Leelan silently takes in the sight of this city. As a first time visitor of Grand Crossing and Way Isle, he is in awe at the level of sophistication and modernity displayed by the layout, the roads and the buildings. 

"Well, this is all quite impressive. I fathom to think what wonders your fellow followers could do up North, Grugga."

The visit of the city does get soured a little for the gnome when they reach the quarabtined section of Searchpoint Keep. They’ve been aware for some time now of the plague that had taken hold, but seeing it first hand seems to have reignited some…upsetting memories.

During the tour of the Golden Empress, Leelan tries to follow the explanations given by the crew, but engineering was never quite his forte. He does look enthused seeing Grugga revel in the marvel that is the engine of this boat.

Aubrey smiles at Grugga's praise of the Golden Empress. "Thank you my friend, this is more than I could have hoped for, a true beauty indeed."

Aubrey would make an effort to have good relations with the crew, especially Captain Neck, treating them with respect and gratitude over their contribution to the expedition, hoping to in time create a sense of loyalty with them which would be needed if the Golden Empress would be threatened during the time off the coast of Amnifortis. He would do his best to grasp the basics of the Frumpf Cell but realizes he would never truly understand it's wonders.

Aubrey would hold a short but powerful speech before leaving Way Isle, officially naming the Golden Empress and blessing her to carry them through this illustrious mission on behalf of the emperor and the empire, then smashing the provided bottle of sparkling cider against the hull of the boat. 

During the journey south along the Breitwasser he would spend most of the days on top deck, enjoying the passing scenery and playing friendly games of cards with those so inclined.

He would use Furvus to keep a lookout for threats to the Golden Empress at all times, perching close to Aubrey.
Furvus perception: 16

The Golden Empress makes a powerful impression on all of you this first day on the water.  It seems to fly in comparison to the Kelpie's Castle, racing downriver at a brisk pace while maintaining a smooth ride.  The countryside is beautiful, with forested hills and valleys on the Pentwater side and smaller, rolling hills dotted with farms on the Valar side.  River eagles dive to snatch fish from the waters, as does Mr. Bowie, who snags a large freshwater eel for supper.

As the sun sets, Capt. Neck begins to power down the ship and bring it into shallower waters for the night.  She advises you are very near to your destination now, and you will reach the outskirts of Amnifortis early tomorrow morning.  For now, you are parked offshore near the last lines of civilization before the no-man's lands that surround Amnifortis and the disputed lands beyond.  On the Pentwater shore is the bustling town of Augustine, and on the Valar side is Outpost Chariot, a fortified military camp surrounded by a trade camp.  Both shores have significant port facilities: it is here that much of the river trade disembarks to travel overland, avoiding the dangers of passing through the haunted ruins at the delta.  From here roads travel west from Augustine to other settlements in Pentwater, Memnikophis and Dunngenor.  And Outpost Chariot marks the western end of a picket line that runs east-west across the southern end Valar, separating it from the wild disputed lands.

If any of you wish to go ashore, Capt. Neck will make arrangements.  Otherwise, the crew settles in for an eel almondine dinner and perhaps the last peaceful night's rest for a long while.

The young noble's chest swells with pride as he realizes what a magnificent vessel the Golden Empress is, a true jewel adorning the Breitwasser necklace.
As he realizes how close they are to their destination, Aubrey would discuss with Captain Neck if it would be possible for the Golden Empress to wait at a safe distance while the team explores the ruins of Amnifortis and then come and collect the team when signalled for. Aubrey would certainly stay for an exquisite eel almondine dinner, playing a friendly game of cards with any of the team or the crew that would be interested afterwards but taking an early night to be ready for next days adventures.

[Feel free to add in any roleplay for the last evening before you move toward the ruins.  I am going to get this next bit up while I have time today.]

The sun rises to greet you on the 20th of June.  You sit anchored off the channel in the Breitvasser river, shaded closer to the Pentwater shoreline.  Though the river has widened considerably down this far south, you can still hear the early morning shouts from the docks on both sides.  Augustine is all brick and stone buildings, chuch bells and the scent of baking bread.  Outpost Chariot, on the Valar side, by contrast is wooden fences, watchtowers and stables, the din of a vast herd of cattle dominating the sounds coming from the east.  The sky is still bright and clear, but after four days of southern travel downriver, gone is the pleasant warmth of early summer you felt in Bardstown.  Even so early, you can tell that today is going to be a hot one and the air is dry in your mouths.

As you sit down to a breakfast of bacon and biscuits whipped up by Mr. Bowie, a chain of three barges moves south past you, apparently planning to brave a run through Amnifortis to the sea rather than unload their shipments here.  The last barge rings a bell as it passes, and Capt. Neck pulls a heavy chain hanging from the ceiling, which produces a long, low whistle in return.

After breakfast is complete and the galley cleared, Captain Neck orders the anchor raised and powers up the Frumpf Cell.  The paddle wheel churns to quiet life and the ship resumes course south toward Amnifortis.  The sounds of civilization fade behind you as you all look ahead with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

It is not long before a change is visible in the countryside.  Along both shores, the land levels off to the flatness of the delta.  At the same time, the forests, orchards and farms disappear, replaced by craggy grasses and shunted trees.  Rohuzar, you recognize these environments all too well... the sickness in the earth that is all too common throughout the Disputed Lands, those spaces poisoned by the magic of the Breach.  All is not entirely desolate; there are still birds in the trees and here and there patches of green grass and wildflowers flourish.  But taken as a whole, these lands look malnourished and unwholesome.

There are also signs of the Empire that once was.  You can see how the ancients once tames the mighty Breitvasser... levies rise to protect long abandoned farm fields, and canals split off to divert and control the flow, the better to prevent flooding.  There are also the remains of settlements.  None are particularly close to the water, but you can spot them in the distance.  Empty villages and partially collapsed taverns line forgotten trade roads, and old seawalls bow and lean out into the river, their docks long since washed away.

And then it looms into focus in the distance: Anmifortis, the Jewel of the South.  Small structures cluster against 30' stone walls, behind which loom castles and towers, the rocky bluff over the sea where the wealthy once kept their home, and beyond all that (from your pespective), the wide hill of Mons Basilicae, crowned with the temples of so many faiths.  You can smell the ocean now, the odor of salt and fish.  The breeze that comes in is cool, even as the sun continues to beat down harshly.  It isn't lunchtime yet, and already you are here....

... Almost.  While the outskirts of the city are still more than a mile off, you all notice a wailing cry.  Casting your eyes about, you spot something on the eastern bank.  A small boat is overturned and bobbing in the shallows, a gaping hole torn in its bottom which now points to the sky.  Crouched on a rock alongside it is a woman.  She clutches something close to her, wrapped in a cloak, and she screams wildly, looking down toward the boat.  She doesn't seem to be hailing you... she just seems to be screaming.

After breakfast, Aubrey stands to observe the old country, a sense of dismay coming over him. He knew of course what it would be like, reading a lot about it, but seeing it made it all too real for the young noble. Could they ever hope to repopulate this poisoned land again.

As he hears the wailing cry, the young noble quickly summons his peculiar familiar from it's pocket plane and sends the raven towards the overturned boat and the screaming woman to scout.
Furvus perception if needed: 7

Aubrey also tries to get Captain Neck's attention in case they can take the Golden Empress closer to help this woman in distress.

Leelan is in awe at the sight of the city proper. After spending so much time hearing about it’s magnificence and it’s tragedy, he is closer to it than many other scholar back home could ever dream to be.

He is caught out of his reverie by the screaming woman in peril. Seeing that Aubrey already warned the captain about her, Leelan runs to the side of the Golden Empress and attempts to hail her to let her know that they will try to rescue her.

Furvus flaps from the boat to the shore, landing at the top branches of a scraggly oak tree.   He cocks his head this way and that in confusion at the screaming woman but doesn't raise any alarm.

At Aubrey's order, Captain Neck throws the engine into reverse.  Guiding the ship closer to shore is a time consuming process.  The Golden Empress is fast, but switching from full speed ahead, to stearing to a point on the shore, while fighting the current, involves a lot of forward... reverse... forward... reverse... along with careful rudder control.  After several minutes, she is able to bring the ship as close as she can without scraping bottom.  Luckily, the ship carries a long gang plank, and Mr. Faerondaerl feeds it out until it is resting on the shore.

The woman is on a rock in the river.  It is about 5' out from shore, but the water around it looks quite shallow.  Yet she makes no effort to retreat towards the shore, or to acknowledge Leelan's hails.  She just continues to cry and scream, her attention on the boat in the water.  She seems hysterical.

Rohuzar heads down the gangplank, eyes on the boat for danger. 

Do either the woman or boat appear illusory, or otherwise a deception?

Investigation is +5, perception/insight are +4

5 

Aubrey quickly gets down the stairs and follows Rohuzar, messaging Furvus to study the overturned boat and the screaming woman from an ethereal perspective.
Perception: 7
Furvus ethereal perception: 9

As Aubrey and Rohuzar approach the woman via the shore, she ignores them, sobbing and crying as though she had lost her mind, rocking back and forth with the swaddled bundle in her arms. 

Aubrey send Furvus into the border ethereal.  He pops back a few seconds later.

Aubrey:

Still a bit cautious as he approaches the crying woman, following after Rohuzar, Aubrey messages back to Furvus, demanding the familiar to make clear if this is in fact a normal crying woman or if she was not unusual in the sense that she was some kind of aberration which also arguably would be seen as not unusual to the raven familiar. He also motions for Grugga and Leelan to cover them from the Golden Empress in case he and Rohuzar were walking into some kind of trap.

Aubrey:

Aubrey quickens his pace towards the screaming woman, realizing she may be a mother holding her child, which would explain why she is hysterical, ordering Furvus away to a higher altitude to scout for nearby threats. 
Furvus new perception: 9

Rohuzar is going to try to scoop the woman up and get her aboard

Grugga looks with concern at the woman. Sensing that something, or more likely someone, may be trapped in the capsized boat, Grugga rushes to his bedroom and grabs the potion of water breathing out of his backpack. When he comes back out, Aubrey and Rohuzar are already making their way down the gangplank. Grugga attempts to calm the woman down. He grabs her cheeks in his hands and gently makes her make eye contact with him.

"It's okay. It's okay. We're going to get you out of here. Is someone trapped in the boat?"

Persuasion if necessary: 9 (rolled in game log).

As Aubrey reaches the screaming woman he would kneel by her side. "Please, let us help you." He says with a firm but calm voice.
Persuasion to calm the woman down and tell us how the team can help: 26

Rohuzar, Aubrey and Grugga all race down the gangplank to the shore, gathering near the wailing woman.  She stands just out of reach on a large rock in the river, 5' from shore, next to the overturned boat.  Rohuzar tries to reach across the gap and grab the woman in his arms, while the other two plead with her to come to safety, Aubrey's words gentle and caring.  With their attentions focused on her, Aubrey dispatches Furvus to fly higher and watch for any dangers or threats nearby.  The familiar dutifully lifts off, flying straight upwards - an unusual sight for a bird - and then begins a patrol from 100' up.

Back on the boat, Leelan is watching all of this unfold on shore.  He is distracted by an unexpected noise.  There is a series of loud creaks from the gangplank as though someone heavy were walking, though there is no one there....

And then the following occurs in the same instant:

• Aubrey receives an urgent telepathic message from Furvus.  Fleshy Humanoid Snipers, behind a rock, 80' further inland!
• A voice cries out from the deck of the ship, "Now!  Seize the vessel, Knights!  Give no quarter!"
• The screaming woman on the rock turns toward Grugga, Rohuzar and Aubrey, revealing the bundle in her arms.  A kobold uncoils himself from the cloak and draws two daggers, their tips glinting in the summer sun.

[Leelan's passive perception beat the invisible bandit leader's stealth check, and Furvus gave a last second warning to Aubrey, but Rohuzar, Grugga and the crew of the Golden Empress are caught by surprise.]

• Leelan:  8
• Aubrey:  5
• Grugga:  13
• Rohuzar:  3
• Bandit Leader:  11
• Boat Thugs:  3
• Sniper Thugs:  7
• Warlock & Kobold:  7