"Sure. Just give me a second." Carrhae runs down and gets her longcoat, tossing it over her body that is currently only covered by a bikini. "There! Now I can look at the stars without freezing." 

Misha pats a spot on the deck where Carrhae could lay down next to her once she returned. Misha was not cold, so she put her arms back behind her head and laid down to look up. It was a beautiful evening and Misha gazed upward and was very relaxed after a day of fun on the beach and sex in a tiki hut.

Carrhae spent a few hours on the deck with Misha, watching the sky as those last few splotches of purple and orange faded into the night and the stars came out. She pointed out some of the constellations that she knew of, as well as new ones that she had learned about from Kali and Sana. Eventually she gets tired and her legs are too cold for her to stay out here. It makes her look forward to the promise of having a sarong like Syltra's even more. She wishes Misha a good night before heading off to bed. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, I'm sure that we'll have plenty of work to do then. Tell Chandor that I said to set a course for Saltmarsh."

The next morning, Carrhae woke up, got dressed and armored, ate breakfast and sought out Kali once she was out and about. "Syltra gave this to me yesterday. She thought that we might enjoy these." She says, presenting the hallucinogenic leaves.

Kali was in good spirits when she returned from the ship which carried over to the next day when they had set course back for Saltmarsh. She had been enjoying her morning smoke when Carrhae had presented her the leaves, the pirate taking them from her hands to inspect them. “Mm, light green, slender... Sativa, nice! But we can’t smoke these.” She frowns a little. “You want the buds to smoke, but we can make juice out of these babies, or tea if you wanna get fancy. Just need to dry ‘em out a bit. If you guys got the sugar leaves we could’ve made butter!” The hybrid gives a laugh and hands them back to Carrhae to decide on what to do with the leaves. “Good find regardless!” 

"I know of a friend in Saltmarsh who can get this made into tea for us. I'll talk to her when we get back."

EPISODE THREE - SALVAGE OPERATION

Less than a week has gone by after the successful inclusion of Saltmarsh in the Lizardfolk Alliance, thanks to the brave band of crew members from the Belle of the Sea. One early morning, a half orc butler named Vertheg was charged with finding a suitable band of adventurers for his urgent mission. Tall, lanky, and awkward, the butler was notable for the single tusk that jutted out from his lower jaw, and for the way his warty skin contrasts with his fine, neat clothing. Vertheg, it was learned upon when he introduced himself to Carrhae, that he worked for a man named Aubreck, a merchant prince of Saltmarsh - and requested your presence right away.

You are all introduced to Aubreck, and you quickly noted that he has seen better days. His Saltmarshian mansion is large but run down, and his clothes haven’t been fashionable for at least a year. He keeps his iron-gray hair pulled back in a short ponytail, and his mustache is neatly tended. Aubreck explains that one of his missing ships, the Emperor of the Waves, has finally appeared after years of being missing. The ship holds a magic box containing promissory notes and property deeds worth a total of 100,000 gp. He offers you all a fee of 10 percent (10,000 gp) to recover it. As a gesture of good faith, he offers you all an advance payment of 200 gp. He says that the ship was recently spotted adrift, approximately two days out from land. Aubreck is worried that someone else might claim the ship’s goods as salvage if he doesn’t act quickly. Now he needs adventurers to go along and board the Emperor once they reach it, then find the box and bring it back. Aubreck describes the box as made of shiny blue metal. It is packed inside a wooden crate branded with a large letter A. The crate can easily be pried or broken open, but the box can’t be opened except with a password known only to Aubreck. It contains all of Aubreck’s deeds and promissory notes, still sealed in waterproof wrappings. 

While in Saltmarsh, Carrhae visits Trish to have the Sativa made into tea. Trish asks no questions, giving Carrhae the beverage in a large container. "That should do it for you. Just don't drink it all at once. Trust me." Once she's finished getting weed tea, she uses the 200 that she's been given to buy four more healing potions. With her shopping finished, she returns to the Belle and gives Chandor the instructions to sail out for the Emperor of the Waves.

Early morning.

Her room was smokey, like the surface of her homeworld. She sat on her knees surrounded by the rune she had made on the floor. The lit candles twinkled. She eyes were closed and her head was low. Deep in prayer, she reached out to her Lord and Creator.

Bane. I believe in you: The Lord General, and the Grand Tyrant. You are the Lord of War, the Conqueror of Worlds and He who is Without Mercy. Grant me your guidance and blessings as I once again serve in Your Name, for Honor, and Glory to further advance the Acheronian Cause. I am your humble servant, blessed with the Power of the Primes. Only in death does duty end.

Her prayers went on for about an hour, and only when she was satisfied did she stand up and begin her morning routine. She went into the cargo hold and began her exercises until she was covered with a thin sheen of sweat, and even then she barely breathing hard. She took her hammer and shield and practiced her swings and defenses until breakfast time, where she ate to fuel the muscles she worked out very hard. She took care of her physical form, flexed and watched as her slim chiseled form make defined muscles bulge and tighten like steel cables. She walked into her cabinet, had her armor latch on, and grabbed her backpack, hammer, and shield.

"Misha reporting for duty, Kapitan." She stood at attention.

THE EMPEROR OF THE WAVES

After a few days at sea, the Belle of the Sea came in sight of the looming, shattered hulk of the derelict Emperor of the Waves. Misha ordered Chandor to bring the Belle within 500 feet of the derelict along its starboard side, close enough to make out its major external features. Its masts have been shorn off, but the upper deck appears clear of debris, as if whatever hit the ship was strong enough to carry off the masts, sails, and rigging. Its figurehead, once a majestic angel in flight, has been hacked and disfigured.

"Chandor," Misha said to him, looking at the ship. "Hold thees poseetion, 500 feet. What has heppened to thees ship?" she said the last part more to herself.

It is amazing that the Emperor is still afloat. The ship has suffered heavy damage across its upper decks, consistent with the effect of a typhoon or tidal wave. The vessel lists noticeably to port, evidence that the Emperor’s ballast has shifted, though the incline doesn’t appear severe enough to make moving around on deck hazardous. The ship rides low in the water, implying that the bilge and possibly even the lowest deck are flooded.

Due to the damage the ship has already taken, it is likely to sink during the two or three days it would take to tow it back to port.

Finally, there is severe impact damage to the ship’s hull that indicate it recently came under attack from a seagoing creature. It is now time to pick the first away team and investigate.

"Sana, Kali, Misha, Erriviel, you're with me. Chandor's in charge until I return." As they sail over to the wrecked ship, Carrhae uses her Divine Sense to try and detect any undead or fiends aboard the ship. Once on board, she'll start leading the team towards the Captain's Chambers, letting Erriviel use his magic to search for anything on the ship that might be trapped.

1. MAIN DECK

The Emperor’s upper decks slope gently down toward the ship’s port side. The forecastle and quarterdeck are empty, and short wooden stumps are all that remain of the ship’s masts. The double doors leading to cabins fore and aft appear intact, as does the metal grate in the deck that offers access to the lower decks. Aside from the rhythmic creak of the ship’s badly weathered timbers, all seems quiet.

This area is unoccupied. The doors to fore and aft are not locked, and the ship’s wheel turns easily and freely.

THE WHEEL
DC10 INT check: ?????

THE MAIN DECK
DC15 WIS (Perception check): ?????
DC10 WIS (Medicine check): ?????

RUSTED GATE ON DECK
DC 15 Strength (Athletics): to break open
DC 10 Wisdom (Perception): ?????

Erriviel straps a quarterstaff to his back as he prepares to board the ship, "Let's hope it goes better than last time, eh?"

"magic searching": 13

If halped: 5

Keeping a 500-foot buffer between the ships, Chandor lays his bow and quiver nearby at the ready in case of any danger. He watches his allies depart while keeping a keen eye on the waters around them. "This could be bait. And we could be the rats."

Scanning the seas, matey: 18

Syltra asks Chandor, "So does that means I call you Cap'n now?" 

Syltra will give Chandor guidance while she's with him, praying to Umberlee for favor. 

Carrhae walks on the deck, trying to look for any clues as to what happened or where the chest might be. She also makes an attempt to check out the wheel and the gate before anyone makes an effort to open it.

Main Deck Perception: 19

Main Deck Medicine: 3

Rusted Gate Perception: 5

Wheel: 14

Chandor offers a half-smile. "I have no plans on going down with the ship so save that 'Cap'n' stuff for the others." His eyes widen a bit with the divine clarity Syltra offered. He continues to scan their surroundings. "Keep your eyes peeled, though. Something smells fishy here...and it ain't the ocean."

Guidance added to his 18 perception: 1

Sana examines the deck curiously before heading to poke around the gate.

Deck Medicine: 7

Gate Perception: 5

But she's a little distracted by the upsetting view of the demolished ship.

Kali took in the sight, a placid frown on her face seeing a ship in such condition. She slowly makes her way to the rusted gate, giving it a quick look over before trying to open it.

Perception: 4

Athletics: 25

 A low growl emitted from the back of the hybrids throat as she found herself unable to open the door herself. “Oi, Red! Help me out over here, yeah?”

Weef help: 22

”Teamwork!” She gives the Paladin a high five.

Erriviel walks around the main deck, looking around for anything of note.

Medicine: 2