Since Aoth is peering over the starboard railing, then Eradius will keep an eye out over the port side railing.

(Perception: 8 )

Zeflan, upon seeing that both Aoth  and Eradius are taking up post on either side of the ship, decided that there was only one option left: up. He secured his trident and rope on his person and climbed up onto the rigging for a better view of the surroundings.

Perception: 12
If Favourite Terrain (Coast) could be applied, then it would be a 14

(Eradius, roll for navigation, and if any of you choose to forage, you can roll for that as well, though only one of you)

Up upon the rigging Zeflan took a deep breath of the salty air. It was different from what he was used to back on Ioco. Very different. The strange part was: he enjoyed it, far more than he thought he would. Maybe it was just the sensation of something new but deep in his stomach, Zeflan felt that is was right. His stomach then replied with a slight growl that it itself was not right and could use a bite or two.

Zeflan descended from the rigging onto the deck. He felt the weight of his trident and rope on his person and when he looked at the railing of the ship, an idea began the form in his mind. An idea he soon discarded, for it would not bode well to just jump off the ship into unfamiliar waters with only a rope keeping him attached. Rather, Zeflan made his way back down below to retrieve his fishing tackle, a far more safer option. They had rations stowed away but it would be best to keep those stashed for emergencies. No one knew how long they would be on the Sea Scout or what might happen in the future.

Zeflan returned back on deck. He picked a suitable spot, one where he could cast his line far and wide, and sat down cross-legged. He felt a little more at ease now, doing something familiar in an unfamiliar place.

Survival to fish: 21
Amount of fish: 8
If Favourite Terrain: Coast applies to the sea, that the Survival roll is 15 and Zeflan gets twice as many food.

EDIT: The manipulated dice remark is because I accidently rolled eleven d20's rather than one when I first posted.

Eradius takes a look at the sky and then the distant horizon, using his knowledge and making the best educated guess he can.

Daily Survival check: 14

Zeflan manages to find a good amount of food, enough to sustain the crew for almost two days. While he is experienced enough with fishing at Ioco, he quickly learns that casting a line off the edge of a moving ship is very different. Still, the food is good enough, and he manages to pull quite a few interesting fish out of the water, none of which are anything like what he's found back home. Most notable was a small fish, not really large enough to be used as food, with an incredibly long, iridescent, ribbon-like tail that was almost five times its length. The thing is practically a scarf, albeit a slimy one.

As you depart, the air is filled with fog, so thick you can barely see beyond the tips of your noses(only those of you who have noses, of course). It does not last long, and clears up by the end of the day. Eradius is able to keep you all on course, even through the fog. Looking behind you, the fog remains, completely obscuring any sign of your old home.

Day 1 - Complete

Food: +3(43)

Water: -4(36)

Travel: 72 miles east

65th of Flowertime, 978 PD

For the first time in most of your lives, you wake up somewhere that's not home. It's a new day, full of adventure and excitement, or just... fishing and sitting around. I don't even know which one, I haven't rolled yet.

"Zeflan, do you think if we cut the tail off of that fish and dry it out in the sun it might make a decent enough scarf or something?" Eradius looks at the fish with interest, trying to determine the best way to make use of it's unusually long and colorful tail.

Daily Survival check for navigation purposes: 15

Zeflan enjoyed his little fishing experience in silence. He had some trouble at first, as normally he would remain still instead of on a moving platform but after some time and a couple of tries, he got the hang of it. He got a decent haul too, albeit all were fish he had never seen before. He just hoped their volunteer cook could work with it.

One of the last fish Zeflan caught, was the most interesting one of the day. It was small, too small to make a meal, but it had a most beautiful tail, like a piece of cloth trailing behind it. Had he not recognised the creature as an actual fish, he might have thought he had caught a sea snake.

'You're too pretty to eat.' Zeflan said softly to the fish and removed the hook. He heard Eradius calling behind him asking if the fish's could be made into a scarf. 'It's too warm to wear a scarf.' Zeflan replied to the tortle. He turned back to the railing. 'Off you go, little fishie.' Zeflan lowered the fish back to the water, holding it by the tip of its tail until it was close enough to the surface to be safely dropped.

The rest of the day and night went by rather quickly. Zeflan enjoyed being lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the boat. It reminded him of when he would take naps on the beaches of Ioco, half submerged in the water with the soft lapping of waves over his feet. He did not dream per se but he found that going through memories had a similar effect.

Four hours later, Zeflan awoke amidst the sleeping crew. He did not need much sleep, one of the perks of his Elven heritage, and he quietly made his way back onto the deck. He had resolved himself to a schedule of sorts and a routine check of the boat and rigging was something he was keen on doing at the start of each day. Under the fading light of the stars and the dawn of a new day, Zeflan went through the motions of getting to know the Sea Scout. It took him longer than he thought but chalked it up to inexperience and the need to check everything twice or even thrice.

After he was sufficiently satisfied with the Sea Scout's condition, Zeflan took his fishing tackle and settled in for a day of putting food on the table. He took up a different spot than yesterday, just to see if such a thing had any influence on what he might catch.

Survival check: 23
Amount of food: 6

Zeflan has the Friend of the Sea racial trait if that has any bearing on talking to the fishie.

Welby continues to watch out for anything on the horizon (perception: 19), and sings a shanty he'd heard one of the entertainers back on Ioco sing once.

Aoth, observing Zeflan's catch, decides to go at it and try to make something on the fly to supplement the crew's rations. With a grin and some fish, Aoth sets to work on throwing together a dish.

(Cooking check: 6 (and utterly fails))

The salty smell of the air is overwhelmed by the smell of burning fish, as Aoth turns 3 pounds of Zeflan's catch into a lump of charcoal. Luckily, Zeflan caught a surplus today, so it isn't too bad. Zeflan finds fishing rather easy today, catching many fish, though he doesn't catch anything particularly large. He's so distracted by the smoky smell of Aoth's cooking and Welby's singing that he almost loses his rod as he hooks onto something much larger than he's ever caught before. Welby sees a dark shape in the water where Zeflan's line disappears into the ocean.

Zeflan, please make a Strength(Athletics) check.

It was a strange sensation to say the least. Normally Zeflan's fishing occurred in peace and quiet but in between the smell of burnt fish, the captain's singing and the yet still unfamiliar setting, he found himself losing his calm. He would have also lost his fishing rod were it not for practised reflexes when he felt something large tugging at his line.

Athletics 10
Haha, mediocre...

Eradius hums along to the sea shanty Welby sings, trying to pick up the lyrics.

The thing at the end of the rod pulls back: 5

But Zeflan holds on, reeling it further in. After some more struggling, something breaks the surface, but it's not a fish. A fierce, fishlike head rises out of the water. It's almost triangular in shape, sloping down and outward toward its wide mouth, filled with small, sharp teeth. Large eyes stare unblinking from its hideous face. Next out of the water is a scrawny chest, covered in fish scales, supporting two long, wiry arms which end in three clawed digits. just under the surface of the water is its long, eel-like tail. You can see Zeflan's hook firmly lodged in its lip as it opens its mouth, letting out a horrifying scream. Strangely, the scream sounds like a terrified woman's scream of fear and pain, rather than the scream of rage you expected to escape the creature's lips. It grabs onto the line and pulls.

Everyone, roll initiative!

(I dunno why there's all that random text below, let me know if you can't see the image.)https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/[img]https:/i.imgur.com/BeuRh3G.png[/img]" alt="">https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/[Imgur](https:/imgur.com/BeuRh3G)" alt="">

(just realized y'all aren't gonna get the notification for me editing the message unless I post, so here you go notification ahh)

Oh yeah also its initiative: 19

(ooc: I can see the image)

Eradius' Initiative: 15

Welby Initiative: 15

Aoth Initiative: 19

Zeflan initiative: 8