"I have not decided, yet," Varielky answers simply, without much thought. "I may have made too many plans, too many promises or just many loose ends. I am not even sure if I remember them all. No, I doubt I do." She pauses for a while. Not much to think, but mostly because she has nothing more to say, at first, but eventually adds: "I think, though not yet certain, I might stick around this area just a while longer. To make sure Tama stays safe, perhaps to see Benita's baby born. To take part in the effort to liberate the Vale, if my help is needed. And after all that... we'll see."

“Once we have reached Lake Amidu,” Granophyre replies to Snow, “we could, as you say, hike, for two days in the direction young Safiyah indicated. Yet, would it not be simpler to continue sailing the winds? When we have reached a spot 15 or 20 miles northeast of the lake, we will be near to our destination, close enough to then seek the entry Safiyah noted on foot.

“And, do not forget, I have this,” he continues, producing the mima stone, which throws a three-dimensional image of the old Core of Dacite into the air in front of the scholar’s face. 

“We can look for the twin anvils – these two mountains – if, after the Fall, they still bear the same appearance. Directly between them was where the cinderrine made their home.

“Even moving discreetly, we should arrive before nightfall,” he finishes, his eyes nearly crackling with excitement.

You have by mid-afternoon flown northward some two dozen miles from Asni, keeping the river to your left in order to avoid El Harrouch Castle and Akkara, and you are passing Outghal a few miles to your west. From here, ahead, you see the waters of the Sebu churning and frothing through quick rapids as they rapidly descend through the foothills north of Outghal. From here, you can see Lake Amidu, a blue lozenge between mountains.

Benita La Cass has been enjoying fresh air on the deck and turns to Varielky. “It looks like we’re almost there, finally.” But her wry smile fades as she seems to spy something in the distance over Varielky’s shoulder.

“Oh, flock…”

Turning to look, you see that from behind the Bantu peaks near Amazigh Castle, several miles behind you, a kettle of Roc riders – five or six – glides westward at high altitude, descending at an easy pace toward El Harrouch Castle. But a pair of them break off from the others and bank in your direction. The two giant raptors approach swiftly, wings raked behind, sacrificing altitude for velocity.

"Everyone!" Varielky calls, in case someone is not on deck and wouldn't notice otherwise. "We've got company!" While it's not certain they could identify the ship and its crew from a distance, it isn't impossible either. And either way, once they get here, there wouldn't be much room for questions.

Aside from that, she doesn't have much to do while the potential enemies have yet to arrive (I don't suppose there's time for an Inspiring Leader's speech).

(OOC: Varielky can start an inspiring leader speech. I think it will take six to seven minutes for the Rocs to reach you, if they indeed reach you. If you continue uninterrupted, I’ll tell you when the temporary HP kick in.)

Snow turns around and curses.

"Well that's a stroke of bad luck, he calls", as he tries to evaluate the situation.

"The way I see it, we have three choices. Try to outrun them, which is highly unlikely. Fight them. Or try and talk our way out of this. Anyone have a preference?", he calls.

"If we attempt the latter, we could try and convince them we are delivering something to Outghal for the Lord and Lady Tazellayt, perhaps", he suggests.

Even as he makes plans, he tries to squeeze every ounce of speed out of the Reaver's Word.

(OOC: Snow will likely be doing some preparation, based on what the group decides, before the Roc Riders get close enough to see them properly)

Seeing the approaching Rocs, Auger starts madly waving to Driss on Baylen, following at a distance behind, hoping to be seen and for Driss to then turn his attention back to the following Rocs. What did he want them to do? Separate and be pursued elsewhere? Rear back and attack the other Rocs? Would Baylen do that? Or Driss for that matter? Wishing he was on Baylen, Auger wonders if, when positioned properly he could jump from the ship on to the Roc below with his coat slowing his fall. More likely the bird would see him and catch him and Auger would spend more time carefully held in Baylen's talons while his friends dealt with the oncoming riders. No that would not do.

"I don't see us talking our way out of this," Auger calls over to Snow, "I'm not entirely sure we can talk. Perhaps your messaging ability would work." Then a thought occurs to Auger. "Can you get a message to Driss? Perhaps we can split our pursuit and we will only have to face one Roc at a time?"

Snow nods in reply to Auger. "Yes I can get a message to Driss, I just need to know what to say", he says.

"You know, I believe I could make it seem as though we were transporting the Lord and Lady Tazellayt themselves. I could disguise us all in that manner, even Driss if he can fly within 30 feet of me. Although if they are on the lookout for the Reaver's Word itself that will not help", he suggests.

(OOC: Snow is suggesting using Seeming in case you haven't guessed. That would be his one and only level 5 slot gone then)

(OOC: Auger can jump off the back of the ship, and using a combination of feather fall and a use of Misty Step, definitely land in Baylen’s saddle without a roll. Driss can likewise shift from the saddle backwards to the passenger bucket (which is behind the saddle, not to one side) without a roll.)

"Message to Driss and get him to come closer. Try your disguise idea, then I will move myself on to Baylen and appear to be a riding escort perhaps."

"Father!", Snow calls out, hoping to get Trivedi Das to take over the piloting of the air ship.

After a moment, when he realises he has no chance of calling him that way, he points to his cabin and whispers, "We have Jenghen company on the way, I need you to take over at the helm urgently"

Assuming his father does take over, he will move to the rail and point at Driss, once again whispering. "We have company behind, Auger requests you fly as close to the ship as possible and slightly below so he can join you. On his signal".

Turning to Auger, “I asked him to manoeuvre close on your signal”. 

He then turns to everyone else, "Everyone gather close. You need to be near me for this to work. I am going to cast an illusion that will include you all and disguise us as the Lord and Lady Tazellayt, a Jenghen Roc escort, a Kingdoms pilot and another pair Jenghen guards on board".

He looks at each of them, "If you think this is the wrong course of action, tell me now. If you fancy a particular disguise, tell me now. Those other Rocs are getting closer, we need to do this before they see us clearly".

Worried that the disguise might confuse them, Auger signals Driss and Baylen to fly closer before he gathers over close with Snow and the others. 

With Baylen in position and Trivedi Das on deck, while the two roc riders, now perhaps one mile behind you, draw closer by the moment, what magic does Snow Das conjure?

Snow looks around to make sure everyone is close enough, before speaking his elvish words of magic and forming his forearms into a cross in front of him, his violin in one hand. As he uncrosses his arms, everyone's visage shimmers and blurs, changing to become that which he imagines.

Auger (and Driss if he is in range) become Roc riders, complete in uniform and helmets.
Baylen changes colouration and looks slightly different and a little larger.
His father remains a Kingdoms pilot, but younger, shorter and a little more portly.
Strewn is now a foot taller and dressed as a Jenghen guard, similar in appearance to one he has seen before.
Benita becomes taller, stockier and also attired as a guard, similar in appearance to a different previous guard he has seen.
Varielky takes on the image of Lady Tazellayt, only more modestly dressed.
Snow himself becomes Lord Tazellayt, again dressed more formally.

Once the illusion is complete, he wanders to Varielky, and channeling his magic through the violin strapped to his back, but not visible, enhances both hers and his charisma.

"In case we need to sell this", he explains to Varielky.

To everyone on board, he explains his ruse.

"I figure we are returning from Kalahata to Abziri Dacha. If they recognise the airship, it was captured from the renegades and a new captain installed"

Special: Seeming - 8 hours, Enhance Ability (Eagle's Splendor) (upcast at 3rd level) - Snow and Varielky - 1 hour - Concentration
Note: If anyone resists the Seeming it is a DC 19 Cha save to stop the effect

(OOC: Seeming specifies creatures, so he will change Baylen as well)

Seeing the illusion now in place, Auger turns and heads to the rear where he hopes his plan to jump off and then move to Baylen will work without being easily observed by the approaching riders. "Message me if needed. I will keep in an escort position for now," he says to Snow -err the Lord Tazellayt and then he turns and signals Driss, who appears to be a rider himself, to come closer.

Once they are in the right spot, Auger jumps off the deck, allows his coat to work its magic and then before falling too low, he reaches into the Sea of Stars and moves into the saddle on Baylen. After a quick consultation with Driss, Auger chooses to take the second saddle position for himself, so that he can concentrate on the riders and not so much on flying.

Only when Snow mentions selling the lie does Varielky consider the fact that perhaps she wasn't the best option for playing the part of a powerful mage, while Snow might not be the best at playing a man that's stronger than even herself. But of course, it was only natural at first, and, who knows if she could play a man either? Well, hopefully, the magic itself will do the trick.

Despite that, since Varielky's exchange with Lady Tazellayt was only brief, she wasn't certain she could put on a very convincing act if she tried. So instead, she finds something nearby she can sit on, where she'll be seen by all but perhaps at a short distance. Remaining a hanging threat, perhaps, hopefully without needing to prove anything. After all, it was merely looks they were counting on here.

With costumes donned, the stage set, and floor lights up, you await your audience. The Reaver’s Word sails through the air at top speed, ectoplasmic forms hovering over the back deck, puffing cheeks and pursed lips blowing with unrelenting force to push the airship ahead. The other ghostly crewmen trim the sails with minor adjustments to  maintain course. In the wake of the ship, Baylen, now a larger, more mature raptor, beats its wings rhythmically to keep pace. Auger and Driss may find each other's appearance alarming after all these weeks evading exactly what they see before them. Imperial roc riders, fearsome and deadly. 

On deck, Trivedi Das, takes on a slightly different aspect, and he chuckles at the illusion of youth. “If only!!,” he shouts into the wind, the first time Snow has seen such delight in his expression in years. 

Granophyre and Benita stand still and focused, playing their parts as Jenghen guards, while Varielky and Snow convincingly take on the visage of the demigod-like Tazzelayts.

The closing roc riders loom larger and larger as they close the distance, dropping from thousands of feet above like aerodynamic missiles into Baylen’s wake. They take a moment to read the airship’s name spelled in tall script, and then separate, moving into position on either side of the Reaver’s Word.

You see the riders nodding back and forth, communicating despite the distance separating them.

One of them disappears from the saddle with a crackle of arcane energy, and appears on the deck, a respectful distance from Varielky and Snow. 

“My Lord and Lady,” he shouts. “This ship is known to be stolen by enemies of the Jenghen Empire. It is my duty to investigate its appearance here. My Lord and Lady, I recognize your sigils of house Tazzelayt. In the name of the Emperor, you will forgive my requirement to learn why it is that you appear here on the deck of this stolen ship.”

The now riderless roc continues its path to port, while the other roc rider, to starboard, maintains a steady eye upon the proceedings.

Lord Tazzelayt looks up at the roc rider slowly, almost sighing at the interruption of his contemplation. It might seem as though the Lord has been indulging in some opium, which wouldn't be the first time.

He smiles at the rider. "Stolen it was, retrieved it now is", he says in a slightly slurred drawl. "The enemies of the empire were foolish enough to enter Kalahata whilst we were there", he says shaking his head in amusement.

"We were gifted the use of this airship for our trouble in dealing with them. Is that not right my love?", he says to the Lady Tazzelayt. "Do you think they want to know the details of the fun we had? You tell of these things so well. Or perhaps you can just persuade them to leave us in piece?", he adds, his words infused with inspiration.

He turns back to the roc rider with a wide smile.

Deception: (14, 16)+9=25
Bonus Action: Bardic Inspiration for Varileky (1d8 - one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw in next 10 minutes)
Special: Seeming - Just less than 8 hours, Enhance Ability (Eagle's Splendor) (upcast at 3rd level) - Snow and Varielky - Just less than 1 hour - Concentration

"Ah? Right." It takes a moment before Varielky realises the Lord Tazellayt - Snow - was rererring to her. "But I'm not sure. I wouldn't want the empire's esteemed riders to have trouble sleeping at night. I think we shall spare them the descriptions of how we toyed with those thieves until they drew their terminal breath, this time."

Normally, Varielky would probably find it strange to lie like that, especially since it means she needs to convince others that she herself was defeated. Thanks to Snow's magic, though, she felt the words come to her naturally.

"But as you can see, those pests are gone. It only happened recently, so I suppose the news were slow to travel. Have no worry, though. All the remains of them now is either dust or broken bones. Now, if you don't mind, we were trying to enjoy our ride back north, undisturbed." Varielky tries lace those lasts words with just a little bit of arrogant pique. As if she was actually saying 'now bug off before my patience runs out'. 

Decpetion/Intimidation? (19; 16 - advantage)+3(+7 if intimidation)=22(26).

Auger watches what transpires between the rider and those on the deck with great interest, unable to really see anything more than that words appear to be passing back and forth. 

Leaning forward he addresses Driss ahead of him, "That bird over there has no rider. If a random rider appeared on its back... how would it react? Like its just another day?"

While waiting on Driss' reply, Auger watches the happenings on the deck intently.

Auger

Driss seems distracted and Auger sees his lips moving as he turns back to answer him. 

“That one’s askin’ me questions about this roc — ‘which clutch he come from, whose Mount is he, who am I and where I come from.’ Answering best I can.

“What would the roc do? Try t throw you off. Proud creatures.” (OOC: to get within Misty step range would require maneuvering to a spot above the empty-saddled roc.)

Snow & Varielky

(OOC: I don’t think intimidation applies in this instance.)

The rider nods, bows slightly, and turns, seemingly ready to return to his roc. Then he stops for a moment, and he turns back. 

“My Lord and Lady, one last thing. I ask in the name of the emperor, what is your destination? You head back north, to…?”