The Next Step

Begin writing your story here...The morning comes around and I am anxious to get moving. Rory and Kemurial do some shopping. Freya and I look for a taxi service to take us across this lake.
 
This lake is more like an ocean. It is huge. I has its own environmental system it is so large. We find a Captain. He is a lizard folk, but seems to be experienced with this sea. We engage him for transport. This town is quite large for the area. Lots of different races live here, even those of the monstrous sort, living lives of commerce. Seem very metropolitan to me.
 
We finally gather Rory and Kemuiral. I swear they're like teenagers when they get a bit of gold. They have to spend it right away. Before leaving, Kemurial wishes to check on the man we brought in to be cured of Lycanthropy. Not sure why, he passed on his responsibility to others with a bit of coin and a clean conscience. Does he follow through on anything?
 
We investigate at the local infirmary. We find a dwarf, not an old fellow, but not young one either. Kemurial inquires about the mans progress. The dwarf eyes us suspiciously. Well, it is what dwarves do. Kemurial explains we rescued the individual from the wild, and he was in the midst of his initial transformations. We brought him to town the day before, and paid the gate guards to bring him here.
 
The dwarf combed his books. Not finding anything, he searched more books. Looking up to Kemurial he explained no such individual was brought in. I couldn't help but laugh. This was exactly what I expected. The guards either killed this guy, or cut him loose, keeping all the gold for themselves. Kemurial looked over his shoulder, obviously annoyed at my entertainment from this situation.
 
Kemurial turned and suggested we find him. I composed myself and said, we have bigger fish to fry. Seeing the disappointment in his face I stepped toward him, put my hand on his should firmly: "What did you learn?". Kemurial looked at me irritated. I then said" Follow Through, to the end, finish it. Don't leave others to complete your responsibility. You can only count on yourself!" Kemurial nodded to me. "Good, now lets get back to work".
 
Kemurial was quiet on the way to our ship, but he seemed to walk with more direction, more determination. Lesson learned.
 
The trip across this accursed body of water was for a few days. Kemurial suggested we keep watches, and I took one. It was a good idea. I see positive growth in him.
 
The next morning, an alarm rings out. Since I had watch, I was already dressed in armor. Heading to the upper deck, the Captain notifies us that we have a saboteur on deck. The rations have been damage, spoiled and trodden. We had enough to get across this lake, but barely. Suspicion permeated the ranks. Kemurial suggested to the Captain the use of Zone of Truth. A paladin spell that compels those within its magic to tell the truth. Evey person on board entered the Zone.
 
As the Captain detailed the process, I took particular notice of the crew for negative reaction. 1 particular crew member seemed to take umbrage to the questions. Using Freya's mind connection with me, I point out this individual. Freya concentrated on what he was thinking. It seemed the crew member was more concerned with saying the wrong thing and being falsely accused then being the saboteur.
 
After all appeared to pass the zone of truth, that left 2 options.
 
1: Someone is on board hidden.
2: Someone came on board, ransacked the rations, and left.
 
I suggest to Freya to use her ability to see those invisible and we searched the ship top to bottom. While doing this, the captain set up a Bonsun's chair to have the crew search the outside of the ship after claw marks were found on the aft rail.
 
While over the aft side, a crew member spots the saboteur, and in doing so, falls into the water. Kemurial immediately goes into save him and points out the saboteur. It is a Skaven. A ratlike humanoid. Rory takes flight over the side to get in position. The Skaven uses a smoke bomb to turn invisible. I call out to Freya to use her magics again. The Skaven are a dexterous dangerously evil race. He was able to scamper on board while invisible, and do so without being detected. Freya finishes her casting just as the Skaven makes an attempt on the life of the Captain. The Captain response with a point blank shot that misses. The Skaven now revealed becomes Freya's target. Her hands glow with fire as she shoots 3 scorching rays at the fiend. All hit. Roasted Rat anyone?
 
Immediately search the body for clues. All he had was a poisoned dagger and some charred armor.
 
I looked up at the Captain. He was here for you sir. You were the target. His job was to stop this ship, but the one thing he had to do was kill you. Who wants you dead?
 
As the Captain pondered my question, the body of the assassin turned to a gelatinous goo in seconds. I step back as the decomposition completed.
 
Hmm, this is not a Hellish event. I was wondering if the Gods of chaos were Demons, or Elemental in nature. I'm thinking, more elemental now. This Skaven took some poison knowing that he would not live. His last act of defiance was to take out the Captain. We are lucky he failed.
 
Kemurial and Rory return from overboard. As we compose ourselves, there is one more possibility.
 
Without saying anything, I look out over this sea like lake contemplating the third option. It isn't the Captain that is being hunted. This Skaven was sent to stop us. I look back to the party, Kemurial, Rory, and Freya. We have piqued someones attention, and our lives are going to be far more complicated before this is over.