Catching up with TSA

Lunadris said this is supposed to help me keep my thoughts organized. Well, might as well give it ago. ALOT has happened. While sailing towards the shipping lanes we encountered a DRAGON TURTLE. At first, he seemed pretty suspicious, but it worked out in the end. We got some new items, a map, a new kind of friend ( I'm not sure what Skahomin's deal is) and some new crew. 2 from a shipwreck and 4 from Stilga's attempts at flirting. I think that's what that was. Stilga is a little weird, her magic is something like I've never heard of before. That's good though. New experiences are already helping. I can feel my magic growing stronger. When I reach out nature is listening more than ever before. But back on point, we stopped in a port town called Brocado. There we did some shopping, I hung out at the tavern with Kalibek and Algar, and then we got some new crew. Lunadris got a spell that lets him recognize the enchantment on items, so I found out what was up with those beans. Apparently, they are VERY NOT GOOD and they could cause a lot of trouble. I tied them up tight and put them in the bottom of my pack for safe keeping. Stilga gave me back the cutlass I found, she prefers two-handed weapons I guess. So it works out. OH! Learned more about Kalibek (the crossbow guy?), he was enslaved and treated horribly. We will be sinking that ship if we ever encounter it. Fuck those guys.
 
From Brocado we sailed south heading for Crocodile Isle. It was storied to have gems just on the shoreline. It ended up being a MONTH of sailing. Kalibek and I entertained the crew to keep up morale because that was a long sail. Part way there we got hit by a really big storm, one my wind spells couldn't get us out of. Santori nearly went overboard! We were able to save him, but we were attacked by Marrow. They dragged Tilly overboard, ultimately to her death. Lunadris wanted to go after her. It's good to know the Captain has a good heart, but the sea will take who she may.
 
Eventually, we reached the island, finding our Dragon Turtle friend (?) and the Zephyr. The Zephyr was ransacked. We went ashore (Me, Stilga, Algar, Lunadris, and Kalibek) to find the crew. We followed their trail through the jungle after finding obsidian, onyx, and peridot on the beach. It was just loose. The air is nasty. Sulphuric. It burns my nose and eyes. It doesn't feel like I will ever adjust to it.
 
While we were trekking through the jungle, I picked some flowers while Algar and Stilga tracked. The plant life was so dense. We got attacked by a spider that was hiding as a flower. Super cool. Super rude of it. Definitely going to try to remember that thing. ALSO we found out that the parrots on this island can mimic spoken arcane magics. Which was useful and harmful. I want one of those birds to come back with us. Kalibek scolded me for picking the flowers. They could have so many medical or potion benefits, but that didn't seem to sway him. So I will stop picking flowers while we walk. ESPECIALLY because I realized the plants on this island are ALIVE alive. Like, can talk to me if I will my energy that way. The grass and trees were really helpful. Some of the grass wanted to travel so I cut out a hunk and put it in my conch as a little pot. Never doing that while listening to the plants again. Very traumatizing. It screamed the whole time and made me cry. I think my crewmates think I'm a little odd, but that's okay. The grass wants to be called Grass.
 
After we slept, Algar and Stilga led the way and we snuck past a mesa with some kind of nesting beast on it and began climbing the volcanic caldera. When we reached the top the view was incredible. We could see for miles. It also revealed two paths forwards, continuing to follow the crew of the Zephyr or following signs of native or long-term resident life. A vote decided we follow the Zephyr crew. We met a Volcano Giant named, Uder Karbon, on that path. They keep their souls outside of their bodies in their shadows. Very strange indeed. I redirected Lunadris because he seemed to struggle with the concept. Glad I did because Uder ended up saving our butts when a lava creature, a pet of the Efreeti that banished him here, attacked us. It almost killed Lunadris for the change in his pack. Tossing it like he had contraband or something.
 
The group (in general) never seems as entertained by my animal forms as Nani or the village people were. Something to consider. I need them to like me (or at least tolerate me.) My natural senses have grown more in the past month than in the year preceding it. They, and the places we are going, are helping me grow.
 
I also made note of something Uder said. There is a planar rift to the Plane of Fire under this volcano. Lunadris came through one from the Plane of Water. Is something happening? Why are the planes colliding so much right now?
 
Back on point we found the bodies of some sailors assumedly from the Zephyr, dead around 1-2 weeks, on the beach by the lake in the valley between two craters. Then we were attacked by trolls. Thankfully Algar knew what to do and we were able to burn them with fire. It was a close fight though, if Kalibek hadn't given us a break by forcing them out I don't think we would have survived. I am curious about the Crab People that just climbed out of the lake. There are a lot of them and we are injured. Hopefully, they are friendly and grateful we killed the Trolls.
 
Lunadris has a spell that will let him speak to anyone, anywhere. I've been too nervous to ask so far. I think I would rather not know. Not until I can do something about it. Going with these people was the right call. I also ended up sending a messenger home. They replied that all was well, but I can't help worrying.