The halfling crew member replies to Rel's questions, "First time on this route actually. Just came over to this crew from another ship but I've seen similar sunsets many times over. Never gets old seeing it is all."

Tex: Your best guess is the crate for Lord Agustin weighs around 200 pounds, perhaps more. In the mess hall, there is no cook on this ship but there is some equipment to prepare your own meal if needed. Food is not provided by the crew.

Tex and Rel: You find a few crates of similar size, however, the crates that are in the cargo hold are much older and weathered looking.

Still uneasy at the strangeness of the mission and the circumstance, Rel wonders if the crew is in on something that she doesn't know about.

"I've never seen anything quite like it."  Rel continues to gaze at the sunset, trying on a warm smile.  "Are all the crew new to the Dragonfly like you?  I mean, did you all come from another ship recently?  I apologize if I seem too forward - I am new to this and trying to learn the way of the sea."

Insight on halfling crew member with previously cast Guidance:  20 + 2 = 22

(Back down in the cargo hold, Rel may have tried the Mending cantrip to make a few of the crates look newer if she thought it would work?)

The halfling crew member smiles and says "Ah no worries. You see, crews change constantly for many a reason. Injury, illness, death, maybe just sick of the crew you're with. I reckon I'm the only new member of this crew." He pauses for a moment as he thinks "Actually, that lady over there I think said she is new here as well. Seems greener than green if ya ask me. Not sure how exactly she got the job but I ain't goin to question the Captain on my first job with him that's for darn sure." He points over to a young human woman. She has short jet black hair, hazel eyes and doesn't appear to be dressed for the work of a sailor. She wears simple commoner clothes in poor condition, many small tears and holes throughout. Her hands and face are filthy as if she hasn't bathed in maybe a week.

The sky above now begins to fill with clouds and night is beginning to take over. The two moons can be seen peeking through the gray clouds. Catha, Exandria's large white moon, in its waxing crescent state. Ruidus, Exandria's smaller crimson moon, appears to be nearing the full state of its cycle. 

Rel: Unfortunately mending cannot undo the weathered nature of the crates. Having been stored in a damp area of a ship for many months or years, the wooden crates are soggy and rotted rather than physically broken.  Also see spoiler for insight check.

Zane is continuing to keep an eye on both the crew and the captain as well, attempting to spot anything fishy going on.

Insight check: 10

Bellamy spends his time reading his spell book in his cabin and telepathically checking on Melby his familiar.

Zane: From what you can tell, the captain and crew seem to be focused on the voyage and nothing more.

Bellamy: Checking in with Melby, you notice that they have a few friends perched next to them. Some pigeons seem to have decided to hitchhike to Port Damali. Melby continues to keep an eye on waters around which have been free of any sort of dangers so far.

Tex remains in the mess hall to prepare himself supper. When there are quiet moments, it's best to take care about life's important things, like a good meal. Most people he meets just don't understand what a luxury a good meal is. Anyway, he figures that he should stay close to the crate if it's his job to keep it safe. 

Rel's smile deepens and she thanks the halfling sailor. for sharing his sincere thoughts and the sunset with her and introduces herself.  "I am Rel Serafin."

She holds out her hand to shake, wondering if it will be kissed instead as Thren had done.  She listens for the halfling's name.  "I hope we newcomers on this ship can stick together.  Something makes me uneasy about this voyage and our mission."  Rel glances up at the moons in the sky, trying to recall what the lunar omens signify, suffering from the usual unfamiliarity with celestial portents of one born in the Underdark where there is no sky but rock.

After a respectful end to the conversation, Rel roams the deck, nodding to her companions and telling them quietly of the location and nature of the crate they are assigned to protect and of Tex's alarm (other than Bellamy who knows already).  She also greets the other sailors when they are not busy, eventually arriving, as if by happenstance, upon the young human woman with black hair in commoner's clothing who is the other new 'sailor' on the ship.

Leaning into memories of her father and his divine magic, Rel murmurs for Guidance on herself once more.

Smiling brightly, she ventures:  "Hello.  I am Rel Serafin.  I notice you are attired differently than the other sailors, and I hear new to the Dragonfly as we are?  Do you serve as the ship's mage or another such role by chance?  Sorry to bother - I am new to the sea, but fascinated and trying to learn..."

Rel: The halfling man reaches his hand out to embrace yours and grips more firmly than you had expected. "Bulzo, Bulzo Greenleaf. Nothing uneasy for me. Maybe its motion sickness you're feelin there Rel? Anyhow, glad we had a chance to talk. Lots of work to be done yet before lights out so I'm going to be off for now. Hope to chat again soon."

Approaching the black haired woman she startles as you grab her attention, almost shaking she says "Oh, sorry didn't see you there. Umm, new? Yes I am new, why? I can hold my own if that's what you mean. I am no mage or anything else. I am a sailor, or at least learning to be!" She stands firm as she comes to the end of her words. Seemingly finding courage throughout the questioning

Thren will look around the sea to check if he can see any trouble 

perception 10 

“captain should we have any issues with the sea life or any pirates taking this route we are going on”

Quote from Legion4 >>

Thren will look around the sea to check if he can see any trouble 

perception Dice rolls not yet available for this section. 

“captain should we have any issues with the sea life or any pirates taking this route we are going on”

 Perception 7 game log 

Rel nods conspiratorially at the young woman, hoping to settle her.  She whispers:  "The truth is, I am new here too," gesturing to her skin and half-drow features.  "... and learning as well.  I had no intention of implying you could not do your job, only that I noticed you are not dressed like the others, so I was trying to guess whether you have a specialized role.  I am Rel Serafin."  (Rel repeats her own name, hoping the novice sailor will provide hers).

She shakes the woman's hand if permitted.  "Perhaps you were born with the heart of a sailor!  Just look at Captain Flame on Water.  He may be a dashing tabaxi and you a human he recently chose for his crew, but you share the same hazel eyes.  Windows to the soul, I am told."

Rel's own grey eyes gaze at the sailor, amiably but intently.

The ship continues on now as the cool nights breeze takes over the warmth you had gotten used to. The clouds now fill the sky and the moons can no longer be seen other than a dull silvery light behind the grey clouds. An occasional flickering of light can be seen of the port side of the boat followed by a low rumble slowly. A storm is forming to the south but is a ways off. The Captain shouts a few orders again before a crew member lights the massive torch on the bow and another on the stern. 

Thren: Looking around the waters of the Lucidian Ocean at this time of day, visibility is low. From what you can tell the waters appear to be safe around you.

The Captain responds to you "I've traveled this route about 30 times over and not once have I had a problem with pirates or any sort of sea creature. Though that doesn't mean such dangers don't exist. Revelry pirates do terrorize the many shipping routes of the Menagerie Coast but tend to target ships that fly the banner of The Clovis Concord. Though it is not unheard of that they target other ships as well. They tend to be a lawless bunch and are hard to spot, constantly changing their own banner to hide who they are. Like I said though, never had a problem like that before, don;t expect one now."

Rel: The black haired woman avoids eye contact after mentioning that eyes are a window to the soul. "Look Rel, I don't mean to be rude but I am trying to focus on my work here. I should really not be distracted as to not make any mistakes. Thank you for your company"

Bellamy continues his routine of reading in his cabin and occasionally visiting the deck.

"As you wish."  Rel is a little surprised that the young sailor does not even offer her name.  I wonder why Captain Flame on Water selected her...

Seeing that Thren is already conversing with the aforementioned captain and that Bellamy has retired to his cabin (keeping his bird up in the rigging), Rel considers chatting up the other sailors.  The ones that are old hands on the Dragonfly.  But she worries that she might come off as too much of a busybody if she continues engaging all the sailors.  And she would rather not inflict herself so soon again on Tex who is in the galley...

So that leaves only Zane, the Tabaxi who carries himself so confidently.  Rel walks to the bow of the ship where he sits cross-legged.

"I hope I am not disturbing you.  Zane?  I am Rel Serafin.  It is a beautiful night.  I am new to the ocean and have never seen anything quite like it."

She breathes the salt air and adds quietly.  "Something feels off about this situation and I cannot place it.  The closest inkling I have is that of the crew, two of them are new to the ship (which is fine), but one of the two newcomers, the young woman with black hair and amber eyes like the captain's there, seems very green and acted quite defensively, startling when I first spoke to her.  Could be nothing, but I wonder why the captain chose her."

She goes on to describe privately to Zane the ideas she and Tex had about employing a decoy down in the cargo hold - a ruse which had proved difficult to implement due to the shape, weight and unique and new nature of Lord Agustin's crate.

The southern storm begins to move in closer as the minutes go by. A light sprinkle of rain drops are felt as the roll of thunder begins to get more persistent and vehement. 

Zane, Bellamy(via Melby), Rel, and Thren: Make a perception check

Tex: Below deck, you can begin to hear a light patter above you as rain begins to fall.

Captain Flame calls out "Storm off the port side, dismast the sails!" The ship turns hard left as it turns to face into the wind. "Steady now Dragonfly. Wasn't expecting this kinda weather tonight!" 

Rel centers herself as the storm approaches, seeking Guidance to help her understand the impact and risk of the squall or any other threats or hazards.  Unfortunately, the rain and wind whip wet hair into her eyes and she is not able to perceive very much.

Perception plus Guidance: 7 + 3 = 10

She holds on as best she can and casts Shape Water to dry her face and eyes.

Perception 6 + guidance 2

Melby the owl has advantage for perception

17