Bruno smells the returning party before he sees them. The hound dashes to greet the first he sees return aboard the ship. With Raqisat having taken point, he's welcomed with the large slobbery mastiff throwing himself at the man while Cosette smirks from the back.

Listening to the Captain's words, Cos eventually adds. "We'll take a night watch or patrol." She nods with assurance to Captain Neck, giving Bruno a hearty pat. With his nose, her eyesight and sure-footing on the crews side, they could at least provide some relief for a rough night ahead.

Eventually helping herself to some stew, Cosette would take a little extra for the mastiff. She'd take care to not feed him cabbage, to spare others who may find themselves sharing a space with Bruno.

     Raqisat laughs, and falls and complains playfully as Bruno attacks and assaults him with slobber and enthusiasm.  "Help!  Somebody restrain the foul beast!" he calls out, laughing the entire time...  "Well, I suppose you could have trained him to do worse," he says to Cosette with a smile after the dog has moved on from him and on to welcoming others.

     Raqisat stays out of the discussion on the ship's safety assuming the more nautically minded would have better ideas about such thing than his own.  He will chime in on the stew, however, and express his appreciation for anything warm and tasty.  "Yes, I think setting a watch is a must," Raqisat agrees with Cosette.  "No matter where the ship is, the Burned Knights seemed to have set their eyes upon it.  Until we better know their capabilities it would seem best to be cautious..."  But after filling his belly, assuming no more matters need discussing, Raqisat is eager for the comforts of an actual bed...

The night passes without assault.  

Those keeping watch observe only darkness and the stars in the clear night sky.  The only sound other than the waves are the rhythmic splash and gasping sounds of a pod of leviathan's that spends the night swimming up and down the bay.  It isn't quite as choppy as Capt. Neck had feared, but on those occasions when waves do pick up, you see what the Captain was afraid of... the shallow-keeled riverboat rocks hard from side to side in waters that wouldn't trouble a sea-faring vessel.

With the dawn comes the scent of bacon and biscuits.  Mr. Howie is up and making breakfast, his midsection wrapped tightly in blankets and bandages.  The Captain is making coffee, her eyes bloodshot.  She looks like she hasn't slept much tonight.  "So," she says, when you have all gathered in the galley.  "What are your plans?"

"Excellent question Captain." The young noble answers, emptying his cup of coffee before continuing. Aubrey had relaxed in the common room after supper, sipping on a glass of white wine as he took the first watch of the night, digesting the days events, but eventually he returned to his cabin for some well needed rest. He woke up early, his somewhat frail body reminding him of yesterdays exertions, washing up and getting impeccably dressed for another day of explorations, then joining the others in the galley, assuring Captain Neck that they would be laying anchor for the night up river henceforth. "I believe we've planned to meet with the locals this aftenoon at the northern bridge, but how we spend the time until then has not quite been decided upon. Perhaps we should simply continue to explore the parts of the ruins outside the city walls?" He suggests, looking around at the others in the team assmebled at the breakfast table, helping himslef to another cup of coffee, his third this morning.

     First thing in the morning Raqisat jumps over the side of the boat and has himself a bit of a swim.  He doesn't go far or swim for very long, the point is to wake up and to bathe more than it is to exercise.  When he climbs back aboard he wraps himself up enough for discretion's sake and then follows the scent of bacon and coffee...

     When the question of what to do with the day arises Raqisat mostly just continues to munch on the bacon and look to Aubrey to set the agenda.  He does share what little he and Cosette have learned in their short time there before joining up with this crew, looking to Cosette frequently for her to add anything he forgot and to provide her own perspective on things, but unfortunately what they've explored so far doesn't put a large dent into what the team as a whole does not know about this place. (DM can provide anything we may know that may be useful... I don't think much of anything?). 

     "The more time we spend idly exploring," Raqisat does note, "is the more time we may bump back into the Burned Knights.  Not that it should disuade us, but we do need keep that in mind..."

"I agree Raqisat, but I don't believe the Burned Knights will be able to fool us again the way they did when you two came to our help..." Aubrey says, looking at Raqisat and Cosette with an appreciative smile. "...and although we don't know much about them I'm not sure they will necessarily roam the ruins inside the city walls at least. I fear those aberrations will still be our worst adversaries inside those walls, but we will be vigilant and will likely have good scouting intelligence on our side, helping us to decide which battles to take, and which to not. We can still let Furvus scout out those dwarven mines where the Burned Knights are supposed to have their base of operations, but that can of course wait until when and if we consider taking them on." The young noble finishes, looking around the table for more thoughts on what to start with.

If there are more scraps of wood left around the ship, or if more are easily attainable from the shore, Grugga spends his early morning carving out a few more racquets for the descendants. The act of creation, no matter how mundane the product, seems to help him relax and concentrate. When he's done, he carefully reorganizes his tools back into their proper pockets sewn into his leather sleeves.

Over breakfast, Grugga also joins in the discussion. "I don't see how time could be wasted by mapping the outskirts. It's something we would have to do anyway, after all. As for the burned knights, I agree that we probably won't see them much on the western outskirts or within the city walls, but judging by the bodies we found, the did pass through the city to assault the Mons Basilicae, so it's not important." He nods at Aubrey and Raqisat, clearly agreeing that the knights probably have a sparse presence throughout the entire city, but concentrated in the Dwarven District.

After hearing all the discussion so far, Grugga concludes: "I think it would be best to spend the morning mapping the western outskirts. It seems least likely to be patrolled by burned knights or these descendants, and it is close to the Mons Basilicae in case we need to beat a hasty retreat."

The young noble listens to the artificer and nods in agreement. "So, perhaps we continue to investigate the western outskirts more thoroughly until this afternoon then. I should mention that the temple of Kryptos that we passed on our way to the temple mount Furvus was unable to peer inside. I doubt there are any aberrations inside, more likely it is protected from intrusions by such. Question is if we want to investigate it anyway or leave it for now?" He explains, looking to Rohuzar, Leelan and Cosette for more thoughts.

Leelan listens carefully to the plans suggested by everyone. 

"It would make more sense to focus on one thing at a time. I believe it’s safe to assume that whatever is in this tower will probably still be there when we get to it. As for our meeting in the afternoon, I think we should devise an escape strategy should things become…agitated."

"Yes, we can certainly wait with investigation the temple of Kryptos, although it is in the area we will be exploring now. Regarding the meeting with the survivors, the Empress will be our vessel of escape I think, having her by the bridge to let her take us away if needed. We should make sure they won't be able to use that ballista on neither us nor the empress though." Aubrey says as Leelan finishes, then looking to Rohuzar and Cosette for final thoughts.

"I do not see a great deal of value in exploring streets of little note. Ve are here for job, let's not vaste time. One night to find out exactly how it goes vith the monsters. Then get to vork." 

"I must say I have been under the impression that we so far agreed on that this expedition would have to be done slowly and carefully, hence the amount of supplies on the ship. Also, to my understanding we brought mapping tools to map out the entirety of the city. Also, in earlier discussions I believe the consensus was that we would start with the outskirts of the city." Aubrey says with a slight surprise at Rohuzar's words. "So, one night to find out exactly how it goes with the monsters you say, I'm not sure I'm fully following what you mean, can you expand on that idea perhaps?"

Feeling eyes look to her from time to time as the conversation progressed, Cosette couldn’t help but shrug. As a newbie on this ship, she still felt like a guest with no purpose, more so just going with the motions of the group. She leans back and crosses her legs. “Aye… I tend teh get myself into trouble first, then find my way out of it. Not the other way around.” Cos muses with a side glance to Raqisat. “Sometime’s it’s easier teh ask for forgiveness than permission.” She then offers a small unapologetic smile. “While I appreciate the brains wanting teh plan an’ prepare thoroughly, I’m more of a hands on learner.” She admits. “I go lookin’ fer trouble, rather than worrying ‘bout it.”

”With that said,” Cosette gestures generally, “I agree with focusing on one thing at a time. Spreading ourselves or resources thin can make fer sloppy work an’ oversights.” Then she gestures to herself. “I’m partial teh methodical mapping, as it’s something I can do teh make myself feel useful while other things unfold.” 

Raqisat bravely takes a dip in the refreshing, warm waters of the bay.  Despite his knowledge that saltwater crocodiles and other marine reptiles hunt the shallows of the southern coast, Raqisat is undeterred.  Whether there might be other things, less natural things lurking near the site of the Breach, he may not consider.  But he does notice something.  The ship is anchored near a drop off point.  The colorful reefs and green stone gives way to deeper blue waters.  Down there, just at the edge of sight in the deep blue gloom, is the outline of a shipwreck.

Back in the galley, the party continues to discuss the plan for the morning.  Consensus remains that they should meet to parley with the strangers in town this afternoon.  What to do with the time until then is hotly debated.

At one point, Captain Neck goes out to investigate a ringing bell.  She returns to advise that a string of barges arrived in the predawn hours and they are lining up to make a run upriver through the city.  They were just ringing the bell as a nautical salute to the Golden Empress.

As the talks continue, Capt. Neck raises a concern.  If the plan each day is for her to take the Golden Empress north to the border with Valar/Pentwater after dropping you off, and then return at evening in time to pick you up, it creates a logistical issue today.  If she is to drop you off, then pick you up in time for your afternoon meeting, then drop you off and then return again to pick you up at night... there isn't time to reach the border and get back for all those trips.  She could pick a closer spot to drop anchor and wait... or she recommends, for the safety of the ship, you hold off on morning plans and instead remain aboard until the afternoon.  She can drop you off to meet the strangers and then return to the bay.  She is confident she can outrun threats on open water, as long as the weather holds.  It's not a good long term plan, but it should work today.

"Let's wait aboard the Empress then until this afternoon when we go and meet the survivors by the north bridge." Aubrey stands up and says to the others at the table. "Should give us ample of time to prepare more racquets at least." He adds, smiling and winking at Grugga and Cosette.

Raqisat on behalf of Kaemgen

“Is a shame the tinkerer couldn’t make us a way to breath underwater,” Raqisat says as he reaches for more bacon after it’s decided the ship will stay put til the afternoon. “There’s a wreck neath the waters just over yonder a bit…”

Sticking the bacon into his mouth he turns to look at Cosette, shrugs, then heads back towards his cabin. “I guess I’ll catch more sleep then…”

"A wreck?" The young noble says, his curiosity peaked at Raqisat's report. "I will send Furvus down to have a look, maybe there is something down there that we can salvage somehow, or at least make note of for future expeditions." He continues and sends his familiar down in ethereal form to see what can be seen, borrowing Furvus' sight as he reaches the wreck. "In the meantime, anyone has anything that can aid us in going down there?" He asks, looking around at the others, his amber eyes staying at the artificer with an encouraging smile.

Furvus perception: 18
Furvus investigation: 22

Grugga digs around in one of his many pockets and pulls out a sea-green potion with bubbles in the shape of jellyfish. "A gift from Bishop Cleghorn. I only have the one, so someone would have to go down alone." He sets the potion on the table. "As far as I'm concerned, it belongs to the group, so if we think it's worth it..." He also pulls out a crystal-lensed facemask with a copper tube attached to it ((snorkel, for our newer companions)) "Otherwise all I have is my hydrospirator... it will at least help one of us see underwater. Maybe for magical backup."

He also takes out a smooth stone and after a touch from one of his tools and a bright spark, the stone shines brightly for 5 feet, and dimly for another 5. "In case it's dark down there..." He says, placing it next to the potion and the hydrospirator.

Furvus passes into the border ethereal and disappears from sight.

He returns a few minutes later to report to Aubrey:

Aubrey nods and smiles Grugga presents their diving equipment, then as Furvus returns and reports, the young noble explains to the team what the familiar found. (See spoiler above :-)
"So, thoughts, should we go down there and investigate it further?" He asks the team.