Ethel looks back and forth between the wyrmlings and - turning toward whichever appears the slightly larger of the two - begins to speak in a harsh, inhuman tongue.

"Is nomeno sport for wux kagh dout kol? Sjek zyak, yth geou jaseve wux ekess coi. Yth sweekmon thric quarrel, kagh geou mardrek nomeno draksv ekess wer fogah di wux ios vi slathalin."

Draconic:

 Persuasion:  7

It's the third wyrmling that does look a little larger who appears out of the mist and lands on the deck, the extra off balance weight tilting the ship even further.

In a series of raspy, equally harsh words, interspersed by very small puffs of green oily smoke, it responds to Ethel:

Marrin pulls herself to her feet and looks between Ethel and the lead wyrmling and says in same raspy, harsh language but much more smoothly,

 She gestures around at the people gathered and says in draconic, bowing her head to show a degree of deference,

Deception (or persuasion? +2): 27

In common she says, just as smoothly,

"Everyone just stay where they are, calm."

Jan nods to herself and stays put.

Not understanding a word and really wanting off of this ship, Ava does as told, ready for these creatures to attack.  But remains motionless as Marrin and Ethel talk.

(I love that Jan has the chest in the ring - so cool in a lot of ways!)

The lead green wyrmling inhales deeply, it's dark green, almost black scales glistening in the damp air and low light. It stares at Marrin for a long moment, then looks at the rest of the group.

Finally it exhales but all that comes out is a pungent, eye watering vapour with no other ill effects.

To those who understand draconic:

 The wyrmling reaches down to the wooden deck around the cargo hold and rips up the rusted grate, bringing up part of the deck with it.

The other two leap up into the air and dive down the side of the ship and into the water. Shortly after, the ship rocks heavily to the other side.

There isn't much time before the ship is done for.

To the dragons,

 To the rest, very quickly,

"Okay, time to get going! They are going to sink her."

To the people in the rowboat she shouts,

"Come get us FAST!"

Then she checks with Ethel,

"I think we need to jump in, now. Can you make it to the rowboat?"

If everyone is ready to go over, Marrin will wait until everyone is in before following them and trying to get to the rowboat.

Avaria breathes a sigh of relief and looks over the edge of the sinking ship.  "Follow me!  Ethel, I'll swim along side you."

And the shifter dives into the water.

Wishing that she still had the spell power to alter herself into a mer-person, Ethel has no alternative but to join the others in taking the plunge into the sea.

Marrin looks to Ula once the other two are on their way,

"Ladies first!"

She winks and dives in before Ula and starts heading to the boat.

The sailors in the jollyboat get the gist of what's going on once Avaria dives in and they start rowing strongly towards the Emperor.

Before Ethel can make the leap over the side, Ula grips her shoulder and the necromancer can feel divine power flow from her friend and into her own body (Enhance Ability - Bull's Strength - advantage on STR checks plus 4 temp HP)

The water is choppy and wavers are strong from all the agitation the wyrmlings are causing. The party will have to kick strongly from the ship to get clear. DC12 STR - Athletics to do so (DC15 or higher and the character can give help to someone else).

Marrin hits the water and immediately starts to sink.

Athletics: 2

((Feast or famine for Marrin.

Maybe Ethel can save her :'( ))

Back into the water, Avaria is getting used to this and her spirits lift as she is off the boat with the undead.  Seeing Marrin sink as soon as she hits the water, she spins around and does what she can to help her.

Athletics: 21

Like any good drowning person, Marrin panics and tries to climb up on Ava's head but somehow still ends up under water.

Athletics: 2

((Wooo! How many helps can Marrin get?))

Ethel - even with the magical surge of vitality granted by Ula's helpful spell - can do little more than struggle to keep her head above the waves.

They could have done without that Blindness spell on the half-orc, she thinks to herself ruefully.  Then I would be a fish right now and halfway to the jollyboat.  

Athletics (with advantage):  8

((Jan just chilling.))

Ula, years spent around the sea, swims strongly and manages to keep Ethel from drowning but the chop and falling debris from the ship don't let her make any progress towards the jolly boat with Ethel (Ethel can make a second roll, again w/ advantage).

Avaria can similarly keep Marrin's head above water but won't be able to make any progress towards the jolly boat.

The sailors, seeing the crew in the water, pull as hard as they can, though you can see they keep taking glances back to the ship where the wyrmlings are systematically ripping the Emperor apart.

----------------------------------

DEX saves from all to avoid falling debris.

((Ethel still has a bardic inspiration as well!))

Marrin has time to twist away from the debris as she isn't exactly swimming, more clinging to Ava.

Dex save: 25

Spluttering and gasping for breath as Marrin pulls the shifter under water Avaria tries her best to avoid the falling debris.

Dex save: 10....

DEX:  7

Another Athletics:  9

The ordeal is just too much.  Even with aid, Ethel's shadow-drained body is too weak to swim in such dangerous waters.  She is unable to do anything to avoid the debris coming off of the ship.