Aboard the Star of Nostro

Gryff nods along, adding his own unspoken support to the question of what the creature is. Turning, he heads for the door, and looks to set about shutting it tight and barring it.

"Let that ship deal with it!" he calls to those on the deck.

"They’ll have weaponry!" he follows up.

"Come inside and I’ll bar the door!" he continues, risking further seconds at the door.

Brother Longfoot steers directly into the oncoming ship and ties the wheel in place to keep the course. He judges they should meet with the other ship in an hour or less.

The ladder leading down into the bilge leads to a platform big enough to hold about three people and rests only a few inches higher than the bilgewater. The rank water is a ripe mixture of sea water polluted with the filth of sailors who, for weeks now, have used this area as a latrine.

Towards the aft, a tube descends from the deck above and into the water. Towards the fore of the ship, protruding through the water are four large, veiny leather sacks covered in mucous. You nervously intuit that these may be some sort of unholy, or unearthly, eggs.

As you examine the sacks, a scratching and clawing sound can be heard originating from the bottom of the ship. It is the unnerving sound of someone, or something, trying to claw its way through the hull.

---

Everyone else barricades themselves in Dahut's room. It is the cleanest since there are no dead bodies or spilled blood everywhere, and they can try to protect her here. Dahut asks for some water and then rests as her body begins its long recovery from the spell, and the hole in her chest.

Merilda, Gryff, and Eggo wait for something… anything.

Gryff waits for the ship to arrive, and for rescue to reach them.

Merilda watches through a gap in some wood, waiting to see if the others return, or if the creature shows its face.

Eggo waits for a snarl, or a scent, that would set his lizard instincts afire and ready himself for battle.

They wait…

Christnar and Gerdich decide not to be cooped up inside. When they hear Brother Longfoot's plans, the two decide to selfishly climb up the rigging to the crow's nest and then cut it, leaving them safe and with a great view while the others barricade the hatches. Gerdich however gets tangled in the climb and begins to fall. In a freak accident his head goes through a loop of rigging and his neck snaps from the weight. His limb body now hangs ten feet off the ground, twisting in the wind.

There's a loud sound of splintering wood below decks. After several minutes you see objects on horizontal surfaces gradually begin rolling toward the prow of the ship...

The Ibis ship in the distance approaches. Less than ten minutes until they arrive you estimate.