Chapter Five: Bapdis Orjo's Gift of Reconciliation

Terra's first instinct is to scan the shore for the party's return. Would they be returning by moonlight? she wondered. She didn't think it particularly unusual for anyone to board a ship by night, but she knew owls.

She walked over to it, hearing the creaking of the ship below. She held onto the sides almost casually. "Hello friend," her voice was husky as though she'd spent most of her life by a smith's flame. She hadn't. "Tired of hunting already?" Green eyes scanned the creature for signs of injury.

Well that got her attention. She furrowed her brow. "Severed?" her voice pitched a little, as she said this word aloud. And then: "Walking predator?" Hill-burrow. She glanced at the rising smoke on the island. She put together an image of a cave or dungeon.

Terra's feelings aren't necessarily empathetic. True, she did share a moment here and there with Vhezhen and Felor. And they had shown her some kindness, so she reciprocated by not ignoring them. But her journey had been fuelled by the season's wishes, her dreams and the signs in the wilderness she was meant to move on, so she did... and they were the first she came in contact with. She took the owl master as a good omen, and a sign she was on the right path.

Now he was gone, according to the creature, and she wondered if she should have been there. It wasn't exactly guilt, but more of a measured consideration.

Terra decided her opinion of the news was that it was unfortunate - everyone dies... - and Felor had spoken of his talents somewhat modestly, but she at least knew he could ward them against harm. Perhaps all was not lost.

Still. A predator. "Did it track the others? Will it track back to the ship?"

After all... if she was entwined on this journey with them, the very least she could do was make sure they didn't get her killed.

Terra grips the ship as if it's going to sink into the shallows in one sudden dunk. Her green eyes scan the golden glow on the horizon. She looks around her to see if anyone else on the ship has noticed the distant disturbance. I should say something. "FIRE." She calls out with a prolonged shout. "FIRE ON THE ISLAND."

Her earlier matter of fact attitude toward the announcement that one of the group no longer was took on a more immediate threat level. The owl went plural. "What are they?" she called out Quggyeb, making the most of the time she has left to make sense of what it saw. "What do they want?" She switched definitives: "Who do they want?!"

She suddenly knew where the term 'bird brain' came from. "Fine." She ventured back to where her weapons were. She returned to scan the horizon, shifting the quiver on her back and her collection of arrows. Her daggers sat on either side of her hips. She gripped her bow. She twisted her hair in a bun out of the way of her face and eyes.

Disliking the feeling that she can't go anywhere, she steeled herself and tried to climb up to the next deck to get a better view - and potential early sighting of any danger careening toward them.

She searched the deck for the captain. We can't just sit here like ducks!

Domarc snorts, and rolls over.

Concerned (and assuming the booming continues), Leth begins to rouse the other party members. When they begin waking up, he says, "Explosions shaking the cave. I'm gonna go check outside." and does just that, looking to see what the source of the tremors is.

"If that's the elf and the water woman," says Zangua as he puts on his armor, "we might wanna check those locked doors. Stands to reason if the elf built this place, he probably got some underground tunnels linking the two hills."

Did we get a Long Rest in, at least, or were we interrupted?

Mordred wakes quickly. "Good thought, Zangua. Maybe that pit as well." Mordred heads to the umarked stone door.