Berrus is tense trying to divide his attention between Shae floating.  The Professor ritual..ing. And the shoreline/dam

There's an eerie silence as the crew and you all stare tensely out across the water, with only the occasional lapping of water against the ship and the sound of nocturnal animals breaking the intense concentration. It would almost be a beautiful scene with Shae gliding gracefully across the water and seemingly being bathed in a supernatural moonlight, were it not for your current situation.

Shae, about halfway to the shore, you can make out the faint outline of one of the bird folk warriors, hidden between the shrubs at the edge of the shoreline, you manage to make out some of their colourful plumage. The natural grace of your approach is calm and peaceful, almost serene and you can see the figure you spotted change in stance, though you only realise about thirty feet from the undergrowth, that they eased up on the string of a bow, the arrow still nocked. You suddenly become aware that several more birdfolk are all intensely watching you lightly touch down on the soft and clay-rich soil. It takes a few moments, which you count out by the passing heartbeasts, until the foliage parts and an older birdfolk with an eyepatch steps through. As they get close to you, you can hear the bowstrings of the surrounding creatures tensen, in anticipation of how your interaction with the birdfolk will go.

With a slightly frightened voice, that sounds like it's used to regale people with tales and entertain them with song, you hear: "Come sniffing around the ship as you like, but lay one hand, foot or claw upon her and you shall pay dearly!", followed by the smacking and squelching sound of a large group of people walking through swampy terrain. The voice shifts, to that of a sleazy merchant: "What strikes your fancy?"

Having caught sight of the colourful plumage, Shae’s eyes practically danced around the scene before her in a mix of awe and wonder. Of course her heart raced with adrenaline, she was fully aware of the weapons and eyes trained on her at this moment. It was even more prevalent when what she’d assume to be an elder chief or at least an important leader figure to these folk would make their appearance. And the moment they’d open their beak to ‘speak’, she knew. Kenku! As the professor described. And not the Aarakocra that attacked them on that fateful day.

Raising a hand to place on her chest, Shae would bow her head forward to address them respectfully. “Thank you for this audience.” She’d raise her head, blue eyes meeting the gazes before her. “I am Shae.” Then she’d gesture out towards the ship. “That is Hope, steered by my dear friends and crew.” Her arm would then relax back to her side. “We seek safe passage to our destination.” She’d say simply, and truthfully. ”I come with the intent of avoiding any misunderstandings by opening up a dialog for a mutual agreement.” There must be something they could offer or assist with. Then after a pause, her head would slightly tilt then turn to look over at the dam to add a begging question. “Is that of natural occurrence?” Shae would look back to the Kenku.

The parrot kenku tilted their head to the side as Shae was speaking, curiously following her gestures as she made the introductions. The elder utters a sound that sounds a lot like a sword being sheathed, before answering in a canny pantomime of your own words: "Thank you for this audience", also accompanied by a head tilt. Looking at the dam that Shae points to, the sleazy merchant's voice returns: "Not good enough, I'm afraid." Then you hear the slithering and rattling sound. Several of the other parrot kenku nearby also immitate the rattling and slithering sound. The elder then continues, again in your own tone, before switching to the merchant once more: "My dear friends and crew.""Finest glass marbles in all the continent, are they worth your while?"

Fang watches Shae’s approach warily bow at the ready, tensed and ready to spring in to action should the need arise. (Would Fang have encountered Kenku before? Are there any near Palebank?)

((Just how much, if any, of the interaction between Shae and the colorful Kenku can be made out from the ship?))

As soon as the parrot Kenku see Fang's head and torso lit by the light and standing in the crows nest, they immediately draw their bowstrings and drop in the underbrush and the elderpulls a dagger which they point at Shae. From all around her, you hear the slithering and rattling sounds, and the elder, in an agitated tone reminiscent of a green soldier shouts: "What are these things!?" followed quickly by another snippet in your own voice: "Is that a natural occurrence?""That is Hope, steered by my dear friends and crew."

What does everyone do, as you see the kenku get agitated and tense?

Fang calls down to those standing on the boat, “It seems my personage is bothering these bird-folk. I wonder if the damn was made by other lizardfolk, or similar looking creatures.”

Berrus looks up then over at Shae

Perfesser ken ye get me o'er there quick if i need to?  he then moves closer to the edge of the ship

Mulligan Perception:  16

...

     Barely hearing the conversation as it is going ashore, Mulligan relaxes a little but not too much.  Shae seems to have this...  If she plays her cards right.  "Don't worry," he calls out to the others on the ship.  "Shae's got this!"  He's telling himself as much as everyone else though.  Still, he figures a bunch of us rushing the shore is sure as shite going to send things in the wrong direction.  Don't worry, he tells himself.  About a thing.  Every little thing...  And without even intending to, he is singing softly, Prestidigitation adding light musical notes to the air as he does...

Glasses:

”It will disrupt my ritual, but I can certainly allow you to fly at need,” responds the Professor, still with his head down working on the water breathing ritual.

Reng doesn't react more than she already has, readying an eldritch blast for anything attacking. How far away are we from Shae?

Shae

There was a sudden shift in the atmosphere. Things got really tense which resulted with her feathery company pulling a knife on her. Having a knowledged the blade, a small gasping breath would leave Shae from the surprise. It was an unexpected turn of events, but luckily enough, she was able to keep her calm and wits about her. Although her chest rose and fell from adrenaline surging through her veins, the woman reminded herself to take a moment to reobserve her surroundings. Instead of giving in and falling into crippling anxiety over losing some control, Shae listened. It was enough of a pause to hear a soft melody carry over from the ship to calm her concerns about the crew’s reaction. Her blue hues took in what she could of the situation.

Inhaling a new breath, Shae would slowly raise her hands to show they were empty of weapons. Her staff was back on the boat in Berrus’ possession. The only things she had visibly on her was her Tome and notebook, Boomerang and Rod. Strapped of her thigh would be her hidden dagger, but she had no intentions of drawing it. Should she be searched, she wouldn’t protest if they took the sharp object. Now her notes and journal would be a different story.

Shae would nod her head softly. “Fang is our guide.” She’d admit honestly, understanding that this could have negative standing with the bird folk, as it appeared to be a cause for some hostility. Perhaps they were opposing tribes. “He is unique, an important part of the crew, a loyal member of our team and he is my friend.” She’d also confirm despite perhaps losing some rapore. “He has sworn his life to protect mine.” Shae would speak firmly in hopes to add extra assurance behind those words. “Hope’s crew is very defensive of me, much like your own.” She’d hold firm, trying to speak with confidence of a Captain or leader while drawing the parallel between both groups reactions. Meanwhile, deep inside she was cringing, feeling narcissistic, completely opposite of humble.

Then she’d turn slightly to gesture out towards Hope once more. “Hope’s crew is different.” She’d say firmly, but with pride. “Look closely.” The woman would begin to point some out. Along with the lizard folk, there were humans of different skin and backgrounds, a gnome scholar with a memphit and a dwarven warrior who’s a Trueanvil at that. Then of course finally, she’d finally point out her pointed ears. “Our feathers are of different colours, but our hearts bleed the same.” Her hand would find her chest.

Shae’s fingers would find the necklace dangling close to her heart. As she traced the shiny surface, she’d follow the chain up and reach behind her neck. She’d unhook the silver necklace to present to the Kenku. “Hope’s gift.” It was a show of good faith in hopes to get them back on to a positive page of understanding.

The elder tilts their head, and then after accepting the gift, utters the sound of metal scraping on leather, the sound of sheathing weapons. Slowly, the tension on the bowstrings ease, and they stow their own dagger as well. In the tone of the sleazy merchant: "I got an offer like you've never seen before", quickly followed by your own phrase "He has sworn his life to protect mine". Taking a brief pause, the elder looks at Shae and points to the ship, before again parroting in her voice: "Look closely." followed by an inviting gesture. "Hope's crew is different." Their hands seem to invite the rest of the crew to the shore.

Reng is peering at Shae and the kenku, but her eyes keep darting back to the plants among the dam. Has anything moved? Anything weird going on?

Shae's body language would relax, as well as her breathing. She'd nod her head in respect to the elder prior to reaching out her hand towards the boat. The woman would gesture to the crew that they were invited to approach and join her upon the shore.

Glasses:

Once the crew gets the ship over to the shore, the Professor smiles in triumph and grants Water Breathing to everyone in the party (10 people, 24 hours duration).

OOC:  Hey, the Professor could do this every morning with a 10 minute ritual!

Smiling at the job Shae has done negotiating, Snively says, "Well done, Ambassador Shae.  What have you learned about these Kenku and the dam problem we seem to have?" 

Berrus follows the professor ashore and takes up position near him and Shae

   Eager to jump overboard and go be by Shae's side, Mulligan none the less stops himself just as he is climbing over the rail to dive into the water.  Do we want to totally abandon the boat? he thinks to himself.  After a pause he sighs and cups his hands around his mouth to try to get his voice to carry out to Shae and any others who may be listening.

     "Let's maybe keep some crew onboard to keep things running?" Mulligan calls out as a suggestion, trying to keep his voice friendly but loud enough to carry.  "Now that we know they're friends we certainly would invite some on board to check the ship out if they wish..."  After shouting the suggestion, Mulligan would look to the captain and then the other party members to see what they thought.