"I can pay my own way - let us travel two days upriver - according to the map, that should get us near to the swamp. At that point, we may arrange one to two days for our investigations. Should nothing come of it, we may return, ideally at an adjusted rate. If things go as planned, however, I shall see to it personally that all are richly rewarded for the time and effort."

Insight: 3

He looks a bit dubiously at the two who say they don't have any coin.

"Well, if your friends can pay your way, you can ride at ease, if not, I'll take it out of you in work, but don't think you're gonna be having an easy time of it. You are working on my boat, I'm the Captain, and you're doing what I say, when I say it."

"understandable terms"

Clem spits in his hand and extends it to Samael to seal their agreement. Samael will be a temporary crew member for the purposes of the trip, and as long as his efforts are deemed worthy, he'll earn his passage through labor.

Samael shakes the hand. "the agreement is made, I am at your service for the duration upriver."

Everyone pays up or agrees to work, and Clem and his boys pole the boat out into the water, each taking a pole and driving the boat upstream as the two newest crewmembers get put to work.

((Sirq and Samael, give me a Con check (not a save, just a check), you can add Athletics proficiency if you have it.))

Con check: 4 (oof)

Sirq nods as he shakes Clem's hand. "I would be happy to take up my part in the labor for this ship."

con check: 7

Samael sets to work.

Trinjya will pay the price, doing her best to hide her desire to stab the man. The members of the group close to her could hear her quitly mumble a few words.

"It's a new life, don't mess it up, it's a new life......"

Morn chuckles as the others grumble and work around the boat. He leans against a railing near Clem, "So captain, what can you tell me about these parts? You must know an awful lot of interesting tidbits."

Clem directs Sirq and Samael to various tasks that have needed doing on the boat, scrubbing, scraping, polishing, occasionally grabbing a pole and helping steady or drive the boat forward. They are worked hard, but fairly, in that Clem and his boys are all working just as hard to keep the boat crawling upriver. 

As Morn approaches, Clem grunts as he drives the pole downward, slowly propelling the boat upriver. "Unless you want to take over, I'm gonna save my breath. Be happy to chat, when we put in for the night."

The sky is covered in light clouds, and it's a crisp fall day, a light breeze blowing through the pine forests on either bank. Sirq and Samael are alternated in polemen so Clem and his sons can wolf down some lunch, but they time they are replaced, their arms feel a bit wobbly. As it pushes on towards evening, the clouds begin gathering darker and heavier.

Clem hollers out, "There's a bit of an eddy we'll put in at up ahead, can build a cookfire on the bank and get a hot meal in before turning in."

A few minutes later, he whistles and they begin poling the boat towards the bank, one of his boys leaping over to catch a rope and securing the boat to a large log washed half ashore, looping it around a stout branch and taking up slack before cinching it tight. A plank is run out to provide means to reach shore without jumping.

"Ya'll are welcome to bunk down in the cabin, if you like. We'll be keeping two hour watches in pairs, me or one of my boys, and one of yours."

Sirq and Samael, sensing that a break is at hand, slump wearily.

((You both currently have disadvantage on ability checks. If you're crossing to shore, give me an Athletics or Acrobatics check at disadvantage. With anything but a very bad roll, you'll make it to shore without taking a dunking. It's a trivial crossing for any of the paying passengers.))

samael offers to watch with one of the others boat-side, making sure the river is non-hostile.

[[OOC: Did the guy make us pay everything upfront?]]

Trinjya will sit somewhere in the back of the boat playing her flute and ritual casting detect magic repeatedly if there is anything magic near her that could be a threat or worth investigating, she wants to know. When they stop to rest for the evening she will leave the boat to have walk around the perimeter of what Clem chose to be their camp for the evening. She'll keep the detect magic running for this and will stay close enough to the camp to be seen and heard by the others.

"Anybody wants to join me for a walk? I'd like to see if there is anything interesting in the proximity of our camp. If there is something threatening close by, I'd rather know now."

She will try to see if there are tracks of people or larger animals and would pay close attention to the general landscape trying to determine which direction from the camp would offer cover to someone or something that is trying to sneak up to them.

[OOC: I'll roll twice, Perception for the general surroundings and survival for looking for tracks.]

Perception: 8

Survival:7

Perception: 17

Survival:16

 [[OCC: Okay for some reason I now have four rolls, just ignor the second set of rolls and I think Trinjya has gone blind from being on a boat all day.]]

(So I'm assuming that means we gained a level of exhaustion?)

Tired after a long day's work, Sirq thanks Clem for the hospitality before clambering out of the ship to reach the shore. (Acrobatics: 7) He's ready to get a good night's sleep and start up again in the morning, but would also like to chat with Clem and his sons to get to know them better.

((He'd have taken the two days upriver payment in advance.))

That glare off the water and the gentle rocking didn't seem much at the time, but Trinjya feels all out of sorts when you make land for the evening.

Clem has something 'abjuration-y' around his neck, but it's pretty weak. Probably nothing more than a good luck charm with a bit of actual juice to it. Nothing else on the boat or at the campsite seems to trigger your magic sense.

Sirq's legs wobble and he staggers on the plank, splashing down and soaking himself to the calves, but managing not to take a header into the water. He's wet, chilly and weary, but at least one of Clem's boys is getting a fire going that he can dry out at. 

((It won't be RAW exhaustion, with the gritty long rest, I don't think it's reasonable to you under exhaustion effects for this entire adventure and needing a week to sleep it off. I'll end up having you each make a CON save the next morning, with the potential to clear it, but that will be a little bit from now. That reminds me though, Sirq and Samael, give me a WIS save please.))

10 save roll

(Disadvantage on ability checks only, not saving throws? Right?)

WIS save: 4

(Edit: Gods, I am just getting horrible rolls. Hopefully you'll all be there at my funeral lol)

if there is one.

((Samael, you have 1 Stress, Sirq, you have 2 Stress.))

Clem and his boys are warming their hands by the fire and stretching out their own tired muscles, though they are more accustomed to it that the new soft members of the crew. One of the sons is tending a pot of what will become stew in time. They aren't imposing on the party's rations, but nor do they seem like they are planning on sharing.

Trinjya has a bit of a walk about, but doesn't notice anything interesting, while Morn strikes up the postponed conversation with Clem.

"What was it you were wanting to know?"