Danon, unfortunately in this case, does speak Dwarvish.  He moves forward and bumps the chest of the man and replies in dwarvish, “You better take back those words you just said.  She is not rude, and most certainly not stupid.  A helluva lot smarter than a fishmonger like you.  What do you mean by cursing us and ridiculing us as you ask for our help with fishing.  Only an idiot would do so.”  He crackles his knuckles and puts his hands on his hips, making it clear that no further talk like that would be tolerated.  

The dwarf huffs, and the scowls at something behind you. You hear footsteps approaching on the creaky dock. Another figure covered head to toe in cold weather clothing has joined you. The figure wags a gloved finger at the frosty-bearded dwarf. “You have no honor, Berylbore!” the newcomer yells, pulling down a woolen muffler to reveal a pale, half-elven face. “You’re sending these innocent people to their deaths. And for what, a few fish?”

“Pay no mind to this rambling fool!” says the dwawf.

“Did you tell them about the monster?” retorts the half-elf.

The dwarf curses the half-elf in Dwarvish (similar words that were to Etriel) before storming off "Just get to work or no payment!" 

Etriel Darastrix, realizing Berylbore's rudeness and lack of scruples, pointedly ignores him, not considering him worthy of further attention and instead approaches the newcomer with interest and bows her head briefly in respectful greeting, before fixing her green eyes on his and declaring: "To tell you the truth, dear sir, I had no more than a modest interest in the fishing activity itself... Because, you see, usually my traveling companions and I deal with tasks of much greater value for our employers (even if, objectively, at much greater risk)".

"But precisely for this reason, if there is a monster that is threatening the safety of those who fish..." the eladrin huntress's eyes are already shining with the excitement of the hunt "perhaps we might be able to get rid of it, to the benefit of all!"

"It is a pleasure to meet someone whose harshness of these lands has not deprived him of the education that distinguishes humanoids from ferocious monsters. Etriel Darastrix at your service. What exactly is known about this monster?" the foreign traveler asks the halh-elf "And, by any chance, has the city already put a price on it?"

“Careful Etriel, Berylbore there was cursing you and trying to set you up… we must be cautious.”  Danon says to her, pleased that the dishonest and rude dwarf chose to walk away.  He turns  to the newcomer, saying to the elf “Thank you for that, something didn’t seem right there to me.  My Lady Etriel and the rest of us have a way of taking on tasks, no matter how big or small, or how dangerous it seems.  I appreciate your candor and honesty.  Please, tell us more..”. Danon relaxes and stands down, waiting calmly beside Etriel.  

Neldak's eyes glance towards the ship with damage that looks like a bite mark.  "That makes more sense why his other workers didn't show up." he mutters to himself before turning back to this newcomer and waiting for their response.

The newcomer speaks up. And starts rambling a bit. You can tell they (their pronouns are they in the book, something it explicitly states they will correct if called he or she. Appropriate for pride month) are passionate about what they do. "I'm Tali, a researcher. When I heard reports of a creature in Maer Dualdon that was attacking the Bremen fishing parties, I decided to investigate and found that boats from Bremen were the only vessels to suffer these attacks. Descriptions of the monster vary wildly; some witnesses say it’s the size of an ox, while others say it’s closer to the size of a house. Some say the monster might be a whale or a large fish, and others describe it as more lizard-like in appearance, with scaly skin and a long neck. The boat there was actually found adrift, its crew presumably lost to the lake monster.

Being a researcher, I would like to better understand the monster, which has only recently become a threat. Perhaps this unending winter has affected its eating habits or demeanor in some way,” speculates the half-elf.

Tali hands you a notebook. “I can’t offer you much other than my gratitude, but if you’re going out on the lake, please write down any information you learn about the nature of this monster. If we know what’s out there, the people of Bremen would be much safer for it. And, well, it bears the potential to be awfully interesting.

Please record everything you can perceive about the creature if you spot it, including its size, physical attributes, and general nature. Few people have survived an encounter with the monster so please be careful."

"Why don't you come with us, that is if my companions would like to go.  This sounds a lot more interesting that just a fishing trip."  Neldak looks to the others for their opinion.

"Yes," Etriel Darastrix agrees "more interesting... and more important for these people. I hope to eliminate this threat, but if we even gain information about it, the fishermen's safety will benefit anyway."

The eldarin huntress seems ready to leave immediately... Her green eyes run to Neldak: "Perhaps you wish to take custody of the book, Lord Neldak? If I have come to know you well, you have some familiarity with the tomes..."

"Sure.  I'm no artist but I'll try to write down what I can." Neldak will take the notebook.

"Oh, if you wish to supplement your written notes with pictures, Lord Neldak," the foreign traveler smiles "it will be my pleasure to provide them, once we return."

"My esteemed mother, Lady Sellenia Nondalynn, in addition to being a staunch patron of the arts," Etriel darastrix remembers "has always had a keen artistic sensibility of her own - and I, though not quite her equal, have nevertheless inherited some talent for the techniques of figurative representation."

"Well I could certainly head inside for a cozy fire and an ale over fishing, if there is a monster hunting the people, then the ale" she sighs, "and cozy fire, can wait."

Leo gives a sad hoot and takes wing from her shoulder, "you know what to do" she tells her familiar, "eyes open!" [Leo will play aerial scout for the boats once we depart.]

She looks at the rowboats, "Does anyone know how to drive them?" she asks, having no experience on a boat before.

Danon looks at Cirim and says, “Alas, I do not have that skill.  I can keep watch for the monster, help to protect us if it gets close.  But I have no skill on a boat, I can help the winds to fill a sail, but that is all.  I am worried about what we will find, but I will lend my aid to this mission if it is required..”. Danon looks out at the water with a worried expression on his face.  

"We've rowed boats before," Etriel Darastrix recalls, quiet and serene "when we found the cauldron. I'm confident we can do it this time, too."

[[ OOC: Or at least, that's what the player thinks... Since we already used a boat during the Cauldron quest, I assume we're able to use the boat we see now, right? ]]

You can use the boats without proficiency. You will need to make wisdom checks to steer it around ice flows, just with no proficiency bonus added.

Tali declines joining you. It's far too dangerous and they have no useful abilities so would just be a hindrance to you as you would need to both protect yourselves, and Tali.

If you wish to fish while searching, fishing tackle costs 4gp. At the end of each hour spent fishing on the lake, the character must make a DC 15 Wisdom (Survival) check. A failed check indicates no fish is caught during that hour. If the check succeeds, the character hooks a knucklehead trout (see appendix C) and must make a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the fish’s Strength check to pull it out of the water. The trout has advantage on its check. If the character fails the check, the trout escapes. A character who fails the check by 5 or more must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or be pulled into the frigid water (see “Frigid Water” below). A character who is pulled out of the water is dripping wet and continues to suffer the effects of the frigid water until the wet clothes are taken off and replaced with dry ones. (so for the price offered, you won't make back the cost of the tackle without spending ages. But you might have your own use for the fish such as a good helping of rations. And you can fish in any water in the Dale) 

Etriel Darastrix may try to fish one of these trouts later - but only out of curiosity to examine an animal typical of these waters, a species she has never seen before. Perhaps she will not even keep it to eat but will throw it back into the water.

But for now the eladrin huntress is entirely focused on hunting the monster, in order to defend the fishermen of this community from a danger that unfairly complicates their already difficult existences. She suggests her fellow adventurers not wasting energy (or even worse risking an accident) by dedicating themselves to fishing before meeting the monster.

If no one objects, then the foreign traveler begins the navigation...

"The sooner we leave the sooner we can get that ale" the orc says, nodding at Etriel, "Let's head out."

“Okay, let’s go, I’ll help with rowing.  Everyone keep a close eye for movement.”  Danon walks toward the boat, climbing aboard.  

A rowboat can hold up to 4 of you. I can't remember if we lost someone or if there is still 5 of you so you might need both boats. As you leave Bremen, you have to sail past 4 ice flows. I need whoever is steering to give a wisdom check (water vehicles) per ice flow (per boat) to avoid hitting it and damaging the boat. 

Yes, there are 5 of us, so we will need 2 boats - and therefore 2 drivers.

Since it is a Wisdom-based roll, our best drivers are probably Cirim and Danon. Etriel can help the driver of her boat (probably Danon) with Guidance.

Also, let me know which group are in the damaged boat (it does have less hp so is relevant for tracking damage before a boat sinks)