it are too busy. He would be of more assistance pitching in. His knowledge of seamanship is virtually nonexistent, but being a jack of all trades has its advantages. He is a quick study and the crew realize his limitations. He is directed into places where he can be effective. He uses his nimbleness to twist into tight spots, freeing up tangled lines and tying off knots. Though there is no time for chatter, he gets nods from a few of the crew as he pitches in.  He tries to talk to Flame Wyre, but she is too busy. She seems to be everywhere at once, barking orders and keeping tight control. She even gives him an order at one point, which he dutifully follows. 

By the time the danger has passed, he is tired and sore, but satisfied. He turns to Woe and Koll, smiles at them, and nods. 

Woe, Zamar, and Koll continue assisting the crew as they brave the rest of the storm. It isn't until mid afternoon that the waters finally calm and the rain turns into a light drizzle. The crew is absolutely exhausted at this point, and Flame Wyre retires to her quarters after giving out a few final orders. The crew is to gather up those that have perished in the storm, perform a muster, and give them their last rites. Afterwards, a full assessment of the damages needs to be made. 

With direct access from the deck, Flame Wyre's quarters seem to have been spared the destruction that much of her officer's quarters sustained. The door is ajar and the Flame is standing over a pile of papers, scanning each one with her finger. "Tymora's curse," she whispers. "Not one Flaming Fist with sailing experience..."

“Excuse me, Flame Wyre. I hate to intrude. That is quite an ordeal you have been through...” Zamar says, stepping in to her office.

She looks up from her papers. "It has been," she responds. "Someone seems to have angered the ***** Queen, and we happened to be in her anger's path. I thank you for your help, and the help of your friends." She doesn't look like she's gotten a wink of sleep since the storm started.

“We stand ready to help further. Your losses have been significant. You have my sympathies. I also wanted to let you know that we temporarily liberated my daughter. The condition of the cell was dangerous and we thought you would not want her to drown. We mean no insubordination and will gladly remand her wherever you wish her to stay.” Zamar pauses. “On a more personal note, is there anything I can do specifically to help you.”

"I'm glad she is safe," the Flame responds. "Her actions are trivial when compared to the storm. She can remain in your custody." She thinks for a moment before she responds, "We'll be having a muster soon and we can discuss that further. The gnome you travel with is from the House of Wonders... we'll need his help for repairs."

"I am sure I can appeal to his better nature," Zamar smiles. "We are all at the mercy of the ***** Queen, as you say. Wherever we can assist, we will. Woe, Perrin, and I have some limited healing abilities. We were able to save one of the crew below, though his arm is still broken. The diplomat...we were not so lucky. At muster, perhaps we can see who is most in need and aid those. Thank you for your time." He nods his head respectfully and waits to be dismissed.

"Flame Wyre." Woe joins Zamar at the door to her quarters. "You did an unbelievable job last night to keep us all alive. With a lesser captain we most certainly would have lost everything, including our lives. Thank you!" Woe looks like the captain. Unbelievably tired, with cuts and bruises all over. "I came to the aid of the diplomat Edward Thantarth. He was traveling with his wife and his entourage. He was impaled on his bed post. We managed to remove him, but his wounds were too significant and he died. Is there a place on your ship where we can transport the dead without affecting the health of the remaining passengers?"

The Flame's face scrunches at the news of the diplomat. "Our sailors know that when Umberlee takes them, she expects their bodies to be given to her. To refuse her that gift could spell doom for those of us that have survived," she responds. "I will speak with his wife and see what she prefers."

"Thank you. Also, like Zamar I would like to offer my healing abilities to your crew and the Flaming Fist recruits. Please let us know where we can serve. And maybe we can talk a bit more after a rest. I can see that you need one." Woe smiles at the Flame, then looks down on herself: "And I need one too. I'll see you at the muster."

Koll gives the Flame a slight bow after his companions to speak. "I am at your service if there is anything else needed," he says.

Immediately after Koll speaks, Fist Talle bursts into the room. His hands are a bloody mess and he flexes them visibly trying to purge the cold from them. "Flame," he says. "There's a ship. We can't make out details, but the sails are gone and it's listing to the side."

The Flame opens her desk and pulls a long iron rod from within. She then moves past her desk and heads out to the deck, gesturing for the three adventurers to follow. Once on the deck, it's easy to see the ship in the distance. She puts the iron rod up to her eye and looks. "It's listing... masts are destroyed... I don't see anyone on the deck," she says. The Flame turns to her crew, all of them disheveled and exhausted, then she turns to the adventurers. "My crew is in no shape to scout the wreckage. Depending on how bad it is, there may be survivors and we might be able to scavenge supplies and parts. All of our stores were in the kitchen and below deck... with the cargo flooded and the kitchen destroyed, we might not have enough food to make it to Port." She bites her lip, "You asked if there was anything else I need... I need that ship. Will the Scarlet Dawn help me?" She asks.

"Of course we will help," says Koll. "I'll go get the others." He runs down the stairs to the lower decks. He is hurrying for another reason, though; Flame Wyre's talk about flooded cargo suddenly made him think of his own "cargo" and he wants to make sure it is safe and secure. A part of him chides himself for even caring about such things, but he knows that much  depends on successfully completing this business for Loro.

As he gets to the chambers of the Scarlet Dawn he announces that they are safely out of the storm and that they have spied another ship, listing and with its sails gone. "Flame Wyre wants our help to salvage what we can from it, help any survivors. We'll be upon it soon."

Then Koll turns his attention to his pack.

"A ghost ship?" Singe sighs, he reaches for his rod and waves it, muttering arcane phrases. Flames streak up Singe's arms and wrap around his torso. For a moment, he appears to be on fire. The flames die down and Singe's clothes have fiery arcane symbols and intricate designs emblazoned on it. Around him there is a soft blue aura. He points at Alton, "Come along, if you're going to live in Chult, you might as well start practicing how to deal with the abnormal."

Singe casts mage armor on himself, his arcane ward activates .

"Wait, what?" Alton asks, "I ain't no adventurer!" The halfling puts his arms out in defense. "You just said it's a ghost ship!" He yells, "Ain't no way... no how." 

"I'll go!" Polly says, bouncing on Lera's bed. 

"Who said anything about a ghost ship?" Kolls says, as he looks for his pack.  "Singe, I know you have seen some horrible things but I think you are jumping to conclusions here. It is a ship clearly damaged from the same storm we just got through and there may be survivors who need our help." Koll stops and looks at Singe's Halfling brother. "Alton, right? You are afraid and that is fine. But, carrying on in spite of your fear is bravery, and that is what will make you strong, and that is what will preserve your life. Cowardice will not save you. If it does, it will haunt you, and that is a suffering worse than any physical pain. You should come with us."

"You honestly expect me to leave you here? If you show your skill on that boat and perhaps demonstrate some expertise about the unusual, I don't think you'll be manning the stables for long. I will ensure it." Singe beckons for Alton to come.

Alton gives Koll a look of, Is this guy for real??  "I don't know," he says. "I don't normally go out of my way for this kind of stuff."  He feels the pressure as everyone watches him, "Fine..."

Polly starts strapping on the Mr. Drippy tank, whispering, "Are you still there Mr. Drippy? We're going to explore!" Something swishes around in the tank when she says this. 

“I will take personal responsibility for Polly,” Lera stared at her father. “I think she should come. We’ll be able to keep a better eye on her... and Mr. Drippy.”

”If you do come with us, Pols, you’re going to have to listen to my rules...”

"Now child, think for a moment. I understand your reasoning, but I do not agree with it. I dislike being forced to be the 'Dad', but hear I see no alternative. Polly has been through quite a bit. And while I have no doubt she is capable of handling more, that is not the smartest choice. While it is admirable that you are taking responsibility for her, you do not know enough of what we are facing to responsibly make that claim. Polly's safety is paramount, here. We cannot even guarantee our own safety. How can we guarantee hers? And why should she be forced to go on a boring, broken down ship when there are important missions to be accomplished here." He knows that none of the party is going to be fooled by such an obvious ruse, but he hopes Polly will take the bait. Perhaps if he can convince her she has an important secret mission, she will want to stay behind. They can even tell the Flame about the 'mission' so that she can sneak about relatively unmolested and feel accomplished. He gives Lera a look, knowing she will understand the subtext and praying she will play along, although he seriously doubts it. 

(Persuasion: 13)

Woe keeps thinking about the "Polly situation". Then she has an idea. 

Lady Evelyn approaches Polly and kneels down. "That's a very pretty pin you have," she says, touching Polly's House Viscardi pin. "I have one of my own as well." Lady Evelyn pulls out a small pin in the shape of a harp and a quarter-moon. "This is the pin of the Harpers, a guild known throughout the world. It holds much power for those that wear it. Would you like to be a harper?" She asks the girl. 

"Polly?" Singe cries, looking out the door, Singe hears splashing down the stairs to the now flooded cargo hold.

As Singe steps down into the cold water, the cargo hold is dark, but everything is a red tinted glow. Polly is trudging through the water, which is up to her waist. She has her arms out in front of her, feeling for any obstacles, and she is making her way toward Grasalfan's flying machine. She bumps into it, feeling along it's exterior until she finds the little latch that opens the door. She crawls inside, and Singe can hear her sobbing.

"Polly?"

Singe hears a sharp sniffle, as if she's caught off guard, then she gets real quiet, as if she's making a decision. After a moment, she yells, "Go away!"

"Do you want to come?" Singe says, just loud enough for Polly to hear.

More sniffles. "Nobody wants me!"

"Do you want to come?" Singe asks again.

"Yes," she wailed, dissolving into sobs once again.

"Ok. You know you could... Well, die?"

Quiet sniffles could be heard. "So could you."

"It wouldn't be the first time I've looked it in the eyes. But you, you have more to live! You have more adventures to go on." Singe wades into the water a little bit, "I won't stop you from joining us if you come out of this hold."

"E risked his life for me. Everyone else is risking their lives. Why do I have to wait to do what I want?" She let out another loud sob. "Besides..." She paused, gulping air. "If I die... well..." More sobs choked her up. "At least I'd be with mommy and daddy!"

"You want to be an adventurer?"

"Yes!"

"How are you going to be an adventurer here!" Singe gestures to the room, "Or if you're dead?"

"Nobody wants me," she screamed. "Nobody wants me to be an adventurer because they're too worried about me." Soft pounding noises come from the flying machine, and you get the feeling she's hitting something. "I don't... don't wanna die in bed! If I die, I wanna die as an adventurer!"

"Lady Viscardi, there's a few rules you need to know about being an adventurer before we go." Singe straightens, "Rule 1. Adventurers don't cry in flooded holds. Rule 2. Adventurers know when it is best to act and when it is not. I'll cut you a deal. You get to come and I'll protect you with my magic if, and only if, you stay next to me and Lera on the ship."

The sobbing got quieter as she listened to the rules. Finally she stepped out of the flying machine, and jumped down in to the water. With a defiant look on her face, she glared in Singe's general direction, but not quite at him. "I have Mr. Drippy, and he'll protect me!"

"Wonderful! But the offer still remains." Singe lights his hands to direct her attention, "You stay close to me and Lera, you get to come with."

Polly nods, a look of determination on her face. She wipes her nose on her sleeve, and walks up to Singe. He smiles, "So?"

She crosses her arms over her chest. "I'm going with!"

"Then let's go!" Singe turns toward the stairs and then back at Polly, "What type of adventurer do you want to be, Polly?"

Polly looked at Singe, confused. "There are different types?"

"Well, Lera's a sorcerer, Perrin's a paladin, Zamar's a bard, what do you want to be?"

"I dunno," she replied, shrugging. "Lera said she just knows magic, and that she can't teach me." She frowned. "Do I have to know magic to be an adventurer?"

"Nope! It's ok if you aren't sure what type of adventurer you want to be, that's part of the adventure!" Singe begins to climb the stairs, extinguishing the flames.

"Then... I'll figure it out later!" Polly followed, pulling herself out of water.

When Singe emerges from the stairs, followed by a wet Polly he looks at the group, "She's coming. That's final."

“I told you,” the sorcerer rolled her eyes at her dad. “She’s scared, and we can’t leave her all alone.” With that being said, she took off at a run after Polly and Singe. By the time she reached them, the two were already deep in conversation.

Lera half-tackled Singe in a hug upon their arrival. Thank you, she messaged him. “Pols, rule number three is that you don’t run off,” she held out her hand for the younger girl to hold. “And rule number four is you have to always be ready to hide if someone tells you to.”

Singe pats Lera on her back, not expecting the hug. We're in charge of her, don't do anything stupid. He messages back.

Woe is not happy about the turn of events. Taking this child on adventures would one day come at a cost. Probably one of their lives. "I don't think this is a good idea. Polly is already living an adventure. We were in a life-threatening storm, were people were injured really badly and even got killed. To go out in the rain on a rescue mission to a ghost ship where none of us has any idea what we're expecting, is insane! Polly, you only slept half the night and you haven't eaten properly for the last few days. Now you're soaking wet as well....." Woe just shakes her head. Also her body is shaking, her exhaustion is visible. "I just cannot guarantee that I can keep you safe. If the others want to do it, it's on them." 

Then she turns to lady Evelyn. "I am sorry for the confusion. Thank you very much for offering your help."

With that, Woe walks out of the cabin and climbs up on deck to receive the instructions from the Flame. 

Not Doing Anything Stupid is my middle name, Lera winks at Singe.

”We cannot guarrantee her safety on this ship either,” she said to Woe. “At least if we bring her with us, we can do our best to keep an eye on her.”

Perrin, who had immediately passed out after helping the injured Flaming Fist member woke up after hearing Polly runoff. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes he says in a tired voice

"Ghost ship? I thought we were dealing with a storm. At least, that what my stomach felt like while I was asleep. But, if its a ghost ship let me come along. I can sniff out a ghost like a burnt cherry pie."

Perrin is getting all his adventuring gear on after making this statement.