Marrin, as best you can make out, Geffroi believes what he's saying. But you can't think of any undead you've heard of that could do this and you've heard a lot of stories. You do recall something you heard at a tavern a few weeks ago, something you'd dismissed given the drunken state of the source. The drunk had mentioned the dead disappearing in Mulhorand but he knew they were just getting up and walking out into the desert. Even adding in Geffroi's story it still sounds pretty farfetched.

Geffroi doesn't answer, he stands quickly, grabs up his satchel and make for the doorway to the galley. As he does, a swell hits the side of the ship but he nimbly keeps his balance and darts through.

Hammerdasher rolls off the bench and collides with the wall, cursing a streak of dwarven oaths as he does.

DEX Saves from everyone please - Ula, unfortunately at disadvantage.

((I'm hoping Ula had the sense to go belowdecks when it picked up, disadvantage DEX while clinging to the rail might make for a short adventure!))

Jan DEX Save: 13

As the dwarf laughs at Avaria's question, she finds him even more curious and then he starts dealing out the cards.  She watches his hand nimbly work as she listens to Geffroi's story.  So much new information has been sent her way since she has boarded the ship and it was starting to make her head spin.  Not in the same way the sea was awhile ago, but it was starting to hurt.  People rising up again after they have been slain?  Is that possible?  The man sure seemed to believe his story.

Just as she was about to tell Hammerdasher she has no idea what he is doing, Marrin helps her with her leave.  She is just getting up and about to head out of the galley when the wave hits and she attempts to keep her balance...

DEX save 19

Marrin hops to the side as the ship tilts, hoping not to join the flying dwarf.

21

She will then nod for Avaria to head on to the room,

"I will give Mr. Hammerdasher a hand, go check to make sure Ula made it back to the room!"

She'll move over to help the dwarf to his feet and help him to his room before moving back to their bunk.

Avaria quickly regains her sense of balance and smiles at Marrin.  She is enjoying getting to know the pretty half-elf.  "You got this one?  Good.  I will find Ula, she wasn't looking the best and hopefully Ethelyn is doing alright as well."

She heads out of the galley in search of her new friends..

Ethlehyn lifts here head off the bed at the sound of the bells.  More good news? She thinks bitterly.  She is about to stand to go investigate when the swell hits.

Dex 17

Jan will follow behind Avaria.

Ula could have at the very least been making her way either downstairs or to your cabin, either would put here away from the immediate danger of the rails and sea. Ula, please post which you were doing when you roll the Dex Save. 

Ula does her best to smile at the goblin through the nausea. “Oh what a nice name. My name means ‘Gem of the Sea’, so we match!… oh! blu-… I’m okay!… You can call me Ula. And thanks for the tip. I might go and get some ginger tea now! Thanks, Slick!”. And with that, she tries to head below to find the cook.

I suspect she doesn’t quite get that far when the wave hits. Maybe she’s on the steps down?…

Dex save: 9 

((Assuming bless has faded, but here’s a d4 just in case!… 1 ))

INSIDE THE PARTY'S CABIN:

Ethlehyn chooses almost the worst possible moment to step off of her bunk. Her weight only supported by one leg and the rest of her body in midrise, she has nothing to support herself with when the wave hits. She's tossed almost across the width of the cabin into the far wall, taking 1  bludgeoning damage.

BELOW DECK:

Jan stumbles, nearly colliding with the wall but at the last second dives to the side and makes it through the galley doorway. She and Avaria come out of the galley just in time to see Ula miss several steps but instead of face planting on the lower deck the sturdy dwarf is able to grasp the rail and haul herself upright. Jan and Avaria witness first hand the strength Ula can call upon. A lesser shoulder would have been dislocated with that move.

Hammerdasher rubs his head where he smacked into the wall in the galley. While he accepts Marrin's helping hand back to his feet he shakes his head at any further assistance.

"Thank you, lass, but I can manage," Hammerdasher says. "Best get yourself secured before the next one hits." He quickly makes his way through the lower deck, disappearing behind several crates near the aft, presumably heading to the passenger cabins.

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For any of the party who continue up onto the main deck from the lower deck or from the shared cabin, they are greeted with strong gusting winds and a near black sky. Only a sliver of sunlight on the southern horizon remains. To the starboard side looms a wall of dark grey clouds. Pelting rain makes everything slick. The full force of the storm hasn’t hit yet. That must have just been a lead swell that rocked the boat so hard. But larger waves are building and getting closer to he ship.

From the looks of the crew, the full sails and the fact the Captain is at the helm and not the First Mate, it’s clear that Captain Percival intends to out run this storm.

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Everyone has a couple of moments before the next waves hit. Please let me know what your character does and how they're going to prepare themselves (where they're going, whether they're going to try and anchor themselves somehow, etc) for what's clearly about to come. Once you come up with your actions (and the party can work together), please give me a roll (I'll let you propose what would be appropriate and I can reassign if it doesn't seem quite right).

Avaria and Marrin - as your first saves were so good you have advantage on your next skill check rolls.

Jan winces as Ula manages not to take a spill down the stairs, and wastes no time going above decks, taking the bread with her to hand off to Ethel for when she's feeling up for eating. 

For her part, she pulls her gear down from the top bunk and places it on the floor, having no interest in swaying about with a fall waiting for her, nor having interest in her crossbow and gear tumbling on anyone's head.

She looks around a bit guiltily, looking for a hook, nook or bent nail that would suit her needs if it came to it.

Investigation: 1

((Cooooool... I guess she doesn't have to feel guilty.))

Ethel rolls just in time to avoid smashing her face into the cabin wall, instead taking the blow to her back and shoulder, knocking the wind out of her.  That will bruise...

She is still crouched on the floor when Jan enters.

"We might have a spot of trouble, here..." is all she says in greeting.  She clutches her staff and intones "Haec vita capieris."  A ghostly glow briefly illuminates Ethel's form, and when she rises to her feet, she looks the hale and heartier than Jan remembers.

Ethlehyn casts false life on herself, gaining 7 temporary HP with which to absorb any additional walls, doorknobs and floors she should meet for the next 1 hour.

As Jan runs off to find Ethel, Avaria looks to Ula, "Well that was an impressive dismount of the stairs.  Any idea how to ride out this storm?  I've never been on a ship and well.. I must admit feeling a bit overwhelmed and other than hiding under the lower bunks in our room, I don't know what is the best way to do this?"  She looks to her new friend a little on edge, waiting for the next wave to rock the boat.

Jan considers the bit of magic that Ethel used on her self, wondering if her current appearance or her former is an illusion, but stows it away as a low priority to ask about in the moment. She's just glad the other woman looks less likely to break her self in half vomiting. 

"Cook says that the storm's caught us. Brought you some bread, if you're feeling up for it. The fish stew was passable, but didn't think you'd want to risk it after earlier. Ava and Marrin were with me in the galley, saw Ula coming down from above, so they should be here soon. Figure we make our little slice of paradise as comfortable as possible, and hope the crew knows their business."

((Would enough time have passed since fighting rats to have taken a short rest? Not that either of her spells are useful in weathering a storm...))

Marrin give Hammerdasher a nod and, after watching him depart successfully, turns and heads back to the room to find the others already there.

She nods to the rest before going to take a peek out of both of the portholes to see what there is to see, moving surprisingly comfortably despite the choppy waters.

"Well, this trip might actually be worth a song! Everyone doing okay?"

She looks around for confirmation then says,

"I will let you know when the next one is on its way in."

From her vantage point looking through the ports she'd like to give the rest a heads up on when the waves are going to hit while she holds onto one of ropes holding the barrels strapped in place to keep her stable. She is relying mostly on her agility to keep safe rather than her weak, weak arms to hold on.

Dex save (advantage): 23

Ula smiles at Avaria “An impressive dismount yes… but I’m really not the one to ask about riding out the storm”. She still looks green from the motion sickness.

“Although from what little experience I have had, I believe this to be… ‘worse’ than your average voyage….”. She holds her holy symbol, an amulet around her neck depicting a cresting wave. “I’ve asked Istishia, Lord of Elemental Water to.. uuhh…”. She holds back a bout of nausea. “To let the waters be kind to this ship and everyone aboard. He may not have jurisdiction over the seas - or the storm - but I’m sure he’ll see us right!”. She offers a kind but slightly peaky smile to her new friend.

”I was heading to the galley to get some ginger for my stomach. But then I’ll come straight back up our bunks, I think, to ride this one out... I can see you there shortly…”.

With that Ula moves to find the cook. ((I suspect she finds the galley closed but maybe she can get something for her tummy?)). Aside from that, she’ll make her way to the party’s bunks.

When the next wave hits, she would try to use her strength to hold on to something sturdy with one hand and hold onto whichever party member there that looks like they could use a strong hand.

STR/Athletics check(?): 8 

Avaria looks at Ula with sympathy as she is trying to manage her seasickness.  "Alright, I'll meet you back in our bunk area."

She gets to the bunks and sees that the rest have all had the same idea.  She finds herself starting to enjoy their company and glad they area all going to try and ride this out together.

As Ula returns and tries to hold onto something sturdy, Avaria follows suit, attempting to help Ula if she can.

Athletics w/advantage: 26

As Jan looks around the cabin for a hook or a bent nail, she’s so focused on doing so, she almost impales herself on such a hook. In fact, now that she looks around the cabin, she spots several hooks of different shapes and sizes. It appears that over the years, the crew and passengers of this cabin have driven whatever they can find into the walls to make up for a lack of cupboard or wardrobe space.

Ula finds the galley empty but not locked up or closed. Because of her experience in her family’s inn and the knowledge she has over using root vegetables to make ale, she locates a finger of ginger and makes her way back to the cabin.

For the time being the party has decided to try to ride out the storm inside.

The next waves come in quick succession, each bigger than the last. But with a combination of Marrin’s fleet footed early warning, Avaria’s strength at helping the others stay secure, and even Jan’s foresight of securing their belongings, all of you are able to withstand the buffeting the ship is taking with nothing more than an increased heart rate.

You can hear shouting on deck but can’t make out what’s being said. The gusts of wind are now being punctuated by booming bangs of thunder.

In a brief lull in the noise you think the storm might be easing.

BOOM. CRACK. It feels and sounds like the storm is right overhead. One of the portholes lights up from a flash of lightning followed immediately by thunder so loud that the ship shakes. A second CRACK shakes the boat. You can small ozone in the air. And is that smoke?

Rapid knocking on the cabin door draws your attention.

“We need extra hands out here now,” the no longer calm voice of Erran Bigge says.