Father Pat at his position oh the oars can't help but overhear the conversation about duty and says "sometmes duty is all we have" He pulls at the oars and says "the duty imposed on me by The Great Mother is obviously to get these young children to safety and where would we all be if I shirked in that duty." He pulls at the oars again "floating in a leaky boat on an ocean somewhere - that's what!" 

Nicknack looks up from studying to say, "We appreciate your devotion, Father Pat. My little gnomish arms wouldn't be of much use on those big folk-sized oars. I'm sorry I know no mystical means to accelerate our travel. But if there's a leak, I'm the right gnome for the job!"

He pauses, looking around. "Did anyone bring anything to drink? Boating in the sunshine is thirsty work."

"Not sure we did?" Father Pat replies to Nicknack's question.

     "I don't know... That sound like a while lot of responsibilities." Folzi plucks the coin from the aasimar with his mage hand. The purple arcane appendage begins to toss the coin the the air as the gnome mulls things over. "Still, we do see eye to eye I think on that whole 'people misleading people' thing... Right, Hrain?" The coin floats near the rogues face so he can examine it a bit closer. "If nothing else, it sure is a pretty coin."

"I don't think there is any argument from me Folzi, the sentiment doesn't contradict any teachings I've ever heard and the more time I spend with you all the more I feel it is a strong and vital message." Hrain continues in silence, clearly lost in thought for a while. 

"Dammit I need a drink. It was easy enough to keep a little still hidden at the camp, but since we've been on the road..." he curses bitterly in Gnomish and rubs his lips nervously with the back of his hand.

Niska gestures at a tarp behind the children. 

"We put food and water on the boat. I grabbed a casket too," Niska replies with a smile.

It takes another six solid hours of rowing taking turns before the rowboat reachesrhe breakers outside the island. The lighthouse Folzi spotted earlier is lit and several boats can be seen rounding the leeward side across the slightly rising landscape. The weather here closer to the island with the Waste now days behind is decidedly warmer. Your heavy winter clothing is too hot to remain in for long.

"We could go around or row into there," Niska observers a rough rocky passage with a single dock beyond it.

(OOC: Folzi would like to spend the time with the cloak, figuring and/or mask during this time, if possible, to see if we can identify them.... after reading back, it doesn't look like that mask was magic.)

Hrain leans over to Nick "I have had this shield for a while now - it strikes me that it would be useful to learn of it's magical properties, perhaps you could spend some time seeing what it does, if that is even possible?  I would be most grateful master gnome."

The wizard digs through the supplies under the tarp until he finds the little cask of ale. Hands shaking a bit, he pulls the cork and swallows deeply once, twice, three times. His eyes water a bit and he exhales with a deep sigh and a belch. "Maybe that will make things better," he groans, then takes the shield from Hrain. "I will do what I can, Captain."

OOC: Can Nicknack get the benefits of a short rest with the shield to learn its properties for Hrain?

Arcana: 25

I'll say everyone's taken a short rest because or taking turns rowing!

Arcana, cloak: 16

Arcana, cat figurine: 20

Since we have six hours ahead of us, can he spend more time to try again? If so, here's take 2...

Arcana, cloak: 9

Arcana, cat figurine: 14

OOC: Yes, please y'all I'll allow whatever you'd like to "do" during the rowing.

Nick animated shield

Folzi cloak is a cloak of elvenkind; cat is a Stone of Good Luck (Luckstone)

Slightly sweating due to the rising temperatures, Lyra holds up her hand and uses Prestidigitation to ventilate the air around the boat a little. "So, Hrain, do you intend to look for the fastest route back to the temple, or can we count on your company for a little while longer?"

Father Pat seeing NIcknack knocking back the ale says "can you pass that over when you've finished? He takes a swig and says "aah that's better!" Later on in response to Niska's suggestion he says "I think we should stick to the calmer water, even if it is a bit further, rather than trying to negotiate a a narrow rocky passage. We could all end up going for a swim otherwise!"

      "Well, this cloak will certainly help... especially with the warmer weather down here." Folzi removes his heavy cloak and folds it up to place in his back. The gnome begins to dance around near the covered supplies. "Oooh, bet you can't see me now!" He stops, pulls up the hood of the cloak and goes into a ball to blend in with the tarp.

      After a moment from the 'tarp' comes, "Yeah, I don't feel like swimming just yet." 

 "Where'd that voice come from?" Father Pat looks around (Perception roll - 18)

(OOC: Father Pat probably wouldn't know if his arse was on fire unless somebody told him)

Nicknack's hands shake a little bit as he hands off the little cask to Pat, then walks it around the boat to the rest of the adults.

"That shield is a wonderful tool, Hrain - it will defend you on its own so you can swing that sword with both hands!"

"Ha, that is a handy thing indeed, my thanks Nick, are you OK? You look a little shaky, the sea doesn't agree with you?" 

Quote from Phadeout101 >>

"Ha, that is a handy thing indeed, my thanks Nick, are you OK? You look a little shaky, the sea doesn't agree with you?" 

Deception: 4

"Yes... that's definitely it. I belong in forests with good solid earth - not this wild expanse of uncontrollable water."