Session 3

The crew decided they couldn't just leave the slaver ship to be recovered and put back to use, so Helena and Sylas debated whether to blow it to bits with canonfire, or to simply burn it. They had almost decided upon burning it, when Trance spoke up to point out that smoke can be seen from far away, and would draw more slavers. They agreed, and everyone returned to the Sunchaser to open fire on the emptied ship.

Trance immediately went about with rhythmically flaring nostrils, exploring this new environment. Meanwhile Mischief and Sylas went below deck to set up the canons. Alarac stopped Trance on the deck to offer her accommodations, such as a bed, water and food. Trance waved her hand dismissively, asking if there was an empty box. That's all she needs as far as bedding. He directs her to the cargo hold, the lowest of three decks. She scoots on down. She hears the rustling of feathers and birds noises from the prow end of the hold, and her pupils dilate.

She begins to slink toward the sounds of prey (or, as we know them, Hoots and Chirps the kenku couple in their nest). She is stopped abruptly by a minotaur, who snorts menacingly, causing her to jump. He demands to know her business in the hold, as most crew are not allowed down here. Trance haltingly explains she has permission to find an empty crate for herself. Above them on a stack of crates is perched a rabbitkin crewmember with a quill and clipboard. She directs Trance to an empty crate and asks the minotaur to pry it open for her. The crate smells deliciously of beef jerky, and Trance hops right in. She also helps herself to some empty burlap sacks to make a suitable nest.

Up above, they begin firing the canons, obliterating the slaver ship. Trance poofs out in shock, and warily peeps over the edge of the crate when silence finally returns. None of the crewmembers seem phased. She creeps back up to the second deck and investigates a pot of soup. She is starving.

As the Sunchaser steers away from the wreck, winds begin to kick up. A sandstorm is coming. Umi and Sylas scramble up the rigging to furl the sails, and everyone above deck is buffeted by blistering sand. They get everything set to rights before the worst of it hits. Down below, Trance is struggling to ladle some soup in a bowl without spilling it while the ship around her lurches. She manages to sit down with it, claws embedded in the table, and lapping at the thin broth ravenously. She's not bothered by turbulent sands.

The sandstorm subsides, but something far stranger begins to happen. The air takes on a wavery, mirrorlike quality, feeling almost tangible like fabric. There is a percussive force that hits the boat's side. The crew knows this phenomenon to be The Mirage.

The ship was still moving forward at a rather fast clip from the sandstorm, and while everyone was still recovering from the bizarre effects of The Mirage, no one was quick enough to steer the ship away from the rocky shore suddenly in the ship's path.

The Sunchaser ran aground in a crash of splintering wood and grinding metal. Everyone was thrown to the floor, including Trance. Soup spilled everywhere, she was drenched in it. The crew above deck scrambled to gain their bearings, sending Alarac down to assess the damage.

"How bad is it?" Sylas called down.

"It's dead." Alarac replied, simply.

Trance staggered up the stairs, wringing out her clothes with a grimace, grateful the broth was thin. "What happen? We crash?"

Helena replies in the affirmative, informing her about The Mirage event. She asks how the crew is below deck.

"They fall down, hit head. But, get back up, yes?"

Now, the crew convenes above deck to discuss the next course of action. Umi and Sylas take to the rigging and the crow's nest to get the lay of the land. Trance climbs the pole on the prow to sniff out anything useful in the immediate area. We see that the new island is in what appears to be the eye of a sandstorm hurricane, but the air here is still and dry. To the north, there is a copse of green palms, a ruin beyond that, and a cliff face beyond that. To the East is rugged terrain leading up to a steep mountain, several caves visible at its base. To the south, the beach curves and disappears behind a rocky outcropping. Scattered throughout the eastern and southern vistas are sparse, dead saplings.

As they huddle to debate which direction to go first (as they need supplies to repair the ship), Trance squeezes into the huddle under someone's armpit, suggesting they go toward the green area. She mainly wants to search for fresh herbs. Everyone agrees that seems to be the best course of action.

Before they leave, however, it is agreed that a short rest is in order. Trance offers to improve what is left of the soup, and, using her Gourmand feat and some dried herbs, she creates a delicious pot of soup- enough to feed three people. Sylas, Alarac, and Helena gain an extra hit point, and resistance to poison (and a couple other buffs I forget).

The party sets off to the north, traveling for three hours across coarse sand, coming to a bowl in the land, which they slide down. Upon arriving at the copse of palms, Alarac and Sylas offer to go in first. Trance pipes up that this is her area of expertise, and can enter silently to scope it out for danger. They agree, and Trance heads in. The ground soon becomes muddy, "squishing up between her toe beans," and she finds she can go no further. There are insects chirping in the canopy above, and there is a brackish pond with a small lion statue in the center of it. Trance recognizes it as an image of her goddess, and bows her head to say a quick prayer. Looking around, she senses no threats. She returns to the party, saying, "I see no... what is word? There are no bitey things. Is safe, you understand?"

The two dragonborn decide to remain on the sand, as they are heavy and would sink right into the mud. The rest of the party enter the oasis to observe the same things Trance did, finding nothing else out of the ordinary. Trance asks if she might search for medicinal herbs, and no one has an issue with that. She hunts for an hour, but then spots a gorgeous, glowing flower sprouting from the water. She uses a flask to capture an essence- a truly rare and valuable find. She returns to the party who is merely sitting around, waiting. Apparently they didn't feel the need to look any further. The session ended with the party preparing to return to the ship.