Chapter 1: Seeds of Destruction

The Mindflayer ships are very much organic. He looks at his hand resting on a wooden railing. To that, I mean almost alive. I can work on this ship, but getting that one flying again... I might need the help of a necromancer
But there could be devises, maps, artifacts that could prove very useful. And our new friends needs something to pay their way in their new life

"We made new friends?" asks Imti, in express wonderment.

"Yes, luv," Ziggy says, fondly patting Imti's shoulder. "we made new friends."

"Well, if we're doing it, let's get to it. To the derelict! Off we go..."

"What do you think Jzu, your mind strong enough for the mind altering illithids?" Quaxiver called out to his monkey in jest. "Sounds like we're taking an exploratory detour before reaching the Rock."

"Could our new friends go first?" Imti asks. "You know, in case something decided to make itself a home?"

Imti? Its soundling like you want to send civilians into harms way. That can be right!
I must be misunderstanding you.
This One tries to understand the pale elf.
How about this: Once we fire the anchor rope and moves to the this, you can cover us with the balista. See anything with tenticles, you take it out

Imti shrugs. "You're the one suggesting they take the ship," she says, "so it makes sense that they figure it out. Or are you going to fly the thing for them, too?"

Thinking to head off the nascent bickering, "The captain's idea is to look for salvage, I'm doing one better to see if the ship itself can be salvaged. If I can, I'm flying this thing! In which case the point about civilians is moot, because they'll serve as my, our, crew!" Quaxiver hoped his ambitious optimism was persuasive.

Captain Sartell's gaze flits around the area and she doesn't see any immediate danger, "If you want to take a look, we'll hold position here. If something happens, Flapjack will send you a message via spell."

"Well, what are we waiting for? You cats all heard the Captain. Let's go!"

Ziggy has changed his costume and makeup again. The elf is sporting a pirate eyepatch now.

Imti shrugs again, leaning her broom against her shoulder like an impromptu spear. "Well, if we have to leave in a hurry, we can just jump overboard," she says.

I'll go first - get a taist of the air quality. A balista bolt with a rope attached is shot over to the ship, when the two air envelopes meet. This One graps the rope and start to make his way over.

The hadozee flitted over to the derelict as naturally as a wildspacer who had lived most of their life on a ship, clambering up one of the Moondancer's masts to launch himself gently to land on the deck of the mind flayer ship.

Imti remains behind for a bit, watching the crew launch the ballista bolt and the autognome work his way over.

"Don't you have boarding planks?" she stage-whispers to Captain Sartell.

"Pull alongside! This derelict isn't going anywhere!" Quaxiver hollered over.

Ziggy strikes a dramatic chord on his cittern and the music carries him across space.He didn't answer This One's question before. The reason mindflayers are sexy is because they are terrifying.

🎶
The kids are gonna get it in an all right way
Looking pretty though but I still want to say
(Do we really have to go?)
I'll be fine, I'm only screaming in my head
I can fly, I close my eyes and I can fly 🎶

Boarding planks are set out for those without another way across and you make it safely onto the deck of the wrecked nautiloid. You land on the battle prow, where you see mounts for ballistae, but they are currently missing. It seems that whatever attacked the vessel already took them.

A moment after you land, a young human boy of maybe 14 in ragged, bloodstained clothes hesitantly steps out from from inside the ship, "Are... are you here to help?" he asks, sounding terrified.

Imti walks across the boarding plank, pausing only to bounce a bit to test its resiliency.

At the appearance of the young lad, the druid shakes her head. "Nope, we're here to loot the place. Anything left?"

Ie! We be here to help, but we don't have much room left. Who might you be and why are you here, lad?
This One eyes Imti.
How many survivors are you?

Did they not just conclude that this was a derelict? "Survivors?" Quaxiver hoped everyone else picked up on his sceptical tone. He looked around to see if he could pick up the sense of deception magic.