"Experiencing different customs is certainly fascinating, but it is the individuals that stand out that intrigue me as well.  Often they are brilliant in some way, or are what some would call heroes.  I think our world is better for shared knowledge of such things, or at least, I'm sure I am!"

The woman munches away at the nuts as the two speak. "I'm also newer to the area. The Captain hired me for the journey. One of her better decisions, it seems. Though they're competent enough for us to have a fine enough travel." She adds the last part on quickly, for reassurance. "You two will be able to find plenty of what you're looking for. From what I've seen of the coastal towns in this area, it's quite different from nearby areas. Far different from the Sword's Coast at the very least."

Oh, you've seen the Sword Coast? Chen says to Loane. Perhaps I'll travel there one day. From where do you originate, may I ask?

As the three have an amiable enough discussion, the ship makes its way into the Moonsea and out from the coast. The slightly lighter grey smear in the sky that indicates roughly where the sun is shows perhaps just afternoon. The clouds overhead move fairly quickly under the constant southwesterly winds blowing from the sea, a cold and brisk affair that has you clutching at cloak hems and constantly brushing stray hair from your face as the wind whips it about. Loane grimaces as the crew is slow to respond, keenly aware the captain spoke with her about taking her breaks without interfering, but they trim the sails and the violent shakes with each gust let off until the ship bobs and weaves, the timber creaking smoothly enough as it makes it's way east. 

Soon enough the nuts and fruits are gone, but the three strangers, with little else to entertain themselves, chat idly while watching the coast slip by perhaps a mile away. The land along the edge of the Moonsea seems to stretches of farmland between long stretches of the northern fringe of the ancient elven forest of Cormanthor pushing against the shore. 

The white caps in the water appear and vanish in the chaos of the seas constant motion, and the spray from the bow of the ship occasionally wets everyone's cheeks. For all that they are not quite as seasoned perhaps as Loane, the crew seems more them competent enough to keep the ship in tip-top shape as she cuts her way through the waves. 

Now that the ship is underway, the three are more free to move about the deck and looking north the Moonsea stretches off as far as the eye can see.  Hundreds of miles across, the barren north shores of the sea turn cold and sparse, the home of this cool wind that drives the ship.  Also home to hordes of orcs, and a few hard earned wall city states that eek a living from the hard land.

Conversation is relaxed and everyone feels like you have plenty of time with two sleeps worth of sailing to be had before you arrive at Hillsfar.  In the morning it's said you'll be passing near the Bells in the Deep.  Well, two dozen miles south of it, but all the same an ancient island kingdom that was driven beneath the seas by foul magic. By the evening you should be passing by the forest town of Elventree. 

Just before dinner you're on deck looking towards the forest, when you notice a speck in the sky.  From here...perspective is skewed, but...it could be quite large, and seems lazily zig zagging in this direction.

As the three watch, the creature circles closer and closer, until its true distance and size is clear. It is a dragon, and it appears to be green.  The lookout on the top mast yells, "DRAAAGON!!!" 

Naturally the yell gets the attention of every person on deck who all swing their heads to look in the direction. A few men clamber beneath the hold, while still others seem to try to take cover behind the mast or features of the ship. The captain goes white but fails to bark any orders. The first mate was one of the first to vanish beneath deck. Bereft of any options, the ship continues on its path. 

The creature is still a couple of miles away when it swings upwards and vanishes into the grey clouds above. 

Anyone do anything? 

Jahren says very calmly "I believe the ship is yours, Loane."

To both of his new friends he remarks "I don't suppose either of you can make this entire ship invisible, or perhaps half of it?"

"I'm not much of a magic user." Loane comments, before turning to the crew. She raises her voice to address them. "Keep to your positions! We're not going to be dead in the water. If you're gong to be scared, be scared while doing something."
She points to the crew mate in the crow's nest, and another crew member, "Keep an eye on the sky. Call out as soon as you see that dragon again, and where it's heading. Captain, should we move to shore?"

The Captain looks over at Loane, fear in her eyes, but the fog of it slowly clearing.  She looks to shore, then back up at the sky.  She frowns, and strides off the main deck, ducking her head as she vanishes into her cabin, shouting, "Loane, keep her steady, I'll be right back..." 

What seems like a long minute or two later she emerges from the cabin, "Yes, bring us to shore!"  She runs for the wheel, grabbing it. She glances about at the sails and begins barking commands as she swings the ship to the left towards shore.  "There's some shallows and marsh but we should be able to see it and keep her out of the muck!" 

A small red skinned demon creature suddenly appears, perched on the main boom next to the mast. It's spiked tail wraps about the boom as it clutches the wood.  "Greetings from the great  (Gwee-erd-en-tul-ear)!  You are passing through his territory and he demands a tithe. Surrender a magical item.... or you may surrender a treasure worth at least a thousand gold coin. If you do not, Gwee-erd-en-tul-ear shall sink your vessel and consume the survivors who reach shore!"  He hops back and forth in obvious glee at his seeming position of power.

Jahren asks aloud to the Captain "are these waters known to be claimed as the territory of a dragon?"

He would almost be tempted to call the demon's bluff, but the dragon they saw would have to be an impression illusion, and the pairing of dragon and demon does seem more likely here given the 'Trio Nefarious's' attack on Myth Drannor.  None the less he considers that this could be some sort of ruse.  Insight: 25

Chen briefly considers escaping, knowing he could easily outdistance any swimmers by running on the water's surface. But as much as he wishes to avoid conflict, he also knows that he has the means to prevent violence to the entire ship by surrendering a magic item. Then, hearing Jahren's question and picking up on his doubt, Chen compares what he saw to what he knows and has observed about the typical movement of dragons...

Nature: 21

Loane stares up at the demon, a scowl forming at its location. She tries to recall the name that the demon says, and tries to recall any sort of rumors related to demons from the sailors or townsfolk.

History: 14

Jahren has watched the small creature since it arrived, carefully the way it moves. He's convinced it's telling the truth. The thing has not an iota of fear in its behavior, it must be backed by the might of a dragon to be so confident and casual, without a trace of deceit in its bold demands. 

Chen thinks about the dragon movements, and the situation. Green dragons in particular are the most cunning and treacherous of the chromatic dragons. They are well known to use beasts and lesser creatures to do their bidding. The flight pattern of the green above seemed very real indeed. These creatures live hundreds of years and survive by being clever. A dragon flying up to ships and demanding a tithe would be an obvious threat that would need to be dealt with, but 'glimpses of a dragon' and demands from a tiny demon...especially if someone hands something over...well....people can create all sorts of stories about what's real and what's not after the fact. Chen grudgingly admits it's probably an effective way for a dragon to grow it's horde, especially if its only occasional. 

Loane looks at the demon carefully. It is a Quasit. The creatures are common familiars and servants to wizards or more powerful evil creatures. Able to transform into smaller creatures or to turn invisible, the thing is the perfect scout and servant. 

Jahren steps forward and takes off his newly acquired bracelet.  "This bracelet is enchanted to let one disguise themselves.  It is quite useful, especially in these parts where being anything but human will not do in these cities."

(Would still be curious to hear the Captain's response on whether this dragon threat is a new thing, as a potential sign of things getting worse in the region.)

The quasit let's it's barbed tail hang down to hook the bracelet and lifts it up to itself.  It examines it carefully.  It glances around the ship with greedy eyes, then begins flapping upwards, "Gwee-erd-en-tul-ear bids you a safe journey through his domain."  The thing flies upwards into the sky in an awkward bouncy flapping manner. From above, you see the large green lizard swoop out of the clouds, glancing downwards, at the ship as it sweeps its way towards the south and the shore once again. The Quasit vanishes when it's a hundred feet up. 

The captain and crew watch the exchange, and then the captains swings the wheel and the ship turns back eastward. She turns to a crew member, handing him the wheel, and shouts some orders to the quiet crew whose eyes are glued on the dragon flying away. 

She approaches Jahren, "We are in your debt sir. Your generosity is surprising and appreciated." Jahren inquires about the situation.  "We spend most of our time in the Fallen Sea, only coming up here in the late spring through summer when the waters are clear and trade is high. I haven't been up here since last year, but no such tithe was demanded then, and I haven't heard of this before. Hillsfar deals VERY firmly against anything that troubles trade. I'm sure if we bring this news to the Red Plumes there, the lords of the city will try to deal with this. Regardless, I am unsure how to repay you, but you may have my cabin for the remainder of the journey at a minimum. Please, I insist, I'll move into the first mates cabin and...for his actions here, he'll be happy to enjoy one of the smaller aft cabins."  

She nods to the group and heads off to deal with the crew below decks. 

Chen approaches Jahren after the captain leaves. Well done, friend. Your sacrifice saved the lives of many and avoided unnecessary bloodshed. We are all in your debt and I would be glad for the opportunity to return the favor. And he bows a grateful bow.

Jahren is about to kindly decline the offer for the Captain's cabin when she insists and swiftly moves on to her business, so he decides it's best to simply accept.

To Chen he replies "I count us all lucky, for now."  "I had just picked up that bobble in Elmwood.  All it does is make one's ears look human.  Let us hope that the dragon cares not for the actual function of his treasures or it may be upon us again swiftly.  I don't suppose you can call forth more wind for the sales, eh Loane?"

"This is certainly troubling for the region" continues Jahren.  "How might we best warn other ships, I wonder?"

Save for turning back, our best option may be to warn those eastbound ships that we pass and encourage them in turn to warn those travelling west.

Meanwhile, Chen is trying to best judge the direction the dragon is heading, in order to later take a bearing to a possible lair.

"I'd be careful of that thing. It's a Quasit. We don't know much about its master, outside of it wishing for magic items, and no doubt being up to nothing good. It could also follow us, and want more items." Loane scratches at her jaw, and walks off to address the crew, while filling a position as needed. "Crew, keep the ship moving! Our objective hasn't changed much since Captain's last orders."

Jahren appears at ease but continues to watch the sky as the ship moves on.

The harrowing encounter apparently behind them, the ship continues across the rough white-capped waters to the east, pulling once again out to sea enough to keep a mile or so from shore. Chen and Jahren have plenty of time to sit and chat as the hours go by, Loane less so as she works the ship, but once at sea and with the evening wind settling, the work lessens. The ship passes another heading west just after dinner. The captain has the men flag to them and bring the ships close, cutting sails. The captain calls up the first mate who stands on the railing, mumbling some magic and pointing across. The captain and the first mate are close and an apparent conversation occurs, and then the ships once again pull apart and continue on their ways. 

She approaches the Chen and Jahren, calling Loane over while dismissing the first mate, "It would seem that in the past month there have some rumors of such tithings. Some ships have been sailing further out into the Moonsea out of caution."  (You see the other ship turning north west into the depths.) "However the forces in Hillsfar seem to have not so far responded to this threat. He encouraged us to report the incident, but also said things in Hillsfar are complicated right now."  She shrugs. "I felt I owed you an update. Regardless, I have moved my belongings to the first mates cabin, so, Sir, you may make yourself comfortable through that door when you feel the need." 

The evening sees the chop calm and the ships breakneck speed slows while the waters smooth. It's a welcome reprieve from the constant swaying and violent wave breaks that had jarring the ship. You could only imagine what it would have been like further from shore. The waves out there must get quite high. Regardless, the trip smoothes and while a skeleton crew takes over for the evening (not actual skeletons), people after a pleasant night cap and further conversation head to their cabins to rest.

The morning finds the winds returned however, and though they've cut the sails back significantly, the ship is still moving at quite a speed.  After breaking fast you find yourselves amidst the sea spray and whipping wind where the crew and Loane seem to have their hands full responding to gusts. The captain, who last night you learned was named Melissa, approaches Chen and Jahren. Over the wind and whipping of sails and creaking of beams she's forced to yell, "Can you hear it?!?" 

You listen, but without knowing what you're listening for, it's...wait....it...it sounds like a distant bell.

"Yes! It's the Bell in the Depth! The very first humans to settle these lands made their home on an island in the Moonsea. There they built an unassailable stronghold and city of much wealth and beauty. The orcs, goblins, and other hordes hated the city because, not being sea faring creatures, they were at the mercy of the Northkeep's vessels who could land anywhere, do what they willed, then flee back to the home. This went on for over a century until so enraged were the northern hordes and beasts that they assembled what was said to be over forty thousand shamans, witches, wizards and dark sorcerers of all their clan. These magical folk performed a powerful rite, calling upon the dark gods to come and destroy the island city. And they did. They sank it beneath the depths so that only its highest spires touched above the water. But then the dark gods took their price, consuming the shamans that had called upon them. Ships will not go there though, it is said to be guarded by the spirits of the Northkeep folk. But, as far away as Hillsfar you can hear the bell ring sometimes. Reminding folk.....they are not resting."

She grins a huge grin, "It's a ghost story that'll drive chills up your spine. But sure as unholy hell, that damned bell is ringing...."