Sal offers a hand to help Rook up. "Come on, Rook. Let's get you inside." She says in her warmer caring tone, then to the captain, "By your leave, captain, of course." She'll offer to help him inside to the medic's quarter where he can lie down and she can check to see if there are any marks or wounds after the encounter.

Rook accepts Sal's help in getting to his feet and considers going inside as suggested, but pulls back for a moment while still near the deck rail.  "Should... should I just toss this in the sea?  Is... is it evil?  But, but it said it would hurt Father if I... if I don't... do... what it wants..."   The lad maintains his scared look, gazing back and forth between the sword, the others, and the rail as he considers tossing it overboard.

"Stay your hand for now." Sal suggests as Rook gets to his feet. "I sensed no evil from this nor the nereid. Perhaps  Lord Kelemvor has tasks for you yet."

"Kill undead? Haven't met a one I liked, so it seems it won't be trouble. Don't much like that part about your Da, though." Bruz says. 

The Captain approaches the boy after the effects depart, keeping his distance from both him and the sword but demands "I need an explanation for this, boy! What just happened and is my ship in danger?" Master Glass has a white-knuckled hand on his sword and Master RIpple stands beside his Captain, flesh glowing. 

"Be calm and tell your story lad. These are just honest men seeking to protect them and theirs', they don't mean you harm." Bruz says with a meaty hand on the boy's shoulder for comfort. The captain's word's put the half-orc's mind at ease. Those two sentences gave Bruz the measure of the man, and he liked what he saw. 

Cubic's visual inspection of the sword tells him one thing for certain - it's not a sword. It may have the shape of one, but it doesn't seem to handle or weigh what a sword should. 

Rook looks to Bruz an Sal as they provide kind words and at the Captain as he demands answers.  "It.. it said Father didn't do what it wanted.  It said I had to choose something.  It said father promised... the Queen?  It said it would hurt Father and all he holds dear."  The lad pauses for a moment and looks out over the rail and then up at the sky briefly.  "The other voice said not to be afraid.  It mentioned Mother, and... Chauntea?  There was something about a Raven, and this blade, and being hexed, maybe?  I, I don't remember, exactly.  It said I had to feed it, by killing undead, I think.  It said it would help.  It said I would have power against the darkness...or something like that?"  Rook just grips the sword loosely, the point resting in the deck, and stares at it in confusion and fear.  "Captain, Bruz, what's happening to me?"

"Damned if I know kid, I'm not one for magic. But I do know about power, an inner power my old man used to call Ki. If this power you're getting is anything like that, it's something to be harnessed and controlled, not to be afraid of. I'm sure Greybeard ((he looks at Carolinas)) can help you figure out more about it, he's a magic type." Bruz replies confidently. 

Sal looks inquisitively at Rook while he is telling his tale.

Religion: 8

Sal recalls that there is are the Raven Queen and Chauntea deities, but you're not sure what they're responsibilities are in the Pantheon. 

Carolinas hears the boy out and appears to be in deep thought as the others give their input. Archimedes comes and lands on Carolinas' shoulder then twists its head slightly looking at him inquisitively.

"Now, now lad. Just come to your senses and be calm. Let's not get too worked up. Rook was it? Let's use our wits, eh? We'll just start with what we know..." After a brief pause he continues, "Here, let's warm you up a bit. You seem to be in a state of shock." Carolinas wakes his hand over Rook's clothes and casts Prestidigitation to warm them up for him.

"Sal said she senses no malicious aura from the sword, and I trust her judgement. Cubic, what does your intuition tell you about it?"

Carolinas tries to recall if he's read anything about or heard any lore/history regarding everything Rook said: His "sword" and feeding it undead, Chauntea, Raven, and a "power against the darkness" 

In short, given all this information, Carolinas tries to make sense of everything that happened and what Rook said so he may explain it.

History 18

Religion 22

Arcana 14

Insight 11

 "Also, Rook, I would like to cast a spell on you. It is called Suggestion. It will allow you relax, speak clearly and concisely, and may help us understand what's going on a little more. Not to mention alleviate any potential fears harbored concerning the safety of the ship and crew. It will not hurt you, but I would ask for your consent before doing so. I ask you to trust me, but it's your choice. But, first let's get you to the Medical Bay so you can lay down and get out if the elements. What say you?"

Carolinas' knowledge isn't lacking when it comes to the deities of Faerun , and here it serves him well. The Raven Queen is the ruler of the Shadowfell - the realm to which all the dead go. She is a staunch warrior against undead and any who would prolong their life beyond normal mortality. Prayers by her followers over the recently dead will prevent them from ever becoming undead but they are few. She has been known to recruit or tie bargains with mortals, creating Warlocks to do her bidding against Necromancy. 

The Raven Queen is thought to be the first forger (and possibly the only forger) of the Hexblades, an unknown number of sentient weapons sent out into the Realm for the explicit purpose of slaying undead. The black mass seems to have been one of them, but somehow distorted or wrong. Once it took shape as the sword envisioned by the boy, it retains this sense of wrongness to Carolinas, but severely buffered or muted somehow. The runes are names of Chauntea.

Chauntea is the goddess of life, bounty and health and is the opposite in almost every way, except that the two Goddesses are known allies, completing the natural cycle of life and death in the Realm. For her to be involved in this issue means that there is some risk, but not likely to be destructive. 

OOC - forgive the edits - my keyboard has issues, and my fingers fail to keep up with my thinking. :) Necmo, you can either paraphrase as you choose, or relate anything you'd like. 

A bit surprised by how the group of you have joined forces to aid the boy, the Captain keeps silent. As you all try to aid him, the Captain whispers to his Mates and they nod in response, still watching the boy but less wary now, and also watching the group of you, seemingly impressed. The glow has faded from Master Ripple's flesh, and the three of them seem less on guard. The rest of the crew mutters a bit to themselves, but some of the older hands quiet them down and whisper to the less so, possibly telling of tales they themselves encountered on the open waters to ease minds. As nothing else as spectacular is happening at the moment, this suffices for now. 

OOC - DaNoLyfeKing - Kor's a Human shade of red? :D

Carolinas says, "Archimedes, be a good owl and fetch my book of notes, please."

The owl flies over to his pack, sticks its talons into an old, but well-maintaned book. He flutters back over slowly with the book in his claws and drops it carefully into Carolinas' hands just as he finishes casting Prestidigitation on Rook's clothes. He flips through it and stops on several pages, reading them with frightening speed. He gives it back to Archimedes and is returned to his pack; Archimedes rejoins him on his shoulder.

He looks around at all the eyes staring at him in anticipation, but is not phased by it. "Well, this feels more at home for me, surrounded by potential pupils hungering for answers and children gathering round for their favorite storyteller. Why it reminds me in my youth of the time when a most perculiar evening ga..." He realizes his rambling and clears his throat, then continues, meeting eyes with everyone at least once as he speaks:

"Right, get comfortable everyone and gather 'round to listen to an old man give an academic lecture... There are many deities of Fâerun. This 'Raven' that you refer to is known as The Raven Queen, she is the ruler of the realm where all the dead congregate after they leave this mortal coil. She is a fierce queen and abhors any form of the undead and those who defy their own mortality—a lich, for example. She recruits mortals into her service by creating a contract or bargain with them, if they serve her will in fighting necromancy. In other words, Warlocks. She is also the forger of sentient weapons used specifically for killing the undead...again." He gives a slight smirk at his attempt of light humor, but realizes the mood of the room is heavy and continues his lecture.

"Anyway, the black mass we saw was more than likely one of these weapons, but felt distorted to me somehow. I can't quite put my finger on it, but when it coalesced into the sword that Rook envisioned (he points to it), it still retains this feeling to me, but...different...somehow."

"As for the runes, these represent Chauntea—goddess of life, bounty, and health. Even though she is completely opposite to The Raven Queen in what they represent, both are allies. This is so the balance of life and death in the realm can be maintained harmoniously. Her involvement in this matter means there is definitely risk, but probably not destructive. We can relax a bit, I do not believe Rook poses a threat to the ship or its crew."

"In conclusion, you are correct. All of this points to one common denominator—you. 'A power against the darkness.'"

He sits back in his chair and sighs heavily and looks to be deep in thought, "Sal, or anyone else...do any of you have anything additional to contribute on these matters? Whether it's regarding the deities, the sword, or anything else. Knowledge is power, and the more we have, the better."

Sal takes a step back, letting Carolinas speak his wisdom to the group. "If The Raven Queen has entrusted you with this weapon, it makes me wonder what is in store for us on this journey." She comments with a more concerned tone. "Necromancy in itself is an aspect of magic, and not inherently evil. However, it is the twistings of a mage that turns necromancy into a dark art; abusing the powers over life and death." She leans over and places a reassuring hand onto Rook's. "You have our support, warrior of The Raven Queen. I think we should discuss this further another time. Rest tonight, I shall speak with the captain more to explain the circumstance."

She then turns to Carolinas. "It appears that the green wizard has studied his tomes well." She says in a semi-jokingly, semi-impressed tone. "I think your guidance can be a welcome asset to this journey, Carolinas."

Sebastian rolls over in his hammock, coughs briefly like may wake up then settles back to his rest swaying evenly back and forth with the waves. 

Rook continues to just look at everyone with bewilderment.  He nods in appreciation as his clothing is warmed, and welcomes the assistance in getting below deck to try to rest, all the while clutching the sword.  Those close at hand can hear him muttering to himself in a barely audible tone.  "I serve the Raven Queen, and Chanteau?  Is this why Father...  Oh.  Oh dear.  What did he do? I am a power against the darkness?  I must kill?  At least it's just undead.  Necromancy?  Liches?  What are they talking about? "

"Ah, yes, if you think it's best.  You can do your Suggestion spell.  I don't really understand.  I don't think I know much more that I can tell you, but you can do it if you want.  I won't fight."

"Bruz, will we see many undead, while at sea?  I don't understand..."

Carolinas says, "Do not worry, you will just wake up feeling refreshed. Enjoy a rest."

He takes a snake tongue and a piece of honeycomb in his hand. They fizzle away and he "suggests", "Think clearly and say exactly what you recall the voice has told you in a clear and coherent manner, as well as how your father is involved. Afterwards, sleep soundly for 8 hours."