Lyra cant help but respond with a smile herself. "Yes they will, but let us hope we won't actually need them." She pushes back a recalcitrant strand of hair. "I'm from some place called Elios. Its a pretty big town, but somehow most people around here don't know much about it. And what about you?" She asks with a curious, but kind look on her face.

"White Spear but...well my Pa sold me to the man Niska tossed overboard like we'll ALL of the grown ups actually," she says happily. "They were bringing us here for...well I don't know why," the teen adds musing darkly for a moment, "but whatever it was called down Niska and she saved us," she adds smiling again. "I'm Maddy by the way. What's your name," she asks curiously as you both work together lashing another cannon back.

    Folzi relaxes up in the crow's nest as the ship lurches forward. Casually watching the deck below and skyline ahead, the gnome rests one arm up the edge of the basket, while with he other hand he happily - unrestricted - casts his spectral hand and various illusions over and over as he tries to retrain his magical talents. Satisfied, he then sends a message down to the captain. "So, what's this Traveler all about...?"

"Many things small one perhaps we might talk about him this evening at dinner," the aasimar replies.

Following Post #1889  "You can help with the others in the canon bay maybe." 

Father Pat looks around at the Canon bay and says to the young sailors "right lads lets make this lot ship shape. As I used to say to the recruits in the Empire legions a tidy fort, watch post, etc. indicates a tidy mind and that is the first sign of a good solider. I reckon the same is true of a sailor. Do you agree?" If the kids mumble yes sir as will probably be the case, he then says a whole lot louder "'DO YOU AGREE? Ok lets get on with it then shall we?" He the proceeds to show the kids how to correctly stack the cannon balls on the brass monkey - the rack for holding the canon balls.

(OOC the brass monkey was a brass rack used to stack the canon balls on a sailing ship and because of the differential rates of expansion/contraction would contract faster in cold weather allowing the canon balls to fall off - hence the saying 'freeze the balls of a brass monkey') 

OCC: Learn someting new everyday I tell ya!

"Yes, we want to help Niska and the boat," a dark-haired boy who's the oldest it looks like in the cannon bay. "Have you sailed before then sir," he asks curiously moving the cannon balls with some effort but he's the only one that seems able to move them along with you the others kids too small or too weak to help!

Folzi's keen eyes steer the party out of trouble by calling out possible watery dangers along the way but as night falls the party has sailed without incident. The gnome then comes down from the crow's nest to find the party have settled into their given tasks like he has with varying degrees of success. Lyra and Pat emerge from the well organized cannon bay with three children trailing behind them. The captain Hrian has spent hours at the wheel with Niska learning navigation. Meanwhile Nick has been downstairs n the galley checking stores and preparing diner for the entire crew. No one however has searched the ship! Nick then rings the bell as dusk falls and night begins calling all, the party and the half dozen children from their stations, to eat. Niska however insists every eats and remains at the wheel.

Hrian give me a inteligence roll to see what you've gained observing Niska guiding the ship with advantage because of observing Niska! 

OOC: People think of watch rounds and check-in with dinner RPs and watch shifts!

"Have you sailed before then sir," one of the kids says to Father Pat

"No lad, I am a land soldier through and through but I did spend nearly all my life in the Empire's Legions" Father Pat replies and then goes onto to say "but one military service is much the same as the other." Seeing the smaller kids are having problems moving the canon balls he goes up to the two smallest and says 'listen lads it's all about teamwork. If one person can't do it then two or three can and what's more we make use of our surrounds. So this is what I want you to do, don't roll the cannon ball when the ship is rolling the wrong way, roll it when it is doing all the work for you. Then all you have to do is make sure you don't get your fingers, or legs," he waves his peg-leg around "crushed. Now watch me!" As the boat rolls to the starboard he says to the largest kid, "you go on the that rail" pointing to the starboard rail "and catch this ball as it rolls towards you." He then uses his stump to slow the ball down and make sure it doesn't crush anybody's fingers. He then turns to the kids and joining in the smallest with the largest, the second smallest with the second largest, etc. says "lets have a race and the team that gets their cannonballs put away the fastest wins." When  the cannon balls are all put away he then puts an arm around the shoulders of the winning team members and lets out a dribble of power from his Lay on Hands pool (1-2 HP each) which is enough to make all of their bruises and scraps go away.

When the canon bay is ship shape, they all make their way down to the Galley with the kids probably talking nineteen to the dozen. He then turns to  Niska and says "now let's be having a look at you!"

"They were slavers," Niska replies showing Pat a rapier swipe on her back. "I was captured too but broke free of my bonds," she explains next to the paladin.

OOC: Grant if you would like to start leveling up cleric I would allow it!

"They were slavers," Niska replies showing Pat a rapier swipe on her back.

Father Pat pulls out supplies from his medicine kit and cleans the wound and at the same time lets out a dribble of power from Lay on Hands Pool (OOC: DM let me know how much). Whilst cleaning her wounds he says "slavers! Traders in human flesh and misery, one of the lowest type of scum except for those that buy slaves I suppose. Are they a real problem? I understand most of the kids were rescued from slavers. What, if anything, is the Empire doing about them?"  

"I'm am not from this land. I was brought here and find my God is a stranger to most. He tells me to spread the word of his deeds in this land. I do not know much about this Empire or its ways but from my land slavery is punishable by death and blocking your resurrection," she explains. "The crew of this ship captured me as I said and I was in the hold for many days possible weeks. Then the children began to be caged below in the cargo hold and I knew I must act! I then escaped," she adds but does not continue to elaborate.

"I spent most of my life as a soldier and only recently received the call to act as one of Chauntea's chosen. My following of her may be more a function of the respect I have for her priests did in getting me back on my foot after the battle where I lost my other leg than a true calling as such." Father Pat says. He then continues 'tell me more about this Traveller?" 

     "Yeah, I'd like to hear a hit more about this Traveler too because in all my travels it's only been all about the four." Folzi smacks his food loudly as he addresses the aasimar. "Might be a good addition to the mix. You know keep the ladies on  their toes," the gnome flashes a grin to Hrain and Pat. "And you say you're not from this place. So where exactly are you from?"

Nicknack nods with a half-smile in appreciation. "Almost forgot how in the Wastes." He then eases over to Folzi to ask softly, "Had a chance to check anything out?"

I'll replace text once I know who's there to talk to LOL

OOC: So who's there to talk to belowdecks in the eating area?

OOC: You said that Folzi came down from the crows nest and considering the captain invited Folzi to discuss thing regarding the Traveler over dinner he would have joined her at the wheel (I looked over the part about her eating at the helm). Above post edited since Nicknack wouldn't have been there.

OOC: Gotcha. I also said the party moved below, asked Hrain for an intelligence check, and Pat replied with healthing. It's cool. We'll say Folzi feels suddenly altruistic brings Niska, Pat, and himself dinner.

"Far away." Niska replies keeping her hands on the wheel and staring ahead at the dimming light as the sunsets and does not elaborate. "The Traveler came to me when our God was silent to me. He came to many others in my village but he choose me to travel beyond it to tell others," she adds. "The pirates in this boat in the end did me a service. I was able to help so many so quickly and now you," she adds. "What would you know gnome," she asks her expression rather intense. "You will be tge first who has asked me so directly," she adds next.

Folzi you get the sense that Niska is pretty young under all her grit and armor, possibly still in her early 20s.

Investigation to see what Nicknack learned while checking stores belowdecks before cooking supper: 20

Nicknack cooks up some relatively tasty food, considering the limitations of shipboard supplies. He uses Prestidigitation to make sure each person's food is the right temperature. He chats with anyone who talks to him, but is pretty clearly a bookworm rather than a conversationalist.

When Folzi comes downstairs to pick up meals for Niska and Pat, Nicknack asks him, "What do you think? Have you been able to check anything out yet?" and gives the rogue an abridged version of a report on what the wizard saw while checking stores.

OOC Oh sorry - totally missed the Hrain related part - my fault

Intelligence 20

OOC: didnt manage to reply in time, hope this is alright.

"I am Lyra, nice to meet you Maddy." After finishing fixing the cannons and with Father Pat joining the little crew, she rather sits back and watches as the cannon ball play begins, too fond of having all of her fingers to risk them yet, until everyone is called down to the galley. Now that everyone is "dining", Lyra feels a righteous fatigue overcome her as a result of the days events. She remains rather quiet, although watching the gathering with a warm smile, until she turns to Hrain during one of the rather vocal moments. "I guess we really need to figure out who we're calling 'captain' now, huh. Did you get any ideas where exactly we're headed?"

"In truth, you have never served under me, Hrain would be fine, I think Folzi just says it to entertain himself and Pat seems little different." He replies with a smile, the ship taking him away from his home and the recent events seemingly having put him at ease."I think we can save the Captains for Niska".