Marrin watches the pair disappear into the fog and relaxes slowly as the seconds tick past.

She'll look over to the goblins with an apologetic look and says in Ghukliak,

"They are @&*$#@$&s with heads full of -&#@_$#$ soup."

More widely she'll say,

"That went much better than I expected it to. Probably best to stay on alert though, just in case they decide the want more lamb or change their minds."

She'll find a spot to sit and watch.

"Between my time in the ring, and not understanding what you were all saying, I can't help but feel a bit out of the loop. Care to fill me in?", Jan asks Marrin quietly, sitting down beside her.

Marrin, looks over to Jan and raises and eyebrow and giving her a half smile. Turning back to scanning the fog she explains,

"Well, it seems the dragons were looking for a specific box on the Emperor."

She emphasizes specific but doesn't focus on that, in case anything is out in the fog,

"Not clear if they had anything to do with the undead aboard. We showed them we didn't have the box on us and they apparently searched the Emperor until it sank."

Marrin let's that sink in before rolling on,

"Ethel was trying to weasel information out of them about why they were here and who they were working for but they mostly ignored her. She did get that there is only one person, maybe thing, that dragons listen to. That person or thing might or might not be the Darkness Bringer. Really wasn't clear and I wasn't going to ask a follow up question."

She shrugs.

"Any of that make sense to you?"

"Brings to mind a vision I had as we were departing from the Hargroves... talked to Ethel about it at the time. The one who grants me my abilities has instructed me not to allow this to come to pass."

Jan will describe her vision to Marrin.

 "A very good thing that there was no specific box from the Emperor that the four of you were carrying back to the Wish then it seems...", she says softly.

((I can't recall if Jan mentioned her vision to anyone but Ethel, so if she's repeating herself, Marrin can call her out on it.))

After an hour or so puttering around downstairs, helping clean up, and collecting her thoughts, Ethel will seek out the others.

”This is a cloak of protection” she says, drawing the item back out for all to see.  “A popular and valuable tool.  For any who aren’t familiar with its use, this cloak acts like an extra bit of armor, offering a bit of extra defense against both blade and spell.  It won’t stop a charging rhinosaur, but it nothing to turn your nose up at.”

”So… who shall claim it?”

Before waiting for an answer she adds, “I want to recognize all of you for what you did today.  Ava, I apologize if I was condescending back on the Empress.  I don’t approve of the way you rush into battle, but there is no denying that you know how to take care of your business in a scrape.”

“Ula, your devotion granted us both life-preserving healing, and held back the undead long enough for us to prevail.  Thank you.”

”Jan, were it not for you and your ring, our expedition would have been at best fruitless, and at worst our doom.  It was quick thinking.”

”And Marrin, not once, but twice, you out talked a dragon in its own tongue.  There are bards out there who make up whole ballads about themselves doing half as much… and lies, all.  That might be the most impressive thing I saw today.  I don’t know, I’m still processing it all.”

She scowls a bit.  “I just want you to know I’m proud of you all.”

Marrin keeps a neutral expression during Jan's recounting of her dream. After Jan finishes talking she mutters,

"That would have been something to share with the rest of us, but I guess you realize that now."

More loudly she'll nod.

"No boxes to be found here."

She'll then sit in stony, annoyed silence.

To Ethel's parade of compliments she'll give a half smile.

"Thanks mom, I always enjoy hearing I'm a good liar. Your undead tips were helpful as well, too bad we didn't follow all of them."

 "Oh, and I think Ava should have the cloak. As much as she places herself in harm's way, on our behalves for the most part, it makes the most sense."

She adds, giving Ava a smile.

"Too bad it's such a lackluster color..."

 "Oh, and I think Ava should have the cloak. As much as she places herself in harm's way, on our behalves for the most part, it makes the most sense."

She adds, giving Ava a smile.

"Too bad it's such a lackluster color..."

Avaria follows up behind Ethel, brushing off debris and picking it out of her fur as she reaches the deck with the others.  After finding a spot to rest with her back along the railing, she closes her eyes and enjoys the sea breeze, trying not to imagine those wyrmlings returning.

As Ethel starts in on her compliments to the group, she shifter is quite taken aback, she never would have expected.  She doesn't respond, but Ethel's scowl about it makes her smile and knowing that the woman doesn't resent her for her way of battle at times, settles her a lot.

When Marrin suggests that she have the cloak, she opens one eye and regards the bard.  "You sure?  Even though Ethel doesn't try to get into the middle of things, she still gets hit."  Then she opens both eyes and smirks, "At least it isn't yellow."

"Ethel could use the magical assistance... but Marrin has a point.", Jan concedes as she turns to look at Ethel, "You're most effective when you're NOT being targeted by any that would look to do you harm, your spells certainly helped me take out that necromancer! And Ava's most effective when she IS being targeted."

Marrin eyes the brown cloak and the shifter critically.

"I think some yellows would work for you. That color is a step above canvas bag."

Avaria and Ethel found quite the jumble of broken crates, boxes and trashed hammocks below decks. Most of the cabins had the doors broken off the hinges. Supply barrels and crates had been knocked over, provisions scattered about.

The kitchen also looks like a careless dragon barreled through of it. The remains of a stew languish on the deck and several of the mutton legs have gone missing.

But all in all, there’s no damage that affects the Wish’s ability to keep sailing. And most of the provisions and supplies, while scattered about, remain to sustain the crew for at least another week.

Once the dragons have been gone for a Bigge finally lets out his breath and begins barking orders like nothing happened.

Kriox and Brash return below deck, and while everyone can hear them cursing, ever since Marrin’s attempt at insulting the dragons, the tone of their voices is jovial.

After about an hour of sailing, the Wish escapes the fog and continues its journey north.

Bigge comes down from the quarterdeck and approaches the group.

“I don’t think I want to know what that was all about back there,” Bigge says. “Are we continuing on to Uthmere?”

Finally, almost forgotten in all that has happened, Hammerdasher and Geffroi appear from below deck, looking stunned and shaken.

“That was a wee bloody dragon, wasn’t it?” Hammerdasher finally says.

To Bigge,

"Don't think we've changed our minds about Uthmere?"

She gives the rest in the party a questioning look.

To Hammerdasher,

"It was actually three wee dragons. They sunk the Emperor, apparently they can swim like fish. Who knew."

Geffroi stops looking scared when Marrin mentions the dragons swimming. 

"While unusual to see one this far out to sea, both green and black dragons are quite capable swimmers," Geffroi says. "I've even read speculation that greens might be able to breathe underwater. Though I had always assumed that would only be in fresh water."

He looks like he's about to say more but Hammerdasher holds up a finger in front of the academic and shushes him.

"Why would they come all the way out here to sink an old ship?" the dwarf asks.

Earlier, Ethel moves away, looking a bit green around the gills when Marrin makes the 'mom' comment.  She stands by the side rail of the ship for a long while, leaning over.

When she returns, she disavows any interest in the cloak.  "If I find myself in a situation where I am in need of its protection, then its protections are unlikely to be enough.  Better that it go to one of you; someone who is more frequently in need of physical defense."

"That's right," Ethel says to Bigge, agreeing with Marrin.  "We should maintain our course for Uthmere.  Once there we can resupply and consider our next step."

Later, Ethel proposes they discuss the events on the Empress.

"I think it is only fair to include Hammerdasher and Geffroi, as this could concern each of them in different ways.  And Bigge should know as well.  As Captain, he should be briefed on important developments on his ship."

"If no one disagrees... shall we discuss what we found about the wreck of the Empress?"

Marrin doesn't really pick up Ethel's needing time to recover after being called mom offhandedly.

Insight: 6

Marrin will just point at Ava.

"I don't plan on getting hit ever again, give it to her!"

-----------

Marrin agrees that Geffroi and Mr. Hammerdasher and Capt. Bigge should be included.

"Well...what did we actually find out? Honestly? At this point I would guess that the orc bassoon or, whatever he was called, went crazy and turned everyone to various types of undead. We can only speculate what is the box and why that box is so very important to the dragons but seemingly not at all to the orc. I've got no idea about what the red eye altar connection might mean, if they are connected. Cults and nutcases love eyeballs."

She catches Jan's attention,

"But something the dragon said here might tie into a prophetic dream certain people had that just came to light, about a Darkness Bringer. Pun fully intended."

"Yes... so many different threads we have encountered, all of them weaving a tale of darkness and death rising out of the desert."

"As for the box, however, its mystery may not be so intractable."

She pauses.

"Why don't we open it and see?"

"It does occur to me, that if one were able to breathe underwater, and had a suspicious mind, they could trail after a ship and eavesdrop... have a peek over the sides, would you? And make sure we have no stowaways?"

If/when we have the all clear...

"I am in favor of the simple solution, however there are a couple of concerns. Firstly, said box cannot be retrieved until I've rested, so it's well and firmly out of anyone's hands for the time being. Secondly, did you get a sense the dragons could sense the box, or just that they were told it was on the Emperor? If we were to pull it out and open it, would it bring them running? Or swimming and flying, I suppose."

Avaria puts her hands up in mock defense as Marrin points at her, but she then smiles and reaches for the cloak.  "Thank you all, I do appreciate the add to some defense.  My fur, though I love it... well, love and hate it to be honest, doesn't do much for stopping a blade."  She secures the cloak around her neck and listens to the continued conversation.

She doesn't have much to add but raises an eyebrow at the dream part, "What dream?  Out of a dessert?  I'm confused... I mean, I know I don't get a lot of what is going on, but I do try to listen and keep up.  But I do agree with bringing our poor friends up to speed and I think that box can stay closed for awhile.  Maybe even until we get on solid ground?"

Once clear,

"The dragons didn't seem to have a sense of the box, probably just a description based on how they were looking for it."

As far as opening the box,

"I'm not in a hurry to open it, honestly. Seems like asking for trouble."