Seeing the tentacle, Aradurk sucks in a breath and holds it. As he is pulled under the surface, he is fighting against the power of the tentacle with all his strength.

Aradurk Athletics: 23

Killian sends another skeletal hand streaking into the water toward the quickly fading target. Rycider emerges from below deck with a detached oar, thrusting it as far into the water as she can manage. The sea is still, and the tentacle fades from view. The moments are quiet, and tense.

The water erupts, and Aradurk emerges, splashing toward the outstretched oar. He grabs hold, and Rycider pulls him back onto the ship.

For Aradurk:

Killian will take a moment to don her shield (an Action), then return to looking for the tentacle, lest it sneak up on us.

Spitting out water and shaking his head to clear all passages, Aradurk sighs and looks at Rycider.

"Thank you Ry - the next time one of us has to save each other, may it be on dry land", he somberly suggests.

Indeedily Ricky smiles.

Killian keeps her eyes on the water while Aradurk dries himself off. The sea settles and becomes still, small waves lapping gently at Maverick's side, and the tentacle does not emerge in the next minutes.

Tanakir will also equip his shield as he patrols the edge of the ship, visibly shying away whenever he peers into the depths of the sea, all the while muttering to himself, "Cursed oceans, why couldn't these world ending threats be somewhere convenient across mountain ranges or in underground dungeons?"

Hox climbs back on board. "Strange beast, stone then flesh, but looks good to eat."

Gruun pats Aradurk on the back, "Glad we didn't have to go down there and get you back. Lets go find some land." He heads back down to the oars to get the ship moving. He keeps his Greataxe within arms reach.

Killian will head down into the hold with Gruun, after casting one eye on the dangerous depths.

Maverick casts off once more, troubled no further by the strange transmutating tentacle. The next hours are peaceful, until the sound of a tinkling music like that of a music box fills your minds again, lightly at first and slowly growing louder as the boat travels into a light mist.

After a few minutes, the music fades, and land edges into view beyond the mist.

Hox rushes to the lower decks, eager to ride Beast.

Killian will row where she is told, until we dock or run aground on a beach.

Aradurk goes below deck and helps row, suddenly not terribly anxious to see what new elements await them.

Maverick comes to rest upon a coarse shore, but the ship was built for just this situation, and in just a few minutes, you are able to drag it out of the water and past the natural tidemarks to rest safely from the incoming waves. The island itself appears to be about as large as one of the Sword Coast's major cities, and the peak of a crumbling stone tower stands like a beacon in its center.

This beach is craggy, with more rock than sand, and is lower than the majority of the island. Ahead of you lies a series of weathered stone steps that lead to the main elevation of the island.

Where do these stairs go? Rycider says to no one in particular. They go up! she answers herself with a cheeky crooked smile.

Killian checks her weapons, her arcane and divine foci, and her horse. Will the horses be able to manage the steps? She looks for another way up, perhaps a gentle slope?

The steps are very old, but parts of them are still intact, and the slope is small enough that it should be manageable for even Beast's tiny legs. There are other routes toward to higher elevation, but they appear to be much more uneven than the stairway, and have a more sheer edge; a slip would likely mean a fall into the sea.

Having checked her gear, Killian mounts up, settling her shield on one arm, and making sure her sword is loose in its scabbard. “No rest for the weary,” she announces, dancing her horse in a circle, before starting up the stairs. She will stop at the top to wait for the others, and look over what she sees.

After emerging from below deck, Aradurk mounts Coulter and joins the party. He surveys the landscape cautiously.